Terrorism - Articles

Ceasefire, Peace Process and War Clouds in Sri Lanka

In Sri Lanka, as long as the guns remain silent, peace prevails and the truce continues tentatively. The 2002 truce has led to the 'longest period of peace' since Sri Lanka's civil war began in 1983. Now it is under threat because of the continuing 'shadow war' between the LTTE and the Sri Lankan government, which translated into attacks on soldiers, rebels and civilians also. This bleak scenario is corroding the peace in the nation.

The present Sri Lankan government is wary of the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA). It accuses the Tamil Tiger rebels of violating the peace, including the brutal murder of Senior Superintendent of Police in Jaffna, Charles Wijewardena (who rushed unarmed to make peace with the Tamil community in Innuvil). The LTTE on its part accuses the government of carrying out a covert war, using the paramilitaries as cover, to target members and supporters of the Liberation Tigers. This includes the recent deaths of a number of LTTE cadres and prominent Tamils, including the massacre of the chief of LTTE's political wing in Batticaloa-Amparai, E Kousalyan and his team in February 2005, and the abduction and murder of well-known Tamil columnist Dharameratnam Sivaram in Colombo.

This is ample proof that both parties have stepped up their military activities, with targeted killings becoming the norm rather than the exception. Under these circumstances, the prospect of military conflict seems close. It is in this background that the recent killing of Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar drove another nail in the coffin of the peace agreement.

Sri Lanka declared a state of emergency on August 13 after a sniper shot dead the Foreign Minister. The accusatory finger pointed at the usual suspects, the Tamil rebels. The LTTE denied any involvement. Condemning the attack and warning the state of emergency the Tamil Tigers' political chief P Tamilselvan said, "The rebel group was not involved in the killing and that the government should look within its own ranks for the culprits. There are sections within the Sri Lankan Armed forces operating with a hidden agenda to sabotage the cease-fire agreement." However, the government said, "it found the rebels' denial hard to believe," but said the truce would hold. In a televised address to the nation, Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga said she would "redouble her efforts to provide for political devolution to find an end to the long-standing separatist conflict."

It is premature to blame any organization, including LTTE for the killing. However, the assassination of Lakshman Kadirgamar follows a clear pattern established by the LTTE in targeting its opponents. According to Asian Tribune, "the sniper shooting too has been a tactic used by the LTTE against those inaccessible to suicide bombers. The first LTTE victim of a sniper shooting from a distance was Thambirajah Subathiran alias Robert of the EPRLF when he was exercising on a rooftop opposite the Vembaddy Girls High School in Jaffna."

If so, this is the first instance wherein the LTTE has used a long-range sniper with a telescopic viewfinder to assassinate a prominent adversary. In targeting Kadirgamar, the Tamil Tigers would be discarded their emblematic modus operandi of eliminating their targets with suicide bombers. A report in the Sri Lankan press said, "The assassins had made use of the ventilation opening in the toilet and the gunshots were fired from inside the toilet from the top storey of 42, Bullers Lane which was only 100 metres away." The area is supposed to be a high security area as the Swiss Embassy is located nearby. The United National Party (UNP) blames lax security arrangement for the killing.

There are many reasons as to why the LTTE would have attempted this killing. Kadirgamar was a leading proponent of protecting the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Sri Lanka; he did not hide the fact that he was responsible for getting the Tamil Tigers banned internationally for committing acts of terror and violations of human rights; he was most critical of the CFA, and argued that it was "an agreement that sacrificed the national interests to a group of terrorists." More than anything, he was the prime factor in preventing the free flow of funds to the LTTE in the wake of the December 26 tsunami.

However, his death places the CFA in jeopardy, foreshadowing the shape of things to come. Time is running out for Sri Lanka to find a settlement that will bring peace and prosperity to the entire nation, whether Sinhalese, Tamil, or Muslim. If Kadirgamar's death is to be a turning point for the better, then finding a solution to the long-standing issues should be top priority for everyone. As things stand now, both parties are again on a war footing and the Tamils are at a loss not knowing how to separate one from the other.