“LTTE made sure that Tamil politics is reduced to a poodle under its command. TNA that secured almost all parliamentary seats in Tamil majority areas pays no attention to a peaceful resolution of this conflict. It is supporting LTTE’s militaristic preoccupation without any questions. TNA MPs must learn from the IRA and its political wing Sinn Fein where the political wing controls the military wing. Unfortunately in the case of the LTTE and TNA it is the exact opposite! Hilarious! TNA demands from the government that the war is stopped immediately; however, they make no such requests let alone a demand from the LTTE. Due to this fact TNA has no regard whatsoever in the large Sri Lankan society."
by Thomas Raj Johnpulle
by Thomas Raj Johnpulle
(September 08, London, Sri Lanka Guardian) Sri Lankans have longer memories than two weeks. They haven’t forgotten the statement made by a very senior politician just a few months ago that ‘any ass can fight’. That was the general sentiment within that party a few months ago and things have changed drastically since then. Unashamedly the same politician swallowed his own words and now is in full favour of war! However, the point is not about Sri Lankan ministers but rather about political forces that fall for anything creating a policy vacuum at this decisive stage of the conflict. Sadly there isn’t any major political party that is championing a non-military approach to the conflict at this juncture.
It is said that war is an extension of politics. In the local context, politics has become an extension of war! All three main political parties have now jumped on to the war bandwagon. Election outcomes are explained through war; political instability, difficulties in passing the budget, denying salary increases to government servants, clampdown on various rights, human rights malpractices, corruption, the crazy inflation, the jumbo Cabinet of ministers and all other shortcomings of the government are covered by the blanket of war. Citizen’s support for the war is one thing; war-driven governance is another.
All Sri Lankans must support the ongoing ‘humanitarian operations’ of security forces. For the first time in this long war, security forces have at least for name sake based their operations on humanitarian grounds. Fancy militaristic names no longer exist for military operations. The humanitarian claim is also supported by the Mavil aru incident that triggered this round of war. However, an omnipresent war mentality should have its checks and balances, especially within the democratic political system.
Unfortunately this is not something confined to Lanka. The Georgian-Russian war and the American response have a bearing on the US Presidential Election. The Republican candidate who is more pro-war than his competitor is tipped to get a small boost from it. In the UK when the Labour government went to war in 2001, the Conservatives who are generally considered more supportive of war were behind the government for fear of losing their support bases.
What are the dangers?
This war, like all other wars, is said to bring about peace one day. Assuming the best case scenario of peace, what can an all-round persistent war mentality can do? It can cripple the efforts towards rebuilding the nation. We may win the war but permanently lose peace unless we recognise the other aspects of the conflict that are not tangible from a military point of view. An example would be the daily body count. People have got so used to the daily body count that it sounds like a rugby score. This mentality should cease immediately following a military victory. It is an accepted fact that even after a formal military victory, skirmishes would continue. If the general public long to hear similar ‘scores’ as they are used to hearing at times of war, then it shatters the otherwise peaceful atmosphere.
Another important thing is the political solution. Obviously a mind obsessed with war cannot explore avenues of political reconciliation.
The third lesson comes from the LTTE. Following the CFA, LTTE thought that Sri Lankan defence forces have partially surrendered to it. LTTE agents collected money for the ‘Final War’ during that time and ruled the seas, built new camps, punished their opponents, walked out of peace talks and refused to heed all advice. There were no naysayers in the LTTE thanks to its dictatorial structure and conduct. Sri Lanka must not follow the LTTE into self-created anarchy. Sri Lankans must reap all the benefits of a developed multi-party governance system by keeping extremism under check. For a viable counter balance there should be active pro-war and anti-war political forces with mass support.
It is no secret that a large number of people hail what has come to be known as ‘white van abductions’. Even human rights bodies have pointed out that the biggest impediment to stop human right abuses is the wide spread impunity and subtle community support for such abuses. This is a sad situation and opinion leaders of this country have a lot to do to inculcate a sense of righteousness among the general public.
Tamil political forces
LTTE made sure that Tamil politics is reduced to a poodle under its command. TNA that secured almost all parliamentary seats in Tamil majority areas pays no attention to a peaceful resolution of this conflict. It is supporting LTTE’s militaristic preoccupation without any questions. TNA MPs must learn from the IRA and its political wing Sinn Fein where the political wing controls the military wing. Unfortunately in the case of the LTTE and TNA it is the exact opposite! Hilarious! TNA demands from the government that the war is stopped immediately; however, they make no such requests let alone a demand from the LTTE. Due to this fact TNA has no regard whatsoever in the large Sri Lankan society.
The only Tamil politician genuinely concerned about the civilian plight whether it’s the Tigers or the army that is at fault is the TULF leader. However, he was not elected at the last General Election! The other two Tamil political entities, namely the EPDP and the TMVP are not making any significant progress towards demilitarising the society.
The International Community
The international community is in a dilemma about the war. When the LTTE was aggressive despite a ceasefire during 2002-2005, the international community was subtly putting pressure on pro-LTTE elements to stop. No one bothered listening to them. Now the security forces are more in control of the war and their supporters ridicule the international community. Both fighting parties eventually blame the international community for its hypocrisy and opportunistic behaviour.
LTTE got rid of Nordic ceasefire monitors except Norway in 2006 while the government kicked out Norway in 2008. The international community has a huge responsibility today to support the ongoing military operations of the government as only a military victory can ensure development, democracy, equal rights, human rights, fundamental rights and other human aspirations. Trying to remain at the middle of two extremes is not going to help. The international community needn’t win the confidence of the LTTE; it only needs to win the faith of the people of Sri Lanka to have their say in the decision making process of this country. On the other hand if it further loses public confidence, its say will be neglected by the people and decision makers.
The Church
The Catholic Church and the Anglican Church have followed a similar line of thinking as the international community. They too missed the people for the fighters. They have been trying hard to be seen as ‘independent’ by following a ‘middle path’. Can a religious sect be indifferent to the atrocities committed by a terrorist group? Can it put on an equal footing an elected government and a banned terrorist organisation? Due to this unintelligent conduct, these Churches have lost their influence on the society. Today Christians are divided along the battle lines no matter who is right and who is wrong; their Church has lost its credibility for not calling a spade a spade. Powerful members of the Church including bishops follow their own agendas. Some are unashamedly supporting the LTTE.
As the saying goes one who doesn’t stand for anything falls for everything. As a Catholic, I’m saddened and disappointed by the extreme lack of courage showed by the local Catholic Church in this matter. Strangely the Vatican has always followed a more practical approach of denouncing terrorism.
Concern for the Displaced People
Civilian displacement irrespective of ethnicity is unfortunate and if done wilfully is a grave crime. There are no justifications for displacing civilians. Concern for the displaced people (IDPs) is not the same across the society. Those who champion the plight of the IDPs today were less concerned or not concerned at all in August 2006 when the Elam War 4 began due to civilian displacement. They were silent in August 1990 (some refer to it as the Black August) too when hundreds of thousands of Muslims were chased out of their homes in Jaffna. The same thing happened when Sinhalese were chased out of their homes en masse in the 1980s and whole villages were wiped out by the LTTE. Some despicable elements went even further. They blamed the displaced and successive governments for colonising the North-East conveniently disregarding the fact that people were chased out their rightful and legal abode. Total number of Sinhalese and Muslims displaced in the 1980s, 1990s and in August 2006 is much higher than the number of Tamils presently displaced in Vanni. Nobody seems to care about them.
This partiality has unfortunately crept into the society thanks to the extreme hypocrisy of some modern day champions of human rights. They have lost their credibility by injecting racism into their concerns.
Another very strange peculiarity of this false concern is that the concerned have not done anything and do not plan to do anything to make the lives less miserable for the displaced! Blaming the government (and the LTTE) is not going to do anything constructive. This has created suspicion in the society whether these ‘concerned’ parties are genuinely worried about civilians or bothered only about Tigers who are also displaced.
A Heavier responsibility on the shoulders of true moderates
A moderate is neither a political eunuch nor a reckless hippie who is dead against all wars. Instead a moderate is a law abiding citizen who can apprehend the long term benefits of a cause of action without bias.
True moderates support the government’s military campaign wholeheartedly but are also wary of the need to bring the war to an end; not an abrupt end, but a permanent end. This war will not end until the last illegal weapons bearer is killed and race-based demands are ridiculed and rejected. Similarly peace won’t reach this island until racial enclaves are opened up and people of all races are integrated throughout the country. Then no one can be displaced from their rightful abode.
While supporting the war lets not forget the plight of the people living in tents under trying conditions in Vanni and Batticaloa for years and those in Puttlam for decades. And also those who were completely forgotten for quarter of a century.
[The Writer can be reached at (trjohnpulle@yahoo.co.uk)]
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