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Bridging the attitudinal divide

With the launching of Government-LTTE peace negotiations just round the corner, developments on the ground held out the promise of this crucial exercise being undertaken by both sides in a spirit of amity and compromise.

Two recent events give rise to this optimistic expectation. One is the remarkable resolve shown by the Army to keep the peace in Pt. Pedro, in the face of considerable provocation by a mob which attempted to storm the brigade headquarters of the area. The second is the reported release by the LTTE of some 85 of its child recruits to their parents. This report in respect of at least 20 of these children was confirmed as correct by UNICEF, which had interviewed the children concerned. They were indeed in the service of the LTTE.

Coming back to the first development, no less a person than Jaffna Security Forces Commander Major General Sarath Fonseka had commended his men for showing unshakeable restraint when a group of unruly persons, including schoolchildren, had attempted to storm the brigade headquarters in Pt. Pedro over what was apparently a grievance. Besides testifying to the professional finesse of the Army, the incident proves the Army's willingness to abide by the ceasefire agreement in both letter and spirit. The obvious intention of the mob was to provoke the Army into retaliating perhaps with the aim of undermining the cessation of hostilities agreement but this devious design was resoundingly defeated by the Army when it chose to remain calm and patient. This spirit has helped immeasurably in keeping the peace and in perpetuating the current process of reconciliation. For its exemplary conduct, the Army is certain to earn the regard and respect of the peace-loving sections of the public in all regions of the country.

The release of child recruits by the LTTE, could be viewed as an equally effective confidence-building measure. We may not be wrong in counting this event as an important positive fallout from the Government's decision to deban the LTTE - an incipient sensitivity perhaps, on the part of the LTTE to important human rights considerations. We do not intend to rush to conclusions, but the LTTE seems to be perceiving the need to reflect a degree of accountability on human rights issues, now that it has acquired the status of a legitimate political organisation. A greater degree of trust among the main parties to the conflict could compel the LTTE into conducting itself with a more substantive measure of accountability.

All this points to the need to integrate the LTTE more closely into the democratic process. The downing of arms and their decommissioning follow as natural consequences from an armed group's realisation that democratic and accountable conduct could enable it to redress its grievances. It is up to the State to convince the LTTE of the judiciousness and usefulness of entering the democratic process.

All this is predicated on a substantial change in the Southern mindset in particular. If the peace process is to be sustained and all the possibilities which it has opened up are to be explored meaningfully, a thorough-going change of attitudes and values needs to be registered in the political community. Love, hope and trust, for instance, need to replace fear and suspicion. Unfortunately, the latter emotions are quite dominant among some sections on both sides of the divide.

However, it is the former values which would enable one-time enemies to reach out to each other in brotherhood and understanding. When this is achieved, reconciliation is also brought about.

As we have emphasized earlier "new wine" needs to be poured into "new wineskins". Those whose minds are filled with suspicion, ill-will and hatred, for instance, couldn't help in Lanka's onward march. They are well and truly trapped in the past.

A prime task of the present and the future, therefore, is the building of a peace culture, which in effect means that love, trust and understanding should be the well-springs of all Lankans' actions. Meanwhile, confidence-building measures should be increasingly initiated to foster a strong peace climate.

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