Sri Lanka perspectives

By Col R Hariharan

(July 16, Chennai, Sri Lanka Guardian) After the “final victory” over the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) culminating in the death of its leader Prabhakaran in May, during the month of June the focus of Sri Lanka shifted to prevent the resurgence of Tamil insurgents, rather than restoring normalcy in the north. Nearly 300,000 people of Vanni area displaced by the war continue to be held in camps run by the army, ostensibly to complete the process of screening them for LTTE elements as well as clearance of landmines in the region.

Described by some UN representatives as “internment camps,” the five holding camps have continued to draw adverse criticism from international community and INGOs on various counts of living conditions, health, denial of freedom of movement etc. The government of Sri Lanka has not been taken kindly to the cricism. It has tightened the visa regime for visits by overseas politicians and representatives of NGOs. There appears to be some confusion within Sri Lanka government between the defence ministry and the foreign ministry in the handling of overseas criticism. This was highlighted when Canadian opposition leader Bob Rae, and a vocal critic of the way Sri Lanka had been handling humanitarian and human rights issues, was refused entryon landing in Colombo by military intelligence although the Sri Lanka embassy in Ottawa had issued him a visa. Government sources said Bob Rae was considered a security risk because of his pro-LTTE sentiments. Canadian government and press have strongly criticised Sri Lanka’s seemingly ham handed action in this affair.

France, U.S. and U.K. have come out with strong statements on the need for restoration of normal life in the war affected areas. The U.S. has also emphasised the need for implementing the 13th amendment of the Sri Lanka constitution giving limited autonomy to the provincial councils. The U.S. State Department has also issued a travel advisory cautioning U.S. travellers to Sri Lanka with veiled criticism of the conditions in Sri Lanka. It stated: “American citizens of Sri Lankan origin may be subject to additional scrutiny upon arrival and while in the country. In some cases, foreigners of Sri Lankan origin may be detained without their embassy being notified. The activities of journalists, researchers, aid workers, and volunteers receive particular attention.”

The continued failure of Sri Lanka government to address the issue of Vanni Tamils has also had its repercussions in India, particularly in Tamil Nadu. Sri Lanka Government sent a high power delegation led by Senior Presidential Advisor and MP Basil Rajapaksa, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and Presidential Secretary Lalith Weerathunga to India to specially discuss with Indian foreign minister SM Krishna issues related to the resettlement of the displaced civilians in the North. They said, after discussion, that Indiahad agreed to provide eight de-mining teams process to clear the affected areas so that resettlement could be done within a six month period.However, it is doubtful whether the resettlement would be completed in this short period.

An aid ship “Captain Ali”, carrying a load of relief materials meant for displaced civilians, which was not allowed to enter Sri Lankan territorial waters by the Government authorities had anchored off Chennai seeking Indian intervention. During their meeting in New Delhi, the Sri Lankans were reported to have agreed to India’s suggestion to allow the ship “Captain Ali” to off-load the relief material. It now transpires that these items will be routed to Sri Lanka by the Red Cross in both the countries.

However, it is clear that India had not been happy with Sri Lanka’s actions on relief and resettlement of Tamils in Vanni. Union Home Minister P Chidambaram expressed dissatisfaction over the issue. Specifically, he said that though India had allocated Rs 500 crores for their rehabilitation, Sri Lanka had not come up with the rehabilitation plan. He also asked Sri Lanka to allow INGOs like the Red Cross to carry out the relief work and to permit the media to enter IDP camps.

The issue of Vanni civilians languishing in camps has also provided the much needed rallying point for the LTTE supporters among Tamil expatriates to muster public support. Even otherwise all most all Tamil expatriates are feeling aggrieved at the lack of international collective action against Sri Lanka on this count. And their continued agitation particularly in the UK has kept the issue of Tamil Eelam in the limelight. UK has drawn a lot of flak in Colombo for allowing such demonstrations.

It has whipped up anti-western sentiments in Sri Lanka among the Sinhala nationalist and chauvinist political parties resulting in the hardening of Sri Lanka government attitude also towards nations “meddling” in its affairs. The Obama administration’s nomination of Ms. Patricia Butenis, senior U.S. Foreign Service Officer and currently the deputy chief of mission in Iraq, to be its next ambassador to Sri Lanka has also come under close public scrutiny. This has also resulted in paranoia about activities of critical media, NGO activists, foreign media representatives, and even workers of UN agencies.

A direct consequence of these developments was the delay in release of International Monetary Fund’s loan of $ 1.9 billion to Colombo due to political pressure from the U.S., U.K. and other Western nations unhappy with Sri Lanka’s handling of the final stages of the war in which thousands of civilians were killed. Sri Lanka’s trade minister G.L. Peiris has accused IMF of getting embroiled in “controversial political issues as part of the criteria governing their judgment in respect of particular transactions.”

Sri Lanka government is taking a few measures to restore normalcy in the north. It has opened the A9 highway to Jaffna for commercial goods traffic. The proposed local body elections for the Jaffna and Vavuniya municipal councils are to be held on August 8, 2009. The ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) campaign in Jaffna is managed by Social Services and Social Welfare Minister Douglas Devananda. 174 candidates from six political parties and two independent groups are in the fray for 29 seats in the Jaffna Municipal Council. For the 15 seats in the Vavuniya Urban Council 135 candidates from six political parties and three independent groups are contesting. The elections will be a testing ground for the nascent Tamil political leadership.

Changes in military command and control

The passing of the Chief of Defence Staff Act in Sri Lanka parliament has formalised the appointment of CDS which had been in existence before. The post of CDS was created (though not formalized) in 1999 in the place of the civilian post of chief of the Joint Operations Bureau.

With this, the CDS as the co-ordinating head of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Police, emerges as a powerful figure in the hierarchy. With General Sarath Fonseka tipped to take over as the new CDS with clearly defined powers working under the defence secretary, plans for strengthening the military would be implemented faster.

The creation of the CDS would also probably facilitate in getting through the controversial future role of the expanded 300,000 strong army in the north where normal life is not restored yet. It will also help the implementation of army’s expansion plans better and faster. Plans are already underway for expansion of the navy, which is expected to play a major role in protecting Sri Lanka’s extended exclusive economic zone in the Indian Ocean.

Revival of the LTTE

The Tamil expatriates who still believe in the creation of a Tamil Eelam state, smarting under the defeat of the LTTE, have got together and announced a slew of measures to form the Provisional Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (PTGTE) for progressing the cause. Though it appears to be broad based in its concept, its birth after the LTTE has ceased to be a power centre makes it clear that it would claim to be a successor to the LTTE. However, the decision to form PTGE taken without consulting the pro-LTTE Tamil National Alliance (TNA) which is rooted in Sri Lanka politics has raised doubts about the future viability of PTGE. It has also placed TNA in a dilemma.

However, it provides a rallying point for pro-LTTE elements to muster their strength and strengthens the hands of Kumaran Pathmanathan (KP), the overseas representative of the LTTE who had been trying to take over the leadership of the organization. The new name would also overcome the legal hurdle of publicly espousing the LTTE in 32 nations including India, Canada, USA and the EU where the organisation is banned as a terrorist group. However, PTGE has to prove itself as a viable entity; till that happens it will have little credibility both within and outside Sri Lanka. And its effort to establish itself is not going to be a smooth process with competing interests trying to take over the leadership mantle of the LTTE.

(Col R Hariharan, a retired Military Intelligence specialist on South Asia, served with the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka as Head of Intelligence. He is associated with the Chennai Centre for China Studies and the South Asia Analysis Group. E-Mail: colhari@yahoo.com Blog: www.colhariharan.org )

-Sri Lanka Guardian