This column hoped the end of the war would result in mainstream discussions moving onto what comes next. It has not quite gone that far yet. This column is privy to and is involved in many a struggle to recover. One aspect of which is the use of principles.

A key component for recovery is the assistance we receive. To ensure the terms are fair the UN in 2007 organised a meeting called the Global Humanitarian Platform Meeting in Geneva. A paper was presented by Antonio Donini, Senior Researcher, Feinstein International Center, Tufts University, titled ‘Making Our Principles Work In The Real World.’ It says, "the official humanitarian enterprise remains a select club in which the rules are set by a rather peculiar set of players who are generally far-removed from the realities of the people they purport to help. Like it or not, humanitarian action is part of global governance, if not of global government (Kennedy, 2004).

"Even when it is not instrumentalised for political purposes, humanitarianism remains a dominant discourse. It lives in parallel with, and is sometimes subordinated to, processes of economic governance, political containment strategies, and military action that are functional to the interests of the global north."

The Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies (CHA) and this columnist have been punished on several occasions for attempting to:

A colleague, Harsha Navaratne fired on all cylinders recently on this theme. This column stands by his assertions. What is most galling is to be told that experiences acquired over 25 years cannot be applied. That we must stay in compartments defined by someone else controlling the purse strings.

To deny ones right to develop and thereby disempower is one of the worst forms of colonisation. Regrettably many of us do not work in government. If we had any say, the rectification suggested would be decisive. It however does not preclude us from showing what it rotten amongst us.

Sir John Holmes did his utmost to ensure the anomalies referred in the quoted passage earlier were addressed and the meeting adopted what was called the, Principles of Partnership - A Statement of Commitment, Endorsed by the Global Humanitarian Platform, July 12, 2007.

The Global Humanitarian Platform, created in July 2006, brings together UN and non-UN humanitarian organisations on an equal footing.

Striving to enhance the effectiveness of humanitarian action, based on an ethical obligation and accountability to the populations we serve.

Acknowledging diversity as an asset of the humanitarian community and recognising the interdependence among humanitarian organisations.

Committed to building and nurturing an effective partnership.

The organisations participating in the Global Humanitarian Platform agree to base their partnership on the following principles:

• Equality

Equality requires mutual respect between members of the partnership irrespective of size and power. The participants must respect each other’s mandates, obligations and independence and recognise each other’s constraints and commitments. Mutual respect must not preclude organisations from engaging in constructive dissent.

• Transparency

Transparency is achieved through dialogue (on equal footing), with an emphasis on early consultations and early sharing of information. Communications and transparency, including financial transparency, increase the level of trust among organisations.

• Result-oriented approach

Effective humanitarian action must be reality-based and action-oriented. This requires result-oriented coordination based on effective capabilities and concrete operational capacities.

• Responsibility

Humanitarian organisations have an ethical obligation to each other to accomplish their tasks responsibly, with integrity and in a relevant and appropriate way. They must make sure they commit to activities only when they have the means, competencies, skills, and capacity to deliver on their commitments. Decisive and robust prevention of abuses committed by humanitarians must also be a constant effort.

• Complementary

The diversity of the humanitarian community is an asset if we build on our comparative advantages and complement each other’s contributions. Local capacity is one of the main assets to enhance and on which to build. Whenever possible, humanitarian organisations should strive to make it an integral part in emergency response. Language and cultural barriers must be overcome.

Which brings this column to another dimension. That is to ask who will stand to lose if wars end.

There are many who gained, who fuel, who lose if the old status quo ends. This columnist included was foolish as not to factor this angle last week. It though has begun to transpire that efforts are indeed underfoot to attempt the regrouping of actors who cause significant damage once more. This is a natural phenomenon seen the world over.

Wars breed and at times are driven by interest groups. Ours was no different. It would be a terrible tragedy if follies of old were to allow dissent to fester, legitimate claims to go unanswered, justice to be denied, grossly unfair practices to govern our recovery and principles compromised or worst to be ignored. The path to making a difference is partially in our hands, while the rest is offshore. The 180 day countdown will partially bring out the winners and losers in the contest for principles and its dividends.

A private donor has enabled the construction of 30 sets , each close on 45kg in weight of Hindu idols and the provision with a few others for 15 Christian places of worship to be located in the zones for IDPs.

To quote a Christian message, we hope that the gestures above will, hold true when one says, ‘Stars do not struggle to shine; rivers do not struggle to flow, and you will never struggle to excel in life, because you deserve the best. Hold on to your dreams and it shall be well with you... Amen.’

‘The eyes beholding this message shall not behold evil, the hand that will send this message to others shall not labour in vain, the mouth saying Amen to this prayer shall laugh forever, and remain in God’s love.’