"The International Centre for Ethnic Studies, Kandy and this gathering at the Conference on Corruption and Governance in South Asia, express our shock and grief at the assassination of Dr. Neelan Thiruchelvam by a terrorist suicide bomber.
"We take this opportunity to denounce with utmost vehemence and moral repugnance, this killing of an unarmed, non-violent civilian scholar and politician allegedly by the organization which was also responsible for the murder of Shri Rajiv Gandhi. It is the latest depredation in a long series of such crimes by the most dangerous and violent organization in South Asia and one of the worst such fanatical movements in the world today. We fervently hope that Neelan's death will not be in vain; that it will lead to such an outcry in global civil society that his murderers will be isolated and defeated.''

Obviously the ICES Kandy is not ambiguous about the fact that it is the LTTE that killed Neelan. Not just that, however. One branch/arm/unit of the ICES declares unequivocally that the killing of Neelan is (repeat) "the latest depredation in a long series of such crimes by a most dangerous and violent organization in South Asia and one of the worst such fanatical movements in the world today.''

Now, exactly what kind of hypocrites would want to let one of the worst fanatical movements of the world today "dominate the North?'' The issue is simple. Are these the intellectuals of our time? Are these the men and women of stature and integrity of our country - who are guilty of such doublespeak and such effortless compromise on matters of principle? (Unless of course the Chairperson of ICES doesn't subscribe to what the Kandy ICES says! Maybe she doesn't. But the fact remains the ICES, of which she is Chairperson, issues one statement in Kandy, and the Chairperson doesn't disassociate herself from it. Now, most people who know the ICES are heard to say "those guys in the Kandy ICES do their own thing.'' But there is one ICES in Sri Lanka - with one Chairperson and one board of Directors, and surely the Chairperson cannot disown what the Kandy ICES says? As K. M. de Silva writes "the peculiar feature of the ICES is that it has two units one in Kandy and one in Colombo, a convenient division of labour which accommodated the wishes of the two directors.'' ('Neelan Thiruchelvam, Selected Tributes.')

It is true Coomaraswamy says in the interview, something to the effect that she is concerned "about the human rights of the Tamils in those areas (North and East)'' But she doesn't even say at whose hands she fears the human rights of Tamils in "those areas'' are under threat of being violated. All that is clear is that so-and-so wants the LTTE to dominate "the North via an interim council" - the same fanatical LTTE which the Kandy ICES castigates as "one of the most dangerous violent and fanatical organizations of the world today." (!) Well, what can we say? I suppose all that talk about "dangerous violent and fanatical'' was said in the first gush of deep shock after Neelan was rudely snuffed out? Since then, perhaps the ICES has cooled off, and come around to the realization that it is none but the LTTE that's fit to dominate the North? Can any casuistry and sophistry of words hide this sort of unspoken consensus of cant? Wouldn't Neelan himself be turning in his grave?
We do need to look at the ambit of this "unspoken consensus''. It is very large. It is also exists in part because these are people who are recognized by the "international community'' which by and large doesn't seem to care - - what does one say about these things - "two hoots" about which fanatic runs the North of Sri Lanka. I suppose when one is a part of this system of international humbug, there is no real sensitization about an organization such as the ICES engaging in baffling doublespeak. A million rationalisations can be offred but wouldn't all of it be sophisticated pap when it is clear that the ICES itself is schizophrenic if not hypocritical about their stand on the LTTE?

It is sad that this society is so inured to humbug that there is "unspoken consensus'' to keep such humbug-behaviour alive and kicking. Perhaps the ICES bosses are scared stiff that they might be blown up one day on the way to work, the way Neelan was. That's another matter. But, then - does one have to go out of the way to give the certificate to the "most violent and fanatical organization'' and call for its' "dominance in the North?''

There are various explanations why these peace talks need to go on in this way they are going now. Some of them sound like honourable attempts at explaining. Writes Dr Jayadeva Uyangoda: "Many people appear to consider Velupillai Prabhakaran essentially as a murderer, a fascist and hardcore terrorist… Although political parties out of power would want to continually deal with the LTTE leader in that uncompromising spirit, the state, or the political party that runs that state, might not find any irresistible reason to do so in the present conjuncture of Sri Lanka's conflict.''

There seems to be a tacit if not subconscious admission there that Mr Prabhakaran is probably a lot of those things - a fascist hardcore terrorist. But, the gist of it, boiled down to essence is "the state has no choice due to economic reasons etc.,' It may or may not be true that the state has no choice - but at least it is certainly different from saying "I suggest that they dominate the North.''

It is sad that the inability to say things as they are in this society, results in all kinds of casuistry. This nation sleepwalks. People do not see and say things as they are - even if the country is admittedly in a bad predicament. But is prevarication the answer? There was a train accident recently, and several people died. An engine was condemned. But, even before the inquiry was held, the engine was back on the tracks again. All that the General Manager of Railways Priyal de Silva could say was "we will inquire.'' He should have resigned.

There was no excuse for him to stay on, after such a horrendous accident - and after such a horrendous mistake such as letting the engine get back on the tracks. But what do we do, when "faulty engines'' keep trying to run the lives of people all over this country - in the rail tracks, in civil society, and most everywhere else?

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