By B. J. Karunatileke
There appears to be a coordinated, and well-orchestrated campaign to ‘cripple’ the ongoing and strenuous attempts by the Prime Minister (and others who have our country at heart) to bring about peace in our troubled land. Those responsible for this rabble-rousing foray must be given short shrift by the government and — maybe even indicted for treachery and treason, well before the real negotiations begin with the LTTE.

All previous efforts to bring about a negotiated settlement were failures, again, because of these undesirable elements in our society. The fact, that people of this ilk have held sway causing mayhem and dissension throughout our history, is evident when reading any authoritative book be it Robert Knox’s "Historical Relation of the Island Ceylon" or any factual fiction (using an oxymoron) written by scholars of repute, about the Kandyan Kingdom, the Kotte Dynasty or any other period.

It is possible, that it is this flaw in our collective persona that prompted Bishop Reginald Heber (1783-1826) to comment:

"What though the spicy breezes

Blow soft o’er Ceylon’s isle

Though every prospect pleases

And only man is vile:"

A set of guidelines

It is necessary to understand the meaning of at least one expression on everyone’s’ lips i.e. MoU or the Memorandum of Understanding. This in fact, is merely a prelude or preamble, rather like an introduction to a discussion. The fact that there are signatories to a MoU is not an indication of its validity/legality in a court of law: it is in reality a set of guidelines and a framework rather than a legally binding document.

It was in the past a business instrument used by multi-national corporations and commercial houses before acquisitions and mergers; in recent times it has been used by international facilitators like the Norwegians to settle similar disputes in other parts of the world. What is disheartening though to those who prepare these documents in great detail, is the fact that in the final analysis (more often than not) the negotiations fail at the table.

It should be our prayer however that the peace negotiations will be successful and that Sri Lanka and her citizens will once again be treated as men and women of culture as befits our ancient civilisation, by nationals of all countries that make up the world.

It is the belief of a section of Sinhala nationalists (who take great pains to disabuse others that they are not racialists) that Prime Minister Wickremesinghe has given in to the Eelamists. It has also been suggested that he has been influenced by the Norwegians when giving his approval to the MoU. The fact that he has mentioned that there will be a referendum and now as an additional measure of reassurance a broadbased parliamentary committee to ensure that the sovereignty of the country is not jeopardised, however, seemingly falls on deaf ears.

JVP — new saviours

It is ironical that the new saviours of the Sinhala race, are the JVP who were more sympathetic to the LTTE than even their most ardent supporters and camp followers, not so long ago. Their volte face is easily explained; they want power at any cost even of lives and institutions. Their philosophy and criminal activities in the early 70s and late 80s is nevertheless fresh in the minds of all middle aged responsible and respectable people in the country. It is unlikely that they would, despite their current rhetoric, change their policy and stance as they yet pay homage to the founding father of this insurgent movement the late (un)lamented Wijeweera whose life style was totally inconsistent with his ideology.

The choice before the people today is therefore very simple, a cure or a festering sore.

At this stage it is well to reflect on the words of Abraham Lincoln during his second inaugural address on March 4, 1865 where he said:

"With malice towards none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in: to bind up the nations wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow and his orphan, to all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.