Reverberations of the Thoppigala
Liberation - How it Silenced the International Interferers
Dilrook Kannangara
There are wide ranging aftershocks of this historical victory. One
reason why the East is more important for the LTTE than Wanni is that
it frustrates potential attempts by the international community to intervene
in SL with a forced solution. This needs further elaboration as it is
one of the most strategic repercussions of the Thoppigala affair cunningly
avoided by the UNP controlled media and the foreign media.
When the doomed CFA (Cease Fire Agreement) was singed in 2002, the two
parties had to accept the ‘de facto’ ‘line of control’.
Each party had to, thereafter, honour each others’ ‘line of
control’. While the LTTE always tried to expand their terror network,
the Sri Lankan government gave up the administration of justice. The
starting point was therefore the most important thing and the LTTE rapidly
expanded their eastern front from December 2001 to end February 2002
in time for the CFA. Even when the CFA was being singed, there were
clashes in the Eastern waters between the terrorists and the Navy.
What would happen if a similar endeavour is made now? The LTTE will
never accept the new ‘line of control’ which comprises only
the land area from Omanthai to Muhamalai and not a square inch in the
East. First thing they would do is to grab a chuck of the East before
such a ‘ceasefire’ comes into being. That means the attempt
would hit an impasse at the inception. On the other hand, if the LTTE
is prevented from recapturing the East, they will not come for this
new ‘ceasefire’. There is a third option. It would be to follow
the same strategy as they did after the 2002 agreement; to wage a one-sided
war. However, it is going to be almost impossible to do it without violating
the ‘agreement’. There are no further options available to
the LTTE. LTTE must accept the same fate as Jaffna for the East.
For these reasons, the international community would be very reluctant
to interfere. The only way they can interfere is by reinforcing the
ramshackled 2002 CFA agreement. Such an attempt would spark court cases
that will annul the illegal CFA. The attempt of the international community
to tighten the ‘peace’ screws on Sri Lanka has failed. Any
new attempt would hurt the LTTE and not the GoSL as it is disadvantageous
to them.
The results are silent, but clear and immediate.co-chairs went silent
with their attempted engagement
appeals to the UN, etc. by various Elamists stopped abruptly the British
attempt to interfere with the conflict stopped on the track Indian interest
in interfering also stopped.
Silencing all interferers is a strategically important achievement of
the Thoppigala liberation. No amount of money-wasting celebrations could
match this feat.
It also frustrates UNP’s “Surrender for ‘Peace’”
strategy. This is the real reason why the UNP tries to belittle the
victory. If Ranil becomes the president and Mangala the PM, the second
thing they do (first thing being celebrating their victory in each other’s
company) is to come to another surrender agreement with the LTTE (or
revive the 2002 agreement). Reviving the 2002 agreement means pulling
back the forces from Thoppigala, etc. If people consider Thoppigala
to be strategically important, reviving the 2002 CFA is going to be
impossible. On the other hand, if a new agreement to be reached with
the LTTE, still, the forces got to be pulled back from Thoppigala, etc.
Either way it is a surrender. Therefore, the UNP does everything possible
to paydown the real importance of the East and Thoppigala knowing very
well that the tigers only need Thoppigala to roam the complete East.
What the government should do to frustrate these LTTE cum UNP aspirations?
1. Hold the Provincial Council election in the East ASAP
2. Retain the East by whatever means necessary
3. Catalyse economic growth and investment
4. Improve school attendance rates
5. Build coexistence with the Karuna-group ironing out any differences
that may emerge peacefully, because the ‘restive East’ needs
peace at least now; definitely not another war.
6. Bring in tough laws to protect reserves (including jungles) vesting
it upon the government to protect these with severe punitive deterrents.
If rainforests are unimportant by themselves, Ranil may handover the
‘Sinharaja’ forest to the LTTE!!
The strategic importance of the East is growing by the day. Real celebrations
would begin when Thoppigala and the East becomes an obstacle to any
future surrender endeavour. That is when the real aftershocks of our
MBRL barrage, the sonic booms of SLAF jets and the sighs and laughter
of our gallant soldiers would be felt loudest by the Elamists, separatists
and their henchmen.
It is a sad saga for the UNP that Ranil surrenders to the LTTE which
was defeated by Lalith. The need for Lalith in the UNP helm was never
so desperate than today when we celebrate a strategic turning point
in the 24 year-old conflict.
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