Central Bank bomb blast:
Remembering that fateful day 18 years ago
By Shirajiv SIRIMANE
The popular television show ‘Ata Pattama’ recently featured Vietnam
and the infamous ‘Chu Chu’ tunnels and described how the Vietnamese dug
underground tunnels to travel over 100 kilometres in a bid to fight the
Americans who had invaded their country.
It showed the Vietnamese soldiers on bicycles and fighting the
‘mighty’ strength of the invading forces who retaliated with carpet
bombings and other internationally banned modes of weaponry.
Other than a few critical media reports, no human rights violation
investigations were initiated by the United Nations, Britain or any
other party.
Leaders of Iraq and Libya, Saddam Hussain and Mohamed Kaddafi were
labelled as terrorists and invasions were made and justified against
these two countries, resulting in the killing of scores of innocent
civilians in remote villages, including women, elders and children who
did not even have the strength to hold a gun. Other than a few critical
media reports, no human rights violation investigations were initiated
by the United Nations, Britain or any other party.
Almost every week, one reads of US helicopters bombarding Afghanistan
and Pakistan, killing innocent civilians in remote villages. Other than
a few critical media reports, no human rights violation investigations
were initiated by the United Nations, Britain or any other party.
Back home, LTTE terrorists used claymore mines, bombs, swords and
knives to chop to death innocent civilians in remote villages including
women, elders and children. To write about such brutalities committed by
the LTTE against their own brothers and sisters, the pages of the Sunday
Observer are not enough.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa, very effectively captured the situation,
when he said in a recent interview: “For others it was news, for us it
was agony”.
Governor Central Bank Ajith Nivard Cabraal and staff commemorate
the fateful day 18 years ago |
Eighteen years ago, the LTTE, with the intention of destroying Sri
Lanka's economy and to trigger a retaliatory attack on Tamil civilians,
drove an explosives-laden truck to the Central Bank and exploded it,
killing scores of civilians and injuring thousands, and also causing
millions worth of property damage.
January 31, 2014 marked the 18th anniversary of this dark day and the
Central Bank held a commemoration ceremony. Governor of the Central
Bank, Ajith Nivard Cabraal recalled the physical damage that was caused
to the economy and the well-being of the people and the impact it had on
the Sri Lankan economy.
He also praised the maturity and calmness of Sri Lankans in reacting
to the terrible tragedy.
The immediate response of the Central Bank in the aftermath was
discharging its responsibilities, particularly the payment of local and
foreign debt due on that date.
“The next step was rebuilding the Central Bank in the face of the
destruction and the ‘arising’ of the Central Bank from the ashes of
destruction.”
From 1996 to 2009
Recalling the 13 years from 1996 to 2009, Cabraal recalled the many
failed attempts of realising peace through negotiations with terrorists,
which were not accepted by the LTTE. “Terrorism ravaged the country and
the massive economic cost along with the incalculable loss in human
lives cannot be calculated nor valued.”
During the time, what irked most Sri Lankans was that many countries
were turning a blind eye to open fund raising by terrorist-backed
groups, the diaspora and NGOs, which helped fund the terrorist
activities.
“Sri Lankans experience anguish even today in seeing terrorist
supporters openly having safe havens in many countries, and sometimes
even enjoying such states’ political patronage.”
In the backdrop of all this, it is unfortunate that the heroic
efforts of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces to rid the country of terrorism
and the brave political leadership in the well co-ordinated effort to
deal with terrorism decisively, even while there were covert and overt
support for terrorism in Sri Lanka from unexpected quarters are not
being appreciated by some.
From 2009 to date
The CB Governor recalled that the end of terrorism marked the
biggest-ever hostage rescue mission in the history of the world where
around 300,000 civilians who were held hostage by the LTTE were rescued
in the first half of 2009 and brought to safety.
These persons suffered untold misery, being driven from different
parts of the Northern Province to the eastern coast of the Northern
Province by a brutal terrorist leader. However, due to the valiant
efforts of the Sri Lankan Forces, these persons were rescued and cared
for. In this regard, it must be noted that as soon as various LTTE
flanks that were holding these civilian hostages were breached by the
Sri Lankan Forces, the civilian hostages moved en masse towards the
Armed Forces, thereby unambiguously confirming that they viewed the
Armed Forces of Sri Lanka, not as their aggressors, but as their
saviours.
In a bid to bring back normality, the Sri Lanka authorities de-mined
thousands of square kilometres of land, and removed about 1,000,000
explosive devices before the resettlement of the rescued civilians could
take place.
At that time, many in the international community believed that this
de-mining operation would take more than 10 years to be concluded.
However, the Sri Lankan authorities and Armed forces, assisted by
several international agencies, were able to substantially complete this
massive task in less than three years, thereby paving the way for the
civilians to be resettled in their own homes and villages in no time.
Resettling civilians
The huge task of resettling the civilians, who had been rescued and
accommodated in temporary villages with basic comforts, was successfully
carried out by the Sri Lankan authorities.
"Here too, many international observers were of the view that Sri
Lanka would perhaps take more than 10 years to complete resettlement.
However, within three years, almost all 300,000 civilians have been
resettled in their homes, according to UN standards."
A massive rebuilding effort was carried out immediately after the end
of the operation, to rebuild, restore, and enhance the infrastructure
that had been damaged and/or destroyed.
"Today, these areas enjoy levels of infrastructure which is not
second to that in any other part of the country. The massive public
investment that was needed for this purpose was generously provided by
the Government, over three billion US dollars in within four years."
"About 12,000 ex-LTTE cadre who have been responsible for murders,
bombings, kidnappings, extortion and other crimes and who were under
arrest, and in the custody of the Government, together with over 500
child soldiers who were rescued from the clutches of the LTTE, were
rehabilitated within a short period of time and set free, and allowed to
reintegrate with society."
This gesture is one that is unprecedented after a major conflict, and
is completely contrary to what has taken place in wars where Western
powers had been involved, where "enemy" combatants had almost always
been incarcerated, hunted down mercilessly, or sentenced to death or
life imprisonment," he said.
"This unprecedented gesture of releasing ex-combatants was one that
was highly sensitive and risky, because the danger of a recurrence of
violence was always a possibility."
Perhaps as a consequence, not a single incident involving terrorism
has occurred in the Northern Province or any other part of the country
since terrorism ended in May 2009.
"This outcome is a compelling lesson for the so-called "victors" of
other wars, particularly in Iraq, Libya, and Afghanistan where many
years after their war "victories", fresh acts of violence, bombings and
horror continue each day, and affect the people of those nations."
Together with the restoration of normality and the emergence of
conditions that provided space for political dialogue and discussion,
the Sri Lankan authorities conducted Presidential and Parliamentary
elections, Local Government elections and Provincial Council elections
in the affected areas.
Restoration of infrastructure
The restoration of the infrastructure as well as banking and other
financial services enabled the people to establish their livelihood
opportunities.
Today, the economic growth that had been experienced in these areas
is nothing short of incredible. Sri Lanka established a Lessons Learnt
and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC), within just one year after the end
of terrorism, which was much quicker than the time it took South Africa
to establish its own Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Unfortunately, there is now a huge effort by certain countries where
the Tamil Diaspora is present and active, to turn the 'victim' into the
'accused'.
These propaganda and political efforts are supported and funded by
those who earlier funded terrorism and the obvious double standards that
are being applied by certain countries unabashedly, is clearly unhelpful
to the sustenance of a lasting peace in Sri Lanka."
The millions who suffered and who are today enjoying normal lives
must make their voices heard. The new responsibility of all Sri Lankans
must be to convey the message that Sri Lanka has the means and the
intention to resolve its own issues in a lasting and sustainable manner,
Cabraal said.
All Sri Lankans have to meet this fresh challenge, by creating
awareness in all parts of the world and among the countries who are
truly friendly towards Sri Lanka, as well as in the few countries whose
political leaders have chosen to be hostile mainly due to the intense
propaganda and political work of the Tamil Diaspora."
"Sri Lanka must do all it takes to ensure that this type of tragedy
and the events that led to such a situation never occur again."
Sri Lankans must forgive, but never forget those who encouraged,
trained, funded and supported the tragedies in Sri Lanka. |