INTERVIEWS

Southern unity vital for peace

By Wilson Gnanadass in Jaffna

Q: How do you view the resettlement and  reconstruction programmes of the government that have been initiated after the signing of the MoU?

A: There is much more room for reconstruction in the north. The important part of the MoU was to bring about normalcy to the north east. We expected an immediate influx of refugees and that the resettlement would go on smoothly in the north east, but to our dismay this has not happened.

There is a delay in putting the resettlement and reconstruction programme in motion. We understand that there are some 300,000  landmines buried in the north and east and unless they are cleared, nothing could be done to resettle the displaced people. According to available reports about 300 people who went to resettle in their homes have become victims of landmines. Besides, 30% of the land in Jaffna is occupied by the armed soldiers and these areas are declared as High Security Zones (HSZ). As the residences of most of the people come under these HSZs, the people are living in temples, schools and other temporary shelters.

Q: What in your view do you think are the causes for the delay? Do you think that there is no willingness on the part of the government?

A: As agreed upon in the previous talks the resettlement programme should be given priority and most of all the army should consider this not only from the security point of view but also from the humanitarian point of view. If the army continues to occupy public places  resettlement is not going to be possible and the plight of the people is going to remain the same. Landmines also remain a big risk in the north. More than 60% of the houses within the Jaffna municipality are  damaged and most of the public buildings are also destroyed. Therefore, it is necessary to rebuild public as well as private buildings. Also the economy of the north depends on fishing and farming and these have been affected due to the prolonged war. Therefore these two sectors have to be assisted immediately.

Q: But since the signing of the MoU,  some  buildings have been repaired in certain areas. Are you not satisfied?

A: We can’t deny the fact that during the period of the ceasefire a certain amount of infrastructure development has taken place. But even building projects have slowed down owing to higher prices of material like sand and stones. And this becomes a barrier to continue such projects. On the other hand though many countries have pledged assistance for the north east at the last meeting in Tokyo, there is a lack of an authorised body empowered to give necessary authority to carry out the rebuilding and development work. There is an urgent need for an interim arrangement to carry out the development proposals that have been decided upon. The perception of the people of the north east is that the government is dragging its feet in the tasks of rebuilding and developing the north east.

Q: The Japanese Special Envoy Akashi who met the LTTE recently in Kilinochchi clearly stated that there cannot be financial assistance to Sri Lanka if the LTTE fails to participate in talks. How do you view this?

A: The resumption of peace talks is very crucial to resolve the long standing ethnic problem in the country. But the work of rebuilding and developing the north east should be entrusted to a strong authority to carry out the implementation with efficiency and transparency. Therefore, the Japanese government also should understand the need for power sharing from the center to the periphery for effective implementation of the proposed development programmes.

Q: On the other hand the LTTE has also dragged its feet when it comes to participating in the peace talks. Do you think if the LTTE agrees to resume negotiations, the development process could be expedited?

A: There is a reason for the LTTE  carefully treading the path of negotiations since this is the fourth time peace efforts are being made in Sri Lanka ever since the problems between the government and the LTTE began. Twenty years of hostility and the previous bad experiences in dealing with the Sinhala leaders have brought in a lot of suspicion on the willingness of the major communities to share power with the minorities. Therefore, the LTTE is cautious in approaching the peace negotiations and are asking for certain guarantees.

The division amongst the leaders in the south and the lack of single mindedness in solving the ethnic problem has also made the LTTE weary of these peace negotiations. Thus, it is understandable for the LTTE to go slow and with a lot of caution. It is also said that if we prolong the negotiations too much, the attention of the world and the donor countries would be diverted by other happenings in the world. Therefore, LTTE should also bear this in mind that we have to rely on the goodwill and cooperation of the other countries and try to sort out outstanding issues with the government and return to the negotiating table as soon as possible.

Q: There is a fear looming in the south that the LTTE will continue to avoid participating at the peace talks and  ultimatelygo back  to war. As a leader of the Catholic community in Jaffna do you think this is likely to happen and how do you think these  fears could be allayed?

A: The fear is very legitimate and understandable given the past record of the LTTE. Nevertheless, the Tiger Leader has categorically stated that he is not for war but for negotiations. But if  war is thrust upon the LTTE and the Tamil people by the government’s delays, the non-cooperation of President Kumaratunga, and the provocation of the war mongering anti peace political forces in the south, I would not be surprised if the situation leads to the resumption of war once again. But our earnest hope is that the leadership on both sides will not take such  drastic action that would lead to destruction.

Q: Are you satisfied with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s efforts to bring about peace in Sri Lanka and the manner in which the peace process is being carried out?

A: We give credit to the Prime Minister for having taken a bold step to accept the ceasefire proposal of the LTTE and the decision to talk to the Tigers and negotiate with them. The Premier’s action certainly differs from that of President Kumaratunga’s ‘war for peace’ concept. Moreover, after a gap of so many years the Premier took another bold step to visit the north and east assuring the Tamil people peace. However, we are not happy with the present delay in implementing whatever that had been agreed upon during the peace negotiations. While understanding the opposition the Prime Minister has to face in the south we expect him to act decisively in the best interest of the Tamils in north and east to implement whatever that was discussed and agreed upon during the talks, thus paving the way for future talks.

Q: President Kumaratunga has threatened to de-merge the north east that was temporarily merged under the 1987 Indo-Lanka accord. How do you view this?

A: After the 1987 peace accord with the Indian government, the north east was merged and this has been accepted by the entire country and even a North East Provincial Council has been  functioning since then. I believe the merger of the north east is pivotal for a solution to the ethnic problem. Therefore, the President’s threat to de-merge the north east would only strike at the very heart of the problem for the restoration of peace in the country.

Q: Do you justify the Muslim claim that they too should be given a separate council within the north east?

A: The Muslim question is an important factor in solving the ethnic problem. They have been part and parcel of the north east, hence they should be first resettled in their places and they should also be made to feel that they are a part of the solution. The Leader of the LTTE has made known these facts and we feel patience on their part and being cautious about divisive factors trying to disturb their unity is important. We understand amongst them there are elements trying to disunite the party. So they must be more careful about these attempts and try to have a better focus on the whole process.

Q: The LTTE has clearly stated that unless there is consensus between the two major political parties in the south, there cannot be peace in Sri Lanka. They are also keen to ensure that both these parties accept whatever proposals they put forward on the interim administration. But in actual fact, both the PA and UNF do not seem to be able to arrive at a consensus on any issue. How do you think then peace could be achieved?

A: This is what our people who are interested in peace have been repeatedly saying. They have made it clear that there must be consensus between the PA and the UNP, between the President and the Prime Minister. If there is no consensus between these two forces it could be very difficult to arrive at a lasting solution to the ethnic problem. The long standing enmity between the major parties should be set aside for the sake of rebuilding the lost peace in our motherland.

The Prison’s Chief who seeks freedom for prisoners

By Marianne David

Commissioner General, Prisons Department, Rumy Marzook does not believe in imprisonment, opting instead to believe in alternate punishment such as compulsory community service.

“If a petty criminal is remanded because he can’t pay Rs. 1,000, his entire freedom is gone. He languishes in prison, his family falls apart and children run astray,” he says.

Marzook is the kind of man who does not sit back and wait for things to happen, choosing instead to make a difference — something he has done in a big way.

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