by T. Sabaratnam; published June 2, 2004
Weekly Review
Killings Unites Tamils;
India’s Policy Changes
The foul Murder
Iyathurai Nadesan is dead. The cause he espoused, Tamil Nationalism, has received fresh vigour.
The entire northeast ground to a halt in unity today (Wednesday); not merely to mourn the death of a 49 year-old Tamil journalist who defied threats to promote Tamil Nationalism, but also to demonstrate that the cause Nadesan championed has become a growing reality.
On Sunday, he wrote in his regular weekly column in Virakesari: “Batticaloa district in sixty days had witnessed 20 crimes and 35 killings.” And on Monday he has been added to that list as the 36th victim.
Nadesan was shot dead by unidentified gunmen around eight a.m. on Monday morning while he was going to work on his motorbike. The assailants, who rode in a blue-hued motorcycle from the opposite direction, fired at the bespectacled veteran, an ,award-winning journalist from the front with a pistol, killing him on the spot.
He was hit on the chest and head. He tried to speed up his motorcycle. He slumped and lost control. The motorcycle crashed into a lamppost and fell on the road. Nadesan was thrown into the drain. Police found his spectacles lying on the road near the spot where he was shot.
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| Iyathurai Nadesan |
The affable Nadesan had no personal enemies, the magistrate and the investigators were told by his wife, Goweri, and relatives. He was very critical of the Sri Lanka Army and paramilitary groups that worked under the army and of the Karuna group.
Hand grenades were thrown at his house in 2000 and he was briefly detained by the army under the notorious Prevention of Terrorism Act in 2001.
Two months ago, the Karuna group warned Nadesan to leave Batticoloa as he was a Jaffna man. He is from Nelliady in Vadamarachchi, 25 km northeast of Jaffna town.
Nadesan was a graduate in Business Administration from Jaffna University. He started his career as a teacher and was an active member of the EPRLF. He worked as the Director of Information of the North East Provincial Council under Varatharaja Perumal. Later he joined the Income Tax Department and is currently Senior Assessor.
He worked as a journalist for more than two decades. He reported for Virakesari, Sakthi, IBC Tamil service and to some other electronic media.
Nadesan won the Northeast Sahithya Academy award for his book “History of Ethnic Strife,” written in Tamil. The Sri Lanka Editors Guild honoured him two years ago as the best Tamil journalist of the year.
Media persons and organizations condemned Nadesan’s slaying. Victor Ivan, a leading journalist and editor of Ravaya, condemning the killing, said Nadesan’s article in the Sunday Virakesari may have been the reason for his killing. Sri Ranasinghe, president of Sri Lanka Editors Guild, called the killing a threat to democracy.
The Sri Lanka Tamil Media Alliance, the East Lanka Journalist Association and the Free Media Movement, in their condolence messages, said Nadesan’s death was an irreparable loss to journalism.
LTTE Warning
The LTTE honoured Nadesan with the title Naddupatralar, draped his coffin with the Tiger Flag and gave him a moving send off.
S. P. Thamilselvan, head of the Political Wing of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, said a concerted effort to destroy the Tamil intellectual base of Tamil Nationalism is on. He said that action would be taken to prevent it. Last week, Kumaravel Thambaiah, a senior economics lecturer of the Eastern University was killed.
The LTTE press statement issued on Tuesday warned the Sri Lanka security forces and the paramilitary outfits assisting them that people of Sri Lanka would have to face a calamitous period if they fail to stop these killings.
The statement said, “Killing of intellectuals, journalists and friends of Tamil people is abominable. Even during this time of peace, anti-peace forces are engaged in barbaric activities. These actions are bound to lead the people of this island to a period of calamity and destruction.
“Sri Lanka security forces and the militants who are assisting them must realize the consequences. Current situation in Sri Lanka demands that these killings stop.”
The LTTE issued a similar warning on May 22 following the killing of LTTE cadre Markandu Punithalingam (alias Rohithan or Gohilan) who was gunned down at Alankerni in Batticoloa. Kausalyan, Batticaloa-Amparai deputy head of the LTTE political wing, said that the Aalankerni attack was carried out with the support of the Sri Lanka Army. Thamilselvan repeated the warning at Kilinochchi and warned the army and government of serious consequences.
Two army intelligence men – both Sinhalese – were killed following the warning. Commentators said they were a ‘tit for tat’ answer by the LTTE.
Threat to Peace
Analysts say violence in the Batticoloa-Ampara region is threatening efforts to end 20 years of civil war. They said the Norwegian-brokered ceasefire that has been holding for more than two years may be marred by the killings in the eastern districts.
The co-chairs of the Sri Lanka Aid Group, the US, European Union, Japan and Norway, who met on Tuesday in Brussels to review the peace process, registered their rising concern about the escalating violence in the east. They called on the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE to continue to respect and implement the ceasefire agreement as the basis of the peace process.
The co-chairs urged in the strongest possible terms a rapid resumption of the peace negotiations so that Sri Lanka could benefit from the generosity of the international community. The co-chairs warned that, with so many demands on donors, donor attention and funding might go elsewhere unless the peace process made progress.
They viewed with satisfaction the interest President Kumaratunga and the LTTE had shown in reviving the peace process and the fact that the ceasefire is holding. They urged all other parties to support the peace process. Analysts see this as a request to the JVP and Jathika Hela Urumaya.
On two major issues, the donor community seems to be veering round to the LTTE position. They are:
· ISGA – The co-chairs said: “Until effective administrative structures are in place in the North-East the co-chairs encouraged the parties to agree on the establishment of effective delivery mechanisms for donor-financed development activities in the North-East.
· Muslim Participation – The co-chairs, while stressing the need to involve the Muslims in the talks, said: “The co-chairs encouraged the parties to agree on the modalities to invite a Muslim delegation at an appropriate time for the deliberation on relevant substantive political issues.
The co-chairs have also stressed the need to preserve the gains so far achieved and reiterated their stand that the principles enunciated in the Tokyo declaration should be strictly adhered to. The Tokyo declaration linked progress in peace talks with the delivery of aid funds. It also laid down 10 matters that should be achieved through talks. Full compliance with the ceasefire agreement by both parties, an effective delivery mechanism relating to the development activity in the north-east, participation of Muslims and parallel progress towards a final political settlement based on the principles of the Oslo Declaration, were the major objectives and milestones set by the Tokyo Declaration.
The Oslo declaration sets out the final basis of the settlement. It states, “Responding to the proposal by the leadership of the LTTE, the parties agreed to explore a solution founded on the principle of internal self-determination in areas of historical habitation of the Tamil-speaking peoples, based on a federal structure within a United Sri Lanka.”
The co-chairs have also taken note of Kumaratunga’s invitation to Norway to continue its role as a facilitator. Kumaratunga cannot get out of this. But, the JVP is trying to press her to dilute Norway’s role by including India and Finland into the facilitator function.
The JVP delegation which met Kumaratunga on Tuesday night complained about Kumaratunga inviting Norway despite the JVP’s opposition. They asked her to explore the possibility of asking India and Finland to serve along with Norway. It is certain India and Finland would reject such an invitation.
The 5-hour talks JVP leaders had with Kumaratunga discussed two other issues over which they exchanged letters. In a 4-page letter released to the media, the JVP charged Kumaratunga with violating the Memorandum of Agreement signed by them. Kumaratunga, adopting a hard line, rejected the JVP’s complaints and released her reply to the media. She told the JVP that she was releasing her reply to the media because she was prepared to talk to them through the media “if the JVP wanted to talk to the President through the media.”
During Tuesday’s talks, she told the JVP delegation that she appointed two new ministers because two ministers wanted to resign and contest the July 10 provincial council elections. She told them that the Ceylon Workers (CWC) will join the government soon and with that the government would be in a majority in parliament. She told them that she had to offer the CWC two ministries and said the number of ministers would have to be increased to 38. JVP was forced to agree to that arrangement.
The CWC leadership is still of two minds. A section of the leadership wants to join the government in a few days and informed sources say that ministries would be given to M. S. Sellasamy and Muthu Sivalingam. CWC leader Arumugan Thondaman has opted to stay out of the cabinet, they said. Youths are opposed to joining Kumaratunga’s government. Sellasamy told a private television on Wednesday night that they had not yet decided about joining the government.
Kumaratunga may also take in a few Muslims, thus surmounting over the problem of getting a majority in parliament. The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress has expelled three MPs, the ones who conspired with some government members to discredit their leader, Rauff Hakeem, through a sex scandal.
The JVP’s second complaint was the appointment of defeated candidates to top posts in government corporations. Kumaratunga’s answer was simple. “I had to keep some people satisfied if I am to run the government.” JVP had to stomach its revolutionary postures. Kumaratunga has no answer to the JVP charge that she gave posts to 53 of the 56 Members of Parliament of her party, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party.
The JVP’s biggest trouble is the peace process. It is against accepting the LTTE as the sole representative of the Tamils. It is against Norway’s facilitation. It is against discussing the LTTE’s Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA) proposal. Kumaratunga has accepted the first two and has agreed to discuss the ISGA.
The JVP had asked her to go slow with the peace process at least till the July 10 provincial council elections. They pressurized Kumaratunga on this because their young supporters are revolting. Last week at a seminar at Kurunegala a young JVP cadre asked the propaganda secretary Wimal Weerawansa: “You opposed Norway. President had invited that country which you said was favouring the LTTE? Why did you agree?” Weerawansa had no answer.
India Changing
Chandrika wants to win the provincial council elections. That would strengthen her politically. She entertained two other hopes when she insisted on getting the “Parallel Discussion of Core Issues” on the agenda of the peace talks. In a document sent to the LTTE before Norwegian facilitator Eric Solheim arrived on Sunday the government introduced the sentence,
“…any agreed Interim Authority will have the contours of a final solution to the ethnic conflict taking into account the Oslo statement and the Tokyo Declaration…”
Then she told the Norwegians that the interim arrangement and the core issues that form the final solution could be discussed in parallel. The trick there was to link the setting up of the interim administration to thorny issues like the future of the LTTE’s administrative infrastructure, taxation, police service and the military structure.
LTTE rejected the suggestion and said the ISGA should be in place before the core issues concerning the final settlement are worked out. It said,
“… institutionalizing the ISGA (Interim Self Governing Authority) should take place first so that we can demonstrate to the people that their urgent humanitarian needs would be effectively met with the ISGA and will help to build the confidence among the people who are the real stakeholders in the peace process,”
So, to restart the peace process the problem whether ‘core issues’ should be discussed in parallel or after the establishment of the ISGA has to be settled.
When Kumaratunga raised the ‘parallel discussion of core issues’ problem she entertained two hopes. Firstly, as Finance Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama said, the donor countries would release a small portion of the funds on condition that the peace talks are held soon. Treasury needs money urgently. He hoped to tide over the present crisis situation with that fund. The co- chairs have disappointed the government.
“The way to unlock the bulk of the money is for Sri Lanka to make progress in peace talks,” European Commission spokeswoman Emma Udwin said.
The other hope Kumaratunga entertained was to carry India with her. Kadirgamar rushed to Delhi to get the new government’s support. His mission was to get the new Indian administration to oppose the LTTE’s ISGA proposal. Last October when the LTTE submitted the ISGA proposal Kadirgamar flew to India with a lengthy critique. He told India that the setting up of the ISGA would be harmful to India’s security and national interest. He got some favourable response.
This time he returned with Natwar Singh’s advice, “As you know, India is committed to the sovereignty, territorial integrity and the unity of Sri Lanka in a federal system and the Prime Minister [Manmohan Singh] has said that we very much hope that a peaceful, negotiated solution will be found which will maintain the unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Sri Lanka and satisfy all sections of the people of Sri Lanka.”
India had asked Kumaratunga to find a solution ‘in a federal system.’ And Manmohan Singh had hoped a peaceful, negotiated solution will be found which will maintain the unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Sri Lanka and satisfy all sections of the people of Sri Lanka.
This the first time India had specifically used the word ‘federal system.’ And this is the first time India had sounded the implied warning that Sri Lanka may not maintain its unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty if it fails to find a peaceful negotiated solution.
Kadirgamar asked Natwar Singh for humanitarian help to rehabilitate the north-east. Natwar Singh’s reply was, “We are naturally concerned and whatever help we can give….we will certainly give.”
Kadirgamar, the first foreign dignitary to visit India after the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government assumed office, said “in our country, there is a very strong body of opinion across the board which wishes to see India play a suitable role in the evolution of our peace process and the reaching of a final settlement.”
Natwar Singh replied. “The Indian government has always been interested in such assistance. We have to leave it for further discussions on the lines and parameters of this.”
Asked by a reporter whether defence cooperation with Sri Lanka was possible with the DMK being part of the ruling alliance, Singh said the alliance partners would be fully informed of the discussions he had had. “They naturally have an interest in it. They are next door.”
Analysts pointed out the fact that Natwar Singh did not say one word about Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination during the one-hour discussion as a pointer to India’s policy change towards the LTTE.
They also said India’s decision to get involved with humanitarian and development work in areas under LTTE control was another pointer.
The Common Minimum Programme adopted by the UPA on Thursday says the following about Sri Lanka;
The UPA government will support peace talks in Sri Lanka that fulfill the legitimate aspirations of Tamils and religious minorities within the territorial integrity and solidarity of Sri Lanka.
The phrase ‘religious minorities’ is used to denote the Muslims. India wants the rights of Muslims living in the north-east recognized.
India’s new policy would be to encourage the Sri Lanka government and the LTTE to reach a negotiated political settlement.
The next question is: How will India, that has banned the LTTE for the next two years, encourage the LTTE.
J. N. Dixit, India’s Defence Advisor with the status of a minister of state, has the answer. The ban operates within India. But India can deal ‘unofficially’ with the LTTE.
Karunanithi, Vaiko and Ramadoss have become important to the Sri Lankan Tamils. Vaiko had already raised the question of getting rid of the ban on the LTTE.
We must take the advice given by a Communist leader in New Delhi. “Mistakes have been made on both sides. We cannot be the prisoners of the past.”
Iyathurai Nadesan