The Hindu : Collective effort must for peace: Chandrika

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Feb 05, 2004

International

International

Collective effort must for peace: Chandrika

By V.S. Sambandan

The Sri Lankan President, Chandrika Kumaratunga, and the Prime Minister, Ranil Wickramasinghe, at the 56th Independence Day celebrations in Colombo on Wednesday. - Photo: Sriyantha Walpola

COLOMBO, FEB. 4. Sri Lanka today celebrated its 56th Independence Day with a rare public display of military hardware and a call by the Sri Lankan President, Chandrika Kumaratunga, for a coming together of all political forces. She also `appreciated' the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam for its commitment to the ceasefire agreement.

The Tamil-majority north-eastern province, however, downed the shutters and observed it as a `black day' in response to a boycott call made by local groups.

The celebrations, held at the Independence Square here, were marked by the ceremonial hoisting of the national flag by Ms. Kumaratunga, a 21-gun salute, a display of military hardware and an address to the nation by the President.

The Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Heads of the Armed Forces, political leaders and diplomats were among those who participated in the public celebrations.

In her address to the nation, Ms. Kumaratunga expressed her appreciation that the ceasefire had continued for two years, but struck a note of caution that "absence of war is not peace."

The conflicts that had plagued the country since Independence — the southern insurrections, led by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna in the 1970s and 1980, and the northern separatist conflict, led by the LTTE since 1980s — were given importance in her address. " Many thousands of young men and women of the South and the North, despite `taking a wrong path' had `sacrificed their lives for the realisation of social justice, a national identity, equality, democracy, freedom and human rights," Ms. Kumaratunga said. She expressed the hope "on behalf of these young men and women," united steps would be taken to overcome "the feelings of hatred that have been created in their minds, due to long years of injustice and disrespect suffered by them."

"Since Independence, despite significant achievements in development, we have so far failed to achieve the vital objective of building our country as one united nation" Ms. Kumaratunga said.

On the "most serious problem facing" the nation — the ethnic conflict — the President said there was a "virtual total commitment to peace": The "cruel war" had come to a halt. "I know fully well that no one wants to resume this war," Ms. Kumaratunga said. The challenge now was that of "realising permanent peace," she said.

Show of protest

In the Tamil-majority north-eastern province, however, the day was observed as one of `mourning,' with shops closed, roads deserted and black flags raised in several places. The Independence Day celebrations were restricted to military and police installations in the north and east. According to reports reaching Colombo, the call to observe the day as "black day" was taken seriously by residents in the north-eastern province. The entrance to University of Jaffna, for instance, wore a deserted look, and the streets were deserted in eastern Batticaloa town, where the official celebrations were reportedly cancelled.

Residents from the High Security Zone in the northern Jaffna peninsula also commenced a fast unto death, protesting the continued presence of the army.

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