TOWARDS INCLUSIVE SOLUTIONS

Dr. Jehan Perera discusses several ramifications of the recently held APC

The government has been under siege in recent months for not delivering promixed results to cross sections of people. Fear of and deference to the political leadership – on account of wartime victories and ruthless governance – has given way to jests and insults.

This is the way of the world in advanced democracies when governments fail and it’s time that Sri Lanka should be like that too so as to leave no room for political leaders to act unaccountably.

It’s in this time of adversity that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa recently gave leadership to what appeared to be a serious effort to find solutions. This could be the underlying meaning of the All Party Conference (APC) that he hosted.

Although this dialogue could have taken place in parliament, its 225 members are so bitterly divided across the well of the house that it would have been impossible to dialogue meaningfully among them.

A boycott of the APC by the main opposition parties and even a section in government highlights sharp political divisions and lack of trust among the polity. Rajapaksa recognised this reality when he said the conference was not held to gain any political advantages.

The president added that he would once again invite those who didn’t attend the conference, adding he’d plan to carry out the recommendations made by the political parties’ leaders.

Rajapaksa’s meeting soon after the APC with the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), which represents a majority of voters in the north and east, has the potential to break new ground in terms of national reconciliation.

That will help strengthen unity, and promote economic investment and aid inflows. This approach of finding solutions through dialogue and consultation needs to be supported.

It was reported that the president and TNA reached broad agreement on seven areas of significance for the Tamil people.

First, to release those held in state custody under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) for more than 10 years without charges, unless there are compelling reasons to detain them further.

Second, there would be no changes made – by the government acting alone – to the territorial boundaries of districts and sub-district units, to alter their demographic composition or for any other purpose.

Third, issues relating to forestland, coast conservation and archaeological sites would not be arbitrarily decided upon by the government without due consideration being given to the interests of the areas’ residents. Where found to be unjustified, such decisions would be considered for reversion.

Fourth, the interests of people in the north and east would be secured through devolution of power, which would be discussed once the committee of experts appointed to draft a new constitution finalises its report in the next month or so.

Fifth, the Office of Missing Persons (OMP) will investigate the circumstances of disappearances and families of the missing will be given Rs. 100,000 as an initial measure. The formulation of a ‘truth commission’ will also be considered.

Sixth, the government will meet regularly with representatives of the core group of countries that sustain the truth, accountability and reconciliation processes through the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva.

Seventh, the possibility of setting up a funding mechanism for economic development in the north and east will be explored together with the Tamil diaspora. The government will seek to engage with that diaspora in a constructive manner.

No previous government was able to resolve these issues through dialogue, political negotiations and mutual accommodation. Engaging in such a process in the midst of an economic crisis will be doubly challenging. When there is such a predicament, it becomes easier for those who are ethnic nationalists to blame other communities and see conspiracies at play.

It’s incumbent on other political parties to join the next round of discussions in a spirit of constructive engagement. Opposition political parties have not sought to act as rabble-rousers so far; but they have voiced their protests against the government’s mishandling of the situation in a democratic and peaceful manner.

The APC is an opportunity to agree on a policy for the country that will resolve the problems the people face and all political parties can endorse in the longer term, irrespective of who leads the government.

Civil society too must discuss and debate the way forward, and share its thinking with the political leadership.