The hills have been bloodied once again. Three including a member of the law enforcing agency were killed as a militant faction of the Shan-tlbahlni launched an unexpected attack on a border outpost in the CHT in the early hours of Saturday. The onslaught of the tribal militants led by the so-called Major Shamiron which came at a time when a ceasefire was in force and the recon-ciliatory mood was about to gain momentum following the resumption of repatriation, does not, in a way. come as a surprise. History shows that whenever any headway towards the initiation of a process for a permanent, peaceful and just solution of the problem in the CHT was made, forces of militant faction unfailingly appeared In their role of agent provocateurs.

We see these deadly displays and the resultant casualties as the unavoidable price for bypassing hostility and giving peace a fair chance; for undertaking a time-consuming patient initiative of rebuilding trust, harmony between two communities who do not quite share a history of togetherness.

The second major attack in the space of three months shows that elementswwithin the Shan-tibahinl who have been opposing the peace talks between the government appointed National Committee and the PCJSS from the beginning . have become desperate. They seem to have understood that unlike the previous ones the latest peace initiative is based on genuine bilateral urgency and sincerity, hence much less prone to the fragility. So, they are out to nip the efforts of rapprochement in the bud.

Now, we feel, is the time to take extra care to steer clear of these sparks of provocation. Communication between the two parties concerned should be at its frequent most so that disruptive forces cannot capture the stage and by a few provocative actions and utterances put the peace initiative back. Heaven knows by how many | years.

These small sparks are essential occasions when the character of leadership is tested. We believe there is no dearth of it on either side and peace will continue its march in the slow but steady manner as it had been doing before the inci-I dent and come to full fruition before it is too late.