Violence and the Peace Process in Sri Lanka

This article analyses the multiple forms of violence displayed in the Sri Lankan peace process 2002–2005. It starts from the premise that as peace processes begin violence does not immediately or automatically stop. Instead, violence continues – both along the same lines and in new forms. Three types of violence have been prominent in Sri Lanka's peace process: 1) violence between the LTTE and the government; 2) violence within the LTTE; and 3) violence between the LTTE and other Tamil groups. The case demonstrates that violence in peace processes is a complex phenomenon that requires analysis of both the actors and their motives. In order to gauge the influence of violence on the peace process, it is also important to understand how other actors in the negotiation process perceive acts of violence. The main conclusion is that violence has seriously questioned the legitimacy of the peace process and the intentions of – in particular – the LTTE in pursuing the peace effort.