Rajapaksa’s “war for peace” only bloody war

by Satheesan Kumaaran

(October 21, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) When President Mahinda Rajapaksa came to power in 2005, he promised that he would teach the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) a lesson by military means. This policy was clearly repeated throughout the Presidential elections and stated in his policy statement and glorified election manifesto dubbed the Mahinda Chinthanaya.

The Chinthanaya was initially seen by political observers as a tactical document of Rajapaksa’s political strategies to win the support of pro-Buddhist extremist elements that determine the success or demise of leaders in Sri Lanka. Even though he has political experience he has no intimate knowledge of the history of his country - a country facing a very difficult situation with the war raging in the north of the island. Further, the situation in Vanni is being used as an acid test for Rajapaksa’s Chinthanaya philosophy in relation to the capture of the LTTE, because, although he could claim that his armed forces captured areas controlled by the LTTE, such action would never bring lasting peace to the island. If at all, it would only prove to be a band-aid solution and not a cure for the malaise afflicting the country.

The capture of Tamil areas in the North and East may have been seen as a way to address the issue expediently and with as little use of manpower and weaponry as possible, but it won’t be successful against the political, military and diplomatic strength of the LTTE. Capturing of LTTE-held areas will create further complications for the GoSL, result in greater casualties of its armed men, and lead the country deeper into disastrous economic conditions. Both Sinhalese and Tamil-speaking civilians will continue to suffer as long as the Mahinda Chinthanaya approach lasts. Rajapaksa will plunge the country further into chaos.

Instead of eliminating the Tamil Eelam problem, Mahinda Chinthanaya has instead paved way for the creation of an independent Tamil Eelam with the support of the international community (IC). The IC is aware of the real situation on the ground and they are sick and tired of the promises given by the Sri Lankan State. They were very frustrated with the GoSL ordering the INGOs to leave the LTTE-held areas, leaving no way for humanitarian-aid agencies to keep tabs on the civilians trapped in the war zone. It is also interesting to note that the presence of the INGOs presented a deterrent against GoSL military attacks against Tamil civilians. With the INGOs out of the way, it’s open season on Tamil civilians for Rajapaksa and his Mahinda Chinthanaya.

Quick military victory key to political victory

Mahinda Rajapaksa wants a quick and immediate victory in the north, especially over the LTTE stronghold in Vanni, in order to win the minds and hearts of the Sinhalese by claiming that his government has taken control of LTTE areas. He would hope then to immediately call a general election with the expectation that he would sweep the majority of votes to gain a parliamentary victory.

Blinded by the overriding ambition to retain his position of power at any cost, Rajapaksa refuses to recognise the dire consequences to the people who have been drawn into this military, political and economic morass. He is obsessed only with his own position and wants to remain in power to achieve his own personal goals.

Fuelled by his own ambition and bolstered by his family members whom he has entrenched in prime positions of power around him, Rajapaksa needs only one more thing to put his ultimate plan in motion, the support of the Sinhalese, which he believes will come with the quick military victory in the north. He has however, failed to comprehend the thinking of the LTTE. Taking signals from the IC, the LTTE has exercised considerable patience in its retaliation against the Sri Lankan state in the hopes, in so doing, the LTTE would pave way for the freedom of Tamils. Many countries such as India, Japan, European countries and the U.S. are using their good offices to bring about a peaceful settlement to the ethnic conflict through negotiations without much success.

Following great pressure from southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, the central government in New Delhi is expected to play a vital role in ending the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka. Although India had backed previous peace talks with the mediation of the Norwegian government, this time India is expected to take part direct role in the peace talks between the LTTE and the GoSL. This presents India with legal problems as Indian law prohibits the central government from holding talks with the LTTE. India will have no choice but to lift the ban on the LTTE in order to ease the tension in Tamil Nadu. This would serve as incentive for the IC to consider lifting the ban on the LTTE which would allow the LTTE and the GoSL to enter into genuine peace talks as equal partners.

Mahinda does not want this happen. He prefers to crush the LTTE as quickly as possible. To this end, the Sri Lankan government has directed its armed forces to capture the LTTE-held areas and wipe out the LTTE. The GoSL has launched a genocidal war against the Tamils involving indiscriminate aerial bombing and shelling.

In its drive for the blood of the Tamil people, the GoSL has failed to address the humanitarian needs of the civilians forced to flee Vanni. The vast majority of the casualties in this battle are the civilians. Over 230,000 people have taken shelter in safer areas in the north to escape the attacks of the Sri Lankan armed forces. The GoSL military attacks have taken the lives of thousands of people in Vanni and the government claims that they were killing the LTTE cadres. Since independent reporters are not allowed into the area and now that the INGOs have been turfed out, independent reports on what is actually happening on the ground are not available.

Vanni ground situation

The GoSL attacks cause more devastation to the civilian population than to the LTTE. And, with its focus on fighting the government’s forces, it is hard for the LTTE to ensure that tens of thousands of civilians are moved into safer areas. The LTTE, however, is making progress in moving civilians, using their experience from the early 1990s when the GoSL armed forces, led by Chandrika Kumaratunga, took control of Jaffna where more than half-a-million people were evacuated by the LTTE through Kilali lagoon.

During the first week of October, due to an artillery attack by the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) and the aerial bombardment by the Sri Lankan Air Force (SLAF), more than ten homes sheltering orphaned children, and mentally handicapped and elderly persons, located a few miles away from Kilinochchi town, were rushed to relocate to interior villages of the Vanni. One mentally handicapped person died at Akkaraayankulam upon displacement. Insufficient shelter facilities, inadequate health and basic amenities including latrines, and shortage of nutritional food supplies, continue to plague relief assistance.

Even the main hospital in Kilinochchi town, now damaged, is being moved into a safer area. Maternity and surgical departments remain in the Kilinochchi hospital with the dedicated and committed medical professionals even though the hospital premises are in close proximity to fighting zone. Most patients, records and essential equipment is being shifted to and divided between two schools in Dharamapuram and Urthirapuram, and into two small rural hospitals in Vishvamadu and Pudukudiyiruppu. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said that it was monitoring the situation, but has not made further comments because of pressure from the GoSL.

Heading into the third week of this month, the ground situation in Vanni region has been very silent. Many displaced government institutions are operating in make-shift facilities including the Government Agent office at Kandawalai and banks at Tharmapuram. The GA expected food lorries to arrive, but that did not materialize. Truckloads of medical drugs were loaded for Kilinochchi on October 7, but the Sri Lankan armed forces did not allow the truck at Omanthai to leave. More than fifty-percentage of IDPs are living under pathetic conditions without even basic shelter. More than ninety-percentage do not have latrine facilities. A large number of cases of diarrhoea and snake bites have been reported. And, the hospital in Tharmapuram is heavily congested with patients. The onset of the rainy season will present further challenge to the IDPs in the region. These are the prevailing ground conditions in Vanni.

Tamil Eelam becomes reality

The situation in Vanni has been created by the GoSL to wipe out the drive for the creation of independent Tamil Eelam.

So far, the LTTE has been launching only defensive military actions. The LTTE is relying on the in the area vast jungles to make it impossible for GoSL soldiers to return to their starting position. The LTTE cadres are very familiar with the jungles and have a strategic advantage over the “visiting” government forces.

The GoSL has done nothing but hoodwink the Sinhalese people with their Mahinda Chinthanaya philosophy in a bid to call for urgent elections next year to get a majority in parliament. This would force Sinhalese civilians into great turmoil as their children, husbands and relatives would be enlisted into being actively involved in the conflict. The civilians would bear the brunt of Rajapaksa’s dream plan for Sri Lanka to fulfil his own personal ambitions. He has already made enough of his fortune off the deaths of innocent children on the island.

Capturing the LTTE-held areas will never bring peace to the island. The only way for this conflict to end is for Sinhalese politicians to grant autonomy for the Tamils. The current situation will only lead the LTTE to gain further support from the Tamils and the IC. Finally, the LTTE would be regarded as freedom fighters and not terrorists, and this would contribute to the paving the way for the creation of an independent Tamil State. Until then, the LTTE should never stop its struggle for an independent Tamil Eelam knowing well that the government’s Mahinda Chinthanaya has helped to pave the way for this.

(The author can be reached at e-mail: satheesan_kumaaran@yahoo.com)- Sri Lanka Guardian