In these turbulent times, mass destruction of human life and inhuman massacre of innocent children have occurred in certain parts of this crime and violence ridden world.
There is no stopping and the massacres are yet going on.
In the context of this horrendous global situation, peace is the currently topical watchword - although ineffective in its implementation in most cases.
Our President too has pronounced at the Asian Group whilst at the recent UN conference that what should be relentlessly pursued is Peace through dialogue and waging war is anathema.
From as far back as the last decade or even earlier there have been and there are at present too — innumerable talks, lectures, sermons, discussions and conferences besides public meetings initiated and conducted by eminent persons, intellectuals, religious leaders, NGO delegates and most of all by politicians of all hues on the much trumpeted theme of ethnic unity and harmony so much so that it has become almost a public show.
There is also an avalanche of letters, articles and opinions expressing mixed thoughts suggestions and proposals - prominently displayed in both the print and electronic media in a feverish attempt to resolve the prevalent ethnic strife.
It is, however, unfortunate that we have failed to achieve any far reaching tangible results to the satisfaction of either party involved in the endeavour and search for peace in our country.
The problem has become so complicated that various interested parties including quite a number of NGOs - some of whose interests and ceredentials are palpably questionable in most instances, are pressing for a direct involvement of third — party foreign powers - Norwegians and others — to bring about a peace settlement which could sometimes be partisan and one-sided to the detriment of the larger populace.
The bulwark of the cultural and peaceful co-existence that prevailed in our country from the beginning of civilisation strengthened by years of experience gathered in a modestly advanced societal — complex needed no alien props to buttress our standing in social justice and fairplay and inter-communal amity.
What is really needed is a correct and justifiable evaluation of the social cultural and economic conditions obtaining amongst all ethnic sectors.
The core necessity in this regard is the adoption of a meaningful and constructive process of reconciliation with groups at logger heads by means of an acceptable policy of — "Live and let live" and "give and take" that would afford an allround participation in the government/polity of the entire island nation as an integrated one whole unit.
Sincerity and honesty of purpose from all sections is of paramount importance and that spirit of full involvement should not only be invited and given but fearlessly adhered to by all ethnic sectors as nationals of one nation.
No room should be given to extremist cantankerous anti-national power seeking sectarian leaders or as a matter of that, to any groups of extreme trouble makers to exploit the present indecisive stance of our vacillating policy—makers and scheming executives to drag down our country deeper into an inextricable morass.
What is also importantly and urgently required is the sincere and unflagging support and participation of all our people — the majority and minority groups — irrespective of any linguistic, religious, clan or class differences — to resolve the brutally destructive war situation in which thousands of lives have been sacrificed and are being continually sacrificed on both sides of the divide.
It is time our legislators shun their arrogant and imprudent divisive politics and put their heads together to evolve an acceptable broadbased system that would neither endanger the prevailing stability and status of the major community nor — indiscriminately jeopardise the rightful standing of the minority groups.
Our Tamil politicians and professionals too who are living in our midst and claim leadership and representative responsibility for their community should at least now — when they have grasped the pros and cons of the existing realities of the ethnic situation — be able to fearlessly condemn the atrocious and murderous campaigns of the LTTE and actively impress upon their people the necessity of a consensus for adapting, on their part, a conciliatory and pragmatically beneficial policy of co-existence with the majority community.
As reasonable and responsible citizens they should not always expect other ethnic groups to unduly pander to all of their whims and fancies in the context of a peaceful settlement of the ethnic problem.
It is only then that all of us could achieve the much longed for peace and harmony in our island’s nation.
