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Ceasefire has failed but peace not far: Mahinda

Says, until terrorists are weakened, they will not come for talks

Al-Jazeera: THURSDAY, MAY 31:

President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his usually frank assessment of the conflict in Sri Lanka told Al-Jazeera that compared to the otherwise complex details of Sri Lankan politics, this paradoxical formulation was relatively simple to interpret: although the war against the Tamil Tigers had resumed, the army was winning, and it would not be long before rebel leader Prabhakaran recognises this and stops his aggression.

At that point, a peace agreement could be negotiated.

He also said that there was no religious or ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka; that the international community was completely wrong in accusing his army of human rights violations; and that India holds the key to Sri Lanka's political future.

'Until the terrorists are weakened, they will not come for talks,' he added while strongly rejecting the suggestion that this amounts to the pursuit of a 'military solution'.

He says his increasing emphasis on military action was a minor element in the pursuit of a political compromise. A political solution is the only aim, but at the same time Prabhakaran should be weakened militarily, and although they do not have to surrender arms, the Tigers must stop the fighting first.

'I am ready if Prabhakaran is ready,' he said. 'We have said that very clearly. I am ready, but I am not prepared to kneel before LTTE terrorism. I have said that many times. If I am attacked, I will counter-attack. That is what we have done now.?

Eighteen months into his term, a quarter century-long conflict has reignited and some 5,000 more people are dead. The Tigers have brought their campaign to Colombo and for the first time in their history they have demonstrated air power.

When asked whether this military weakening/political solution was even vaguely plausible, Mr. Rajapaksa had no doubts: yes, he said, and sooner than most people realise.

'I must say this very clearly. We have cleared the East from terrorism.'

It won't be long, he says, before Prabhakaran realises that he has no choice but to negotiate.

'We have weakened them?. When he is weak he talks peace. When he becomes strong, then he wants war.'

The president was critical of Europe and the US, both of which have talked of cutting off aid. He accused European leaders of callously stopping humanitarian aid for tsunami victims.

Asked whether talk of a humanitarian intervention, or a Kosovo-style imposed separation, he says there is only one country that could acceptably involve itself in Sri Lanka ? the giant next door, India.

'India?s support is necessary,' he says, 'There must be more support from the Indian government.'

But as Rajapakse is concerned the roots have long been buried. The real divide, he says, is now between the terrorists and the rest of the country.

'Prabhakaran does not represent the aspirations of the Tamil people,' he says.

'What he represents, is the interests of a small group. Not the needs of the Tamil people.'

The Tigers, he says, are 'not a Tamil terrorist organization, there are Sinhalese, Muslims and Tamils in this group.'

So while many argue that the roots of the problem remain important, and that reform of the domestic electoral system is a vital stepping stone to real peace, it seems Rajapaksa's solution to the problem relies on an unyielding principle.

if they want to

'I must say this very clearly. We have cleared the East from terrorism.'

It won't be long, he says, before Prabhakaran realises that he has no choice but to negotiate.

'Prabhakaran does not represent the aspirations of the Tamil people,' he says.

'What he represents, is the interests of a small group. Not the needs of the Tamil people.'

A nice one !

I have a dream...............

I have a dream............... Martin Luther King Jr.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbUtL_0vAJk

i 2nd it , a GOOD song :)