Point of view

War is unwinnable, a flawed theory
 

BY DR. U. NANDIMITHRA

THE excellent article by Malinda Seneviratne in the Daily News of Dec 28. 05 titled ' On Associations and Assassins' should be compulsory reading for all who are genuinely concerned by the slow and steady deterioration of the security situation in the country.

This article is in corroboration of what he states and is both complementary to and complimentary of what he has stated!

A flawed theory that a war against the LTTE is unwinnable is being continuously, overtly and covertly being pedalled by many politicians both in the UNF and the SLFP.

Deliberate attempts are made to misinterpret the campaign against the LTTE as an attempt to 'suppress minorities and deny their legitimate rights'.

Statements from senile, inept, corrupt and denigrated service commanders are also quoted to buttress this argument that a war is unwinnable.

In the Lalith Athulathmudali oration delivered by H. L. De Silva P. C. on Nov 26. '05 at the BMICH he too refers to the "Defeatist propaganda in the form of mindless slogans such as the 'unwinnable war' " and also goes on to say that such slogans have "sapped the moral strength of the nation to resist the forces of evil with resultant humiliation and subjugation".

At the very outset I wish to stress the fact that military submission of the LTTE and granting legitimate demands of Tamils are two completely different items in the agenda and have to be addressed as such.

The priority at this moment being the treat to the state, its sovereignty and its people, this must be dealt with first.

Not at risk

A constant refrain from the so-called International Community (IC) and the Co-Chairs of the Tokyo Donor Conferences that the CFA should not be placed at risk whatever the LTTE does lends support to the theory that a war will not be supported by them even if the GOSL and the country gets completely devastated by LTTE activity by a war of slow attrition.

The logical conclusion is that the IC and Co Chairs will not help even a sovereign state against a universally acclaimed terrorist outfit!

Here too it is worth the while quoting from Mr. H. L. de Silva's oration referred to above. I quote "Dependence on a 'safety net' provided by others for one's security is an abdication of the State's own paramount duty and is an evasion of the Government's primary responsibility to its citizens.

So long as the leadership is affected by this kind of dependency syndrome which is a public confession of our inability to defend ourselves against an attack from within the State, so long will the LTTE remain obdurate in their demands for a separate state until the GOSL is forced to concede it".

Hence the importance of self-reliance in matters of self-defence as rightly pointed out by Malinda Seneviratne.!! In passing I may mention that the main reason for this anti-GOSL attitude is the stance taken by the Norwegians who were welcomed with open arms both by the SLFP and the UNF.

They have all along proved to be out-and-out LTTE supporters and sympathizers who have all along proved to be out-and-out LTTE supporters and sympathizers who have granted the LTTE military, monetary and even 'moral' support in the international arena!

They have also helped in moulding world opinion in favour of the LTTE despite the enormity of crimes committed by them even after signing the CFA!!

Granting that no rational mind favours war to peace, no such mind should also ask a country to pay "any price" for peace.

There is a limit to which any patriotic citizen can be persuaded to avoid war, but if peace requires compromising on human rights, free travel, free speech, sovereignty, unitary state etc. then I can boldly state that many Sri Lankans would prefer war.

That degree of craving for peace would amount to nothing but capitulation and meek surrender to any and all demands of the LTTE. Devolution of power should be to a degree that will not empower the LTTE to use it against the GOSL to make 'self determination, self rule, or self government' a possibility.

Considering the fact that how easily the LTTE reneged on its promises despite more than adequate 'confidence building' measures one should not be pressurized by the IC to trust them implicitly.

Except for the recent EU ban on travelling and the ban by the USA there have been no other meaningful steps taken by them to curb their abominable activities such as parading their suicide cadres before the media, politically motivated killings, child abductions, holding people to ransom, arms smuggling and narcotics trade.

Even this ban has not affected the activities of Anton Balasigaham in the UK and other activists in Canada and Nordic countries from carrying out their fund raising activities and active propaganda calling for violent overthrow of the GOSL.

This partiality shown towards the LTTE vis-a-vis other terrorist organizations like Al Qaeda has also led many to believe that a war against the LTTE is unwinnable. This duplicity practised by the IC has also caused deep mistrust, suspicion and doubts in the minds of patriotic citizens about the sincerity and honesty of the IC.

Fighting a war

Have we really fought a 'war'? I doubt whether the Sri Lankan Army has ever done so-thanks to leaders-political and service - we have had! Except perhaps when interference by neighbouring India during the Vadamarachchi battle prevented the SLA from marching victoriously, we have not had successes to speak of, though defeats there have been many.

The country was never set on a 'war footing'. Tamashas extravagant spending on needless display at anniversary celebrations and opening ceremonies went on unabated. Expensive duty free cars were imported for the benefit of politicians but not arms and equipment for the army.

Expensive trips abroad by VIPs continue when with modern IT facilities the same could be achieved by quiet efficiency.

Cabinets on a mega scale, deputy ministers almost equalling the number of legislators, and appointments for posts of a ceremonial nature such as Provincial Governers are enormous liabilities the expenditure on which continue to rise with each new government.

Does one have to mention about rampant corruption and conspicuous wastage in various state institutions and corporations? Much can be saved by doing away or eliminating the above if one has only the will to do it!

Security in the South was sacrificed for an elusive peace which allowed the LTTE to kill anybody they wished. The betrayal of the Millennium City Safe house was the high point of betrayal, treachery and disloyalty to a nation by the UNF.

Bogey of war

The mere mention of war drives some complacent and selfish individuals into hysterics today as they conjure up the scenes of bombs going all over the country and specially in Colombo.

Such scenarios cannot be enacted when wars are fought after declaration of such intent according to international conventions. Targeting of civilians and non-military establishments are international crimes punishable by law.

I wish to cite the issues of warrants by the Hague based International Criminal Court of Justice (ICC) on some leaders of the Lord's Resistance Army in Uganda.

This bold decision was taken by the ICC despite claims by some Western nations that such warrants 'would upset the peace process'. (Doesn't it ring a bell!) when crimes are committed by armies of sovereign states there is a loud hue and cry for speedy trials but when worse crimes are committed by terrorists they should not be investigated or punished for of jeopardising the peace process!!

Fortunately, rights groups such as the human rights watch have welcomed the ICC action as a watershed in the global efforts to rid the world of terror.

In other words justice (read human rights) should not be sacrificed at the alter of peace. In Sri Lanka if such crimes are committed by either party the ICC should become active and warn the perpetrators of being brought to justice.

Such a threat should be real and if needs be international support solicited for its execution.

The IC and the ICC should be made aware of the atrocities against civilians and the consequences that could follow if we are compelled to do 'tit for tat'.

Cutting off food and fuel supplies, power, water and salaries are such measures that can be resorted to by the GOSL to hurt the civilians in the North should through their 'democratically elected representatives-namely the TNA' urge the LTTE to desist from atrocities directed against non-military targets.

Military strategy

If the GOSL were to decide that it is compelled to go to war the tactics that it should adopt should be based on sound military strategy and not on the dictates of political leaders.

The duty of the latter is to supply the wherewithal to fight the war by cutting down on all unnecessary expenditure and placing the country on war footing. During the conflict no attempt should be spared to make all communities feel that they are safe and secure under the wing of GOSL.

In the North, support of all anti-LTTE forces, armed or otherwise should be sought to convince the civilians that our aim is to liberate them from the jackboot of a ruthless dictator. It is also my view that every attempt should be made to encourage LTTE cadres to defect and give up the military option.

It is sheer lunacy to discourage the Karuna faction, which has entered the main stream of politics and given up all criminal activities against the GOSL from engaging the LTTE in whatever way they can.

Would the west be treating the Al-Qaeda or the IRA dissidents in the manner we treat the Karuna Faction? I could assure you that they will be well looked after and treated like Vipps and given favoured treatment to continue their struggle against the LTTE.

Why this antipathy against Karuna once he has declared he is with us and against the LTTE? Can the Norwegians explain to us the logic of their stand against Karuna faction when he stands against abductions, child recruitment, discrimination against Muslims, etc?

The flawed CFA should not be invoked to prevent those who are critical of the LTTE from leaving it and remaining alive! the CFA which has been observed in the breach by the LTTE has at best allowed the latter to consolidate and strengthen themselves, while the GOSL is left hamstrung by it. Construction of airfields and acquisition of aircraft all happened under the cover of the CFA, the Norwegians must be reminded of!

The attitude of our erstwhile leader, namely ex-President Chandrika and Ranil Wickremesinghe also merits analysis.

Chandrika when she was President posed this rhetorical question at a public meeting "Do you want me to kill all the Tamils"? This was obviously a cheap way of gaining international recognition by projecting herself as the defender of the Tamils against the 'rabid' Sinhalese.

It was a totally unworthy comment by a leader who still cannot comprehend opposition to her policies from opponents other than the JHU and the JVP whenever her policies of capitulation and appeasement are criticized.