by Ranga Jayasuriya

Some 110 civil organisations which have grouped themselves under the banner "National Alliance Against War" (NAAW) yesterday pledged to back the peace process and campaign for a just solution to the ethnic problem.

The anti-war alliance in its first media briefing held yesterday called on both Government and the LTTE to work towards a durable solution which ensures pluralism and human rights.

It commended the Ceasefire Agreement claiming it had created a favourable atmosphere to peace, despite what it called "technical mishaps" in the draft. "The Memorandum of Understanding has stopped killings and the opening of the A9 highway has created a link between the North and the South. The free movement of civilians has led to reconciliation between two races," Rev. Fr Oswald Firth of the Centre for Society and Religion told the press conference. Fr. Firth called on the Government and the main Opposition People's Alliance to work together in the peace process.

"In the end, it is the whole nation which will benefit from peace," he said, urging the Opposition to collaborate with the Government.

Rev. Madampegama Assaji Thera of the Inter-Religious Peace Foundation said the new alliance would mobilise civil society against any attempt to subvert the peace process and counter the anti- peace elements in ideological debate.

The Alliance plans to organise its national convention with the participation of 5000 delegates of civil society organisations.

" We hope to form the broadest possible coalition against the recurrence of war," Ven. Assaji Thera said.