NPC: Universal values provide basis for dialogue
May 2nd, 2008
Full Text of Media Release by National Peace Council of Sri Lanka:
The human and economic costs of war are taking an ever increasing toll on Sri Lankan society. The battles at Muhamalai in the north in which several hundreds of combatants either died or were injured serves as a reminder of the costs of war and further costs that lie ahead. A deplorable feature has been remains the deliberate targeting of civilians. The bus bombing of a passenger bus in Piliyandala near Colombo so far from the scene of battle is an example of the brutality that accompanies the logic of war that seeks victory at any price. The National Peace Council condemns the bus bombing, which the government has attributed to the LTTE, even as we condemn all other acts of violence that cause injury to the civilian population. We also repeat our call to the government and LTTE to de escalate the war and to negotiate a ceasefire and political solution that will address the roots of the conflict.
We appreciate the efforts of people of goodwill both within Sri Lanka and internationally to seek an alternative to militarism in the search for peace. The presence in Sri Lanka of representatives of the World Conference on Religions for Peace who held inter religious meetings in Kandy and Trincomalee in partnership with us has pointed to the universal values of religion that provide the basis for dialogue and mutual understanding.
Quite tragically, the immediate future presents a bleak picture of a continuation of military operations without concern for the human and economic costs. It appears that both sides can only see gains in terms of territorial victories and in killing as many members of the other side as possible, even if they be civilians. Without the transformation of the government and LTTE, through dialogue and mutual understanding, in which the government tables a viable political proposal and the LTTE accepts a united country, there can be neither peace nor justice in Sri Lanka. NPC urges religious and civil society to support such peace work in the face of an escalating war that is futile and ultimately brings suffering to all.
Executive Director
On behalf of Governing Council
Entry Filed under: Full Text of Press Release
2 Comments Add your own
1. dias | May 2nd, 2008 at 8:17 pm
The “government tables a viable political proposal…” holds the key to the beginning of peace. If its proposal is truly “viable”, then it is irrelevant whether “the LTTE accepts a united country…” because if they don’t (or the extremist nationalists don’t) both these extremes will be squeezed out from their respective outermost ends. This most probably will be the eventual scenario as neither the LTTE or the ultra nationalists will ever accept any “viable proposal”.
As for the “the universal values of religion that provide the basis for dialogue and mutual understanding”, the NPC should have a chat with the Mahanayake’s and help them understand plural democracy and liberalism. While NPC’s intentions are well intended and much appreciated, be assured that no matter how many proposals the government tables, these could never be sold unless the knowledge of the masses about various political systems is significantly enhanced. This is a huge gap in the entire peace-making process that the NPC may wish to take upon to fulfill.
2. N2 | May 3rd, 2008 at 6:22 am
I suggest that the pro-GOSL NPC stops crying crocodile tears and begins to start promoting REAL Buddhism as an antidote to Sinhala-Buddhist-Extremism, thuggery and corruption.
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