| The Ceylon Chamber Of Commerce (CCC) urges the government to take urgent action, to secure national consensus on the devolution proposals that were developed as the first step to solve the North East conflict. His Excellency the President in his address to the All party Representative Committee (APRC) and the Panel of Experts (PE) in July 2006 has also stressed the importance of speedy and effective progress that offers immediate relief to the individuals affected on the basis that people cannot be kept waiting in fear of an uncertain future.
The CCC also urges the APRC to give serious consideration to the recommendations made by the PE, which are consistent with the principles enunciated by the government on devolution. CCC believes that the recommendations of the different groups can be synthesised to arrive at a common position which meets the aspirations of the minority communities in the country.
The concerns expressed in certain quarters, that any form of accommodation on devolution will be a ‘stepping stone’ to separation, can be addressed by the specific safeguards contained in the recommendations of the PE. Negotiations can be conditional upon a commitment to non-violence and the acceptance of democratic principles by those entering the process of negotiations. There are examples of such successful conflict resolution initiatives through the acceptance of principles of democracy and non-violence in countries such as South Africa, Northern Ireland, Indonesia and more recently Nepal. It is through this process that His Excellency’s desire, as expressed in the same address, to establish democratic values, political pluralism and tolerance of dissent within the shortest possible time throughout the country can be achieved.
The CCC also notes with concern a recent tendency on the part of some groups to suppress suggestions for any form of accommodation in the settlement of the North East conflict. In the recent past individuals who have been associated with such suggestions of accommodation have been maligned. Some who have conducted workshops to explain different perspectives and approaches to the resolution of the conflict in Higurakgoda and Polonnaruwa are alleged to have been threatened or assaulted. These incidents need to be speedily dealt with by the law enforcement authorities.
We urge His Excellency The President to take advantage of the pledge of support from the main political parties and to give leadership to finding a negotiated settlement in the New Year. We believe that such action will result in renewed hope and marginalise the extremist elements on both sides of the conflict.
The economic resilience of the country will be threatened by the conflict and will also surely cause a delay in making a breakthrough in peace negotiations. Devolution proposals with a national consensus, if presented early, will provide the basis for negotiations.
The progress made in 2006 in developing devolution proposals gives us hope in the New Year that with public support an early resumption of talks is possible. The President should seize this opportunity of bipartisan support pledged to him to make 2007 the year of Peace.
The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce is a confederation of regional and sectoral chambers of commerce and industry, trade associations, employer organisations and bilateral councils. .
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