|
|
 |
 |
|||
Dr. Nihal
Jayawickrema, a Sri Lankan lawyer at a workshop in London stated that the
Sri Lankan peace process now with the UNP support was very optimistic. The
workshop "India, Sri Lanka and the Tamil Crisis 1976-1994" was
organised by the Institute of Commonwealth Studies (ICS). The event was
chaired by Richard Bourne of the Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit. Liz
Philipson from the LSE pointed out to the present government's four stage
process (PA, PA and the Tamil parties, PA and the UNP and finally PA and
the LTTE) is an improvement on the last attempt, but that she still had
reservations on the linear process of negotiations. She
emphasized the need for a long term framework and explained that Sri Lanka
was plagued with "reactive policy" which takes one towards war,
rather than peace. However,
she questioned the capabilities of those who are sent by the government as
"negotiators". While she acknowledged that government's
negotiating team comprised of educated liberals, she pointed out that they
were not trained in the art of "negotiation" and as a result may
have failed to engage the opposition effectively. Philipson
shifting on to a more wider perspective went on to say that the Colombo
newspapers do not care, or highlight human issues in the North and East
and that there is a de-facto political divide, which goes against the
governments assertion that it is one country. "The whole dynamic of
community polarization has to be addressed". Dpouglas
Wickremeratne, a Sinhala activist stated that Norway was not a neutral
party as it had a large number of Tamil immigrants and went on to
highlight acts of terrorism by the LTTE, child soldiers and the recent
civilian casualties as a result of bus bombs. Richard
Bourne of the commonwealth Policy Studies Unit emphasized the need to move
and look forward, if peace is to be the objective.
|
|
Contact Information: Send
mail to