Issues at stake in Sri Lankan crisis

Twenty months ago, with Norwegian mediation, a ceasefire was 
declared putting an end to the fighting between the Sri Lankan 
armed forces and the LTTE [Tamil Tigers as they are commonly 
known — Guardian]. Talks began to resolve the longstanding and 
chronic problem of how to accommodate the Tamil minority 
aspirations within the framework of Sri Lanka.

After a few rounds of negotiations, the talks got stalled in 
April 2003 when the LTTE refused to carry on, accusing the Sri 
Lankan government of violating some of the agreements. The 
Norwegian mediators backed by the United States and other 
European countries worked to revive the stalled talks. As a 
result, the LTTE submitted proposals for an "Interim Self-
Governing Authority" for the north-eastern region.

It is this proposal that has precipitated the confrontation 
between the President, Chandrika Kumaratunga, and the Prime 
Minister, Wickremesinghe.

Separate state

The LTTE proposal is nothing but the prelude to the setting up a 
separate state of Eelam. A study of the document shows that the 
powers demanded for the authority go outside the framework of the 
Sri Lankan state.

The LTTE wants an absolute majority in the authority with some 
Muslim and Sinhala participation. It wants the appointment of an 
independent election commission to conduct elections. The Self 
Governing Authority would have the powers to raise taxes, 
maintain law and order and establish its own legal system.

The document says "separate institutions for the administration 
of justice shall be established for the north-east and judicial 
powers shall be vested for such institutions".

The document states the authority should have control over the 
marine and offshore resources of the adjacent seas and the power 
to regulate them. This can be undertaken only with a naval force.

The LTTE's proposals negate a federal structure with substantial 
regional autonomy. It is a blueprint for a separate state.

It is understandable that such a proposal would alarm those who 
are committed to Sri Lanka being a united entity.

President Kumaratunga has been voicing her concern throughout the 
negotiations at the manner in which the LTTE is being allowed to 
consolidate its position in the north-east without 
decommissioning its armed forces. She had seriously objected to 
the Norwegian proposal to allow the LTTE certain naval 
facilities. Recently she called for the removal of the Norwegian 
mediator in the negotiations.

The Wickremesinghe Government reacted cautiously to the LTTE 
proposals stating they can be the basis for further talks while 
commenting that the proposal went beyond the proposals of the 
government.

President Kumaratunga, on her part, has strongly opposed the 
interim authority proposal, rejecting it as inimical to the unity 
and integrity of Sri Lanka.

The United States has announced that it supports the prime 
minister in the name of backing the peace process. In the recent 
period, especially after September 11, the United States has 
shown keen interest in intervening in the Sri Lankan situation 
and the ethnic conflict.

The doctrine expounded by the United States and certain European 
countries that state sovereignty should be subordinated to 
problems of human rights and the solution of ethnic conflicts is 
also at work in aggravating the complicated nationality problem 
in Sri Lanka.

While the stand taken by Sinhala chauvinists of denying any 
autonomy based on a federal structure and the separatist stand of 
the LTTE have to be rejected the genuine rights of the Tamil 
people have to be respected. The Left and democratic forces, 
however, must recognise the perils of breaking up a country like 
Sri Lanka.

Sri Lankan unity

The solution has to be found by institutionalising regional 
autonomy within the framework of Sri Lankan unity.

The LTTE is now dominant in the Tamil areas. It has eliminated 
other political forces and intimidated those who remain, into 
submission. The quest for a separate Tamil Eelam has not given 
the Tamils justice or equal rights. It has brought great 
suffering and disruption in the lives of ordinary people.

For the last one and a half years, the cessation of hostilities 
has brought relief to the people, both Tamil and Sinhala, who 
have lost 64,000 lives in the civil war. The desire for peace is 
strong and neither the president nor the prime minister can 
ignore this reality.

There is no escape for both Kumaratunga and Wickremesinghe who 
have reiterated that the peace process should go on. Either they 
strive for a common front to conduct the negotiations, or early 
elections will have to be held for parliament to get a fresh 
mandate.

* * *

Based on an article by Prakash Karat and published by 
Ganashakti Newspaper, India