Moves for peace or war?

The decision to lift the restrictions placed on the embargo of certain items that could be used by terrorists and the announcements by the government and the LTTE that they are willing to sit down for talks to bring about a negotiated settlement to the conflict in the north and east will be welcomed by peace lobbies here and abroad, foreign powers and organisations. It will be strongly opposed by many Sri Lankans, who, too want peace but do not believe in the peaceful intentions of the terrorist organisation for very valid reasons.

The LTTE for over a year has been proposing a ceasefire and peace negotiations which were interpreted by many analysts as a means to subvert international opinion now strongly against all forms of terrorism. Yesterday’s report that a Norwegian delegation will meet the LTTE representative Anton Balasingham in London today to facilitate negotiations is proof that the LTTE is subverting the ban placed on it as a terrorist organisation by the British government. How a legally proscribed organisation is able to hold talks with representatives of a foreign organisation in the glare of international publicity cannot be reasoned out even by stretching the interpretation of British laws on terrorism to the utmost.

The British have adopted a wishy- washy attitude towards this terrorist organisation and last year despite the proscription, permitted Anton Balasingham to address a pro-LTTE organisation in London in the manner of a representative of a sovereign government. Now why does the Norwegian delegation have to meet the LTTE in London? It does make mockery of the British proscription. Why could not Balasingham travel to Norway for talks there? He has had no difficulties in travelling abroad circumventing legal travel procedures of many nations. He disappeared from the Wanni jungles and surfaced in Oslo for a kidney transplant, courtesy the Norwegian government.

In one move, the LTTE has struck a significant blow against its proscription as an international terrorist organisation by western powers. It has thwarted other countries that are to proscribe it under the recently adopted UN laws against international terrorism. The LTTE lobbies, such as the Council of Christian Churches, will be hard at work pointing out that negotiations are now on between the Sri Lanka government and the LTTE and therefore any proposed proscription will only hinder negotiations. The Sri Lanka government will also not be able to carry on its campaign for proscription of the LTTE in the fear of jeopardising the negotiations.

It can be argued that the countries that have proscribed the LTTE under their anti-terrorist laws have done so because of evidence that this organisation poses a credible threat to their national security. But with the relaxation of regulations against terrorism here and imminent talks, much wind would be taken off the sails for initiating action against this terrorist organisation.

The UNP government can argue that the moves made by them were necessary to begin negotiations directed towards peace. In doing so, did they have any positive evidence of the LTTE’s desire for peace or went ahead blindly trusting that the LTTE is prepared to give up its demand for a separate state and wants peace? Quite contrary to LTTE’s desire for peace, there are reports that they in recent weeks smuggled in a shipload of armaments off the east coast. The Defence Ministry has made no denial of the report published in the Sunday edition of The Island that the air force reported to the navy that the arms smuggling operations were on but the latter failed to respond. The new Minister of Defence, Mr. Tilak Marapone, should call for an investigation on this report. There are many unanswered questions. Why didn’t the air force itself go into action? What was the reason for the navy to stay put. And what was the Joint Operations Command doing? What has the Chief of Defence Staff, the celebrated Lt. Gen. Rohan Daluwatte, been doing? Let not history repeat itself, so soon. The new government should provide clear answers to questions raised on this issue.

The issue of Norwegian mediation should also be considered. The Norwegian government has shown itself to be very partial towards the LTTE and this was the reason why their mediation efforts made earlier failed. The LTTE is very much desirous of having the Norwegians in and the TULF, which is now clearly another front for the LTTE, makes no bones about their appreciation of the Norwegians. The question is whether the Norwegians are needed to kick-start these talks. Already the government and the LTTE have agreed to talk and is there any need for a ‘facilitator’ to begin talks?

Is this facilitation an on-going process or is there a point where facilitation ends and mediation begins?

The new government of Mr. Ranil Wickremasinghe has accepted the ceasefire offered by the LTTE, agreed to talks with Norwegian mediation and lifted restrictions on the embargo of goods to the LTTE-held areas. Has the LTTE reciprocated in any tangible terms?

Considering the hostile environment to international terrorism, it is very likely that the LTTE will hope to drag on negotiations for years while building up their depleted child- power and armoury till they are able to give a hiding to our armed forces.

If the government is determined to go ahead with negotiations let it not drop its guard internationally or in the battlefield.

Let it not be as na•ve as previous UNP and PA governments were.

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