EU - the ban in perspective

The European Union ban on the LTTE is now all but accomplished. This is a credible ban coming after months if not years of quiet deliberation and debate.

The EU's action therefore places a stamp of legitimacy on the previous ban on the LTTE by other international players, notably the Americans who can be gung-ho in their decision making, and sometimes, arguably tactless in their follow-through. None could make the same charge hold against the European Union which represents and agglomeration of nation states, and as a result, a collective and indubitably respectable source of opinion.

But it's reasonably clear that the Sri Lankan government will sue for peace, EU ban notwithstanding. That is the way to go for more reason than one. Already, Anton Balasingham has made himself heard and his reaction is not earth shattering, being predictably issued in the now regulation LTTE press release style.

Says he that the EU ban could diminish the possibilities for peace as it would be alienating to the LTTE to be called 'terrorist.' The lingo dealing with 'alienation' may have been borrowed from the most recent NGO tract from the NGO nearest to Balasingham, but it is clear the LTTE now has to come up with new ideas.

Down though the LTTE may be, it is not out, but its image is now so battered internationally that as an organisation its options are decidedly on the wane.

This would tempt the Sri Lankan South to gloat - and some southerners appear to have done so already, but happily, only in very certain circumscribed quarters.

But, the EU ban fundamentally proves one thing, which is that the Sri Lankan government is winning the war for opinions. In reports and dossiers emanating from all quarters, the LTTE finds itself being depicted as the provocateur, with a distinctly terrorist bent.

It's apposite to notify the EU at this juncture, that Sri Lankan government statements need to be treated with a greater measure of respect in the future, as there is credibility attached to the state's views.

It's a case of "we told you so a long time ago." But, the EU learnt of the Tiger's ways from its own experience, and almost in a vicarious way. Bombings in London showed the face of LTTE terrorism to the EU's technocratic ruling elite, which had previously seen terrorism as being a froth that spouted from Third World propaganda exhausts.

But, it seems to have taken a final shove from the United Sates, to get EU mandarins to buckle down to the real work of banning the LTTE with tangible measures such as a freeze on funds and accounts, coupled with a call to all EU member states to combat the LTTE contagion within the EU's geographical borders.

Child recruitment has been referred to as a war crime in the EU resolution, and that type of pariah badge is difficult to earn, unless any organisation sets itself totally and irrevocably beyond the pale.

The LTTE's stripes have been earned, as it had done precisely that - placed itself beyond the pale by flouting all accepted UN resolutions on matters relating to combat, prisoners of war and the like.

"The more the international community alienates the LTTE, the more the LTTE will be compelled to tread a hardline individualist path," Mr. Balasingham, the LTTE's primary conduit to international opinion, has already opined.

He goes on saying that 'emboldened by international support, and especially by further proscriptions of the LTTE, the Sinhala hardline elements will undoubtedly take steps to further escalate the violence and precipitate a war in which they hope to destroy the LTTE.

If this happens, the LTTE will be compelled to resist." Do you discern in those words, the contours of the immediate and palpable LTTE strategy? One thing the LTTE has achieved in its manic drive for the international spotlight, is to expose for continued periods of time, its finer strategy. As a result its manoeuvring is now entirely predictable to the point of being utterly uninspiring, even to converts.

When Balasingham says the 'Sinhala hardline elements are bound to take steps to escalate violence' he is enunciating his fondest wish, and that of his leader.

If the LTTE acts archly having set itself upon one course of action, it's by now clear that the best available strategy for any Sri Lankan government is to carry out the exact opposite of what the LTTE desires.

That's the assured way of thwarting the LTTE design, and therefore, it should be written down as being axiomatic.

This is why we refer you the reader to the beginning of this Comment, which took the view that the EU ban should not detract from the Sri Lankan resolve to sue for peace, which is exactly the course of action that the LTTE doesn't want the GOSL to take.

But, the LTTE is the known quantity now. The known devil, we know from aphorism, is always the easier one to deal with.

That stable door...

No Sri Lankan institution of higher learning, says the learned Susil Premjayantha, comes within Asia's top hundred, and we are already mentally transported to the 'assa vidyalaya' days.

Was it an ill-portend, the early association of the nascent Sri Lankan seats of higher learning with the Racecourse, which earned them the easy moniker "assa vidyala?'' Seems, the race had been lost, the horse had bolted - and universities are now more a parade ground for rebellion and dissent than for erudition. On top of that we have the Hooles of this country deserting their posts.

To put it so it does not injure any sensitivities, the groves of academia professor Hoole chose were not exactly suited for purposes of cerebral pursuit. 'Learn or depart', Mr Ranil Wickremesighe, has now been transformed into teach or depart....(or else..)