Sri Lankan imbroglio

SRI LANKAN CRISIS — Anatomy of Ethnicity, Peace and Security: M. S. Kulandaswamy; Authorspress, E 35/103, Jawahar Park (Shree Ganesh Complex), Laxmi Nagar, Delhi-110092. Rs. 475.

NOT JUST the Sri Lankan Government, even authors are running out of ideas when it comes to writing books on the ethnic strife in the island nation. But there seems to be no end to the publications on the problem.

If anything, the recent daring attack on the Katunayake airport by the LTTE, the putting off of the referendum by the President and the stalemate in the peace process should provide more fodder to writers. Perhaps because it came before all this, the book under review stops with the peace initiative and the Indian offer to play an "honest broker" and mediate among all parties.

Apart from providing a chronological sequence of the turmoil in the island and taking a look at the problem of the other "Tamils'', including plantation workers, the author has taken a look at the ethnicity angle and the security perceptions.It is an exhaustive canvas starting from the problem of refugees and going up to the Indian Peace Keeping Force. The chapter on the "Unending war'' can take care of the situation for some time to come and remains an appropriate end to any book.

Quite apart from the academic or diplomatic interest, it is about time that not just India, but the international community took a more active interest in finding a solution to Sri Lanka's ethnic question. This is not to suggest any interventionist approach or active involvement of a third party.

Since both the LTTE and the Government in Colombo have run out of ideas and are unable to strike an ideal common ground to restart negotiations, the only way out seems to be for the international community to step up the pressure on both sides to at least begin "talks about talks''.

The Sri Lankan Government has been wanting to and is even ready to begin another peace process; but it does not want any conditions from the LTTE side. The donor countries and other friends have maintained some pressure on Colombo to talk. What is missing is an equal pressure on the LTTE to come to the negotiating table with an open mind.

Once the talks begin, the climate for its smooth progress can be ensured by all parties concerned. Especially with the possibility of a national government assuming office in Sri Lanka, to overcome the constitutional impasse in Parliament, there could be a real chance to press ahead with a compromise and a national consensus on the ethnic issue.

If the Government and the political parties need the political will to solve the problem, the LTTE must come to terms with reality — political and democratic truths — so that it can decide to give up terrorism and violence and put the people it claims to represent, first. Can the LTTE really accept peace and a political settlement? That is the question, just as the Tamil political parties keep reminding that no previous Sinhalese Government has kept its word or promises to the Tamils.

V. JAYANTH

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