And what’s the solution the LTTE has achieved for the Tamils other than destruction?…………DBSJ

In this case it is like the Allied forces trying to institute a TRC after defeating Japan by detonating two atom bombs on it. The severity of the crime is that of America by wantonly killing thousands in one blast when they knew fully well the Jap forces had been miliitarily defeated.

The comparison of Japs and USA is only to use as another analogy of the ANC coming to power in post-apartheid SA. The victory was achieved through negotiations and international intervention of a political kind.

In Sri Lanks it is a post atom bomb situation and not a post- apartheid situation.

No one would have wished the Bosnian, Croatians and Kosovans to live ina united yugoslavia after a truth commmission, but they only thought of initiatina a war crimes tribunal against the perpetrators of those heinous crimes of genocide.

Simillarly we cannot expect to have a TRC but a Truth commission if not a Warcrime Trial here in Sri Lanka

the renewal of the war was primary the decision by the Sri Lanka state (and here the then UNP govt and the current regime are to blame) to exploit militarily the split in the LTTE.

Simply not true. The UNP government actually allowed the LTTE cadres to cross government to retake the East from Karuna. The reason was that they wanted a single representative to negotiate with.

What happened next was that Prabakharian, having won, instead of being happy with a return to the status quo, proceeded to hunt down those who had supported Karuna. As a result they were obliged to reform and go under the protection of the Lankan military.

As DBS has said on many other posts here, the decision to return to war was taken by Prabkharian in 2004. He had also been persuaded that Balasingham was a Norwegian agent, and that the Tamil diaspora in the West would be able to swing their governments towards tolerating an independent Eelam. The assassination of Kadirgamar was intended to weaken Lankan support in the West, as was the decision to root for the election of Rajapakse. When Rajapakse proved recalcitrant in starting the war, the LTTE started a campaign of provocations which successfully forced it.

The TRC was set up in South Africa after the underlying problem, Apartheid was abolished. If you think the underlying problem in SL was LTTE terror, then you are living in fantasyland. The call for a TRC is an insult to the great moral voice, Desmond Tutu. I would love to know what he thinks of this ridiculous idea. Considering he strongly opposed Sri Lanka’s inclusion in the UN Human Rights Council last year, I think we all know what his answer would be.

I think the “joke” is on those who read this piece and missed the forest for the trees……..DBSJ

That is nonsense. Although the LTTE played its part in resumption of the war, the renewal of the war was primary the decision by the Sri Lanka state (and here the then UNP govt and the current regime are to blame) to exploit militarily the split in the LTTE.

By that I mean, the SL state was able to wage war against the LTTE by proxy using the newly-split Karuna group. Sure, they could have done this previously too using EPDP. But militarily, EPDP were insginificant unlike the Karuna group.

Everyone knows that after the split, the SL state, in particular military intelligence used the Karuna cadres to attempt to weaken the LTTE. All this was done covertly while the SL state pretended to stick to the ceasefire. Not that the LTTE were sticking to the ceasefire either but unlike the SL state, the LTTE couldn’t use proxy groups to wage war. Nobody would believe the proxu groups. So the LTTE’s resumption of the war in 2005 was direct response to the covert war being waged by the SL state. All that does not matter now, but lets get the facts straight.

I remember in 2002 we met a lad from Jaffna in Negombo. He and a group of friends were cycling around the whole country to spread the message that Tamils wanted peace. He complained that he had got no media attention at all, but in some respects this was justified; it was a non-story. Almost nobody in Lanka wanted a renewal of the conflict. The renewed war was the result of a direct decision by VP.

regarding reconcilliation i have a personal experience of a reconcilliation program i participated as a uni student during ceasefire time. it was organized by YMCA and it involved uni students, about 5-10 from various universities in SL, including eastern university and jaffna university. we had nice 2 weeks stay at Jaffna YMCA and it was an eye-opening program for most who participated since that was the 1st time they ever came to jaffna. eventhough it was organized by YMCA, there was no emphasis on religious activities as one may suspect. but it was full of activities and sight-seeing, including jaffna cathedral, nallur kovil, buddhist temple in jaffna and a mosque, jaffna railway station, a high security zone (i can’t remember the name of the area but KKS cement factory belongs to that area) and a fishing village in point pedro, to name a few. interestingly we had opportunity to speak with ordinary people, both tamils and muslims and tamil speaking students helped with interpretations. one night each of us had to stay with a tamil family, of course, of the jaffna students who participated. there then the real language problem emerged. mostly apart from the student, we didn’t know to speak with the family members.
in the final day of the program we had to stay in killinochchi and learn the life there, but unfortunately, karuna revolt happened and due to uncertainity in the situation we had to return to south. during this program, all of the sinhala students among us realised the real nature of war and its impact on tamils, and they openly confessed their feelings. all our attitudes changed for good.

from my life experience i understand the value of these reconcilliation programs. the older generation had been through so much and they find it difficult to forgive and forget. but we can achieve a lot using the younger generation. they are easy to mould.

IMO, no amount of policy changes or law enforcement can bring true reconcilliation unless people from both communities interact with each other. our religious organizations, schools and national youth council can do a lot in this regard. i’m so pleased that YMCA takes initiative in such programs, may be because there are people from both communities within the organization. i’m awaiting to see such programs held by buddhist organizations as well.

just because sinhalese are asked to learn tamil and tamils are asked to learn sinhalese reconcilliation won’t happen. i realised the real value of learning tamil when i couldn’t speak with my tamil friend’s grand mother who adores me a lot but knows only tamil. true reconcilliation will happen when north and south interact effectively. then people understand that others are also human beings and should be trated respectfully. the impression we are given by elders regarding sinhalese/tamils change. no amount of policy changes or 10 commisions can’t bring such an effect. when reconcilliation happens, when people interact with each other, truth surely will emerge.

Truth is one thing, Reconciliation is another, commissioning to seek redress is another thing. Some people think revealing truth is opening the can of worms then the truth will not be revealed. Others who are afraid revealing truth would embarrass them or harm them will not allow the truth to be revealed. Those who are in power and the international neighbours fall into this category, hence there will be immense international and diplomatic pressure in revealing the truth. Most of the LTTE leadership is killed as per the reports, then the truth of the dead ones is not going to harm them and those who are hiding will not come forward to reveal the truth. Those who are in captivity have no voice to speak the truth.

From all corners truth is not going be glorified as it is intended to be. Hence the firstt casualty of the TRC is the truth itself.

Next about reconciliation, to reconcile, both parties should be free to express their feelings towards to each other and most importantly in equal footing to be considered equal partners of the reconciliation process. This only could be achieved if there is enough international pressure, especially form the neighbours to have the parties in equal footing. The international sanctions against apartheid South Africa in one major factor towards this. But I do not see such a geopolitical existence, other than cry form Human rights organisations.

Actions national and internationally are not being conducive for a reconciliation process.

The last is the Commission. If truth cannot be revealed and if there is no ground to hold both parties equal, what the commission for? As all other commissions it would be an eye wash.

There is no point of view having a reconcilation ,it is more than 2 months GOSL is not a fool to leave the traces. This war against LTTE was really well planned by all countries who have the same problem like SL.In my knowledge for China-Myanmar for Russia-Chechnia Ifor India- so many communites who are against government.

LTTE was the strongest and well organised among them,Its obvious they dont need a problem.,And also for a country like SL you cant do what you think and what you like,Even though you really want to help or make a change you will be abducted or killed that is nature of all these corrupted countries.

And Tamils have to think untill there is a Tamil Nadu we cant event think about a small village in our controll.So there is no solution just shut up do what we can to lead your life end of the day we will get used to it.Thats all.
becoz there is no one to help now coz now East is more powerfull than west. so no western countirs can come and help like what happened Kosova.