Shadows forecast of things to come
Fireworks heralded the traditional New Year, and people got injured as they traditionally do. In the eastern city of Muttur, however, the people got injured, but the fireworks came from AK-47 automatic rifles.

The staccato sound of gunfire shattered the fragile peace hanging by a thread in the East. Not all the sermons for peace and ethnic harmony from religious leaders, the President, the Prime Minister nor civil society frontliners could prevent yet another bloodbath in predominantly Muslim, Muttur.

These were the grim reminders that even an year of a ceasefire, and rounds and rounds of negotiations in the capitals of the world have yet to take firm root especially in the Eastern Province of this country, where the Muslims and indeed the Sinhalese fear that a negotiated settlement with the LTTE would mean a sell-out of their safety and security.

The Muslim political leadership is in turmoil over events in the East revolving around the degree of powers that would be conferred to their bete noir - the LTTE. How much of this stems from genuine concern for their people, and how much is raw political opportunism is difficult sometimes to gauge, but the answer they believe is, what in effect, would be the creation of ethnic enclaves in a future Sri Lanka.

Federalism is being bandied about today like a freshly baked cake. The one remaining question seems to be whether the ingredients for the icing ought to come from Canada, Switzerland or South Africa.

There is one major thrust from Governments and Non-Government Organisations in this direction, but very little is being said about the efficacy and efficiency of the existing Provincial Councils, which is turning out to be one big, expensive fraud perpetrated on the people.

Unfolding events are focusing our attention only in one direction, and the country is heading in that direction like an unstoppable train. Federalism at all cost. Federalism at whatever the price of inefficiency. Federalism, come what may.

Arguably the best form of devolution so far presented - using a manageable unit with a name that removes the unsavoury tag of ethnicity attached to it, emphasising the very purpose of such a unit - the District Development Councils invoked by President J.R. Jayewardene, have, alas, been thrown into the limbo of forgotten things.

The LTTE-led attack on the Muslims of Muttur co-incided with the US 'crystal clear' position on the self-styled liberation movement, stamped a terrorist organisation by Washington.

"The LTTE must unequivocally renounce terrorism, in word and deed" the US Under Secretary of State told a seminar in his capital. Within 24-hours what happened in Muttur happened.

The gunfire in Muttur is only an indicator of things to come - of 'border' skirmishes around ethnic enclaves; of holy wars; and what-not that we witness happening around the world.

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