Transformation of a child soldier to a powerful Chief Minister

by Sarath WIJESINGHE

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“It is absolutely true that there are no permanent enemies in politics anywhere in the world. Saddam once has been a close friend and a confidant of the West. USSR and USA were arch enemies during the cold war. Member states of the European Union were, at one time fighting with one another. Nelson Mandela suffered for 27 years in prison before being pardoned by those who had tortured him.

Sri Lanka was pro west once but today Mahinda has formulated a unique and non-aligned foreign policy for Sri Lanka based on Mahinda Chintana. Today the UNP, the TNA and the JVP are united in the Tenth of July strike. JVP and TNA were arch enemies and so were the JVP and the UNP.

So what is this unholy unity to oust the Government that is successful in winning the so called unwinnable war. According to the world media the death toll on the war is estimated at 70,000 with the 60,000 JVPers killed by the UNP during 88/89.

If by accident in 8 years time - after the two terms of the President- UNP comes to power “God save the JVP” from another massacre which is the common knowledge and fear of the ordinary members.

JVP is taking a big risk and gamble with the lives of ordinary JVP members by joining hands with UNP. 70,000 deaths is a gross exaggeration to please the NGO masters for future funds.

Another NGO master based in Sri Lanka has given an estimate of 240,000 deaths- may be to obtain gunny bags full of dollars and sterling pounds for the maintainance of families and the organisational structure out of the funds allocated to the NGOs in the country. Karuna is back after the long sojourn in the United Kingdom during which period his able assistant transformed into a democrat.

Karuna too is reformed and should be given a place in the democratic world.

President Rajapaksa has on a number of occasions invited him for talks and to enter into the democratic process. TNA is the proxy of the LTTE and an unwilling supporter of terror. To be anti LTTE is a death warrant for them.

Dasaraja Dharama and Pancha Thantra

UNP is a dead force having lost successive elections and the leader has lost control of the party.

The cream of the original party is now serving President Rajapaksa. Most of the able andinfluential ministers in the Mahinda Cabinet are those who voted against and opposed him at the Presidential Election. But Mahinda has few enemies and holds no grudge against any one.

He told me that he was reading “Pancha Chantra” again and again and learning to tame the enemy and also to learn on how to rule the country based on “Dasharaja Dharma” - ten noble principles of rule preached by our nobals.

According to Dasaraja Dharama the citizens should be considered and treated as children and enemies must be respected, understood, reformed and made use of in administration.

What is the moral right of the UNP to organise a strike in July when all the July 80 strikers who agitated for a reasonable pay hike sacked by the UNP. It is a sorry affair that we have short memories.

Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, who was born on 18th August 1975, at Pethalai, Valachchenai Batticaloa, is the second of the family of six and was educated at Pelhalari Vigneswaran and Vipulananda Maha Vidyalaya. He joined the LTTE at the age of 15 (4.4.1990).

Having taken part on attacks including Mullaitivu Army base in 1997, he broke away from the LTTE in 2004 and was appointed deputy leader of the Karuna fraction, after the death of Karuna’s brother Reggie.

For him to rise up so young, so quick, there must have something extra- ordinary in him. He proved his flexibility and sharpness during the election campaign and before and after the swearing in ceremony as the Chief Minister, which is a very powerful position of responsibility.

His behaviour and statements during the critical period of pre- swearing ceremony was long thought of. He won the confidence of all the communities, and the international community. By meeting the prelates of Malwatta and Asgiriya he won confidence and hearts and minds of the majority Buddhist Sinhala community.

Hugging Hisbullah in public appears to be spontaneous, despite various attempts by a section of the media and the opposition to set the two individuals and communities against each other. This incident was witnessed by the nation with great appreciation.

Long way

Chandrakanthan has a long way to go. Every step taken by him in future will have to be careful and well calculated. He lives with eternal death threats and the warrant of the LTTE as in the case of Minister Devananda who too is a leader of an armed group transformed into a democrat.

Both are main targets of the LTTE, which is now on the run confined to a district. LTTE is canvassing international support via its international network and the front organisations.

This is the time our Government missions abroad act hard and fast and active as bee-hives, in the hour of need to crush and flush away the last part of the hard core of the LTTE. For his own survival and to lay the foundation to serve his people the Chief Minister has to fight hand in hand with the security forces to liberate the trapped brethren in the North and give the same freedom enjoyed by the Easterners until more and more Pilliyans are produced in the North too.

Minister Devananda and Chief Minister Pilliyan should draw up a plan of action for democratic North and sell the 13th Amendment to the country and the world. Today South believe the intentions of Devananda and Pillaiyan as mush as they loved and believed Mr Laxman Kadirgamar. It is time to strike when the iron is hot in the name of the suffering brethren in the North and the East. The President has given a free hand to both of them and it is time for them to act fast and quick.

Rice Bowl

New Chief Minister should realise that the popularity will not last long if he does not continue to show statesmanship qualities. He should learn from his new Guru the President who now runs the government with the help of those who worked hard against him during the Presidential Election campaign. Most vociferous critic on cost of living in the opposition during the campaign is defending the President and his economic policies today.

Chandrakanthan has shown maturity and magnanimity at his young age, when he was rigorously trained as a child soldier for so long.

As he is aware of the plight of child soldiers, it is time for him to fight for the rights of children imprisoned by terror groups in Congo, Liberia, Uganda, Kosovo, and India. In Congo there are currently 12500 girl soldiers.

In Liberia by 2003 the number of girl soldiers had increased to 8500 The Lords Resistance Army in Uganda has abducted 6500 girls to fight In India in the North Eastern State of Manipur. There are reportedly 900 to 1000 girls fighting with armed groups.

“Fat Cat NGOs” and a part of the international press are silent on LTTE child soldier recruitments and these atrocities. They can declare to the world that there is not a single child soldier in the entire Eastern province. Now the Chief Minister will be protected by the legitimate armed forces and no longer accused of carrying arms even for protection.

Nelson Mandela

It is not a disrespect or underestimation of Nelson Mandela’s achievements to state that Chandakanthan has done a mini “Nelson Mandalism”, by publicly declaring that he is not concerned with the post of Chief Minister, when he at the risk of his life paved way for democracy for Easterners. In short had Pillayan not opened the floodgate there would not have been an election for others to fight for.

This is the golden opportunity for us to rise above from rubbles when the world is heading for an economic and food crisis in a few months. Our salvation is to grow more food, be industrious, and to be self-sufficient.

East is rich in resources, fertile, and ideal for tourist industry with large wild parks and one of the best natural harbours in the world. East will be playing a main role in this fight for food for all! With natural resources, trained cultivators and a labour force.

We may not be able to import rice in the near future due to adverse world economic conditions and food will be in short supply due to fuel crisis. Food will not be freely exported and would be made use of as a base for energy. In such a situation the farmer in the East will be the most benefited.

Time has come to rise above politics and other differences. The resistance from the LTTE will be minimal with the emerging powerful Chief Minister who is conversant with all corners of the East, and will be a powerful force to fight hand in hand with the Sri Lankan forces to “Flush and Push” the LTTE to extinction.

It is time for the opposition to understand the realities and work hard hand in hand with the government until the North is liberated and returned to normalcy. If the opposition is acting in an irresponsible way it is the duty of ordinary members to press the hierarchy to act with national interest.

Learn from UK

In the United Kingdom Conservative, Labour and Liberals joined hands to pressurise the IRA to lay down arms and to the come to the democratic process. IRA issue was settled successfully by Tony Blair. Today all the signals are that labour is losing power. The main fortress of Labour- London City- was captured by the Conservative without any difficulty.

Churchill lost elections after winning the world war. Therefore the opposition should learn from history and be realistic. Today the government is in power due to the success of war and President’s popularity. When there is no war on terror the government has to divert attention to the economy and development. Honestly today the development is taking place in very difficult circumstances due to war on terror.

It is on the interest of the opposition that they should help to government to end this curse to the nation for which the foundation is laid in the East.

Geographically fertile East is the fertile ground today for a long and lasting solution to the North East issue which has been the only barrier for us to be the best nation in Asia.

Opposition has lot to learn from young Chandrakanthan whose conduct has been exemplary. He shows signs of a great statesman in time to come. It is our duty to groom and guide him in the correct way. He has done the biggest sacrifice by becoming a main target of LTTE for ever by embracing democratic values- at a great risk of his life-.

If we look after Chandrakanthan there will be more and more Pillayans from the North which is a baron land but capable to produce more and more Pillayans politically.Somawansa Group of JVP should not throw stones from glass houses and fish in troubled waters.

How could they oppose Pillayan giving up arms and entering the main democratic process, when JVP at some stage was an armed group carrying out attacks on Maligawa as has been done by the LTTE. Karuna and Pillayan have denounced taking part in many atrocities including attacks on Maligawa.

Nation has forgotten both atrocities and pardoning will depend on the future behaviour of both JVP and Pillayan.

JVP should handle Pillayan’s matter carefully. It is a double edged sward for them.

Pillayan is already showing better statesmanship and magnanimity than the JVP already.

There is a word of warning for all in this decisive and crucial moment.

Places there should not be cat and mouse games any longer. Neither Pillayan nor the government should use each other for petite political gains.

There is no more time to spare at this juncture for political gains and the time is running out fast. If this opportunity is lost there may not be another opportunity for decades before further destruction to property and lives.