If one perceives that the ceasefire agreement is in force and that therefore there is no full scale war in the country, then, he is sadly mistaken. Today’s reality is that both the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE have steered all their military resources towards a full scale war in the North–East.

In recent months there was a shadow war, a low intensity war and a limited war between the government and the LTTE despite the ceasefire agreement, but, today, there is a full scale war.

What we cannot understand is how there can be a full scale war when a cease fire agreement monitored by the International community is still in force.

During the last four years, although there had been occasions for a collapse of the agreement, it survived due to the pressure on both sides by the international community. But today the influence of the IC looks fragile. Even the United States, the European Union, Japan and Norway seem to be helpless.

In the present situation, any future ceasefire arrangement would rather be suspect.

What is clear is, any ceasefire agreement can only be formidable only when it emerges as a product of a mass movement and mass struggle for the establishment of the peace in the island. It is evident that peace is what the majority of the people in this country long for. We need a powerful force for peace.

The National Movement against War led by Dr.Kumar Rupasinghe is to demonstrate the first phase of the mass struggle for peace on August 17th in Colombo. It is essential that all sections of the society extend their co-operation, setting aside political and other differences.

An English translation of the editorial of Sunday Thinakkural, Tamil daily based in Colombo

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