Prospects of Palestinian State Brightens

There is encouraging news that a Palestinian state is certain to be established। The news is encouraging because it was conveyed by the Israeli Minister of Defense Ehud Barak, who said that Israel must end its occupation of Palestine. Thus, sooner or later, a Palestinian state will come into existence. The question is when?

Role of the US
The conflict between Israel and the Palestinians has been going on for more than half a century। In that time, the loss of life -- including of innocent women and children -- has continued with no end in sight. Many parties believe that the role of the United States is crucial in ending the conflict. The theory is that Israel can only feel a sense of security thanks to the United States, while Palestinians can only regain their territory and become an independent nation thanks to the United States. This was evidenced at the time of the Camp David Pact (1976) and Oslo Agreement (1982), which helped Yasser Arafat return to Palestine. However, since then, there has not been any meaningful progress. What happened, in fact, was an increase in Israeli violence and the building of Jewish settlements that continue to inflame sentiments in the region.

Change and Progress
However, change and progress march on। Iran, which used to be a loyal ally of the United States under the Shah Reza Pahlevi, now has become a democratic Islamic state that is critical of the United States. Its power now needs to be taken into account, including its military might, which has certainly changed the military balance in the region. It goes without saying that Iran's policy is strongly in favor of a Palestinian state and is extremely anti-Israel.

However, we can see the sincerity of the United States under Barack Obama to quickly find an end to the conflict in the region। The solution Obama is offering is that there are two states that can live next to each other, Israel and Palestine. The sincerity of the US is seen from its diplomatic efforts to bring together Palestine and Israel, as well as its open criticism an Israeli policy that is not conducive to the creation of peace, for instance, the criticism of the building of new Jewish settlements. There is a difference between the Republican Bush era and the Democratic Obama era.

New Diplomatic Efforts
With these new developments and new sincere diplomatic efforts under President Barack Obama, there is indeed a hope that the Palestinian-Israeli conflict can be settled। However, equally important are internal developments within Palestine itself. For instance, if there continue to be serious differences between internal factions that are difficult to resolve, will it be possible to establish a Palestinian state that is supported by all the Palestinian people?

With all these developments, the establishment of a Palestinian state will depend more on internal developments among the Palestinians. If the internal conflicts among them cannot be resolved, the hopes for the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state will not be easily fulfilled. In fact, internal conflicts among the Palestinians can be exploited by those who do not support the establishment of a united Palestinian state. As a friendly nation, Indonesia's attitude should be to join in urging the unity of the internal factions that are now in conflict within Palestine.

LTTE’s Rejection of Oslo Pact Cause for Present Plight of Tamils

Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has pointed out a matter that should be noted by the Tamils, particularly by the Tamils in the North and the East. When Ranil had been the prime minister the government led by him held several rounds of talks to find a solution to the Tamil issue with Liberation Tigers of the Tamil Ealam (LTTE) who had been the representative of the Tamil groups at that time.

Impotance of Oslo Accord
The Oslo Declaration is deemed as a very important one through which a consensus was reached during that time. The much talked over pact was agreed upon after a four-day-long discussion held in the SAS Plaza Hotel in Oslo from 2 to 5 December 2002.
The well-known pact stated that according to a suggestion put forward by the LTTE leadership, both groups conceptually agreed to pursue a solution based on a federal administrative model within a united Sri Lanka, in the historical motherland of the Tamil speaking people, based on the concept of self-rule.

The United National Party (UNP) led by Ranil Wickremesinghe arrived at the above consensus with the Tamil groups. However, Ranil has now announced that the Oslo Declaration is no longer valid and he has thrown it into the dustbin. This is another instance of constancy with the traditional attitude of the Southern Lankan rulers which arrive at pacts with Tamil community, only to shred them into pieces as and when it suits them.

Ranil has stated: In fact, our UNP government established the Oslo pact with the LTTE. But it was the LTTE that threw away that pact in the first place. Then we proceeded to obtain the approval of the Tamil people for the pact during the 2005 presidential election and this is a widely known matter.

Obstructing People's Right
Once again it was the LTTE that made our attempt to honor the Oslo Declaration impossible by obstructing the people's right to express their approval for the contents of the pact through the presidential election at that time. Therefore, it is now pointless expecting that we should honor it when the LTTE, the party that was directly involved in it, chose to disregard it.

In addition to this, there is another matter which Ranil points out. When the LTTE organization acceded with our government on the Oslo Agreement, the world communities hailed us that we have achieved a great feat. Especially the western world was so glad about this pact. But when ultimately the LTTE refused to abide by the pact and started to act unilaterally, the international community and the West to be precise were upset and started imposing stern measures against the movement.

Effect of Global Wrath
This statement of Ranil that the world turned against the LTTE, when the movement decided to disdain the Oslo Pact, is not something that should be taken lightly. Not only the LTTE organization but every single Tamil in the North and the East presently experience the intense effect of that global wrath.

The present pitiful situation of the Tamils is the consequence of LTTE's rejection of a very favorable resolve won by the brilliant LTTE theoretician Anton Balasingham with his great prudence and correct foresight. If a powerful and formidable organization such as the LTTE could not last much longer consequent to its unwise rejection of Oslo Agreement, it is pointless the groups that call itself leaders of the Tamil community making further verbal threats and empty challenges against the well-established foes, so to speak.

Careful Consideration Required
It is pointless especially, when the Tamil race has been pushed back as far as to the 'Vaddukkoddai Declaration' where all this began and particularly when the Tamil community is stripped of its fighting capacity and is dithering and wavering. This is one of the crucial matters that the Tamil community should take into careful consideration before making a decision during this election period.

It is time to stop blabbering and jettison impractical ideals and notions and instead seek viable and sustainable practices in this pragmatic world while slowly but steadily advancing a step at a time toward our desired goals to realize our ultimate political aspirations.