"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter" -- Dr. Martin Luther King (Jr)

Humanitarian concerns mount as govt. prepares for final push

Mahinda Rajapakse, Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka,  Pranab Mukherjee and Ban Ki-Moon

A well-orchestrated military push has cornered the LTTE and a jubilant President Mahinda Rajapakse in his Independence Day speech predicted the total annihilation of the Tigers "within days." It was his interpretation that during the six decades of post independence, three were wastefully spent, fighting a war that had sucked the nation's lifeblood. Rajapakse in his address assured true independence in the weeks to come when the LTTE is completely annihilated.

The concerted effort of the army has not been confined to the war zone but the intelligence services haveenveloped the capital city and otherparts of the country where the LTTE could wreak destructioninretaliation. The single minded approach to eradicate terrorism has filtered into a "with us or against us" attitudeamong those who call the shots,which has pushed the media particularly, into self censorship due to the fear factoremanating fromthe continued physical and verbal assaults.

Whether this fear psychosis will be non existent with the end of the war is a moot point. It would be against human nature and history to expect such. It would be expeditious for the government to continue with the repression of the media for political advantage, perhaps stating that continued comment whether it is political or corruption within the government would spur or resuscitateterrorist activity, once again. This would be the biggest test to verify whether the government will turn to a true liberal democracy post war, and allow the freedoms andrights of each citizen enshrined in the constitution to be enjoyed.

As Sri Lanka marked its 61st Independence Day with pomp, the message sent out to the world was loud and clear that the government would relentlessly pursue a military solution. The Chief Executive called for the shedding of colonial hang-ups and for the Sri Lankans living aboard, who fled the country post 1983 riots, to return home, pledging the conditions would improve in the near future.

Contrasting scenarios

While the Rajapakse administration celebrated independence amidst a tight blanket of security, the humanitarian situation in the north worsened with claims of the declared safe zones also being aerial bombed and fleeing civilians not facilitated to expeditiously evacuate Mullaitivu.

While the south hoisted lion flags and celebrated national independence in a manner hitherto not witnessed, given the war hype, a strong call for a ceasefire was made by Amnesty International (AI) that urged an end to the indiscriminate shelling.

In a statement that coincided with the Sri Lankan Independence celebrations, Asia-Pacific Director, Amnesty International, Sam Zarifi stressed on the fact that there had been no accountability on either side for serious violations of international humanitarian law in this conflict. "The Sri Lankan government has an obligation to investigate war crimes and, whenever there is sufficient admissible evidence, prosecute the persons suspected of those crimes," noted Zarifi.

Meanwhile Military Spokesperson Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara on Friday said some 1,637 civilians from LTTE held areas in Mullaitivu have entered military held areas in Darmapuram and Visvamadhu while the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) charged that safe zones were subjected to artillery shelling midweek causing injuries to over 900 civilians and killing close to a 100 in violation of humanitarian law.

However, the army maintained that the last major Tamil Tiger naval base on the eastern coast was also captured with at least 15 cadres including three senior commanders being killed in the fight for the Chalai base.

Closing in

On Thursday, the army captured the Visvamadhu area together with Chalai, said to be the largest Sea Tiger base in the north while on Friday, Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) jets destroyed a main communication centre and an area commander's central office in Puthukkudiyiruppu.

With the area hospital being aerial bombed last week, northern sources claimed that at least nine civilians were killed and about 20 women and children were injured by the attacks.

"We are gaining ground. The LTTE will soon have no recourse but to surrender," said Brig. Nanayakkara, predicting imminent military victory.

But TNA Parliamentarian Suresh Premachandran had openly ridiculed the government's concept of  declared safe zones, demanding that they be converted into truly 'safe' zones for civilians to pass through. Besides, the TNA is now calling for urgent UN assistance to help the civilian population to safely and speedily evacuate.

"The government agencies cannot be trusted. There is indiscriminate shelling despite a 48-hour ceasefire being declared. It is a hoax to appease India and announced in the wake of Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee's visit to Colombo. The civilians need help and the non governmental organisations can play a crucial role if the UN can play a supervisory role," Premachandran stated.

Amidst growing concerns over civilian safety, Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapakse stuck to his guns and rejected calls by the donor community to negotiate with the LTTE insisting on an 'unconditional surrender' to qualify for an amnesty.

Call to LTTE

The US-led donor group on Thursday urged the LTTE to lay down arms to prevent further bloodshed after a series of battle defeats.

The thinking of the government was clear when the Defence Secretary rejected the idea of any amnesty for top LTTE leaders but claimed that "lower level cadres" would be offered "an amnesty, retrained, given vocational training and integrated into mainstream society."

Rajapakse also overruled any possibility of a ceasefire alleging such periods were used by the Tigers time and again to fortify themselves. He further alleged the 48-hour ceasefire period the Tigers also abused last week by launching suicide attacks near the frontlines.

With heavy fighting continuing in the north in what is referred as the 'final battle for supremacy' by the army, the international community began mounting pressure on both the government and the LTTE to prioritise civilian concerns and to respect international humanitarian law in combat.

As Sri Lanka came under the microscopic gaze of the international community amidst humanitarian concerns increasing with stepped up military operations, US Senator Patrick Leahy was among the first to note that in the waxing and waning conflict, it was the civilians who had to finally bear the brunt of violence.

Statement

Leahy in a February 3 statement traced the origins of the conflict to systematic discrimination of the ethnic minority Tamils by the majority Sinhala community and the denial of the Tamils' meaningful participation in the political process.

He noted that in recent weeks, as the Sri Lanka Army seized control of most of the northern strongholds of the Tamil Tigers, the situation has gone from dire to the verge of catastrophe for the estimated 250,000 vulnerable civilians who are trapped in a so-called 'safe zone.'

He referred to the United Nations stating a compound sheltering UN staff inside the safety zone was shelled on January 24 and 25, killing at least nine civilians and wounding more than 20.On January 26, another artillery attack reportedly narrowly missed UN local staff working in the safety zone, but caused dozens of civilian deaths.

The International Committee of the Red Cross has said that "hundreds of patients need emergency treatment and evacuation to a hospital in the government-controlled area," the statement added, calling for caution and a de-escalation of violence to grant safe passage to the fleeing thousands.

Leahy importantly questioned the government's attitude towards non-government organisations, a necessary tool in situations that require immense humanitarian assistance - another community that had come under attack by the present administration and labelled as pro-LTTE, time and again.

A warning

Adding a warning to both parties to the conflict, Leahy said: "The Sri Lanka government will one day want the respect and support of the United States. The same can be said of the LTTE, if and when it renounces violence and becomes a legitimate political party. How they respond to today's humanitarian appeals will weigh heavily on how the United States responds when that day comes."

Besides Leahy, the powerful coalition of the Tokyo Co-Chairs (Norway, Japan, EU and the US) called for urgent action by both parties to end hostilities and assist the civilians affected by the spreading violence in the north.

The Co-Chairs called for a lasting political solution urging both parties to discuss the "modalities for ending hostilities, including the laying down of arms, renunciation of violence, acceptance of the Government of Sri Lanka's offer of amnesty, and participation as a political party in a process to achieve a just and lasting political solution."

On February 3, the United States and the United Kingdom jointly expressed their concern over the humanitarian situation and called for a temporary ceasefire.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and British Foreign Secretary David Miliband expressed their serious concern about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in northern Sri Lanka caused by the ongoing hostilities and called for the resumption of talks to find a political solution to the longstanding conflict.

Spare the patients

Endorsing the views expressed by the Tokyo Co-Chairs, the two top officials urged both parties to the conflict to spare over 500 patients receiving treatment and to allow food and medical assistance to reach those trapped by fighting, to cooperate with the ICRC to facilitate the evacuation of urgent medical cases and ensure the safety of aid and medical workers.

Echoing the international tone, the newly elected US President Barack Obama in his message of felicitation to the Sri Lankan Head of State on February 4 called for the establishment of democracy and creating space for freedom and diversity in Sri Lanka.

Obama added that Sri Lanka had an ally in the US and it was hoped that Sri Lanka would forge a new path to development and democracy.

In the meantime, three important resolutions were moved during the plenary session of the EU Parliament including the humanitarian concerns due to continued hostilities between the Sri Lankan Government and LTTE, the persecution of the Rohingya people of Burma and the refusal to extradite convicted murderer Cesare Battisti by the Brazilian authorities.

The resolution on Sri Lanka stated that the capture of rebel strongholds by the Sri Lankan army "may constitute a turning point in the crisis" and could pave the way for peace and stability, but warned that a political solution needed to be found and the humanitarian crisis addressed in order for there to be lasting peace.

MEPs called on the government and the LTTE to "abide by the rules of war, to minimise harm to civilians during military operations and to immediately allow the thousands of civilians trapped in the conflict zone safe passage and access to humanitarian aid."

Assessment

They also underlined the need for international monitors to "assess the humanitarian needs of a quarter of a million people trapped in the Wanni region and to ensure proper distribution of food and other humanitarian assistance, particularly as the fighting comes closer to the trapped civilian population."

 Importantly, the European Parliament members drew attention to the fact that as per findings of the International Press Freedom Mission to Sri Lanka, press access in the conflict zone has been denied, journalists covering the conflict have been assaulted or intimidated, and there has been self-censorship by the media.

"The EP welcomes the Sri Lankan government's pledge to ensure full, open and transparent investigations into all alleged violations of media freedom in order also to address the culture of impunity and indifference over killings and attacks on journalists in Sri Lanka."

However, the Socialists in the European Parliament actively boycotted the vote on the resolution on Sri Lanka condemning other political groups in Strasbourg for 'turning a blind eye to the dramatic reality in the country.'

While the international players called for immediate measures to reduce civilian suffering as the situation worsened, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon held discussions regarding  the unfolding scenario in Sri Lanka with Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday.

Mukherjee's visit to Colombo just the week before fuelled speculation that India was seeking a direct hand in the resolution of the conflict yet again and was also here to quell some disturbing developments in South India that would have disquieting political repercussions to the Indian central government.

Political solution

The UN Secretary-General was quoted in The Times of Indiainsisting that ultimately, the solution to the conflict was to be found in a political framework that addresses the underlying causes and legitimate grievances.

Post Mukherjee's visit, Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram too was quoted as having called for both the government and the LTTE to 'heed India's appeal.'

Chidambaram told the Delhi based IANS that the central government was deeply concerned over the situation in Sri Lanka and interestingly added, "India was able to prevail on the Sri Lankan government to pause the (military) operations for 48 hours."

The Home Minister added that LTTE remained silent whereas it was necessary for both parties to respond actively to prevent the worsening humanitarian crisis in the north.

Mincing no words, he called upon the LTTE to lay down arms and for the Colombo administration to suspend the hostilities.

Admittedly, the tone of the international community had been far less aggressive on the government that now prepares for the 'final battle' to capture the entirety of the north. However, there is no absence in their calls to pay heed to the humanitarian needs and to avoid the disastrous path the African rogue regime in Zimbabwe took.

Collateral damage

Whilst pursuing the path already taken, there is no way for Sri Lanka to overlook excesses or explain the killings of civilians as 'collateral damage,' a phrase that is often used in the present context to explain military excesses. What is more, a developing nation heavily dependent on foreign investment,  it is also not possible to simply disregard the concerns of the international community over the deteriorating situation in Sri Lanka. This also means, not just reining in the LTTE but also taking strong action to stem the appalling actions of divergent para military organisations, some of which openly work with the government and the army. 

Perhaps this understanding led to President Mahinda Rajapakse keeping the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon abreast of the domestic developments, that he sought to assure  that current military operations to defeat terrorism in Sri Lanka would be carried out without harassment to the civilian population in the north.

Keen eye

While the world keeps a keen eye focused on the island's politics and its management of the final military onslaught, other issues appear to draw less attention.

On February 14, both the North Western and Central Provinces will elect new members. The campaigns are low key with attention diverted to the goings on in the north, yet the government will undoubtedly capitalise on the military successes to romp home.

With chief ministerial aspirants promising  heaven and earth to the gullible public who get tricked time and again, the election result may be a  foregone conclusion given the prevailing war hype.

It is unimaginable that a government claiming to be popular would need to plump for dubious characters, waste so much of public money and seek to make the military victories its singular election platform. Perhaps, there lies the only hope.