Moving towards a home-grown solution

On the last occasion we broached conflict-related issues in this commentary, we called on all concerned to have a good and perceptive look at the LLRC report, which is the most comprehensive document the country could have had so far on the issues pertaining to the final stages of the humanitarian operation of mid-2009.

External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris' assessment of the report we front-paged yesterday, should have helped to highlight the strengths and virtues of this historic document.

As explained by the External Affairs Minister, the government has already outlined the steps it would be taking in the future to resolve the issues raised by the report. This took the form of a comprehensive statement by Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva in Parliament on presenting the report and making it public. This being the case, it is difficult to ascertain why the TNA is opting to look outside this country for the means to resolve their issues. Recently, it called for an international probe on these issues since they see the LLRC report as falling short of their expectations.

Thus, the TNA is continuing to be mired in a negative mindset when what is required now is a full engagement with the government in a result-oriented conflict-resolution effort. It is difficult to comprehend how further attempts at internationalizing our issues could in any way help in resolving them.

The TNA needs to see that it would be in no ones interest to delay the search for a political solution. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has emphasized that he would be standing by any solution arrived at by the PSC and this statement should indicate to the TNA what its options are as regards resolving its issues. It is plain to see that the TNA must get itself co-opted into the PSC process, if it is to expedite the effort at finding a solution to the conflict. That is, the party must enlist its wholehearted support to the task of finding a homegrown solution to the issues facing it and it must stick to this undertaking instead of appealing to external quarters to help it out of what it sees as difficult situations.

We strongly urge it to give the PSC process a good and earnest try and ensure that this process gets underway. It would be highly irresponsible of the TNA to continue in a critical mode without grasping the possibilities in the current situation.

We believe that at this juncture, all parties to the conflict need to address the challenges facing this country in a spirit of absolute earnestness and truthfulness. We also believe that the hour has come for value-based politics - a species of politics that has continually eluded this country, but which now must be enthroned in Sri Lanka's public sphere.

It should be plain to see that this country can no longer dabble in divisive politics and that communalism is a prominent species of this brand of politics. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has, on numerous occasions, eschewed chauvinism of all kinds and this should be seen by the TNA as a most promising sign that they could work with the government in the direction of solutions to the problems facing the Tamil community.

As we see it, time is a worrying factor for all progressive sections that want to see this country moving steadily towards internal stability and peace.

While the PSC holds out the promise of bringing about a homegrown solution which would be acceptable to all, this solution should be evolved over a specific period of time. The search for a solution, that is, should be result-oriented. This is the test of enduring credibility.

Meanwhile, the TNA should be fully alive to the realities in the North-East. They need to frankly recognize that strides are being made towards normalcy. Yesterday we carried a letter on the opposite page by a reader of the North, who put the record straight on the condition of the Northern people.

This should prove an eye-opener to those who insist on seeing developments in the North through anti-state blinkers. We urge that the TNA recognizes the realities very squarely.