CLASSIFIED | POLITICS | TERRORISM | OPINION | VIEWS

The euphoria over Thoppigala : What next?

Shenali Waduge

For many Thoppigala may be just a name. The statement released by the Defense authorities that the East was finally cleared of LTTE rule is something admirable & merits applause to those who masterminded the operations and the soldiers who sacrificed their lives to achieve this task. It deserves greater plaudits for the sacrifice was not in vain unlike in previous times when soldiers were ordered to walk into death traps for pure political gain. It also revealed the results of good leadership with reduced political interference. The Eastern Province comprises the Districts of Trincomalee, Batticoloa and Ampara.

While the Government fell short to actually compare the importance of the fete accomplished the Opposition Leader was kind enough to do so. There is a paradoxical reason why Sri Lanka has the longest serving Opposition Leader in its parliamentary history – he is so artful at putting his foot in his mouth. Over the years this fallacy has not diminished & instead it comes to light during the best of times when ideally he should remain mum. We are well aware that politicians rumble away to appease what their supporters want them to say – so does this really mean that the green supporters find the exit of the LTTE from the East and the bravery of the SL Armed Forces a laughable matter?

Thoppigala may be a vast dense of forest stretch and jungle but our learned Opposition Leader was kind enough to enlighten us by his geographical know-how in comparing Thoppigala to Colombo District. Most of us have not even been to Thoppigala but we are very well aware of Colombo District & its size & so if the LTTE had themselves accepted defeat of Thoppigala it is certainly something that needs to be highlighted & for which the members of the Armed Forces need to be greatly appreciated for.

The victory provides greater significance following the historic verdict by the Supreme Court regarding the North-East merger for which like it or not we must shower gratitude to both the JHU and the JVP. It becomes a major victory in that not only has the tigers fled the Eastern Province it gives total administrative control to the Government to bring administrative normalcy to the Eastern province and set up systems that depart from terrorist antics. While the country may rejoice in the liberation of the East from the tigers the real jubilation will come if the people of the East feel satisfied that their lives are now in better hands and they finally feel safe to start a normal life free from the terror that prevailed during the times of tiger control.

The East comprises a mix of Sinhalese, Muslims and Tamils. If the Government is able to create this atmosphere of safety and freedom than the country has every right to celebrate. But battling with a guerilla movement like the LTTE there is no reason why any Government should feel jubilant since as a unit though the LTTE may have been driven out of the Eastern Province, however there will remain people who shoulder sympathy to the LTTE cause. A good reminder would be the tag of Sapumal Kumaraya bestowed upon Gen. Ratwatte for marching to take over Jaffna Peninsular. The LTTE’s strength comes in its resolve not to be defeated. LTTE defeats become only a prerogative for them to produce greater destruction & mayhem. Which is why contrary to spending money on celebrations, the Government should use media channels to urge the citizens especially in populated areas like Colombo to be extra vigilant.

Almost coinciding with the victory was a Parliamentarian who was quick to suggest that the LTTE supremo could now be given reign of the North since his regime aspired to “free” or rather “liberate” the Tamil people from the “Sinhalese”. While the Government had every reason to object LTTE rule in the East due to the fact that Muslims and Sinhalese occupied these areas in equal measure, the North was primarily populated by Tamils only. Therefore, perhaps if the people of the North so wishes it would be prudent to allow democratic Governance to the LTTE leader afterall. Chandrika Bandaranaike offered and so did Ranil Wickremasinghe. While all those who are empathetic to the LTTE cause may jubilate at this suggestion, there will be an equal number who may just shiver at the thought of LTTE rule.

Given the scenario of wars and conflicts taking place globally we can deduce that confrontations today are not about liberation of ones people – it is about generating money through wrongful means & forcing leadership upon oneself and ones followers. Since the commencement of the conflict there is enough documentary evidence to prove that the LTTE has wiped off important Tamil men and women if the LTTE leadership felt they were a threat to their movement. What sort of liberation movement would kill their own? Then we also have some Sinhalese in uniform, men who moved with the rank and file & yet for a few extra deposits to secret bank accounts betrayed the nation.

We are today living in a conflict which is not ethnic at all, it is a conflict that will make enemies and friends by the number of rupees, dollars and pounds that cross the table for deals that the ordinary amongst us would shiver to imagine. But that is the sheer truth of what is happening not only in Sri Lanka but other countries suffering from similar fates. The global friends, the money lending banks and “negotiators” are all in a game that would serve their own purposes. It is in the milieu of evil that the conflict we are experiencing thrives & to have some sort of temporary glory in taking over even a rock like “Tora Bora” should be something to mention. Coincidentally the Tora Bora caves (in Afghanistan) happen to be the hide-out of Osama bin Laden.

Sri Lanka has today many wars to face and the economic war is something affecting cross-sections of the society except for those who live on other people’s hard earned money. While the public are sincerely glad for the fete accomplished by the Armed Forces it should be no reason to have any mardi gras over it. The war is far from over.

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