Spotlight

Some thoughts on avoiding another eruption

By Air Vice Marshal A.B. Soza (rtd.) 

After three decades of intense hostilities it is now a forgone conclusion that the LTTE will be vanquished in the very near future. Its hierarchy is being eliminated whilst the Supremo  if he has not deserted his comrades may be arrested, killed in action or self destructed, drawing inspiration from Sir Winston Churchill’s address to the nation during the “Battle of Britain” — we will never surrender.

Either by conviction or coercion a broad cross section of the populace in the conflict zone north of the NCP and NWP fought the defence forces for a cause that has been widely articulated and constantly repeated viz. that the Tamils in Sri Lanka are considered second class citizens.

Whilst not totally agreeing with this refrain, the fact is that the commencement of the war for “Tamil Eelam” was not due to a gang of anti-social elements such as highway robbers or brigands attempting to overthrow the legitimate authority.

On the contrary, it is a fact that political blunders such as the “Sinhala Only” policy, restrictions to the admission to universities by the infamous standardisation scheme and the Sword of Damocles held over the heads of Tamil public servants to the effect that unless they gained proficiency in the Sinhala language within a laid down time frame their annual increments will be stopped and thus their careers blighted, contributed to the situation.

Little progress

Even though legislation has been enacted to ameliorate some of these injustices, the regrettable fact is that administratively very little progress has been made. A few examples are that even though it is said that Tamil is on par with Sinhala, forms at district secretariats  or police stations that require to be filled by the public, are available only in Sinhala. This malady has now even spread to the private sector. A circular letter dated  March 22, 2009  issued by the Lankaputra Bank to all investors in The Finance Company is only in Sinhala. Is it that Tamils have not invested in the company concerned?

 The problem of persons who are not conversant with Sinhala lodging complaints at police stations is well known. This being the situation prevalent in the country those in the ‘liberated areas’ will logically, dread to think of their fate. Surely, they will simmer, that, they as a community who had sacrificed life and limb and underwent the horrors of war during the last three decades  remain disillusioned and utterly frustrated.

In such a scenario, it is essential that the confidence of this populace be regained by offering them meaningful incentives and tangible benefits so that they will feel that they are on an equal footing as the Sinhala community. Even though the LTTE is vanquished it is necessary that the defence services remain in situ and in fact redeployed in strength in the ‘liberated areas.’

Infrastructure

 At the conclusion of the Second World War when Germany surrendered, cities such as Berlin, Hamburg, Warsaw and a host of others lay in ruins. Infrastructure such as railways, roads and bridges were destroyed. There was an acute shortage of food.

In these circumstances, the President of the USA Harry Truman decreed that “an orderly and prosperous Europe requires the economic contribution of a stable and productive Germany.” American troops were utilised to restore infrastructure and help refugees. He designated his Secretary of State  George Marshal to handle this massive effort.

 Marshal whilst addressing the graduating class of Harvard University said that American aid was offered to promote European recovery and reconstruction. He further said that “the US should do whatever it is able to do in the return of normal economic health to the world, without which there can be no political stability and no assured peace.”

This policy was against hunger, poverty, desperation and chaos. Under the Marshal Plan, funds were jointly administered by the local government and the Economic Cooperation Administration (ECA). Panels of government, business and labour leaders were convened to examine the economy and determine where aid was needed.

Marshal Plan

Obviously, it is naïve to compare the devastation of the Second World War with that caused in our northern areas. However, even though modern historians today  feel some of the praise of the Marshal Plan is exaggerated, it is generally viewed favourably. Many thus feel that a similar project will help other areas of the world. Our situation warrants that this successful plan  be studied, scaled down to our indigenous conditions and adapted.

When Japan surrendered and accepted the Potsdam Declaration, Gen. Douglas Mac Arthur was appointed Supreme Commander of the Allied Power (SCAP). On arrival in Tokyo, one of his first decrees was “No allied personnel were to assault Japanese people. No allied people were to eat the scarce Japanese food.”

Millions of people were on the brink of starvation. As expressed by Kawai Kazuo “Democracy cannot be taught to a starving people.” Within a short period US priorities shifted perceptibly from liberal social change to internal political stability and economic recovery.

Both the electronic and print media keeps publicising that once the rout of the LTTE is complete the affected populace will be given substantial relief and they can look forward to a ‘rosy’ future. However the incentives have not been spelt out. Rather than making vague statements, meticulous planning must be done and the people made aware of a broad gist of the proposed measures. If not they will consider these statements to be a load of fairy tales and get back to ‘their wicked, wicked ways.’