Louise Arbour Was Slapped
in Her Face
Dilrook Kannangara
Terrorists have shown their brutal face once again by deliberately
and effortfully targeting civilians. It was only hours before the UN
Human Rights High Commissioner Louise Arbour warned the warring parties
in Sri Lanka to adhere to the International Law and safeguard civilians.
The latest LTTE attack on civilians came as a slap in the face of Ms.
Arbour.
The recent terror attack resembles their attack on a civilian transport
bus in Kebithigollewa during the time of the Ceasefire Agreement in
2006 that killed over 70 civilians; a large number of them children.
What does the UN do when privileged terrorists commit war crimes? Nothing.
The UN still treats Sri Lanka which is a member state and the LTTE as
equals. This shows the extreme inadequacy of UN mechanisms to protect
civilians and human rights when committed by terrorists who are not
effectively bound by the International Law. If the UNHR High Commissioner
was of the view that the International Law applies to terrorists, it
is time she accepts the reality that was proven on the 16th January
2008. Therefore the partial implementation of the Law results in creating
endangered humans who are not backed by a terrorist group and hence
have to bear the blunt of terrorism.
However, the UN’s contribution to civilian deaths doesn’t
end there. By not allowing the government to take stern and effective
action against the terrorists, the UN hinders public security measures
thus endangering the public. Certain public security measures are taken
to safeguard the civilian population from infiltrating terrorists and
in a situation of war, these measures are imperative. No war has been
fought in recent history without civilian casualties and human rights
violations; these are essential parts of war. What is required is only
to refrain from deliberately harming civilians. Mass arrests, detentions
for interrogation and other similar measures have proven effective to
a great extent in times of terrorist warfare and these must continue
unabated.
For the UNHCR, human rights monitoring and reporting is a money spinner;
it is a business; however, for the government it is a very condition
of its existence. Therefore the democratically elected government will
make every feasible endeavor to protect human rights. Unwarranted paranoia
will only cause mistrust which will be highly damaging. What Sri Lanka
needs now is to eliminate these terrorists who will at the drop of a
hat go on killing civilians with no regard to the International Law.
Remind them of the International Law, and they will kill more! Therefore
the UN and its agencies must stand by Sri Lanka which is a member state
and differentiate the terrorists from the legitimate government.
Nevertheless government’s obligation towards providing public security
does not end there. It must actively seek avenues to promote public
security by whatever means. Certain vital measures necessary to curb
terrorism requires the operation of the long arm of the law. GOSL should
not hesitate to engage the services of existing and new paramilitary
groups to maintain law and order, catch infiltrators, deter infiltrations,
obtain vital information and assist in interrogation using effective
means. There is no reason to respond with gloves on when the other party
fights gloves-off.
No offensive or defensive operation should stop or change owing to the
‘warning’ issued by Ms Arbour. Instead the GOSL should find
ways to avoid allegations and detection. GOSL should have leaders who
are willing to lead the nation irrespective of punishments attached
to righteousness. If it calls for a trial at the Hague, Sri Lankan leaders
must be willing to sacrifice their lives for a higher cause; whether
death occurs in the Northern battlefield, in Colombo or in the Hague
is immaterial. If the present day leaders lack such courage, they can
temporarily appoint a scapegoat.
No matter how difficult the war is it must be fought to win. The recent
terrorist attacks show how desperate the LTTE is now; it also justifies
the claims by the security forces that a very large number of terrorists
were killed during the past two weeks. Those innocent civilians did
not die in vain, they sacrificed their lives for the country. It is
up to the government to give that respect to these fallen saints by
vigorously retaliating on tiger positions and increasing the killing
rate.
Ms Arbour’s bitchery failed to save us from the butchery of the
terror leader. As we witnessed first hand, Louise Arbour and/or other
human rights humbugs do not come to solace us or protect us when their
terror darlings harm us; it must be done with our efforts, by us, our
way.
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