Sambandan’s triumphalism
Professor Rajiva Wijesinha, MP
I was reminded then of my efforts, as Head of the Peace Secretariat,
to meet Sambandan, as discussed with the President, shortly after the
defeat of the LTTE. Sambandan, while never refusing outright, kept
saying he was too busy, because he had to meet with several foreign
dignitaries. Clearly, he felt that peace was better achieved by
requesting foreign pressure rather than by discussions with mandated Sri
Lankans.
![](z_p08-Sambandan’s.jpg)
R Sambandan |
Subsequently, the TNA decided to support the candidature of Sarath
Fonseka for the Presidency. Given the pronouncements of General Fonseka
both before and after the victory over the LTTE, and his efforts to slow
down resettlement of the displaced, I cannot believe that Sambandan and
his colleagues seriously felt that Fonseka’s candidacy was the best
option for the Tamil people.
European envoys
At the time I expressed my suspicions of a meeting I saw take place
at the home of the Political Affairs Officer of the American Embassy
Paul Carter. While enjoying his hospitality and listening to accounts of
interactions between his office and the JVP, I saw Sambandan come in,
and thought I should pay my respects before I left. I found him in the
garden with the European Union Representative and the American
Ambassador, and they looked so bemused that I realized I was probably
interrupting something confidential. I offered to leave, but Bernard
Savage recovered himself and was reasonably polite. The other two stayed
silent, so I soon took myself off.
Colombo elite
I began to think then that I was going to be persona non grata with
the Americans, which was a pity considering the regard I had for Bob
Blake, but indeed subsequently the new ambassador has also proved
charming. But I felt then that the TNA was being encouraged to succumb
to Sarath Fonseka’s charms, and I was not surprised thereafter when he
received a string of endorsements from both the TNA and people like
Jehan Perera. And I felt that my view was endorsed also by several
European envoys, who subsequently expressed surprise at the games that
had been played with Fonseka, including Bernard Savage’s strange defence
of military men in politics.
Be that as it may, I had the impression subsequently that most
persons settled down to reality, after the elections proved conclusively
that Colombo elite perceptions were absurd. So I was optimistic about
recent talks with the TNA, as well as what seemed efforts by certainly
the Americans to promote reconciliation. However the report of the panel
has again allowed old emotions to flourish, and it seems that the TNA is
once again going to embark on a policy of confrontation, expecting
foreign friends to pull their chestnuts out of the fire.
Over a year ago I pointed out to the British, at a meeting in their
Foreign Office, the damage they could cause to Tamils by continuing to
support the leftover rump of the LTTE, and by urging discussions with
elements like the Transnational Government. My point was that the
Government wanted to work positively with the Tamils, but it could not
trust the LTTE or its by-blows, and that continuing support for these
would only serve to polarize.
Foreign friends
Unfortunately I begin to suspect that polarization is part of the
agenda of some of those who wish to interfere in Sri Lanka, though I had
hoped that at least current envoys in Sri Lanka were wiser. My advice to
the British was to follow the example of the Indians, who had never
swerved from support for the Tamil people, while consistently evincing
strong hostility to the LTTE. My argument was that that was the position
of the decision makers in government, and foreign friends should affirm
and support this position without trying to satisfy their own
electorates.
Now sadly yet another opportunity seems to have arisen for what seems
triumphalism on the part of those fundamentally opposed to the Sri
Lankan state. Some of them simply will not accept that we have an
elected government which is moving forward under difficult
circumstances, though conscious of possible threats. Surely it cannot be
triumphalism that has led to much more concerted efforts to implement
Tamil as an official language than before, to more recruitment of Tamil
Policemen than done by any previous Government in decades, to swifter
resettlement and rehabilitation than in any comparable situation.
But people believe what they want to believe. In the process they
contribute to hostilities which pave the way for extremist reactions,
and sanctimonious self-justification based on similar behaviour by their
opponents. And meanwhile those who do not want reconciliation are
cynically laughing. I was deeply saddened to see the statement issued
this morning in the name of Sambandan following the leaking of some of
the report of the panel. The statement seems to hark back to the
confrontational approach the TNA had repeatedly adopted when
opportunities for reconciliation were available. |