transcurrents.com

25 December 2011, 1:25 am

by Tisaranee Gunasekara

“… From the very beginning there was a very clear military plan and in parallel…a plan for humanitarian assistance”
Gotabhaya Rajapaksa (Testimony before the LLRC)

“….the Commission is satisfied that the military strategy that was adopted…was one that was carefully conceived, in which the protection of the civilian population was given the highest priority.” (The LLRC Report)

A perceptive analysis of past errors and some judicious recommendations for the future constitute the strongest aspects of the LLRC’s much-awaited report.
The Report, for instance, warns against disallowing the singing of the national anthem in Tamil, because such a ban will “create a major irritant which would not be conducive to fostering post-conflict reconciliation”. Its final recommendations argue that “the practice of the National Anthem being sung simultaneously in two languages in the same time must be maintained and supported”

‘The practice of singing the National Anthem in two languages’ ended early this year; under orders from Colombo, provincial authorities compelled students of Jaffna Hindu College and Vambadi Girls School to sing the National Anthem in Sinhala. That order was a result of a cabinet decision (of 8.12.2010) which banned the singing of the national anthem in Tamil. President Mahinda Rajapaksa justified his ‘Sinhala Only National Anthem’ proposal with the factually incorrect argument that “in no other country was the national anthem used in more than one language”; he defined the practice of singing the national anthem in Tamil as a “shortcoming that must be rectified” (The Sunday Times – 12.12.2010).

Was the LLRC unaware that the ‘practice of singing the National Anthem in two languages’ is dead, has been dead for almost a year? Did the Commissioners not know that this practice was killed on Presidential orders? The Commissioners could not have been ignorant of this reality unless they suffered from collective and targeted amnesia. But acknowledging the truth about the national anthem would have been tantamount to an indirect critique of the President, the Commission’s appointing authority.

The fate of Gen. Fonseka teaches that that hell hath no fury like a Rajapaksa opposed/criticised, especially when the dissident is a former official/acolyte. Caught between the rock of reality and the hard place of Rajapaksa ire, the LLRC turned contortionist; it warned of the danger of abandoning the bilingual national anthem as if this is a future pitfall and not a Rajapaksa-wrought fait accompli.

This episode is symbolic of the LLRC and its report. The Commission’s real mandate was to provide the Rajapaksas with a plausible fig-leaf. Last week, President Rajapaksa “…filed motion in the war crimes suit against him in the District Court of Washington DC” (Lanka Standard – 18.12.2011).

This is one more indication of the Sibling’s desperate need to make peace with the West, without undermining their project of Familial Rule and Dynastic Succession. The LLRC too was born out of this desire; its job was to deflect international criticism and forestall a UN inquiry. Conscious of this raison d’être, the LLRC seemed to have worked while looking over its collective-shoulders at the Ruling Siblings. The Report faithfully reflects this anxious concern to please the powers-that-be. Minister Professor GL Peiris was dead right; the Report is a ‘true mirror of the humanitarian operation’ because that was what the Rajapaksas wanted it to be.

Most depositions by civilian Tamils mentioned in the Report present a picture which is almost totally at variance with the ‘humanitarian offensive’ myth. They detail the atrocities of the Tigers; they also tell of how No Fire Zones became Free Fire Zones. Tamil after civilian Tamil maintains that they were shelled by both sides. One civilian states that “there were aerial attacks by the air force” on the third NFZ. But true to its real mandate, the LLRC ignores this civilian evidence and embraces the myth of a ‘humanitarian operation’ peddled by its star (and most quoted) witness, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.

Unsurprisingly; if the LLRC is chary of telling the truth about and apportioning responsibility for something as relatively innocuous as the scrapping of the Tamil language national anthem, will it have the courage to tell the truth about far more dangerous issues, especially if that truth discredits the Commander-in-Chief and his Brother?

By toeing the Rajapaksa line shamelessly, the LLRC deals a body-blow to the claim that the Rajapaksas can carry out an unbiased investigation of their own deeds. The LLRC’s pussyfooting approach thus inadvertently justifies the demand for an international investigation. Perhaps aware of this lacuna, the Commissioners juggle desperately to intersperse a largely incredible report with some credible insights and comments. So the Report advocates devolution while carefully refraining from mentioning the term ethnic problem, a Rajapaksa anathema.

It is outspoken in its criticism of the EPDP and the TMVP for engaging in rights-violations, but religiously omits to mention that this impunity is granted and guaranteed by the Lankan Forces and the Rajapaksa Siblings. Post-war, these outfits have become key cogs in the Rajapaksa politico-electoral machinery, as symbolised by the transformation of Mr. Iniyabarathy, convicted criminal and alleged abductor, into a Rajapaksa-electoral organiser in the East. His ‘Deshamanya’ title, bestowed by President Rajapaksa this November, is symbolic and symbiotic of this amoral nexus.

Unfortunately the LLRC’s efforts may prove futile. A key witness in the Washington case against President Rajapaksa is reportedly a former Lankan major general who had ‘high security clearance and close contact with some of the army’s most powerful figures’. He had already given a deposition stating that Gotabhaya Rajapaksa passed on “some instructions to a field commander to get rid of those LTTE cadres who are surrendering without adhering to normal procedure…” and that “Mr. Rajapaksa sanctioned the creation of a ‘hit squad’…..” (Daily Telegraph – 18.12.2011).

By vindicating the Lankan Forces (and by extension the Rajapaksas) on all essential counts, the LLRC discredited itself and defeated its own purpose. A less blatantly partisan report could have been more successful at countering international criticism. But such a report would have infuriated the Rajapaksas and, that is a risk none can expect the LLRC to run, given the fate of Gen. Fonseka.

19 months after defeating the LTTE and despite a mammoth defence budget, existence remains unsafe, unjust and brutish for many Lankans. This month human rights activists Lalith Kumar Weeraraj and Kugan Murugandan disappeared in Jaffna. In the South the regime is planning the next logical step in its land grabbing exercise. According to Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, “Lands given to farmers under state grants, Mahaweli and Swarna Bhoomi deeds would be acquired if they have not been developed and used productively” (Sri Lanka Mirror – 21.12.2011)

The Rajapaksas and their local minions will decide which lands are underutilised – an ideal way of acquiring fertile land for foreign agribusinesses and of threatening/punishing anti-government farmers

December’s toll of this climate of impunity included a seven year old child who was abducted and raped; “The girl, who is a resident of the Kodikamam area was at her home with her family when she was abducted around 11 p.m. by a group” (Sri Lanka Mirror – 20.12.2011). If we are not outraged by this horror, and undisturbed by the deadly future it portends, will we not deserve that future?

17 Comments

  1. Cynthia says:

    December 25, 2011 at 9:59 am

    ” By vindicating the Lankan Forces (and by extension the Rajapaksas) on all essential counts, the LLRC discredited itself and defeated its own purpose. A less blatantly partisan report could have been more successful at countering international criticism. But such a report would have infuriated the Rajapaksas and, that is a risk none can expect the LLRC to run, given the fate of Gen. Fonseka.”
    This is the correct analysis.So there are no war criminals in the
    Regime or among the Tigers ??? It was all a humanitarian operation!!

    Reply to this comment

  2. Gunaratna says:

    December 25, 2011 at 10:30 am

    One of the best journalists, who writes very sensible articles in transcurrents has again just scratched the surface. However, she revealed admirable facts, which can not be denied by anyone. What Srilankan society needs from her is a constructive criticism of each point indicating where this so called commission has miserably failed in its duties and became a laughing stock. We believe in the intellectual analytical capability of Tisaranee and wait for her detailed article, which would educate the masses of this country.

    Reply to this comment

  3. aratai says:

    December 25, 2011 at 11:52 am

    .
    The Lessons Learned Rajapakse Company report will have the same fate as All Party Rajapakse Company report.

    Anyway I will give them 12 months to see what they do?

    Reply to this comment

    • Rohan says:

      December 25, 2011 at 4:25 pm

      Aiyo – this release was well times to the March meeting of the UNHRC.

      Whatever said and done, Rajapakse regime has a highly paid PR company to advise them.

      Pray for miracles for the people of Sri Lanka. Anyone who criticises the LLRC report woulld be penaised, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.

      Reply to this comment

  4. Piranha says:

    December 25, 2011 at 2:00 pm

    An excellent dismemberment of the cadaver of the LLRC report. A total whitewash of the regime in power and its military of all blame for the crimes committed in the name of “humanitarian operation”. The report should have been incinerated.

    I am surprised that the tamil members of the panel went along with it.May be they feared for their own safety if they dissented.

    Reply to this comment

  5. Kalu Albert says:

    December 25, 2011 at 8:19 pm

    MS Thisaranee say’s “after 19 months ,the existence remains unsafe and brutish for many Lankans.”

    Wasn’t it not only unsafe but also death and destruction for most Lankans prior that 19 Months?.

    Are the two Human Rights Activists whom you have given as an examples, the same two, who broke away from the former Terrorist and now reformed Militant group, the Janatha Vimulthi Peramuna.?.

    Reply to this comment

    • One of the Victims says:

      December 26, 2011 at 12:37 pm

      Kalu,
      You are the sole commentator for this article and you are duty bound to defend the regime and its appointed commissionen report.
      Why not get help from the famous PR Firm (B.P.)???

      Reply to this comment

      • Victim_of_LTTE says:

        December 27, 2011 at 9:55 am

        One of the Victims

        Speak for yourself (or for the LTTE) if you so desire

        I am happy the LTTE is gone from Sri Lanka and honestly don’t care how it was done. So VP was shot in the head., and his offspring followed him. Big Deal !! It’s about b…dy time they got what was coming to them after the hundreds of thousands of Tamils that were sacrificed to feed his b…dy megalomania

        No one mourns Saddam, OBL or Gaddafi., yet Gunasekera does, between the lines., and weeps for a “International Investigation”.. what rubbish !

        The writer has a well-known, perennial beef with the Rajapakses and uses any opportunity to air that beef., it is amply reflected in any and all of her writings

        She is the Fox News of Sri Lanka and should be regarded as such

        Reply to this comment

  6. luxmy says:

    December 26, 2011 at 6:16 am

    Tisaranee
    Thanksssssssssss.
    May you have health and security in 2012.

    Reply to this comment

  7. Hanuman says:

    December 26, 2011 at 10:44 am

    The title sums up all. Indian Congress Government is delighted and has welcomed it and is one of the winners from the International players overtly or covertly supported the war and made sure MR regime wins at any cost. Now the stage is set for the grab of cheap lands and cheap labour from the NE under the slogan of economic progress.

    It looks like with addition of new chapters to Mahavamsa, the old epic Ramayana is going to be re-written by some one from the Southern states of India either from Kerala or from Bengal.

    Reply to this comment

  8. jimmy says:

    December 26, 2011 at 11:57 am

    Let us pray for peace please
    There are so many wonderful sinhalese, tamils muslims who want to live as brothers and sisters
    give them a chance

    Reply to this comment

  9. Victim says:

    December 26, 2011 at 12:16 pm

    Kalu albert thinks that his “King” and his extended FAMILY and his paid servants have the right to kill anyone and get away with it!!! Who is going to decide who lives and who should be killed?

    Does he think that is why elections are held and LEADERS are selected (of course illegally elected) and that those leaders have the right to decide the fate of any civilians!!! This is the DEMOCRACY which is being practiced in the “Miracle of Asia”

    Does he think that the two “Human right Activists” have no right to LIVE since they belong to the JVP or is it because they are Tamils?

    Reply to this comment

  10. Suthu Albert says:

    December 26, 2011 at 4:56 pm

    A major section of the Singhalaese Budhists commenced the death and destruction of the Tamils from 1956 to 1983 and beyond in Trincomalee whilst LTTE was ruling the roost. What the Singhalyos did in instalments. VP and MR-siblings took it and are taking it to a more horendous wholesale phase to satiate their egotism and vanity as predicted in their astrological charts in the name of Singhalese & Tamil nationalism.

    Reply to this comment

  11. Suthu Albert says:

    December 26, 2011 at 11:39 pm

    Correction, lest folk tend beleive in astrology, please read my previous as “in their grandiose delusionary believed astrological charts that any mumbo jumbo off the street superstition believer without any scientific basis could draw and write for nothing or a small fee.

    Reply to this comment

  12. Suthu Albert says:

    December 27, 2011 at 9:30 pm

    That would be going outside the boss moderator’s ambit yet it would suffice to say that we arrogantly call ourselves homo sapiens (from a line of other homos with other varied species names) meaning man the wise but in reality we meaning 6 or 7 of the nuclear weapons capability countries and Govts have the potential to destroy the earth and implode the solar system many many times over.

    So where is our hubris and our great wisdom? The nature the all wise and powerful and relatively less foolish than “man” will surely recycle us even as the dinosaurs and other creatures of the past to a newer Homo Sapiens mark 2 or may even give it back to the dinosaurs as they are less harmful to the planet and don’t eat up “the hearth and home” like humans with an unbridled population explosion in progress.

    Most of our ills are material and economic those are exploited by the cunning politically inclined homos as facades of language, race, religion, cast, class etc which are really mere accidents of life for which none of us could take credit or be ashamed of.

    Reply to this comment

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