Be prepared
The Sri Lankan penchant for being the first to do
things in the world and enter the Guinness book of records has been repeated
once again with Anton Balasingham's arrival at the first customs- free
international airport. This must be the launch of the "open skies policy"
that the new government aspires for.
But, Balasingham's open skies entry into the Wanni clearly underlines
the current policy of bending over backwards to palaver the LTTE in order
to get them to sit at the negotiating table.
At first there was a ceasefire agreement. This was followed by a carte
blanche policy that allowed free political activity for a terrorist organization.
Now we have the pathetic symbolism of allowing the LTTE chief negotiator
to vault from one country into "their country'', without having to go through
Sri Lankan immigration.
At what stage do we say enough is enough? Has anyone questioned whether
the LTTE is upholding the spirit of the ceasefire agreement? The Sri Lankan
state must reconsider the lenient attitude adopted towards the LTTE, considering
that their behaviour has been provocative after the ceasefire agreement.
Certainly, the vast majority of the people of this country will question
the bona fides of the LTTE guerrillas. The government will definitely call
for more public stoicism on the issue, explaining to the people that the
final goal is to bring the LTTE to the negotiating table, and that whatever
the government does is better than waging war.
But, the discerning sections of the public know what is to follow. There
will be a de-proscription of the LTTE, and an establishment of the interim
administration. All this probably with the LTTE not renouncing it's stated
goal of a separate state of Eelam.
Is the government of Sri Lanka ready for talks? The Special Secretariat
that was appointed is bogged down in counting cement bags and batteries
and going to the Wanni. It is not sitting down and analysing the Thimpu
Principles and beyond. What is the strategy to be adopted at the table?
There seems to be no aim or target at this juncture.
The LTTE chief negotiator is Anton Balasingham, a creature of this war
since it began, holding a doctorate in psychology. A man who has felt that
Sri Lankan government negotiators in the past were weak and easily intimidated.
Who does the government have to match his ruthless zeal?
The committee system
Introducing the Executive Committee system to parliament may have been
motivated by a desire to isolate the President and run the country via
a UNF led legislature. It is a probable contingency plan, considering that
the UNF has only 114 MP's and would require a two thirds majority in parliament
to implement any constitutional amendment concerning the forthcoming negotiations
with the LTTE.
The Executive Committee system, which was a constitutional instrument
used in the pre-independence, pre-political party era, however enabled
the nation to work towards common goals.
The multi-party system that we have now has in a sense been carried
too far. The answer obviously is not one party hegemony. That's totalitarianism,
no matter which way you cut it.
But it is multi-party politics, which has torn the nation apart often
on petty political party lines. There is a crying need now to unify the
country. It is hoped that the new system works. |
