The warzone, via Times Of London
The Sri Lankan government has killed thousands of civilians in its civil war. Thousands more are now held in camps they cannot leave. Much of the West, led by the Times Of London is calling for punishment of the Sri Lankan government so this will never happen again. I agree that these actions were terrible and inhumane, but I disagree with their way forward for Sri Lanka. The West seems to think that punishment will somehow improve lives here. It won’t. The times have changed. Sri Lanka right now is trying to unite and move forward, and much of the Global South is supporting us. The UK should consider this and try to help.
Wins
The people who conducted this war are brutal, cruel and unforgiving. They are not nice guys and I’m personally scared of them. However, they also won. I believe that they have killed and detained many innocent Tamils, threatened and terrified independent journalists, etc. Even now they are controlling aid and access too tightly, I believe, at a cost of human lives. However, they won.
Please understand that this is a big thing. The same Times Of London writes glowingly that “Facebook Pakistanis unite against terror“. Perhaps they would understand in context of that ongoing war which has displaced over 3 million and killed over 5,000. Sri Lanka has had much of its territory occupied by a terrorist group that has exploded more suicide bombs that Al Qaeda, Hamas and Islamic Jihad combined. The reason we cannot explain this to you coherently is because they assassinated our Tamil Foreign Minister Laksman Kadirgamar and we simply don’t have any spokesman left of his calibre.
The Alternatives
However, this is also at a huge cost. Personally I believe there was another way, buying out and breaking apart the LTTE bit by bit, a la Karuna. However, Prabhakaran was never willing to negotiate. He had gotten away with enough – hacking villagers, killing worshipers in Anuradhapura, blowing up the Central Bank, killing Rajiv Gandhi, attacking leaders, etc – that he was going to go hell bent for Eelam. He was not especially negotiable and this mid-level conflict would have likely gone on until he died in his sleep.
What this would mean is thousands dead over a longer period, the North reduced to abject poverty under an unrecognized terrorist dictatorship, and the South impoverished by the constant drag of terrorism.
In case you think this is a cold economic argument, please see some of the poverty in this country. Economics isn’t the word that comes to mind, it’s humanitarian. This war has reduced the Northern economy to rubble, and that means real suffering for human beings. They are less healthy, more likely to die in childbirth, get poorer healthcare, worse education, etc. These things can improve under a united Sri Lanka. Also, the South has been crippled by terrorism and the economy dragged down by, hitting the poor the worst.
The Unforgivable Cost
Thousands have died in this war, for whatever cause. I have seen children without legs and almost every single affected person I’ve met has one member of their nuclear family dead, often killed in front of them. The Times Of London thinks this cost is too high. I sorta agree. The fact remains, however, that the cost has been paid.
The war was almost finished by the time the UK started paying attention and at a certain point turning back was not a viable option. The damage had already been done. Now at least there is a result – the decapitation of the LTTE – which can have positive results. At terrible human cost. But what matters now is what we do to move forward.
Attack The Government
One option is to attack and change the government of Sri Lanka. They kinda suck, I understand. However, though the West has the trappings of power, they don’t actually have power anymore. They cannot organize a cohesive multi-lateral boycott which would have an effect, at best they could organize something US/Cuba style (which actually entrenches the local power). They cannot withhold aid cause they don’t actually give much. They can’t attack Sri Lanka economically or militarily, so all this condemning and lecturing is, quite frankly, impotent nonsense. Worse, it weakens whatever diplomatic card they actually could play.
Deal With It
China and India are not stupid and they play stuff in terms of their own self interest. They understand that this government is popular, has won a war and is the one they have to deal with. So they deal. UK – driven a lot by a vocal voting Tamil diaspora – is going for bluster and noise to quell the protests at home, but they misunderstand the geo and local politics entirely. And so they fail at accomplishing anything. Honestly, it’s an epic fail. It both fails in its maximal goals and closes the doors to any influence at all.
Personally, Locally
Personally, I’ve visited some northern hospitals and am going again tonight. It’s obvious that these are shelling injuries, and the few people I’ve talked to say it’s coming from the government side. I have also walked around Colombo and talked to people from Hambantota to Galle and up and people are generally relieved and want to move forward without the LTTE messing everything up all the time. People grieve, not enough I think, but they also view this through the crushing of our Sinhala uprising at the cost of 65,000 lives, many innocent, which yet prevented this country from becoming a Khmer Rouge style Cambodia.
Whatever the Times Of London is calling for has zero probability of being enforced locally. The people of Sri Lanka would gladly accept poverty and isolation over dictates from the former colonial masters (let alone their media). UK would literally have to attack and reoccupy the country to enforce anything, and I don’t think they could actually defeat the Sri Lankan Army right now.
People living here are able to process this terrible calculus and deal. The Times of London sees it as a moral cause. Perhaps it is. But their impotent bluster serves no moral ends. To put it plainly, it doesn’t work. Punishing this small country may make the UK feel better about themselves and quell the protests in London, but it helps not a solitary soul here.
Times of London and writers should go get some viagra. It looks like it is hard for them to think straight with their limp appendages. I have said many times, United (not) Kingdom, the sun set a long time ago, the colonies have progressed, just because the skin color is different they are not lesser people, they don’t take your word for it just because you said it. You are not called Great Britain any more.(I remember a few years ago, you were going bankrupt, then you decided to shed your nightly armor and joined EU and EC :) )
These little countries will prosper, your ranting will only make them take longer. But you cannot stop them. You are a bunch of wimpy little ……
All the while you rant, another child is getting worse, another mother is shedding more tears, and another father is pulling his hair. If you love the Tamil people as you say you do, help them, rally up some support for them, get some aid to them. If you don’t know how to, ask these people like Indi and Actlanka. They seem to do it while protesting what they think is not right. There are many other ways to do it as well.
“The people who conducted this war are brutal, cruel and unforgiving. They are not nice guys and I’m personally scared of them. However, they also won. I believe that they have killed and detained many innocent Tamils, threatened and terrified independent journalists, etc. Even now they are controlling aid and access too tightly, I believe, at a cost of human lives” KOTYA NEVER CHANGED HIS SPOTS….. STILL BEATING THE PEACENICK & TRAITOR UNP DRUM….! Wonder what your “Credible” source of Information Is?
While really really appreciating what you are doing for the IDPs, please don’t use them to make your personal fortune (I hope your won’t)!
Its really sad to hear lost of life in a war even though the figures are not correct. I don’t know a war( except in Sri Lanka) where lives hasn’t lost. The terms in the bracket is refer to the freedom Sri Lanka get freedom from British.
More or less end of war has stopped large number of deaths any more. Before war no media was presenting any article on how civilian in Sri Lanka lived with LTTE harassments. Not only Sinhalese, anybody was not sure of their life, when they leave to jobs or schools. I don’t think Times having impartial view of the matter, because if they were they won’t highlight the last play of this problem. Neither Times editor or no Brit has suffered from the mental stress Sri Lankan’s suffered for three decade when they were threatened by suicide attack. July Seventh attack is the only attack they’ve experienced. Haven’t they taken necessary steps to overcome the problem? Hasn’t Muslims were ill treated because of this problem? Why another country could not stand for their dignity to overcome a similar issue? What happened if the Times editor face the same problems like Sri Lankan civilian? Would he be tolerating risk his life or his children’s life on the road? Does The Times editor accept suicide bombers? Or he would agree its fare enough to have child soldiers in this world? When somebody stand against these uncivilized concepts, is it fare enough to break low and keep civilians as human shield? Would The Time Editor be able shoot on the back of British civilians?
There is a simple theory in life to live. If you don’t want anything happened to yourself from others please don’t do that to others. So before publish some thing on the paper I believe the editor has a responsibility to think on that. If not I believe he is more o less than a Muppet.
Irresponsibility of a noble profession will create a highly cost problems in society. Partial view of a person was the most recent cause for the ethnic problem in Sri Lanka. I can’t understand why the editor tries to do the same. Obviously problems may not occur in UK, but the sorrow and the anger generated in the mind who suffers from the problem will make a impact on your life even though you like it or not.
“The Times” would rather don’t want to make any comment or publish any article on that, because it’s not relevant to British politics. And Sri Lanka is lucky enough not to having a considerable oil resources. The truth cannot be hidden for long time. It will come out sooner or later.
World is not any more run by handful of media. It has come to new era where the life of lie is very short. People are free to listen as well as free to publish. I would rather appeal readers please don’t leave partial articles without comment. Respect the democracy you get.
I’m just curious. How is it that these people can tell where these shells were being fired from? It is impossible to say with any certainty that the government fired shells, unless you have a real time Ariel view of things. A photo or “expert analysis” won’t hold up in a court of law.
The EU could hurt SL with the garment quotas.
And Indi, come on, do you really believe that the UK can’t defeat SL in a war.
Indi – SOLD!
There is a saying that goes “he who comes to equity must come with clean hands”. Clearly the palms of the West are filthy when it comes to their own human rights violations. I think it’s about time that the self professed “super powers” learn this wise lesson – the world is no longer willing to put up with the hypocrisy and double standards of the West.
Sri Lanka is better off without the LTTE. This country has some hope now. Right now the government seems to be engaging in a balancing act between national security and caring for those internally displaced. I think the majority of this country is genuinely concerned for those who have suffered from the war and are positively trying to make a difference.
The British Army could probably beat us in battle, but we’d win the war. We took 6,200 KIA and almost 30,000 WIA in the last three years to defeat the Tigers. That’s more than the US has taken in Iraq. It’s more than twenty-five times the Brits killed in Iraq and Afghanistan combined. Think the Brit public could stand that kind of attrition rate?
David, I simply loved your comment. I doubt an invading foreign force in Iraq can be assessed against an army fighting a civil war for over three decades. Your statistics don’t tell us anything. If at all, it alludes to your familiarity with acronyms. I don’t think this post warrants an adolescent discussion on whether the British can defeat the Sri Lankans. Let’s stick to cricket.
TYFR
I quite agree with most of what you are saying.
Here’s where I disagree.
The HRC is a vastly inferior forum to its predecessor, the Human Rights Commission. You will notice that more control is afforded to the States. There have been very few country resolutions passed and virtually none of any value or significance. It may occur to you the no one really cares about Sri Lanka. The west has made a noise only because it has to make some noise in order to maintain its credibility as a group of States committed to human rights promotion and protection. The politics that take place in the HRC cannot be divorced from the overall politics in the UN. The time frames are rather different to what we small timers perceive. In fact, Sri Lanka will be forgotten within a couple of sessions. No one will care. No one will even remember. AI, HRW and a host of other INGOs will continue to submit reports on the situation, but at the end of the day, diplomacy and the numbers game will prevail. Just have a look at the composition of the HRC and you will see what I mean. I’m cynical because I’ve seen it happen.
The only real concern the West has in the HRC is Israel. All other countries that commit violations are low priority and trade-offs within the backrooms of UN building…where the real negotiations take place. And so the fiasco will continue. The non-aligned states will continue to support us and the west will condemn us. They all play ball. And like after a good old game cricket, they all retire to the diplomats’ lounge for a scotch and a laugh.
And the minnows at home rejoice like idiots.
TYFR
It wasn’t an assessment of armies, Archie. Just of societies. Why don’t you discuss what interests you rather than suggesting what should be discussed.
Blacker, let’s discuss cricket then. Do you think we can outlast the English in the 5 day game? Your societal analysis indicates so.
But seriously, there were fewer British and US casualties in Iraq because they had a swift short-term military strategy there, God knows how you can even compare that to the internal conflict in SL. Would you change your opinion if more Yankees and Poms died in the Gulf? If they were perhaps more incompetent?
It is the first time a high death toll has been interpreted as an indication of military prowess or “staying power”. A novel idea in deed. Perhaps this calls for another novel?
TYFR
Well said mate.It’s all politics, my dear Kalusudda. Just like here in Toronto, London got a big chunk of Diaspora, who are valuable voters in politics. In addition they got a wonderful PR machine; which is second to none and which makes GOSL PR looks like a Childs-play. If you Google,” Memoirs of an anti-LTTE undercover agent in London,” you will get an interesting reading and the big picture of double standards of UK foreign policy regarding terrorism.
A reader from Toronto
Perhaps if you understood context, Archie, it might help. Comprehension could be an advantage too. Where in my comment have I mentioned military prowess? I think I’ve made it clear that the British Army could beat the SL Army in battle, but that Brit society could not endure the casualties their forces would take in a war against us. Is that sufficiently clear for you, or would you like a cricket-style scoreboard to help it sink in?
Usually rereading and digesting a sentence can be useful prior to hitting that button.
This is where I wish I used childish acronyms like “L TF OL”. I unfortunately don’t. I see your point Blacker. It is a good one. The British society will never want to lose 5000 soldiers to a war against SL. But as you say it might be over in a few battles. The inherent contradiction in your statement is so blindingly obvious that I fear you may not even comprehend it yourself. You assume a protracted war between the British and the SLA? That’s an amazing analysis.
TYFR
Actually, I don’t assume any sort of war between the UK and SL. It was just a hypothesis. Her Majesty’s Government isn’t really as vociferous on the subject as the media makes out.
An intelligent comment at last. The hypothesis is woefully flawed, Blacker, but at least we are in agreement that this is a figment of the imagination. I agree with you completely. “Her Majesty’s Government isn’t really as vociferous on the subject as the media makes out”. This is because the UK doesn’t really care. Read my comment above. And let’s stop the playful banter. It’s getting a little silly, and I accept my culpability.
TYFR.
For non military types, what is KIA and WIA ?
Of course Archangel, the Brit are experts in the art of killing people !!! How many did they kill in India and Sri Lanka in the 1800 ? was it thousands or millions ?? Is is not such a great thing that there were no HRC at the time ?
Hello Indi, you are doing a great job here. Let me apologize for my former self and all the inhuman comments I made about you. I have turned a page, actually a book. I promise never to reveal anybody anymore, except myself. I will be begging you to add me to kottu soon. (Once I make sure I meet all the criteria). Sorry Man, Real NB
Killed in Action & Wounded in Action.
This from a country that chased a poor Brazilian guy down the platform onto the Tube and shot him in the back of the head when he was lying face down and unarmed on the floor of the train – because they thought he was a terrorist. As it turned out his only crim was not having a ticket for the Tube. I should have died a thousand deaths.
Nothing irks me more than hypocrisy.
If we have to wait for everyone to come with clean hands to start investigating into these things, every State would get away with all forms of violations. We didn’t have a problem with the West when it pointed fingers at Sudan. And we admonished the West for not acting fast enough in Rwanda. So we accept in principle that the international community has a responsibility to react to and condemn human rights violations. No one talks about hypocrisy there. But when it comes to our own backyard we get all offended and shout “where’s the objective criteria?”. In my opinion, any country accused of committing warcrimes should be tried. And this includes the U.S in terms of the Bush Admin. Past offenses such as colonization by the Europeans, slavery and the decimation of the Native Americans should also be looked into; the fact that crimes against humanity were committed should be admitted; and reparations and public apologies should be made. No one is innocent.
But for the love of Christ, does this mean that no one can accuse another of human rights abuses unless they have a spotless record themselves? That is just ridiculously poor logic.
Speaking purely in fantastical terms, the GoSL should voluntarily submit itself to a hearing before the ICC and call on Dick Chenny, Donald Rumsfeld etc etc as witnesses. The perfect opportunity to open a can of worms and expose the West if that’s what we’re really worried about. Since we have nothing to hide.
TYFR
I completely agree with you Archangel. Let’s have war crimes trials all round. But since the caseload is likely to be overwhelming, here’s a practical suggestion – let’s schedule them chronologically. That’s fair isn’t it? And logical too?
So we moght start with the slavery and genocide in the Americas. Then Africa. Then Australia. The colonial occupations of India and South East Asia. World War I, World War II. The Middle East. The various wars for independence. Tibet. Indochina. Palestine. Subsaharan Africa. The Balkans. Iraq. And then, by all means, the most heinous one of all – Sri Lanka. Let the games begin!
Hi Indi,
Thanks for another great piece. You will not beleive how aligned your thoughts are to mine.
These days I am involved in an ’email debate’ with a former collegue of mine from UK (he is ‘proper English’ and a bit of a pundit) who refuses to accept that it is possible the ‘western media’ is not really balanced free press. He seems to think us Sri Lankans (and especially Sinhalese like me) are ‘scum of the earth’. I would love to send this article to him. But he will probably say something like ‘stop blaming others for your mistakes’ and dismiss it. Anyway, we remain hopeful.
I think we Sri Lankans should push the GOSL to the right path. To stop this sliding to a dictatorship. I donot know how to do it. But That is what we have to do. If we let this chance slide, I have wowed to myself, I will give up on Sri Lanka and move somewhere else…
Frankly, I think the west could care less. In facts,it would be better for them to let that happen so that they can topple the govt., install a puppet in place and continue to control us the way they want.
By the way, Hi to David… great to see you here. We used to work together at Lintas.
Now that sounds like an eminently practical solution.
Also they have much more information on the older events…so less research to be done…should facilitate the process:)
Well, say if we attacked Britain, they might. hehe.
Its not just the Colonial masters who are conspiring to ruin Sri Lanka’s moment of glory. Local media hacks have also gotten in the act to discredit our glorious moment>> http://www.lankaenews.com/English/news.php?id=7793
The SL Army (150,000) is currently bigger than the British Army (109,500). If the SL Army is expanded to 300,000 it will become the world’s tenth-largest army, just behind Iran (320,000), and a quarter the size of the Indian Army. The only armies bigger are in descending order:
1. China – 1,700,000
2. India – 1,200,000
3. North Korea – 900,000
4. South Korea – 560,000
5. Pakistan – 520,000
6. United States – 475,000
7. Myanmar – 325,000
8. Russia – 320,000
9. Iran – 320,000
Sri Lanka’s combined armed forces will be 2.5% of the population.
SLAF MiG-27s flying at their cruising speed of 240-kmph could be over India’s two nuclear power stations at Kalpakkam (two more under construction and two more planned) in two hours. They could reach the nuclear power stations under construction at Kudankulam (two more planned) in an hour.
These are only statistics, but think about them for a moment.
Yes but can they reach Australia?
Maybe if we get some big ships :)