Shreen Saroor Short Documentary

INTERNATIONAL: Women: Leaders of Peace

Shreen Abdul Saroor has experienced war and forced displacement. She grew up surrounded by violence in Sri Lanka, where Tamil militants expelled Muslims from the north in 1990, forcing her family to escape their Mannar Island home.

She understands the costs of war and, in particular, the vulnerability of women.

“The safety of women and girls has been one of the casualties of the long war in Sri Lanka,” she has said. “Soldiers and members of paramilitary groups rape women with impunity. Rape has been used as a tool to torture political detainees.”

Not one to sit by idly, Shreen formed two organizations to assist women affected by conflict — and, by extension, to help the population at large: Sri Lanka’s Mannar Women’s Development Federation, which provides microcredit and education to Muslim and Tamil women, and Mannar Women for Human Rights and Democracy. Shreen knows that there cannot be true, lasting peace without the participation of informed and civically engaged women.

On September 21, World Peace Day, we at Search for Common Ground saluted Shreen along with three other women — Indonesia’s Electronita Duan, Nepal’s Purna Shova Chitrakar and Timor-Leste’s Filomena Barros dos Reis — who are receiving this year’s inaugural N-Peace Awards. Search for Common Ground is working with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to implement these N-Peacehonors — recognizing those who “Engage for Peace, Equality, Access, Community and Empowerment”– which were established to acknowledge that women are often in the frontlines of conflict, but rarely make the headlines. Their efforts toward building peace and creating cohesion in their communities are too many times overlooked.

Today, we want these women in the headlines.

Electronita has been involved in numerous programs to empower women in Indonesia and helped develop Politeknik Perdamaian Halamahera, an institute of higher education for those whose studies were interrupted by conflict. Electronita knew that normalcy could never return to conflict zones without a skilled and educated population.

Purna, among other activities, created the Ban Landmines Campaign Nepal (NCBL) in 1995 to promote an international ban on the use, production, transfer and stockpile of landmines. Purna worked to teach families, students and teachers about the risks of landmines in their communities, especially in rural areas. She often had to struggle to reduce mines in the face of opposition, continued conflict and arson. She worked tirelessly to outlaw these indiscriminate weapons of war and in June of this year Nepal was declared landmine free.

A human rights and justice activist, Filomena is a project coordinator for peace building development with the Asia Pacific Support Collective in Timor-Leste, a country that is continuing to rebuild and overcome its tragic history. Even before Timor-Leste secured its independence, she worked tirelessly to ensure a credible truth and reconciliation process for her country and to ensure that human rights are protected, sometimes dressing as a nun and carrying religious material to protect her true purpose in documenting horrific human rights violations.

Each of these women has helped her community get closer to peace, security and normalcy. Moreover, they have empowered more women to do the same.

At Search for Common Ground, we believe strongly in the positive roles that women can play in their communities and in compassionate leadership for the whole. SFCG recognizes that war has a disproportionate impact on women and girls, and their potential for sustaining peace often goes unrealized and untapped.

Working with governments, women’s organizations and individuals to expand women’s political participation throughout the world, particularly in Africa, Asia and the Middle East, we are training women politicians in leadership skills and use of media, and women mediators for peaceful settlement of election results. We are encouraging women to engage as local and national leaders through economic training, participatory theater, peace forums and dialogues. In addition, we convene women for conferences on empowerment, bolstering local, national and regional networks of women dedicated to conflict transformation.

Women, who tend to be more inclusive in their approach and represent slightly more than half the world’s population, are essential to lasting peace and secure communities. It is only by empowering women and giving them a place at the table that we can hope to find solutions to conflict that last.

Source: Huffington Post Date: September 26, 2011

Theme: Participation – General, Violence Against Women – General

Forum Human Rights in Sri Lanka and Australias Role Speech by Dr.Sam Pari

Part 01

Part 02

Sri Lanka rejects conflict criticism

Calls for war crimes inquiry over 20,000 civilian deaths in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka faced new calls for a war crimes inquiry today after an investigation by The Times revealed that more than 20,000 civilians were killed – mostly by the army – in the latter stages of the war against the Tamil Tigers.

The army dismissed that figure as an exaggeration and repeated the Government’s assertion that not a single civilian was killed by government forces in the final assault on the northeastern conflict zone.

Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara, a military spokesman, declined to say how many civilian deaths had been confirmed, but insisted that they had all been caused by the Tigers, also known as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

“This is an exaggerated story. Whoever has put up this report has been paid by the LTTE,” he told The Times. “There can’t be any civilians killed by government forces in that area. How can the UN know about this? It had no people on the ground.” The UN, however, described its figures as “well-informed estimates”, adding that it did not have “precise, verifiable numbers” because of a lack of access to the conflict zone and the camps holding refugees from the area. “The UN has publicly and repeatedly said that the number of people killed in recent months has been unacceptably high and it has shared its estimates with the Government as well as others concerned,” said Elisabeth Byrs, of the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs. “The point is the UN has not been shy about the scale of human suffering and civilian casualties,” she said. “It has been ringing the alarm bells for a long time.” Sri Lanka officially declared victory in its 26-year civil war with the Tigers early last week after killing almost all of their leadership, including Velupillai Prabhakaran, their founder, in a tiny patch of coconut grove on the northeastern coast. Backed by China, Russia and other allies, Sri Lanka also easily defeated a proposal for a war crimes inquiry at a special session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Tuesday and Wednesday. The new civilian death toll figure has prompted new calls for an inquiry, which could still be ordered by Ban Ki Moon, the UN Secretary-General, or by Navi Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Managala Samaraweera, a former Foreign Minister who left the Government to become an opposition politician in 2005, told The Times that an inquiry was the only way for Sri Lanka to repair the damage to its international reputation. “As Sri Lankans, we’re extremely concerned about what happened during the last stages of the conflict,” he said. “The Government must immediately initiate an independent inquiry. Only by doing so will Sri Lanka be able to clear up its good name.” Human rights groups, aid workers and numerous civilian witnesses have accused the Tigers and government forces of repeatedly firing on non-combatants in violation of international humanitarian law. The Tigers have also been accused of using civilians as human shields and recruiting children forcibly, while the army has been accused of deliberately shelling hospitals in the conflict zone. Brad Adams, Asia director of Human Rights Watch, told The Times: “There’s no doubt there’s a need for a war crimes inquiry. The whole operation has been done in secret and the scale of deaths is so large that it has to be investigated. This is not going to go away.” The UN and the Red Cross also complained today that the Sri Lankan Government was still refusing to provide aid workers with full access to the former conflict zone despite a direct appeal by the UN Secretary General.

Source : TimeOnline

Army closes in on Tamil Tiger separatists – 18 May 09

The Tamil Tigers separatist movement is all but defeated as fighting in Sri Lanka’s northern war zone claims the life of the man who led the group’s 26-year revolt, Velupillai Prabhakaran.

But among the Tamil population there is still a sense of injustice born out of unresolved grievances which began the conflict in the first place. Al Jazeera’s Tony Birtley reports.

UN expert on genocide prevention calls for end to conflict

United Nations, New York, 15 May 2009 – Daily Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General. Statement on Sri Lanka from the Special Advisor of the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide, Mr. Francis Deng.

Why the Sri Lankan government won’t listen

Colombo, Sri Lanka — The best efforts of the international community to bring the humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka to an end through its diplomatic interventions seem to have come to naught. The joint visit of the British Foreign Minister David Miliband and his French counterpart Bernard Kouchner was full of controversy, but seems to have yielded little other than that. Vocal sections of the government, media and the general public saw bad faith in these European moves and did not hesitate to make their views known.

This perception also seems to have induced the government to deny a visa to Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, prompting him say that the Sri Lankan government’s attitude was exceedingly strange and to reject an invitation to visit Sri Lanka at a later date. For the past 50 years, Sweden was one of the most generous development supporters of Sri Lanka, but from next year this partnership is to end, and the recent mishap will do little to facilitate a positive review of this situation.

Those who oppose international intervention in the humanitarian crisis in the country believe that their motive is to force a ceasefire upon the government in order to extend the life of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. A week ago, under heavy Indian pressure including a fast by the aged chief minister of Tamil Nadu, M. Karunandhi and members of his political party, the government declared an end to combat operations and to the use of heavy weapons and air power. But barely had the statement been issued, and the fast in Tamil Nadu ended, than evidence began to be provided that the fighting on the ground was continuing as before, with air strikes included.

With both the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE holding determinedly to their positions, the war is set to reach its inevitable conclusion. During their visit to Sri Lanka the two foreign ministers stressed, albeit without much success, that their sole concern was that of the civilian population trapped in the battle zone and not any petty political advantage to themselves with their domestic electorates. They also denied that they had any ulterior motive in trying to give the LTTE a breathing space so they could revive but were only seeking a way out for the civilians.

The desirability of a negotiated end to the war that would save civilian lives is not only a European position. Even activists from the Third World with an anti-imperialist orientation hold to the same view. A view of the current situation from the distance that foreign countries have is that the war is ended, and there is no more need for killing or trapping people. The LTTE is hardly in a position to revive its fortunes with its territorial control, which once extended to 15,000 square kilometers, now whittled down to less than six square kilometers.

However, the perceptions of the Sri Lankan parties to the conflict are different, and this is what finally matters in determining what happens on the ground. There is a worry in one section of the population, and a hope in another, that the LTTE under its leader Velupillai Pirapaharan is capable of repeating the past so long as he remains alive and in combat mode. The past experience has been of the LTTE fighting its way back to a position of strength from a position of weakness.

One example was when the Indian Peace Keeping Force battled them into the jungles in the period 1987-90, and again when the Sri Lankan army recaptured most of the north in 1995-97. On both those occasions, the LTTE withdrew into the jungles and reemerged to take back control over the territory that they had lost. The role played by the LTTE leadership in any revival in the near or distant future is what is in question today.

The other insight into the Sri Lankan belief as to what really works comes from the experience of the two Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, or People’s Liberation Front, insurrections. At the conclusion of the first insurrection in 1971, the lives of nearly all of the top leaders were spared. They were captured, charged in courts of law, imprisoned, rehabilitated and pardoned. This all happened in textbook fashion in terms of process and the sequence of events.

But the outcome was not a change of heart. A decade and a half later they plotted, were provoked, planned and launched a second and bloodier insurrection and exacted a much heavier price from Sri Lankan society. At the conclusion of this second insurrection, virtually the whole of the JVP leadership were eliminated. Two decades later, with their militant leadership decimated, there is no sign of another militant revival by the JVP.

Today, it is this double experience from Sri Lanka’s past that seems to be shaping the government’s thinking and with it that of the majority of people who are behind the government in its military mode of conflict resolution. There is no doubt that the government leadership, which is in close touch with the international community, is aware of the frustration and disfavor with which its military solution is being viewed in much of the world. But it is still going ahead because of its conviction that there is no other way.

The tragedy is that by its conduct in keeping the civilians hostage, and by its refusal to accept its defeat on the battlefield, the LTTE is adding to the conviction of the government and the majority of Sri Lankan people that there is indeed no other way to end the war. Now the die appears to have been cast to the military option. In these circumstances, the best that can be done is to secure the lives of the civilian population who have already crossed over into the government-controlled areas.

The international community, which is critical of the government’s military mode of conflict resolution, is nevertheless providing much-needed humanitarian assistance to these people and is prepared to provide even more. Japan’s one-time peace envoy Yasushi Akashi was the latest international dignitary to visit the government’s welfare camps for the displaced in the north, and to pledge Japanese assistance. There is much goodwill and desire to help that needs to be accommodated in the best interest of the victim population and in keeping with the values of democracy.

—

(Dr. Jehan Perera is executive director of the National Peace Council of Sri Lanka, an independent advocacy organization. He studied economics at Harvard College and holds a doctorate in law from Harvard Law School. ©Copyright Jehan Perera.)

Lanka E-News 01-06-09

Will this international community actually help ?

The international community, the UN Security Council, The Commonwealth Member Countries, the SAARC are all organizations and forums at different levels that could prevail on Sri Lanka over the human carnage that’s most nakedly unfolding, at the expense of innocent civilians, who are caught in the bloody conflict between the government of Sri Lanka and the Tamil Tigers. This catastrophe has been unfolding in a very savage manner especially from January this year, after Tamil Tigers accepted defeat by leaving Killinochchi and retreating to their acclaimed stronghold, the Mullaitivu.

Even before that, there were calls going out to the international community, to the EU, to the UN and to most other humanitarian agencies, asking them to intervene in this conflict on the basis there is an imminent humanitarian crisis that needs independent intervention. This call for independent intervention from the outside world went out louder when the GoSL systematically closed all access to international and national aid organizations, humanitarian organizations and to the media in reaching the war affected areas and the people caught in the war. A war behind iron curtains can never be within humanitarian limits and decency.

Yet in a typically bureaucratic manner, all international organizations from the UN Security Council to the EU and the SL Aid Group, including all humanitarian agencies, worked hard to find protocols, international charters and covenants that could lay the blame square on both the GoSL and the Tamil Tigers equally and request for adherence to international law. It is not that they did not know such statements from distant cities would provide the government with time and space to continue with its military offensives how ever ruthless they could be.

This isn’t the first time these international organizations and associations have been into this business of allowing armed conflicts to grow savage at the expense of human life. The Rwandan conflict is one classic example of how the UN Security Council and the international community played on their own agenda at the expense of innocent human lives. In less than 100 days, over 01 million Tutsi civilians were hacked, butchered and cut to death in one of the most callous neglects in world diplomacy, while the UN Security Council members were arguing on who is right and who is wrong and whether it is right to intervene and how. They went into long discussions and debates over coffee and tea, for they had all the time in the world in their plush offices. But not those Tutsi men, women and children, the young and the old who were dying at the hands of Hutu power on the roads, in their homes, at workplaces and in hide outs they thought they would be safe.

The US Secretary of State under the Clinton administration, Madam Madeleine Albright writing her autobiography in her retirement says, [quote] As I look back at the records of the meetings held that first week, I am struck by the lack of information about the killing that had begun against unarmed Rwandan civilians, as opposed to the fighting between Hutu and Tutsi militias. Many Western embassies had been evacuated, including our own (US), so official reporting was curtailed. Dallaire (head of the UN Peace keeping force) was making dire reports to the UN headquarters, but the oral summaries provided to the Security Council lacked detail and failed to convey the full dimensions of the disaster. As a result, the Council hoped unrealistically that each new day would bring a cease fire.[unquote] – (Madam Secretary / page 188; emphasis and explanations within brackets added)

That is simply how these big powers play their role as international leaders. After all that massacre, after 01 million innocent lives had been unnecessarily hacked to death, Albright says, [unquote] My deepest regret from years in public service is the failure of the United States and the international community to act sooner to halt those crimes. President Clinton later apologized for our lack of action, as did I. [unquote] – (ibid – p/185; emphasis added)

Its easy for them to tender apologies and lay the chapter of mass killings aside. So is it with all the other conflicts she lists in her memoirs. Bosnia, Somalia, Haiti, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Angola, Liberia, Mozambique, Sudan, Cambodia, Afghanistan and Tajikistan were all extreme cases of conflict that had received priority over Rwanda according to Albright. It was 1993 and 16 years ago that she lists all these conflict ridden countries. Israel and the Gaza, is not there though. That’s despite the UN Security Council adopting 131 Resolutions on the Israel – Palestinian conflict, but has never invoked Chapter VII of the UN Charter. Israel is thus given freedom to behave the way it wants. Burma and Aung San Suki wasn’t even listed. The Military Junta carries on regardless.

How many has the UN Security Council and the international community solved or at least positively intervened in paving a way out of the conflicts, from this list in Madam Secretary’s memoirs ? None for sure. In fact the list is longer and broader now. There is Iraq, Iran and North Korea on a different plateau. Afghanistan has now turned the conflict into an Afghanistan – Pakistan – India conflict. Robert Mugabe continues with his Zimbabwe reeling with armed conflicts while enjoying inflation at over 2,000 per cent. President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan is indicted in the ICC while the international community allows Darfur to turn into a playing field for human catastrophe. The list is definitely long and bloody.

Can the Sri Lankan conflict receive from these cumbersome agencies any treatment that would be different to what they have always been doling out ? In all these international agencies, from the UN to IMF and World Bank, the US dollar has big interests in how they act. All international agencies have to accede to super power interests and that is no secret. Who are they ? They are all big time arms manufacturers and dealers. The US between the years 2000 – 2007 has been leading the military hardware market with US $ 134.84 billion which was 37% of the market share. The five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, the US, UK, France, Russia, and China together in 2002 shared 88% of the reported sales in conventional arms.

Imagine this planet earth in soothing peace ? No armed conflicts any where, only dialogue and negotiations in managing conflicts. Can these five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council afford to lose US $ 273.5 billion ? As former US President Jimmy Carter said during his presidential campaign in 1976, [quote] We can’t have it both ways. We can’t be both the world’s leading champion of peace and the world’s leading supplier of arms.[unquote]

They would rather say “sorry” again after everything is over. If Sri Lanka could on its own finish the conflict what ever the human carnage, as in Serbia, they would still issue a statement, ambiguous in tone but thanking the government of SL for finishing off “terrorism”. For they wouldn’t lose this tiny arms market immediately and there are other conflicts they moderate on their own agenda, any way. Its ridiculous to expect international big time players including the UN to help stop human tragedies. They wouldn’t.

Kusal Perera

For details on world armament market visit – http://www.globalissues.org/article/74/the-arms-trade-is-big-business#GlobalArmsSalesBySupplierNations

To Download Now >> as_PDF

60,000 trapped in Sri Lanka conflict

At least 60,000 civilians remain trapped in the conflict zone in the north of Sri Lanka, facing serious risk of injury and death.

According to UN estimates, more than 4,500 civilians are believed to have already been killed in the fighting in the north eastern region of Sri Lanka. Hundreds of civilian casualties were reported on Monday alone.

The situation in Sri Lanka has further intensified in the last 48 hours – immediate action must be taken to prevent further mass killing of civilians.

Please act now

Send the email on the right hand side of this page to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Stephen Smith, urging the Australian Government to make immediate and direct representations to both the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE:

• expressing concern at the escalation of violence and the deteriorating humanitarian and human rights situation
• calling for a humanitarian truce, and particularly for immediate action to allow trapped civilians to safely escape the conflict zone
• urging the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE to immediately take all necessary steps to fully comply with international humanitarian and international human rights law
• stressing that perpetrators of grave violations of human rights and humanitarian law must be held individually responsible and prosecuted for such violations.

Background

In Sri Lanka tens of thousands of people are trapped in the middle of heavy fighting between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Sri Lankan Armed Forces.

A humanitarian catastrophe is currently taking place: a product of disregard of civilian lives by both the LTTE and the Sri Lankan Government.

Amnesty International is reiterating its call on both sides to declare a humanitarian truce, amongst other measures.

On Wednesday 22 April 2009, Claire Mallinson, National Director Amnesty International Australia, sent a letter to the Hon Stephen Smith MP, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, expressing the organisation’s concern and urging our Government to take action.

Sign Now >> Here

Further info

• Read the media release: Action needed now on humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka
• Read our briefing paper Sri Lanka: Stop the War on Civilians in Sri Lanka: A briefing on the humanitarian crisis and lack of human rights protection. Published 27 March 2009.

Sign Now >> Here

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Ravaya ==HOT TOPIC==

Response to Victor Ivan`s Letter on Ravaya-05-04-2009 from Rohitha Bashana Abeywardane

PAST related Articals

Letter Victor Ivan,  `Ravaya-05-04-2009`: Link 01

Response to Victor Ivan`s Letter on Ravaya-05-04-2009 from Singha Wickramasekara :- Link 02

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To read past Letter see the Left  sidebar.

Batton of Conflict passed on to the Young by the Older generation

See the two versions of what happened in Melbourne yesterday.
See attachment here. At the top the Sinhala story in Sinhala and at the bottom the Tamil story in English.

For the benefit of those who do not have access to Tamilnet, the Tamilnet report is attached.

The story of the Sinhala side is available (only is Sinhala) at:
http://www.lankaenews.com/Sinhala/news.php?id=8505Sinhala

The Tamil side of the story published in Tamilnet is available at:
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=28940

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BESIEGED TIGERS IN DEFIANT POLITICO – MILITARY ‘LAST STAND’

There was a time when the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) organization controlled about 15,600 sq km of territory in the Northern and Eastern provinces of Sri Lanka. Today, the beleaguered Tigers formally occupy only about 60 – 65 sq km area in Mullaitivu district.Currently this tiger – controlled territory consists of three sectors. A littoral strip of land of around 40 – 45 sq km extending from Pokkanai in the North to Vattavaakal in the South is the primary sector. This coastal strip is situated between two lagoons on one side and the Indian Ocean on the other.

The other two sectors are the roadway and adjacent areas between the Puthukkudiyiruppu junction and Iranappaalai to the east on the one hand and the road stretch and adjacent lands to the south of Puthukkudiyiruppu junction along the A 35 highway or Paranthan – Mullaitheevu road. These sectors together are about 20 – 25 sq km in area.

North – East

When the fighting resumed in full force after Mahinda Rajapaksa became President on November 18, 2005, the LTTE was in control of vast tracts of territory in the East and North.

In the East these consisted of a pocket in Trincomalee north, areas in Muthur and Eechilampatru divisions, the Vaakarai – Panichankerny areas, the Kudumbimalai/Thoppigala area, vast areas in the “Paduvaankarai” (shore of the setting sun) areas west of Batticaloa lagoon and some areas in Amparai district.

In the North, the LTTE had a swathe of territorially contiguous area ranging from Muhamaalai in the Jaffna peninsula to the North to Omanthai in Vavuniya district to the South and from Vidathaltheevu in the west to Mullaitivu in the east.

As fighting progressed, the LTTE was slowly yet relentlessly beaten back. First in Trincomalee district, next in Amparai district and then in Batticaloa district. Thereafter the action shifted to the North.

Once again the Army began gradually advancing while the LTTE commenced retreating. Tiger controlled areas in Mannar, Vavuniya, Kilinochchi districts and the greater part of Mullaitivu district  were taken. Now the LTTE is squeezed into a very small area.

A very large number of civilians and Tiger cadres are existing in this piece of tiger territory. It is from this beleaguered position that the LTTE offers military resistance. It is virtually a defiant, last stand by the Tigers.

Besieged

A “last stand” in military parlance is a term used to describe a situation where a body of troops or armed fighters defend an area or position against superior numbers or overwhelming odds. Though surrender is always an option the beleaguered personnel prefer or opt to fight to the very end. Except on rare occasions, last stands usually end in annihilation. Often but not always, last stands are preceded by long sieges.

The current ground reality suggests that the tigers are indeed besieged and face overwhelming odds. The 53,55, 58, 59  divisions  respectively led by Gen. Kamal Gunaratne, Brig. Prasanna Silva, Brig. Shavendra Silva and Brig. Nandana Tudawatte along with Task Force VIII led by Col. G.S, Ravipriya are all around the tigers in the North, West and South. After rendering yeoman service the 54 division and Task Forces III and IV are being kept in reserve in the strategic region.

This means that around 50,000 troops on ground have encircled the LTTE positions. In addition to this, the LTTE is also extremely vulnerable from the sea. The Navy can position its vessels alongside the coast and simply shell. There is also the Air Force that can engage in aerial bombardment. These advantages have created a situation where it is only a matter of time for the armed forces to deliver the coup de grace.

Last bastion

While it has been a case of advantage foe the army for quite a while as the armed forces aggregated successes consistently, the vital breakthrough in the current situation came when the key Puthukkudiyiruppu junction was taken by the Army. Despite hype about Kilinochchi it is Puthukkudiyiruppu that has proved to be the LTTE’s last bastion.

Puthukkudiyiruppu is situated along the A 35 highway or Paranthan – Mullaitheevu road. The Puthukkudiyiruppu junction is not located in the heart of the town but a little outside to its south on the A 35 highway.

The littoral strip of land, currently dominated by the LTTE, lies between two lagoons and the ocean. One is the Nandhikadal or Mullaitivu  lagoon and the other is known as Challai or Pokkanai lagoon. There is an isthmus between both lagoons leading from Puthukudiyiruppu junction to the coast.

There is a road running from the junction to the coast known as Puthukkudiyiruppu – Iranaipaalai road. Thus the junction is of utmost importance if one were to advance by land to this coastal strip. Along this road, close to the coast is Maathalan also known as “Palam” (old) Maathalan.

Once the road reaches Iranappaalai it branches out to the north and south along the coast. Northwards are the places Anandapuram, Devapuram and Pokkanai.There is a small inlet to the Pokkanai bay or lagoon at Pokkanai. Further north is Challai. The 55 division is stationed at Challai and has also seized Pokkanai and Devapuram.

To the south of Iranappaalai along the coast are places like Ambalavanpokkanai (different to Pokkanai), “puthu” (new) Maathalan, Valingarmadam, Karaiaammullivaaikkaal,  Vellaammullivaaikkaal , Vattavaakal, Karaichukkudiyiruppu and Mullaitheevu town.

Puthukkudiyiruppu

junction

These areas are along the littoral strip between Nandhikadal lagoon and the Ocean. The 59 division occupies Mullaitivu town, Karaichikkudiyiruppu and the “paalam” (bridge) area near Vattavaakal. The Government has declared the 14 km long and 2 – 3 km wide stretch between Vattavaakal in the south to Ambalavanpokkanai in the north as a fire – free zone. The bulk of civilians are crammed into this narrow strip of land between the Nandhikadal lagoon and the Indian ocean. The Tiger cadres though widely dispersed are militarily concentrated in Iranappaalai, “palam” Maathalan and Pokkanai areas.

Thus the Puthukkudiyiruppu junction is of utility value as it affords easy land access to the coast along the Iranaippaalai road. Apart from this, the junction also assumes  strategic importance due to two other roads converging in that sphere.

One is the road leading to Puthukkudiyiruppu in a north – eastern direction from Oddusuddan along the A 34 highway or Mankulam – Mullaitheevu road. This road goes through areas like Katsilaimadhu and Kerudaamadhu.

The other road also proceeds northwards to Udayaarkattu and Viswamadhu  from Thaniootru near Mulliyawalai along the A 34 highway. This road which goes through Keppapulavu has a fork which branches off to Puthukkudiyiruppu.

Task Forces Three and Four had proceeded along the axes of these two roads and had stationed themselves at Kerudaamadhu and Keppapulavu respectively. After these task forces were put in reserve for a well – deserved rest, the newly created Task Force Eight was assigned the goal of reaching Puthukkudiyiruppu.

The 53 division kept in reserve at Mankulam was also thrown into battle. Incidentally, Task Force VIII was  aligned to this division and for practical purposes formed part of the 53 division and was subject to its overall authority.

Meanwhile the 58 division that has been slowly and steadily progressing along the A 35 highway also reached Kombaavil to the north of Puthukkudiyiruppu. The 55 division that had taken Challai was trying to proceed southwards along the coastal strip. The 59 division at Mullaitivu town was also planning to proceed north along the coastal strip.

The LTTE’s counter offensive from February 1 to 3 saw the 59 division receiving some setbacks. Subsequently the LTTE infiltrated areas controlled by the 59 and staged attacks. Thereafter the 59 was placed in defensive mode and plans for launching a north – bound offensive were shelved.

More importantly the Government that had earlier declared a fire free zone between Udayarkattu junction and the “Manjal Paalam” (Yellow bridge) announced a new fire – free zone along the coastal stretch.

Military Drive

The new safe zone indicated what the new military strategy was going to be. It appeared that the plans for undertaking a “north and south bound” military drive along the coastal areas were not on. Instead the new plan seemed to be that of trying to reach Puthukkudiyiruppu from the north and south along hinterland routes.

The 58 division cut across westwards and then moved east as well as proceeding southwards. Thus two brigades of the 58 were assailing the general area of Puthukkudiyiruppu from northern and north-western directions. The 53 division – TF VIII moved towards Puthukkudiyiruppu from Southern and South – western directions.

After breaching the familiar “earth bund – trench” Tiger defences at Peruvil, soldiers of the 53  division and task force VIII created military history by entering the built – up areas of Puthukkudiyiruppu. Almost around the same time the 58 division also reached the outskirts of Puthukkudiyiruppu.

The LTTE however was not going to let go of the town easily. It set up elaborate defences in the area almost in a house to house, lane to lane, street to street basis. In addition small Tiger groups began harassing soldiers.

The Army prudently avoided a head on confrontation by attempting to take the Puthukkudiyiruppu town in its entirety. Instead some strategical, flanking manoeuvres were adopted.

Pushing downwards in a southern trajectory soldiers of the 58 linked up with the Task Force VIII at the key Puthukkudiyiruppu junction.Likewise the 58 also cut across from west to east in the area north of Challai lagoon to the coast and linked up with the 55 division.

Consequent to these developments the game plan seems to be a twin –pronged drive at present. Instead of trying to seize Puthukkudiyiruppu town the 58 division troops along with TF VIII are circumventing it and proceeding eastwards  along the Iranappaalai road axis towards Maathalan. The 55 is trying to proceed southwards along the coast to the same destination.

Three factors

Given the superiority in manpower and firepower enjoyed by the army and the comparatively reduced area needing to be captured the ultimate result seems a foregone conclusion. But this does not mean that the end would be swift and overwhelming. It would be an arduous ordeal to overcome the Tigers within a quick timeframe. There are three valid factors for this.

Firstly it is the size of terrain. The coastal strip as well as the Iranappaalai road isthmus are relatively narrow. The soldiers wont be able to use their numerical superiority to their advantage by fanning out extensively or outflanking tiger positions. When the frontage is narrow the numbers factor becomes irrelevant. A small number of defenders can hold off larger number of advancing troops. It is said that Gen. Montgomery underwent this problem during the Normandy invasion when soldiers had to move forward through a three km space.

Secondly it is the nature of terrain and effective defencive measures. The areas through which the soldiers of both the 55 and 58 – TF 8 have to move forward are basically open. Soldiers are extremely vulnerable to snipers, mortars as well as RPG launchers. There is also the saturation rate of mining possible in a small sized area. The LTTE has saturated the areas of advance with both anti personnel and anti – vehicular mines. According to a defence –related source there are around 400 mines of varying types in a 150 metre distance.

Thirdly and most importantly there is the civilian factor. A very large number of civilians are interspersed and inter-mingled with tiger cadres. There is also much international concern (quite rightly) over civilian safety and protection. It is not possible to bomb or shell the target area with scant regard for civilians. In a sense the LTTE is holding the civilians as hostages and using them as human shields. But this is proving to be a restrictive factor. The Army commander himself is aware of this and has instructed his generals to proceed with utmost caution and care.

Against this background the Armed forces are constrained to proceed slowly yet steadily towards their military objectives. It appears that the Rajapaksa regime wants to announce the total seizure of all tiger – controlled territory by the Sinhala – Tamil New Year in April. This deadline may also be conducive to the President’s political calculations about staging a Parliamentary poll.

Rear Guard

Action

Meanwhile what of the tigers? The LTTE noted for its defiant spirit and resilience is certainly not going to simply watch and wait while its decline is accelerated. After botching up politically and messing up militarily the LTTE is now engaged in a politico – military rearguard action to extricate itself from the morass it has sunk into.

Militarily the LTTE has re-organized its defences in a bid to offer a last ditch stand in the Mullaitivu littoral. Ratnam Master the head of the LTTE’s special forces brigade is in specific charge of defences and counter – offensives. He is stationed at Iranappaalai. All senior leaders like Soosai, Theepan, Sornam, Bhanu, Jeyam, Ramesh, etc are directed and co-ordinated by Ratnam master.

It is however LTTE supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran who is the supreme commander and in overall charge of the military campaign. He controls it from a clandestine location. Prabhakaran does not communicate with anyone directly. It is intelligence chief Pottu Amman who functions as the “link” between the tiger chief and his subordinates conveying instructions from the leader and reporting back to him about ground realities.

Counter – Strikes

Apart from setting up defences and resisting military advances the tigers have also been conducting a series of counter – strikes and counter – attacks. The sea tigers under Soosai along with cadres led by Lawrence have combined on several operations targeting the 55 division positions in Chaalai – Chundikulam. There have been also many attempts at infiltration and ambushes.

Contrary to popular notions that the tigers are bottled up in this littoral strip and have nowhere else to go,  the reality on ground is different. While contingents of LTTE cadres are engaged in defensive and counter – offensive measurs a sizable number of tigers have managed to exfiltrate from the zone they are in and relocated to jungle areas of the Wanni. Intelligence reports state that the LTTE has infiltrated jungles on both sides of the A 9 highway or Jaffna – Kandy road. There have also been ambushes and limited skirmishes between tigers and soldiers in areas reportedly cleared of the LTTE

Despite the adverse military environment, there are also reports of arms and ammunition being brought to the Vellamullivaaikaal coast in small boats. The source of this supply is unknown but presumed to be the handiwork of KP. Another phenomenon is the regularity in which cadres are being taken away from Mullaitivu in boats. Their destination and purpose of travel is not known.

The tiger strikes and counter – offensives are yet to score decisively. Though damage is inflicted these attempts have not succeeded to the extent of dislodging the armed forces from entrenched positions or significantly demoralising personnel. Nevertheless the armed forces are expecting the tigers to throw in a lot of their decreasing resources and launch a major counter – offensive. Since such an attack is well – anticipated there is little chance for the armed forces to be caught napping.

Politico – Diplomatic

Offensive

If these are the developments on the military front with the tigers being basically on the defensive, the LTTE has on another front, set in motion a world-wide politico – diplomatic “offensive”. For this the LTTE is relying on the global Tamil community both in India and abroad.

The pivotal element that is central to this political offensive is purported concern about the fate of civilians. The undeniable fact of civilians being killed and injured on a daily basis and the pathetic plight of suffering people is highlighted and focused upon extensively. This sad situation has aroused much sympathy and concern among Tamils everywhere. The demand therefore is an end to this sorrow by bringing about a ceasefire.

Though the ostensible concern is for the civilian plight there is no denying that a permanent ceasefire will provide a reprieve and even respite for the beleaguered tigers. There is however little sympathy within the International community for this ceasefire demand to protect civilians. This concern itself is rather hypocritical as the LTTE is guilty of preventing a large number of civilians from leaving the tiger – territory.

Implicit consensus

The International community has seen through this bluff and is demanding that the LTTE release the people. There is also a request by some sections to declare a temporary truce with the sole purpose of facilitating a mass evacuation of civilians from the afflicted region. There is no support for a permanent ceasefire that could enable the LTTE to get off the hook. There is an implicit consensus among the international community that the Rajapaksa regime should not be hindered in any way in its fight to eradicate the LTTE. Of course, it’s a moot point as to whether such complete annihilation is possible but then that’s another story.

Though the International community and the Indian central and Tamil Nadu state governments are not in favour of a ceasefire that would help the LTTE, the global Tamil Diaspora and Tamils in India are of a different opinion. The vociferous elements among Tamils are engaged in a wide – spread, well – orchestrated campaign demanding an end to Tamil suffering in Sri Lanka.

In India, the Tamil Eelam support lobby and ultra – Tamil nationalists are whipping up protests and agitation on a large scale. The Tamil Diaspora is conducting many demonstrations and protests in many Western cities urging international intervention that would bring about a ceasefire. The revived spectre of self – immolation in support and in sympathy of “Eelam Tamils” has emotionalised the mindset of many, many Tamils. A large number of Tamils engaged in protests and demonstrations are not tiger supporters. They are essentially non – political but very concerned and troubled about the tragic plight of Tamil civilians.

Radicalisation process

While the efforts of Tamils in India and the world have failed to yield any concrete results so far, the radicalisation process set in motion by those attempts is considerable. Only the future would show the actual outcome of this radicalization process that is going on everywhere.

This then is the last ditch politico – military stand of the besieged Tigers. The bitter irony is that the LTTE may be losing militarily in northern Sri Lanka but is gaining politically among Tamils in India and the World.

D.B.S.Jeyaraj can be reached at

djeyaraj2005@yahoo.com

Are you Tamil? Time for some soul searching

By RPG

I am an ethnic Tamil. My father was born in the northern Jaffna province of Sri Lanka. 30 years ago my family made a decision to move to Sri Lanka’s economic capital, Colombo. The move was more a career move my father thought would assist us. He made a calculated decision to move from his home town to a more urban Colombo for the betterment of his family. Much similar to the vast number of economic immigrants who flock to nations such as the US or Canada these days in search of higher paying wages.

The majority of Sri Lanka’s Tamil population reside miles away from areas under Tamil Tiger control. This is a blessing for many Tamil children as they have had the opportunity as I had to live a peaceful life and learn about other diverse cultures. Most importantly in areas under the control of the democratically elected government of Sri lanka children from all walks of life grace schools and educational institutions as one. The highly popular Buddhist boys school I was educated in taught Hinduism as a part of the religious curriculum. The Tamil language too  was taught by Tamil teachers as a subject.

As a Tamil I faced no discrimination for being Tamil. I am not afraid to say it out loud. There are countless others who share my story as there are others who cry foul and claim discrimination and harassment for being Tamil. If there was one charge I would level against Sri Lanka it would be that of racial profiling, but that charge is a lesser offense when compared to what the Tamil diaspora who migrated to developed nations as refugees are claiming.

MIA in a recent interview on PBS claimed that ‘Genocide’ was taking place in Sri Lanka. She stated that it was her duty as a Tamil holding a high profile position, as a Grammy Award nominated artiste, to speak out.

I am a nobody. But I am a Sri Lankan Tamil. Sri Lanka is mine as much as it belongs to Sinhalese, Muslims or any other. It would be a huge crime on the nation I call home, the nation I consider my mother land, if I was to remain silent.

There is no genocide here. If there was why am I spared? According to the CIA fact-book Sri Lanka’s Tamil population is 8.5% of which less than 3% live under the control of the Tamil Tigers. A group which MIA considers’ liberators of Genocide’. One would think it would be easier for the Sinhalese to kill the Tamils in government controlled areas if they wanted to. And there the Genocide story ends..

So why do Sri Lankan Tamils world over fear the fall of the Tigers?

Amongst the Tamil communities living in Canada; Some of the most successful businessmen share close ties with Tamil Tigers. In Canada when a bank won’t loan you a line of credit to start a  business due to insufficient credit history. The Tigers  would lend you what bank would not. Interest owing is considered donations to the cause. Money laundering and loan sharking is just a fraction of the bigger picture.

The Tigers had an active unit of cadres who were called the political wing. This political wing served no political purpose. It did not breed future parliamentarians or future political leaders. Instead it’s main purpose was to fabricate history and create literature which ran on the parallels of brainwashing.

Members of the political wing were given books claiming to be factual and of historic significance. The texts spoke of how in government controlled areas of Sri Lanka Tamils were facing discrimination. It spoke of fictitious events and horrific crimes against the Tamils by the Sinhalese. Over a period of 20 years the political wing manipulated the minds of many including prominent journalist and authors. Rumours became fact. The gross negligence of the international media is evident even in this day. They choose not to fact check if their source is another reputed publication or a neutral news-wire service.

The political wing of the Tamil Tigers have infiltrated Tamil student groups in universities and colleges across the world. Even to this day the hatred towards the Sinhalese is being preached. Administrators of these universities remain oblivious to these groups.

Tamils living outside of Sri Lanka have a warped view of the conflict. I don’t blame them. It is not their fault. If a man could orchestrate the killing of 13 Government soldiers in 1983 – when the LTTE was in it’s infancy – and subsequently cause ethnic tensions to rise between Sinhalese and Tamils.  It is not incredibly hard to fool the rest of you. 1983 was what it was. It was a small group of Sinhalese thugs who took the law into their own hands and hurt innocent Tamils. But I wont forget what caused them to lash out at Tamils. If I do I would be a useless fool who serves no purpose to society. Both sides have faulted but the instigator must not be forgotten.

The New York times published an Associated Press release on  August 5, 1990 that should forever haunt the next generation of Tamil youth who reside in these developed nations. No propaganda or political wing can hide the scars of those who have suffered. Those who were killed during prayer. Below is a link to the story.

New York Times- Published: August 5, 1990

As the Tigers are cornered more and more high profile leaders of the Tamil Tigers(LTTE) are being apprehended. Senior leaders will be questioned and past activities will be revealed. Thousands of former Tamil Tiger leaders and senior members sought refuge in North America, Europe, and Australia. Some of them have carried out or ordered heinous crimes against humanity. They silenced moderate Tamils as they killed Muslims children at prayer. Some crimes were committed against people the Tigers felt were Army informants, but most of these crimes were committed to drive people out of areas which they wished to control. Surrendered child soldiers have spoken of gut wrenching initiation processes involving killing with machetes to make the ‘kill more personal’.

The UN hopes to investigate and bring these war criminals to justice. Be prepared they could be living in your very home or your neighbourhood. A family member who served as a combatant or leader of the LTTE could well have carried out crimes against humanity.

It’s time for the Tamil youth to start digging up their own facts. Research more and more into Sri Lanka’s conflict. Do not be afraid to find fault with your own. It is no fault of yours – it is the fault of a generation of selfish like minded individuals from all ethnic groups from an era gone by.

It’s time we moved on and it’s time we let go.

The truth is always out there.

Source : Island:Cricket