Ilankai Tamil Sangam
Association of Tamils of Sri Lanka in the USA
Starting Over in Sri Lanka
by Los Angeles Times editorial, July 7, 2005
Despite
the
inflamatory
language,
the
writer
of
this
editorial
has
come
to
the
same
conclusion
that
Sri
Lanka's
Chief
Justice
just
did
-
that
Sri
Lanka
had
better
face
reality.
It
is
comforting
to
know
that
the
US
is
also
coming
to
the
same
conclusion,
even
if
kicking
and
screaming.
Despite
decades
of
ethnic
terrorism,
Sri
Lanka
has
managed
to
remain
a
democracy,
a
beacon
to
other
South
Asian
nations
trying
to
advance
from
dictatorship
to
representative
government.
Attacks
on
police,
soldiers
and
civilians
have
rocked
its
foundations,
but
the
December
tsunami
that
devastated
Sri
Lanka
offered
the
hope
of
forging
at
least
a
temporary
unity
between
the
government
and
rebel
terrorists.
The
hope
was
in
vain.
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, pioneers of suicide bombings, assassins of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and also fighters for independence in their territory of the island nation, complained they were being cut out of much of the $3 billion in foreign aid following the tsunami. The government denies any shortchanging.
Areas controlled by Sinhalese, the majority community, and Tamils both suffered. More than 30,000 Sri Lankans are thought to have been killed, an enormous toll but less than half the number slain in more than 20 years of fighting between Tamil rebels and the government.
Three years ago, Norway, home to Tamil fundraisers and thus trusted by the rebels, persuaded both sides to agree to a cease-fire (largely successful, though security forces blame the Tamil Tigers in Wednesday's shooting of two police officers). Last month, mediators brokered an agreement on sharing international aid. Opponents in the government argued it would let terrorists consolidate control of important areas and endanger Sri Lanka's national security.
Those fears are valid. But the government is running out of options. The Tigers' latest demand is government protection as they distribute aid in areas they control. In return, the rebels should resume talks with the government, mediated by the Norwegians if necessary, for a permanent cease-fire.
###
Posted July 8, 2005