Dilrook Kannangara

Common misfortune makes strange bedfellows. Faced with defeat after defeat, USA is looking for avenues to maintain and strengthen its global dominance. After the defeat in Vietnam in the 1970s, US officials fancied terrorist groups. It experimented with a few, Mujahideen being the most prominent. Mujahid terrorists were supplied with all sorts of weapons to attack the Soviet troops in Afghanistan. In order to provide the terrorist a transit place, a safe haven and an escape route, pro-US Pakistan was turned into a Mujahideen platform. Unfortunately Pakistan has still not recovered.

 

Things went very well for USA until the Soviet troops were withdrawn. Claiming victory, Islamic terror groups debated the form of governance. The dominant group, calling itself Taliban, insisted strict Islamic law. USA swiftly stopped all help to Afghan terrorists. However, Taliban grew from strength to strength and eventually captured almost the entirety of Afghanistan. US strategists realized the mistake but it was far too late.

 

However, the mistake, as they identified, was not financing a terrorist outfit, but financing the wrong outfit. USA continues to finance terror outfits and resistance movements around the world. LTTE with its strong links to the sections of the church and its strong anti-Islamic stance became a highly suitable candidate for US clandestine interests by the early 1990s. It was seen as a force that can be manipulated to keep India under check from its south and disrupt any Chinese power projections westwards. USA was willing to forgive the LTTEƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s crimes including killing Rajiv Gandhi, a pro-western leader.

 

President Premadasa followed a strong pro-Chinese stand in the military front and politically. China became Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s biggest weapons supplier during this time. Chinese political leaders were invited to political meetings of President Premadasa. In turn China supported PremadasaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s populist campaigns including the free school uniform campaign. US-Lanka political relations reached a low during this time. Elimination of President Premadasa allegedly by the LTTE once again allowed US defence and political interests to dominate the island. Pro-US, western educated President Kumaratunga, appeased the Americans. During her rule, more weapons purchases were made from Ukraine and Israel than China. By then Ukraine was a pro-US nation aspiring to be part of NATO. Although there were large military offensives, it was obvious that the LTTE would not be eliminated. By late 1990s, US strategic interests in the region were challenged and the need to save and manipulate the LTTE became crucial.

 

How USA artfully saved the LTTE

USA made several attempts to save the LTTE. Whenever LTTE carried out terrorist attacks, Americans harped on the need to offer political solutions while refusing to talk to terrorists themselves.

 

Saving Tigers from the global war on terror

Following the 9/11 debacle, US allies were readying to attack Afghanistan. UN resolutions were passed in support of a global anti-terror campaign. There was no way LTTE could be saved from this global campaign. So it seemed. USA supported Ranil at the 2001 election who was willing to talk peace with the LTTE. Soon after becoming Prime Minister, he signed a ceasefire agreement with the LTTE with the mediation of Norway, a NATO member. LTTE was saved from the global war on terror!

 

However, the ceasefire held only on paper. Whenever parties came close to war, USA, while fighting two wars, would strongly discourage Sri Lanka from going to war.

 

Saving Tigers from the aftermath of the tsunami

The 2004 tsunami hit hardest two rebel territories – Aceh in Indonesia and the North-east of Sri Lanka. Aceh suffered tremendous devastation that Aceh rebels fighting for a separate nation were weakened to the extent of surrender. They unconditionally surrendered to Indonesia troops. USA feared this might be the same fate of the LTTE. Given the extent of destruction and loss in LTTE controlled areas including the near total wipe out of LTTE Sea Tiger bases, US fears were well founded. Sri Lanka could have launched an offensive immediately after the tsunami with the help of the navy and the air force further crippling the LTTE. If there was any moment when the LTTE was at its weakest, it was immediately after the tsunami. Sri Lanka quickly blocked all foreign and local aid to LTTE controlled areas. No Lankan or foreign ships or planes were allowed to assist the LTTE with relief work. Making use of the opportunity Sri Lanka intensified the propaganda war claiming the deaths of LTTEƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s number one and two in a possible attempt to force them to come out in the open amidst the chaos. Karuna group was very active during this time. Having all its bases inland, mostly in eastern jungles, Karuan group managed to save all their military assets and cadres. Revenge was clearly on the cards. Sensing a repetition of Aceh, US ships set sail to Sri Lanka. However, President Kumaratunga insisted that USA scaled down its involvement possibly following pressure from her then coalition partner – the JVP.

 

Ultimately USA sent only one battle ship but was sufficient to prevent any escalation of violence at this crucial stage that would have wiped out the LTTE. Tamil Tigers were saved again.

 

Sparing Tigers from USƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s own laws

LTTE lost most of its sea assets from Velvetithurai to Thirukkovil. Immediately before the tsunami, LTTE yielded complete control of these seas not allowing Sri Lanka navy to patrol. SLMM (Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission) personnel used to travel onboard navy ships to dissuade LTTE from attacking!

 

Large LTTE military bases that were coming up around Trincomalee which caused the tense situation immediately before the tsunami were all washed to the sea. Massive LTTE bases in Mulaitivu, Vaharai, Chalai, etc. were all devastated. Many small ports LTTE used to land weapons were destroyed and the government was not going to repair them. LTTE badly needed material, expertise and financial resources to rebuild. Help came from a very unlikely source! The international community led by USA instructed the government of Sri Lanka to come up with a mechanism to share tsunami aid with the LTTE promised by the international community. Why could not they have given the aid direct to the LTTE? US and a few others had banned the LTTE as a terrorist organisation by then. It was illegal in their law to directly provide financial and other assistance. Given the war on terror on full swing, it was unthinkable. So these nations wanted Sri Lanka to receive the money and give it to the LTTE under an agreed mechanism. This way USA and other donors would not be committing an offence while the LTTE could rebuild. They commended the PTOMS mechanism of aid sharing but the Court of Appeal of Sri Lanka rejected it as it clearly violated the Constitution.

 

It seemed LTTEƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s fate was sealed. But once again it was bailed out. This time by hundreds of NGOs.

 

ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”String of PearlsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢, a US created myth

In 2005 following the agreement with China to build a port in Hambantota, US agencies came up with a fascinating myth called ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”String of PearlsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢. According to it, China was surrounding India with a string of ports around India.

 

The need for disrupters was felt badly by US agencies. LTTE was surely considered one prime candidate. USA played a key role at the 2005 election supporting the pro-western candidate. Although LTTE called for a boycott of the election, the government closure of Vanni borders stopped more Vanni voters from voting. The 2004 election was held in LTTE controlled Vanni for the first and last time where it was severely manipulated by the LTTE.

 

The winner was called a ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”hawkƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ by western media while fully supporting the hawks of the west fighting two wars at the same time.

 

Total US arms embargo on Sri Lanka and absurd allegations of child soldiers

War intensified in 2006 and by 2007 it was clear Sri Lanka was following a strategic approach to war with the likelihood of a total wipe out of the LTTE on the cards. USA moved swiftly. It blamed Sri Lanka for using child soldiers and imposed a total weapons embargo. This was a total fabrication of the truth but was a mere excuse to stop supplying weapons. LTTE splinter outfit – the Karuna group – denied any use of child soldiers.

 

Encouraged by the USƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s hardline policy towards Sri Lanka, LTTE front organisations collected money and bought weapons for the Tigers. However, USA and other western nations had to clamp them down. It was done for own safety. If Americans and Canadians started to buy Eastern European weapons and transferred them to foreign terrorist groups that would endanger US interests. Soon these channels would grow into supporting Islamic terrorists as well. That was the only reason for punishing the wrongdoers.

 

However, the very same LTTE organisations later formed into many other organisations like TAG (Tamils Against Genocide). They hired US academics, a former deputy attorney general, few politicians and even funded presidential election candidates! Nothing happened.

 

USA desperately tried to save the LTTE in 2009

Desperation was the word to describe US moves to save the LTTE during the last stages of the war. Sri Lankan leaders were threatened with war crimes if the LTTE terrorists were not spared. According to Wikileaks documents quoting US cables, US officials held many rounds of talks with Indian authorities in an attempt to stop the killing of LTTE terrorists. However, Sri Lankans pushed on until peace.

 

Severely aggrieved by this action, US officials went loco. Hilary Clinton claimed Sri Lanka used rape as a weapon of war which was an absurd and untruthful claim. She probably had information to prove otherwise but was playing her part in persecuting Sri Lanka for wiping out the LTTE which could have become the next Mujahideen sans Islamic extremism.

 

The panel of the UN Secretary General was appointed after US insistence. It was USA that first welcomed the panel as if it was a pleasant surprise. Once the panel came up with its biased report of lies, it was once again USA that first welcomed it.

 

Even without a new Mujahideen, USA have plenty of geopolitical interests in the region. That is why it is pressing hard for separatism. This move must be defeated.

 

Way forward

Maintaining good relations with USA with loads of caution is still beneficial despite all these adversities. Balancing geopolitical influence of various superpowers is the way forward. Capabilities of US agents must be destroyed within the island. These include western supported NGOs, various religious groups connected to the west, local branches/associates of TAG, BTF, etc.,

 

US interference in elections must be countered by obtaining participation of other superpowers by tying their geopolitical interests to nationalist political parties.

 

Attached photos show Vaiko making a vital link between the LTTE leadership and the US leadership. It may be only symbolic, but it shows that both parties realize the need to work together. Photo courtesy: Defence.lk and Sankathi.com.