Editorial

10th January 1999

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The odd JOB

The joint management of operations of the security forces by a centralised body "Joint Operations Bureau" has again been revived. Significantly it has come within two months after President, Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, took personal control of running the military machine against the LTTE.

The need for a joint operational command in the conduct of the war has been an on-off affair since 1985.

The difference, however, is that in the earlier joint command structure, command responsibility was clearly vested and thereby accountability also clearly defined.

The JOB is only vested with advisory, monitoring and co-ordinating responsibilities. Although it is made answerable to the President and the National Security Council (NSC), in those functions, the question of accountability is not clearly defined.

As it stands, it would appear that the accountability for the execution of NSC policy remains with that of the single service commanders with JOB as a bystander. Hence there is no change in the chain of command as it existed earlier.

To military observers, the point at issue is which authority has de facto command ? Is it the military professionals or is it at a political level ? In the hindshght of 'Operation Jaya Sikurui' (Victory Assured), it would appear that the need to satisfy a political agenda assumed prominence over military sense. The very failure of Jaya Sikurui, since its commencement appears to have been launched with inadequate evaluation of material resources, human reserves and casualty estimates clearly indicates a lack of military professionalism.

It is to circumvent these grave shortcomings that a centralised joint service authority was felt essential. For if it is to function effectively, so as not to compromise military realities with political exigencies, that centralised command must have adequate teeth. This means it should have the right of command and control.

The country has sadly experienced the lack of answerability of military commanders. Debacles like Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi/Paranthan, during the PA government's tenure of office, stand out as glaring failures in which no one has been made accountable or answerable. An advisory bureau headed by a retired General in civvies does not appear to be the answer.

Wayamba chaos

Even though election violence is not something new in Sri Lankan politics, what's happening in the North Western (Wayamba) province these days is plain scary. The kind of braggadocio that was being heard soon after nominations were handed over, was the sort that would be commonly expected before a boxing bout. Though they didn't have boxing gloves or baggy shorts on, Mr. Jeyaraj Fernandopulle and Mr. Jayawickrema Perera were both spoiling for a fight from word go. The NWP would have qualified easily as the country's most notorious peacetime political killing fields. No matter who says what, the likes of Jeyaraj Fernadopulle contributed to the escalation of the politics of violence in the province.

The favourite Mafia method of bumping off political opponents in the NWP was the tactic of murdering them when they were on their way to, or returning from, the law courts.

In sum, what can be said about political violence in the NWP is that both parties have bluntly insulted the voters by saying that they see violence as an inevitability in the electoral process.

Government MP's are going about in vehicles with numberplates removed, and political observers have recorded 151 incidents of violence , of which according to them, the PA has been responsible for 87 and the UNP for 32. But the circus goes on unabated.

What kind of insult has the Government offered the founder of the coalition's main political party, on what would have been the late leader's hundredth birthday? . If this is the political culture and ethos that can be displayed at a provincial level election, what can the political parties offer the voters countrywide when they next exercise their right of franchise? Chaos?

Political Column

Editorial/Opinion Contents