Sri Lanka Scene
Weekly Review
By T. Sabaratnam, 8 September 2004
US Accusation
International pressure is currently on the LTTE. It was patent from the remarks made by a top US official on counterterrorism who was in Colombo the last two days.
US Ambassador-at-large J. Cofer Black told senior journalists in Colombo today (Wednesday) that the US has provided the Sri Lankan government the type of support that puts it in a good position to negotiate with the LTTE as the object was peace and not war.
Though he did not reveal the type of support Washington had provided Colombo, it was presumed that it was primarily military. And Black warned that the US would reconsider the type of support it is providing if the Tigers resume the war.
Black said, “We have a good program in place with the government for these times. Were the times to change, the United States would have to reconsider the type of support it gives.”
Tamils should take note of the impatience on the part of the international community. They want the government and the LTTE to talk peace. And they want definite progress to be made. They also want the process to be speedy.
Black made all these clear with this comment, “Good faith negotiations are the only way to achieving lasting peace. We call upon the government and the LTTE to swiftly resume the peace talks and seriously move towards an agreement that is acceptable to both sides.”
International impatience was earlier reflected by the mid- August European Union statement that called upon the LTTE to stop killings and child recruitment and get to back to the peace table. The European Union statement was made after a delegation of three ambassadors visited Kilinochchi.
The members of the delegation were: British High Commissioner Stephen Evans, Netherlands Ambassador Susan Blankhart and Charge d’Affairs, European Union Wouter Wilton.
Their statement also reflected their concern that the tit-for-tact attacks would damage the ceasefire that had held for over two years. The rising tone of the rhetoric, especially by Deputy Defence Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake, had also upset the European Union diplomats.
Kumaratunga had made use of the mounting disquiet of the international community to tilt its sympathy towards the government. Her announcement that she was prepared to talk to the LTTE even on the basis of its demand for the Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA) had warmed the hearts of the international community, especially the donor nations.
She began to consolidate the international tilt the moment she returned to Colombo after her holiday – some say the holiday was to ward off the evil effects of last week’s planetary change – with her children in Britain. She talked with the Colombo-based foreign correspondents over dinner on Friday about her effort to bring the LTTE back to the negotiation table and told the SLFP’s 53rd anniversary meeting at Galle on Saturday her determination to talk with the Tigers.
Her strategy is to show the world that she is the one who is trying her best to drag a reluctant LTTE to the table.
Kumaratunga told the Galle meeting that the government is trying to get the LTTE to the negotiating table, though it is a difficult process and added that, “the process is slowly progressing, but we are not bending backwards though doing the maximum.”
She told the foreign correspondent ants on Friday that she was confident that the LTTE is coming back to the negotiating table. She also told them she was confident of tackling the JVP. She said they had agreed to the sharing of power as a means to solve the ethnic conflict.
JVP general secretary Tilvin Silva told a public meeting Tuesday the JVP would not permit the government to talk with the LTTE about the ISGA.
Kumaratunga is not worrying about the JVP’s public stance and oratory. She is aware that they will not leave the government. The JVP’s politbureau made a firm decision about that. Their strategy is to capture the government from within.
She told the correspondents that her real difficulty is the UNP led by Ranil Wickremesinghe.” It is harder to get the UNP and Ranil on board,” she said. She added that Ranil Wickremesinghe wants to get all the credit for himself for solving the ethnic problem.
Ranil Wants Full Credit
When asked about the UNP’s offer of unconditional support to her if she opened discussions with the LTTE on the basis of ISGA, Kumaratunga laughed and said, “Rubbish.” Then she added, “Ranil will not support any scheme for the success of which he cannot claim full credit.”
At Galle, Kumaratunga said she would consult the opposition and other interested organizations soon to forge a consensus about talks with the LTTE. That, she said, would be a separate process.
“Things are not going to be as easy as she thinks,” a Tamil political commentator said. “Such consultations would give a chance for Sinhala extremists within her party and outside to mobilize the Sinhalese against talking with the LTTE on the basis of the ISGA,” he said.
He admitted it would be difficult for the Tigers to keep away from the peace talks or to delay them in the hope Ranil Wickremesinghe’s government would be back in power. Excuses such as Chandrika does not have a clear policy, her government does not speak with one voice, killing of LTTE cadres should cease before talks begin and her government is in minority are not considered valid reasons by many in and out of Colombo for delaying the resumption of peace talks.
Most of the commentators seem to feel that the LTTE is delaying peace talks in the hope that Ranil Wickremesinghe would return to power. Ranil Wickremesinghe told the UNP’s 58th anniversary celebrations on Monday that he would topple the Kumaratunga government by November this year. He said that by November he would be able to muster a majority in parliament.
Wickremesinghe said he would be able to topple the government because Sri Lanka was going downhill under the leadership of Kumaratunga, with rising prices and a threat of war looming large on the horizon. The lack of progress in the peace process meant delay in getting the $4.5 billion foreign aid which he had secured when he was the Prime Minister.
Wickeremesinghe’s plan is to defeat the Kumaratunga government’s first budget which is to be presented to parliament in November. A defeat on a Money Bill would amount to defeat of the government.
The Dowry Talk
But defeat seems unlikely because the Ceylon Worker’s Congress (CWC), which has eight members in parliament, announced on Friday its decision to give unconditional support to the government. With the CWC’s support, the government would have 114 members, a wafer-thin majority in a House of 225. The government hopes to add three more Muslim MPs to its ranks taking the total to 117.
The CWC’s support for the government is not yet firm. Negotiations about the plums of office the Thondaman group would get have not been finalized. But the go-between, Ports Minister Mangala Samaraweera, is throwing a huge party on Friday to seal the marriage. When asked whether the dowry had been settled, Samaraweera replied, “Those are small matters. They can be settled.”
But for Thondaman that was not a small matter. He demanded two cabinet ministries and two deputy ministries. Kumaratunga turned him down.
Kumaratunga told the Colombo-based foreign correspondents, “He came with a huge shopping list. Two ministries, two deputy ministries, chairman of corporations, diplomatic posts and the like. I have declined. That is too much.”
Kumaratunga told the government parliamentary group meeting on Tuesday all that she was prepared to give was a cabinet portfolio and two deputy ministries. She also indicated that the ministry that would be given relates to estate development and not water management.
“What Kumaratunga is giving is too little,” said Muthu Sivalingam, deputy president of the Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC).
The CWC’s problem is that there are too many people who want to enjoy the benefits of office. They have gotten used to them.
Muthu Sivalingam and another senior vice president, M. S. Sellasamy, want to be ministers. If they are ignored there will be trouble. It would not be difficult for Ranil Wickremesinghe to entice one or two by dangling the carrot of office. He can tell them he would give them offices when he comes to power.
Arumugan Thondaman has spread the rumour that he will not accept any ministry. He would definitely accept it when the time comes. He has around him many ‘supporters’ who would demonstrate until he accepts an office.
Thondaman’s interest is water management. He wants the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) under him. That is his ‘water cut’. Sunday Leader newspaper exposed that on Sunday. He had obtained cabinet sanction for a massive 7 million US dollar computerization project last year when he was in charge of the NWSDB as minister of Urban Development. He had arranged it for his lady friend from Hyderabad. The paper said the cost of the project had been inflated by over 2 million US dollars.
Thondaman tried his best to stop Sunday Leader from publishing the news. He asked Ranil Wickremesinghe to help him. Ranil refused. To spite Ranil, he announced his support to the government. He said it was unconditional. He said he was supporting the government to provide it with the majority in parliament so that it could take forward the peace process.
Thondaman did not stop with that. He laid down a condition. He said Chandrika should agree to talk about the ISGA. “CWC’s mandate is to work for uplift of the plantation Tamils. If we can help the northeast Tamils we must make use of that opportunity,” he said.
An irritated Tamil politician commented, “If he wants to cross over to the government let him do it. Why should he try to deceive the Tamil people?”
Tamils of the NorthEast did not like Thondaman using them for his personal benefit. Tamil parliamentarians criticized him. Thamilchelvan tore Thondaman’s cloak asunder for giving support to Kumaratunge’s government. He said, “We find it difficult to understand why he did it. It will definitely weaken the Tamil cause.”
Thondaman and his seven men are still sitting in the opposition benches. When they will cross is not yet decided. “They will cross now, will cross back when Ranil comes back to power, double cross Ranil and Chandrika if necessary,” a UNPer said.
Next week, Erik Solheim is coming back. He will be here for four days. Something important in the peace front may emerge.