Also, I tend to disagree with the writer on the point that the war has reached unprecedented heights of brutality. It was actually far worse in the mid- to late-’90s, with far higher casualties. However, most of the heavier fighting was in the less populated Northern Province, and therefore less of the casualties (proportionately) were civilian. This might also be a reason for the inactivity of the international community.

To the author – in stating the obvious and marking out a chart that clearly indicated the introspection and retrospection necessary by CSOs and donors in particular to support the resurgence of a peace process in the future, my primary question is whether you expect too much? I haven’t seen, despite working in the sector for years now, any indication of the change that you feel, and I agree, is necessary for the transformation of the conflict.

I think the upcoming donor conference offers a place to lobby for such reform from the donors themselves – who are running away from Sri Lanka or cutting down drastically their budgets for pro-peace civil society initiatives. It’s hypocritical to suggest that CSOs can play a role in democratising Sri Lanka, when fully cognisant that there is no great philanthropic largesse in the country to support such initiatives, they pull the plug from funding, cut their losses and hook it from a country they feel (perhaps rightly) is going to merry hell.

Then again, words are easy – and however interesting to read and engage, policy is not made through the voices in Groundviews. I’d like the author to explore how best we can take the knowledge, goodwill and energy that resides in English speaking CSOs and shift it into vernacular, grassroots initiatives that can help support locally, the policy reform and alternatives of CSOs based in Colombo. It’s here where there is a large gap I feel – and noting that nothing’s going to change without a change in mindset in Colombo, speaking of reconciliation for instance, it’s also the case that without engaging those outside of Colombo, nothing of what you speak of so passionately in this article is going to be possible.

And as I noted here (http://www.groundviews.org/2007/01/10/between-scylla-and-charybdis-the-hapless-mr-vitharana/#comment-199), in a country where the majority seems to be, for the moment, behind MR’s enlightened policy of “liberation” and the war for peace strategy, it’s all the more difficult to think that anything of what you speak of here will actually emerge in reality.

Here’s hoping for the best !