Break Wanni-Colombo logjam

Two developments in the Sri Lankan theatre need to make Delhi and other
world capitals, particularly Washington and London, sit up and end the
dichotomy that has characterised their reaction to and relations with
Colombo.

Firstly, senior Lanka Minister Jeyraj Fernandopulle, the only Roman Catholic
in the Rajapakse government was assassinated on April 6, just outside
Colombo. His religion had lost relevance for the LTTE as he facilitated the
Pillayan Group's entry into mainstream politics. Otherwise they would not
have eliminated him so soon after the Madhu church episode exposed the
clergy for yet another time to the criticism that the Church in Tamil belt
remains sympathetic towards the Tigers. Also, through the targetted killing
the LTTE wanted to signal that they are not dead as the government has
been claiming for the past several months. This is a normal tactic of all
insurgent groups under pressure as the Indian experience in Kashmir and
northeast of the country shows.

The second development is no less significant though it took place miles
away in the United States. The Washington Times has put the spotlight on
how the Tigers have made inroads into the US to help bankroll and equip
their operations back home in Sri Lanka. In a manner of speaking, there is
no big deal about the WT report. That the LTTE runs a well oiled world-wide
network spanning some 54 countries is by now well documented. Tigers'
operations have considerable visibility in UK, France, Australia and the
Scandinavian countries. Jen Haberkorn's despatch is significant
nevertheless because for the first time the US has acknowledged LTTE as
one of the most dangerous and deadly extremist organizations that has been
an inspiration even for al Qaeda in Iraq.

Yet, the reaction to the killing of Jeyraj Fernandopulle appears just a routine
or what can be termed as a proforma statement. The United States,
European Union, Canada and India have denounced the attack that also
killed 13 others and left nearly 100 wounded. "The United States denounces
this vicious and reprehensible terrorist attack on civilians in the strongest
possible terms," a US embassy statement said in Colombo. "Its perpetrators
have achieved nothing other than to cause further suffering among the
people of Sri Lanka. Only a political solution, not continued violence, offers
the way forward to end the country's conflict".

EU's Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner voiced
similar sentiment and stuck to the usual refrain, "The EU continues to believe
that there can be no military solution to the conflict in Sri Lanka and only a
negotiated settlement can open the way for a lasting peace".

Canadian foreign minister Maxime Bernier held out the homily, "It is clear
that violence will not bring lasting peace to Sri Lanka". And South Block in
Delhi tried to hide its dilemma behind semantics as the killing of a second
minister and fourth politician this year coincided with the trauma of film
maker Thushara Peiris. He was attacked at the gates of Gemini Studio
(Chennai) when he went there to collect a print of his film on Prabhakaran.
Whether the film reflects Sri Lankan national pride - abimanaya - as reports
in Colombo media claim is not relevant but what is germane to the
discussion is the film exposes terrorism.

Undoubtedly, there are good and bad politicians. There are good and bad
bureaucrats and diplomats. May be amongst sleuths and journalists as well,
there are good and bad. But a terrorist is a terrorist and terrorism is a
scourge. This truism is relevant as much in Delhi's context as that of the
Washington and London. All the three have borne the brunt of terrorism,
Delhi more than the other two. So much so, it has to be more forthright in
finding ways and means to end the spectre of violence that has been
haunting Colombo. Creation of Perumal clones is no solution whether it is by
India or by Sri Lanka. Moreover when there is no question of balkanizing Sri
Lanka either now or even in the past.

Devolution of powers to the provinces and from provinces to local bodies is
a subject on which there is bound to be divergence of opinion as the Indian
experience shows. Modern nation state, despite unshackling of the
economy, continues to favour centralised administration. Frankly, the feudal
mindset up of South Asia, where good old Princes and Zamindars of yore
are replaced by ministers and elected representatives in that order will not
easily allow decentralisation. And the bureaucracy knows the art of
protecting their turf. Retired bureaucrats play quite a helpful role in
perpetuating myths since a section of the media patronises them as
'independent voices'.

This is one reason why Indian political leadership should take the initiative to
break the logjam. It should not allow itself hostage to politics in Tamilnadu
where incidentally, far away from the media glare, even in Chennai, the Sri
Lankan Tamilian is not a darling. This is something very few will like to
acknowledge on record but we cannot erase a ground reality.

On his part, President Mahinda Rajapakse should not remain a hostage to
the politics of Southern consensus. He has his own politics of survival and he
unabashedly plays to the Sinhala gallery. But as the International Crisis
Group says in its latest report, Sinhala nationalism has waxed and waned in
response to the political context. "At times, there has been strong Sinhala
support for a negotiated settlement. Nevertheless, competition between the
two main parties (the United National Party, UNP, and the Sri Lanka
Freedom Party, SLFP) and their inability to neutralise smaller nationalist
parties have prevented governments from compromising with Tamil
nationalists".

Consensus politics is a euphemism the media is fond off. In the world of real
politic, it is more a game of give and take and some compromise tailor
made to local needs. Whether Delhi and Chennai likes or not, Rajapakse
finds himself in a position where he could end the SLFP's penchant for
'ethnic outbidding' and at the same time safeguard the rights of Tamil
minority for a place of honour and pride under the Sri Lankan sun.

An unmistakable reality of Sri Lankan scene over the past three decades is
that the LTTE has been equally important in blocking the elusive "southern
consensus". All peace initiatives have failed because of its intransigence
and because of its over riding faith in violence as a means to achieve its
goal. The LTTE leadership will do well to realise that the world has moved a
long distance after 9/11 and that the West, particularly the United States, is
no longer prepared to live with terrorism of one kind or the other. The global
cop has clearly demonstrated a willingness to go to any extent to protect his
perceived and real interests.

The Washington Times report quoted at the outset should serve as a timely
reminder to the LTTE of the limitations they will come face to face with soon.
This report and the Jeyraj Fernandopulle's assassination underscore the
reality namely Tamil issue in Sri Lanka is a political imbroglio. It must be
addressed politically by the LTTE and by Colombo alike, not through games
of one-upmanship but through a clearly demonstrable and sincere resolve for
peace and progress. The onus for this as much on LTTE as on Colombo.
Other players, old and new, have a role. And it is not playing their own
games.

M Rama Rao, -Syndicate Features

http://www.centralchronicle.com/20080503/0305302.htm