The Pitfall Of Implementing LLRC Only In Part
By Jehan Perera -December 17, 2012
Jehan Perera
Recent incidents in Jaffna are a matter for concern. Two such incidents have widely publicized and have attracted much commentary. Both of them involve the civilian population and the security forces. One case has involved Tamil women recruits into the army and the other university students who were commemorating the war dead. As a result of these incidents the political debate about inter-ethnic relations in relation to the government has taken a turn for the worse. The good work that the government is doing in terms of post-war economic development and recovery is being negated in increased acrimony. The cycle of political grievance, protest, repression and violence that culminated in internal war needs to be guarded against. The experience of the past would suggest that the better way is through political reform that is mutually acceptable.
In its most significant observation, the final report of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission appointed shortly after the end of the war by President Mahinda Rajapaksa stated that the political situation at has become basically similar to the situation that existed when the country obtained its independence in 1948. The problem at that time was how to share political power equitably between the ethnic majority and minorities. This problem remains unresolved to this day. In its voluminous report the LLRC has provided country with the vision and tools to make a break with its divided past. There are more than 160 well thought out recommendations in the report of which about one half have been taken on board by the government in its LLRC Action Plan. But even the half that has passed muster with the government has yet to be implemented in any substantial manner.
The LLRC report can be counted as among the major achievements by the government. The LLRC was originally established by the government as a defensive measure. It was to forestall an anticipated hostile UN investigation into the last phase of the war and human rights violations that allegedly took place at that time. Due to its comprehensive quality the LLRC report has gone far beyond the original scope of what was intended or hoped for, as noted by its nationalist detractors. Indeed, it has taken the centre stage of the international dialogue with the Sri Lankan government regarding post-war reconciliation. The government is bound by the UN Human Right Council’s resolution of March 2012 to implement the LLRC report. In March 2013 the government will have to report back to the UN about how well it has implemented the LLRC recommendations.
