Future Security & Implications of the PTA/ERs in Post-War Sri Lanka

(March 18, Singapore City, Sri Lanka Guardian) On 09th March 2010, The International Center for Ethnic Studies held a roundtable discussion on the Future Security & Implications of the PTA/ERs in Post-War Sri Lanka. The roundtable was led by Dr. Rohan Gunaratna (Head, The International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Singapore), Shanaka Jayasekara, (Associate Lecturer, Centre for Policing, Intelligence and Counter Terrorism (PICT), Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia) and Dr. Deepika Udagama (former Head of Department, Faculty of Law, University of Colombo). The discussion was well attended by all sectors in society, including individuals from government and non-governmental institutions as well as the diplomatic community.

Key Themes of the Dialogue

Dr. Rohan Gunaratna initiated the discussion by stating that even though the LTTE as a conventional military force in Sri Lanka has been destroyed much of its support networks are operational. Dr. Gunaratna stated that, “In fact the centre of gravity of LTTE activities has shifted from SL to international arena and the same structures that existed overseas that sustained and supported the terrorist movement in this country are intact. The degree of damage to the LTTE international network globally has been minimal”. Thus he reiterated the fact that the danger posed by the LTTE was very real. The Global Tamil Forum and the Transnational Government created by these LTTE elements is a clear indication of the existence of a movement with vast levels of resources at its disposal.

With reference to latest developments that have taken place in UK with David Milliband attending the inaugural meeting of The Global Tamil Forum, Dr. Gunaratna stated that this was political expediency on the part of the British in order to woe Tamil votes in the upcoming elections. He went on to state, “One is what you call constituency pressure, or what you call electoral power. So they’ve approached the British at a time very close to the elections and they have said we can give you 40 thousand Tamil votes, but you (British politicians) support us”. Dr. Gunaratna contended that the most powerful element of the LTTE was its ideological element and thus the greatest threat to the future security of Sri Lanka stems from it. Both the GoSL and the local media would have to do much more in countering this threat. Dr. Gunaratna stated that both the PTA and ERs are needed to combat the threat. Dr. Gunaratna concluded by stating “We have to promote the ideology or philosophy of moderation of toleration and of coexistence. This is crucial”.

Shanaka Jayasekara speaking at the event reiterated the fact that there is a grave threat posed by LTTE front organizations to the security of Sri Lanka. He stated that Sri Lanka’s international image has suffered partly due to the failure of the Foreign Ministry to counter the LTTE propaganda machine. Mr. Jayasekara stated that one of the individuals who poses a grave threat to the security of Sri Lanka is a man named Ponniah Anandarajah a.k.a Aiya.

This individual has great sway over the working of The Global Tamil Forum and is also responsible for the shipping network that was once owned and operated by the LTTE. Shanaka Jayaseka pressed on the fact that LTTE’s extreme ideological component needs to be addressed, “It leaves us (People of Sri Lanka) with the ideology and several sources of inspiration where the international Diaspora which was very active in terms of spreading the message (violent separatist ideology), Tamil net and all the other cyber warfare that took place; but we haven’t been able to destroy the ideology”. The Government of Sri Lanka will have to reformulate its foreign policy so that Sri Lanka will be able to counter the new threat posed by these individuals and groups.

Dr. Deepika Udagama stated that while the security concerns are legitimate there is no legitimate cause for the PTA/ERs to be in force in a post-war environment, “But the question has to be asked at least for historical purposes and certainly for future purposes, and for the present, whether the Prevention of Terrorism Act in particular serves any goal in doing away with the LTTE; or any sort of anti-state agitation, radicalization and so on and so forth. My position is definitely no”. Now that the armed conflict is over there is a need to heal the wounds between the different ethnic groups who have suffered as a result of it for 30 years. The government has moved in many ways from fighting terror to becoming the agent of terror. The government has also pursued these laws to clamp down on opposition that has led to its radicalization. Thus in order for democracy to once again thrive in Sri Lanka and true reconciliation to take place the PTA/ERs will have to be repealed.