CLASSIFIED | POLITICS | TERRORISM | OPINION | VIEWS

The A9 Issue - GOSL to buy from India and distribute to Jaffna using Tamil Nadu seas

Shenali Waduge

For most of us the failure of the Geneva talks came as no surprise. It only displayed the ease at which the terrorists were able to hoodwink the international community and even their Nordic friends. That Norway and Iceland decided to cancel the extended stay of the LTTE delegation may perhaps be a sign that they are finally seeing the true nature of the LTTE.

It was no surprise that the A9 issue would surface at the talks. The closure of the A9 roadway certainly had various implications. Of course it meant that there would be hardships for the people. But more importantly it meant that the LTTE’s ability to levy taxes on transport to and from Jaffna as well as on innocent civilians suddenly and abruptly came to a halt – it was certainly a major blow and a steady but illegitimate income had come to a standstill. Who would be happy at such a move especially when a terrorist organization needs funds for its sheer existence?

The Government apparatus is faced with a Herculean task – that of averting a humanitarian crisis. The Armed Forces not only have to deal with the surprise guerrilla attacks often carried out by brainwashed child tiger cadres but also to see that somehow all persons in Jaffna are sent essential food, fuel and other provisions. Skyrocketing prices of sugar, petrol, flour and eggs only depicts the seller’s callousness. As of 27th October 2006, the SL Navy had delivered 18,558.369 metric tones to the Jaffna peninsular. UNICEF has said nearly 6 lakhs of people in the Jaffna peninsular have been affected. However statistics on population in Jaffna is questionable – are these figures correct? It is advised the GOSL themselves adopt a quick survey to determine exactly how many people does in fact live in the Jaffna peninsular. Estimated figures on statistics taken in a bygone era would not suffice. It would be useful for distribution of future provisions as well.

Details of Jaffna population

Details	Families	Members
Displaced Before 11-08-2006	32,803	109,815
Displaced After 11-08-2006	10,480	33,944
Fishing - Partly under Samurdhi	8,026	27,082
Vulnerable	20,751	59,681
Above poverty line	62,591	2,109
Samurdhi	53,615	212,229
Total	188,266	653,735

Source: Ministry of Defence

The LTTE international media is highlighting the plight of the Tamil people as a result of the A9 road closure and even comparing it to Germany’s Berlin Wall.

If the LTTE being the “sole representative” of the Tamil people is so perturbed by the Government of Sri Lanka’s decision to keep the A9 road closed why is the LTTE not taking measures to do something about it. Surely when the LTTE is having various front organizations involved in charity work and other humanitarian causes (funded even by the UN, it seems) it can purchase essential items and distribute it to the people in Jaffna? If the LTTE can have kangaroo courts, self-declared post offices, stamps, police offices and even rank officials surely it can use the funds it has collected to feed the people that are suffering because of them?

It is suggested that the Government instead of risking the lives of the Armed Forces as well as its equipment in transporting goods all the way from Colombo to Jaffna buy from India (Indo-Lanka Trade Agreement) and use the Northern seas and the narrow stretch between Tamil Nadu and Jaffna to distribute essential goods. The joint Naval expertise of India and Sri Lanka can combine in this effort.

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