TIME TO HEAL THE WOUNDS!: SOME QUESTIONS TO PALITHA KOHONA!!

Time to heal the wounds
Dr Palitha Kohona

Sri Lanka is at a decisive phase in its history. All Sri Lankans, whether living in Sri Lanka or abroad, have an unprecedented opportunity to contribute to ending the two decade old conflict and ushering in an honourable peace - the unrealised dream of many.
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Question/Comment:
Recently, you wrote that Tamils and Muslims are foreigners who settled in SL.
But I read in an old book in Tamil that SL was a part of Tamilnaadu which was devided by Tsunami 5000 years ago.This is supported by British divers who found many temples under the sea near Rameswaram as well as recent NASA-satelite pictures which shows clearly the geographical connection between TN/SL. Before 100 years people walk across small islands and sandbanks to Jaffna from Rameswaram,this was stated by some authors.Mahavamsam says Sinhalese/Vijya+400 friends who were deported from N.India were settled in SL 2500 years ago.How can you say Tamils are foreigners? How can we expect justice,equality,safety and freedom from you?
Are you willing to apologize for your statement? Army Chief: Sarath Fonseka and other Sinhala leaders/Monks say the same word again and again!How can we trust you all who never change the basic mentality?
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We have the opportunity to end the violence and hopelessness that pervades some parts of our society and usher in an era of hope for all. Sri Lanka’s security forces are unremittingly pushing in to territory hitherto controlled by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Now they are at the gates of Kilinochchi, the pretended capital of the illusion that was Eelam.
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Q/C: As you know that even if you capture the whole Tamil area,LTTE have the capacity to continue as a guerilla movement in the jungles.Your Govt couldn't safeguard the VIPs as well as civilians from the attacks including JP.Don't you think that CF and dialogue+federal solution is better than war,which destroy 1000s of Tamil civilian lives/livelihood/properties/safety/peace?

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In parallel, the Government has embarked on a deliberate programme of extending democratic and inclusive governance to those parts of the country that are continuing to fall under its control.

Proactively inclusive approaches, and the rapid consolidation of civilian administration, are critical parts of the Government’s strategy to restore normality, enhance civilian confidence and heal the wounds inflicted over the last twenty five years of conflict.
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Q/C: Kidnappings,disappearances,torture,killings,harassment(by groups/ security forces),refugees at camps,refugees to India/abroad as well as occupation of civilian homes/schools/farms, fear,unsafety,joblessness,poverty,checkpoints,arrests etc still prevailing in the country.Don't you think CF+political solution is a must to stop all these things?
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Consciously, the Government has begun to implement the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution and accordingly one of the keystones of the Indo Lanka Accord.
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Q/C: Many accords were not respected!not implemented!No actions!Talk only situations made Tamil people frusterted.Don't you think this is the time GOSL ask UN/SG to send an envoy to design and supervise the implementation as well as HR-observations.
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Sri Lankans who have made their home in other countries can become vital stakeholders in the effort to restore normality and ending this unfortunate conflict. The Security Forces will continue to confront the LTTE to constrict its ability to engage in violence and terrorism and to convince the LTTE that it will not win on the battlefield.
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Q/C:We knew that Racism/Ignorance/Fear psykosis/Hate/Massacres/Pogroms/Torture/Wrong policies, Harassments,arrests,destructions from Sinhalese/GOSL are the basic reasons for the creation of LTTE which was not existed before 1958 or 1977 pogroms.
Don't you think rather than destroying young lives from bothsides,as well as Tamil civilian lives and properties ,we can give a chance again for a peace process by requesting UN/SG to send a peace envoy?
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The successful military campaign in the Eastern Province resulted in the Government being able to conduct elections for the first time in over two decades in the East. Reflecting the Government’s liberal inclusive approach, a Tamil from the province was elected as the Chief Minister. He had been a former LTTE child soldier who has made a commitment to eschew violence and return to the democratic fold. The elections may not have been perfect.

(Even in mature democracies, electoral processes have their shortcomings).

But encouragingly, over 65 per cent of the voters cast their ballots. The violence level leading up to the polls was low. This result was a victory for the policy of the Government to establish a culture of democratic inclusiveness in the Eastern Province. It will do the same in the Northern Province, once normality is restored.
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Q/C: After 1995 capture of Jaffna,GOSL never tried democratic rule in Jaffna.But people are still living under fear/harassment/occupation from 100% Sinhalese SLA, as well as a Sinhala Governer.Will you keep the SLA in the Camps and make people feel safe in everyday business?and appoint Tamils as Governers in NESL who understand Tamil and feel their needs/feeling.Will you cooperate/include/talk to TNA who were selected/widely accepted by Tamil people? Will you accept Forces/Police/other jobs shd be in percentagewise in the future and include LTTE as SL-Tamil regiment after peace process/agreement?
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Recognising the importance of reviving the economy of the East, massive amounts of funding (approximately Rupees 20 billion) is being channelled to the province. Roads, harbours, schools, hospitals, clinics are being restored, and electricity reconnected.

Towns that never had electricity are now being connected to the national grid. Major highways are being built. Bilateral aid donors have enthusiastically joined in the efforts of the Government to restore the infrastructure of the East. Encouraged by generous tax incentives, the private sector is increasingly demonstrating interest in its agricultural, fisheries and tourism potential. All this provides opportunities for the expatriate community to become parties to the economic revival.
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Q/C:Comparing with SL-defence fund this is too little!Some Amparai funds were diverted to South,according to news reports! Govt.sponsored Sinhalisation too started in the East! Many IDPs/Refugees still languishing in the Camps!How can you explain/rectify these? Why are you having hidden agendas always?
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Addressing the political concerns of our minorities, in particular the Tamil Minority is a parallel policy preoccupation of the Sri Lankan Government.

An All Party Representative Committee (APRC) of the Parliament produced an interim set of constitutional proposals to address these concerns and included further devolution of powers to the Provincial Councils ensuring greater people participation, better funding for them and more effective implementation of the legislative provisions on Sinhala, Tamil and English language usage.

Following an APRC recommendation, the Government will recruit 2,000 Tamil speakers to the Eastern Province police force. The Government has made a firm commitment to give effect to all these recommendations.

The APRC process, though slow due to the very nature of the Sri Lankan political tapestry, was itself a clear illustration of the democratic approach favoured by the Government.

Fourteen political parties represented in Parliament took approximately one and a half years to achieve a consensus on the interim proposals. The APRC will continue to explore additional ideas pursuant to its mandate and seek the concurrence of the majority of the political spectrum.
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Q/C:You failed to invite/include/cooperate with TNA in APC,which is a democratically elected party and they know very well the problems! But appointing N-STF made Tamils very frusterted and distrusted! They did nothing towards IDPs/civilians to remove their sufferings.Will you allow Intl.press/INGOs/NGOs/IC to Vanni?
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The Government itself is a rainbow coalition. It reflects the country’s ethnic, religious, and social diversity. Given the nature of its composition, it is also this Government that is most likely to be able to deliver on any commitments that are undertaken to resolve the conflict.
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Q/C: UPC/CWC are not happy about HR situations of UC-tamils as well as their economic,social conditions! Corruption,transparency,HR,Press freedom in SL were questioned by IC and How can you overcome this and change the World Opinion?
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While elections were held in the Eastern Province within twelve months of evicting the LTTE, the Government was also able to return the vast majority of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to their homes in a very short time span with the assistance of the UNHCR, the WFP and the ICRC.

The IDPs resulting from the current military push into LTTE controlled areas in the North will be similarly cared for and accommodated in facilities established in adjacent areas is also this government that is most likely to be able to deliver on any commitments that are undertaken to resolve the conflict.

Leaflets have been dropped encouraging them to move into these facilities along safe corridors. Arrangements have been made with partner UN agencies to provide the requisite food and health care for new arrivals. Large convoys of food and other essentials have been sent to the areas still under the control of the Tigers.
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Q/C:Destroying Tamil lives,properties,safety,peace and injuries/sufferings by dangerous MBRL,Artillery,plane bombings(6000/2008);No income; No food/medicines;No schools and communications made Tamil people as helpless/vulnerable to dangerous situations.We hear about lack of food among IDPs and they are afraid of coming to Vavuniya due to detention camps/white van abductors etc.
While President advised SL-Police not to use force or tear gas to Sinhala students/monks during their demonstrations,Tamil people feel that he didn't care much about Tamil civilians by using dangerous weapons towards them!How do you response to that? They feel he wouldn't have used those dangerous weapons towards Sinhala people!
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Special care has always been taken by the military to avoid civilian casualties because the Government considers it absolutely important to protect all its people. It is distressing to note the way the LTTE has forced large numbers of civilians to move in to the middle of the fighting to form a civilian shield or the way civilians, including school children, have been compulsorily required to undergo military training.
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Q/C: When you use dangerous MBRL,artilleries,Plane bombing how can they escape?
How can they cross the line to Vavuniya? How many civilians died?How many times they move from place to place? Don't you realise the sufferings?
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The extensive human rights training provided by the ICRC to the Security Forces have had a noticeable impact on their behaviour.

The Government of Sri Lanka has been continuing to seek a peaceful and honourable end to the conflict which has ravaged too many lives. It has also insisted that there be a firm commitment by the LTTE to bring the conflict to an end and to demobilise.
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Q/C: LTTE conveyed through Norway/UN that they are willing to talk and find a reasonable settlement.But GOSL/President always rejected that and continued the military solution! He can invite UN/SG envoy and ask him to design/supervise/help to implement a fedral solution!What is your response to that idea?
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It is time for all Sri Lankans to move forward and leave behind the pain of yesterday. It is also time to contribute to creating an environment of hope for the future rather than continuing to revive the ghosts of past injustices, real or imagined.

(The writer is Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
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Past injustices,pogroms,massacres,harassments,discriminations,marginalisations are true and we are ready to forgive and start a newlife in SL,If GOSL truely do the following actions for the sake of equality,freedom,justice, harmony, peace,happiness,unity and progress of all:
1.Declare CF within one week. 2.Invite UN/SG envoy to design/supervise Federal solution with consulting TNA. 3.Include LTTE as NESL-Tamil regiment and stop defence expenditure and change all forces as Devt.Volunteers 4.Let Tamils look after their activities in NESL 5.Appoint 3VPs(SL-Tamil/Muslim/Indian Tamil) at the Presidents office to look after 3 communities in cooperation with P.O.