Import of LLRC

The Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) set up by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to probe the reasons for the estrangement of the two main communities and to recommend steps to prevent a repetition of events that led to the conflagration has so far made commendable progress. It has striven to cover the entire gamut of factors that plunged the country into ethnic turmoil.

The dynamism it has displayed so far in unravelling past events that may have had a direct bearing on the conflict is unique. There is a relaxed air in the proceedings allowing any one who may venture to make their inputs welcome to do so. The LLRC certainly is a strong parallel to the Truth Commission in South Africa that traced the events of that country’s unfortunate past to arrive at lasting reconciliation.

The LLRC has so far heard evidence of those persons with an indepth knowledge and deep insight into the affairs that had a direct or indirect bearing on the ethnic conflict. Some of them have made valuable recommendations that we are sure will be incorporated in the Commission’s final report.

One of these is with regard to permitting the Tamil community to use their own language in their dealings with the State. This matter should receive the serious attention of the Government since this could well be a reason for isolation of the Tamil community.

True, the Government has identified this issue and taken measures rectify the alleged discrimination. Incentives have been offered for Government servants who gain proficiency in the Tamil language. But this is still in an elementary stage and would take some time to be established practice. There have also been other suggestions for facilitating integration.

The LLRC has also done well to conduct sittings of the Commission in former Tiger territory in the North where first hand knowledge of the problems facing the Tamil people could be obtained. At the last hearing it was indeed revealing how those who suffered at the hands of the LTTE testified against the one time sole representatives of their community.

This no doubt would provide an inkling on what went behind the ‘Iron Curtain’ during those dark days. Some of the witnesses were those survivors of the gruesome ordeal during the final battle when the LTTE opened fire on civilians who were fleeing to the safety of the government controlled areas. The sittings in the one time LTTE citadel would also give the Commission a first hand knowledge of the yearnings of the community and grasp the nuances and undercurrents of their aspirations.

No doubt the Commission has made great headway in sifting and collating the evidence from such diverse witnesses as military experts, analysts, former civil servants, diplomats and even journalists through which it is striving to form a comprehensive picture to ascertain the true dynamics of the ethnic conflict. In the process it may also unravel certain facts that may not be to the liking of certain individuals and political parties.

But far from being a witch-hunt as alleged by some, the identification of these lapses may greatly help to look at the whole picture in the correct perspective in the formulation of solutions. Some also ask why the mandate of the Commission to probe events starts with the CFA in February 2002.

Here it has to be pointed out that this was a significant point in the Eelam war in that it was the first truce since the advent of the IPKF in 1987 - one that had a clear impact on the course that the war took in the next seven years until its conclusion in May 2009.

It was also the beginning of a phase where the forces had to fight the LTTE as a conventional Army using weapons that came in freely due to the lifting of restrictions courtesy the CFA. This was also the first time that the LTTE was given lien of the country’s territorial waters to hold naval exercises all of which no doubt should bear scrutiny.

The decision by the Commission to summon Terrorist Investigation Department (TID) officials too is an appropriate move. It is the TID which knows the true nature of the suspects in its custody with the ability to sift the hardcore terrorists from those forcibly conscripted by the LTTE, particularly during the final stages of the war. This could speed up the release of these youth who were forced to fight against their will and also the reconciliation process.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has already promised the Commission to formulate a mechanism to facilitate this process.

It is the hope of all the Lessons Learnt and Rehabilitation Commission which is on the right track will come out with recommendations that would bind all communities in the true spirit of reconciliation to take the country forward towards development and progress in this new phase of national independence.