Editorial

01st November 1998

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The course of war

It is not only during times of bitter clashes in the North-East theatre that the government, the Opposition and the people of this country think of the war.

While the Tigers are licking their wounds after the battles of Kilinochchi and Mankulam undoubtedly they are chewing the cud mapping out their strategy and their next strike. That ought to be the case in Colombo as well.

On the face of it, few things are clear to anyone with an interest in what's going on.

Firstly, the LTTE's numbers are not necessarily decreasing. Child recruitment continues either by forcible conscription or by voluntary enrolment. The number of LTTE cadres killed means little or nothing over a period of time. It will mean something only if the armed forces have the capability to keep rolling strike after strike.

Secondly, the LTTE's strategy is clear — isolate the Jaffna peninsula. It has hit civil aircraft while the Air Force has limited capacity to airlift troops or cargo for the civilians. The Sea Tigers are a menace in the waters, striking civilian and military vessels. The only option for the government that has now retaken Jaffna is to open a land route known as the MSR (Main Supply Route).

Thirdly, the LTTE is destabilizing the civilian administration in Jaffna with members of the TULF, PLOTE, EPDP and other parties being selected for assassinations.

We are happy that at long last, the government is taking a long, hard look reviewing the war — the immediate plans, the long term objectives, the strategies and related matters.

For too long has the President who is the Minister of Defence and the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, left the prosecution of the war in the hands of one man - General Anuruddha Ratwatte. He has proved to be a very general General. Political agendas have apparently been given priority in the prosecution of this war which has been one of champagne for the generals and while the soldier is cannon fodder.

So, from what we understand, we are happy that the National Security Council has focused on which way we are heading and has been able to identify on some crucial factors both the independent media and the opposition have been hammering to almost deaf ears all these months. — to keep political agendas out, to give the military the job of combating the LTTE according to its agenda and to take the rap for its failures, not just the medals for the successes. Champagne can be savoured only after the LTTE has been effectively marginalized and that is a long way off.

Heads must roll if camps are over-run in the future. There is little or no accountability among the top brass today but they in turn say that they are only following orders from the political leadership.

In Colombo the private sector is all agog about finding a solution to what it calls the ''ethnic conflict'. Ironically some of the top-most captains of industry in Colombo are members of the aggrieved minorities.

There is excitement that Derek Fatchet, the successor of Liam Fox is coming next week to get the PA and the UNP to talk to each other.

Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris is trying to peddle his devolution package through this British initiative.

A British parliamentary delegation is here talking of the peace deal with the IRA. Little do they know that the IRA is like boy scouts compared with the LTTE and that Ireland is in fact a separate island from the British Isles, and maybe the British should not be there in the first place.

But the cold and harsh reality is this - and nothing but this. The LTTE wants Eelam no less. It feels it can win it by continuing this protracted war and is confident it can continue it. In fact, no one in his senses will under-estimate the LTTE's ability to keep this bloody war going on and on. Not winning but not losing either. Or in a different way losing one battle and winning one as in the case of Mankulam and Kilinochchi.

We therefore commend this government's better-late-than-never focus on the war, for this war is going to be the pivot around which, the future of this county is going to revolve in the days, months and probably years ahead.

Political Column

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