Sanctioned by religion, killings go on

By Kumbakarana

In 1997 Sri Lanka had established a world record as being the country with the highest number of suicides in the world, with 47 per 100,000 persons. The total for the year was approximately 9000. While the figure came down to 4000 in 1998, the total number of people who had taken their own lives numbered one lakh since 1983. 90 percent of these were Sinhala Buddhists. But Sri Lanka does not seem to be too bothered by these deaths. Instead she is showing the greatest concern about the suicides of 147 Black Tigers.

Why is it that the government ignores the suicides of a lakh of people but is ready to even change the Constitution because of the suicide of 147 Black Tigers.

Could it be because the 147 are Tamils and the others are Sinhalese? Or is it because when they kill themselves they also kill eminent persons. The answer could be both reasons.

The Tigers have admitted that 14,000 of their cadres have been killed during the past 16 years. About 9000 have died after 1995 and among them are the 147 Black Tigers. Anton Balasingham once said that while the Tamils have thousands of youth willing to sacrifice their lives for Eelaam, the Sinhalese had only one soldier -Gamini Gunaratne of Hasalaka. But the fact is that while there is no publicity and the government even tends to deliberately suppress the information, there is no dearth of Sinhala soldiers who are willing to lay down their lives for the country. Unofficial reports state that hundreds of them sacrificed their lives at Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi etc.

Unfortunately the Sinhala community which can repeat by rote the names of the Black Tigers including Captain Miller, has no such information on their soldiers. Instead they build statues and memorials and hold commemorations for soldiers- dead and missing in action.

The LTTE always uses the example of the Black Tigers as the personification of strong character, discipline and dedication because of their readiness to swallow the cyanide capsule, any time.

Many international commentators repeat the mantra that after the Vietcong of Vietnam, the Tigers are leading the world in sacrificing their lives. On the other hand the Sri Lankan security services are depicted as frightened mice who desert their posts, in order to show their low morale.

It is generally estimated that there are about 22,000 deserters from the forces. Some of them do return to the army but are moralised soldiers. However, when you look at the total numbers in the armed services which stands at about 247,000 the deserters amount to around 10 percent, in the last two decades.

More important is the fact that the soldier does not have a special place in the hearts of the larger segment of the Sinhala community whose life is one big carnival. It merely sees the soldier as another customer for its goods.

South of Vavuniya the soldier encounters a coterie ready to pick his pockets and a pack of self-interested power hungry politicians. In such a scenario it is a miracle that only 10 percent have deserted the armed forces.

Even in the LTTE where hosannas are sung about their heroism, deserters are plentiful. We don't hear about those who abandon the cyanide culture. But between 1993 and December 1998, 788 Tiger cadres surrendered to the Army. This year the figure was 276, making a total of 1064.

At present it is reported that the strength of the LTTE is around 5000 and for any combined operation they can muster some 3500 cadres. This itself is a miracle. Many commentators say if operation Riviresa had been followed immediately by Jaya Sikurui there was a possibility that in the Wanni at least 50 percent of the cadres would have deserted the LTTE. This was proved during the IPKF operation in the Wanni in 1988.

The cyanide culture, and the dedication of the Tigers is another myth invented to enhance the image of the Tigers.

But in the last five years there has been some impact of Hindu fundamentalism on the LTTE. Groups such as the RSS (Rashtiya Swayan Sevake) the International Hindu Front, the Shivsena have begun learning from the LTTE and vice versa. Even though the LTTE has been described as a Christian missionary army, the impact of Hindu fundamentalism is considerable.

While Prabhakaran says the LTTE is aligned with the Hindu vision, the US Secretary of State once said that the LTTE is a Hindu fundamentalist organisation. (She retracted this later, but US officials hold the view that Hindu fundamentalism influences the LTTE).

According to a dialogue between Krishna (Vishnu) and Arjuna, the taking of one's life and that of another is endorsed by religious belief. Under the Hindu concept of an unchanging soul transmigrating from life to life, death does not end life, and life does not end with death. Krishna tells Arjuna there is no sin in taking one's own life. The appearance may change, but the unchanging soul will not. So suicide and killing of others is justified by religion. Sections of the Defence authorities who are falling over each other to build Hindu kovils would do well to realise the newest spiritual sustenance of the Tiger killers is the Hindu Atman concept. With great foresight the LTTE is publicising a video which shows the Black Tigers performing Vishnu Pujas before their departure to kill their targets and themselves. The Christian missionaries supporting the LTTE and propagating their religion will soon meet the reincarnation of Vishnu, in the Wanni and the East.

Blue-helmeted rapists mar UN name

NEW YORK - The blue-helmeted UN soldier is expected to be a highly-disciplined peacekeeper and a role model to the outside world.

But, unfortunately, not all of them have been exemplary in their conduct — some of them acting as if they were part of a ragtag force running amok under the protective umbrella of the UN flag.

The accusations against UN soldiers have ranged from rape and human rights violations to torture and robbery.

But despite these military excesses and human failings, the overwhelming majority of UN forces have performed exceptionally well — saving lives and providing humanitarian service in some of the world's worst battle zones.

Since the first UN peacekeeping operation was established in the Middle East in June 1948, over 1,580 UN military and civilian peacekeepers have died in the line of duty.

''It is a dangerous business,'' says the UN, which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1988 for its peacekeeping operations.

Last week the UN, for the first time, agreed that its peacekeeping troops will formally abide by the principles of the Geneva Conventions and observe all international humanitarian laws.

Secretary-General Kofi Annan signed a new protocol to mark the 50th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions which lay down binding guidelines to be followed by warring parties in armed conflicts worldwide. The Conventions came into effect on 12 August 1949.

The new guidelines are titled "Observance by United Nations Forces of International Humanitarian Law".

All UN troops will now refrain from attacking, destroying, removing or rendering useless objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population, such as foodstuff, crops, livestock and drinking water installation and supplies.

In particular, the UN is committed to uphold international humanitarian law in all its peacekeeping and peace enforcement operations.

In case of any violations, "members of the military personnel of a UN force are subject to prosecution in their national courts."

The UN forces will also make a clear distinction at all times between civilians and combatants and between civilian objects and military objectives.

"Military operations shall be directed only against combatants and military objectives," the new guidelines say. Attacks on civilians or civilian objects are prohibited.

Women shall be especially protected against any attack, in particular against rape, enforced prostitution, or any other form of indecent assault.

Children shall be the object of special respect and shall be protected against any form of indecent assault.

According to the guidelines, the right of the UN force to choose methods and means of combat is not unlimited.

All UN troops are required to respect the rules prohibiting or restricting the use of certain weapons and methods of combat under the relevant instruments of international humanitarian law.

The UN force is also prohibited from using weapons or methods of combat "of a nature to cause unnecessary suffering" and from attacking monuments of art, architecture or history, archaeological sites, works of art, places of worship and museums and libraries which constitute the cultural or spiritual heritage of peoples.

At a ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions, Annan said: "As the UN enters a new century, our commitment to ensuring respect for international humanitarian law and ending the culture of impunity will be at the heart of our efforts to promote peace and security. As we do so, we will continue to find inspiration and courage in the principles of the Geneva Conventions."

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