europeus

The talks in 2002 broke down as well, but the only positive outcome was the cessation of hostilities, an eerie but quiet somewhat calm situation as both sides held on to the Cease Fire Agreement signed in 2002. As the internal political turmoil continued till 2005 with minority governments, political power of components of executive and legislature split between two parties, Sri Lankan political response to the peace process was limited mainly to rhetoric. The critical factor was the November elections of 2005 with the victory of Mahinda Rajapaksa as President of Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan ultra neo liberalists in collusion with the Western media attempted to portray the new President as a Hawk and a Hardliner and prophesized return to war as imminent. The President did face a night mare with the rebels began to violate the cease fire with massive attacks on Sri Lankan armed forces both on the ground and sea. The west now has developed a fear psychosis of the ruthless tactics of al’Qaeda but for Sri Lankans well versed in the local battle context LTTE is the father figure in dissemination of all mayhem.

In October 12, 2000, the USS Cole an Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyer stopped at Aden, in Yemen to refuel when a small vessel came near it and blew it self up. This was the first al’Qaeda naval operation which the US faced and indeed was an embarrassing one. One of the worlds most sophisticated battle ships, even fitted with the Aegis defense systems was deprived of its sea worthiness in a clandestine un conventional attack. It succeeded in killing 17 sailors and making the ship dead on its track. This was made a media highlight of the terror groups capabilities. But unlike al’Qaeda LTTE maintains a sea naval wing which includes high speed boats designed for ramming Sri Lankan navy gunboats. These ultra fast boats are modified with rams and multiple outboard engines making ultra fast. When al’Qaeda moves in stealthily the LTTE engage the SL navy in fire fights and rams gunboats amidst incoming fire.

The LTTE naval wing also designed their boats with their body architecture similar to that of the F117 - Nighthawk stealth fighters. The same composite radar evasive coating attributed to the Nighthawk was not a possibility. These boats do successfully evade naval radars to launch surprise attacks. The boats were designed much before even the ‘Sea shadow’ project which attempted to build stealth naval crafts and the ongoing ‘sea jet’ project.

The above is just an example provided to get anyone to come into terms with scale of the conflict in SL and its sophistication. When many military strategists attempt to outline guerrilla movements they do not look at these elements. The symbol of LTTE graduation is the cyanide capsule to be worn around every carders neck. It symbolizes their devotion and commitment. The LTTE is in trouble in the current context with weakening of its international networks, internal splits in the organization. This lead to lose of key regional strong holds which they held for a long time. The proxy wars waged by Para militaries allegedly back by SL government against soft LTTE targets have affected them as well. But Guerrilla movements are vicious when they are at their weakest. This was demonstrated when the rebels launched a spate of attacks on Sri Lankan forces in December and January last year leading to this year.

Sri Lankan Governments Approach
The Sri Lankan government with its so called Hawkish Presidents approach to this chaotic situation was quite commendable. The recent LTTE attacks prior to the peace talks were to provocate a military reprisal, which did not happen in mass scale. Instead the government pushed the LTTE by applying pressure through the international community, this time especially with the might of USA backing it. This resulted in the first round of talks that were held few days back in a secluded location in Geneva. The talks purely focused on returning to a position the two parties were before, a cessation of hostilities. Though there were many skeptics at the start of the talks the skepticism receded with the end result. Though not a significant gain was achieved both parties agreed to put an end to the violence while agreeing for further talks. In a nutshell these were the two most significant achievements gained in the talks.

Where does one proceed from here?

There was another reason why I provided the military innovativeness and strength of the LTTE, it is to contrast that with their current approach. Sri Lankan state was sometimes lagging behind the LTTE in battle skills and improvised hardware. By the mid nineties gained mammoth military capabilities with the opening up of the old Soviet arms market. Sri Lanka acquired main battle tanks and armored personal careers from Czech republic, Mi 24 versions of battle copters, Israeli and Chinese built Gun boats, Ukrainian Migs and military training and expertise from US, British and Israeli special forces. Thus the state was militarized to a very alarming rate though it is the second oldest democracy of the commonwealth. It seems militarization has done so much harm to the core values of democracy and freedom. That can be taken up in a separate political analysis. LTTE has now altered their strategy they have also taken up the role advancing the apparatus of governance, and establishing the necessary components and an ideological wave of a Tamil state. One can argue they did it from a long time back. But the reality is that they have changed their unique selling proposition from freedom fighters, nationalist movement to a movement advancing the parameters of its homeland. Still one would think it is similar. The contrast clearly echoes when one can browse through the literature both in print and web emerging lately from the LTTE.

Once it was gun wielding tiger cadres in uniforms, battle exercises, passing out parades of suicide carders, Special Forces training and demonstrations. The current tendencies are to visualize building of critical infrastructures including schools, administrative centres, computer training facilities, leisure facilities, children’s homes. The military signs are mostly concentrated on training of civil defense forces. This is the new look LTTE despite all its problems they want the world to see. Challenges faced by the Sri Lankan government are not just gaining the upper hand in the discussions but simultaneously work on a program to win the hearts and mind of the Tamil people. This is a battle of a virtual space, to expand the ideological limits of these people to see the limit of whole of Sri Lanka or look beyond the virtual eelam. The government should realize until barriers of communication, movements are there these people will be citizens of a separate state.

The current peace talks in strategic terms is similar to a suppression barrage fired to keep hostilities at bay, but long term peace for this country means coexistence or integration of ethnic identities by voluntary means, which is an arduous and long term effort. If the state does not respond to needs, wants and woes of a group of all it’s people which it is responsible for lose of the structural integrity of the State from all ends is inevitable. There are multiple resources used in this fresh peace talks in terms of negotiation skills development, bargaining and legal advice. As a writer and an analyst I have the responsibility of directing constructive criticism and illuminate the other end that we all are seeking. In this journey Sri Lankans must evolve , the state must evolve and the ideologies governing the heads of its people must evolve that will accept dissent and space for accommodation of all. Rhetoric should be matched with action, Visions be manifested in constructions. One thing can stand out in these structural identities and entrenchments that have divided the state. It is the time for the emergence of a powerful agency with the capacity of accommodation. We as Sri Lankans hope and pray the new leadership of the country and government possess it or acquires it.

Sri Lanka for ALL and ALL for Sri Lanka, so Say Shall we all!

Geneva joint statement: Govt., LTTE committed to truce
The following eight paragraph statement was issued by Norwegian peace facilitators after the Geneva talks between the Government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
"The Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) met in Geneva 22-23 February 2006 for talks on the Ceasefire Agreement.
"The parties discussed issues related to the ceasefire, including the concerns of the Muslim, Sinhalese, and Tamil civilians. "The GOSL and the LTTE are committed to respecting and upholding the Ceasefire Agreement, and reconfirmed their commitment to fully co-operate with and respect the rulings of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM).
"The GOSL and the LTTE are committed to taking all necessary measures to ensure that there will be no intimidation, acts of violence, abductions or killings.
"The LTTE is committed to taking all necessary measures to ensure that there will be no acts of violence against the security forces and police. The GOSL is committed to taking all necessary measures in accordance with the Ceasefire Agreement to ensure that no armed group or person other than Government security forces will carry arms or conduct armed operations.
"The GOSL and the LTTE discussed all issues concerning the welfare of children in the North East, including the recruitment of children.
"The SLMM will report on implementation on the above agreements at the next session of talks. "The parties requested the Swiss Government to host the next round of talks in Geneva on 19-21 April 2006."

Harunda Ranura Vidanage is a PhD Student attached to the University of Edimburgh