Sri Lanka: Politics as war by other means

It was the Prussian soldier and military historian Carl Von Clausewitz who said that “War is a mere continuation of politics by other means.”

Sri Lanka experienced it for 30 years until May 18, 2009. Now we see the reverse of this – politics as war by other means – move to indict the Sri Lankan Government over alleged war crimes. After World War II the victors held a war crimes tribunal to try the vanquished whereas in Sri Lanka’s case attempts are made by sympathizers of the vanquished and others to try the victors in international courts!

In this context making a choice at the upcoming Presidential Election in Sri Lanka poses a challenge to all patriotic citizens since both candidates have contributed to the military victory over the Tigers in their own ways - one as Head of State and the other as Army Commander.

But to the rest of the citizenry the choice is easy. Some of them were the very people who were elated when Ranil Wickremesinghe signed the so-called ceasefire agreement with the LTTE no matter whether the CFA legitimized the Tiger’s control over the Northern and Eastern Provinces. Perhaps it was necessary for ‘peace’ (peace at any cost) in their eyes. Business was booming as a result and that was all that mattered to them. Today, they are the real problem with the joint Opposition – not General Sarath Fonseka and not even the JVP although the latter’s past record does exactly make them guardians of democracy.

Prime Minister Winston Churchill who led Britain to victory in World War II lost the first general election held in that country after the war. But none of those who voted against Churchill and his Conservative Party in the election had supported or sympathized with the enemy in the war or remained ‘neutral’ in the conflict. But in Sri Lanka among those trying to defeat Mahinda Rajapaksa include a group which tried its utmost to undermine the war effort, ridiculed even General Fonseka and insisted on a ‘dialogue’ with the enemy – an enemy which had told the world that they were engaged in a war between two countries, ‘Tamil Eelam’ and Sri Lanka!

The current election campaign has apparently given them a new impetus. In the wake of the election campaign the Sri Lanka’s self-proclaimed ‘peace builders’ have again begun to pontificate on the same old lines – demonizing Sinhala Leaders. Argues Jehan Perera that notorious advocate of a ‘negotiated settlement’ with the intransigent LTTE - no matter how ludicrous its demands were:

“Given the increasingly brutal and ruthless nature of politics in the country over the past several decades, there would have been a reasonable apprehension that the price of retribution could be high to the Tamil people if the TNA failed to endorse the winning candidate.” (The Island)

So according to him, the TNA and the Tamil people is one! This is virtually the same garbage that the LTTE spread worldwide. “The Tigers and Tamils are one” they said and a couple of TNA MPs in Parliament echoed the same. It is no secret that the LTTE rigged Parliamentary Elections in the North to help the TNA win seats for the first time – a fact which even the European Election monitors noted at the time. Although the alliance is splintered today, it does not necessarily mean that its separatist objectives have been discarded.

The LTTE proxy ‘Tamil National Alliance’ has to date neither publicly condemned Tiger terrorism nor given up their goal of an autonomous Tamil Homeland in a merged North and East. TNA has also stated that they are not satisfied even with the Indian model of devolution. Whether they still cling on to the same view is a moot point.

So who will oblige them or others who want to pursue a similar goal after the election?

The two main Presidential Candidates however have assured voters that they will leave no room for any form of division of the country. This remains to be seen since a woman who is pregnant cannot hide her pregnancy for long. Remember P-TOMS and the ‘Package’? Fortunately for the country these were aborted in the nick of time.

Will a foreign power pressure the winning candidate to re-introduce such dubious constitutional reforms to “ensure minority rights” and weaken the centre? After the withdrawal of the IPKF, India and the West were sending mixed signals to Sri Lanka throughout the anti-Tiger war although circumstances eventually compelled Delhi to back Colombo in crushing the Tigers. But it is no guarantee of future non-interference by the Indian Government in the island’s internal affairs.

In contrast Pakistan, China and Russia have pursued a policy of non-interference in Sri Lankan politics during and after the fighting, while giving to the country all the material and moral support in its hour of dire need. Therefore it would be wise for the Rajapaksa government to refrain in its media campaigns from repeating the mistake of drawing attention to Pakistan’s military rulers in its attempts to portray General Fonseka as a would-be tyrant.

It is vital to realize Pakistan has never wavered in her commitment to this country under both civilian and military rule. Generals Zia Ul Haq and Pervez Musaharaff were strongly supportive of Sri Lanka in the anti-LTTE campaign. Failure to recognize the fact will no doubt make us ingrates in the eyes of the Pakistanis.

Furthermore, Sri Lanka under President Rajapaksa has been having the closest of ties with the governments of Myanmar, Libya and Cuba, none of which are Parliamentary Democracies. So why not keep it mind when campaigning against the Fonseka camp?

On the propaganda and the diplomatic front the LTTE’s anti-Sri Lanka campaign continues unabated. On January 13, the new Daily Financial Times, reported apparel industry leaders expressing concern over the ‘Boycott Sri Lanka’ campaign by pro-Tiger Tamil Diaspora lobbies to persuade customers in USA to boycott Sri Lankan garments. Although the U.S. Government has disassociated itself from this boycott it does not necessarily mean that ordinary American customers will not be deceived by LTTE propaganda.

The more the country is destabilized the greater the opportunity for Tamil separatists to renew their campaign to undermine the State from within and outside. It also means that big powers would find it easier to ‘tame’ Sri Lanka. It was exactly what they tried to during the last phase of the anti-LTTE war, demanding that Sri Lanka cease military operations or at least allow the Tiger leaders to leave the country so that they could live to fight another day.

Consequently, the first priority is to ensure Sri Lanka’s stability. No intelligent voter believes that the Rajapaksa regime is Lily white. But will merely defeating Mahinda Rajapaksa herald the end of corruption and nepotism in Sri Lanka? How many in the Opposition are “Mr. Cleans”? The fact remains this problem has been a plague in this country for several decades. We will never see an end to it until a radical change is effected in this rotten system which benefits only those in power whoever they are.

Will the government or the Opposition make all politicians declare their assets not only to Parliament but also to the public? Will laws be passed to prevent MPs from engaging in any vocation or profession and instead devote full time to pubic service? (This law is in force in Australia and several other countries). Will laws be enforced to prevent politicians – both at central government and provincial levels – from interfering in any way in the performance of duties by public servants, including the police?

None of these are likely to materialize in the foreseeable future under any government. What is therefore required is to make the best of a bad situation and avoid falling from a fire into a frying pan.

- Asian Tribune -