04-13-2004, 08:35 AM
Sri Lanka 's road to peace on shaky ground with rebel skirmish, cracks in new government
Associated Press, Tue April 13, 2004 03:17 EDT . BETH DUFF-BROWN - Associated Press Writer- COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - (AP) The violent clash between rival factions of separatist Tamil guerrillas was a big step backward on the road to peace, made even bumpier by cracks in the island-nation's new government.
Sri Lankans have enjoyed relative peace of mind during a two-year cease-fire in the 19-year civil war between the military and Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam. The battle against one of the globe's most ruthless outlawed organizations having perfected the suicide bomb has claimed the lives of nearly 65,000 people, most of whom were civilians.
The situation took a sharp turn for the worse in March, when the leader of the large eastern flank of the LTT defected, claiming discrimination against his 6,000 guerrillas by the main faction in the north. On Friday, the northern LTT launched a surprise offensive on the Eastern Tigers, killing some three dozens people, but effectively regaining control of the territory over the weekend and sending Vinayagamoorthy Muralithanran packing off into the jungle.
Sighs of relief were heard across this tropical island off the southern tip of India, as Sinhalese Buddhists and Tamil Hindus began the rituals that ring in their new lunar calendars.
Close observers of the intricacies of Sri Lankan politics, however, say more bad times are ahead. President Chandrika Kumaratunga's government has offered sanctuary to the renegade rebel leader, which will no doubt tick off the LTT leadership, and her new coalition government already is embroiled in squabbles over Cabinet positions and other matters of power.
``The inability of the two coalition partners to resolve their disputes amicably could also spell problems for the peace process because the two coalition partners have very different views about the peace process at this time,'' said Jehan Perera, a political analyst with the independent research center, the National Peace Council.
Perera said the LTT could see the military's offer of protection for Muralithanran as an attempt to undermine the LTT leadership.
Kumaratunga has assured the European cease-fire monitors and the United States in a telephone call with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell last Friday that her government would resume talks with the LTT later this month, following the long New Year's holiday.
But at the same time, she has ordered the army to start a new recruitment drive and the People's Liberation Front a Marxist party and Kumaratunga's largest coalition partner is opposed to any concessions for the rebels or to grant the Tigers the autonomy they are demanding in the Tamil-populated north and east. PLF members of the new Parliament, which convenes April 22, boycotted the swearing-in ceremony of Kumaratunga's new Cabinet on Saturday, unhappy with her choices.
``If they can't resolve simple matters like ministerial postings, then they're also unlikely to be able to agree on how to deal with the LTT,'' said Perera.
The last round of peace talks led by former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was sidelined by Kumaratunga started off well, but have stalled for a year. The rebels have threatened to go back to war if their demand for wide autonomy in the north and east is not accepted.
As the Rev. Lucien Dep, priest of St. Mary's Church in Colombo, put it after Easter Sunday services: ``We are all keeping our fingers crossed. We don't know what we are in for next.''
Associated Press, Tue April 13, 2004 03:17 EDT . BETH DUFF-BROWN - Associated Press Writer- COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - (AP) The violent clash between rival factions of separatist Tamil guerrillas was a big step backward on the road to peace, made even bumpier by cracks in the island-nation's new government.
Sri Lankans have enjoyed relative peace of mind during a two-year cease-fire in the 19-year civil war between the military and Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam. The battle against one of the globe's most ruthless outlawed organizations having perfected the suicide bomb has claimed the lives of nearly 65,000 people, most of whom were civilians.
The situation took a sharp turn for the worse in March, when the leader of the large eastern flank of the LTT defected, claiming discrimination against his 6,000 guerrillas by the main faction in the north. On Friday, the northern LTT launched a surprise offensive on the Eastern Tigers, killing some three dozens people, but effectively regaining control of the territory over the weekend and sending Vinayagamoorthy Muralithanran packing off into the jungle.
Sighs of relief were heard across this tropical island off the southern tip of India, as Sinhalese Buddhists and Tamil Hindus began the rituals that ring in their new lunar calendars.
Close observers of the intricacies of Sri Lankan politics, however, say more bad times are ahead. President Chandrika Kumaratunga's government has offered sanctuary to the renegade rebel leader, which will no doubt tick off the LTT leadership, and her new coalition government already is embroiled in squabbles over Cabinet positions and other matters of power.
``The inability of the two coalition partners to resolve their disputes amicably could also spell problems for the peace process because the two coalition partners have very different views about the peace process at this time,'' said Jehan Perera, a political analyst with the independent research center, the National Peace Council.
Perera said the LTT could see the military's offer of protection for Muralithanran as an attempt to undermine the LTT leadership.
Kumaratunga has assured the European cease-fire monitors and the United States in a telephone call with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell last Friday that her government would resume talks with the LTT later this month, following the long New Year's holiday.
But at the same time, she has ordered the army to start a new recruitment drive and the People's Liberation Front a Marxist party and Kumaratunga's largest coalition partner is opposed to any concessions for the rebels or to grant the Tigers the autonomy they are demanding in the Tamil-populated north and east. PLF members of the new Parliament, which convenes April 22, boycotted the swearing-in ceremony of Kumaratunga's new Cabinet on Saturday, unhappy with her choices.
``If they can't resolve simple matters like ministerial postings, then they're also unlikely to be able to agree on how to deal with the LTT,'' said Perera.
The last round of peace talks led by former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was sidelined by Kumaratunga started off well, but have stalled for a year. The rebels have threatened to go back to war if their demand for wide autonomy in the north and east is not accepted.
As the Rev. Lucien Dep, priest of St. Mary's Church in Colombo, put it after Easter Sunday services: ``We are all keeping our fingers crossed. We don't know what we are in for next.''
<span style='font-size:20pt;line-height:100%'>Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.</span>