A step in the right direction

Reports indicate that President Mahinda Rajapaksa has invited the Tamil National Alliance MP’s for a discussion tomorrow. Though it was not clear what the scope of the discussion would be, it is definitely a timely move by the President to engage the elected representatives of the Tamil people at this crucial juncture. The meeting would be an opportunity for both the government and the TNA to move beyond their current frame of mind.
The government on one hand for the last three years has shown a single minded determination to defeat the LTTE militarily. While the government is now on the verge of achieving that goal it has lost much ground when it comes to the hearts and minds of the ordinary Tamil civilians. Though most of the southern populace has overwhelmingly backed the Rajapaksa administration in its war efforts, the Northern Tamils have had to bear the brunt of the difficulties that it has resulted in. Except for a small segment, almost the entire population of the Wanni has been displaced, some on multiple occasions, during the last three years with a reasonable number still living in a precarious situation trapped within the LTTE controlled territory. Death and destruction during this period of time has also been unprecedented. Countless number of people have been either killed, injured or displaced as a result of the government policy against terrorism. Though one might argue that the ends justify the means it may not be as simple for those who are on the receiving end of the equation. It has not only been the Tamils in the Wanni who have suffered during the past few years, many who had fled the fighting in the conflict zone with the hope of finding a safe haven in the capital have also been subjected to numerous difficulties and indignities.
Considering the strained relationship between the state and the Tamil community during the past few years it would be an understatement to say that it was about time that some sort of dialogue was initiated between the government and the representatives of the Tamil community.
This initiative offers the TNA a chance to rethink and redirect their policies as well. Since initially entering parliament as a single entity in 2004 the party has been considered a proxy of the LTTE, a label many in that party carried with much gusto except for a few veterans of the likes of Sambandan and Ponnambalam who were more or less forced into accepting the writ of the Tigers. These MPs who have been globetrotting accusing the Sri Lankan government of genocide and calling for sanctions while also advocating separatism in blatant violation of the constitution, now have a moment to reflect on their future course of action. They could either step up to their democratic role of representing the interests of the Tamil people who desperately need political representation or they could continue with their usual pro-LTTE rhetoric hoping for a miracle to resurrect the incapacitated Tiger at this late hour.
It is hoped that this meeting is not limited to an informal discussion but is taken a step further, perhaps to include the TNA in the APRC process. In deciding the fate of the citizenry of the north and east, it is best for all concerned if the government of the day got the inputs of the elected representatives of that region. It is also likely that given the fact that the LTTE has been significantly weakened, the organisation’s influence on the parliamentarians they helped get elected will also be reduced somewhat, allowing the more moderate Tamil political leadership to articulate the true aspirations of their people, sans LTTE coercion and pressure.
This would be a good opportunity for the government to demonstrate to the people of this country irrespective of race or religion and to the greater world, which is quite sceptical about the ethno-centric policies of this administration, that it is genuinely seeking a political solution to the ethnic problem. Though terrorism and the LTTE maybe defeated the root causes that made an educated, dignified and peaceful community produce the world’s most ruthless terrorist organisation are far from resolved. The grievances of the Tamil people could only be resolved across a negotiation table and not in the battlefields. The sooner that realty dawns on everyone concerned it would be better for our future generations.