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Is Geneva a turning point? Core theme not to be missed

The date: 2003 Jan 06. The place: Batticaloa. The occasion: A meeting between the delegation from the Sri Lankan Armed Forces and the LTTE.

“The Sri Lankan army should supervise the activities of the paramilitary groups and keep them under control. Recent incidents in Batticaloa appear to be aimed at casting aspersions on us and confounding the peace process. Agent provocateurs have been attempting to derail the peace process in the east by instigating violence against communities in Valaichenai, Mutur and Akkaraippattu and by staging abduction dramas” – LTTE delegate.

“We want to build on the understanding that has developed between us and the Sri Lankan armed forces. By doing this we also want to dispel apprehensions among our people about the future of the peace process” – Mr. Koushalyan, Head of Batticaloa-Amparai LTTE Political Division.

LTTE leaders made these statements after their meeting with the SLA delegation that included among others, Commander of the Batticaloa’s 23-3 Brigade, Superintendent of Police, Head of the Special Task Force.

Reading through the sentiments expressed by Mr.Koushalyan, one cannot help crying aloud that such a wonderful optimistic leader with an unflinching and sincere commitment to the peace process was gunned down on 07th of February 2005 along with Human Rights activist and former legislator Chandranehru Arianayagam in a location juxtaposed to a major military complex of the SLA in Welikanda.

Three years on. Yes, the LTTE has been voicing its concern over the activities of para-military groups vis-à-vis clause 1.8 of the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) since 2003 and the government and its forces did not take it seriously. The Tamil people said this in so many words in their peaceful uprisings in all Tamil districts from July 2005. Cavalier, who cares, lackadaisical and adamant refusal to make attitudinal change, are the terms that click in the Tamil psyche in so far as the government response is concerned. Killings, harassment and abductions continue.

The international community that is watching what is going to happen in Geneva when both the parties to the CFA meet specifically to discuss effective implementation has a role to drive home to the SL government that it has to stop the continued activities of the armed groups. This is a serious impediment, if not the impediment, to effectively implement the CFA.

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07 February 2006

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