Comments on: Building Peace via People’s Participation

By: patriot

patriot — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 23:42:26 +0000

This is definitely the only way that there would be peace in sri-lanka, if there is a people to people peace.

I suspect that if we the sinhalese and the tamils keep arguing, we would argue forever.

I have read the All Party Representative Committe (APRC) majority report and it has four options for devolving political power.

So I suggest that all the different political parties representing the sinhalese, tamils and muslims representing all shades of opinion and all the social, religious and community organisations get together and each choose which option they would most prefer.

Then each political parties point of view would be given extra weight according to how many people voted for them etc. Other political parties and all the social, religious and community organisations views would also be taken into account as well.

Then it would hopefully become more clear which of the four options is more favoured than the others. Then it is a case of implementation.

The other option is to enhance the already set up northern and eastern provincial councils with extra political and fiscal powers amounting to devolution of power. This could be done step by step if necessary. In the eastern province, considering the multi ethnic nature of the province, there could be special provisions for the sinhalese and muslims within their own autonomous areas where they are a majority as requested by them.

More than any of this, there must be changes to the education system in sri-lanka since tamil children go to tamil schools and sinhalese children go to sinhalese schools and so are alienated from each other from a very early age which does not bode well for the country in the future. So it must be made compulsory to twin each tamil school with two sinhalese schools as brother/sister schools and for the pupils to meet at least three times a year. In ths way friendships will be formed which would last forever and this would in time reduce the barriers.

As far as the totalitarian and mad LTTE militant leadership is concerned why don’t prabhakaran leave the country, after all, he has done enough damage, so the the rest of us can get on with all of this and I would say it is high time that this happens.

By: Tissa Wellappili

Tissa Wellappili — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 11:42:36 +0000

Diaspora from Sri lanka have a great responsibility to inform and educate the Sri Lankans. My own observation is that among the minorities in the world, particularly in the third world Sri Lanka’s minorities are among the most well off perhaps as a result of colonial heritage. With the exception of those in war torn areas they live in the cities, own property, run businesses, occupy leading positions in the professions and receive the modern amenities. When a small group financed by a adventurers overseas, take up most ruthless forms of terrorism to fight the state, dismantle public properties like the railway line to Jaffna cleanse areas on ethnic lines governments is forced to act. Leaders have to teach the importance of teaching learning the two languages from the cradle. Here I must say the leaders in particular created the division by refusing to foster a culture of learning the common languages.

By: A.Rajasingam

A.Rajasingam — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 04:22:30 +0000

People participation is good. Mere talking in markets and streets are not going to help. It has to be through several brances of councils of all communities leading to the Parliament, for which a federal set up is essential. What is essential is a change of heart from the bottom which should pressurise the top. This is the foundation for a confident building measure. As a first step people from all communities (not the politicians) can discuss the matter over the TV and this can be done by turns by different groups, namely professionals, academics, teachers, etc.

By: S.Santhirasegaran

S.Santhirasegaran — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 15:24:35 +0000

Very good coverage of Building peace through peoples participation,

By: wedige de silva

wedige de silva — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 11:58:08 +0000

God created everything; God is everywhere, very kind,very powerful and able to do anything. If it is so, why God is silent . I think that all these unfortunate things are because of God’s mistakes or wish that we have to tolarate. Contrary to this any body could think that belief on God is our foolishness and stories are fabricated to suit and justify god’s existance.

By: Dyan

Dyan — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 09:11:16 +0000

It is a good start, need to find more people who really want to achieve peace by peaceful way.