Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Colombo (Fides Service) - Sri Lanka stands at a turning point: in presidential elections on 17 November citizens of what Marco Polo described as “the most beautiful island in the world” (13 million eligible voters) will vote for a new head of state and decide the future of their country. However tomorrow’s vote is overshadowed by an important question which leaves the nation still in a dangerous situation of political, social and economic impasse. The question of reconciliation between the Sinhalese majority and Tamil minority.
After 20 years of civil war with disastrous consequences for the country’s image, tourism, economy in general, the cease fire signed in 2002 which it was hoped would put the Island on the path to peace did not meet expectations: the political authorities failed to turn those hopes into a real process of reconciliation formulating a lasting agreement with Tamil minority. Because of disagreement over the status to be given to the north eastern region of the Island, the prospects of granting Tamil areas autonomy in a federal system did not materialise.
The result of this uncertainty has been progressive scepticism with regard to the real possibility of peace, an increase in violence and widespread mistrust of the state among the Tamil people who in the present election have encouraged abstentionism and declared their diffidence with regard to all the candidates, to the point that many observers fear a new explosion of social conflict which would put the country on its knees.
Facing each other on the political scene are two popular candidates: Premier Mahinda Rajapakse, of the governing Sri Lanka Freedom Party; and Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe of the United National Party.
In view of the elections the Catholic Bishops of Sri Lanka appealed for an end to conflict and start of a process of peace which excludes no political subject. The Bishops’ Conference urged voters to consider the candidates’ programmes in the light of the common good and to note those who defend the rights and freedoms of ethnic and religious minorities. “The next presidential mandate will be determinant for leading the country on the path to peace”, the Bishops say. “The new head of state- the Bishops say in the appeal - will have to take courageous steps to find a solution for this national question. An immediate end must be put to the vicious circle of violence which is destroying the north and east of the country and threatening the already fragile cease fire agreement”.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 16/11/2005 righe 32 parole 387)
