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To reach peace...

All attempts to build peace had to be based on a ceasefire agreement that could easily breakdown. The President and her government know this. Mutual trust between the parties concerned is vital to, and forms the basis for, strengthening the shaky ceasefire agreement, and building up the peace process. It is only by enhancing the mutual trust that any peace efforts can be made to yield positive outcomes. It is very apparent that since the change in the representation of one of the sides to the peace process, the mutual trust between the parties has begun to deteriorate. This started after the last elections.

The two main parties to the peace process are the Tamils and the Sinhalese. Towards the final stages of the peace process Muslims will also be included. The last election has not brought any changes to one of the two main parties, the Tamils. Indeed, their representation has been made stronger. That the LTTE should be the sole representative of the Tamils has been endorsed through the ballot box.

The other main party in the peace process is the Sri Lankan government or the Sinhala representation. Its representation has changed in the last elections. The UNP leadership, which could have taken a more moderate and accommodative stance in the peace process, was rejected and a coalition of chauvinistic elements and extremist forces are claiming the representation of the Sinhala side.

The last election has also splintered the Muslim representation, which too need join the peace process at a later stage as a single body. Their unifying leadership has been destroyed and the splintered groups are either following the majority parties or are functioning independently.

It is with this background in mind that one need to study the deterioration of the peace efforts. It is now becoming known to the Tamil people that the President, while publicly uttering the words, "Ceasefire is not permanent peace, it is only a temporary respite for the weapons", has in fact been waging a secretive proxy war against the LTTE using faceless persons. Tamil people know that this is indeed an attempt to destroy any mutual trust, which must be the basis for any peace effort. The President and her government should know that to be constructive partners in the peace process and build a firm foundation to take it forward they must immediately halt all efforts to carry out this secret war in the east. They must also handle Karuna in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding and according to past precedence.

It is only by taking these two actions: the peace process can be saved from breaking up; it can be taken forward in a constructive path; and a permanent peace can be reached by peaceful means. It is important that all those charged with responsibility understand this.

05 July 2004

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