CFA: The historic betrayal

An insight to the blackest episode in Post-Independence Sri Lanka:

Special correspondent

[ Behind the CFA curtain]

* LTTE violated 3,800 times

* LTTE recruited child soldiers

*Procured weapons

* Imported modern communication equipment

* LTTE strengthened military capability

* LTTE set up political offices

* Assassinated Intelligence Operatives in South

On this day exactly eight years ago the country witnessed one of the most appalling acts of treachery when the sovereignty of the nation was bartered away by the Prime Minister of the country to a ruthless band of terrorists whose avowed goal was to wrest one thirds of the country’s land mass and two third of its maritime border under its control.

The signing of the so called Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) by Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe and LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran without doubt, would go down in history as the blackest episode in Post-Independence Sri Lanka, helping the LTTE to get nearer towards achieving its goal without firing a single shot.

Kept in the dark

The agreement was signed in secrecy behind the back of the Commander-in-Chief President Chandrika Kumaratunga. The Cabinet was kept in the dark as to its terms and conditions. All dealings were done with Norway who brokered the truce. Those who voiced their protest against the agreement were branded traitors.

It was plain as the days progressed since that infamous day that the Tigers were using the CFA to build its own strength with massive shipment of weapons and fortifying its defence. It set up an artillery position in Manirasakulam within the range of the Trincomalee Harbour. A well-known defence columnist of a weekend paper who exposed this and other LTTE build ups was forced to discontinue his column.

The Tigers had no intention of ending hostilities and as the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) were to record the LTTE was guilty of 3,800 violations while holding the Government responsible for 351. The CFA was also used by the LTTE for mass recruitment of child soldiers against the terms of the agreement.

A corollary to the CFA was negotiations to arrive at a final solution. But it was clear from the outset that the six rounds of negotiations held in world capitals was a ruse by the LTTE to gain time to build its military machine.

To quote former LTTE military Commander Karuna Amman as to why the LTTE reneged on what seemed the most promising development of the talks “LTTE negotiator Anton Balasingham without consulting Prabhakaran stated that they were willing to consider a federal system. When he discussed this with Prabhakaran the idea was rejected. He wanted the talks to drag on for at least five years while the LTTE built up its arms”.

A warning

Prabhakaran’s own words at a post CFA Press conference requesting his minions to shoot him dead should he settle for anything less that Eelam should have been adequate warning to the leaders at the time. But they chose to remain blind to the growing danger posed to the sovereignty of the country. On the contrary the leadership at the time bent backwards to accommodate the demands of the Tigers who became emboldened by the indulgence towards it shown by the Government.

The ultra sensitive communication equipment imported into the country and released by the Sri Lanka’s Customs at the instance of the Government was a clear demonstration of the impunity with which the outfit conducted itself during this period vis a vis the Government.

While the LTTE was thus building up its arsenal the Security Forces were confined to barracks and made to suffer humiliation.

The CFA succeeded with one stroke of the pen to reverse the hard won victories by the military with sacrifice to life and limb. All territory that was won over with the blood of the Forces were virtually handed back to the LTTE on a platter.

Not long before the Forces who were hounding their enemy and going for the kill it had its hands tied now unable to go on the offensive even amidst grave provocation.

Clause 1.4 of the CFA stated “where forward defence localities have been established, the GOSL’s Armed Forces and the LTTE fighting formations shall hold their ground positions, maintaining a zone of separation of a minimum of 600 metres.

‘However each party reserves the right of movement within 100 metres of its own defence localities, keeping an absolute minimum distance of 400 metres between them.

‘Where existing positions are closer than 400 metres no such right of movement applies and the parties agree to ensure the maximum possible distance between their personnel’.

A separate state

As could be seen the bloodthirsty terrorist outfit bent on establishing a separate State was treated as a State actor under the CFA. It led to a state where a once proud Army were made to eat humble pie with terrorists ruling the roost in areas that were hitherto under Government control. There were even tales emanating of terrorists making fun of the soldiers who were confined to their camps under the terms of the agreement where for the first time in the chapter of the Eelam war lines of demarcation were drawn on the land ceding territory to the LTTE from which they could operate with impunity.

Clause 1.5 of the agreement states ‘in areas where localities have not been clearly established the status quo as regards the areas controlled by the GOSL and the LTTE, respectively on 24 December 2001 shall continue to apply pending such demarcation as is provided in article 1.6.

It adds ‘the parties shall not move munitions, explosives or military equipment into the area controlled by the other party’.

Free run

Not only that permission was also granted by the Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Government for the LTTE to carry out Naval exercises in our sovereign territorial waters. At all such times Sri Lanka’s Navy was to keep off all sea lanes giving the Tigers a free run. The outfit was running a de-facto state which the leaders were aware but not inclined to rock the boat.

The LTTE was also permitted “political work” giving it the opportunity to enter Government held territory and even set up Political offices. All this while the Army looked on helpless. No complaints were entertained by military top brass as to the doings and activities of the LTTE.

Although the CFA by implication meant an end to hostilities there were instances where the Army camps came under unprovoked attacks. The Military could not respond bound as they were to the CFA. It was soon apparent that the CFA was only one way traffic in favour of the Tigers.

Under the terms of the CFA all para-military groups were to be disarmed. However the LTTE seized on the opportunity to turn its guns on its opponents such as the EPDP, PLOTE and the Perumal Wing of the LTTE. Not only that, LTTE hitmen penetrated the South to assassinate intelligence operatives such as Col Muthaliph.

But the biggest betrayal of the Forces by the Ranil Wickremesinghe Government was the raid carried out on the cell of the Army’s Deep Penetration Unit housed at the Millennium city at the instance of the LTTE exposing its operatives into grave danger while unhinging the entire operation.

In the end the so called peace talks ended with the LTTE demanding an Interim Self Government Authority thereby demonstrating its true intentions while all the time negotiating for a political settlement.