The Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) need a negotiated settlement to the island’s ethno-political conflict. There have been more than five decades of conflict for a more inclusive state and nearly two decades of civil war. What lessons, opportunities and ideas came from the Oslo Communiqué that could enhance the next phase of the peace process? Five authors, employed by Non-governmental organisations working in Sri Lanka, wrote this discussion document in a personal capacity.
A sustainable solution to the conflict requires a coherent strategy of principled negotiations and multiple mediation. It will involve a comprehensive programme of political transformation leading to a fundamental restructuring of the state towards power-sharing, federalism, democracy and good governance. The development of an effective strategy for peace negotiations is of critical importance.
The following steps are required:
- Review and analyse the key features and experiences of the peace process – both positive and negative – of the last two years (2002-2003).
- Identify conclusions and lessons to improve the next phase.
- Build a political environment conducive for inclusive negotiations and conflict transformation. This involves creating an interim power-sharing arrangement between the two main parties in the South. It includes an institutionalised political understanding between the LTTE and the Muslim community in the North-East. It means parallel steps to engage as many actors as possible in the future peace process.
- Identify key issues to be addressed in the upcoming peace negotiations.
- Elaborate on ideas for an effective infrastructure for future negotiations, and promote a constructive interaction between structural issues and the process dynamics.
The Sri Lankan peace process is at a crossroads. The first phase came to an end in early 2003; the second phase has not yet begun. There are chasms between the GoSL and the LTTE on most issues and the challenge of building a Southern political consensus. This suggests that the transition from a conflict to a post-conflict situation could be a long process. It could even be fraught with increasing violence. There is a unique opportunity to develop an innovative strategic framework of multiple peace negotiations and peace-building:
- The shock-absorption capacity of the relevant parties and their ability to manage short-term crises and stalemates will become even more crucial during such a protracted transition.
- All parties need to become co-owners of the process. The talks must be based on the concept of ‘principled negotiations’. Concrete steps need to be taken to work jointly on a comprehensive programme of reforming and restructuring the Sri Lankan state as a multi-national federal state.
- One way of moving in this direction is to promote a comprehensive public discussion within and among all stakeholders, including the Sri Lankan diaspora and the International Community on how to elaborate an innovative strategic framework for peace.
