Kadirgamar
killing: Centre for Policy Alternatives pins blame on LTTE
The Centre for Policy Alternatives has condemned the killing of
Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar as a brutal and cowardly act
and said it was a grim reminder that the three years following the
ceasefire agreement have not gone beyond the state of a `negative
peace’ or what is called a `No War No Peace’ syndrome.
The
CPA said in a statement that Mr. Kadirgamar was a champion of the
unity of Sri Lanka, worked for a just, democratic and durable peace,
and was universally recognized as the best Foreign Minister this
country has had.
“His brutal assassination tragically underscores the obstacles
to making peace in Sri Lanka and the imperative of addressing them
as a matter of the utmost priority”, the statement signed
by Executive Director Pakiasothy Saravanamuttu said.
“While
an all-out war was brought to a halt by the ceasefire agreement
more than three years ago and six sessions of negotiations took
place between the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and the Liberation
Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE) before they were suspended over two
years ago, violations of the ceasefire agreement with a direct and
adverse impact on the state of human rights and human security,
continue unabated. Political killings and child conscription with
impunity, in particular, despite condemnations from civil society
and the international community, have weighed heavily on the peace
process and eroded broad support for even ‘negative’
peace”, the statement said.
“In
this, the LTTE has to shoulder the primary responsibility just as
much as the assassination of Lakshman Kadirgamar has all the hallmarks
of an LTTE act of terrorism, despite its arrogant denials. The burden
now lies with the GoSL and the investigating authorities to come
out with conclusive evidence that can stand the test of judicial
proceedings and the due process of law. Furthermore, they must take
all measures to apprehend, convict and punish the perpetrators of
this dastardly crime, including the conspirators and, in particular,
those who masterminded it. The fact that the LTTE is a party to
the peace process should not in any way prevent or impede the investigative
and judicial process. And, the LTTE, if as it claims was not responsible,
must surely cooperate with the investigations rather than “challenge”
the authorities to find the culprits”, the statement said.
“In
addition to the above, a primary responsibility lies with the GOSL
and the LTTE to engage in principled negotiations and to conduct
the peace process in a manner that is sustainable and open to scrutiny.
The battle between State sovereignty and LTTE’s pursuit of
legitimacy and a Tamil Statehood, has relegated to the background
the critical task of finding a just and durable solution to the
Ethnic Question that involves all legitimate stakeholders in the
country and which is based on power-sharing, autonomy, democracy
and human rights”, the statement added.
“Unfortunately,
the peace process has hardly moved beyond the stage of the big guns
falling silent, while attacks on human rights and human security
continue unabated and with impunity. The peace process has also
not moved beyond the exploration of interim structures to deal with
immediate humanitarian needs to addressing the root causes of the
conflict and to redressing them. We consider the peace process to
be flawed and call on Norway to consider redesigning it in consultation
with the GOSL, LTTE and all legitimate stakeholders in this country.
In this context we welcome the possibility of the signatories of
the Ceasefire Agreement meeting to review it. However, we note that
a fundamental review and redesign of the peace process is crucially
necessary”, the CPA said.
“This
should take into account the need for principled negotiations to
advance the process to a conclusion, rather than rely on a series
of interim and ad hoc measures. The ultimate responsibility lies
not only with the parties to the conflict and negotiations (i.e.
GOSL, LTTE and Norway) but with all sections of the Sri Lankan polity
and civil society to ensure and guarantee the above. A heavy burden
also lies with the international community, given that the peace
process is heavily internationalized. The international community
has to extend its fullest support to the above process, including,
if need be, sanctions. The Oslo Communiqué and the Tokyo
Declaration we believe, continue to have relevance and should inform
the peace process”, the statement said.
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