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By Ranjit J. PereraThe
Government and the LTTE are getting ready for a second round of peace
talks. LTTE’s Chief Negotiator, Anton Balasingham arrived in Sri Lanka
aboard a Sri Lankan Airlines flight and was whisked to an undisclosed
location in the Wanni aboard a Sri Lanka Air Force Helicopter on Tuesday. The
visit seems to indicate that the peace process is very much on track and
that the confidence between the two sides has not been damaged
significantly following the past week’s disturbances in the East which
left ten dead and nearly fifty injured. The
Ceasefire Agreement between the Government and the LTTE is all about
confidence building. At the outset it says, “the
Parties have agreed to enter into a ceasefire, refrain from conduct that
could undermine the good intentions or violate the spirit of this
Agreement and implement confidence-building measures as indicated in the
articles below.” The
Government has been consistent in not just implementing the provisions as
laid down but in keeping to the spirit of the Agreement. Opening up the
A9, allowing LTTE cadres into government territory, disarming Tamil
paramilitary groups and allowing the safe movement of LTTE cadres between
Batticaloa and the Wanni both by land and sea are all measures aimed at
building confidence and de-escalating the conflict. The Government has
also expedited the release of several schools and other public buildings
occupied by the security forces. For the second time facilities have been
provided for the visit of LTTE Chief Negotiator Anton Balasingham to the
Wanni. Significantly, the ban on the LTTE was lifted before the first
round of talks in Sattahip. The
LTTE however needs to reassess its compliance with the Agreement and
consider whether some of the accusations made against it are still valid. Although
the A9 and other roads were opened giving access by road between
Government and LTTE held areas, the LTTE’s system of taxation is quite
contrary to Article 2.6 in the Agreement: “The Parties agree to ensure
the unimpeded flow of non-military goods to and from the LTTE-dominated
areas with the exception of certain items as shown in Annex A. Quantities
shall be determined by market demand. The GOSL shall regularly review the
matter with the aim of gradually removing any remaining restrictions on
non-military goods.” Within
days of the Ceasefire Agreement being signed the LTTE began its Pongu
Thamil Celebrations. The first was held in Vavuniya with 50,000
people in attendance. Then in Batticaloa and again in Jaffna at which an
estimated 80,000 people were present. The eelamnation website reports, “People
raised slogans urging the government to recognize the Thamil people as a
distinct nation, the right to self-determination of Thamil people and the
lifting of ban on the LTTE.” Pictures of the events show huge billboards
with a map of Eelam showing two-thirds of Sri Lanka’s coastline and
one-third of its land area and a picture of LTTE leader Velupillai
Prabhakaran. “The
maps of the so-called Tamil homeland that have been displayed in the Pongu
Thamil celebrations have naturally created a sense of deep foreboding. So
also the proclamation of Trincomalee as the capital city of the Tamil
Eelam, a concept from which the LTTE has time and again indicated a
willingness to back down from in return for a viable alternative,” The
Island recorded in its Editorial of March 24, 2002. Another show at which these maps were
prominent was at Killinochchi on October 10. This is how it was reported
in the Sunday Times of October 13: (Quote) “Last
Thursday, a crowd of nearly 40,000 thronged a venue in Wanni where the
LTTE put up a show of strength by parading its armed female cadres to mark
the Tamil Women's Day. The Sea Tiger "Commander" Soosai was the
Chief Guest. What he told the gathering is reported in
the Tamilnet, the website that reports accurately on LTTE matters. This is
what he said: Our
armed forces have fought for achieving our homeland, respect for our
nationality and self-rule. It is important that we continue to modernise
and strengthen our armed forces until we achieve our goals. You
may ask us why we should hold military parades like what you saw today in
this atmosphere of peace. It is the strength of our armed forces that have
helped to achieve the peace that all are enjoying now. Sinhala
people must understand that our armed forces are only for protecting our
own people. They are not meant to conquer other or take other people's
territories. Our armed forces are not a threat to anyone. The LTTE's priorities are stated clearly.
Soosai makes no secret that the Tiger guerrillas have to "modernise
and strengthen our armed forces until we achieve our goals." What
of the UNF Government ? It has embarked on programmes to train troops for
peace-keeping operations in other parts of the world. Like the defence
reforms, the priorities seem to be misplaced. Or, are there any priorities
at all?” (End quote) Obviously
the confidence is eroding. The mob attacks on the Point Pedro Army Camp
and the Kanchirankudah STF Camp are certainly not confidence building
measures by the LTTE. The incident in June where grenade attacks killed
Muslim civilians in Valachchenai was the beginning of a widening rift
between the Tamil and Muslim communities in the East. The
abduction of seven soldiers hard on the heels of a prisoner exchange where
the LTTE released seven others kept in captivity for several years (and
where 13 LTTE cadres were released) raised serious questions about the
LTTE’s intentions. It was not even clear whether the LTTE which claims
to be the sole representatives of the Tamil community, were in control of
their own members. The seven soldiers were released only after two LTTE
members arrested by the Police for carrying arms in a
government-controlled area were released on bail. Soosai
is reported saying, "Sinhala people must understand that our armed
forces are only for protecting our own people. They are not meant to
conquer other or take other people's territories. Our armed forces are not
a threat to anyone." But
the LTTE should seriously consider whether it has in the past months, refrained
from conduct that could undermine the good intentions or violate the
spirit of the Ceasefire Agreement and implemented confidence-building
measures as indicated therein. As the Head of the Scandinavian
Monitoring Mission, Major General Trond Furuhovde
said this week, “The LTTE has to take responsibility, demonstrate care
for their people and respect democratic values.”
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