‘Tamil people are in LTTE’s bondage’

“I think the most important lesson is that we should not let things develop in Sri Lanka which would require the intervention of even our best and closest neighbour. We should learn to resolve our own disputes within our country… Peace is not far away… I do not believe in or seek a military solution,” says President of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapaksa, talking to Hardnews Colombo Bureau Chief Bandula Jayasekara

The Indo-Sri Lanka Accord signed on July 28, 1987 completed its 20th anniversary recently. Does the accord still have relevance?  

It is necessary to understand that subjective conditions have changed since this accord was signed 20 years ago. The situation in the east of Sri Lanka has changed significantly with the government being able to liberate it from the LTTE. There is also the decision of the Supreme Court which held that the temporary merger of the north and east carried out under the accord was not legally valid. It is necessary for us to respect the views of the highest judiciary of the country. Also, while we can see these changes, there is one unchanged factor still in place which the accord sought to change. I refer to the fact that the LTTE is still carrying arms and threatening the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country. They have not abandoned the demand for a separate state within the territory of Sri Lanka.

As to the relevance of the accord, there was a symposium held in Colombo to mark 20 years of the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord where many interesting points were made by Indian and Sri Lankan analysts about the success and failure of this agreement. It is necessary to view the accord in the context of the many changes that have taken place since it was signed. What are the lessons to be learnt from the accord? I think the most important lesson is that we should not let things develop in Sri Lanka which would require the intervention of even our best and closest neighbour. We should learn to resolve our own disputes within our country. Another lesson is the need for a more inclusive democracy in our country where no section of the people is left out of power structures. We should be able to better manage inter-communal relations among our people and provide all sections of the people with the necessary constitutional guarantees. They should not feel excluded from power or discriminated against.

Do you seriously think peace in Sri Lanka is possible in the near future? 

Yes, I think peace is possible in the near future. Of course, with this dispute dragging with more than two decades of violent conflict, there can be a question of what is meant by the near future. But I think peace is not far away. My government is consciously working towards peace. I think it can be achieved sooner than many think.

How do you achieve it?

There are many approaches possible for peace. We shall have to settle for the best.

It must meet the aspirations of the Tamil people who are at present held in bondage by the LTTE. Whatever solution that we find must have the acceptance of all the people of Sri Lanka. This is where consensus, understanding and give and take are required.  

Some feel your stress has been more to look for a resolution of the conflict at the military level and not so much at the political level. Is that correct?