SRI LANK AFTER LTTE

WAR BRINGS DESTRUCTIONS ONLY;HELP HUMANITY TO SURVIVE

Sri Lanka has won the war against the Tamil Tigers with unflinching resolve. The 26 years of bloody, devastating and ruinous war hopefully has come to an end; though after paying a heavy cost in terms of life, property and sentiments. The kind of transformation which the tiny Island Nation underwent over few years is spectacular. An Army which was hopelessly nothing more than a police force, ill-equipped and ill trained had been fighting a suicidal war at least in the initial period after the Indo- Sri Lankan accord was raven and LTTE went in intense rancour over the entire issue.
The seemingly unending war did not obliterate Sri Lankan resolve to fight back and the government did show stoic courage to reorganise and annihilate the demons. Astoundingly they did and ensconced LTTE were not only uprooted but finished. The whole world Including India watched some howled but Sri Lankans were crowing over victory. Sri Lanka has won the war but it has to win hearts and minds of Tamils now.
The victory however does not mean end of problems and hostilities. The demography of this sea locked nation is heavily slated toward Singhalese which constitute 74% of the total population. Sri Lankan Tamil constitute 12.6% whereas Indian Tamils and Muslims are 5.5% and 5% respectively. The war is definitely over, but the issue is still unresolved.
The ethnic issue was very much alive but was in hibernation even before Sri Lank became independent in February, 1948। After Independence the issue came to fore and non-Redressal led to reopening and ripening of this issue. The Tamil sentiments got inured due to persistence of an idea in which hardliner Singhalese group believed that there should be a Singhalese hegemony over the Tamil minorities. Gradually the counter theory germinated that Tamils should have a separate Tamil Eelam state. In this backdrop, the concept of peaceful coexistence got gradually blurred and seeds of hatred gradually germinated.

POST WAR TASKS- The war has left Sri Lank with scars of economic destruction, emotional trauma, ruined hopes and shattered dreams. The Government has how a huge, if not insurmountable responsibilities of picking the rubbles and debris, knitting the nest and rehabilitating the Tamils. There are more than 2, 50,000 internal displace persons, the IDP who is to be fed and attended. The numbers of seriously physically injured persons are uncountable who have to be hospitalised and medical treatment have to be given. The northern and eastern part of Sri Lanka is in rubbles, roads, hospitals, houses, churches, temples, schools and everything have been ruined and turned into debris. It has to be reconstructed without any inordinate delay. The Government can no longer afford euphoria and recalcitrant attitude towards it.
The tattered Island is in desperate need of huge international aid both in terms of cash and kind. Hopefully the international community especially USA and Western countries would extend generous helping hand to see that Sri Lanka is taken out this catastrophe. The magnitude of destruction would probably be not less than those in Iraq and Afghanistan; therefore it requires assistance of that magnitude. The western hypocrisy is also under watch in the sense that whether it really is concerned or it is nothing but a drawing room ideology of crying howl for human rights violations. It is high time for the West to show that it really cares.
Mahindra Rajapaksha may make start from where the recompilation effort was shunned, yes it is the 13th Amendment to the Sri Lanka Constitution made in 1987। This was a landmark in the history of Tamil ethnic agitation in Sri Lanka. For the first time, a serious effort was sought to be made through this amendment which got President’s nod on 14/11/87. Tamil language was given status of official language and English language was made a link language. It also provided for establishment of Provincial Councils and devolution of some powers into them. Although it was not a big and heartening constitutional package for the Tamils because by now the concept of a separate Tamil Eelam had crystallised and Tamil tiger had taken to jungles, the importance of this step cannot be trivialised. Mahindra had to pick up the thread from here itself and proceed further. Only constitutional package is not going to do and work. The wounds of Tamil civilians have to be healed by application of ointment of oneness blended with emotional tinge. The relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction work have to be started with utmost precision and fineness. Any apathy or lackesaidial approach would mar the entire process of healing touch.

BRINGING TAMILS IN THE POLITICAL MAINSTREAM- The defeat of Tamil tigers may be pushing hardliners to corners but complacency on part of the political leadership in this regard may give time to the hardliners to realign and spread discontent among the Tamil population which is already passing through a period of unprecedented social, economic, psychic and political turmoil. The process of economic reconstruction and political solution should go side by side; or else the initial euphoria may burst like bubbles. The sky soaring confidence of the government and the Sri Lankan Army should be channelized to positive and constructive direction.
Fortunately the Tamil hardliners in India have also been marginalised in the just concluded general parliamentary elections and Sonia, the widow of Rajiv Gandhi, who was mercilessly killed by LTTE suicidal women cadre, has emerged all pervasive and unquestioned leader of the UPA Government at centre. It was a happy coincident that when Sonia and congress were celebrating victory after the announcement of poll results, the death of V. Prabhakaran broke on TV and other electronic media. The emphatic victory of congress led by Dr Man Mohan Singh has fuelled the political environment with optimism and hope.
This historic opportunity may be properly utilised so that lasting solution and lasting peace are resorted in the strife torn island. India has pledged to give Rs/500 crore to Sri Lanka for undertaking reconstruction work. This good will gesture could be utilised with mutual consultation and India should very attentively and cautiously extend helping hand to Sri Lanka; otherwise any mishandling or overly action on part of India may be interpreted as an undue interference in the in internal matters of Sri Lanka. Hopefully at least one country of among our neighbours returns to peace and tranquillity.