The President’s thrust for reconciliation between the Tamils and the Sinhalese

by Gnana Moonesinghe

This is neither the first nor will it be the last time when the reconciliation process will be placed for public review. In line with such a process, President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s call for reconciliation will not have fresh resonance. But the earnestness of the president’s call for reconciliation cannot be denied.

He has given special emphasis to the review of areas around reconciliation – legislation, institutional activities and those related to the release of prisoners as well as decentralization. Such a detailed program is necessary for the successful implementation of a process to implement reconciliation. Failure to follow through on them wherever necessary can result in whatever discussed being no more than loose talk without a trace of responsibility.

Many important issues of vital interest to the minority have been taken up by the president. Prisoner release is an issue that the minority Tamils have been engaged in with a great deal of feeling; decentralization of power is yet another area of interest to Tamils. It was clear to those engaged in the reconciliation process that the exercise of power has to be decentralized for any resolution of the Tamil – Sinhala problem.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission, establishment of a National Land Council (the availability of land has been a bone of contention to both sides) and the Tamils accusing the army or the majoritarians of appropriating their lands have grown this issue. The president’s reaction was to draw up a National Land Policy which could be used as a reference document. A land policy so marked out will also give credence to the reconciliation efforts that is underway.

The installation of the Office of Missing Persons set up on the president’s suggestion includes issuance of certificates for missing persons who cannot be traced and issuing certificates for leave of absence from employment. This will help to strengthen relations between the Tamil population and the majority as this would indeed be a legitimate step to pacify the minority Tamils grieving missing persons that run into thousands on a count by the Tamils.

Parents, wives or husbands of those missing were unable to complete their customary rituals for the departed and this left them in limbo so to say. Recognizing the significance of this issue to the reconciliation process, President Wickremesinghe requested a comprehensive report on the progress of these programs within the next two to three months. He was also willing to issue certificates for leave of absence from work in this regard.

 Other concerns of the president was in the resettlement of displaced persons, releasing privately owned lands and addressing Mahaveli land concerns . Wickremesinghe asked relevant officers not only to report on these matters but to devise measures to resolve them. What is of importance in this is that the above request indicates that all this was not meant to be a talk shop but meant to seriously look for resolution of issues referred to above. He also wanted the release of political prisoners to be speeded up.

The participation level was expected to be comprehensive to secure plans for action as well as for the forward movement of provincial governance procedures. For example the following personnel were included. The Executive Director of the Missing Persons Office, District Secretaries of Jaffna, Mannar,

Vavuniya, Mullativu and Kilinochchi as well as senior officials from Batticaloa, Amparai and Trincomalee. The Land Commissioners of Trincomalee, Eastern and Northern provinces were expected to join the discussion via zoom technology.

A few criticisms of the above procedures are that nowhere among the above proposals are references to a dialogue with the Tamil minority leaders or with the Tamils in general. A war ensued for about three decades and cost the state and Tamils hugely. Yet none of the parties to the confrontation were willing to compromise.

It is vital for the sake of durability of the reconciliation process to get the Tamil opinions before reaching conclusions. The president in all sincerity, I believe, wants to resolve this problem that has been the biggest obstacle to the development of the nation. He knows this problem has been festering for long and cannot be resolved without going deep down to its roots. Its ramifications affect the entirety of Sri Lankan society.

Jaffna people are suffering. A significant number of households in the north are led by women including widows and those whose husbands are missing. Many women for want of money are said to be forced into the sex trade. Poverty is at an intolerable level. Land and the missing persons factor are serious problems. While writing this I read in the daily Financial Times (Sept.14) a column captioned “SL rejects UNHRC High Commissioner’s written update.” I must admit that I found a lot of substance in the comments of different countries.

We have always gone along with a general statements affirming that “tangible progress was made through domestic institutions.” Has the claim of economic and financial stabilization achieved in the past year contributed adequately to the development efforts in the North and East? True, the country has shown tremendous resilience in upholding democratic traditions but this does not apply to the minority who have been denied their human rights and of democratic rights in general.

The statements regarding the establishment of the Constitutional Council, adoption of the new anti-corruption law, developing anti terrorism legislation and strengthening accountability will yield results if effectively promoted. However, if people are given high hopes of the resolution of human rights issues and then let down, the result will not only be negative but also remain counterproductive. Amendment of the Prevention of Terrorism Act to rid it of its weaknesses without adding to them will be encouraging. The attempt to establish a Cabinet Sub-Committee on Reconciliation and an Office for Overseas Sri Lankans is commendable.

So many moves are contemplated by the president and even if only a few are successful it will be a significant movement in the right direction. I believe that Ranil Wickremesinghe’s overall success in his tenure as president will depend on his approach to the ethnic problem. He must interact with the Tamil people and not just the leaders who have their own agenda. This problem will have to be worked out with those that represent the Tamil viewpoints and those representing the majority for a successful resolution of a problem hindering SL from progressing as a united nation.