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| Sunday, 8 December 2002 |
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People reap benefits of peace - Tyronne in Seoul At a time when terrorism is spreading throughout the world, Sri Lanka has managed to curb it, now for one year and have the people reap the benefits of peace after 20 years, Foreign Minister Tyronne Fernando told the second ministerial meeting of Community of Democracies in Seoul. "The Government's commitment to internationally agreed measures against terrorism and other international crimes remains undiminished. Sri Lanka fully subscribes to the view that no cause justifies terrorism. Nevertheless, at a time when terrorism is spreading throughout the world, we have managed to curb it, now for one year and have the people reap the benefits of peace after 20 years," Minister told the meeting which was co-chaired by the US and Poland. The full text of the speech: As you are aware, Sri Lanka is among the older democracies, Democracy has been the life blood of the nation for many decades. People of Sri Lanka have enjoyed Universal Adult franchise since 1931 even before we gained independence in 1948. Between 1948 and last year we have had no less than 7 changes of governments by peaceful ballot. In Sri Lanka, the main challenge to democracy emerged from the ethnic conflict and the state's response both of which have a serious impact on democratic institutions and process as well as human rights. This also resulted in our failure to realize our full economic potential. Despite the grave terrorist challenge confronted by the country during the last two decades, our people have continued to cherish deeply and exercise with courage, their sacred right to vote and elect governments of their choice. The UNF Government which assumed office in December last year has received a clear mandate at the last parliamentary election to seek a durable peace to the long running ethnic conflict, strengthen democracy and revive the war ravaged economy. The people of Sri Lanka have overwhelmingly reaffirmed this mandate at the subsequent local government election in March this year. Consistent with this mandate, the Government has initiated the non-going peace process intended to achieve a durable political settlement to the ethnic conflict. The peace process itself is intended to strengthen democracy. However the challenge facing us today is to redefine the Sri Lankan polity by addressing the underlying reasons for the conflict and create space for those who have sought to advance their cause through arms to enter the democratic process supported by the international community. The process envisages a series of incremental steps facilitated by Norway addressing the urgent humanitarian problems confronting the people in the war affected areas and implementing confidence building measures incorporated in the mutually agreed and internationally supervised Ceasefire Agreement of February this year. It is obvious that any durable political solution to the ethnic problem should be within the framework of a united Sri Lanka fully consistent with its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Respect for the Rule of Law, democratic norms and protection of Human rights will be the firm foundation on which any interim arrangement or final settlement. Parallel to the negotiation track, a carefully coordinated programme is being undertaken with the assistance of national and international partners, both at bilateral as well as multi-lateral levels, for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the areas affected by the conflict. The Government's commitment to internationally agreed measures against terrorism and other international crimes undiminished. Sri Lanka subscribes to the view that no cause justifies terrorism. Nevertheless, at time when terrorism is spreading throughout the world, we have managed to curb it, now for one year and have the people reap the benefits of peace after 20 years. The government and the LTTE have been able to successfully complete the second session of the first round of talks in Bangkok in November 2002. Agreement has been reached to set up three sub committees to deal with the following matters. We are grateful to the Government of Thailand for their assistance in this regard. We recognize the enormity of challenge that confronts us in finding a durable solution to the conflict. The Government and LTTE will make joint representation in the forthcoming meeting in Oslo at the end of November to seek donor assistance for humanitarian and development projects in the affected areas. The international community's support and encouragement has been vital in sustaining this process. We look forward to continued close cooperation and support of our friends in pursuing peace and economic reconstruction in our country. In September last year, a very significant milestone in country's Constitutional history was reached, with the enactment into law of what is known as the 17th Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka. We, those who were in Opposition proposed this and the then government agreed to it. Its significance is not only in the realm of the substance of the legislative enactment but also in the process undertaken. The enactment of the 17th Amendment to the Constitution was the culmination of the process initiated by civil society and espoused by the main opposition party and later adopted by the then government upon reaching a consensus with all political parties represented in Parliament as to the contents of the legislation. Its legislative objectives are two fold. The first objective is the achievement of open and transparent governance devoid of corruption and of political victimization. The second objective is the promotion of the values of consensual governance as opposed to confrontational politics. It seeks to achieve these objectives by vesting the power of appointment, transfer and dismissal of public servants including the police and the judiciary, earlier exclusively vested in the executive in four independent commissions, namely the Election Commission, the Judicial Services Commission, the Public Service Commission, and the Police Commission. The appointment to the membership of these commissions are made by the President on recommendations of a ten member Constitutional Council constituted to reflect plurality not only in terms of ethnicity but also political affiliation. Indeed, it is envisaged that when these commissions are fully operational especially the Election Commission, the concerns expressed in the past by the international community of the civil society in Sri Lanka on the transparency and impartiality of the electoral process would be addressed. The establishment of the Elections Commission in the near future would complement and strengthen the important role presently performed by the office of the commissioner general of elections, in the conduct of free and fair elections and referenda. I believe that the establishment of such autonomous and broadly representative bodies independent, impartial and balanced will further strengthen democratic freedoms and public institutions that the people of Sri Lanka have fought to nurture and defend so zealously. The Government of Sri Lanka is committed to the full implementation of the provisions of the 17th Amendment. The education has been free since independence and the literacy rate is well over 90 percent. As the media minister a decade ago I started special radio channel entirely for education and it is worth studying as a model. Consistent with its commitment to further strengthen the media freedom to guarantee the effective functioning of democratic institutions, the UNF government has already brought in legislation to amend the Penal Code removing the offence of criminal defamation. The government has also announced its intention to introduce a freedom of Information Bill with a view to minimizing the administrative restrictions related to public access to the government held information. This Bill is also intended to further safeguard the rights of journalists from being forced to divulge their source of information. These are some of the recent initiatives of the government to further consolidate and strengthen the democratic institutions in Sri Lanka which are expected to ensure good governance and economic progress within the frame work of a stable democracy. |
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