Sri Lankan President offers talks with LTTE on one condition...
July 13th 2008 12:16
Sri Lankan President offers talks with LTTE on one condition...
The last three years in Sri Lanka have been bloody with figures of dead LTTE is being estimated to be over 7000 dead. The national tally of those killed in the separatist civil war has gone from 60,000 to over 70,000 making this one of the bloodiest period in the campaign. The toll on the economy has been devastating with inflation, price hikes and the constant threat of suicide bombings. The threat of random air strike by the LTTE (the only terrorist group to have an air force) has not show itself in months.
The propaganda war has also intensified with Tiger websites pumping out the usual images of dead and talk of a homeland. Yet the propaganda war has not gone unchallenged as the Sri Lankan government once weeks behind in making official statements about the war have created a slick PR machine. Now within hours we have commentary on the latest bombing and a blow by blow account of what is happening on the war front. When an LTTE light aircraft flew over Colombo last year the Sri Lankan government took days to make statement where as the LTTE had posted images of their smiling pilots in newspapers around the world. This was seen as major failure of communication by the Sri Lankan government and they were determined to remind the situation. So today instead of getting a one sided distorted version of events we get a more balance two sided distorted version of events. Both sides seem to be producing propaganda that reflects the perfect narrative of a war film, even staring their own versions of Rambo.
If you believe the government’s version then the LTTE are on their last legs and are about to be defeated. The Tamil Tiger version is bordering upon messiah worship mixed with lists of atrocities. The problem with propaganda sites is that tell the story their way with the evidence selected after the argument is made. Questioning the propaganda narrative can also be dangerous as recent reports indicate that Sri Lanka is the second most dangerous place on earth for journalists. Iraq was number one. A recent protest in Colombo was held by journalists angry at the treatment of their colleges who have been denounced as traitors with some disappearing and others being murdered.
Within the last few months several advances were announced by the Sri Lankan government and publish ever shrinking versions of the areas controlled by the LTTE. The Manna district that was once called the ‘Rice Bowl of Sri Lanka’ was finally capture the government and with it several prominent LTTE bunkers. Victory was being promoted as being assured.
Suddenly President Mahinda Rajapaksa has announced that he was willing to enter into talks with the LTTE on one condition: That they lay down their arms first. The announcement came after a predawn ritual at Venkateswara temple.
The condition for the talks will most likely be more than the LTTE are willing to accept. Talks have occurred in the past and ended with stalemates and violations of the peace accords. The Oslo Ceasefire Agreement broke down last year and was officially withdraw by the Sri Lankan government before the latest military push. Yet there is always a faint hope of some progress that both sides are genuine.
Another Cease Fires Agreement might also prove difficult to implement without some major concession from the government side. However as the 1990 ceasefire arranged by President Premadasa an expedient set of conditions can prove to be very deadly. Over 400 police who were ordered to surrender to the Tigers as ended up being executed by the LTTE. It is better that a cease fire is in place instead of the current fight to the death, and best that the blunders of the past are not repeated.
Sri Lanka
The last three years in Sri Lanka have been bloody with figures of dead LTTE is being estimated to be over 7000 dead. The national tally of those killed in the separatist civil war has gone from 60,000 to over 70,000 making this one of the bloodiest period in the campaign. The toll on the economy has been devastating with inflation, price hikes and the constant threat of suicide bombings. The threat of random air strike by the LTTE (the only terrorist group to have an air force) has not show itself in months.
The propaganda war has also intensified with Tiger websites pumping out the usual images of dead and talk of a homeland. Yet the propaganda war has not gone unchallenged as the Sri Lankan government once weeks behind in making official statements about the war have created a slick PR machine. Now within hours we have commentary on the latest bombing and a blow by blow account of what is happening on the war front. When an LTTE light aircraft flew over Colombo last year the Sri Lankan government took days to make statement where as the LTTE had posted images of their smiling pilots in newspapers around the world. This was seen as major failure of communication by the Sri Lankan government and they were determined to remind the situation. So today instead of getting a one sided distorted version of events we get a more balance two sided distorted version of events. Both sides seem to be producing propaganda that reflects the perfect narrative of a war film, even staring their own versions of Rambo.
This aircraft flew over Colombo and also bombed the Airforce base in Katunayake
The only terrorist group in the world to have an airforce created a propaganda crisis for the Sri Lankan government.
Called the Airtigers: these images were on the front pages of newspapers around the world days before the Sri Lankan government issued a statement.
If you believe the government’s version then the LTTE are on their last legs and are about to be defeated. The Tamil Tiger version is bordering upon messiah worship mixed with lists of atrocities. The problem with propaganda sites is that tell the story their way with the evidence selected after the argument is made. Questioning the propaganda narrative can also be dangerous as recent reports indicate that Sri Lanka is the second most dangerous place on earth for journalists. Iraq was number one. A recent protest in Colombo was held by journalists angry at the treatment of their colleges who have been denounced as traitors with some disappearing and others being murdered.
Journalists protesting in Colombo.
Within the last few months several advances were announced by the Sri Lankan government and publish ever shrinking versions of the areas controlled by the LTTE. The Manna district that was once called the ‘Rice Bowl of Sri Lanka’ was finally capture the government and with it several prominent LTTE bunkers. Victory was being promoted as being assured.
Suddenly President Mahinda Rajapaksa has announced that he was willing to enter into talks with the LTTE on one condition: That they lay down their arms first. The announcement came after a predawn ritual at Venkateswara temple.
The LTTE Flag embraces the gun. So the chance of having them give up weapons may be very slim.
The condition for the talks will most likely be more than the LTTE are willing to accept. Talks have occurred in the past and ended with stalemates and violations of the peace accords. The Oslo Ceasefire Agreement broke down last year and was officially withdraw by the Sri Lankan government before the latest military push. Yet there is always a faint hope of some progress that both sides are genuine.
Another Cease Fires Agreement might also prove difficult to implement without some major concession from the government side. However as the 1990 ceasefire arranged by President Premadasa an expedient set of conditions can prove to be very deadly. Over 400 police who were ordered to surrender to the Tigers as ended up being executed by the LTTE. It is better that a cease fire is in place instead of the current fight to the death, and best that the blunders of the past are not repeated.
There is Art in War dickhead.
| 74 |
| Vote |
Add To: 
Subscribe to this blog
Comment by tlcorbin
Coffee Quip
There's no winners on the horizon, even if an accord were reached, grudges and revenge killing would likely keep things stirred up.
Crap, here in the USA, we have a few nut cases still pissed off over the civil war. . .depressing thought.
Thanks for the update, but candidly, is there any real hope looming on the futures horizon?
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
Thanks for your comments.
I have been reliably informed that it takes a minimum of 60 years for a nation to get over a civil war after it has ended.
The generation that fought it. The Children who watched family and friend suffer in it. Only after a new generation is born without the direct memories is the conflict in a position where it is unlikely to flair up again. Depressing?
Whether the war is over or not is yet to be seen. However the LTTE have lost a lot of ground and numbers. The entire Western province fell and recently the eastern areas. If the Sri Lankan Army takes the North then the LTTE will be in a land lock position. However they should never be underestimated. Every Tiger considers themselves dead when they are recruited, they are expected to die for the cause.
Comment by tlcorbin
Coffee Quip
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
That is the $64 question.
The LTTE are a serious mob who invented suicide bomber and the suicide vest. Al Q learned it from them.
Every soldier who graduates is given a a vile of cyanide to hang around their neck incase they are caught. They also perpetuate the cult of personality about the leader. So the answer is that it is not easy.
Stay out of their way? Sort out the genuine grievances and see what happens from there.
Comment by tlcorbin
Coffee Quip
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
After a while you learn to be patient rather than making things worse with crazy quick fixes.