In 2002 the Sri Lankan government lifted the ban on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) as part of a comprehensive peace process. Violence, for the most part, ceased. Trade and commerce between the predominantly Tamil North and East and the rest of
The Forum provided information and counsel on how some sort of federal arrangement might be able to square the circle for Sri Lankans. A federal arrangement could afford a significant measure of autonomy to the Tamils, while maintaining the unity of the country.
Mr. Rae was deeply involved in that work, both as Chair and acting President of the Forum, and as one of the experts who worked on the ground in
Now. the Sri Lankan government accuses people such as Bob Rae of being LTTE sympathizers. That’s ironic because during the peace process the Forum got much more criticism from LTTE supporters and sympathizers, especially here in
The Forum’s experts repeatedly argued to the Tamils that federalism and democracy go hand in hand. While a federal solution would require that the Sri Lankan government accept devolution of power to other orders of government, it would also mean the LTTE would have to change. It could not expect to rule any newly created Tamil territory as a one-party, authoritarian state. The LTTE would have to embrace multi-party democracy; a respect for diversity, plurality and minority rights; the constitutional rule of law; and democratic principles such as freedom of speech and assembly. In addition – and Bob Rae was particularly insistent on this point – it would have to stop recruiting child soldiers and intimidating members of minority ethnic groups and Tamils who did not share their political views.
These words-to-the-wise were not always well-received. Especially in
I recall a letter the Forum received from an elderly lady purporting to speak on behalf of a Tamil seniors’ organization. The letter took a very hostile and accusatory tone toward the Forum and Mr. Rae personally and said, in essence: “How dare you criticize the LTTE. The only bad guys here are the Sri Lankan government.” When I called the person who signed the letter, she was flustered, did not seem aware of its contents, and admitted that it had been written by others in the Tamil community who asked her to sign it.
There were those on the majority Sinhalese side who were also suspicious of our efforts. I had the chance to lead a speakers’ tour through
Looking back, now, the peace process seems like a golden opportunity that was lost. The hardliners on both sides probably always wanted to use the process more to gain advantage for themselves than to forge a genuine compromise. In the end they, and not the moderates, prevailed.
But Bob Rae and the others who tried to facilitate the process were hardly partisans for one side or the other. They tried to tell it like it is, and got bitten by both sides for their efforts.
Karl Nerenberg k_nerenberg@yahoo.ca
A fascinating story and well worth reading. Also a reminder how extremism is normally the enemy of peaceful resolution of difficulties, which inevitably involves some compromises and mutual give-and-take. VR
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