The Hindu : National : Committed to political solution, says Rajapaksa

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Sunday, Oct 14, 2007
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Committed to political solution, says Rajapaksa

Sandeep Dikshit

“We respond when we are attacked”

NEW DELHI: Calling upon Tamil separatists to join the democratic mainstream, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa said his government was committed to seeking a negotiable and sustainable solution to the problem.

Speaking at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit here on Saturday, Mr. Rajapaksa said Colombo had been facing up to terrorist challenge with increasing success. However, the separatists had initiated violence, leaving the state with no option but to respond.

“The government and the people will reciprocate against those who carry arms against the state. Within two weeks of my becoming President, they started killing unarmed soldiers, innocent children and women. It was when they closed the dam [in eastern Sri Lanka] affecting farmers who were Tamils, Sinhalas and Muslims, that I ordered the army to open the dam. From then, when they attack, we react. We want a political solution. It is up to [Villupillai] Prabhakaran. He never listened to anybody, neither Rajiv Gandhi nor the Indian government nor the Sri Lankan government.”

“We don’t believe in a military solution. We are ready for talks with terrorists. We talked to them, even went to Geneva and Oslo. They are the people who walked out,” he said. At the same time Sri Lanka looked forward to understanding and assistance from the regional neighbours and friends, especially from those with whom it has strong bonds in history.

Citing India’s example, he suggested that Sri Lanka should be left to find its answer to the ethnic problem. “India’s experience of 60 years of home grown approach, as seen in the model of governance, has served it well in facing challenges. With our home grown solution, we have been able to face up to Sri Lanka’s governance, including conflict which has been exploited by separatist forces, who are a threat to India too.”

Cutting funds

Apart from combating terrorism through military operations, Sri Lanka was attempting to correct the imbalance in growth, a speedy political solution to the ethnic problem and curtailing terrorist funding from abroad. On the regional front, the Sri Lanka President wanted India to help the neighbouring countries. As India becomes an economic powerhouse, South Asia will be looking to it for more dynamic leadership of the South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and for alleviating concerns about stability in the region.

“It should demonstrate that it is not a threat but an opportunity for good neighbourliness in the region. India has the unique responsibility to ensure that the entire region maintains peace without any outbreak of conflicts.”

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