Untitled Document

Talking in Thailand but doing in Jaffna
Long before these peace talks are over, said a Sri Lankan at a dinner a few days
ago, so-called policemen of the LTTE will be arresting people in Wellawattem- well, Wellawatte.

Joking? A little inebriated? Just a bit cynical? No, he was deadly serious.

Why not, I thought. If the Economic Reforms Minister Milinda Moragoda can so blithely invite the United States to lead the world without even a by- your- leave from another 185 or so countries that inhabit this planet, why not extend the same generosity to fellow countrymen.

Surely there would be greater legitimacy in Minister Moragoda showing the LTTE police the way to Wellawatte than his trying to win universal acquiescence for his neo-colonialist venture to hand over the world to its biggest bully whose own proclivity for terrorism is not entirely unknown to history.

Try as I would to salve the hurt or anger or both of our fellow dinner guests, he would not be assuaged. Rather the mention of the minister's name seemed to rouse him more as his voice rose by several decibels.

Remember, he said, his index finger pointing at me like Dirty Harry's dangerous Magnum, that Moragoda is on the government delegation that is supposed to be talking peace.

"But what is the use of talking when the LTTE is doing just as they please. They have already set up police stations in the north and appointed policemen. And those policemen say they can go even to the government-controlled areas if they want. So what is the use of these chaps talking in Thailand and flying all over the world when the Tigers are sitting at home and tightening the grip on the territory".

"He does have a point you know," chipped in another at the table. "Those LTTE fellows are running circles round GL Peiris and Moragoda. Remember the first lot of peace-makers Chandrika (Kumaratunga) sent to Jaffna. They were completely out of their depth. It seems to be happening again but this time in Thailand".

What appears to have got their goat were news reports last Sunday about the opening of a couple of police stations in the North and the matter of fact remarks of the LTTE-appointed policemen who believe their edict extends to the entire province.

If this has raised the hackles of some Sri Lankans, the announcement that the LTTE had also appointed judges and they would be 'hearing' cases and pronouncing sentences even before the powers, functions and responsibilities of provincial administrations have been decided, have made matters even more muddled.

The result it seems will be a dangerous drift in the opposite direction and a revival of JVP violence, as suggested by sections of the media. If that happens the LTTE would be having another laugh.

What is found today in the North and parts of the East is entirely different administrative, judicial and financial structures that violate the law of the land.

It was not too long ago that Finance Minister K. N.Choksy told a parliamentarian that questioned him about illegal taxes charged by the LTTE, that he needed proof.

Minister Choksy found newspaper and other reports that specifically mentioned what taxes were charged, how the system operated and quoting people in the north, insufficient evidence.

Had lawyer Choksy been defending a client in court, one wonders whether he would not have found such evidence worthy of more than cursory dismissal- in fact invaluable- in his client's defence.

If he needs first hand evidence of the operation of another banking system in the North, all he has to do is head out there. After all he is not that well- known in the North that he would be instantly recognised. If he went into one of the LTTE-operated 'banks' and presented a 100 dollar bill or a 50 Pound note and asked for local currency he would find a service that the State banks under his purview should be ordered to emulate.

Many Sri Lankan Tamils who have been to Jaffna and elsewhere in the North recently who I have met tell me that they changed their foreign currency at LTTE-operated banks without hassle and delay.

They also mentioned about the taxes being charged for various goods taken by them to the North as gifts, on the one hand, and the taxes that businessmen have to pay which are then passed on to the consumer.

The result is that people in Jaffna pay more for their consumer goods than people in the rest of the country. This is a matter those averse to discrimination should consider.

It seems that the Finance Minister is disinclined to believe what appears to be happening under the nose of everybody else.

Running banks, imposing fiscal duties, setting up a judicial and police services, are surely matters for the central government and dictated by law. To establish parallel organs and make them functioning institutions is a violation of the respective laws that give them legal sanction.

When such things are happening openly, when the media carry reports quoting those involved and photographs of people and places that enhance such reports, only those who do not want to accept their existence will deny them or ask for proof. There are none so blind as those who do not want to see.

Even the Norwegian Ambassador to Colombo Jon Westborg was quoted the other day as saying that the LTTE police stations in the North and East were a "considerable danger" to the peace process. "It can easily de-rail the situation," he is reported to have added.

If even the Norwegians, considered by some to be biased towards the LTTE, think so then it could mean one of two things. The LTTE is determined to present the government with a fait accompli. Either the government accepts that without demur, as it appears to be doing, or talks tough to the LTTE.

But the government appears hesitant to confront the LTTE because it has committed itself fully to the peace process and literally put all its eggs in one basket. So it is prepared to play footsie with the LTTE because it is does not want a delay in the talks or a break with the LTTE.

So even before the so-called "core issues" have entered into the discussion- or so we are made to believe- the LTTE has already set up its de facto state.

If it does not get de jure recognition as an independent state in the near future it can afford to wait and make its demand for recognition later. By then it would have proved it not only has the pre-requisites for an independent state but has already administered the territory like one.In appointing a peace delegation, the government put its eggheads in one basket. It is a pity they have been badly scrambled.

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