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| Sunday, 25 September 2005 |
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TNA unable to make independent judgement of LTTE Tigers must take rap for CFA violations by Ranga Jayasuriya The New York Declaration of the donor Co-Chairs is indicative that the international community could no longer be bought by the LTTE's regular denials of its involvement in routine violence. The Declaration is a stern rebuff to the LTTE's repeated insistence of innocence for killings which bore all the hallmarks of the Tigers. It also indicates a growing frustration and loss of patience of the international community at the LTTE's manifested lack of commitment to the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA). Killing of Foreign Minister The Declaration was implicit in condemning the killing of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar. "This unconscionable act of terrorism casts profound doubt on the commitment of those responsible to a peaceful and political resolution of the conflict". Of course, it did not name the Tigers as the perpetrators of the killing of the Foreign Minister, but the very next sentence has sent a stern message to the Tigers to rehabilitate themselves. Co-Chairs The Declaration reads as: "The Co-Chairs call on the LTTE to take immediate public steps to demonstrate their commitment to the peace process and their willingness to change. An immediate end to political assassinations by the LTTE and an end to LTTE recruitment of child soldiers are two such steps". The co-chairs of the Tokyo Donor Conference- United States, Norway, European Union and Japan - met in New York in an "extraordinary" meeting which was summoned by Norway to discuss the deteriorating situation of the CFA. By summoning the meeting, Norway has displayed that it could turn to the international community for assistance and motivation, if the need arises, especially, when its lack of financial and military muscle could weaken its role as a facilitator and threaten the peace process. The meeting, indeed, came after the government and LTTE failed to agree on a venue to discuss the review of the truce agreement - the co-chairs also expressed disappointment at the LTTE for not agreeing to a common venue with the government. The meeting itself was a diplomatic boost to Norway which is under fire in Sri Lanka for its inability to contain ceasefire violations committed by the LTTE. (The dilemma of Norway is understandable in carrying out responsibilities of its dual role, i.e. peace facilitation and the implementation of the ceasefire. That, indeed, leads to conflict of interests which have hindered the Norwegians effectively carrying out their responsibilities) Government restraint As for the government, the Co-Chairs commended the restraint exercised by the government in the aftermath of the killing of the Foreign Minister. But, there is one important point in the declaration that the government needs to issue a clarification. That is about the disarmament of paramilitary groups. "The Co-Chairs deplore the activities of paramilitary groups, which fuel the cycle of violence and unrest. The Co-Chairs underscore the responsibility of the Sri Lankan government under the Ceasefire Agreement to disarm or relocate these groups from the north and east". Para military groups Para military groups have long been disarmed by the government under article 1.8 of the CFA which envisaged their disarmament within 30 days from D Day. What the Co-Chairs are referring to is not para-military groups, but members of the breakaway LTTE group, the Karuna faction. Of course, Karuna loyalists act in government controlled areas in the East as well as certain pockets of remote corners claimed by both parties to the CFA. What now composes the Karuna faction are hard-core Eastern LTTE cadres who were close associates of the former Eastern Commander. Given their knowledge of local conditions and military training, it is hard to suggest security forces could deter every attack by Karuna loyalists on mainstream LTTE cadres. Indeed, for over 18 months, the LTTE has tried to crush the Karuna faction, but in vain. Now the Tigers want the security forces to do it for them. The Security Forces have in the past arrested Karuna cadres - one such figure was Sachi Master, a leading figure of the Karuna Faction, who was later killed by an LTTE cadre in the Batticaloa prisons. But, this is a dangerous business for the security forces if it over concentrates in hunting the Karuna faction. This could open another war front. Equally important, membership of the Karuna faction, like that of membership of the LTTE is not an offence. Karuna loyalists could be apprehended only if they are found with weapons. Security Forces The Security Forces may have a degree of sympathy for renegade rebels. But, it is equally clear that the Security Forces have not collaborated with the Karuna faction. Even if the local commanders wish to exploit the opportunities offered by the split of the LTTE, thw political leadership is averse to it. The Karuna faction acts on its own and it is hard to expect that they would surrender arms simply because the government - or the co-chairs - want them to do so. Karuna faction Should the Karuna faction surrender arms without a clear security guarantee from the Tigers, of which implementation should be monitored by the international community, it is hard to expect anything different from the fate of the politico-military Tamil groups which disarmed under the CFA, only to be murdered by LTTE pistol men, would befall disarmed Karuna cadres. Over one hundred none-LTTE Tamil political activists are killed by the Tigers during the ceasefire. LTTE proxy Tamil National Alliance, on Thursday issued a statement in which also the disarmament of para-military forces was insisted. "...In the meantime, the disarming of paramilitary forces as mandated by the Article 1.8 of the CFA by the GOSL did not take place. On the contrary, the Sri Lankan armed forces have been protecting and promoting new paramilitary forces. This has resulted in killings and grave incidents that are seriously jeopardizing the CFA. These incidents continue to date". What the TNA leader should be reminded of is that the para-military forces were disarmed within the envisaged time line, i.e. within 30 days since the D Day and that was after all not a big issue at that time. Not even the LTTE raised it. Disarmed EPDP, PLOTE, EPRLF (Varathan group) and TELO handed over their weapons. (They were the weapons provided to them by the government due to the threat posed by the LTTE). What has happened after Karuna's split from the mainstream LTTE is a different story. Karuna's cadres are not a para-military force. But, it was long before Karuna's break up, that LTTE pistol men infiltrated government controlled areas hunting military intelligence operatives and none-LTTE Tamil political activists. It was this conduct of the LTTE which inflicted the entire peace process with suspicion. Bitter truth about the TNA, like many other LTTE front organisations is its inability to make an independent judgement of the LTTE's commitment to the CFA. Rhetoric In this context, rhetoric like the statement which was issued on Thursday - there it warned that Tamil people will be forced to urge the International community to explicitly endorse the Tamil people's struggle for self-determination, if the Sri Lankan State continues to be intransigent in resolving the Tamil National question- would only help widening the existing gap. The inability of the moderate Tamil political parties and the Tamil polity at large to force the Tigers to a reasonable compromise, sort of a win-win solution with the Sri Lankan State, is indeed one reason that has perpetuated their suffering and suffering of an entire nation. |
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