More to Lose and Nothing to
Gain by Over-Pressurising Sri Lanka on Human Rights
Dilrook Kannangara
There are two sides to all wars. All the battles involve human rights
violations to differing extents. However, there is no justification
for not minimizing such violations. In a heatmap of human rights violations,
Sri Lanka would not spin up as a redcell. Its HR violations record is
a minor one compared to other places like Sudan, Bosnia, Iraq, Afghanistan,
Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Burma, China, Laos, Lebanon, Palestine,
Cuba, Guantanamo Bay, Chechnya, etc, etc. However, there are interested
parties sympathetic towards the LTTE (a terrorist group in more than
32 countries) that exaggerate beyond reasonable proportions the HR situation
in Sri Lanka.
Taking sides and taking the wrong side
The European Union must take extreme care in not parting with a side
to the conflict. The conflict is better managed by the parties to the
conflict than outsiders. However, LTTE is not par with the government
of Sri Lanka. It was in 2006 that the EU branded the LTTE as a terrorist
group because of its nexus with other terror groups that have killed
civilians in the UK, Holland, Norway, Spain, etc. Another reason was
their acts of terrorism unleashed on local populations, especially those
originated from Sri Lanka, in their endeavour to extort money to support
the LTTE. Yet another reason is the use of children in warfare; in fact
most LTTE fighters are children some as young as seven (7) years old.
There are many more acts of terrorism like cross boarder terrorism,
drug trafficking, human smuggling, ethnic cleansing in Sri Lanka, gang
violence in Europe and running a global network of terror that can easily
be used by Al Qaeda, Hezbollah, Jihad, Hamas, JI, etc.
Therefore, exerting too much pressure on Sri Lanka will only favour
the LTTE; it will whitewash the LTTE to a great extent; belittle their
extreme acts of savagery of recruiting children into war which nobody
can control – not even the EU or the UN and will give a sense of
false legitimacy to their acts of terrorism.
The aggressor and the defender
LTTE has always been the aggressor and the Lankan government was in
a position of defence. The Ceasefire Agreement signed in 2002 was grossly
violated by the LTTE killing thousands during its first year. Then it
proceeded to establish bases in government controlled areas and the
Sri Lankan territorial waters became a no-go-zone for the country’s
navy. Things came to a head when the LTTE captured a sluice gate and
cut water to 25,000 families forcing them to perish. This triggered
a defence campaign by the government.
The LTTE is now readying itself for a chemical attack to be launched
against the security forces. Enough amounts of Sulphuric Acid and Potassium
Cyanide has been transported to LTTE laboratories in Vanni to produce
Hydrogen Cyanide; the same gas used by Aum Shin Rekio cult in Japan
and Al Qaeda also attempted to use this in 2003.
If the LTTE is allowed to violate human rights in such a gruesome manner,
there is no sense in blaming the Sri Lanka government for subsequent
human rights violations. If such an attack takes place, the government
will be compelled to use whatever means available to quell the LTTE
as a demoralised security force means surrender to terrorism and riots.
It should be remembered that the cause of the 1983 riots was the savage
killing of 13 police officers by the LTTE and the government inaction.
There is every likelihood of it happening again unless the government
convinces the masses that more carnage is caused to the LTTE by the
forces. It is too late to consider human rights in such an eventuality
as human rights should have been considered in respect of the original
attack by the aggressor.
Putting pressure on the defender and not the aggressor is simply calamitous
towards protecting human rights. It need not be reminded that the defender
also has human rights; in fact more humans’ rights to protect by
available means.
Co-operation more important than threats
The Sri Lanka government must be encased in an EU’s human rights
plan as a partner; it should not be subjugated to the level of a slave
in which case the present cordial relationship of co-operation will
cease. There is noway the EU can ensure human rights in Sri Lanka, antagonising
the elected government. This has its base in the local community. Contrary
to some media reports, human rights are not ranked the top priority
by most Sri Lankans. Their priority is winning the war which will ensure
safety, welfare, economic growth, law and order and overall prosperity.
No government can disregard the wishes and priorities of its voters;
it cannot go against the masses and survive; it cannot tell them that
their collective human rights are lower than that of LTTE suspects/sympathisers,
etc. In that case human rights would become a matter of ridicule. In
this context, the only practical way to ensure human rights in Sri Lanka
is by co-operating with the elected government.
There are other reasons why the co-operation of the Sri Lanka government
is important. There are already radical Islamic groups emerging in Sri
Lanka. Although some of their acts are nothing but symbolic like wearing
a dress embodying the Al Qaeda leader, some others are not so innocent.
As a matter of fact, there are places in Eastern Sri Lanka where Wahab
Law is enforced by groups loyal to Muslim extremist groups. It is a
matter of time since they establish links with their kith and kin in
Iran, Indonesia, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, etc. This has the potential
of hatching global terror plans if not kept under check. The EU cannot
do this; it must be done by the local government for which there should
be incentives. If the EU falls out with the SL government over human
rights, there cannot be a constructive co-operation as there would otherwise
in tackling potential trouble spots.
Why disregard the Human rights of the masses?
Due to over emphasis of human rights violations or alleged violations
of LTTE sympathisers, suspects and supporters, human rights of the 20
million law abiding citizens gets eclipsed. Certain acts of forceful
manhandling is required to catch LTTE infiltrators into cities, etc.
to stop them detonating themselves killing scores of civilians. This
has happened over the past 24 years and due to ineffective security
measures, people have grouped into paramilitary groups at various times
(in 1989 and in 2003) just to defend themselves. This is a very dangerous
development as it can fuel vigilante style justice resolution.
Simply the Sri Lankan majority feels that an apartheid policy against
their human rights is in operation. This must be considered by the EU
as human rights of the majority are as important as human rights of
the minority. Over-emphasis of one at the expense of the other is far
too dangerous. Just because the LTTE front organisations has the media
clout, it should not dictate what the EU should do. It is advisable
that the EU studies in detail the real human rights issues in Sri Lanka
by a team appointed by them going into all levels of the conflict and
studying the historical developments of the conflict.
Never take for granted the good work by the government
The Sri Lankan security forces have shown remarkable restraint, discipline
and courtesy in their war effort. The incredibly low number of sexual
offences committed by the Sri Lankan security forces is exemplarily
to the whole world. Compared against what the IPKF (Indian Peace Keeping
Force) did for their short stay in Sri Lanka, battling the same enemy,
the local armed forces have been commendable. Many Tamils who were Jaffna
residents still recalls with fear and disgust how acts of rape, sexual
assault and sexual intimidation were committed in very large scale by
the Indians in Sri Lanka. It was said that there was a LTTE brigade
comprising solely of women who were sexually assaulted by the IPKF.
Over the world sex has been used as a potent weapon but not by the Sri
Lankan security forces. Bosnia-Serbia war, Abu Graib, Guantanamo Bay,
the Kuwait invasion, two Afghan wars, the Vietnamese War, Rwanda, the
Congo Conflict, the Pakistan Bangladesh war and the Chechnyan war are
some classic examples not to mention the Manchurian War and the two
World Wars.
However, the Sri Lanka conflict offers much more incentives to commit
such acts; most LTTE fighters are women, girls and children; hence,
most LTTE suspects would be also women, girls and children. What can
stop an armed adult Lankan soldier from committing what the Americans
and the Brits did in Abu Graib? It will save him thousands of rupees
if resorted to such acts as prostitution is a thriving industry in places
where large groups of armed forces personnel gather to cater to an obvious
need. But it hasn’t happened, why? That is because of self-restraint
that is practices heavily by the Sri Lankan security forces. Of course
there have been a very few number of instances of assault but contrasting
with the world, those are insignificant.
However, if this good goes unnoticed and overemphasis is placed on the
shortcomings, things can change very quickly. Therefore, before making
any decision to exert pressure on Sri Lanka, the EU must appreciate
the good of the armed forces. Else, they will simply follow the Manchurian
or the Bosnian example.
Sri Lanka is the only country that continuously provides free food,
free medicine, free education and free hospital services to enemy controlled
areas. Nothing can stop it from curtailing these extraordinary facilities.
It should be noted that even the children of the terrorist leader –
Parabakaran - were educated free-of-charge without any discrimination
by the government of Sri Lanka! The Sri Lankan government can simply
follow the norm of enforcing embargoes on non-compliant territories.
This can be done by both direct and indirect means and the EU cannot
stop it. It will save billions of rupees that can be used for other
purposes. However, due to genuine human rights concerns, the Sri Lankan
government does not do so. If on the other hand, too much pressure is
put upon it, it will have to cut corners and that means a reduction
in the free stuff reaching Vanni. It is foolhardy expect that this act
of nobleness would continue if its is not appreciated enough by the
EU.
More than half the Tamil population live among the majority and they
are not subject to any threats, intimidation or violence by anyone.
Their numbers have risen by more than 80% after the war began. This
is due to massive internal migration of Tamils into Sinhala (the majority)
areas seeking safety. It is a fact that most business entities in Colombo
(the capital) are owned by Tamils. This is an irreconcilable fact with
the false propaganda LTTE sympathisers are spreading. The EU should
guard against falling for such nonsense. They can verify the facts themselves.
Will more than 50% Bosnians deliberately move in to Serbian areas to
live? Will Shiites go to Sunni areas to settle don in Iraq? Will Protestant
go and settle down in Catholic majority areas in Ireland? Will Pakistanis
go and settle down in India (and vice versa)? Will the Israelites go
into Palestinian settlements to live peacefully? The answer to these
is a resounding NO! But it is the exact opposite that happens in Sri
Lanka because the real human rights defenders are the government.
It is a very sad situation that hundreds of thousands are violently
prevented from crossing over to the government controlled areas from
Vanni (which is still under the LTTE) by the LTTE. They are being used
as human shields by the LTTE. If their human rights are at risk under
the government why on earth do they struggle to cross endangering their
life and limb in the journey? These are irreconcilable with some false
propaganda created by sympathisers of the LTTE and by those recklessly
careless to verify their sources.
Any wrong move by the EU will put this good work in jeopardy.
No stopping the war
One reason for heightened human rights propaganda by interested parties
is to cripple the war effort by the government. That will not happen
as the locals see war as the only solution after sincere attempts by
the government failed repeatedly to find a political solution to the
conflict without giving into racist demands. The government will be
forced to deliver military gains and deliver in large chucks by an enthusiastic
votebase. According to a recent survey carried out by an NGO, more than
84% of locals support the government’s war effort. However, a large
scale military defeat by the LTTE is expected to force them into the
negotiating table. If by any means this pressure is taken off, they
will only resort to absconding as they have done all the time.
The absurdity of pinning hopes on a terrorist group has been proven
beyond a hint of doubt. Permanent peace can be achieved only when these
illegal armed groups are disarmed. Therefore, pressurising Sri Lanka
to stop the war is counter productive and is an act of hypocrisy. The
most practical way to protect human rights in Sri Lanka is to win the
war; there will be no necessity for any group to carry weapons, detain
anyone and attack anyone after the war has been won by the legitimate
government.
Constructive support
Constructive support can go a long way in safeguarding human rights,
public awareness, punishing the wrong doers and deterring repetition.
Having a plenty of resources and high level training are the cornerstones
of HR protection systems. This type of an approach can also save the
good that may otherwise be endangered.
Human rights should remain an issue that can be discussed based on its
own merits by consenting parties at a negotiating table. Excessive and
draconian means of ‘enforcing’ or ‘policing’ human
rights on a fellow country is against the spirit of human rights and
can never succeed. It may be taken as an act of invasion and all invasions
have ended up in more bloodshed and human rights abuses. Therefore,
the EU should never endorse a cause of action akin to that of a kidnapper
keeping a knife at the throat of another with threats to slit it unless
the latter complies! Bully and butchery is the way of the LTTE, not
the EU.
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