Sorrowful Departure and Joyful Arrival

By D. B. S. Jeyaraj

The joyful return of Anton Balasingham and wife Adele Anne to the northern mainland of the Wanni is another triumphant indicator of the human spirit prevailing over adverse circumstances.

The publicly acclaimed arrival of the Balasinghams on March 25, contrasts sharply with their clandestine departure three years and sixty-one days ago amidst sorrowful circumstances. Balasingham left the shores of the island in a deteriorating health conditions with flimsy chances of survival. The situation was further compounded by the callous insensitivity displayed by President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga to his plight. His recovery and return therefore is of immense satisfaction to both the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) as well as its leader Velupillai Pirapaharan.

It was on August 27, 1998 that a doctor ‘Suri’ attached to the LTTE medical corps opined to Adele Balasingham that her husband could be suffering from acute renal afflictions caused by thirty years of diabetes.

The occasion was the wedding of a woman Tiger cadre in the Mullaitheevu district. Mrs. Balasingham a trained nurse herself had noticed certain vital signs of deteriorating health in her husband and discussed them with Dr. Suri at the wedding. A worried Adele Balasingham thereafter lost no time in getting her husband checked medically.

A major problem in LTTE controlled regions is the lack of adequate medical facilities due to the embargo imposed by the state in violation of Geneva protocols. Balasingham, a diabetic on insulin had also been deprived of sufficient quantities because of drug shortages in the Wanni.

Preliminary tests through comparatively primitive methods like heating up a test tube of urine samples for instance revealed unusual presence of protein. Balasingham’s blood and urine samples were sent under a false identity to Colombo for further tests that revealed a crisis of acute renal failure was at hand.

Meanwhile, Balasingham’s health began steadily deteriorating. A troubled LTTE leader got his cadres to acquire some insulin from India for his trusted political adviser. This helped to some extent but it was clear that unless serious medical care was provided the Tiger theoretician and political strategist was a goner.

Senior LTTE members and their families hearing of Balasingham’s state were now visiting him regularly. Pirapaharan and wife Mathivathani were also attentive. Doctors in the Wanni made a collective examination and advised Pirapaharan that Balasingham had to be evacuated away from the Wanni for advanced treatment if he was to live.

The closest and most suitable place for treatment seemed to be Tamil Nadu in India. Some Tiger sympathisers invited Balasingham to come over clandestinely. But with the LTTE being proscribed in India and several political parties and media organisations adopting a hostile attitude Pirapaharan was unwilling to take a risk.

The Tiger leader instructed the international secretariat of the LTTE in London to explore avenues of getting Balasingham abroad for treatment. This resulted in Norway being willing to accommodate Balasingham.

One reason for this was that Oslo desirous of playing peacemaker to several conflicts around the world was aware of Balasingham’s importance in any possible peace process. Norwegian Ambassador in Colombo Jon Westborg had been informed of Balasingham’s crucial value by none other than former United National Party Minister A. C. S. Hameed. The ex-foreign minister who functioned as a government emissary to the LTTE in 1989-1990 had struck up a personal relationship with Balasingham. Hameed had in fact met Balasingham in London a few weeks before his sad demise.

With Norway being prepared to render assistance, Westborg was authorised by Oslo to authenticate reports of Balasingham’s condition. An International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) delegation consisting of medical personnel led by Max Hadorn visited Balasingham in Puthukkudiyiruppu and examined him thoroughly. The verdict was that he had to be moved as soon as possible.

LTTE leader Pirapaharan thereafter initiated an uncharacteristic move. He enlisted the services of the ICRC, sections of the Catholic Clergy and Norway to make a direct appeal to his arch enemy Chandrika Kumaratunga on humanitarian grounds.

The proud and unbending Tiger supremo is not one to seek favours from the other side but in this case his concern for Balasingham was so great that he opted to do so. Kumaratunga was requested to grant permission for Balasingham to travel abroad through Colombo for medical treatment.

Kumaratunga’s initial response was positive. Westborg briefed her of the importance of Balasingham in any future peace process. The Norwegians informed the LTTE through the Tiger representative in Oslo that Colombo’s response was favourable and that Kumaratunga was discussing the logistics of getting Balasingham out. When this news was conveyed to Pirapaharan he was overjoyed. In a gesture of goodwill aimed at reciprocating Kumaratunga’s magnanimity he ordered the release of nine prisoners from the south in Tiger custody.

The course of events altered drastically after former Foreign Affairs Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar was also consulted by Kumaratunga on the issue.

The first sign of things to come was when Kadirgamar vetoed a role for the ICRC in this enterprise on the grounds that it was not to be trusted.

While the LTTE awaited a favourable concrete response from Kumaratunga, Balasingham’s situation got worse. Finally, Norway informed the LTTE that the Kumaratunga-Kadirgamar duo had worked out a list of demands titled ‘significant reciprocal humanitarian gestures’ that were to be fulfilled by the LTTE if Balasingham was to be sent abroad with Sri Lankan governmental assistance. These conditions were of a military nature.

The LTTE hierarchy was required to guarantee the following: government administration in the north-east should not be impeded or disrupted; Government property in Tamil areas should not be attacked or destroyed; Sea and air transport of supplies to the north-east should not be threatened or attacked; Public property throughout the country should not be attacked; All persons in LTTE custody should be released; this included according to the Kumaratunga regime a charge that more than 250 persons were being allegedly held by the Tigers without ICRC knowledge; all cadres under 18 years of age were to be released also.

It was clear that Kumaratunga was seeking to exploit Balasingham’s vulnerability and trying to extract major concessions in return. The Balasinghams told Pirapaharan to reject the demands outright. Balasingham reportedly stated that he was ‘prepared to die with honour and self-respect rather than acceding to these humiliating demands.’ Pirapaharan was furious at the demands stipulated by Kumaratunga and Kadirgamar.

Pirapaharan assured Mrs. Balasingham that he would do everything possible to send Balasingham abroad for medical treatment. A new option was pursued.

Balasingham and wife were taken on January 23, 1999 by a Sea Tiger boat personally driven by Sea Tiger Commander Soosai to a LTTE ship at mid sea. Thereafter, the ship proceeded to Phukhet in Thailand. After recovering from the strenuous journey that itself could have been fatal, Balasingham was admitted to a hospital in Bangkok for examination and treatment. This indicated that an enlarged kidney had to be removed soon.

Thereafter, the Balasinghams contacted authorities in Britain and obtained proper travel documents. They moved to Singapore and proceeded to London. After interacting with Norwegian officials, Balasingham relocated to Oslo for surgery and kidney transplant.

A young Sri Lankan Tamil in Norway ‘Donald’ volunteered to donate one. After recuperation and recovery Balasingham plunged in zestfully into promoting the peace process. His first public appearance in London was on December 2, at the Arena in London docklands of the Maaveerar Naal observances. He represented the LTTE in all discussions with Norway while communicating regularly with Pirapaharan.

Balasingham was primarily responsible on the LTTE side for getting the ceasefire adopted. This has caused immense satisfaction in Tiger ranks. This is illustrated by the welcome given the returning political strategist and chief negotiator. Given the sorrowfully clandestine manner in which Balasingham departed the triumphant mode of his arrival is certainly a jubilant event for the LTTE. There is no doubt that his return will be a boost to the peace process.

Almost every senior LTTE leader who bade farewell to Balasingham three years ago in Mullaitheevu was now in Kilinochchi to bid welcome. The Balasinghams, particularly Adele Anne, would miss one absent being their pet dog of fifteen years. Although a female, the puppy obtained at Chennai in 1984 was called Jimmy. It was left behind in 1999 when the Balasinghams left the Wanni. After three weeks of woeful pining for its friends the canine buddy simply died.