States of the union and the Lankan disunion

By Susantha Goonatilake

And two leaders, Mr. Bush in the US and Mr. Wickremesinghe in Sri Lanka, address their respective parliaments spelling out the states of their countries. 

Bush also addressed the US Congress immediately after September 11. Our then leaders did not address ours when we were hit by our own "September 11" — the attack on the airport or when the Dalada Maligawa or the Sri Maha Bodhi came under attack.

In his latest address, Mr. Bush said, "We are at war, and in recession" and then to a thunderous applause "but we have never been stronger." 

"Our cause is just," he says to further ovation, meaning the just defence of his country. 

First priority, says Mr. Bush, is the security of the nation, the second to protect its homelands and only third, the economy. "Whatever it takes to defend our country we will pay," he says. Not strange, Britain's Churchill, with his back to the wall, said "we will fight on the beaches and will never surrender. "Price of indifference is catastrophe," Mr. Bush emphasizes. 

"Some governments are timid," he says. He promises funding for internal security and increased intelligence. He warns "those who send persons on missions of suicide". He wants to track arrivals to the US and will depend on the "eyes and ears of citizens" to get at the suicide missions. He says again to big applause "Enemies believed our country was weak; they were wrong." 

"We must pursue them wherever they are," Mr. Bush exclaims. 

Mr. Wickremesinghe on his part said — speaking "honestly and courageously" — that a solution to the war "will be through international opinion." International opinion "compels us", he adds. "Only then could we protect the nation. We must act with one aim to unitedly win international opinion." And he warned that if "we allow ourselves to be divided on petty and narrow political aims" (meaning what he has in mind as solutions to the ethnic issue) then "international opinion" would defeat us. "International opinion would weigh heavily against us," he reiterates. 

Mr. Wickremesinghe quotes foreign media to say that more than 60,000 lives have been lost. Our PM with all the ministries under him has no local source. He says the war started in 1983, echoing the Chandrika-NGO line. Patently untrue, as his dead uncle JR would have readily corrected him. It started in 1972 when the first Tamil separatist armed foray occurred. 

He says that ultimately, the war came to a situation "where the country's airport and the port had to be temporarily closed down". It was not just closed down. It was attacked by Tigers and poorly defended by an incompetent leadership and forced to close. 

He says if not for the war there would not have been an unemployment problem. He ignores the vast numbers employed in our war economy. The war has sucked up unemployment, just like it did for the West in World War II. He adds that this is our last chance for peace ignoring the fact that in the 2,500 year history of this land we have defeated many invasions, wars and plots, some by those very foreign forces who 500 years ago formed "international opinion." 

On December 3, the UNP website had assured "We will not lift the LTTE Ban." The main issue for the commencement of talks, Mr. Wickremesinghe says, is the international and local ban on the LTTE, the LTTE wanting a lift of the ban. The Tigers we should note had not attacked this "international community". The attacks on us were probably planned by Tigers from within those very countries in the "international community". 

The Tigers were banned initially in the US by an initiative taken by Sri Lankans there. This ban was followed in other countries, again partly due to the pressure of Sri Lankan groups in those countries. These groups — the Sri Lankan international community — is now aghast at recent developments. The fear of infection by A1 Qaeda types like the LTTE gave the added incentive to the West. But in a twisted logic, we are worried of lifting the ban internationally, but not here, the only place where the Tigers have attacked. 

In our happy world, the media rushes to Wanni, the once depopulated area that was peopled through the Norwegian ambassador Jon Westborg who as head of Redd Barna had transferred thousands of estate workers there to become Tigers. (Mr. Weerasinghe who in an article to the Divayina first claimed this and who had promised me to reveal more of Mr. Westborg, died mysteriously a few weeks ago of a traffic accident). Journalists who have been to Tiger functions have written about Tiger flags. The BBC showed children in government schools giving separatist oaths — hands outstretched in a Hitler style salute. In any other country, the teachers of these children would be summarily dismissed, pensions withheld and their property confiscated. 

The BBC shows part of the Tiger death cult, their so-called "martyrs" cemetery. There is no parallel celebration of the brave soldiers who have died. Instead, phony foreign setups with Norwegian money beg the Tigers for our Missing in Action (MIA). America's more famous Vietnam MIA groups would wince with soldierly shame. The London-based Economist revealed Norway's hidden economic interests in her hand in our peace. 

Armed LTTE gunmen were asking Puttalam fishermen to pay ransom money. They were forcibly recruiting child soldiers in Batticaloa and elsewhere. (Chandrika's "recruiters" Sudu Nelum and Thavalama with Norwegian money, had earlier gone to Southern schools to discourage our army recruitment.) The LTTE was extorting money from shop keepers in the Wanni. And in the Eastern province, the Muslims in Kinniya and Muttur staged a strike against Tiger extortion. The Tigers were warning civilians against maintaining close contacts with the government. "Those who violate will be treated as traitors and punished accordingly," they added, meaning killed. And on February 4, black flags flew in Jaffna. 

America is now in a big clean-up operation. Having penetrated deep into Afghan territory it flies in the A1 Qaeda hardcore to cages. Our police in the meantime attempt to fete the LTTE in the East, till cautioned by the army. Our police egged on by politicians capture the army's deep penetration unit leading to Tiger reprisals in the East. 

This government wants to be a pro-Western (or more accurately, a pro any foreign government, much more than 'Yankee Dickie JR who begged for Western support to counter the Indian indirect and direct invasion of the country. But the US stood by silently. Today India rejects any Tiger infection on its soil, even for talks. 

In two months Mr. Wickremesinghe has indeed swung "international opinion." The US now calls LTTE, 'insurgents', not terrorists. In Britain they have blunted the ban by holding talks. Our A1 Qaeda has jumped out of the cages. 

Singapore is pro-Western, so is Malaysia. But both of them guard what they feel are their national interests. When necessary, they scold and at other times ignore the "international community". But still, foreign investments come. During the last few weeks they have cracked down on foreign agents. They understand that no partner would respect snivelling underlings.