Sri Lanka: New alliance of Tamil parties soon, says Gunasekara

[Harold Schiffman]

*Date:31/03/2008* *URL:
http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/31/stories/2008033155571300.htm*
------------------------------


*New alliance of Tamil parties soon, says Gunasekara *

K.V. Prasad

   *To work for a peaceful resolution of ethnic crisis in Sri Lanka *

COIMBATORE: A new "democratic, national alliance of Tamil parties" will
emerge soon, Sri Lankan Minister for Constitutional Affairs and National
Integration Dew Gunasekara said here on Sunday. Without elaborating on it in
an interview to *The Hindu*, he said: "You will hear the announcement in a
day or two." The Minister, who is the general secretary of the Communist
Party of Sri Lanka, is here as a delegate to the 19th Congress of the
Communist Party of India (Marxist).

Mr. Gunasekara, however, revealed that the new alliance will comprise left
and democratic forces that will work for a peaceful resolution of the ethnic
crisis in Sri Lanka. The Minister hinted at a political formation that would
reject the approach of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) for a
military solution to the conflict. "I am convinced that the LTTE is not
prepared to abdicate its pursuit of Eelam. It is not prepared to accept an
alternative solution despite the several attempts made for peace," he said.

Now, the LTTE was in a position where its hold on the Tamils was becoming
weak. Therefore, this was the best time to implement whatever was provided
for by a law to ensure benefits for the Tamil speaking people.  The Policy
of Bi-lingualisation of Public Services was a positive step towards
achieving this. Convinced that bringing the Sinhalese and the Tamil speaking
sections together would move the island nation towards lasting peace, Sri
Lanka had made its public services bi-lingual. Both sections were being
encouraged to learn each other's language for use at government offices. By
giving equal space for Tamil, the country hoped that the end of an ethnic
divide would begin at a person-to-person level.

The lack of resources in each other's language also had created a huge gap
between the two sections and this led to each viewing the other with
suspicion. Distrust was now sought to be removed through interaction between
the societies. The 13th Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka provided
for declaring Tamil also as an official language. But, it had taken many
years for this to happen. Successive governments could not implement it as
they ran into resistance from rival parties.

"Two weeks ago, 5,900 Sinhalese took their first examination in Tamil and
1,065 Tamils in the Northern and Eastern provinces took theirs' in
Sinhalese. As soon as I assumed charge as the Minister, I first submitted
the cabinet paper on the bi-lingualisation. The Communist Party of Sri Lanka
consistently took the position of equal status for Sinhalese and Tamil. Our
stand was: two languages, but one State." On the lack of trust because of
language, Mr. Gunasekara explains: There was a time when the Jaffna police
station comprised 100 per cent Sinhalese personnel in an area of 100 per
cent Tamil population. We are now posting at least one Tamil-speaking
policeman in each station in the Tamil-dominated areas." Over the last two
years, residential training in working knowledge of Tamil had been provided
for 3,000 policemen.

Curiously, even the LTTE wanted Tamil to be taught in areas under their
control. "I ordered that all facilities must be provided to teach the
language." Devolution of powers was another aspect on which the government
was working on. Benefits should reach the Tamils in the north and the east.
"There is no division of the country, but there will be provision of equal
rights."
Firing at fishermen

 On the issue of Indian fishermen being fired at by the Sri Lankan navy, Mr.
Gunasekara said this had to be resolved by the governments of both
countries. "But, some allowance can be given to fishermen as it is natural
that they cross the maritime border marginally." On the whole, India had
co-operated well in strengthening the ties between the countries. "Except
for one or two parties, the views of all major ones have been similar to
that of our parties that the LTTE must lay down arms," he said.

   **




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