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New Book Outlines Negotiations with Tigers
Monday, 11 June 2007 - 7:57 AM SL Time
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Dr. John Gooneratne, a senior foreign service officer and a former Secretary-General of the Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process (SCOPP), has written what is described as the first authentic, undiluted account of negotiations between the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
Titled `Negotiating with the Tigers,` the book covers the period from the emergence of the United National Front Government led by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in December 2001 to the end of the administration of President Chandrika Kumaratunga in November 2005.
As of now, information about what actually happened at the talks has been sparse, scarce, and sanitized. `Negotiating With the Tigers` seeks to fill the information gap.
Dr. Gooneratne emphasizes the fact that this book, which is to be released next week, is not an official account of the peace process. It is a historical record, written by an experienced observer who covers many critically important events and issues with knowledge and insight.
Despite the current upsurge of violence, and the staying power of the conflict, Dr. Gooneratne does not support the view that the six rounds of peace talks should be dismissed as having had no productive purpose.
The talks, and events connected with them, should be placed in their proper context, so that lessons may be drawn from the experience. Evaluation of the work done, he says, will provide guidance for future negotiations, should these actually take place.
The book also says there were ups and down, pluses and minuses, in the peace process. And the author shares his knowledge, perceptions, and impressions with his readers.
He acknowledges that there is no perfect wording for ceasefire agreements except in text books. He points out that although the Norwegians, who were invited to serve as facilitators in the peace process both by President Kumaratunga and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe, are experienced in conflict resolution, there were drawbacks in negotiations leading to the Ceasefire Agreement of February 22, 2002.
For instance, while some GOSL proposals were incorporated in the draft CFA as it was being shaped; others never made their way into the agreement. Dr. Gooneratne lists a representative sample of GOSL proposals that disappeared. He also draws attention to the reality that there isnt a queue of volunteers or suitable candidates for the role of third party facilitator.
He presents and analyzes the six rounds of peace talks thematically, and grapples with a broad range of complementary issues, including the limits of facilitation, the appropriate substance of a Ceasefire Agreement, the impact of Sri Lanka`s political culture on the peace process, and the unfulfilled expectations of the P-TOMS exercise.
The LTTE`s approach to negotiations, he indicates, could be non-traditional. Often, they would disdain discussions leading to mutually acceptable compromise, and insist on a one-sided dictation of terms. Paradoxically, despite this arbitrariness, there was a great deal of cordiality and friendliness among the main negotiators and their staff throughout all six rounds of negotiations.
There are times at which Dr. Gooneratne says he was clearly disappointed by missed opportunities, but he does not give up hope. As he puts it: Bringing Sri Lankan politics under Queensberry Rules does take time.
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Roshan2007
Joined: Dec 2006
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11 Jun 2007 08:56:18 GMT Report for Abuse
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Enough war and killing.
Motta Rala should read this book. |
Pera
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11 Jun 2007 09:02:28 GMT Report for Abuse
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Motta Rala should read this book.
yes yes..
if someone translate the book in to Colloquial Tamil, Thalaivar Mudalai also could read that :)
PERA |
nirupam
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11 Jun 2007 10:16:25 GMT Report for Abuse
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Asiatribune is a well known racist medium and as such one cannot view the review as subjective.
However, it will help both parties to learn from their past mistakes by reading the book.
Pera,
It's one's inherent inadequacy to scorn another's ability on the basis of either the lack of knowledge of a foreign language or his origin.
Edited By - nirupam - 11 Jun 2007 14:01:55 GMT |
Roshan2007
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11 Jun 2007 13:19:20 GMT Report for Abuse
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if someone translate the book in to Colloquial Tamil, Thalaivar Mudalai also could read that :)
yet that Mudalai could run a million dollar terr0rist network, and manipulate english language news networks like, BBC, AFP, Rueters, from a rat hole in vanni, and our Oxford educated profs. can do nothing about it-:) |
kiwikanga
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11 Jun 2007 15:25:56 GMT Report for Abuse
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Seems to be a book written by a MR stooge. Launched just at the correct time to target RW & CBK to give a boost to MR's credibility which is on the downward trend.
Edited By - kiwikanga - 11 Jun 2007 15:27:46 GMT |
Joseph
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11 Jun 2007 18:41:26 GMT Report for Abuse
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**************WHO IS A TRAITOR*********
A traitor is some one who
1. Destroys the future of society such as sacrificing kids
2. Is someone says even if he kills his own brothers and sisters that it is done for someone?s freedom
3. Is some one who deliberately wishes and says his people should suffer
4. Is some one who gives the worlds best for his family and destroys all other families
5. .Is some one who hates to give his people true freedom such as freedom of speech, opposition and movement
6. Is some one who suppresses people by sheer barbaric methods
7.Is some one who even doesn?t give animal rights to fellow humans. i.e- even animals bark at other with out the fear of getting killed and their body parts aren?t chopped to punish !
8 .Is some one who deliberately destroys economy, jobs, investment just to save his skin
9. Is some one who enjoys seeing his people suffer
10. Is some one who treats the lives of fellow humans like dirt
11. Is some one who steals money donated for human tragedies such as tsunami to bring more tragedy
12. Is some one who thinks despite severe limitations of his cognition, any one who questions the foolishness should be killed
13. Is someone who shuns peace and prosperity which leads to thousands of deaths just to save his skin.
14. Is someone who uses your fellow people who are weak , infirm and old as human shields showing his scant respect to life.
15. IS SOME ONE WHO SAYS ALL THIS EVIL IS NECESSARY FOR FREEDOM
ANY GUESSES ?????????????? |
Vagabond
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11 Jun 2007 22:15:50 GMT Report for Abuse
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Joshep
Traitor is a citizen who betrays the nation and willfully cooperates with an enemy.
The key words here are: betray, citizen, willfully & enemy. |
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