An Urgent Plea Delivered to the Sri Lankan Government in the Final Weeks of the War

 Dear Hon Members,

The end of your sad and tragic war is in sight.  I would imagine that you are preparing for a process of negotiating a lasting solution for the country's challenges.

You are well aware of my position that there will be NO "winners" in a war where so much human destruction took place on both sides of the divide. Yes, the GOSL would probably defeat the LTTE in the next days or weeks to come, but you are going to face the same situation that the US faced after its "victory" in Iraq; what my country, South Africa faced for 40 years every time they thought they defeated the "terrorists'; what Israel is facing when it used all its power to destroy and neutralize Hamas. It is NOT about Hamas, or the ANC or the Sunni's... or the LTTE. Its about the spirit of the human being and the historical evidence of what happens when we try and eliminate a "people" or the enemy.

I am concerned for the spirit and well-being of the Sinhalese and Tamils at this crucial point in time. All sides severely damaged its own humanity in order to inflict this much damage to the other. My question is how you are going to liberate and redeem your society after the war? How are you going to enable healing and reconciliation? How are you going to face the "dark" truths of the past ... because if you are not going to face it, many more lives will have to pay the price for our damaged selves.

I want to sincerely ask you to please consider ending the war as soon as possible. The Sinhalese Government has shown that they have the power to destroy the LTTE. Stop now. Let the LTTE leaders and those in the GOSL that committed war crimes face an international criminal tribunal and pay for their hate crimes. But save the soul of the Sinhala nation by not destroying the lives of thousands of ordinary Tamil people. You have won. Reach out your hand now. Claim the moment and insist an inclusive Tamil team comes forward and negotiate a lasting solution under the auspices of India, the US, EU, Norway and Japan. Create a strong national dialogue process that will not only provide the space for negotiations, but also facilitate national healing...

I understand that you do not want ceasefire now when you believe victory is in sight. Allow me to use a metaphor of myself: When you finally overpowered me, got me on the ground and are able to kill me... and you let me live, does that not redeem your own and my humanity? By letting me live, at that moment, you break the barrier between us, our humanity connects. This act also allow for a moment of reconciliation and healing. By killing me, the injustice and act of destruction keeps the fire alive in my brother who will come back and try and kill you when he feels strong enough. This is a moment the country can start the long journey of healing the wounds and redeeming itself. One of the most powerful instruments we posses as humans, is the ability to be merciful to our enemy.

The responsibility of every leader at this moment is to restore the sacredness and dignity of life. Never in history was it EVER too soon to stop the killing of innocent human beings! If you want to find a lasting solution that will secure the safety of all people on the island, you will need to reach out your hand before there are nobody left to take your hand.

I pray for your strength, wisdom and humility (at a time of victory).

In the honorable name of Peace,

Hannes Siebert
Former facilitator: Sri Lanka One-Text Initiative
Chairman: Peace Appeal Foundation

Spring 2009