Amid political turmoil in the wake of the election last week of President Mahinda Rajapakse, who campaigned on a hardline Sinhala nationalist platform, anxieties continued this week for the stalled Norwegian peace process.
An offer Friday by Norway to resume peace facilitation with the new administration has gone unanswered and, in his inaugural speech, President Rajapakse, until last week Premier under President Chandrika Kumaratunga, pointedly did not mention Norway’s offer or future role.
President Rajapakse was elected in elections last Thursday, defeating his main rival, Ranil Wickremesinghe of the main opposition United National Party (UNP) by a narrow margin.
But whilst Wickremesinghe secured the support of the main Upcountry parties and Sri Lanka’s biggest Muslim party, Rajapakse’s victory stemmed from a solid Sinhala vote bloc mobilized by ultra-nationalist allies.
Sri Lanka’s Tamils boycotted the election. And although the UNP initially challenged the outcome of the election Friday, it agreed to abide by the “people’s decision” Saturday, after the country’s Elections Commission refused a repoll, saying the outcome was not affected by the boycott.
Even before the controversy had been resolved, Friday night Norway offered its congratulations to President Rajapakse and declared its preparedness to continue peace facilitation in Sri Lanka.
“Norway remains willing to facilitate the peace process … for as long as the two parties request such assistance, and for as long as it is possible for Norway to play a constructive role,” veteran Peace Envoy and now Norwegian Minister of International Development, Mr. Erik Solheim, said.
Doubts over Norway’s role had been raised consequent to the bitter criticism leveled against the peace broker by Rajapakse’s campaign allies, the ultra-nationalist Janatha Vimukthi Perumana (JVP) which condemned Oslo as conspiring to divide Sri Lanka with the LTTE.
“It is an acknowledged fact that the ongoing peace process has certain shortcomings,” Rajapakse told state television on the eve of the vote. “If that is the case, the peace process has to be revised. Each and every step that was taken in the direction of peace has failed so far.”
Rajapakse and the JVP, which is suspicious of the West are said to prefer a leading role by India. However, some analysts suggest India would be reluctant to take a leading role and would itself prefer Norway to continue.
The immediate concern is the February 2002 ceasefire which continues to come under intense pressure from a simmering shadow war between Sri Lanka military intelligence and the Liberation Tigers which has claimed over two hundred lives.
Sinhala nationalists have long condemned the truce, which ended seven years of intense conflict as having weakened Sri Lanka’s security, a theme Rajapakse returned to in his inaugural address.
“I want to state the dedication of my government to upholding the ceasefire (but) I am also ready to review the ceasefire agreement,” Rajapakse said, speaking in Sinhalese.
The LTTE has refused to countenance a redrafting of the truce and says that is the implementation of the agreement which is flawed, not the terms and conditions themselves.
However, the Tigers have said they are committed to the ceasefire and observers expect the truce to hold. They have, however, warned the new Colombo administration not to contemplate a return to the military option.
“If they try to use military means to occupy our land or wage a conflict it will have negative implications for [them],” the head of the LTTE’s political wing, Mr. S. P. Tamilselvan said.
Rajapske insists he is committed to a peaceful solution amid his criticism of the Norwegian peace process.
“From this moment I will work towards my goal of making a new Sri Lanka. … I will try to achieve honourable peace for all,” he said, echoing his pre-election platform which dismissed the Norway-brokered peace process of Wickremesinghe’s government as having weakened national security and strengthened the LTTE.
“We will discuss peace talks with the LTTE and all political parties,” he said.
The LTTE has not responded formally to Rajapakse’s victory and comments, but the movement’s annual policy statement will be made Sunday when LTTE leader Vellupillai Pirapaharan makes his annual Heroes Day’ address.
An offer Friday by Norway to resume peace facilitation with the new administration has gone unanswered and, in his inaugural speech, President Rajapakse, until last week Premier under President Chandrika Kumaratunga, pointedly did not mention Norway’s offer or future role.
President Rajapakse was elected in elections last Thursday, defeating his main rival, Ranil Wickremesinghe of the main opposition United National Party (UNP) by a narrow margin.
But whilst Wickremesinghe secured the support of the main Upcountry parties and Sri Lanka’s biggest Muslim party, Rajapakse’s victory stemmed from a solid Sinhala vote bloc mobilized by ultra-nationalist allies.
Sri Lanka’s Tamils boycotted the election. And although the UNP initially challenged the outcome of the election Friday, it agreed to abide by the “people’s decision” Saturday, after the country’s Elections Commission refused a repoll, saying the outcome was not affected by the boycott.
Even before the controversy had been resolved, Friday night Norway offered its congratulations to President Rajapakse and declared its preparedness to continue peace facilitation in Sri Lanka.
“Norway remains willing to facilitate the peace process … for as long as the two parties request such assistance, and for as long as it is possible for Norway to play a constructive role,” veteran Peace Envoy and now Norwegian Minister of International Development, Mr. Erik Solheim, said.
Doubts over Norway’s role had been raised consequent to the bitter criticism leveled against the peace broker by Rajapakse’s campaign allies, the ultra-nationalist Janatha Vimukthi Perumana (JVP) which condemned Oslo as conspiring to divide Sri Lanka with the LTTE.
“It is an acknowledged fact that the ongoing peace process has certain shortcomings,” Rajapakse told state television on the eve of the vote. “If that is the case, the peace process has to be revised. Each and every step that was taken in the direction of peace has failed so far.”
Rajapakse and the JVP, which is suspicious of the West are said to prefer a leading role by India. However, some analysts suggest India would be reluctant to take a leading role and would itself prefer Norway to continue.
The immediate concern is the February 2002 ceasefire which continues to come under intense pressure from a simmering shadow war between Sri Lanka military intelligence and the Liberation Tigers which has claimed over two hundred lives.
Sinhala nationalists have long condemned the truce, which ended seven years of intense conflict as having weakened Sri Lanka’s security, a theme Rajapakse returned to in his inaugural address.
“I want to state the dedication of my government to upholding the ceasefire (but) I am also ready to review the ceasefire agreement,” Rajapakse said, speaking in Sinhalese.
The LTTE has refused to countenance a redrafting of the truce and says that is the implementation of the agreement which is flawed, not the terms and conditions themselves.
However, the Tigers have said they are committed to the ceasefire and observers expect the truce to hold. They have, however, warned the new Colombo administration not to contemplate a return to the military option.
“If they try to use military means to occupy our land or wage a conflict it will have negative implications for [them],” the head of the LTTE’s political wing, Mr. S. P. Tamilselvan said.
Rajapske insists he is committed to a peaceful solution amid his criticism of the Norwegian peace process.
“From this moment I will work towards my goal of making a new Sri Lanka. … I will try to achieve honourable peace for all,” he said, echoing his pre-election platform which dismissed the Norway-brokered peace process of Wickremesinghe’s government as having weakened national security and strengthened the LTTE.
“We will discuss peace talks with the LTTE and all political parties,” he said.
The LTTE has not responded formally to Rajapakse’s victory and comments, but the movement’s annual policy statement will be made Sunday when LTTE leader Vellupillai Pirapaharan makes his annual Heroes Day’ address.
