| by Shenali Waduge
(
December 22, 2012, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The Mullaitivu district was the
preferred home, training and hiding base of the LTTE leader for over 3 decades.
It was also where the LTTE met its Waterloo. 30 years of absolutely no changes
despite a host of foreign NGO/UN presence has seen remarkable changes in just 3
years something people need to finally admit. Mullaitivu is a district that has
strategic importance and explains why foreign intelligence and Tamil political
parties are attempting to gain a foothold to once more deceive the people.
Mullaitivu is certainly a perfect model district to show how people can distance
from separatist thinking, accept their own former allegiance to LTTE but
resolve to reconcile with a new tomorrow devoid of separatist ideology assisted
by the armed forces who are giving a great support made easier by the excellent
communication network that give the armed forces an edge over civil services.
The
exact number of civilians is questionable. 1981 census revealed 77,512 (with
3,948 Sinhalese) the 2012 census puts the population at 91,947 (inclusive of
8851 Sinhalese) in a district that comprises Thunukkai, Manthai, Oddusudan,
Maritimepattu, Pudukudiruppu and Weli Oya within an area of 2,516.9 sq.km. The
population rise is probably due to original occupants now returning to
Mullaitivu and should encourage more Sinhalese to settle in the North and start
agriculture.
It
was from the Mullaitivu district that LTTE captured the majority of children
who became LTTE’s child combatants and the fact that there is hardly 15,000
school going children in a district that has over 115 schools reveals this
sordid truth. It also reminds us of the Sensolai “orphanage” bombed on 14
August 2006 which was a LTTE training camp disguised as an “orphanage” in the
area of Vallipunam in the dense jungles of Udyarkattu (Puddukurippu) where LTTE
also ran a secret torture camp and none of the UN offices who jumped to issue
statements that Sensolai was not an LTTE camp can explain why an orphanage
should be located in the thick jungles! The 4 June 2006 “graduating” ceremony
of 10,000 Vanni residents in Puddukurippu trained by LTTE is further proof.
Those
who have been to Mullaitivu a district of possibly less than 60,000 civilians
during LTTE rule would realize the helplessness of these civilians – their
choice was to either side with the LTTE (cooking and hiding their weapons) or
face consequences. Complicity aside it is these same civilians who now have
been liberated from 30 years of mental trauma and three years on is it too soon
to be expecting them to openly shower their appreciation upon the armed forces?
Questioning
barriers to reconciliation is several incidents that have taken place obviously
with the connivance of foreign intelligence or Tamil Diaspora. One such is the
Jaffna with university students wanting to pay homage to dead LTTE. The
Government must not hesitate to declare that LTTE is a proscribed terrorist
movement and any such open commemoration is strictly prohibited and banned
while no one has any right to separate Sri Lanka.
In
stark contrast young children who realize the difference in LTTE and armed
forces are getting on perfectly with their new found heroes – men who they know
would not kidnap them and make into killers. This is the start of the much
needed trust factor. With soldiers now able to converse in Tamil the children
show no reluctance to approach the military and speak with them. This is
certainly a major obstacle that has been overcome without any third party and
between children and the forces striking a healthy chord. It is something that
the Government could well do to tap employing further exchange of students,
greater prominence towards language communication – the youth of tomorrow is
unlikely to commit the same mistakes their elders made and language is
certainly a key factor.
Why
is it that despite the large presence of UN/INGOs and NGOs throughout LTTE rule
with projects that covered protection, health, nutrition, food security,
agriculture, water, education, infrastructure, shelter and housing and mining
–there is absolutely nothing to trace any of these projects and few civilians
to even acknowledge such. Which leads us to question what have the UNICEF,
UNHCR, UMCOR, IOM, MTI, HI, WHO, UNFPA, WFP, CARE, UNDP, OXFAM, CORDAID, SCISL,
PWJ, ZOA, UNHABITAT, FSD, CTF, RDF, World Vision, World Bank, DRC, WUSC, FAO and
over 50 such organizations been doing in Mullaitivu all these years. In terms
of population Mullaitivu is a district which had the least number of Tamils in
an area that was 2,516.9 sq.km and questions why there was a need for so many
NGOs to be present? Of course the LTTE made sophisticated bunkers – these could
not have been done without special vehicles and with numerous arrests by Sri
Lankan forces of these international agencies assisting LTTE even transporting
weapons it is now time for the Government to open an investigation into the
manner UN/INGOs and NGOs functioned in Sri Lanka and their role in assisting
terrorism. There was a time that even the armed forces were demoralized by
former officials and present advisors when the war was said to be unwinnable
and even LTTE had sent “official” letters after the CFA asking soldiers to
abandon the North and return home to their wife and kids.
Gratitude
perhaps in nothing one can expect overnight from a community whose thoughts and
emotions had been suppressed and repressed by the LTTE indoctrinating hatred
for the Sinhalese through 3 decades. However, the security forces have not
stopped at simply eliminating terrorism and in the Mullaitivu district the
security forces have shown remarkable compassion seen by the passion with which
they handle the civilians. Led by Mullaitivu SF Commander Maj. Gen. Marc ably
assisted by his subordinate commanders a good synergy of teamwork without much
media coverage is what anyone visiting Mullaitivu can observe and should
appreciate.
From
IDP camps to new homes – these Tamil civilians will soon receive a new brick
550 sq.ft (2 bedroom/bathroom/kitchen/living room) house on a 40 perch land
each, dry rations for 6 months, access to hospitals, school and ability to carry
out a livelihood without fear whilst they have kept their former cadjan hut as
a reminder of how they lived. These brick houses built by the army take 19-20
days to complete. In case many are not aware these soldiers who build these new
houses do not have a proper home of their own and some do not even have
electricity and it would be good for people to remember this. But that they
work diligently to build a “home” for people who once hated them is something
they are not given enough credit or applause for. Already the armed forces have
built over 65 such houses at the cost of 325,000 as against 50 houses built by
India at a cost of Rs.575,000 taking 2 years! With LTTE making over USD300m
annually supported by the Tamil Diaspora did they build better homes, roads,
schools and health facilities for the Tamil people and begs to question why
after 3 decades elements of the Diaspora are so concerned about the living
conditions of their people now?
The
Keppapilau model village is certainly worthy of mention as these are civilians
who were part of those who had been saved by the armed forces in 2009. Their
gratitude is certainly something that needs mention as they have been quick to
realize the political gimmicks of the Tamil National Alliance and desiring to
have nothing to do with them.
As
liberated citizens it is best that these villagers are now left alone to pick
up their lives which was at a standstill for over 30 years – they do not need
politics to complicate their lives even the neighboring nation who are trying
their best to get a foothold in Mullaitivu district realizing that these
civilians are not as easy to persuade as those in the other districts.
As
an onlooker at a donor presentation in the 80 acre Keppapilau Model village in
the Wattappalai area where 165 families have been given a new home, the manner
that NGOs actually function reveals the hypocrisy of their charity movements
globally. Most NGOs maximize on electronic print and media strategies to
promote projects for which there is a large outpouring of funds. The donation
of 100 bikes and cooking utensils was less than one third of the cost that went
towards the travel costs, food, lodging and other logistics need of over 10
donors arriving from overseas! The painstaking truth is that for Third World
nations, natives in need anything is better than nothing whatever amounts is
pocketed as administrative costs by most of these charitable hearts and the
tamashas associated with their charity campaigns.
It
is also a good time for the armed forces to insist that of the 40 perches
gifted to each family 10 perches be allocated to grow some form of agricultural
item as the soil is perfect for such and the military can handle the food
supply chain using its logistics to transport goods to the consumer helping
both farmer and consumer bridge the additional costs profited by the middleman.
It
is with the advent of peace that natural human emotions come to play and just
as the south of Sri Lanka is witnessing many personal tiffs and vendettas, the
jealousies, mistrusts, selfishness is very much prevalent amongst these newly
settled Tamil civilians. With unlimited assistance pouring in a wave of laziness
has also made inroads into a rural society used to hard work. Anyone arriving
in Mullalitivu would experience groups of civilians approach their vehicles
thinking that santa has brought further gifts!
We
are now at a crucial juncture. The reconciliation process must first come from
within the minds translated into actions by the Tamil civilian populace most of
whom have been groomed to hate the Sinhalese whilst not having any contact with
them. Such blind hatred lasting 30 years takes a long time to heal and
certainly not anything that can be achieved over night despite the fact that
the armed forces are showing patience that no other armed forces has done.
The
passion with which members of the armed forces go about their duty stationed in
Mullaitivu from what was observed throughout the district is something that
deserves more credit than they are currently getting. None of their actions are
in any SOP and the manner they patiently deal with the civilians who ask for
sewing machines, new homes, electricity and the like is far better than any
public servant is able to achieve despite years of experience but one that the
public servants need to emulate – for they need to play a greater role in terms
of service delivery. Part of the issues in public sector service delivery is
when officials function outside of their mandate committing errors in decision
making, favoring friends, family or caste and not following the codes laid out
for public servants.
Of
course as onlookers our expectations of gratitude by these Tamil civilians
towards the armed forces is nothing that can be faulted. People should not
disregard or ignore the fears and insecurities of the 74% majority Sinhalese
population too. The Tamil civilians were once either voluntarily or by force
following LTTE orders or assisting LTTE terror activities. It is a factor the
majority Sinhalese is willing to forgive but find hard to forget. While LTTE
has been eliminated these civilians themselves need to be aware that attempts
to separate Sri Lanka is still alive and they need to play a greater role in
terms of assuring that they will not be a party to any future separatist
agendas.
Mullaitivu
is certainly one district that has borne the brunt of terror with LTTE using
its entire area to operate its clandestine terror using its people as
scapegoats. Three years following the LTTE elimination the people have chosen
the wise path towards reconciliation moving alongside the troops clearly saying
no to the separatist political parties still out to destroy the peace that
prevails. Mullaitivu Tamils can certainly show the path to peace and bridge the
North South divide.
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