Sri Lankan entities abroad under threat of violence

By Wickramabahu Karunaratna

(May 17, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Ravi Nessman, an Associated Press (AP) writer stated on Monday that “Volunteers dug mass graves in the marshes of Sri Lanka’s northern war zone Monday as they buried hundreds of civilians killed in artillery attacks that the UN characterised as a “bloodbath.” A doctor in the war zone said that as many as 1,000 civilians may have been killed in two days of shelling that marked some of the worst violence in this Indian Ocean island nation since the civil war flared up again more than three years ago...The government and the separatist rebels both denied responsibility for the artillery attacks that struck the tiny sliver of northeast coast still held by the rebels, in two waves. The worst barrage pounded the area, which holds an estimated 50,000 trapped civilians, from Saturday night until Sunday morning, health officials said...Another attack occurred in the area throughout Sunday, devastating the newly demarcated “safe zone” where the government had urged civilians to gather, according to Dr V Shanmugarajah, who works at a makeshift hospital in the area.”

Are we surprised about what happened? We have been talking in this column about the human disaster that is developing under the roars of victory. It is the Mahinda regime that told us that the Tigers are now confined to a tiny area near Mullaitivu.

Ferociously guarding

They further told us that some civilians (15 000!) are caught in this area and that the Tigers are ferociously guarding them, making it impossible for them to runaway. Even the ICRC has refused to carry food and other essential items to this area, as there is no accord between the two parties in conflict. It may not be possible to get sufficient drinking water in this hell hole. The government admits that the situation is fragile, nevertheless, it is continuing assaults on the Tamil Tigers. As there is no mercy or possibility of discussions the Tigers are compelled to defend themselves to the last man. Ordinary people, perhaps 15000, 50 000 or even 100000 are doomed to die in large numbers by every assault made by the government.

Warned

“The UN has consistently warned against the bloodbath scenario as we’ve watched the steady increase in civilian deaths over the last few months,” UN spokesman Gordon Weiss has said. “The large-scale killing of civilians over the weekend, including the deaths of more than 100 children shows that the bloodbath has become a reality.”
Ravi of AP stated further that “Reports of the fighting are difficult to verify because the government bars journalists and aid workers from the war zone. UN figures compiled last month showed that nearly 6,500 civilians had been killed in three months this year as the government drove the separatist rebels from their northern strongholds and vowed to end the war.”

Can the government that claims to be involved in a mercy mission to save the ordinary people carry on attacks in this manner? The government says openly that the Tiger leaders are already condemned by courts in Lanka as well as in India - as such they have to face penalties. On the other hand the Tiger activists who are in custody of the armed forces are kept in unknown camps somewhere in the Wanni wilderness.

Fate of political prisoners

Nothing is said about the fate of these political prisoners numbering over 3000. In such a scenario can anyone blame the Tigers for resisting without surrender? Unless the government is prepared for a peace agreement, the war will continue as a bloodbath and bogus appeals of the government for surrender will aptly fall on deaf ears and will be amusing for the international bourgeoisie.

The government has created a modern Dravidian problem out of the Tamil national problem. It is an international problem with the centre situated in India. The present Indian election has really revolved around this neo Dravidian issue.

At the same time Tamils living all over the world are now involved in actions against the Sinhala rulers. Violence is taking an anarchic form directed at all Lankan entities.

Instead of achieving a solution Mahinda has created a global problem that challenges the Lankan polity.

-Sri Lanka Guardian