Deproscription

The leader of the so-called political wing of the LTTE, S. P. Tamil Chelvam, has once again called upon the Sri Lankan government to lift the ban on the LTTE. He has said that with the ban on they cannot enter any dialogue as a ‘legitimate’ organisation. As for this question of legitimacy, what Mr. Tamil Chelvam must be reminded of is that the LTTE was never a legitimate outfit. It has from the inception been a death-dealing terror group which is feared not respected for its dastardly crimes against humanity.

The ulterior motive of the LTTE in agreeing to talks with the government is clear. It is trying to have the ban lifted in Sri Lanka so as to flaunt deproscription in other countries with a view to softening the hard stand they have taken on LTTE terrorism. As we pointed out the other day quoting the New Zealand Herald editorial, the LTTE has become an international pariah.

It may be argued that in those countries the LTTE has been banned for different reasons in keeping with their laws and as such lifting of the ban in Sri Lanka will not have any bearing on the bans in force there.

But given its massive lobbying power and the misplaced liberal values of the West where a plethora of terrorist groups have found refuge, deproscription here is very likely to stand the LTTE in good stead abroad in its ‘don’t-ban-us’ campaign.

Nevertheless, the LTTE is playing its cards very well. It has already got more than it should in return for its unilateral truce, which hasn’t cost it anything. The government has not only reciprocated but also lifted restrictions on commodities that could be used by the LTTE for combative purposes and reduced barricades to a bare minimum in the city and towns. It has done so at a tremendous risk. The LTTE has not deactivated its sleeper cells in the city nor has it recalled its suicide cadres detailed to assassinate VVIPs. As is our experience, the LTTE replenishes its stocks and retrains its cadres during talks and then scuttles the negotiations.

On top of all this the LTTE demands deproscription. What the LTTE has to bear in mind is that it does no favour to the government by agreeing to negotiate. It is more in its own interest to do so given the growing anti terror feelings of the world as evident from the global anti terror drive led by the US. How futile the LTTE’s war for separation is can be seen from the position taken up by the US and other powerful nations on Sri Lanka’s problem. The US has said in no uncertain terms that Eelam is possible only on a dead planet. The LTTE has reached the plateau of its struggle having achieved nothing by way of a separate state. Sustaining its terrorist war with funds drying up in the West and increasing resistance from within the Tamil community to forcible conscription of children for war is no doubt a Sisyphean task.

Blunders of the past governments may have misled the LTTE into belief that it can have its ways during talks. President Premadasa bent backwards and showered ‘bribes’ on the Tigers to keep them engaged in talks. President Kumaratunga acceded to most of its demands. But talks with the terrorists never succeeded.

Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris has said that there will be ‘no immediate de-banning of the LTTE.’ This is not enough. The Tigers must be told very firmly that deproscription is possible only on three conditions. They are: Giving up terrorism, Renouncing Eelam and Decommissioning its weapons.

Let Tamil Chelvam, other terrorists and their apologists cry themselves hoarse demanding deproscription until these conditions are fulfilled.

Your comments to the Editor