The way to go forward through a process of reconciliation will help to heal the wounds and "implies a process, that of restoring the shattered ..!!!

The way to go forward is reconciliation,
the way to go backward is to hark back to the past

Gnana Moonesinghe

The way to go forward through a process of reconciliation will help to heal the wounds and "implies a process, that of restoring the shattered relationship between the two actors." Harking back to the past can only result in creating further distrust and hostility especially in the immediate period following the end of the war "where memories of the violence perpetrated by the warring groups are still fresh and the social vestiges of destruction still quite visible".

One thing one learns early in life is to get on with it. This is even more urgent in the post conflict environment where there is no time to wait and watch; there is no time to keep looking back; the only option left is to move forward and look to making a better future. When the unending harking to the end of the war is bleated ever so frequently, fear enters the minds of the people especially those affected by the conflict. They begin to wonder if they are once again getting into a vacuum where ideas for forward thinking are drying up.

There is no other substitute but to advance forward to enjoy the peace that has been earned at great cost to the finances of our country, to the men and women who fought in the war and died fighting and to those who are left behind with permanent scars from the war. Every day since May 19 we give thanks to the peace we enjoy, and give thanks to all those who made it become a reality. There is no need to have numerous commemorations of an event that is already deeply etched in the minds of everyone lest it be misunderstood to be triumphalism.

Since the fight was within the country amongst those who have claims to ownership of the country, it is time plans are formulated to heal the wounds of the war; the traumas of the war.

Are getting about the process of peace making in the right way? The people in all walks of life are relieved that the threat that hung over their lives and kept them under conditions of siege, made the place seem a fortified country, and had people cowering behind security is no more.

The forces and the planners and strategists who gave leadership to end this war possible can never be forgotten by all peace loving people. They need no plaques or monuments to be remembered. They will live in people’s memories for ever.

The task for the government now is to initiate the building of peace structures that will encourage dialogue to overcome the bitterness of the past. As demonstrated in the peace processes in the past in other countries, the building of ‘social reconciliation strategies’ involve the establishment of Truth Commissions, workshops organized by competent personnel for conflict resolution and the incorporation of grassroots in peace commissions to consciously create a channel for mutual understanding and through interaction among groups to work out "mutual needs, rights and obligations". This can only happen if groups engaged in conflict interact among themselves and with the government.

It is said that the purpose of a Truth Commission is "restitution and not revenge". The President has appointed a "Lessons learnt and reconciliation commission". How relevant is this body to the task of reconciliation in the country? The mandate ( as reported in the press) is to investigate the ceasefire and "the sequence of events that followed thereafter up to 2009"; pin responsibility for the events related to the above and ensure that such course of actions will not be repeated; the methodology by which any person or persons affected by this can be effected; the institutional administrative and legislative measures to be taken to prevent recurrence of such concerns and to promote further national unity and reconciliation among communities and to make any such other recommendations with reference to any of the matters that have been inquired into under the terms of this Warrant.

The relevance of any findings from this may or may not bear on the requirements for the march forward. Regardless of this observation there can be no faulting on the selection made to steer this commission. They are all men and women of impeccable professionalism, integrity and are not known to have any agendas of their own. Such a body should be able to steer their investigations to be more meaningful for future strategies to be followed for the people of the North and East. Skeptics have had misgivings, and not without cause either as to whether this would be yet another commission sans results or a report. Given the past record of performance in public life of the members of this commission, they will in all probability give the country some directives for the ‘restitution’ and reconciliation that we are looking for. Otherwise it will be a sterile exercise.

Quite apart from the government at this point there is an emerging and obvious responsibility for the Tamil leadership to take the onus on themselves and make plans to heal the wounds of the community. The people in the North and the East have faced day in and day out the mortars and the shelling and the privations of war over these thirty long years. Let it not be forgotten that the Tamils were also under stress from their many saviours who did not brook any individual who failed to fall in line to their drill, mentally or physically. They too have earned their peace though they are living today in privation, deprived of amenities that no one in the 21st century should be without.

What then should be assigned as the priority number one for these people? It has to be privacy and time to think in the space now available. They have also shown in no uncertain way that this is their choice as well (the majority), by abstaining from voting at both the recently held polls. If some among the Tamils voted for the parties working with the government it is because there is general fatigue after warring with the government over five to six decades. It must also be because the government avenues are going to be the sources from whom homes, schools, hospitals , law and order, roads, buses and railways and above all employment opportunities are going to reach them. The Jaffna man has been known for hard work and for his practical approach to life. The choices he has made and is making will demonstrate his mindset and the adjustment made to accommodate to the options available.

It is therefore incumbent upon all who can have any impact to give them the peace they so deserve. There is no need to have them agitated by celebrations for war heroes’ day in the North which again ends in only stirring up the ghosts of the past. In any case to some it may not have the same meaning it does to the politicians who are whipping up emotions that better be not given expression again. What good can come of the exercise to commemorate heroes’ day except to try and revive the memory of Prabhakaran who should at best be forgotten, a mirage that failed because he failed the Tamils.

There is much talk and many demands for a political solution. Most people forget that the 13th Amendment that was passed in parliament was to do just that. Practical politics demand that concentration is laid on working what is already available in good faith. It is true that some clauses of the Amendment have not been implemented, some objectionable intrusions take place in the provincial council terrain by the centre, and equally seriously there are military personnel where there should have been civilians manning some of the important government posts. But there is enough space to give an effective participatory element in local government if there is a will. No doubt this should not be the case but working within systems of imperfections, compromise is the only available instrument within grasp. If what is available is worked with diligence and in a way that the centre no longer fears the Provincial Council as an institution that will endanger the unitary character of the country much more can be achieved. Whether one likes it or not there is a majority and minority in this country. The sooner that accommodation is practiced as a quality to be adopted for securing the needs of the people, the better will it be for everyone. Perhaps it is necessary to remind ourselves that what is already in the Constitution need not be touted as if this provision is not available. Working with the ‘deficiencies’ and looking to fix them at a later date will be the only available alternative. This will be the Machiavellian option for future success.

Livelihood is what the people in the North and the East need. If they can get their income generation projects activated homes will come up, houses will be repaired and made habitable, and people can finally put their heads down under their roofs to savour the peace they have got.

Children will begin to laugh and play, go to school and look forward to happier times. When children laugh it will find an echo in the hearts of the parents who will true to their characteristic nature become innovative and find ways of ensuring their children’s welfare. This certainly cannot come from harking to the old and lost causes that will only create divisiveness creating once again anger and despair. If any of this is whipped up again it is the duty of civil society to try and find ways of removing the source for such emotions.

This is why when South Africa had to deal with the issues of the post apartheid period they consciously made several moves to bring about the healing process. Not only was the Truth and Reconciliation Commission established with the blessings of the politicians, the religious leaders and of the larger international community, many strategies were set up to smoothen the process. It is to be hoped our Commission of eminent people will finally hit the ball to the boundary to win our own match.


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