A mechanism for humanitarian values

On my watch by Lucien Rajakarunanayake

One is reminded of the famous Dickensian oxymoron when reading current reports about the Joint Mechanism for Relief and Rehabilitation work in the tsunami affected areas of the North and East, especially areas held by the LTTE. It is about to be signed say some, it is still not agreed upon say the others. It is 99 per cent complete says Erik Solheim, there is much more to be done say others in the know.

The Joint Mechanism is the topic of the day. Some expect the Government to fall because of it. Others say it will strengthen Government, and in fact help make the LTTE more flexible. There is no doubt the Joint Mechanism is needed by the LTTE very badly, to show the people held in its thrall that it does care for them.

The Government too needs it, not only to obtain the foreign aid pledged for tsunami relief in the North & East, but also to demonstrate its commitment to serve the ordinary people living in the LTTE held areas, badly affected by the tsunami. It is the recognition that whatever views one may have of the LTTE and its practices, the Government cannot ignore the entrapped are citizens of this country, who need looking after.

This was best explained by Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar answering a question at a media conference about post tsunami relief and development activity. When asked how the Government could even consider a joint mechanism with an organization that the UNICEF had already reported as having abducted over a 100 children to carry arms since the tsunami, and has a front organization that brings in military related material under the guise of tsunami relief, he said it was unfortunate that one had to deal with an organization, with contemptible behaviour that one would normally not consider having any such dealings with.

However, the Government could not abandon the people of Mullaitivu and other areas to the mercy of the LTTE, and the Government's own machinery did not function without LTTE sanction in those areas.

The Government Agents were there, but their functions were restricted and controlled by the LTTE, and they lived under severe threat. What Kadirgamar said was confirmed with the recent killing of the Divisional Secretary of Thirukkovil by alleged LTTE assassins. He stressed the proposed Joint Mechanism was meant to serve a humanitarian need, although one could be reasonably emotional in opposing it.

LTTE and Tamils

The JVP and JHU are two political parties that remain opposed to the proposed Joint Mechanism. They can mobilize the demonstrable support of the Patriotic National Movement, an organization that has an umbilical attachment to the JVP.

Yet, there appears to be wider consensus that a Joint Mechanism is in fact a necessity. In such a situation, what has to be considered is how one can ensure the Joint Mechanism really serving the Tamil people in need, and not becoming another mechanism over which the LTTE has the stamp of control.

It is here that the humanitarian factor of the Joint Mechanism should be given considerable significance. It is unfortunate that in the context of current reality the agreement for the Joint Mechanism is being drafted away from the eyes of the public.

Especially in dealing with an organization such as the LTTE, it is of the utmost necessity that the Joint Mechanism is made use of to bring about agreement and demonstrable respect for the human rights of the people in the LTTE held areas, as well as other areas.

Much of the opposition, doubts or suspicions about the Joint Mechanism will be removed if there is a public announcement and actual performance under the articles of the agreement that the LTTE will not carry out anymore recruitment of children. The Joint Mechanism may prove of little value to the average Tamil, whether in LTTE held areas or elsewhere if the basic human rights of these people, as well as Muslims and Sinhalese, are not respected by the LTTE, at least during the functioning of the Joint Mechanism.

The absence of such verifiable assurances may lead to the Government being finally blamed for strengthening the hand of the LTTE over the people under its armed control, instead of relieving them of the fears they have been living with for over two decades.

The link with the humanitarian factor is of greater significance just now as the LTTE is reeling under of its exposure in the UK over the duping and torture of Rajasingham Jeyadevan and AK Vivekanandan, trustees of a popular and rich Hindu kovil in the UK, in an effort to transfer the trusteeship of the kovil to the LTTE, with a UK judge condemning the treatment of the two trustees, noting that the LTTE is banned in the UK as a terrorist organization.

Sangaree and Rocca

In this context there are two timely and important voices that deserve to be given serious consideration as the Government moves towards the establishment of the Joint Mechanism. These are the voices of V. Anandasangaree, leader of the TULF and Christina Rocca, the US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia. In a letter handed to Christiana Rocca and Norwegian Peace Envoy Erik Solheim Anandasangaree says; "I am not trying to disturb the peace process.

I am not acting as anybody's agent either. I love my community more than my life and I like to see them free, enjoying all rights like any other persons in the South of Sri Lanka. I only want the international community to understand the ground situation in the North and the East and not to think only in terms of bringing back peace to the country by merely satisfying the LTTE".

In a plea on behalf of the Tamils Anandasangaree has requested America and Norway to consider the track record of the LTTE before pushing the Government to set up a Joint Mechanism with the LTTE. "In this situation if the Government sets up a Joint Mechanism with the LTTE, will it not amount to legitimize all their unlawful acts. Will it not be an encouragement to commit more of such crimes?" His is truly the voice of the silent and silenced majority of Tamils today.

Meanwhile, Christina Rocca says that the United States will be happy to engage the LTTE if the LTTE renounces violence in word and deed. She has said the American position regarding the LTTE has not changed and the US consider the organization as a terrorist organization unless they renounce violence,stop extrajudicial killings, recruitment of child soldiers and stop building its military machine. Welcome words indeed, at a crucial time.

These are timely warnings, pleas and demands. They are the substance of the real doubts that many people have regarding a Joint Mechanism with the LTTE. The sooner these issues are addressed, and hopefully in public, the better the chances for the Joint Mechanism to be more widely accepted and for it to be a genuine success, hopefully making easier the road to peace.