CLASSIFIED | POLITICS | TERRORISM | OPINION | VIEWS

It is How the War Ends that Matter; not Just any End

Dilrook Kannangara

Amidst terror attacks the public resolve for sustainable peace holds. However, some have raised doubts over the feasibility of finding a military solution to the conflict. Unfortunately they are overtaken by shortsightedness which is commonplace in Sri Lanka. The war has killed 70,000 and if it rages as it has continued without a break for the past 25 years, many more will die. ‘Peace’ at any cost is the dumbest thing possible as ‘peace’ in this sense do not mean ‘peace’ at all. It rather means surrender. Surrender as seen in 2002-05 following the CFA would reduce the scale of war initially but will have even nastier future repercussions. It is like the man who jumped from the cliff. He was very pleased when the cool breeze swept him and felt an easing of the burden of gravity which made him feel good. But all this was for a short time until he landed on the ground below to his end. The country was thrown over a cliff edge in 2002 by terror conspirators, power-hungry politicians and shortsighted lunatics. They claimed the relative peace that existed then would propel the economy forward and stop all forms of violence in the society. But what happened? The LTTE started killing people and abducting children with complete impunity. It also attacked the defenders of the nation at will and shipped-in shiploads of bombs including those that go off today. It was estimated that 40,000 shells were brought to the island in a single consignment. On top of that planes, guns, claymore mines and even high tech communication equipment were smuggled in. What are the peaceful uses of these?

There is no dispute over the worth of human life. Human life is precious and this nation cannot afford to lose anymore. However, unless the war has a proper end where illegal arms bearers are no more, killings will continue. Surrender to the LTTE may be a catchy fairy tale solution but in reality it cannot save the people, their property, their future, their civilized way of life, their democratic rights, their nation, their rights and privileges and everything that is valuable and dear. Like success, peace does not have shortcuts. It must be achieved the hard way by eliminating terrorists. If by killing civilians the LTTE has succeeded in generating anti-war sentiments among the people, they have been successful. This successful strategy will be used by them to get everything they dream of. If killing a dozen civilians give the LTTE their Tamil Elam dreamland, what can stop them getting anything else by killing many more? This is exactly what happened in 2002. LTTE knew that the CFA was an indirect result of the 2001 July attack on the airport. Emboldened by their success, they planned for more similar attacks to realize all their fancy dreams by bringing in shiploads of weapons and infiltrating civilian areas.

LTTE is a terrorist organization that is so recognized in more than 32 countries around the world recognizing its true character. It is a great misfortune that it landed on Sri Lanka. However, it must be militarily defeated for the continuation of civilized human existence on this island. Even Tamils have left in their millions from areas prone to high LTTE activity. Therefore what hope is there for people of other races? LTTE will kill at the drop of a hat as it has done for so long. It has shown its inability to speak in any other language other than violence and terrorism. For land, water, money, race or even for blood it kills people. This is the bitter reality the nation and its people are faced with. Fairy tale solutions cannot bring law and order (which is also known as peace).

Today the surrender industry is more lucrative than the war. Surrender mongers are paid fat salaries that are over hundred times that of the Army Commander! Why? If Sri Lanka surrenders to the LTTE as in 2002, it will prolong the conflict, increase the sufferings and amplify the number of disasters. These vultures are paid by NGOs that sell death, disaster, calamity, sufferings and the like of poor countries to rich countries. Even natural disasters will be turned into massive humanitarian catastrophes as the 2004 tsunami. Although the area under the government have overcome the effects of the tsunami by now, areas under the LTTE still languish in hopelessness in spite of millions of dollars of funds the LTTE gets annually. People in LTTE controlled areas are educated, medicated and fed by the government of Sri Lanka as their rulers, the LTTE, cannot provide any of these. This is exactly what we would get if we surrender to the LTTE under the disguise of peace.

LTTE has made some priced catches from the security forces. It is no secret that there are LTTE moles within the security forces. A number of them have been arrested but many more are likely to be still operative. In this context, there is not a hint of doubt that some retired top warriors have made it to the Tiger payroll. One such retired officer who was accused of war crimes by the LTTE in the past has changed sides. Now he works tirelessly for the LTTE and in turn the LTTE has dropped accusations against him! LTTE front organizations initiated an international signature campaign against this individual charging him of war crimes. However this campaign has since ended mysteriously as the retired general has changed sides. His utopian theories on the war seem fantastic for the gullible but no better than a beggar’s guide to wealth. He talks big about winning the hearts and minds of Tamils in order to win the war. He should just ask a few Tamils how he won their hearts and minds! He blames the government for bringing up a 20 year old political solution whereas his political party has failed to come up with any political solution for the past 20 years! These jokers must be handled appropriately before they manage to spread their hilarious propaganda in favour of the LTTE.

The American ambassador is another wisecrack whose senses have been taken over by sheer hypocrisy. He preaches that there cannot be a military solution to the Sri Lankan conflict knowing very well that it cannot have any other solution either. His teachings are more relevant to his own country which is engrossed in a number of conflicts and self-created disputes around the world including Iraq, Afghanistan, North Korea, Iran, Palestine, Syria, Russia, Serbia, etc. Without any commitment to end these conflicts by means other than through military means and threats of using force, it is futile preaching little Lanka just because he is the American Ambassador. His country has banned the LTTE as a terrorist organization and has declared that they would not talk to terrorists. Then what right he has to ask Sri Lanka to talk to terrorists?

Unless a military solution is given, 37% of the island and 65% of its coastline will be owned and exploited by a handful of LTTE terrorists. This will plunge Sri Lanka and its people into economic calamity where scarce resources generated by only 63% of the landmass and 35% of the coastline will have to be shared by the whole population. This will lead to large scale violence in the society to grab enough resources from a very short supply. Only a military solution can put the resources of this island for the benefit of everyone. Only then can the country take on the other challenges like poverty, sustainable economic development and prosperity. War has already brought law and order, economic development and democracy to Jaffna, Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara districts. Therefore no one of right senses can dispute the ability of our security forces to extend these victories to the people of Vavuniya, Mannar, Mulaitivu and Killinochchi districts. They have been repeatedly let down by ceasefires, peace talks and other nonsense that failed to achieve anything. War has achieved much more than all the ceasefires and peace talks combined and it can achieve much more.

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