Outgoing US Ambassador Jeffrey J. Lunstead last week urged the Sri Lankan government to address legitimate Tamil grievances and ensure its armed forces conduct themselves better, even if provoked.
In his address to commemorate the 230th anniversary of United States’ Declaration of Independence from England, Lunstead emphasized on June 4 that there was no military solution to Sri Lanka’s ethnic problem.
“The Tigers must renounce terrorism and violence and enter the political path,” he said.
“A solution will require radical changes in the way the entire nation is governed-changes which will empower all the people of Sri Lanka: Sinhalse, Tamils, Muslims and others, and give them a greater say in how they are governed in areas where they live.
“I am leaving now after three years in Sri Lanka-years filled with wonderful memories of a beautiful island and beautiful people.
“I have to confess, however, that I leave with some disappointment. When I arrived three years ago, there was a tremendous sense of hope and optimism in the country. The ceasefire and the rounds of peace talks had given hope that the island’s ethnic issue would be resolved and that the entire country would move towards a peaceful resolution.”
“ No one expected that this would be easy, or that it would be accomplished quickly. But most people hoped there would be steady progress.”
“The hope has been largely belied. Peace taalks have not resumed, the ceasefire is under constant pressure. Violence has increased. Barricades which had been dismantled are once again being thrown up.”
“And not just physical barricades, but also the barricades which divide one citizen from another, as fear and mistrust grow.”
Sri Lanka, the Ambassador said, was going through “trying times, struggling to define itself and its system of government, struggling to decide how its citizens will relate to each other - indeed struggling to define what it means to be Sri Lankan.”
Giving America’s prescription for an ailing Sri Lanka, the Ambassador said:
1. There is no military solution to the ethnic problem.
2. The LTTE must renounce terrorism and violence and enter the political path.
3. The government of Sri Lanka must work to address the legitimate Tamil grievances and ensure that the conduct of its security forces is impeccable even in the face of severe provocation.
4. A solution will require radical changes in the way the entire nation is governed - changes which will empower all the people of Sri Lanka: Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims and others, and to give them a greater say in how they are governed in the areas in which they live.
In his address to commemorate the 230th anniversary of United States’ Declaration of Independence from England, Lunstead emphasized on June 4 that there was no military solution to Sri Lanka’s ethnic problem.
“The Tigers must renounce terrorism and violence and enter the political path,” he said.
“A solution will require radical changes in the way the entire nation is governed-changes which will empower all the people of Sri Lanka: Sinhalse, Tamils, Muslims and others, and give them a greater say in how they are governed in areas where they live.
“I am leaving now after three years in Sri Lanka-years filled with wonderful memories of a beautiful island and beautiful people.
“I have to confess, however, that I leave with some disappointment. When I arrived three years ago, there was a tremendous sense of hope and optimism in the country. The ceasefire and the rounds of peace talks had given hope that the island’s ethnic issue would be resolved and that the entire country would move towards a peaceful resolution.”
“ No one expected that this would be easy, or that it would be accomplished quickly. But most people hoped there would be steady progress.”
“The hope has been largely belied. Peace taalks have not resumed, the ceasefire is under constant pressure. Violence has increased. Barricades which had been dismantled are once again being thrown up.”
“And not just physical barricades, but also the barricades which divide one citizen from another, as fear and mistrust grow.”
Sri Lanka, the Ambassador said, was going through “trying times, struggling to define itself and its system of government, struggling to decide how its citizens will relate to each other - indeed struggling to define what it means to be Sri Lankan.”
Giving America’s prescription for an ailing Sri Lanka, the Ambassador said:
1. There is no military solution to the ethnic problem.
2. The LTTE must renounce terrorism and violence and enter the political path.
3. The government of Sri Lanka must work to address the legitimate Tamil grievances and ensure that the conduct of its security forces is impeccable even in the face of severe provocation.
4. A solution will require radical changes in the way the entire nation is governed - changes which will empower all the people of Sri Lanka: Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims and others, and to give them a greater say in how they are governed in the areas in which they live.
