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| Sunday, 29 May 2005 |
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Why so coy about Tiger crime? Light Refractions by Lucien Rajakarunanayake Putting the recent theatricals of Aturaliye Ratana Thera aside, one was struck by last week's statement by Human Rights Watch, which clearly said that countries and organisations that pledged considerable funds for tsunami relief to Sri Lanka did not bother to take note of the rise in crime in the country and "did not demand an end to the political killings and abductions".
It went further to state: "Norway, the facilitator of the ceasefire agreement, and other key States, such as Japan, the United States and the United Kingdom have also chosen not to use their leverage to demand an end to the killings." This made me clarify with those countries about their silence regarding the violence in Sri Lanka and the observation that the LTTE was responsible for most of 200 killings and over 2000 violations of the Ceasefire Agreement. My first call was to Jack Straw, the re-appointed Foreign Secretary of the UK after Labour's humiliating return for a third term. "Is that Mr. Straw?" "Why, yes it is. What's it about." "Why are you so silent about the rise in violence in Sri Lanka?" "Damn it, I did issue a strong statement against the violence and abuse of human rights in Uzbekistan, isn't that enough?" "No but this is Sri Lanka. It is not in the post Soviet rim, not are there any US bases here. Why haven't you condemned the terror of the Tigers, with their being banned in the UK too?" "Look we've got enough problems to bother about now, having just a 67 seat majority in the Commons. I don't think the Prime Minister will have the time to address his mind to Sri Lanka or wherever it is, especially problems of Human or Tiger Rights over there. My suggestion is that you had better sit out the violence" and down went the phone. I next called the German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, reaching him just after the rout of his SPD after 39 years in the populous region of North-Rhine Westphalia. "What do you mean Tiger violence in Sri Lanka? I've got a much bigger problem on my hands. There is a new iron maiden or someone who may lead the Christian Democrats when I call for an early election. Isn't that enough trouble for me, without having to think of Tigers over there?" "But your country has pledged so much of aid for tsunami relief here, even in Tiger held territory, so why not even a comment about the behaviour of the Human Rights violations of the Tigers here?" "Look you are not talking of the near extinct Bengal Tigers, are you?" "No these are the Sri Lankan Tigers, surely you must have had briefings about them. Suicide bombers etc?" "Yes, yes, I do recall. Violating the ceasefire and such things. But I thought Norway was looking after all that, so why bother me. Anyway, what's that violence when one reads happens in Iraq daily? Now don't tell Bush I told you that. I think you will have to raise this Tiger problem with the Christian Democrats when they are elected. I'm sure the "Iron Maiden" will be able to handle any Tiger." "What about the aid you pledged?" "Ah, that will come in good time when there are peaceful conditions." I crossed over to the East and called Yasushi Akashi in Tokyo. He had just finished tea with his JVP guests. "Hullo, hullo, Sri Lanka, happy to hear from you. What is it? Has there been progress on the joint mechanism?" "I am calling to ask why Japan, being one of the biggest donors have not condemned the violence by the LTTE? "Oh, that is a good question, but one must tread softly with Tigers. We do not think raising such issues can help." "So do you condone or wish to ignore all the LTTE violations of the ceasefire. What about child recruitment?" "Very bad no doubt. We don't condone. But we don't want to make a public issue of it. We think if we do so the Tigers may lose face?" "What do you mean lose face? Feel embarrassed? "That's right. We Japanese place a lot of importance in not making anyone lose face. When they lose face they can't or won't negotiate." "Don't you think the Tigers have enough things to be embarrassed about, if they are the type to be embarrassed?" "I have many years of experience in diplomacy and I believe in not making either side lose face. I told that to the JVP members too. They smiled when I said that. I was surprised." I realised he was doing his usual act of diplomacy and hung up on him. I dialled Washington next and reached Condoleeza Rice, who had already sent Richard Armitage down the flush. "Sri Lanka is it, has your rice crop failed?" "No, we have a bumper crop this year "Then why call me? I'm not the one for garment quotas." "Just to know why the USA does not use its leverage to get the LTTE to stop its terrorism and violence?" "Well we've banned them, and our diplomats don't visit them at that Killy some place. Isn't that enough?" "It's just that you've pledged a lot of aid for tsunami relief, for LTTE held areas, but have not insisted on the LTTE stopping violence and respecting Human Rights if they are to get this aid. Why not? "Look, we've pledged the aid. That's good, ain't it? But listen, Human Rights is a bad word here just now, although we're fighting a war against terrorism. Shall we stop at that?" Click. I kept remembering Kofi Annan's words about not believing in getting all the aid that's pledged by these people. In any event there seemed to be a conspiracy between the Tigers and these donors to ensure that the money does not come here, not to Sri Lanka and not directly to the Tigers, too. That's my guess to sleep over.
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