Look after the citizens of Jaffna

The Government's volte-face in the immediate aftermath of the latest round of peace talks in Geneva raised just one simple question: Why?

The negotiators representing the Government, hailed the last time for outsmarting the LTTE, this time fared disastrously.

The fact that the LTTE was going to push for the re-opening of the A-9 highway that links the mainland with the Jaffna peninsula and highlight the humanitarian issues revolving around the difficulties faced by the long-suffering people of the North was known.

That the TNA had sent the LTTE a joint petition asking it to take up these issues in Geneva should have given prior notice to the Government that this was going to be the LTTE's game plan at the talks.

So how well prepared was the Government to react to this strategy?
Clearly, the Government was ill-prepared, and eventually wrong-footed.

The LTTE has consistently avoided discussing core issues. Time and time again, it has kept postponing resolving issues like democracy, pluralism, elections, surrender of arms, human rights etc., that should be dealt with if any progress is to be made at resolving this long-festering problem.

There has been some post-conference criticism on the manner in which the Norwegian facilitators structured the peace talks. They seemed to be content to opt for the traditional sermon by Minister Solheim and opening statements by the two sides -- all three parties blaming each other for the impasse.

At least they spared everyone the lighting of the oil lamp (of course, some would say that was why the talks failed). Had the Norwegians really wanted the talks to proceed, they could have split the talks into two segments -- Immediate Issues and Core Issues.

Instead, the talks collapsed before you could say "Erik Solheim".

The fact that the LTTE wants the A-9 re-opened because it is losing revenue by way of taxes, and the road's closure hampers its mobility is an open secret.

But the Government missed an opportunity to use the Geneva forum to bring out these facts. It ought to have asked the LTTE to stop taxing the people whose suffering the LTTE wants to alleviate.

Having said the government will not open the A9, and thereby being seen as an inhumane Government, it says it will now do so if the LTTE stops offensive military action using the highway.

Whatever the military considerations, the Government has a moral responsibility to ensure its citizens in the North, trapped in this crossfire, are cared for to the best of its ability.

The Government could have offered a conditional opening of the A-9 in Geneva -- under what could have been termed "verifiable conditions" so that the onus would have been on the LTTE to maintain good order if supplies were to pass to the beleaguered Jaffna citizenry.

This week, the Government requested the Indian Government to step in. As there is some reluctance on the part of civilian shipping lines to transport stocks to the North, the two governments can ensure essential supplies reach the northern port of Kankesanthurai from the southern Indian ports of Cochin, Tuticorin, Chennai etc.

The Indian Central Government will need to ensure that it is genuine humanitarian supplies that go out of India, and a Customs point can be opened in KKS with specially assigned officers working under the direction of the Government Agent, Jaffna, who is the designated Customs Chief for the port in normal times. The Government can even consider duty-free imports of the essential items to win the goodwill of the people of Jaffna in the hearts and minds campaign.

Under no circumstances must the Government allow this humanitarian crisis to fester into a full- blown issue that will ensure the wrath of the world-at-large which may then be prompted to slap unwanted sanctions on Sri Lanka. It cannot also turn a blind eye on the continued sufferings of the Jaffna populace, struggling to find the essentials of food, medicine and fuel. The Government is proceeding with its 'defensive assaults' policy to neutralise the LTTE's fighting machinery, while saying its doors are open for negotiations.

But by its conduct in Geneva last weekend, the Government betrayed its bona fides, intentionally or otherwise, revealing that it was not genuinely interested in pursuing peace through negotiations. Which begs the next question: Where do we go from here?

Already, the UN has issued a damning indictment on Sri Lanka, which we publish in our front page today, on its reluctance to assist international humanitarian efforts. We surely do not want to qualify for Pariah State status.