Maximum national unity imperative to face challenges

Foreign Minister Gamini Lakshman Peiris (2L) addresses the media during a press conference in Colombo on April 21, 2011. - Getty Images

by Milinda Rajasekera

(April 26, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) As it generally happens in this country, appeals for national unity have emanated from political and religious leaders, and from various sections of people in the country. Maximum national unity, obviously, is what the current situation demands more than anything else. It is incumbent upon all those who really love this land and its people to unite and cooperate in formulating a common national approach to the situation that has now arisen from the report produced by the panel appointed by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon to look into post-war accountability in Sri Lanka.

What is observable, however, is further deterioration of national unity. The usual partisan attitudes have come into play in a deplorable manner. Most ruling party politicians appeal to all political parties and organizations for cooperation in meeting the present challenge. While some sections in the opposition positively respond to this appeal, others lay down conditions for their support. However, underneath the surface of this ostensible willingness to cooperate, runs the irredeemable undercurrent of political party hostility, engendered by the incessant struggle for power.

"The UN authorities also should have given due

 consideration to the great relief that the

elimination of terrorism brought to the vast

majority of people in all communities. The

people’s appreciation was clearly manifested

in the results of the last few elections in which

the Mahinda Rajapaska Government emerged

victorious."

One factor, among others, that militates against wholehearted response to the appeal for unity is the caustic accusations of betrayals and other charges against opposition parties that accompany such appeals. It is futile to imagine that the required cooperation could be obtained through intimidation. It is, therefore, necessary for all concerned to talk and act with greater restraint realizing the seriousness of the situation. This indeed is not the time for pompous claims and emotional outpourings against those responsible for creating the present situation. It is observed that most commentators on the present report have fallen prey to the general weakness of “judging swiftly in terms of the familiar that which is not fully known.” Dispassionate and careful study of the document should precede serious response to its contents, however despicable it appears at first glance. The media also has a serious role to play in forging unity among political parties and different communities in the present situation. They have to avoid fueling the fire of disunity and exacerbating the situation.

It is obvious that the present situation has been brought about as a result of campaigns launched by those genuinely concerned about human rights violations and by some sections in the Tamil community who had been staunch supporters of the LTTE. What is unfortunate is that the world body, and Secretary General Ban Ki -Moon, in particular, for some reason or other, has apparently failed to give adequate consideration to the circumstances under which the military campaign against LTTE terrorism was executed. The world body should have given adequate consideration to the suffering that Sri Lanka and its people underwent as a result of attacks and atrocities committed by this terrorist group. The attempts made by successive governments to bring about a peaceful, negotiated settlement to the conflict were well known internationally.

The UN authorities also should have given due consideration to the great relief that the elimination of terrorism brought to the vast majority of people in all communities. The people’s appreciation was clearly manifested in the results of the last few elections in which the Mahinda Rajapaska Government emerged victorious. Even if there had been any excesses during the arduous military campaign led by former Army Chief Sarath Fonseka,- he has categorically rejected such charges - the extenuating circumstances in which they occurred should have absolved the authorities from excessive blame. Apparently the government also had failed in its attempts to impress the world community sufficiently on these matters in the face of campaigns launched by human rights activists and the Tamil Diaspora to exaggerate incidents and besmirch the authorities. The protests and death fasts to which some ruling party activists resorted also proved abortive. Even today the authorities seem to rely on protests and denunciations to get over the present imbroglio.

It is necessary for us, at this stage, to be mindful about the realities of geopolitics. No longer could any country ask the world community to mind their business while allowing it to mind its own business because countries, as member nations of the world body, have on their own volition come into various agreements and covenants volunteering to abide by them. True, various ill motivated forces and the irrepressible menace of corruption influence global politics, but it is unwise to brand all activities of international organizations as conspiracies hatched to destroy our country. What is important is to face the realities and challenges wisely and courageously without being overwhelmed by the persecution mania that seems to affect our society today. It is for the authorities to enlist the support of nations, organisations and political leaders that view these issues impartially and objectively.

It is axiomatic that a divided house cannot withstand hostile activity. Therefore, what is urgently needed today is maximum unity among political parties and various communities to face the present challenge. This required unity has to be achieved by bringing about reconciliation and amity among communities through resolution of problems and grievances that remain unresolved. It has been the failure throughout to settle our domestic problems that has paved the way for foreign interference in our internal affairs. It was this failure that had driven our citizens abroad in search of succour. It is not only aggrieved ethnic communities that have sought foreign assistance, but also opposition political parties that have been denied their legitimate rights and freedoms.