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Cease Fire Agreement, peace process and the frustration

the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) signed between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in 2002 is the key instrument that paved the way for the peace process in Sri Lanka aimed at resolving the decades old conflict. To date, i.e. a lapse of three years, this document remains the most contested in the Sinhala polity for its perceived ‘sell out’ to the Tamils. But what is the collective thinking of the Tamil people on whether the CFA has really delivered the envisaged peace dividend, normalcy ? An emphatic no, is the collective answer.

The Tamil people greeted the CFA with euphoria because it envisaged, among other things, normalcy, the basic peace dividend. What is meant by the term ‘normalcy’ for the Tamil people who suffered immensely in the hands of an occupying military, was the freedom of movement without military constraints and unfettered access to resettle in the natural habitats they were driven away from. Military operations displaced hundreds of thousands Tamil people overnight. Some of the displaced found refuge in countries that provided them asylum and safety. There still remain a sizeable chunk of this unfortunate lot, designated Internally Displaced People (IDP’s) and languishing in refugee camps or with relatives and friends in areas not under military control.

These people are unable to resettle in their own lands in spite of the clear provision in the CFA that stipulates that the occupying military should vacate public buildings and private properties within stipulated time frames, maximum being 160 days. There is an adamant military that is ‘sitting’ over their habitats, classifying them as High Security Zones (HSZ). Those responsible for the actions of the military, are also sitting lackadaisically on the problem and the Tamil citizens continue to languish. It is this lot that demonstrates in military occupied areas and responded violently by the military. Prohibition of military camps in densely populated areas is no taboo for the SL military. This is amply demonstrated by the violent reaction of the military, killing a civilian and injuring scores when they non-violently protested against new military check points in Batticaloa.

The other provision in the CFA that is thrown to the winds is the one that relates to the prohibition of activities by armed groups. It is no secret that the activities of armed groups, otherwise known as para- military responsible for killings of intellectuals, journalists and ordinary civilians, are rampant in military controlled areas and that the military intelligence units are keeping these groups for their ‘penetration’ programmes.

Public agitation against non-compliance of the provisions of the CFA, is on the increase and it is definitely not going to be conducive to the peace process. Loosing the peace constituency is a serious matter that would affect the peace process at large.

The Tamil people, through historical experience in the hands of the discriminate ruling elite in Colombo, banked their hopes on the CFA and the peace process only because of international support to the negotiations. The way things move in Colombo does not indicate an attitudinal change and conversely portends a serious threat to the CFA and the peace process. A simple Joint Mechanism to address post tsunami humanitarian delivery in the NorthEast is yet to see the light of the day though it is almost five months now since tsunami struck and a modality prepared by Norway having been accepted by the LTTE in its totality, demonstrating its commitment and flexibility.

It is the considered opinion that the international community has a major role to play now. Adequate and meaningful pressure must be applied on the government to ensure first that it fulfils its obligations to the Tamil people, respecting their mandate of 2004.

Steps need to be taken to institutionalise an interim set up that would enable the Tamil people to manage their affairs in reconstructing the war -ravaged region. Tsunami is in no way a paradigm shift vis-à-vis the war affected people whose hardships CFA was meant to alleviate. Much talk and proclaimed intent about Joint Mechanism may help designing politicians but is of no use to the people. Their patience is running out and the peace process becomes irrelevant when the main stake -holders, the people, loose patience and are pushed to the fringe of frustration.

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09 June 2005

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