War, global response and political solution

The LTTE is today confined to an area of approximately 15x20 square kilometres. The military success against the LTTE is a result of the clear sighted strategy embarked upon by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The achievements on the ground over the past few months in particular, demonstrated that the LTTE’s fighting capabilities had been over-rated. They have shattered the ‘myth’ of invincibility the LTTE had projected for itself for many decades.

The experience gained in clearing of the Eastern Province following the eviction of the LTTE, will be replicated in the Northern Province. It would be re-called that in less than 10 months after the operations in the East were completed, 80 per cent of those displaced were re-settled in their own homes, most of them had their livelihoods restored, local elections were held and even a Provincial Council was elected within one year.

Many Governments including those of EU member countries, international organisations and INGOs are involved in post-conflict development work in the East, but the EU is a noticeable absentee. I urge that this be corrected, and that the EU joins in the development efforts, because it is crucial that economic development take place to strengthen the restoration of democracy.

Whilst the GOSL believes that the ultimate solution to the present conflict is political, defeating the terrorists militarily will create an environment where a political solution can be implemented.

President Rajapaksa is committed to move as quickly as possible to implement the 13th Amendment to the Sri Lankan Constitution, which followed the India-Sri Lanka Agreement of 1987 and even to explore the possibility of going further than the existing provisions.

Global reaction to the recent military successes

Other than for some noticeable exceptions, most governments familiar with Sri Lanka developments are heaving a sigh of relief that finally the LTTE’s conventional fighting capability is being defeated. India, the US, Japan and the UK, are among the countries that have unambiguously acknowledged the success Sri Lanka has achieved against the LTTE terrorists, in a relatively short time with hardly any collateral damage. Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee who visited Sri Lanka only yesterday is on record as having stated on the eve of the visit “We are for the fight against terrorists and all sorts of terrorism.

Therefore, we have no sympathy for any terrorist activity indulged in by any organization, particularly LTTE (which) is a banned organization in India,” and India’s Foreign Secretary who met me last week re-iterated India’s request for extradition of LTTE leader Prabhakaran, who is convicted for the assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

The United States in a statement issued in the aftermath of the fall of Killinochchi on 6 January noted that it “does not advocate that the Government of Sri Lanka negotiate with the LTTE”. Japanese special peace envoy Yasushi Akashi who also met me in Colombo last Friday also expressed satisfaction that terrorism was being eliminated.

The British government has also recognized the government of Sri Lanka’s need to root out terrorism and British Foreign Secretary David Miliband is on record

stating “The LTTE is a proscribed terrorist organisation with no democratic mandate to represent the Tamil people.

It is responsible for a terrorist campaign that has targeted innocent civilians across all communities in Sri Lanka over the past three decades”. In my discussions here in Brussels I have asked that the EU add its voice to demand that the LTTE “let the people go”.

Humanitarian aspects of the conflict

Even as GOSL continues its military operations to defeat LTTE terrorism, it is acutely conscious of the need to cause minimal discomfort to the civilian population of this area.

It is due to this reason that when launching the present operations in mid- 2008, the Ministry of Defence took swift measures to establish a “Safe Corridor” so that civilians in uncleared areas can escape to safe ground. While there has been temporary dislocation, the extent of it, is highly exaggerated.

At present, around 40,000 to 50,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) consisting of over 200,000 persons are being used as ‘human shields’ by the LTTE and forced to stay in the fighting areas of Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu Districts. Sri Lanka is committed to respect the safe zones declared by the Security Forces to minimize the effect of the conflict on Tamil civilians.

This measure has been appreciated by the Bishop of Jaffna Thomas Savundranayagam, who has also called upon the LTTE not to fire upon the Army from among the civilians.

Last month President Rajapaksa appealed to the LTTE to allow the civilians to leave the area. In an appeal on 16 January 2009, UN humanitarian Chief John Holmes “called upon the LTTE to allow civilians to be able to move freely to areas where they feel most secure and for the Government to receive newly displaced people, according to internationally agreed principles”.

In a further statement, on 22 January 2009, the United Nations Resident Coordinator “issued its strongest possible protest to the LTTE for their refusal to allow UN National Staff and dependants to return from the Wanni with the present UN convoy”.

Safety

The urgent requirement now is to provide safety and relief assistance to the incoming IDPs and to accommodate them in suitable location until they would be in a position to return to their homes with safety.

An urgent re-settlement programme has been worked out by the GoSL to establish three villages with all essential facilities in Ramanathan Suthanthirapuram, Arunachalam Viduthalaipuram and Kadirgamar EluchiNagar till they return to their place of origin with safety and dignity. In order to facilitate the resettlement scheme, 900 acres of land has been identified. It is proposed to construct 32,400 houses in these three villages, each of which will be allocated 270 acres.

In the interim, the Government continues to provide food, medicine and other supplies to the uncleared areas.

Every week 50 - 60 convoys carrying food donated by the WFP are leaving for these Districts from Vavuniya which is the coordinating centre for procurement of food supplies to two Districts referred to.

The GoSL, having ensured food security during the past two and a half years, is fully committed to provide safety and relief assistance to the IDPs irrespective of any challenges that may occur in the years to come.

It is a fallacy that there are no independent bodies operating in the Wanni. The ICRC continues to remain in the operational areas to facilitate humanitarian assistance, while UN agencies, the WFP and INGOs accompany relief convoys.