The Political Column

7th May 2000

All want to know what's going on

By our Political Correspondent

Most of these provisions, though draconian, are not new. They were in operation during the UNP regime which used them to contain public uprising against certain political decisions.

Today, Sri Lanka is in a crisis situation once again with the LTTE marauders advancing towards Jaffna Censored Censored Censored Censored.

The government has said it will not give in to the LTTE pressure and allow Jaffna to fall.

Deputy Defence Minister Anuruddha Ratwatte said the government would never surrender Jaffna to the murderer called Prabhakaran and asked "all patriotic citizens of the country to assist the armed forces in this decisive and critical juncture."

The government has sought foreign assistance Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored The Censored development was the re-establishing of diplomatic ties with Israel. Diplomatic ties with Israel were severed in 1970 when the United Front government led by Sirima Bandaranaike who backed the Palestinian cause, came into office. In 1983, President J. R. Jayewardene re-established partial ties with Israel when he realised it was the only option left to crush the LTTE. An Israeli interest section was opened here in the US embassy. The Israelis were asked to go when the Premadasa regime came to office.

Agency reports said Sri Lanka had also requested Pakistan to help in the military push against the LTTE.

These diplomatic monoeuvres apart, what is important at this juncture is to assess Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored.

Addressing the government parliamentarians last week, President Chandrika Kumaratunga admitted that the fall of Elephant Pass was a military setback. The President was forthright. Every Sri Lankan should be happy that even at this late stage the President has acknowledged that blunders were made, reversing all military achievements made during the past six years. Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored, but we have to live with reality and do everything possible to minimise casualties.

Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored.

People are questioning what has happened to billions of rupees spent on arms purchases. After so much spending on arms, is Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored. It is a sad indictment on all governments that waged war with the LTTE. People now realise that none of the leaders, perhaps the only exception being J. R. Jayewardene, had the vision or strategy to fight the war. Mr. Jayewardene who was snubbed by Indians saw that the war was fought by Indians who one-time fed the LTTE.

All governments that came into office since Independence, though conscious of the possibility that the ethnic question may one day snowball into a critical mass, did not take necessary steps to prevent it. If it is President Premadasa who is to be blamed for his decision to send the Indian peace keeping forces back to India, then the Kumaratunga administration is equally responsible for making the war a political Trojan Horse.

It is now time for us to think afresh on the whole issue and the LTTE's military capabilities. When the government took control of Jaffna five years ago, confining the LTTE largely in the Wanni region, the South was jubilant. From the day it was chased away from Jaffna, the LTTE was planning a strategy to get a foothold in the bottleneck to Jaffna,-Elephant Pass.

The Jaffna military success of the Sri Lankan army

The main aim of the government was to prosecute the war Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored.

To reopen the main supply route was also an objective of the politicians. In this attempt, the army also lost the ground it gained during the past battles. Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored.

At present, the government is trying to find a way out of this crisis situation with assistance from India and the world community. Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored. It could be due to domestic factors. The ruling BJP coalition is heavily dependent on the 17 DMK votes from Tamil Nadu to keep the government going. Many of the Tamil Nadu politicians are LTTE sympathisers. In addition there are LTTE sympathisers in the cabinet as well. The hardline defence minister, George Fernandes, is one such person who backs the LTTE.

But it should be noted that in India, foreign policy decisions are guided by the thinking of the South Bloc bureaucrats. The Indians, though not keen to see a separate state on their southern borders, Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored.

In this backdrop, the government is pursuing a military option to weaken the LTTE to force it to come to the negotiating table. The President, however assured her party members and parliamentarians that under no circumstances would the government hesitate to tackle the terrorist problem and face the LTTE squarely on the warfront. She said the government would take all steps necessary to protect the interest of the country. "I am not unmindful of the peace efforts," she said. "We will continue with that. We have our duty by the Tamil people of this country. We will pursue that because that is the surest way to success," the President said.

The President also had a crisis meeting with the UNP leadership. She discussed with the UNP delegation comprising party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, chairman Karu Jayasuriya and general secretary Gamini Atukorale, matters relating to the war, party and their recent trips abroad.

The UNP insisted that there should not be any press censorship on the war situation since the people yearn to know the truth. However, the government paid scant regard to the UNP's demands. The following day, the President and the cabinet decided to impose a blanket censorship on media.

The President before issuing the proclamation told the ministers about her decision. When Minister Batty Weerakoon wanted to know the nature of the regulations, the President said it would not be harsh as the regulations that were in operation during the UNP regime. Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored. He pointed out to the ministers that it was the President's prerogative to invoke emergency regulations and she need not tell the ministers about this.

The President discussed at length the situation prevailing in the North with her parliamentary group. There had been ups and downs in the battle. She said when the Pooneryn camp fell in November 1999 many people including the opposition figures acted with responsibility. She said had briefed the leader of the opposition on the situation and she would like to brief the members, too.

The President outlined her policy on the war and told the MPs that so long as the LTTE was inclined to war, she would relentlessly prosecute the war to safeguard the territorial integrity.

However, she said she wanted to avoid the 1983 situation in the South. Though the President said she would take all necessary steps to avoid such a situation again, she did not elaborate on the steps she would take. "Various stories are spread. Some of them are distorted and without any foundation. I am telling you the truth, the correct position. You can go back and tell your people the correct position."

The President then said committees would be appointed to handle matters relating to the latest development of the war.

Minister Mahinda Rajapakse asked whether there was an unsettled atmosphere in the country. Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored .

The President said: "We don't have a modern army like those of developed countries. Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored."

She said the PA government had spent 150 billion rupees for this purpose. "We have provided the best within our own limitations. We always replenish stocks sometimes daily and sometimes weekly. I have to protect the lives and execute the war. whereas the LTTE is sacrificing its cadres. There is no need to spread panic stories. Our army is moving slowly whereas the LTTE is moving from one place to another adopting guerrilla tactics. When you are under attack all the time, it is better to move away and strike back at the most suitable time," she said.

Deputy Minister Anuruddha Ratwatte also explained to the government group the position in the North, using maps and visuals.

He said the LTTE attack forced the troops to move out of the area. The withdrawal was a strategic move to minimise casualties and he assured that the area could be recaptured. "We are now monitoring the developments and we have to watch out. The most sensitive area was Palaly. Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored. These are the decisions we have to take as we go about. This does not mean that they have won or we have lost or that we have abandoned the war. It is all part of the military game," he said.

President Kumaratunga answering questions from the MPs said the government would get assistance, but did not elaborate what sort of assistance or from where. The President also said the fall of Elephant Pass was a serious setback. But she said it should not be considered a defeat. Any attempt to exaggerate or distort would be greatly prejudicial to the interest of the country, she said.

The President also sent a letter to Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee asking for Censored assistance Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored.

The government in the same tone had asked assistance from Pakistan which is positively looking at the request. The Indians, too, would consider some assistance, but it is not too clear what form of assistance the Indian government would provide.

The President also had consultations with several foreign envoys. The opposition leader, too, had discussions with American Ambassador Shaun Donnelly. Mr. Donnelly told Mr. Wickremesinghe that a solution should be worked out with the assistance of the Indian government. Mr. Wickremesinghe also met the European Union Ambassador in Sri Lanka Ilkka Uusitalo. Indian High Commissioner Shiv Shanker Menon was busy shuttling between New Delhi and Colombo.

Meanwhile government and UNP leaders met once again on Friday for more talks on the current situation in the country.

Situation Report

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