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A
step in the right direction But our Defence Correspondent has (see opposite page) dealt in great detail with virtually all that happened in Geneva at the resumption of the talks with the LTTE. According to him, the unlikely hero of the Government delegation was - the Inspector General of Police Chandra Fernando. He seems to not only have been possessed of the facts, but to have articulated his case with great forensic skill and more so, with a genuineness that seems to have struck a chord even in the hearts of the delegation of the guerrilla organisation. Presenting his case about the killings that have bedevilled the ceasefire, he said his force could make arrest the suspects if they could enter LTTE areas where they are hiding. His statements drew a strong response from Anton Balasingham but the upshot of the matter was a reassurance from the Sri Lankan delegation head that "we (the government) will not, directly, or indirectly help any illegal armed group", and the reference in the communiqué issued after the talks which stated that: "The GOSL and the LTTE are committed to taking all necessary measures to ensure that there will be no intimidation, acts of violence, abductions or killings", and during the talks itself. Countering Mr. Balasingham's arguments about the killings and who was responsible for them, delegation chief Nimal Siripala de Silva said the LTTE must accept the genuine assurance given by President Rajapaksa. He said the Government would give an undertaking that no armed groups would operate in their controlled areas. This was indeed a brave statement and one that needs to be applauded. The overriding objective of this week's talks was to get rid of the immediate irritant to both sides - the killings - and then to prepare the platform for the next round of talks - and the rounds thereafter which hopefully will lead to the final outcome. While the latter prospect may be a distant dream in these early stages, the fact that the two parties were able to agree on a brief eight-paragraph joint communiqué has, at least, set the tone for future hope. If we are to go by what has happened, the Government delegation has fared quite creditably, especially given the fears that were justifiably entertained that they were not up to the mark with their brief. The last-minute inclusion of the likes of lawyer H.L. de Silva, one of the very few who have mastered the quest for a separate state and vigorously opposed it from its very inception, not only added gravitas to the delegation, but also allayed the fears of a people who had grave doubts about the capabilities of those who were going to represent them. No doubt - the Norwegians, and the Co-Chairs flexed their muscle and exerted pressure just in order to make their presence felt, especially when the LTTE delegation made noises about walk-outs. So, for the chief broker - Norwegian International Development Minister Erik Solheim to say that the final outcome of the two-day meeting was beyond expectation, it would seem is an accurate reflection of the success of these talks. Some salient features that emerge are that the Govt delegation acquitted itself quite well and the decision to hook-up to Colombo and get political directives helped those in Geneva. The other factor that emerged was that the LTTE seemed prepared to be reasonable. Whether this was due to international pressure or otherwise, it, at least, shows that they are open to business - and that war is not the only option left in this virtual civil war. However, if any party has been forced to agree to something it is not committed to - all this becomes a mere façade. And both the Govt and the people - and the military - will still need to be wary of a party talking peace but contemplating war. There is a lot of preparation that goes into talks such as these. What we hear of as the outcome of two days of talks was not all begun and concluded within those 48 hours. Likewise, there will be a lot of preparation needed for the next round. Both sides - if they are interested in genuine peace will need to keep the peace - and show their commitment to the process in the two months before the next round of talks. This is only just a fresh start and just one small but important aspect of the entire peace process. The much larger canvas awaits to be sketched - issues like democracy, devolution, federalism, pluralism, the rule of law have to be drawn in. We
must not run away with the feel-good factor that all was well at
Geneva. The LTTE's chief negotiator still proclaims that a Government
has been formed in the areas held by their cadres, and a State-in-waiting
exists. |
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