Eliminating breeding grounds of terror
The decision of the Government to declare a
ceasefire over the New Year period has met with the type of reaction
that suggests how difficult it is to achieve peace when so many
influential and noisy international actors are full of destructive
preconceptions.
Rajiva WIJESINHA
The main purpose of the ceasefire is to allow people to leave, which
is what the so-called international community has been requesting.
Ignoring the fact that several months ago we suggested to these people
that they concentrate their energies on ensuring freedom for the Tamils
trapped by the LTTE, it was only a few months ago that they suddenly,
when the defeat of the LTTE seemed inevitable, registered the plight of
the civilians. Even so they did not make any categorical demands, but
played into the LTTE’s hands by suggesting that there were reasons these
people might not want to leave the arms of the Tigers.
Brutal reaction
That claim was belied by the thousands who did walk out, 35,000 in
February. Then the efforts of the Tigers to stop them became more
brutal, the shootings more public, a suicide bomb, land mines. The flood
stopped, and once again the so-called International Community found ways
of reasserting a balance, instead of categorically condemning the Tigers
and demanding that they free our people.
Sixty five thousand civilians have got away to the safety of
the Government controlled territory. Picture by Rukmal
gamage |
Then in March, the people again spoke for themselves, and another
exodus commenced, this time of 25,000, some appearing in our midst with
the wounds inflicted on them by the Tigers as they tried to flee. These
were the lucky ones. They spoke of their loved ones being forced back or
killed. But very little of this was noted by the International
Community. Their silence enabled the LTTE to engage in even more brutal
repression, including the building up of a wall to pen in those who
sought to cross the lagoon. No talk though of concentration camps from
agencies such as Human Rights Watch or newspapers such as the London
Times when this happened.
Instead we had, from Britain in particular, egged on by amoral MPs,
demands for a ceasefire. Though there was a pretence that this was to
help the trapped civilians to escape, the aims of the British were as
usual shrouded in ambiguity, and those who wanted what they called a
permanent ceasefire were able to make the running.
In the process, the rationale for a pause in fighting was lost. The
Armed Forces in any case did not need to be told to pause with regard to
shooting at escaping civilians, since at no time has it even been
alleged that this has happened. Sixty five thousand civilians have got
away to the safety of the Government controlled territory, many braving
LTTE violence to flee, and at no time has there been any suggestion
that, even by accident, firing by the Armed Forces has harmed them.
Requests for a pause
Still, if only to make the situation clear, there have been requests
by those who understand the situation better than those who echo the
demands of terrorists that there should be a definite pause in the
fighting. The Indian Foreign Secretary made such a request earlier, and
this was echoed by Special Representative of the United Nations
Secretary General on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons
Prof. Walter Kalin.
The latter indeed, following his visit to Sri Lanka, said ‘I believe
that a series of humanitarian pauses must be initiated immediately to
allow civilians to leave and humanitarian actors to provide life-saving
relief to the remaining population.’ Prof Kalin’s use of the phrase ‘a
series of humanitarian pauses’ makes clear his understanding of the
problem the Government faces, in trying to rescue its citizens trapped
by terrorists. The purpose of the pause is to free the civilians, but it
is possible that the Tigers will use such a pause to entrench their
control more deeply, to build up higher walls, to launch a witch hunt
against those seeking to escape, to recruit more indiscriminately. It is
therefore essential, if such pauses are to continue, to make sure that
they achieve their purpose, not the opposite.
Seeking excuses
That is why it makes sense to have a brief pause, to see whether the
purpose is achieved. Thus far it has not been, which suggests the Tigers
will be intransigent. In such a context, which is essentially a hostage
situation, the Americans have shown what should be done, by their
dramatic rescue of the ship’s captain taken hostage by Somali pirates.
But the so- called International Community will continue to seek excuses
for the Tigers, without standing by its original rationale as to the
need for a pause, namely that it should be to ensure the release of the
civilians.
Interestingly the BBC, perhaps not deliberately, indicated some sort
of bias in its coverage of the situation, which is of a piece with the
British Government’s ambiguity as to whether it wanted a ceasefire or a
humanitarian pause. Without much reference to the Government or
supporters of the Government, except for a brief interview with the
Foreign Minister in Colombo, it sought the views of Tamils demonstrating
against the Government and also Robert Evans, the man who seems to have
been instrumental in preventing European MPs from visiting the Eastern
Province last year. It did interview Sir John Holmes, but what he said
was not repeated satisfactorily, with Evans replacing him.
Renewed call
And then, when his remarks were reported, they were twisted in that,
whereas he had clearly put the blame on the LTTE for not letting people
out, the BBC said that the people might not be willing to leave.
In short, the original purpose of the pause will now be ignored, and
the so-called International Community will renew its call for an actual
ceasefire, a ceasefire that the Tigers seek desperately to renew their
strength.
Such indulgence would be dangerous. The Tamil people have suffered
enough and, while every effort should be made, in accordance with the
latest request by a senior UN official, to seek safe egress for the
civilians, the Government cannot allow the possibility of terrorism
being resurrected.
At the same time, firm action against terrorists should be
accompanied by political reform that encompasses all Tamil groups that
reject terrorism.
In this context, it is to be hoped that democratic elements in the
TNA will finally throw off the yoke that they allowed themselves to be
placed under during the ceasefire period. But, whether they come in or
not, the Government should proceed with a political solution that will
enable it not only to destroy terrorism but to get rid too of the
possible breeding grounds of terror. |