More to this than meets the eye

One of the themes of the ongoing peace process, is that there may be vast economic possibilities that are pushing the Vanni towards peace. There is the story about old Arrack sold in the Vanni — brewed over there — but with the distilleries Corporation label stuck on the bottle. It is almost a metaphor for "peace-headiness.'' But, the other story about this ceasefire is that the man in the Vanni will be able to see what prosperity is on the vaguely described "other side.''

But rarely are refugees enthused by people who look at them with the curiosity reserved for zoo animals. Hearts and minds of people who are treated as anthropological curiosities, definitely cannot be won. 

But if the Norwegians are like anthropological curiosities for the people of the Vanni, the people of the Vanni are anthropological curiosities for the Norwegians. Peace is definitely about bridging differences. But this peace process is also about bridging cultural differences.

The chosen garb of the UNF leadership is black coat and tie. The Norwegians do not wear a Kurtha, even in the noonday heat of Mullativu. In the Vanni, the best fun that can be had is without your pants off – for the simple reason that the Vanni is parched and scorching, both in a literal and metaphorical sense. 

So, this peace imagery is not just about LTTE and state identities, it is also suffused with the symbolism of the cultural divide. Norway and the black coats on the one side – on the other, the refugees, the "just awoken'' souls of the Vanni on their bicycles and pushcarts, and of course the Boys who run their lives. 

When the peace symbolism is fraught with such separate cultural identities, it is bound to arouse many emotions such as envy, and mutual suspicion. There is enough mutual mistrust as it is — without adding to it by having the element of culture shock fixed to this whole drama in the bargain. The culture shock of Colombo-ites going to Pasikudah on a peace safari, the culture shock of seeing white people getting tanned in the Vanni with their business suits on – and so on…

Somebody might ask, though, what there is to cavil about a suit and a picnic to the Vanni, when the more important questions are about negotiations, 'conflict resolution' and ultimately, a serendipitous peace. But, it is not for nothing that this whole peace exercise is called a "peace-process.'' The process is as important as the peace, for the simple reason that one cannot pretend that the "process'' does not matter in hatching the peace. True, "hatching the peace'' will sound a gross way of describing what is seen now in many quarters as a humbling, ennobling and almost sacred process. 

That's the humbugs version of the peace. It is sanctimonious Tommy-rot, because any peace, even a temporary short-lived peace, will have to be worked out by bringing various diverse and disparate forces into some sort of equilibrium. In the South, the peace process is seen — among other things – as a foreign plot that's carried out through elite proxies, sartorially represented by the black coated gentry of the UNF. Right or wrong, that perception in the South is prevalent, and has been given voice to on more than one occasion now, by some of the most strident critics of this peace effort. 

But, what the UNF is saying, for it's part, is that it is not posturing. The UNF seems to be conveying the message – look, there is no artifice in this. We are with the Norwegians. We are the elite. We are in suit and tie, so why do you see a plot in this when we are not hiding anything from you? Jointly and severally, Ranil Wickremesinghe and his coterie are fond of quoting Churchill. When a reporter walked in on Churchill during a particularly trying time during WW2, Churchill was said to be in the buff, enjoying his bath. But, he still welcomed the reporter, it is said, with the words "England has nothing to hide.'' It's the kind of quote this UNF dispensation will die for.

But, in the South they will say the Emperor has no clothes on at all. Gunadasa Amarasekera says "diyaredden bella kapanawa,'' in the idiom that's best left unexplained. This time around, the polarizations are stronger than ever. It's not just that the South has progressively grown sceptical about peace over the years, it is also that the UNP is identified as dodgy when it comes to matters that concern the suzerainty of the Sinhala Southerner. It is all the more reason that the UNF seeks to occupy the other pole, in this classic antipodal confrontation. The strident South wants to distance itself form the UNF as much as possible. 

The UNF wants to distance itself as much as possible from the strident South, part as dare, and part because pretence won't help. The UNF is too identified with this peace effort now, for better or for worse.