Vijitha Yapa presents paper on democracy at international conference

Former Editor Vijitha Yapa with Republic of South Sudan Vice President Dr. Rick Machar Teny were at an international conference held in mid January titled ‘Making Democracy Real,’ where Yapa presented a paper on the future of Sri Lanka’s democracy.

Yapa said that it is not question of asking who is right after a bitter war but what is left. He said, “It is from there we need to pick up the pieces and work towards reconciliation.”

He added that more than preaching to Sri Lanka, countries need to assist Sri Lanka in ensuring democratic rights and a future for all her people.

Dr. Machar was interested to hear of Sri Lanka’s initiatives for reconciliation with the minorities after the 30 year war. Speaking on South Sudan’s challenge on national reconciliation and good governance, he said that 30 years of war and 2.5 million dead had left his country traumatised.

He said 72% of the population is under 30 and know nothing but violence and that simmering violence remains under the surface and asked for the help of the international community in national reconciliation.

Machar obtained a PhD in mechanical engineering in 1984 and then joined the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) during the Second Sudanese Civil War (1983–2005).

The Opposition Leader from Myanmar, Aung San Suu Kyi in a special video message asked the delegates to concentrate as much on the responsibilities as on rights and in it she stated: “How do we develop a sense of democratic responsibility? Where does it start? In the family? In the school? In university? In the homes? There are so many different ways to start it but I believe that it starts in the family. From the family into society we should understand what democracy entails not just in the matter of rights but in terms of responsibility.”

Some 200 delegates from 37 countries attended the four day conference held in Panchgani, India. It was organised by the Initiatives of Change.