SLMM's double standards

The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission's (SLMM) outgoing Chief, Ulf Henriccson, has dragged the monitoring mechanism to the centre of controversy by holding the Sri Lankan Armed Forces responsible for the killing of 17 local aid workers in early August in Muttur, who were deployed by the French Charity, Action Against Hunger in relief operations among the displaced.

Given the SLMM's tendency to sidestep the issue of naming and holding the LTTE responsible for the numerous killings carried out by it of political opponents and unarmed civilians since 2002, on the grounds that such pronouncements are not mandated by the CFA, we wonder whether the SLMM could not be accused of double standards when it takes it upon itself to pronounce that the Security Forces should be held responsible for the Muttur killings.

In other words, are not such magisterial pronouncements violative of the SLMM's mandate, which is confined to mainly monitoring the ceasefire? Isn't the outgoing SLMM Chief risking being accused of "shooting from the hip" by making such comments unreservedly?

Nevertheless, the SLMM chief would need to answer Government Defence Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella's strictures on his pronouncements over the killings, if the latter are to carry any weight. For instance, there is the CID finding that Muttur was under LTTE control at the time the massacre occurred. Besides, the SLMM needs to take into consideration the JMO report which points to the possible time of the massacre. All such evidence points to the fact that Muttur was under LTTE control at the time of the killings.

We hope, then, that the SLMM would take the bull by the horns or rather the Tiger by its cruel jaws, and not hesitate to identify the real killers behind the massacre.

Moreover, the SLMM has failed to meet the crucial test of transparency and divulge very clearly the methodology adopted by it to arrive at the conclusion that the Security Forces should be held responsible for the killings. If the SLMM allegation is to carry any weight the public thirst for knowledge on this score must be quenched.

The SLMM should also consider the cardinal point that the Government flew down forensic experts from Australia to probe these killings. Is this the conduct of a guilty party?

We hope complete rationality and clarity of thinking would guide the deliberations of the SLMM, which plays a crucial role in the peace process. It needs to refrain from rushing to conclusions which would prove controversial and stir the basest of emotions among some.

A crucial function of the SLMM is to dialogue closely with the parties to the conflict and ensure the non-recurrence of ceasefire violations.

This requires profound sagacity and impartiality. It would help the peace process greatly if the SLMM weighs very carefully the evidence at hand before rushing to conclusions.

A prime need at the moment is the strengthening of the Rule of Law. We do not believe anything positive would be achieved through the jettisoning of this cardinal value.

Accordingly, all responsible quarters should go the extra mile to ensure that all wrong-doers are brought to justice speedily. Let us not fail in this great undertaking.

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