ISSN: 1391 - 0531
Sunday, August 05, 2007
Vol. 42 - No 10
Columns - Situation Report  

Emergency laws to curb LTTE weapons purchases

  • As CoL soars, billions needed for war in north
  • US official tells Congress: Tigers present in the east, inflation 20%, tourism down by 40 to 60 % and war taking heavy toll on economy

By Iqbal Athas


Fearing attacks residents living in villages bordering Tiger guerrilla dominated areas in Vavuniya are fleeing their homes. In three different villages, of a total of 268 families, more than 115 have left by yesterday. Here are groups travelling in tractor driven trailers and taking shelter under trees. Photos: Ranjith Jayasundara

Even if it sounded somewhat innocuous, the new Emergency Regulations promulgated last Monday appeared significant. Regulations gazetted by President Mahinda Rajapaksa under the ongoing State of Emergency seek to prohibit the procurement of a variety of weapons by Sri Lankans. Laws relating to this, particularly the Dangerous Weapons Ordnance, have remained in the statute book for many decades.

But, this time the new regulations requires that "no person who being a Sri Lankan national, whether resident or outside Sri Lanka, shall procure or cause to be procured, aid or abet the procurement of, or provide financial assistance for the procurement of, military equipment." Such acts will be deemed to be an offence. Those suspected will be liable for arrest and detention. This is until they are tried by a High Court in Colombo.

Thus, the new regulation seeks to rope in Sri Lankans living abroad against whom they have evidence of any form of complicity in weapons procurements. A Defence Ministry source said the new regulations will empower the Police or the Security Forces to arrest them. They would be placed under detention after an order is obtained from the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence. The source said until now the laws did not cover particularly those Sri Lankans living abroad who were helping the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to procure weapons through various means. "Now, if they return, the law is on hand to deal with them," the source said.

The identities of several Sri Lankans have surfaced following investigations by law enforcement agencies in different countries. They include United States, France, Italy, Thailand and Cambodia. The schedules of prohibited items in last Monday's Gazette notification are grouped into four categories. The first are all types of military switches used for booby traps and Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) and ISF Electric and ISF Percussion Igniter Switches.

The second category are all types of Weapons Systems/Weapons/Ammunition. They have been listed as 81 mm Mortar, 82 mm Mortar, 60 mm Mortar, 40 mm Rocket Propelled Grenades, 40 mm Grenade Launchers, All types of Machine Guns, All types of automatic rifles, Pistol, All Type of Fire Arms, All types of Artillery, Naval and Air Defence Guns, Anti-aircraft guns and accessories, All types of missiles/rockets, All types of grenades, All types of Armoured Vehicles, Naval ships and Military aircraft.

Rs. 7 billion to bolster Air Force

Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) plans to spend over seven billion rupees in procurements from July to December this year, the Jane's Defence Weekly reported this week.

A report by the magazine's Asia Pacific Bureau Chief, Robert Karniol in the August 1 issue states:

Key Points
Sri Lanka is looking to bolster its military capabilities and the Air Force's share of this planned build up is worth nearly USD 300 million.

The Sri Lankan Air Force (SLAF) looks set to spend up to LKR 7,779.4 million (US D 69.6 million) on major capital equipment over the period July to December 2007 in anticipation of a major government offensive against northern strongholds of the secessionist LiberationTigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

The proposed expenditure is the initial phase of a wider programme, reported exclusively to Jane's and worth LKR 32,875.5 million. The other services have similar build-ups planned but details are not yet known.

The offensive was announced in President Mahinda Rajapaksa's 19 July address to the nation. He said that LTTE forces have been "completely driven away" from the country's embattled eastern region, with government officials later saying that Colombo's military focus will now shift rebel targets in the north.

Rajapaksa's claim that the LTTE threat has been eradicated in the east through a campaign that culminated in the recapture of the jungle hill tracts of Toppigala in the Batticaloa region is somewhat exaggerated. This was shown by the assassination on 16 July of Herath Abeyweera, chief secretary of the eastern province, and the killing of five LTTE militants during a police special taskforce operation on 21 July.

Colombo is nevertheless planning a series of major military offensives in northern Sri Lanka, which could start as soon as early August.

SLAF requirements outlined in a document seen by Jane's are listed under three levels of priorities. Items of the highest priorities are valued at LKR 20,246.4 million overall, including LKR 3,656.7 million during the remainder of this year. Those of second priority are worth LKR 12,019.1 million and third-priority items are worth LKR 600 million, respectively including LKR 3,327.6 million and LKR 100 million in 2007.

The highest priority list foresees the proposed acquisition of four F-7GS fighter aircraft, four MiG-29SM and one MiG-29UB fighters, two PT-6 aircraft and the Blue Horizon II unmanned aerial vehicle. Sources say that Air Marshal Roshan Goonetileke, the Air Force Chief, strongly favours obtaining the MiG-29 but this has so far been resisted by the Ministry of Defence due to funding concerns.

The purchase of two JY-II mobile radars, main rotor blades for the Mi-24 and Mi-24/35 helicopter, the ANVIS head-up display to upgrade five Mi-24 helicopters and day/night camera for the Beech King aircraft is also included. These are supplemented by planned overhauls or repairs for the Y-12 transport aircraft fleet, three Mi-24 helicopters, two AN-32B aircraft and one Mi-17 helicopter.

The SLAF further proposes to construct three hardened shelters together with four buildings for married personnel and extend runways at Anuradhapura and Hingurakgoda.

Programmes of secondary priority are similarly extensive, while the third-priority section is limited to a single item: the establishment by the SLAF of an Mi-17/Mi-24 helicopter repair facility.

New platforms on the second priority list include the proposed acquisition of two Beech King aircraft fitted with maritime surveillance radar and day/night television cameras, two AN-32B transports, four Mi-17V5 helicopters and three Mi-24/35 helicopters, and two new, or reconditioned, K-8 aircraft.

These would be supplemented by the Spike Extended Range missile system for Mi-24 helicopters, various communication systems and self-protection systems for several aircraft types. The two C-130 transports would concurrently get upgrades for engines and avionics, together with a quick engine change assembly and five Martin Baker ejection seats should be obtained for other aircraft.

Upgrades or repairs are also foreseen for aircraft of several other types. These include Mi-24/35, Mi-24 and Bell 212 helicopters together with AN-32 transports.

COMMENT

Colombo's hardline government has enjoyed some success in its military campaign against Tamil Tiger rebels in the country's eastern region, and is set to launch a major offensive against their northern strongholds. This, together with the inevitable response by Tiger militants, ensure that Sri Lanka will suffer further unsettlement.

The third category: All types of radars and radar spares, All type of parachutes, Night Vision Devices and Beta Lights. The fourth category: Armoured vehicle spares, Submerged Vehicles or under water vehicles, Explosive detection equipment, Digital jamming devices, Infra-red illuminations, GPS equipment inclusive of Aviation GPS and laser designators. Three other items will be subject to Ministry of Defence approval. They are Laser Range Finders, Radar Range Finders and Thermal Image Devices. Note: Though GPS devices have been prohibited, such systems are now liberally incorporated into mobile and even satellite phones. In addition, GPS devices are sold in the open market in many countries and are used for navigation purposes.

The regulations empower the Secretary, Ministry of Defence "in the national interest" to prohibit items which in his opinion are "similar to, or resemble very closely, in its appearance," the items that have been banned. He has also been empowered to enlarge the list of items if he feels it is in "the interest of national security" to do so.

Those contravening the regulations are to be tried in a High Court that will convene in Colombo. They will be liable for rigorous imprisonment for a term not less than three months and not exceeding five years and to a fine of not less than Rs 500,000.

The new regulations come at a time when there is increased international attention being focused on Sri Lanka. The Government has turned down requests from two leading UN dignitaries who are paying separate visits to Colombo to travel to Kilinochchi. This is for meetings with LTTE leaders. Arriving on Monday will be John Holmes, head of the Office for Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs. He will be followed by Louise Arbor, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, in the first week of October. The Government's inability to allow them to travel to Kilinochchi has already been conveyed to them. Officially the Government has taken up the position that such visits would only confer "undue recognition" to the LTTE. Government will fly the two visitors to both Jaffna and Batticaloa.

Co-inciding with the visit of Mr. Holmes is a damning report on Sri Lanka due to be released by the New York based Human Rights Watch on Monday. Mr Holmes, who succeeded Norwegian Jan Egeland, was one time a key advisor to then British Prime Minister, Tony Blair. He is due to meet President Rajapaksa, Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe and Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama among others during his four day visit.

Sri Lanka also figured at the US Congress last Wednesday when their Sub Committee on the Middle East and South Asia discussed the political crisis in the region. Some of the remarks made by Steve R. Mann, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, set out the US Government position. Some relevant excerpts:

"Sri Lanka's long-standing ethnic conflict, fragile peace process, and deteriorating human rights conditions continue to cause concern for the United States and the international community. The conflict between the Sri Lankan Government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam entered a phase of intensified fighting during President Rajapaksa's administration. In recent months, fighting has been steady in the Tamil Tiger-controlled East as Government forces attempted to re-take areas held by the Tigers under the terms of the 2002 Ceasefire Agreement.

On July 11, 2007, the Sri Lankan military announced it had taken Thoppigala, the last remaining Tamil Tiger stronghold in the East, bringing the entire Eastern Province under government control. The costs of war have taken a heavy toll on the economy: inflation currently stands at 20% and tourism one of Sri Lanka's main industries - has plummeted by 40-60% since last year.

"Fighting continues in the North and there is a continued Tiger presence in the East. Just five days after the government announced it was in control of the East, suspected Tiger gunmen shot and killed a senior provincial administrator. The Tigers remain a considerable fighting force and are capable of launching attacks across the island. On July 25, the Tigers detonated a claymore mine in the North, killing 11 soldiers and wounding eight others.

"Prospects for peace are currently focused on an effort by the President's party, the major opposition parties, and other parties to finalise a proposal which would reform the constitution to create a system devolving certain powers to Tamil and other minority areas. The peace process in Sri Lanka has collapsed repeatedly in part due to a lack of political consensus over how to satisfy the rights and aspirations of the majority Sinhala and minority Tamil populations. It is critical that the country's political leadership engage fully and in good faith in the current debate over devolution of power and place the best interests of the country ahead of partisan politics. I must flag the fact that the Tamil Tigers share the responsibility for the negotiation impasse. It is important to note as well that although the Tigers are a party to the negotiations, they cannot be considered to be the representatives of all Sri Lankan Tamils.

"Our top policy priorities for Sri Lanka remain restoration of good governance and respect for human rights leading to an eventful negotiated settlement. We believe that finalising a credible devolution of power proposal, together with ending human rights violations and improving government accountability, are essential steps towards a lasting peace. The government of Sri Lanka must do more to provide security and equitable treatment for its citizens, including taking seriously the plight of internally displaced persons, creating the conditions to allow economic opportunities to return across the island, and ensuring fair treatment at the hands of the police and security forces. These issues cannot be stably resolved through military means alone…….."

Mr. Mann has placed before the Congressional Committee the US Government's current thinking of developments in Sri Lanka. He has noted that the costs of war are taking a heavy toll on the Government. Jane's Defence Weekly has disclosed in a report this week that the Air Force alone wants equipment and other needs totalling US 300 million from July to December this year. The needs of the Army and the Navy are not still known. Naturally, when their requirements are totalled, it would add to billions of rupees or millions of dollars.

This is at a time when fuel prices are on the rise. The last increase on July 27 coupled together with increase in milk food prices has already dealt a crippling blow to Sri Lankans. Fears of attacks are driving villagers living closer to guerrilla dominated areas in the Vavuniya district to flee their homes. It is in this backdrop that the military is preparing for its next major onslaught on Tiger guerrilla positions in the North.

 
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Copyright 2007 Wijeya Newspapers Ltd.Colombo. Sri Lanka.