The LTTE’s clear articulation that it does not seek a separate Tamil state comes as a refreshing change from its earlier pursuit of terrorist violence for political ends. In fact, what is surprising is that it took the LTTE leadership so long to come to this position. Few, if any, parts of a sovereign state have managed to separate from the parent country through the use of terrorist violence, unless the metropolitan state itself had weakened to a degree that it could not longer hold together. Where the state has had the political will, economic strength and military capacity to fight the separatists, the result has been the ultimate defeat of separatist ideology and strategy. The price of such violence is, of course, paid by the innocents in whose name the separatists perpetuate violence. There is then an object lesson here for the Hurriyat and the jehadi groups in J&K, where separatist violence through terror has inflicted grievous wounds on the people on whose behalf they claim to act. The prospects of peace in Sri Lanka have significantly improved with the change in LTTE’s position. But violence has a habit of acquiring its own autonomy and momentum. Tremendous and sustained efforts would be needed by everyone to work for what is needed most: reconciliation, reconstruction of the country, while re-building trust. Two decades of violence and four decades of increasing ethnic polarisation have left deep wounds that would require sensitive handling. While others can help, solutions to differences can come only from a change of mindset within Sri Lankan society with regard to co-operative majority-minority relations. But the more immediate task would be to keep the peace process moving without loss of momentum. It could be de-railed by hardliners that inevitably exist on both sides, and the vested interests that tend to perpetuate confrontation and violence. India has always supported the integrity and stability of Sri Lanka. In fact, nearly 1,200 Indian jawans died fighting for this cause, even when elements in Colombo were providing assistance to the LTTE to fight the Indian army. The assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi by LTTE extremists was another price the nation paid. Current developments, therefore, would remain of abiding interest to Indians, who would welcome an end to separatist violence at the earliest. What the LTTE should have known, and what Sri Lanka would need to look at carefully now, is the tremendous potential for economic development, especially in the northeastern regions of the country, which have suffered the most from the hostilities. New Delhi would do well to offer enhanced political support and economic assistance, as well as humanitarian aid, on a priority basis so that incentives for peace are further strengthened.
