The Hindu : Sri Lankans take out peace rally

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Sep 10, 2002

International

International

Sri Lankans take out peace rally

By V.S.Sambandan

COLOMBO. Sept. 9. Thousands of people from all over Sri Lanka gathered here today in a massive show of public backing for the ongoing peace process.

The ``People's Strength'' rally had a single common point. To impress upon the President, Chandrika Kumaratunga, that the present peace process had the people's backing. Speakers from parties in the ruling United National Front (UNF) such as the Tamil National Alliance, workers' representatives and the war-disabled, stressed the point that the ongoing peace efforts should continue.

The rally comes close on the heels of de-proscription of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Hardliners, including the left-radical Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and Buddhist monks had taken out a procession against the move to de-proscribe the Tigers. However, the Defence Minister, Tilak Marapana, in keeping with a commitment given by the Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremasinghe, de-proscribed the LTTE through a gazette notification on September 4. The rally was also a reflection of the feel-good factor that is now sweeping across the island, following the silencing of the guns of war earlier this year. A ceasefire agreement, signed independently by the Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremasinghe, and the LTTE leader, V. Prabakaran, is in operation. Moreover, direct talks are scheduled to start between Colombo and the Tigers in Thailand in a week from now.

The ``People's Strength'' rally is also aimed at bringing pressure on the President, who is empowered to dissolve Parliament after it completes a year. The Wickremasinghe administration had proposed to move a constitutional amendment bill, which will bar the President from dissolving the House after a year.

The Cabinet spokesperson, G.L. Peiris, who will be leading the Government's delegation in direct talks with the Tigers, has made the point that parliamentary stability was vital for the peace process to continue. The President's powers of dissolution, Prof. Peiris — who is also Minister of Constitutional Affairs — said was akin to "the sword of Damocles'', which was hanging over Parliament. The President has written to the Speaker that she would not dissolve Parliament as long as the Government enjoys a majority in the House. Unsatisfied, the UNF has decided to move the constitutional amendment later this month. The People's Alliance, led by Ms. Kumaratunga, has decided to oppose the amendment.

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