‘Tamil Tiger terrorism’ - A reply to M.A. Sumanthiran, MP

• Written by  Gamini Gunawardane 
• Sunday, 03 June 2012 00:00 

 In his recent speech in Parliament reported in ‘Tamil Tiger Terrorism’ in Sri Lanka ‘The Island’ of  March 15, Mr. Sumanthiran had stated among other things referring to the publication of a book titled ‘Gota’s War,’ as follows: “ Sir, the subtitle says ‘the crushing of  Tamil Tiger Terrorism in Sri Lanka’. It says’ Tamil Tiger Terrorism in Sri Lanka’. Tamil equals Tiger equals terrorist………………. I am talking about the language used. You say ‘Tamil Tiger Terrorist’ (he repeats). Tamil equals Tiger equals terrorist”. And then he goes on to say, “That kind of mindset will never advance any kind of reconciliation in this country,” etc.Now it appears to me that this interpretation is skewed to say the least if not communally motivated. I am reminded here what a former IGP asserted in answer to a question at a press conference: “Indeed all Tamils are not ‘Tiger Terrorists’, but it so happens that all Tiger Terrorists are Tamils.” Here lies the subtle difference. To take the matter further, during the JVP insurrections of 1971 and later in 88/89, the participants were described as JVP terrorists. They were not referred to as ‘Sinhala JVP Terrorists’ because unlike the ‘Tamil Tiger Terrorists’ they were not fighting for a separate state for the Sinhalese or any other communal cause.In fact they were referred to as ‘Che Guevara Kalliya’ by the villagers because they were supposed to have been rebelling to usher a radical socialist state. To explain the matter still further, I recall that during the ’71 Insurgency when a Police or Army mobile patrol stopped people on the road on suspicion in places like Vavunia, all that the Tamil youngsters did was, throw up their arms and declare: “Ayya, Nan Thamil aal”. That was all the password required and off they went. Besides, what control does a government or any other agency have in determining what terms a free writer should use in describing the title of his book?

“Rata watakara weta bendath Kata watakara weta bandinta behe” meaning “even if you could fence the whole country you cannot fence round the mouth!” That is how the Sinhala society recognized the Freedom of Speech before the concept was developed by the civilized West as a Fundamental Right. On the other hand, many publications in the media and in the internet refer to Sri Lankan government as a ”Sinhala (chauvinist) government” and security forces of the state as the ‘Sinhala Army’ when in fact there are so many Muslims, Malays Burghers and an occasional Tamil serving in these forces. Did anybody or Mr. Sumanthiran object to it  in Parliament saying this is hardly the way to talk about these things if one was keen promote reconciliation? Can reconciliation be advanced only form oneside?

It will be interesting to know what the TNA has so far done to promote reconciliation during the last three years. Is picking up and blowing such a non-issue to mountainous proportions in a place like the Parliament the way to clear the obstructions to reconciliation? In a way it is a good thing that he expressed this view. Now we know the kind of mindset that obstructs reconciliation who needs help.
The next issue he has raised is the “Removal of Tamil officers from Tamil areas and appointing persons who have no proficiency in Tamil will not advance as has happened yesterday to the GA Vavunia. This follows, (from) some time ago the appointment of the GA of Mannar. We protested.”

Why? Are these places not parts of Sri Lanka? All Sinhala SLAS officers are required to pass a test in Tamil conversation and reading as far as I know (subject to correction) and vice versa for Tamil and Muslim officers, before their confirmation. So what is their problem in serving the people in these areas? We know several non-Tamil GAs who have excelled in Jaffna such as Somapala Gunadheera who even in his retirement writes so much with great understanding of the local problems of Tamil people. Then we had Lionel Fernando who endeared himself so much to the Jaffna people that when his mother died there, they insisted that her funeral be held there and it was done.

We also have the case of Neville Jayaweera. who excelled as GA both in Jaffna and later in Vavunia in difficult times. Also comes to mind the name of  Wimal Amarasekera who was extremely popular. Kingsley Wickramesuriya, one time DIG Northern Province, has many Tamil friends who visit him yet in Colombo. So what is the big deal here?  There was Mr. Senadheera of Sri Lanka Customs mostly posted in the North who was fluent in Tamil. Why cannot we resume the same relationships that were there, at least now? Then we recall having Tamil SAS officers as GA Galle and Hambantota.
No one even realized they were Tamils! They got on famously with the people there. There are very senior Tamil Public Servants holding important positions in Colombo. Until recently Mr. Logesvaran held the important position of Secretary to the National Police Commission. Nobody had any problem of dealing with him just because he was a Tamil. So where is the problem? Who is trying to keep the two communities apart deliberately but the politicians? They will have no platform to stand on if these relationships with the common people are restored.

Mr. S further goes on to state, “We have consistently protested about the fact the Government agent of Trincomalee is also a person, who has no proficiency in Tamil, and worse he is a retired Military man.” Is a retired military man disqualified to be GA Jaffna or in any other place? To my recollection, during the UNP times the GA of Gampaha was also retired Military man. There were no protests. He did not do any injustice to anyone. Trinco is a special case. The present GA’s predecessor, a civilian, was killed in his office one evening. So may be one needs a military man to hold the place for some time. For, it was only a few weeks ago that it was reported that an EPDP man was killed by three LTTE Terrorists who had crept into the area from Tamil Nadu. The intelligence services had been reporting that there were many Terrorists who had not surrendered, hiding in Trincomalee District.

So these may be some of the considerations to have a military man as GA Trinco for the moment. As regards his alleged lack of proficiency in Tamil, I believe the population in Trinco District consists of almost equal proportions of Tamil, Sinhala and Muslim people. I am sure the GA may be having the services of Tamil interpreters to help him. After all, the British who manned these positions for over a century knew neither Tamil nor Sinhala. They still did well. There administrative reports demonstrate that they had enormous concern for the people and their problems.

Mr. S goes on to say: “Only two provinces in this country have as their governors retired military personnel – that’s the North and the East. Why is that?” Let me give the probable reason. Jaffna, Mannar and Trincomalee are places where the GAs were murdered by LTTE Terrorists. It may be that the government feels it prudent to have retired military men instead of military men in active service, to have a supervisory cover for some more time. The government, with their Intelligence Services, are the best judges to decide on this. For unlike the politicians, they are institutionally responsible to hold the hard won peace in this country. Perhaps if there was a re-emergence of violence, the TNA could take cover behind the Terrorists like they did the last time. But a government cannot afford to do that.

Now that we are on this subject we may also deal with the agitation by TNA and interested parties including those abroad, to have the Military Camps removed particularly from the Northern Province. Why is this? Is the NP not a part of this country? It is left to the military to decide in what parts of the country they could set up camps according to the strategic security needs of the country. Accordingly they locate their camps in different parts of the country. There are Tamils living in some of these areas too. But nobody protests. The protest comes only form the Northern  Province. What is special about Northern Province?

Of course from time to time Military personnel have gone on a spree of violence owing to local reasons even in the Southern Province – that too on a reduced scale now. But that is not a reason to ask closing down a military camp and go berserk in the internet news channels? The US  could least afford to ask Sri Lanka  where to locate her military camps when according to today’s (22/5) Island, they have 176 military bases, not even in their own country, but all over the world, ostensibly to protect themselves against Terrorists! Besides does it happen in any part of the world, including Tamil Nadu where a section of the people object to the presence of the bases of their national army in their midst?

Mr. S then refers to the violation of the constitution by the government. This is not any way to defend or otherwise the games that the government plays with the constitution. But here too there are some reservations. Mr. S remonstrates the government on their failure to fully implement the 13th Amendment. Many people have written that the 13th Amendment is a flawed piece of legislation and a standing insult to the honor of an independent country. I do not wish to expand on it as much has been said in this subject. Most people feel that the government should not proceed any further on this matter without formally consulting the people, at least at this late stage. In regard to violation of the constitution, my point is that the TNA can least afford to talk on this subject.

Article 157A (2) [in Chapter 20] of the Sri Lanka Constitution, states: “No political party or other association or organization shall have as one of its aims or objects the establishment of a separate State within the territory of Sri Lanka.” I believe at least a few of the parties that constitute the TNA still have the idea of seeking a separate state as their objective. The TNA itself until May 19, 2009 accepted the fact that the LTTE who was engaged in an armed struggle against the lawfully elected government, as the sole representative of the Tamil people for that purpose. Therefore I believe the very presence of the TNA and Mr. Sumanthiran is ultra vires the constitution.