When the ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party and the opposition United National Party signed a Memorandum of Understanding, there was speculation that this could be a new turning point in history.

It was expected that when these two parties who had been confronting each other for about 55years rally together and form an alliance, there could be a congenial atmosphere to resolve the national conflict, paving way to develop the country.

Now, fears are expressed whether this alliance between the UNP and the SLFP can last long and whether mutual understanding can continue. The MOU between both parties for a period of only two years was signed to enable President Rajapakse to ensure the survival of his government and to save the UNP from disintegration.

But as far as the Tamils are concerned, both parties have been responsible for oppressing them and depriving them of their rights, whenever in power. Therefore, the Tamils never hope that any MOU or any absence of MOU between them can make any difference.

A senior member of the UNP and Parliamentarian Laxman Kiriella has warned that the MOU between the two parties is going to crumble. He has cited the failure of the SLFP government to take the peace process forward following the alliance with the UNP.

He has charged that President Rajapakse is not explicitly clear as to whether he is for war or peace? He has also cited that following the closure of the A9 highway, the people of the Jaffna peninsula are suffering without food.

He has also accused that while the UNP government was successful in the peace efforts, the government of Mahinda Rajapakse has plunged the country into a war situation resulting in increasing terrorism and economic decline.

His final accusation is that due to the hard-line approach of President Rajapakse, LTTE leader Pribaharan is now demanding a separate state. Therefore, it is clear that whether the MOU between these two parties is in force or not, country is plunged into a war situation. The proposal of the government to impose a ban on the LTTE is towards that end.

An English translation of the Editorial in Uthayan, a Tamil daily, based in Jaffna

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