Political Column

Political Column

Peace at stake: Shocks and surprises
By Our Political Editor
"Who is the best fighting General in Sri Lanka today?," a Sri Lankan journalist was asked by a European defence official some months ago. "There are a few. Among them is one who has never stepped into a Military Academy or gone through any staff courses," he replied. Pressed to identify this exception, the journalist said it was Velupillai Prabhakaran who has sustained a guerrilla war, sometimes assuming a conventional character, for nearly two decades.

It began as a low intensity conflict after his men attacked police stations in the North and robbed shotguns. Over the years it has grown into a high intensity war. His operations were so globalised that he collected funds in one theatre, purchased weapons in another to fight a high intensity war in Sri Lanka. Armed forces Commanders have come and gone. So have Police Chiefs. But Prabhakaran has remained throughout to take his violent campaign against the state, interspersed with breaks for peace talks, from one phase to another.

Many will no doubt grudge conferring the title of a General on him. A jungle warlord is perhaps the title one that most would like to confer. General or not, for good or for evil, he has etched his name in Sri Lanka's history. No one has used violence to such a high degree to achieve political ends. That is not all. He has contributed many new chapters to guerrilla warfare by introducing his own brand of suicide bombers, improvised explosive devices and much more. And last week he opened a new chapter in his campaign.

On his 50th birthday, Prabhakaran declared during his "Mahaveerar (Great Heroes) Day" address on November 27, that he has no alternative other than to "advance the freedom struggle" if the LTTE's demand for ISGA (Interim Self Governing Authority) is not granted. Throwing more light on this ultimatum, which the Government said was "couched in threatening language," was the man who drafted his speech - theoretician and close confidant Anton Balasingham.

He declared to a crowded London audience that his leader was "ready and ready" for war. How wrong were Sri Lankan political leaders who screamed loud that the LTTE will no longer resort to war. On the next page our Defence Correspondent deals with these aspects and how Sri Lanka's defence and security establishments were caught unawares by Prabhakaran's ultimatum.

The threat of returning to war conjures up ugly and sometimes frightening memories to many. Gory scenes of massacres, assassinations, bomb attacks among others come to mind. But during the 35 months of ceasefire, thanks to both the former United National Front (UNF) Government and the ruling United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA), the LTTE has now achieved greater military sophistication. The Tigers have built a much stronger military machine. Hence, the need to resort to tactics or strategies of the past is not priority. It could resort to more effective methods now keeping intact the "new, respectable international image" it has received.

In fact, some such measures to "advance the freedom struggle" have got under way even before the "Mahaveerar Day" speech by Prabhakaran. Perhaps the significance of this has not been felt by most Sri Lankans. Before dealing with this, it is relevant to refer to what Balasingham told the Tamil diaspora in London on November 27 (see the opposite page for full details).

Referring to the Tamil National Alliance, he said "...What happened in Tamil Eelam? For the first time, people supported overwhelmingly the LTTE. People elected 22 MPs of the TNA which accepted the LTTE as the sole representative of the Tamils..." A corollary of this assertion, one could safely argue, is the fact that TNA are representatives of the LTTE in Parliament.

And it was TNA top runger, Trincomalee District parliamentarian R. Sampanthan who was at the centre of a furore after he began reading Prabhakaran's "Mahaveerar Day" speech in Parliament. It came when the votes of the President were taken up for discussion during the committee stage of the budget beginning Tuesday.

JHU MP Ven. Athureliye Ratana objected. He said all MPs had taken an oath to defend the constitution and not advocate or make speeches espousing the cause for a separate state within the country. He called upon Speaker W.J.M. Lokubandara to call a halt to it. Supporting the monk parliamentarian was JVP group leader Wimal Weerawansa and MEP leader Dinesh Gunawardena.

The Speaker held the view that it was not the first time such speeches had been made and asked the Government side to act according to Standing Orders. He said that way they could take action against the MP if they wanted to. Later, under pressure and more protests, Mr. Lokubandara agreed to expunge from Hansard anything unconstitutional. He also declared the matter could be further discussed at the party leaders' meeting.

The main opposition United National Party has said it was in favour of amendments to Standing Orders to debar parliamentarians from making speeches that are unconstitutional. The JVP also wants to chip in with its proposals. As an interim measure Speaker Lokubandara told party leaders they should impress on their MPs to refrain from making such speeches.

Earlier that day, TNA parliamentarians had lit lamps in the parliamentary complex as part of observances to mark "Maveerar Day." This is the first time such a ritual has been carried out within the precincts of Parliament. An angry Ven. Athureliye Ratana Thera raised issue with the Speaker only to be told that no permission had been obtained from him. Nor was the Speaker aware of it.

What more the TNA, now the sole representatives of the LTTE in Parliament, will do to further advance the guerrilla "freedom struggle" remains a crucial question. The budget debate has seen the beginning. There will be more to come, particularly when the Government introduces constitutional changes.

Another campaign launched by the LTTE are the string of protests reportedly over moves by the armed forces and the police to suppress observances connected with "Mahaveerar" week. This saw violent incidents in Trincomalee followed by hartals in Vavuniya and Mannar this week. Quite clearly the aim is to prevent the functioning of government machinery in these areas. Senior security officials admit the LTTE achieved this objective. A stepping of such activity, they concede, would be a nightmare in security terms. During the hartal in Vavuniya, there were reports of damage to public property like sabotaging railway tracks in the area.

Adding to this are the reports of mounting security concerns. The arrest of three youth, reportedly linked to the LTTE, near the Parliamentary complex led to heightened security. The road leading to Parliament was closed for all traffic. This resulted in major traffic jams for the past nine days. There were also tighter checks on those visiting Parliament. In this backdrop Speaker Lokubandara has asked security authorities to further enhance security in and around the Parliamentary complex.

On Friday domestic flights from Ratmalana to Jaffna were interrupted for hours. This was after a pilot received an anonymous call telling him about the presence of a bomb in the aircraft he was to fly. A full search was carried out but no bomb was found.

So much for a renewed separatist war and other campaigns to carry forward LTTE's "armed struggle." No doubt the UPFA Government has been caught by surprise. There were other surprises too this week. Months after he became head of the Peace Secretariat, earlier Director General and now Secretary General Jayantha Dhanapala, the secret is out. The former UN diplomat who joined the Government's peace making team without any salary is going for bigger stakes. He now wants to become Secretary General of the United Nations.

A closely guarded secret became public on Friday when Foreign Minister, Lakshman Kadirgamar made the announcement in Parliament. It came after the house discussed the votes of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during the committee stage of the budget. It fell on Kadirgamar, a schoolmate at Trinity College in Kandy but at odds with Dhanapala after he then made a bid as head of the International Atomic Energy Authority (IAEA) to make the announcement. President Kumaratunga had decided UPFA Government would give its fullest backing for his candidature.

Dhanapala no doubt will have several formidable odds to overcome. Already the Association of South East Asian countries have unanimously endorsed the candidature of Thai Foreign Minister for the post. Since it is Asia's turn for the post, he would not only have to obtain the backing of India but also the United States.

President Kumaratunga who will attend the SAARC summit in Bangladesh next month is to seek the support of all member countries for Dhanapala's candidature. The Foreign Ministry is also preparing to launch a diplomatic campaign in favour of his candidature.

With the budget debate over later this month, the UPFA Government has on its plate a number of high priority issues. Besides the campaign to make Dhanapala the UN Secretary General, introduce constitutional amendments in Parliament, ponder over a national referendum, the billion dollar question that will be uppermost is the peace process. With the LTTE now threatening to return to war, how President Kumaratunga will respond with an unprepared military and an economically troubled nation will no doubt be crucial.

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