The Rational Quest For Mutually Beneficial Solution Starts Now
By Jehan Perera -October 28, 2013
Jehan Perera
The inauguration of the Northern Provincial Council took place in its newly constructed building in Jaffna. Protocol was followed and the Governor of the Northern Province was accorded his due place in the opening ceremony, notwithstanding repeated demands by TNA leaders to replace the former General with a person drawn from civilian life. Photographs in the media showed the Governor in the middle flanked by the Chief Minister and TNA leaders. This was yet another sign that the new provincial administration led by Chief Minister C V Wigneswaran would function within the letter and spirit of the law. As a former judge who rose to the Supreme Court on account of both seniority and merit, Chief Minister Wigneswaran would have an orientation to function within the law of the land. This would be reassuring to those who are concerned with the past history of ethnic conflict and the bid to divide the country through illegal means.
On the other hand, in keeping with his training, former Justice Wigneswaran could be expected to exercise the powers conferred on him by law and the Constitution. In his inaugural address to the Northern Provincial Council the Chief Minister succeeded in striking a balance that should be acceptable to those on both sides of the divide. In his inaugural speech, Chief Minister Wigneswaran couched potentially controversial issues in moderate language. He affirmed a long standing demand of the TNA and many of those who support the provincial council system, when he said that the Northern Provincial Council was ready to wield police and land powers that have not yet been devolved to any of the provincial councils by any of the governments since the passage of the 13th Amendment and the setting up of the devolved provincial system in 1987.
Chief Minister Wigneswaran also echoed the repeated call of TNA leaders for a governor with a civilian rather than military background. He also said that internal self-determination was possible within a united country. The new Chief Minister therefore did not shy away from difficult issues and addressed them directly. At the same time he also specifically affirmed that the Tamil people had rejected separatism and violence at the provincial council election. This would be a message of reassurance. The concept of internal self-determination was one that came into prominence during the heyday of the LTTE, and was seen as the alternative to their demand for separation. The concept of internal self-determination at that time was also invariably seen as encompassing the demand for the merger of the Northern and Eastern provinces, which is anathema to most of the Sinhalese population and possibly also the Muslim population.
