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Does
ISGA mean parity of status? These LTTE proposals for direct control over the North and East provinces (ISGA) were first introduced almost a year ago, causing such a flutter in the then Government's camp that three cabinet ministers took a helicopter and journeyed down to the jungles of the Wanni to plead that the LTTE downgrade their outlandish demands for self-rule. The then Opposition went to town, and overseas, calling the ISGA a blue-print for a separate state and made it their platform for a successful campaign to convince the country that the Government was about to divide this country into two. The LTTE meanwhile upgraded their demand, suddenly taking up the position that negotiations for a political settlement to the country's 20 year- plus insurgency must be on the basis of ISGA, no less. No other proposals were to be entertained. This clearly embarrassed the new Government which had howled of a sell-out via the ISGA. Gradually, they kept shifting from their hard-line no-compromise protests on ISGA while in Opposition, to a softer and still softer line of agreeing to discuss the ISGA ( the blueprint for a separate state ) provided their own proposals were also on the table. But for the stubborn resistance of the JVP, a main element in the new Government, the LTTE's equally stubborn insistence that the ISGA be the basis for discussion might have prevailed. To get out of this log-jam, the GOSL now announces that they will present a set of counter-proposals to the ISGA. The LTTE's response has been confusing. While their political chiefs in Europe vacillate between flexibility and 'ISGA or nothing', their deputies in the Wanni say that the GOSL proposals are quite unnecessary as the ISGA will form the basis of talks - if talks resume. Our Political Editor who has just spoken to the Norwegian facilitator involved in breaking this jam quotes him as saying that a " fresh initiative " is being taken. This country and her people remain in the dark to what he is privy to. All we can guess is that the Norwegians are twisting the arms of both parties. To the GOSL they seem to say; " If you want at least the first tranche of that US$ 3 Billion aid pack - then go for it ," and to the LTTE, "You want to be banned in Europe as well, chum? Otherwise go for it." So what we will probably see in coming weeks is a scaling-down by both parties. The issue here, however, is something else. Should the GOSL submit 'counter-proposals'? Or should the GOSL be the ones presenting proposals and the LTTE presenting counter-proposals, the ISGA or any such blue-print for a separate state. Minister Samaraweera's pronouncement that the GOSL will be submitting 'counter-proposals' is tantamount to a forfeiture of sovereign Government's right to do the proposing in the negotiating process of so crucial an issue. To accept the LTTE's ISGA as 'the' proposals is to virtually cow down to the LTTE in Round One of the negotiations. In their blind desperation to show results, is not the GOSL surrendering a right of a sovereign state? This is not splitting hairs. In the least, this is an inappropriate practice with which to commence negotiations. Simply because it impliedly accords a status of parity to a rebel group which continues to challenge the sovereignty of the state being in de-facto control of its territory. If the objective is the restoration of law and order in the country, and the rectification of grievances of a section of the community, these ' peace talks ' should be a mode of ascertaining the views and grievances of the disaffected group and not be termed ' negotiations '. The end result should not take the form of an 'agreement ' with a rebel group, but a unilateral announcement by the state as to the nature of the new status-quo. A GOSL communique announcing the changes would, if the talks are successful, state that the LTTE has accepted them and an announcement by the various Governments that have expressed their interest should publicly approve and support the action of the GOSL. Instead, what have we come to? The GOSL prepared to submit, so meekly, a set of 'counter-proposals' to a blueprint for a separate state in the form of the ISGA. Step-by-step along this hard and tortuous route to peace, the GOSL has bent backwards giving the LTTE the upper hand to dismiss with contempt, all Government efforts to win peace, peacefully. But in the long run is the Government only doing the process a disservice in acting the way it has? Is it too late to retrace our steps? Are we not losing our way more than a bit? |
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