Sri Lanka: Report urges understanding of Sinhala

Friday, 09 November 2007

A report from the International Crisis Group says that lasting peace in Sri Lanka will require understanding of Sinhala nationalism and its grievances

The report, entitled "Sri Lanka: Sinhala Nationalism and the Elusive Southern Consensus," argues that the Sinhalese are not opposed to a fair deal for the minority Tamils but that they will continue to challenge attempts to produce a political settlement by Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse until Sinhalese nationalism is taken more seriously, the International Crisis Group reported.

Rajapakse's decision to rely on hard-line Sinhala nationalist parties has left him with little option other than to try to defeat the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam militarily despite his stated commitment to a political solution. Critics argue that because of the civilian deaths associated with the militant LTTE Tamil operations, many consider the group a terrorist organization.

“Moving away from the unitary state is the only viable basis for resolving the conflict politically," Alan Keenan, International Crisis Group’s senior analyst in Colombo, said in statement. "Nothing less has the chance of strengthening the non-LTTE Tamil parties and opening up a new, broader political agenda for constitutional reform endorsed by Muslim, Tamil and Sinhala parties."

Critics say a new approach is needed that addresses Sinhalese fears and that Sri Lanka’s international backers will need to persuade Rajapakse to compromise by dropping reference to the unitary state.

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Kingsly said:

At last some people are touching on the right spot. It is patently clear that the Sinhala Nationalist leaders have both an inherent fear of being conquered by others and an inherent desire to have a 'Sulu Jathiya' under their command for the becks and calls (cosmetic). Funny mixture of fear and desire, but it is there. There are times that some leaders occasionally relize the folly and try to make amends. Such a situation becomes a good launching pad for the extremist elements like JVP, JHU etc. to make themselves popular by inciting communal hatred and branding the peacemakers as traitors. Now they are caught in the trap they have set. The popularity of the JVP is at the lowest ebb, and JHU -zero, they have even brought the sanctity of the religion down. It is well known that Mahinda had made several attempts to make peace. But his own survival as a leader was politically and physically threatened by these factors making him to retract.
It is time some inteliigentia come out in the open call what is black is black and white is white! The crisis group has done well, keep up the good work!!!

2007-11-10 02:20:35

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