This post was mentioned on Twitter by pehenne: Pieces from TMV- http://bit.ly/13ZBNm
, and http://bit.ly/2Z1PuF...

Britain, for example, has taken a totally different route in dealing with Scottish secessionists. There nationalist political parties espousing an independent Scotland are even in control of the regional devolved parliament.

As the writer correctly points out The United States, may be able to pursue a progressive approach to such insurgencies such as paying persistent and proactive attention to minority grievances throughout the world, putting pressure on leaders who infringe on their citizens’ rights by devoting enough attention to conflict situations to create space for negotiation and reconciliation, as was done under President Clinton. President Obama must appointment a special envoy to Sri Lanka which would be an encouraging step in the correct direction.

My idea for a political solution is given below:

“People who value democracy, equality and equity, needs to pressure the Sri Lankan state to take immediate action towards a meaningful and just power sharing arrangement. That is the only way to ensure security and the dignity of the peoples of Sri Lanka.

If peaceful coexistence through power sharing is not achievable, the only other solution that would be available will be secession” so said Mr. Lionel Bopage, former Secretary of the JVP.

There is a vast difference in the policy of the ORIGINAL JVP to which Mr.Lionel Bopage belongs and the policy of the present JVP.

A new concept outlined below is towards a meaningful and just power-sharing arrangement that should address all grievances of all sections of people.

Many, who call themselves as ‘moderates’, are not willing to consider this concept which gives a certain degree of ‘power’ with ‘responsibility’ to everyone including the poor and voiceless silent majority in the country and not excluding the so-called “minorities”.

Now, one word, for those who are actually and sincerely interested in fostering a united country by supporting “devolution” as a means to achieve sustainable peace, please avoid thinking in terms of “devolution” and instead please try to think in terms of “sharing” of powers, rights, duties and responsibilities that cannot be taken back at any time by any government or individual by any method.

The best political solution would be to DILUTE the powers of all elected representatives by separating the various powers of the Parliament and empowering different sets of people’s representatives elected on different area basis to administer the different sets of separated powers. It has to be devolution HORIZONTALLY where every set of representatives would be equal and in par and NOT VERTICALLY where one set of representatives would be above the other, which is the normal adopted practice when talking of devolution, in this power-hungry world. It is because of “devolution” being evolved “vertically”, we have all the trouble in this power-hungry world. So, for sustainable peace it should not be the present form of “devolution” but “dilution of powers” or “sharing of powers” in such a way that no single or set of peoples representatives – other than the common people themselves – is superior to another.

This system would eradicate injustice, discrimination, bribery and corruption – the four pillars of an evil society – and establish the “Rule of Law” and “Rule by ALL” for sustainable peace, tranquility and prosperity and a pleasant living with dignity and respect for all inhabitants in the country. Everyone must have “equal” powers, rights, duties and responsibilities and most importantly everyone should be deemed “equal” before the law not only on paper but also practically – be it the Head of State, The Chief Justice or the voiceless poor of the poorest.

A detailed version of the concept, which is quite long is available for discussion by interested individuals with an aim to change the hearts not just a change of mind of the citizens of this country with the aim of preserving a UNITARY form of Government with every section of people from every part of the country PARTICIPATING in the GOVERNANCE OF THE COUNTRY in a practical and meaningful way. In a way it may be termed “participatory democracy”. In this system the country is NOT DIVIDED but the “powers of governance’ of the Parliament is separated and administered COLLECTIVELY by different sets of peoples representatives.

Mr/Ms “sprees” has to note that the above suggestions are being made as a “sincere patriot” who longs not only for sustainable peace but also for good governance in the country that would be a “blocking stone” for the eruption of “terrorism” in the future. We must keep in mind that “frustration” of not being able to do the correct thing for good governance in the country is the basic cause for violence in the country, especially by the youth, IF we have not forgotten the uprisings of 1971 and repeated subsequently in 1988.

“the present situation marks, in my view, a total denunciation of the forms and procedures which we have bee trying to emulate and ape borrowed from a foreign culture, totally irrelevant to our present day thinking and to the present day context” so said Felix Dias Bandaranayake in Parliament soon after the 1971 uprising. As a very powerful Minister in the then cabinet he should have taken steps to do the needful to curb any future uprising. As a politician, he just forgot his words after having quelled the uprising.

He may also find it useful to read articles before embarking on a comment-sprees.

During the '90s, the LTTE gained full control over large swaths of territory, including population centres, where it established a quasi-government, thanks largely to financial aid from the Tamil Diaspora. The LTTE's armed unit had its own naval and air wings as well as artillery and armoured corps. For all practical purposes, it was operating as a mini-state.

The current phase of the Sri Lankan civil war has been more akin to a inter state war than an anti-insurgency campaign. Sri Lankan troops, who easily outnumber the LTTE and can count on superior fire power, have mange to roll their tanks into the previous LTTE 'state', taking control of towns and the population.

How Sri Lanka stands up to the classic insurgency of ambushes, mine attacks and even suicide bombings of military, economic and civilian targets is yet to be seen.

One must not forget that US led troops took total control of Iraq in just nine days. The insurgency only began after the entire landmass and population was brought under 'control'.