Conflict in Sri Lanka: Ground Realities - Tamil Nation & Beyond

1995 that had certain enlightened proposals on sharing power,was watered down on the request of the UNP. However, this didnot prevent the UNP from refusing to support the new constitutionin parliament.So we have now arrived at the actual reason why the south usesevery trick in the hat to prolong matters and drag its feet. Notonly would it help in tiring out the Tamils and apply pressure onthe LTTE militarily, but it will also build up Sinhala ‘consensus’that it hopes would be so formidable that neither the Tamilsnor the LTTE would be in a position to question it. It would bepresented as a fait accompli to the Tamils – take it or leave it. Itis in view of this ‘consensus’ that the UNP recommends a federalsolution, and the UPFA coalition, presently in power, speaksabout a unitary constitution. They are not positions parties inthe south have arrived at through systematic discussion withthe Tamils or their political representatives, it is something thesouthern ruling class has decided would be the limit that wouldbe ‘conceded’ to the Tamils.ConclusionConflict resolution lore is replete with cautionary exhortationsthat a peace process which is not inclusive, is bound to breakdownfairly soon. A good example of this type of inclusiveness workingwell was in South Africa’s constitution-making. The RainbowCoalition brought together all parties involved in the South Africanpeace process. But the other thing the South Africans broughtinto the process was a determination to succeed in making thesolution work. This determination is absent in the Sri Lankancontext. The Sri Lankan ruling class is yet to give up its ambitionof retaining its hegemony over the state and will use any methodto procrastinate in conceding power.All this places a grave responsibility on the internationalcommunity. The international community should realise thatevery one of the reasons that led to the Tamils agitating for aseparate state in 1976 on the basis of the Vaddukodai Resolutionexcept that of granting Tamils of recent Indian origin citizenship,are still alive an’ kicking. Despite this the LTTE was willing to20