War portents in Sri Lanka

And although the recent spate of fighting was the result of a suicide attack carried out, ac-cording to the Sri Lankan government, by the LTTE, the counter measures of the government following the April bombing have unfortunately set a chain reaction in mo-tion that has the prospect of plunging the once peaceful and economically the most vibrant nation in the region, into an abyss of another civil war.

It is very difficult to rationalise the current outbreak of violence, but if for the LTTE it is a show of force that is supposed to convey to the government its position of strength that they will negotiate from, the retaliatory ac-tion of the Sri Lankan government could leave peace prospects in dire straits. It is very important not to be provoked into precipitate action by either of the parties, more so the government. The LTTE on their part must desist making the peace supervisors their target, because it is with their consent the Sri Lankan Monitoring Mission has been in their country since 2002.

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It is however encouraging to see the once non-compromising person, that President Rajapakse was con-sidered to be before his election, on the question of Tamil autonomy and his intention of reviewing the ceasefire if he came to be elected, has resisted recent pressures from hardliners within his government to resort to strong mili-tary action to reduce the LTTE into submission and con-clude a final agreement with them.

Clearly, both sides are aware that neither can afford another round of full scale war, but compromise and climb-down from long-held positions will require a commitment to peace and faith in the peace process which must not be allowed to suffer in spite of the recent outbreak of violence.