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Austin blunder: seating fiasco at prisoner swap

Army Chief Balagalle (C) flanked by LTTE 'colonels' at the prisoner swap

Eight days after the historic prisoner swap in Omanthai, security forces top brass are still asking questions about some of the arrangements.

Main among them were orders issued to the Army to ensure mixed seating arrangements between the Commanders of the Army, Navy, their senior officers and guerrilla cadres, both from LTTE military and political wings. Another was the awarding of special gift hampers to 11 guerrillas who were released in exchange for a Navy officer and six soldiers.

High ranking military officers in uniform were forced to sit with guerrilla cadres, both in uniform and otherwise. Army Commander Lionel Balagalle found himself locked between 'Colonel Theepan', described as 'Northern Front Commander' on one side and 'Colonel Banu', head of guerrilla 'artillery unit' on the other. Puli Thevan, Deputy Leader of the LTTE Political Wing, flanked Navy Commander, Vice Admiral Daya Sandagiri.

National television Rupavahini gave live coverage to the event. Millions of Sri Lankans saw as it took place. Still and video camera persons of the LTTE were busy focusing their cameras on every security force personnel who was in uniform.

Army officers in Wanni were responsible for arrangements for the prisoner swap from the Sri Lankan side. Conscious of the protocol involved, and knowing well that a peace agreement providing any status to uniformed Tiger guerrillas had not yet been reached, planned to seat the two sides separately, possibly facing each other. After the formalities were over, they felt the two sides could mix with each other at a tea party that followed.

But, all those plans had to be abandoned by the Army. Defence Secretary Austin Fernando had ordered the GOC of the Army's 21 Division, Maj. Gen. Gamini Jayasundera, that seating arrangements should be mixed, or in other words, made in such a way that senior security forces officials should sit alongside the Tiger guerrillas. The Army complied with the order.

What has angered the top brass is the fact that the joint seating arrangements amounted to humiliating the Commander of the Army, Navy and other senior officers in the public eye. The guerrillas in uniform and with self exclaimed titles of 'Colonel,' they say, had no official status at all to sit side by side.

"Leave alone their not enjoying equal status in rank, the guerrillas in uniform are not officially recognised as a fighting force of any country to sit with the two Service Chiefs of a sovereign nation," a Major General who did not wish to be named told The Sunday Times. He added: "During peace initiatives, we should fully co-operate. We should deal with them (the LTTE) in every way to bring about peace. That should, of course, be without undermining our dignity, honour and the pride of the uniform we wear to uphold national security interests."

A Western diplomat, who also wished to be anonymous, said, "Sitting side by side and brushing shoulders with your military commanders were indeed a big propaganda victory for the Tamil Tigers. Even though they are an acknowledged, fierce guerrilla outfit with a conventional capability, their being seated with your service chiefs amounts to more than formal acceptance and recognition."

Although the Government and the LTTE agreed to the prisoner swap, selecting a date for the event became a difficult task. They were busy until September 27 observing the death anniversary of Thileepan, who carried out a fast unto death in 1997, demanding the withdrawal of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) from Sri Lanka.

It was Mr. Fernando who spoke to LTTE leaders in Kilinochchi and pleaded for September 28. He suggested this date and told them he was going abroad (to United Kingdom) the next day. He said he wanted to be present for the function. His request was granted.

Most media appear to have missed an important event that took place on the day of the prisoner swap. Somewhere near the LTTE frontlines, free gift hampers were distributed to the 11 Tiger cadres who were being released.

Who was handing over the packages containing sarongs, shirts and other goodies? The Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Austin Fernando. There was, however, no such hampers for the Navy officer and six soldiers who returned.

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