Sri Lanka Sanjana Hattotuwa Senior Researcher, Centre for Policy Alternatives

Current state of affairs Government Committed to peace talks No real strategy of engagement / No roadmap for CT, Human Security or Reconciliation Lack of capacity in the negotiations team Trying best it can to respond to the deterioration of the peace process / increase of violence Civil Society & NGOs Under fire from the JVP, JHU and certain segments of the Government Lack of collaboration on peace, human security and governance initiatives Individual voices weak in the face of those calling for war Private sector Large business committed to peace but no CSR in support of peace Sri Lanka First Initiative dormant, though some signs of resurrection Investment climate negative / higher insurance surcharges / tourism collapse / no FDI

Government

Committed to peace talks

No real strategy of engagement / No roadmap for CT, Human Security or Reconciliation

Lack of capacity in the negotiations team

Trying best it can to respond to the deterioration of the peace process / increase of violence

Civil Society & NGOs

Under fire from the JVP, JHU and certain segments of the Government

Lack of collaboration on peace, human security and governance initiatives

Individual voices weak in the face of those calling for war

Private sector

Large business committed to peace but no CSR in support of peace

Sri Lanka First Initiative dormant, though some signs of resurrection

Investment climate negative / higher insurance surcharges / tourism collapse / no FDI

First and only two-pronged media & civil society project in Sri Lanka Attempts to bridge the lack of communication within and between media and civil society National and provincial / grassroots Building national, provincial and local capacity for dialogues on democracy, rights and peace.

First and only two-pronged media & civil society project in Sri Lanka

Attempts to bridge the lack of communication within and between media and civil society

National and provincial / grassroots

Building national, provincial and local capacity for dialogues on democracy, rights and peace.

Questions Can international bans work? Little leverage before ban / Less leverage after ban? LTTE - Rat in the corner versus more open to dialogue? EU ban according to Thamilchelvan is the last nail in the coffin Bans + ? {Need for a coherent, multi-stakeholder, long term plan for rights based initiatives Engagement vs. disengagement – modes of dialogue with belligerents Need for coordinated approach after bans Need for permanent representatives of Co-Chairs in Sri Lanka (special envoy model)

Can international bans work?

Little leverage before ban / Less leverage after ban?

LTTE - Rat in the corner versus more open to dialogue? EU ban according to Thamilchelvan is the last nail in the coffin

Bans + ? {Need for a coherent, multi-stakeholder, long term plan for rights based initiatives

Engagement vs. disengagement – modes of dialogue with belligerents

Need for coordinated approach after bans

Need for permanent representatives of Co-Chairs in Sri Lanka (special envoy model)

Questions Why is there a need to build capacity and political awareness of options for a final solution? Engagements with spoilers in the South JVP, JHU and LTTE necessary No military solution Need to sensitize the Southern constituency on power-sharing and federalism So why is engaging civil society important now ? Voice of moderation Bulwark against extremist nationalism Civil society under threat, need to strengthen initiatives CSO initiatives strengthen human security, governance and democracy

Why is there a need to build capacity and political awareness of options for a final solution?

Engagements with spoilers in the South JVP, JHU and LTTE necessary

No military solution

Need to sensitize the Southern constituency on power-sharing and federalism

So why is engaging civil society important now ?

Voice of moderation

Bulwark against extremist nationalism

Civil society under threat, need to strengthen initiatives

CSO initiatives strengthen human security, governance and democracy

Questions Why pressure on the Govt of SL regarding governance and Human Rights is important for Canada now? EU ban quite clearly states the responsibilities of the SL State regarding HR Need unified foreign policy directives aimed at strengthening HS / HR as with recent co-chairs statement Lack of HR emphasis by the State heightens the legitimacy of the LTTE Southern political consensus needed for transformation of conflict – Political Parties suspect in their commitment to HR

Why pressure on the Govt of SL regarding governance and Human Rights is important for Canada now?

EU ban quite clearly states the responsibilities of the SL State regarding HR

Need unified foreign policy directives aimed at strengthening HS / HR as with recent co-chairs statement

Lack of HR emphasis by the State heightens the legitimacy of the LTTE

Southern political consensus needed for transformation of conflict – Political Parties suspect in their commitment to HR

The Federal Idea Why initiatives to support federalism needs to continue Dual transformation – GoSL / State & LTTE No military solution to the conflict State transformation - language rights, access to governance & justice, rights based development, gender mainstreaming Sensitizing the South - Politicians need to support federalism Involve more voices – judiciary, public servants, clergy, Universities Writing a comprehensive federal constitution as a foundation for progressive debate – go beyond the gridlock of tired debates on the CFA

Why initiatives to support federalism needs to continue

Dual transformation – GoSL / State & LTTE

No military solution to the conflict

State transformation - language rights, access to governance & justice, rights based development, gender mainstreaming

Sensitizing the South - Politicians need to support federalism

Involve more voices – judiciary, public servants, clergy, Universities

Writing a comprehensive federal constitution as a foundation for progressive debate – go beyond the gridlock of tired debates on the CFA

Ripe moment vs. process orientation No ripe moment for peace Conditions and drivers for peace can exist parallel to violent conflict Increasing violence on the ground strengthens the case for greater civil society activism War does not negate efforts at peacebuilding – CT and democratisation is seen as a long term process as in the case of Nepal Peace talks part of peace process – The collapse of talks is not the collapse of the process

No ripe moment for peace

Conditions and drivers for peace can exist parallel to violent conflict

Increasing violence on the ground strengthens the case for greater civil society activism

War does not negate efforts at peacebuilding – CT and democratisation is seen as a long term process as in the case of Nepal

Peace talks part of peace process – The collapse of talks is not the collapse of the process

Engaging diasporas The Tamil community is the fastest growing population group in Canada as it grew by 38 % between 1996 and 2001. What can be done by the diaspora communities to support the peace process? Identifying skilled members of the diaspora for pro-democracy , development and human security initiatives in Sri Lanka , and providing opportunities for a time limited engagement, particularly in the former conflict areas. Identifying and supporting governmental and civil society initiatives in Canada on the level of communal or inter-communal social, cultural and political (pro-peace) activities. Use the internet and web to facilitate knowledge capital and knowledge transfers

The Tamil community is the fastest growing population group in Canada as it grew by 38 % between 1996 and 2001.

What can be done by the diaspora communities to support the peace process?

Identifying skilled members of the diaspora for pro-democracy , development and human security initiatives in Sri Lanka , and providing opportunities for a time limited engagement, particularly in the former conflict areas.

Identifying and supporting governmental and civil society initiatives in Canada on the level of communal or inter-communal social, cultural and political (pro-peace) activities.

Use the internet and web to facilitate knowledge capital and knowledge transfers

Thank you