There are reports that higher echelons of the government contemplate proscribing the LTTE. This matter was discussed in detail at the cabinet meeting chaired by President Rajapakse.

The reports also say that the government is quite keen on imposing the ban with the condition to give up violence. In any event, it is learnt that this will not be implemented forthwith.

JVP and the Hela Urumaya that adopt a hard-line approach pressurized the government to ban LTTE with immediate effect. They held a demonstration and a procession to air this view.

Whether the government will make a decision immediately or later is of little importance. What is of great importance is that the government has addressed its mind to the question of banning the LTTE.

It must not be forgotten that any government ban on the LTTE will close the door for negotiations for all times. It only means that the matter then will have to be sorted out only through a war.

If the LTTE is banned, then there is no scope for any peace talks. With the ban staring at them, can the both parties, the government and the LTTE face each other, sit around the table and discuss peace in a cordial atmosphere. That is the crucial issue that has arisen for the peace loving citizens to ponder upon.

In 1998, the then government of Sri Lanka imposed a ban on the LTTE. But one month before the signing of the Ceasefire agreement, the ban was lifted. It was only then that it became possible for the government and the LTTE to participate in talks as equals.

Although the talks did not yield good results the talks were official and there was mutual respect shown to each other. There was decorum in the talks during these four years.

Having realized this, Chandrika invited Norway as peace facilitator and commenced peace talks. But, she too portrayed herself as peace maker only to get funds from foreign countries. Thereafter Ranil Wicremasinghe came into the scene. He wanted to enter into a Ceasefire agreement with the LTTE. Therefore, he lifted the ban and created a condusive atmosphere for talks. But due to his certain dubious strategies, the talks could not be meaningful. It is recent history.

This proposed ban reflects Chandrika’s philosophy of war for peace. If the ban is imposed the CFA will become meaningless and dead. There will be a full scale war resulting in disaster. Therefore, the peace loving people in the country and the peace loving international community must act before time runs out.

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

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