SLMM's dangerous indiscretions
HIGHLY controversial statements attributed to
SLMM personnel on developments in this country, in some sections of the
media, tend to reinforce the impression that the SLMM has either not
understood its responsibilities in Sri Lanka or is wilfully and biasedly
by going beyond them with the aim of projecting this country in a very
poor light.
As far as we can ascertain, and as most fair-minded sections would
admit, the SLMM's principal role is to facilitate the strengthening of
the Ceasefire Agreement through a careful monitoring of ceasefire
violations.
Rather than end up bashing the Security Forces on perceived ceasefire
violations and other abuses the SLMM's task is to liaise between the
parties to the conflict with the aim of avoiding a recurrence of such
violations.
In other words, the SLMM is expected to play a neutral, conflict-defusion
role in Sri Lanka.
For the SLMM to take sides on unfounded allegations is a gross and
brazen violation of its mandate in Sri Lanka.
Certainly, loud-mouthedly going public on what it considers are
irregularities is a highly irresponsible deviation from the terms of the
CFA. Through such acts, the SLMM clearly shows that it stands
shoulder-to-shoulder with the enemies of the Lankan State.
Such questionable and controversial conduct comes at a time when the
LTTE is being increasingly denounced for its outrages by the rest of the
world.
While such pressure might make it compulsory on the part of the LTTE
to conform to the CFA, the SLMM's controversial pronouncements tend to
defuse such pressure and make it seem as if the State is culpable for
negative developments in the country.
In short, the SLMM's indiscretions would only help the LTTE and
project it as faultless, while undermining the position of the State.
All this would only strengthen the conviction in some quarters that
the SLMM is biased against the State but favourably disposed towards the
LTTE, which has time and again proved that it is dismissively
disinterested in helping to work out a solution to our conflict.
On the contrary, what has been amply evident over the years, is the
LTTE's uncontrollable penchant for war and its strong predilection for
violating the CFA.
It is now nonchalantly violating the CFA and acting with brazen
disregard against the national interest with the hope of opening a fresh
chapter of LTTE-spurred bloodshed and war.
If the SLMM has not seen all this already, it is hardly qualified to
carry out the tasks entrusted to it. The end result of the SLMM's lack
of fairness and neutrality would be an increasingly recalcitrant LTTE;
an uncontrollable Frankenstein monster.
The SLMM must rethink its approach immediately and wild, exaggerated
allegations against the State, coming off the lips of some SLMM
personnel, must stop.
The SLMM's role is, essentially, an unobtrusive one, wherein it helps
to strengthen the ceasefire and thereby cooperates in defusing the
conflict, rather than contribute towards keeping it going.
The SLMM needs to seriously think on these things. |
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