May 10, 2004 ☼ Foreign Affairs
Whether or not LTTE is really the sole representative of the Tamils is not a very meaningful question as the Prabhakaran’s forces not only hold significant amount of territory in the northern and eastern parts of the island but have shown that they are capable of defending it. The LTTE is therefore a principal dialogue partner for the Sri Lankan government. Knowing that the international community is no longer sympathetic to its brand of struggle for liberation it has made moves towards a political solution. This move needs to be positively reinforced by the Sri Lankan government. That it has done so is good news.
Moving ahead, Sri Lanka must think of setting up a South Africa style truth and reconciliation commission. Prabhakaran and his crowd are guilty of some of the most violent acts seen on the planet; the broader interests of peace may require these acts to be forgiven, but they must not be forgotten. A lasting peace will be built not by skimming over sins of either side, but by both sides reconciling to their own unholy pasts.
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