A timely call

FOREIGN Minister Mangala Samaraweera's stirring speech in Parliament on Tuesday contained two important messages. One was that Sri Lanka's friends in the international community must strengthen the Government's hands to hasten the progress of the peace process by prevailing upon the LTTE to give up its violent campaign.

The other, no less significant, was that the Government would not tolerate human rights violations that could occur even amid the heat of battle against the LTTE.

Minister Samaraweera's speech almost coincided with the Co-Chairs meeting in Washington, where concern has been expressed over the rising level of violence in Sri Lanka. In this context, it is significant to note that US Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns almost echoed Minister Samaraweera's words when he said the LTTE was "greatly responsible" for the recent surge in violence.

This is a positive indication that the international community is seeing through the LTTE's ludicrous description of themselves as 'freedom fighters'. As Minister Samaraweera pointed out, some sections of the global community have clung on to this romanticised notion much to the detriment of the Sri Lankan people.

On the other hand, many recent incidents have proved beyond doubt that they are a terrorist group which does not care a tuppence even about the lives of the very community they claim to 'liberate'. If the international community genuinely wishes to help Sri Lanka find a durable peace, they should see the problem in its true perspective.

The Minister's appeal to the international community is thus very timely as the Government has often expressed its fullest commitment to a negotiated settlement within the contours of democracy, human rights and pluralism. Incidentally, these are the very factors abhorred by the LTTE which has spurned every attempt made by successive Governments to find peace.

But, as the Minister said, the time has come to say "enough is enough" and the LTTE must be told in no uncertain terms that terrorism will not help them achieve their goals. Mere words will not suffice in this regard. The US has again led the way, cracking down on LTTE operatives in the US.

Amidst this mounting international pressure, the LTTE has reverted to one of its preferred tactics - a systematic campaign to tarnish the image of the Government and the Security Forces. In this ignoble quest, they are aided by certain NGOs and international diplomats who have been misled by pro-LTTE elements.

Most charges against the Security Forces have not been backed with any solid evidence. In fact, the Government has requested UN diplomat Allan Rock who charged that the Forces were aiding the Karuna faction to recruit children, for positive proof. That has not materialised so far.

When TNA MP Nadaraja Raviraj was killed, a number of NGOs swiftly drew the conclusion that the Government had a hand in it, even before the police investigation commenced. Again, the Government has requested all such persons to come forward with the evidence they have so that the probe can be expedited. No one has taken up this offer.

Some say that civilian casualties are inevitable in a conflict. There have been military generals abroad who dismissed civilian deaths as 'collateral damage'. But there is no dispute that such casualties must be minimised even in a battlefield environment where young combatants on both sides may tend to act outside the law.

This is the crux of Minister's Samaraweera's pledge that the Government would never condone any human rights violations or excesses by the Security Forces and the Police, be it in a conflict area or elsewhere. While the military has behaved in an extraordinarily disciplined manner under the most trying circumstances, there can be 'bad eggs' who can mar the good name of the Forces with a single mindless act. The Minister said that if undisciplined elements exist in the Armed Forces, the Government would punish them. Extra judicial killings of even those guilty, abductions and kidnapping will not be condoned nor tolerated.

In the Minister's own words, terrorism must be combatted vigorously and fearlessly but in doing so, the Government must always be aware of its obligations as a duly elected democratic Government. All actions in combatting terrorism must be within the rule of the law.

A democratic Government cannot resort to terrorism even when dealing with one of the most deadly terrorist groups in the world.

Therein lies a major challenge for any Government.

But the Government and the Security Forces are determined to face this challenge while charting a course for peace. Now, more than ever, the international community must assist Sri Lanka to achieve that aim.

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