Peace Process in Sri Lanka – I: Past Perfect Sense
28 Feb, 2002 · 712
N Manoharan argues that history is a good teacher in guiding future course of negotiations in Sri Lanka
Year
|
Regime
|
Venue
|
External Actor
|
Outcome
|
Reasons for the Failure
|
1984
|
UNP under Jeyewardena
|
Thimpu
|
|
None
|
1. Absence of commitmentto peace process and faith in each other.
2. Mutually exclusive demands.
|
1987
|
UNP under Jeyewardena
|
|
|
Indo-Sri Lankan Accord
|
1. Indian neutrality as mediator doubted.
2. Non-abiding with the Accord by LTTE and resistance by Sinhala nationalistforces.
3. Solution perceived as an imposition by the LTTE.
|
1989-90
|
UNP under Premadasa
|
|
None (but
|
Short-term peace escalating later into conflict
|
1.Lack of trust.
2.Talks only for short-term gain (drive out IPKF) and not for enduringpeace.
|
1994-95
|
PA under Chandrika Kumaratunga
|
|
None
|
Short-term peaceand later intensification of war
|
1. Lack of sincerity on part of LTTE.
2. Lack of Professionalism in the negotiating team selected by thegovernment.
3. Lack of flexibility and inability to meet new challenges emergingduring talks.
|
2002
|
UNF under Ranil Wickremasinghe
|
Undecided
|
|
?
|
_
|
Third Party: During 1989-90 and 1994-95 the absence of a mediator enabled the negotiating parties to withdraw unilaterally. But, in 1987, though the presence of a mediator (
Venue: The LTTE is currently insisting on an Indian location which is convenient for it, but this is not acceptable to
Mutual Confidence: The history of previous failures in these talks reveals the existing mutual suspicions. Lack of trust is prevailing since the 1950s for which no single party can be blamed. Unless both parties repose some faith and trust in each other, negotiations should not commence.
Sincerity: The conflicting parties should display some commitment towards political settlement. In the past, the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE came to the negotiating table due to either external pressure or to achieve some short-term gains. The LTTE is wanting in this regard. If it decides to talk because of international pressure and not out of genuine interest in solving the issue, the history suggests that entering into a dialogue is futile.
Sustenance: Peace process through negotiations is an arduous and time consuming task; the negotiating parties must show resilience to stay on track despite setbacks and frustrations.
Professionalism: Past experience shows that professional handling of the negotiations process is of great importance. Professionalism includes constituting the negotiating parties, agenda for negotiations, method and conduct of talks, and readiness to present alternative proposals.
Flexibility: The negotiating teams should display flexibility to reaching a compromise solution, and finding a golden mean between the narrow but long-term perspective of the LTTE and the broader but short-term perspective of the government. The negotiations agenda should widen as the negotiations proceed to maintain confidence in the process.
Vox Populi: Support from civil society is crucial for any settlement to ethnic conflicts. The people’s voice is weak in