The fifth anniversary of Sri Lanka’s tattered ceasefire was marked with contrasting reactions from the parties to the agreement, the government and the LTTE, peace facilitator Norway and Sri Lankan political parties.
The LTTE and the Tamil National Alliance, Sri Lanka’s largest Tamil political party said the international community must share the blame for the resumption of the island’s protracted ethnic conflict.
The international monitors of the SLMM (Sri Lankan Monitoring Mission) and the Norwegian government issued statements lamenting the breakdown of the truce.
However, the Sri Lankan government maintained an official silence and instead launched fresh attacks against the LTTE.
Meanwhile Sinhala nationalists, including hardline parties allied to President Mahinda Rajapakse’s government stepped up street protests demanding the abrogation of the agreement.
Citing the intransigence and hardline stance of the Sri Lankan state in relation to the ceasefire agreement and the peace process the LTTE called for international support for the Tamil people’s right determine their own political future.
“The failure of the peace process despite the international participation [has] deeply frustrated the Tamil people. To their bitter disappointment, the CFA and the internationally facilitated peace process have, as in all previous peace efforts, failed again.”
“It has also compelled the Tamil people to resume their freedom struggle to realize their right to self - determination and to achieve statehood.”
Citing the state’s resumption of its military campaign against the Tigers, the TNA also called for international support for the Tamil people’s right to self determination,
“In the face of the Sri Lankan state’s insistence on pursuing a military solution to the Tamil National question, the Tamil people are appealing to the international community to recognize their struggle for self determination and self-rule.”
Following a public declaration by hardline Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse that the ceasefire agreement was “a mistake,” Sinhala nationalists have been escalating their campaigns against the truce.
Thousands of supporters of the ultra-nationalist Janatha Vimukthi peramuna (JVP) took to the streets Thursday Feb 22, the fifth anniversary of the signing of the CFA, demanding the government tear it up.
The JVP is supporting a fast unto death launched by several monks.
Wimal Weerawansa, the JVP’s parliamentary group leader told Parliament this week: “The President, Parliament, judiciary and the people were cheated when the Ceasefire Agreement was signed.”
However the JHU, a coalition partner of the UPFA government, responding to the JVP protests by saying the pact had already been destroyed.
"Holding agitation and fasting campaigns to force the government nullify the CFA is meaningless at a time when the military has successfully ousted LTTE from the east and have launched aerial attacks on LTTE targets in Killinochchi and Mullaitivu in the north," Venerable Omalpe Sobitha Thera of the JHU said.
However, the JHU echoed the JVP’s charge the truce was unconstitutional.
“A Prime Minister who had no powers under the Executive Presidential System of the government signed the CFA with the LTTE five years ago contrary to the constitution,” Sobitha Thera said.
He was referring to the controversial signing by then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe of the CFA, rather than the President at the time, Chandrika Kumaratunga.
Sri Lanka’s powerful presidency is the overarching authority in the country. The President is head of state and commander in chief of the armed forces.
Kumaratunga denounced Wickremesinghe for signing the pact, but did not abrogate the pact due to overt international support for the truce.
Norwegian reactions came from Development Minister Eric Solheim, who was for many years Oslo’s peace envoy to Sri Lanka, and Norway’s Ambassador in Colombo, Hans Brattskar.
The Norwegian government pointed out the CFA had put an immediate stop to 20 years of fighting in which tens of thousands of people lost their lives but non adherence to the agreement resulted in return of violence and massive human rights abuses, grave humanitarian suffering and the displacement of over 200,000 people.
“Norway is willing to go the extra mile to assist their peace endeavours at their request. As soon as the parties renew their peace efforts, we will be ready to do all we can to help. It is my sincere opinion that the vast majority of Sri Lankans have a strong yearning for peace,” Mr. Brattskar said.
The SLMM acknowledged that the ceasefire now exists only on paper and offered its continued services in monitoring the ceasefire implementation as per its mandate.
“Following the CFA, a considerable reduction of violence was reached, particularly welcomed by the families in the North and the East who had lived for two decades in areas ravaged by war,” the SLMM said.
“At the five-year milestone, however; abductions, harassments, killings, shelling and air strikes are taking place at a war like level.”
“In spite of the ongoing conflict, the SLMM remains committed to the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE, as a neutral party, seeking continuously to develop a deep understanding of the conflict situation, with the sincere aim of finding ways to continue its contribution according to the mandate.”
Notably, the Co-Chairs of the peace process – the United States, European Union, Japan and Norway – did not make a comment on the anniversary of the truce’s signing.
The powerful quartet have, since 2003, when they formed themselves, dominated international management of the Norwegian peace process.
Recent statements by individual countries suggest the Co-chairs are split on the future of the CFA, with Norway backing the truce and the US leading support for Colombo’s hardline approach.
United States Ambassador Robert Blake, for example, explicitly avoided reference to the ceasefire in his speech at the Galle donor conference at the end of January.
Japan, which provide 80% of Sri Lanka’s aid, also has not referred to the ceasefire in recent times.
Analysts say the silence stems from tacit support for the Sri Lankan government’s military campaign against the LTTE.
Although British junior foreign minister Kim Howells, who visited Sri Lanka this month, urged a ceasefire to pave the way for talks he did not take up the matter with President Mahinda Rajapakse.
The LTTE and the Tamil National Alliance, Sri Lanka’s largest Tamil political party said the international community must share the blame for the resumption of the island’s protracted ethnic conflict.
The international monitors of the SLMM (Sri Lankan Monitoring Mission) and the Norwegian government issued statements lamenting the breakdown of the truce.
However, the Sri Lankan government maintained an official silence and instead launched fresh attacks against the LTTE.
Meanwhile Sinhala nationalists, including hardline parties allied to President Mahinda Rajapakse’s government stepped up street protests demanding the abrogation of the agreement.
Citing the intransigence and hardline stance of the Sri Lankan state in relation to the ceasefire agreement and the peace process the LTTE called for international support for the Tamil people’s right determine their own political future.
“The failure of the peace process despite the international participation [has] deeply frustrated the Tamil people. To their bitter disappointment, the CFA and the internationally facilitated peace process have, as in all previous peace efforts, failed again.”
“It has also compelled the Tamil people to resume their freedom struggle to realize their right to self - determination and to achieve statehood.”
Citing the state’s resumption of its military campaign against the Tigers, the TNA also called for international support for the Tamil people’s right to self determination,
“In the face of the Sri Lankan state’s insistence on pursuing a military solution to the Tamil National question, the Tamil people are appealing to the international community to recognize their struggle for self determination and self-rule.”
Following a public declaration by hardline Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse that the ceasefire agreement was “a mistake,” Sinhala nationalists have been escalating their campaigns against the truce.
Thousands of supporters of the ultra-nationalist Janatha Vimukthi peramuna (JVP) took to the streets Thursday Feb 22, the fifth anniversary of the signing of the CFA, demanding the government tear it up.
The JVP is supporting a fast unto death launched by several monks.
Wimal Weerawansa, the JVP’s parliamentary group leader told Parliament this week: “The President, Parliament, judiciary and the people were cheated when the Ceasefire Agreement was signed.”
However the JHU, a coalition partner of the UPFA government, responding to the JVP protests by saying the pact had already been destroyed.
"Holding agitation and fasting campaigns to force the government nullify the CFA is meaningless at a time when the military has successfully ousted LTTE from the east and have launched aerial attacks on LTTE targets in Killinochchi and Mullaitivu in the north," Venerable Omalpe Sobitha Thera of the JHU said.
However, the JHU echoed the JVP’s charge the truce was unconstitutional.
“A Prime Minister who had no powers under the Executive Presidential System of the government signed the CFA with the LTTE five years ago contrary to the constitution,” Sobitha Thera said.
He was referring to the controversial signing by then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe of the CFA, rather than the President at the time, Chandrika Kumaratunga.
Sri Lanka’s powerful presidency is the overarching authority in the country. The President is head of state and commander in chief of the armed forces.
Kumaratunga denounced Wickremesinghe for signing the pact, but did not abrogate the pact due to overt international support for the truce.
Norwegian reactions came from Development Minister Eric Solheim, who was for many years Oslo’s peace envoy to Sri Lanka, and Norway’s Ambassador in Colombo, Hans Brattskar.
The Norwegian government pointed out the CFA had put an immediate stop to 20 years of fighting in which tens of thousands of people lost their lives but non adherence to the agreement resulted in return of violence and massive human rights abuses, grave humanitarian suffering and the displacement of over 200,000 people.
“Norway is willing to go the extra mile to assist their peace endeavours at their request. As soon as the parties renew their peace efforts, we will be ready to do all we can to help. It is my sincere opinion that the vast majority of Sri Lankans have a strong yearning for peace,” Mr. Brattskar said.
The SLMM acknowledged that the ceasefire now exists only on paper and offered its continued services in monitoring the ceasefire implementation as per its mandate.
“Following the CFA, a considerable reduction of violence was reached, particularly welcomed by the families in the North and the East who had lived for two decades in areas ravaged by war,” the SLMM said.
“At the five-year milestone, however; abductions, harassments, killings, shelling and air strikes are taking place at a war like level.”
“In spite of the ongoing conflict, the SLMM remains committed to the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE, as a neutral party, seeking continuously to develop a deep understanding of the conflict situation, with the sincere aim of finding ways to continue its contribution according to the mandate.”
Notably, the Co-Chairs of the peace process – the United States, European Union, Japan and Norway – did not make a comment on the anniversary of the truce’s signing.
The powerful quartet have, since 2003, when they formed themselves, dominated international management of the Norwegian peace process.
Recent statements by individual countries suggest the Co-chairs are split on the future of the CFA, with Norway backing the truce and the US leading support for Colombo’s hardline approach.
United States Ambassador Robert Blake, for example, explicitly avoided reference to the ceasefire in his speech at the Galle donor conference at the end of January.
Japan, which provide 80% of Sri Lanka’s aid, also has not referred to the ceasefire in recent times.
Analysts say the silence stems from tacit support for the Sri Lankan government’s military campaign against the LTTE.
Although British junior foreign minister Kim Howells, who visited Sri Lanka this month, urged a ceasefire to pave the way for talks he did not take up the matter with President Mahinda Rajapakse.
