Friday, 16 December 2011 16:12

The Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) has supported a joint declaration of apology to the country’s citizens who have suffered as a result of the 30 year long conflict.

“Leaders of all sides should reach out to each other in humility and make a joint declaration, extending an apology to innocent citizens who fell victim to this conflict, as a results of the collective failure of the political leadership all sides to prevent such a conflict from emerging,” the LLRC said in its report which was presented to Parliament today.

It said that religious leaders and civil society should work towards it and emphasize the healing impact it would have on the entire process of reconciliation.

The Commission has strongly recommended that a separate event be set apart on national day to express solidarity and empathy with all victims   of the tragic conclfit and ‘pledge our collective commitment to ensure that there should never be such bloodletting in the country again.” “Based on the testimonies it received  the Commission feels that  this commemorative  gesture, on such a solemn occasion , and at a high political level, would produce the necessary impetus  to the reconciliation process  the nation as a whole  is now poised  to undertake,” the LLRC said in its report.

It was noted that the dominant factors obstructing reconciliation in Sri Lanka is the lack of a political consensus and a multi party approach on critical national issues, such as the issue of devolution.

“The process of reconciliation of requires the full acknowledgement of the tragedy of the conflict and the collective act of contrition by the political leaders and the civil society, of both Sinhala and Tamil communities.”

The LLRC blamed both Sinhala and Tamil political leaders for the conflict. “The conflict could have been avoided had the Southern political leaders of the two main political parties acted in the national interest and forged a consensus between them to offer an acceptable solution to the Tamil people. Tamil political leaders were equally responsible for this conflict which could have been avoided had the Tamil leaders refrained from promoting an armed campaign towards secession, acquiescing in the violence and the terrorist methods used by the LTTE against both the Sinhala and Tamil people, and failing to come out strongly and fearlessly against the LTTE and their atrocious practices.”

The Commission admitted a collective act of contrition for what happened would not come easily to either party but would only come if they are ready to make a profound moral self appraisal in the light of the human tragedy that has occurred. “Seeds of reconciliation can take root only if there is forgiveness and compassion.”