Unsettled no longer
There is an unfortunate
tendency among sections of the international community to single
out the last few weeks of the humanitarian operation against the
LTTE in 2009 by the Sri Lankan security forces, for the purpose
of criticizing the Lankan state on what they make out are
accountability issues. The factual position with regard to these
allegations, of course, is that many civilian lives were lost in
the North when the LTTE used these civilians as human shields
against the advancing security forces. It is quite some time
since the state put the record straight on these issues.
However, there is this obsessive concern with the last few
weeks of the security forces' operation which strikes one as a
curious fixation on the part of the state's critics, whereas the
fact that the conflict raged for some 25 years in this country
with the LTTE figuring as a marauding mass killer, is,
apparently, all too easily forgotten. Why not assess the human
costs of the terror campaign launched by the LTTE over the
entire 25 tragic years? Why not evaluate what those long years
of terror meant for the whole of Sri Lanka? Why not focus on the
mind-numbing destruction mercilessly unleashed by the Tigers?
These are questions that would occur to any impartial
observer of the conflict in Sri Lanka. We do not see how
accountability could be apportioned in this situation without
these questions being answered satisfactorily. However, an
impartial and objective appraisal of the long-drawn conflict
would reveal the Lankan state's undeniable right to defend its
geographical integrity and its compulsory duty to protect all
its citizens from dangers of all kinds - whether man-made or
otherwise. During those long 25 years the state was exercising
its sovereign right to protect its territory and citizenry from
a terrorist organization which was fiercely intent on
dismembering the country and doing unthinkable harm to its
people.
We believe that it is the ordinary people of this country who
should be doing most of the talking in the face of these
allegations brought against Sri Lanka by the aforementioned
sections of the world community. What further evidence is needed
of the huge relief and happiness experienced by the people of
this country than the total freedom with which they now go about
their daily chores? What more evidence would one need of the
peace and happiness in the hearts of people than the lively and
colourful conduct of national events, such as, the Sinhala and
Tamil New Year, in even the once chronically conflict-hit North?
If the so-called ordinary people are asked for their opinion
on these and connected questions they would answer that they are
glad to be rid of the oppressive worries of the past which
stemmed from the LTTE's terror campaign. At one time, no-one
could say for certain if he or she would come back home alive
after a visit to the metropolis or other places which attract
people. This was because the LTTE terror campaign had spread its
ghoulish reach to every nook and corner of this country. LTTE
bombs and bullets spared no-one and were wiping out life and
limb everywhere.
But go to even the farthest reaches of the North and East and
ask the ordinary citizenry whether or not they are safe and
contented now, and they would answer with readiness in the
affirmative. They are spared the torture of wondering whether
they would live to see another day. Likewise, their relief is
great that they could go on with their normal lives.
Thus is the humanitarian nature of the security forces'
operation revealed. Sri Lanka's social stability and future well
being was secured in May 2009 and this is the boon which the
whole country is enjoying today. The communities of this land
could today not only go about their businesses without fret or
fear but unreservedly exercise their rights and engage in the
cultural activities unique to them, in the freest manner. In
short, the land is breathing the wholesome air of contentedness.
Given this backdrop, it is most unlikely that the generality
of the public would look favourably on any attempts by the
aforementioned sections of the international community to hold
Sri Lanka to account on any score. There is no doubt that they
would stand united on any attempts to rob Sri Lanka of its
sovereign rights. The proof of the pudding is in the eating.
Today, Sri Lanka is stable and contented and no-one could deny
that state policy has been right all along. |