Bloated and often unnecessary levels of military expenditure could offer political security, but they threaten an individual's economic, psychological and other aspects of security.

Such expenditure hinders the eradication of poverty, stifles economic growth and foreign investment, and increases the likelihood of militarisation, instability and violence.

In this backdrop, is there a need for security sector reforms in South Asia? This was one of the two questions a British expert posed to a selected audience - most of whom were retired service chiefs and top military officers - at a Colombo lecture on Thursday.

The alleged involvement of security forces in the Udathalawinna massacre and other political violence, the attack on journalists by Presidential Security Division personnel, increasing incidents of military deserters carrying out armed robberies and contract killings all added up to offer an answer. More could be added. For instance, allegations such as the state national intelligence unit acting more like an affiliated branch of the ruling party and alleged corruption in military procurement.

Also flashed across the thought process were military coups in Pakistan and Bangladesh, Indian security forces' alleged excesses in Kashmir and recently in Gujarat and the Nepali security forces alleged human rights violations in their fight against Maoist rebels. Yes, we need reforms in the security sector in South Asia in general and Sri Lanka in particular.

If these were the thoughts that contributed to form the answer, the British expert had other reasons to build up a case for security reforms in Third World countries.
Dick Baly, a retired brigadier who is now working for the British government's Department for International Development (DFID), told the audience at the Regional Centre for Strategic Studies that his government believed there was a strong correlation between poverty alleviation or development and security reforms.

The British government began to show a keen interest in security sector reforms as a means of poverty alleviation after the United Nations Development Programme's field work in some African countries established a strong link between the two, concluding that without security there could be no poverty alleviation or sustainable development. In an environment where security is not guaranteed, crime increases and conflicts arise.
Subsequent British research showed security sector reforms were intricately connected to democratic features of good governance, such as transparency and accountability.
On March 9, 1999 at King's College in London, British Development Secretary Clare Short launched a ground-breaking security-sector-reform-policy initiative, which officially acknowledged, for the first time, the link between good governance, sustainable development and security-sector reform, covering the armed forces, paramilitary groups, intelligence units and the police.

The relationship between security and development was largely a post-cold war phenomenon. During the Cold War period, both the United States and the Soviet Union armed Third World countries to the hilt mainly to prop up their proxy regimes. The destructive role played by rulers was either tolerated or ignored. But with the demise of the Cold War, Russia, the political successor of the Soviet Union, was not in a position to financially back its former allies. The West and international financial agencies on the other hand attached several strings before they offered aid to Third World countries. Such a scenario coupled with continued military expenditure by many developing countries as a result of new wars and internal conflicts brought the security issue to the top of the development agenda.

According to Brig. Baly, who is on a ground-assessing mission to South Asia, security sector reforms do not mean demilitarisation. They are in effect a move to make the armed services more effective and professional. Security is a concept that is largely perceived as state-centred. But in reality it operates at three levels - at individual level, at state level and at international level. Providing security to individuals is a responsibility of the state while the international system will be stable only when security of states is assured. Thus the three levels of security are interconnected. The bottomline is when we talk about security, it is the individual security that matters most. Security of the state and the international system - two abstract concepts - should also be centred on the individual.

From a strict territory-based definition, the concept of security has evolved slowly to one incorporating all forms of security such as economic, political, psychological, environmental and cultural security. Thus when states or the international community act to promote development, all these aspects of security should be addressed. Brig. Baly says his government believes that security sector reforms should be people-oriented.

The British expert thus emphasised the need for a system of proper management of security resources and said that military is too dangerous to be left to the generals alone. He said the new British policy called for greater role for the public sector management and the civil society in military affairs. In other words, the military should function within a legal basis - not a law unto itself - and within a democratic setup. This will ensure the formation of affordable and appropriate armed forces and promote professionalism and transparency while eliminating corruption and mismanagement. Security reforms are also necessary to prevent the military from interfering in governmental matters. Such interference has led to abuse, mismanagement and to the diversion of scarce resources away from much needed investment in social infrastructure in several developing countries in Asia and Africa. All this is fine. Yes, there is a need for security reforms in developing countries, including Sri Lanka.

The second question, the British expert asked was that if there was a need for reform, what should be the best approach. Well, the panacea for our ills should be found within Sri Lanka itself. What is medicine for country A could be poison for country B. Thus we need to identify the reform areas and come out with the right solution.

At Thursday's talk, some retired generals were heard complaining that they could play a role but they were not sure whether their cry would make any impact. Brig. Baly said the cry for security sector reforms should come from the robust and confident civil society.

When the head of the Liberation Tigers' Arts and Cultural Organisation walked onto the stage to address tens of thousands of people assembled in the grounds of Jaffna University, the message was already clear before his first words: the LTTE was very much back in Jaffna. In a rousing speech, Puthuvai Ratnathurai, a recognised poet, drove the point home in an address frequently interrupted by thunderous applause.

"We stand here in front of you today after six years of exile," he said. "I see the masses of people I last saw at the Muthamil Vizha in Muttraveli in 1990 and May Day 1991. I bow my head to the people here." "I wish to deliver [LTTE leader Velupillai Pirapaharan's] message of gratitude with you. On behalf of the Liberation Tigers, I also thank the Jaffna University community for organising this rally," he added. "Before l995, we shared in the happiness and sadness of the people. Despite the economic blockade [on the peninsula] and cuts in electricity there was joy in the faces of our people. We collected tax, erected portraits; and the people who accepted that with smiling faces are sullen faced today [under Army occupation]."

"I am filled with pride when I realise that our people have prepared them- selves to determine their own destiny, and not let any one else make the decisions for them. Today, standing at 3 the crest of the uprising of a people that has seen them prepared to destroy [Sri Lanka] army camps and push aside barbed wire road blocks, I will pass this message to our leadership Vanni tomorrow.

"We accept an interim administration for the Tamil areas in view of the suffering of our people," Ratnathurai said. "We call upon youths and technical experts from all fields to join us in rebuilding our nation and its economy. This is the message from the leadership of the Liberation Tigers on their Pongu Thamil day," he said. "We have not come here to ask for election votes. We have come to carry out political work in the new climate of the day. The veterans of numerous battles, llamparuhty and Paappa, are here. They will help solve the problems faced by our people. Mr. Ratnathurai said that while Tamil Tigers were not entirely satisfied with the way they had come to Jaffna [in reference to the present restriction on numbers imposed by the ceasefire agreement], but had done so based on their trust of the Sri Lanka government.

"This is the last chance for the Sri Lankan government to establish a permanent peace in the country by finding a honourable and just political solution that could meet the legitimate aspirations of Tamils," he said. Referring to the fragile nature of the peace process, Mr. Ratnathurai said that the Sinhala people should realise the last 'peace bus' was about to leave; and if they failed to get on board they'll have to "face the Paandavas" (victors in the great Baratha war in the epic Mahabarat). "We are for peace. There can be no doubt about our stand in this regard. But the government should take constructive steps to fulfil the aspirations of Tamils when providing a political solution," he said. Mr. Ratnathurai said that a video of the LTTE assault on Katunayake airforce base and the adjoining international airport would soon be released.

The LTTE has never formally acknowledged responsibility for the devastating assault. "We no longer wish to hide the truth as to who was responsible. The entire Tamil people will soon take pride in the bravery and daring of the Tamil Tigers who penetrated the stronghold of the Sri Lanka Air Force." "We will dedicate the tape to President Chandrika for her 'war for peace' and to Anuruddha [Ratwatte]," he said to applause. - Tamil Guardian, London

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