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Featured Article: Strengthening the CFA is the need of the hour

Sunday, 08 April 2007

Following the signing of the Ceasefire Agreement between the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE, there had been peace in Sri Lanka for 4 years. There had been considerable development during that period.

But, what happened after that has made the CFA a dead letter and it has brought the country to ruin. IF the CFA, that was a turning point the history of this country, had been adhered to, the present unfortunate situation would not have arisen.

It is accepted by all parties, all sections of the society and the international community that there is no military solution to the problem. Therefore, it is by strengthening the Ceasefire Agreement that we can find a political solution.

But, unfortunately the voice against the CFA is loudly heard in the South resulting in a political opinion to hold a referendum on the CFA. In fact, some extreme forces insist on the abrogation of the CFA. They also demand that Norway must be expelled from the peace process.

It must also be noted that S.P.Thamilselvan, the LTTE Political Wing Leader, has given a note of warning that if the CFA is abandoned, it would tantamount to a declaration of war.

He has also emphasized that any peace negotiations in the future will have to be on the basis of the CFA. He has declared that it was the position of the LTTE.

He stated that the CFA signed between them and the government with the international support was essential to create an atmosphere conducive to re-commence peace negotiations.

As far as possible, the government must take steps to strengthen and re-activate the Ceasefire Agreement and find a lasting peace in the island.

An English translation of the Editorial in Virakesari, a Tamil daily, based in Colombo

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jay said:

The CFA is the only instrument that the government and the Tamil population currently has, which hold the key to the peace.

Looking into the past, in so many years of struggle there was not one government who had the capacity or political maturity to even propose a workable solution to end the conflict. All these governments did was leave the problem as it is and let the war to go on for whatever their reasons, be it the lack of requisite ability, intelligence, political will or for personal reasons. In short the Srilankans in the south were not able to produce a mature capable leader of international stature. Countries like Singapore also had diverse societies and faced more complex problems, some of them of ethnic nature but they had produced leaders who had the foresight, the ingenuity and ability to bring the races together, recognized their aspirations and together had built a modern society and today these countries stand tall and their economic properity speak for themselves. The Srilankan Tamils who also make up a small community in these countries have been given recognition due to their ability to progress and produce wealth and have been treated as equals. Today, they are living as respectable people side by side with other communities, many of them are holding positions in high esteem. Unfortunately, this is not the same in their country of origin. Sadly, all these were due to the Srilankans in the south were not able to produce one capable leader; the governing body itself did not even have a good team to advise the leader or manage the country.

The only one good thing that came out during the previous UNP government's term of office was the CFA, which made it possible for both parties to atleast to come to the negotiating table. The situation was slowly returning to normalcy inspite of squabbles happening from time to time. But the present government broke all the pledges and went on an ethnic cleansing military operation by mass murdering, pilfering and destroying the Tamil population in the North and East.

So, it is important that the current leadership understands this and revive the CFA and build on from where they have left. This is also the very opinion of the UN and the International community and the only way out given the circumstances.

2007-04-11 14:39:27