January 16, 1997
PRESS RELEASE
The Presentation on Sri Lanka Ethnic Conflict
Friends of Sri Lanka in the U.S. (FOSUS)
P.O. Box 2545
Kensington, MD 20891-2545
June 20, 1997
Mr. David Little
Director
The United States Institute of Peace
1550 M Street, NW, Suite 700
Washington D.C. 20005-1708
Ms. Nancy Yang
Director
The Asia Foundation
1990 M Street, NW
Washington D.C. 20036
Dear Mr. Little/Ms. Yang:
by Mr. Jehan Perera on May 28, 1997
Thank you for your interest on the present conflict of Sri Lanka and for organizing the presentation by Mr. Jehan Perera in Washington, D.C. on May 28, 1997. During his presentation Mr. Perera used many arguments which are routinely being used by the supporters of the Tamil Tiger terrorists group which identifies itself as the LTTE. The LTTE supporters use these arguments in their futile attempts to justify various activities of LTTE against thousands of civilians in Sri Lanka and their democratically elected government. These LTTE activities include wanton killing and maiming of civilians, ethnic cleansing, killing of political and religious leaders and human right activists, destruction of public property, conscription of children for the war, international narcotics and illegal arms trading, and illegal immigration. Mr. Perera made his arguments by distorting facts and giving incomplete information to the advantage of the LTTE.
We raised our concerns on several arguments of Mr. Perera during the questions and answers period following the presentation. However, because of the extent of misrepresentations and the impracticality of responding to all, we decided to write this letter to bring our concerns to your notice.
As we noted at the meeting we are involved in the organization of Friends of Sri Lanka in the U.S. (FOSUS), which attempts to promote peace in Sri Lanka. The FOSUS is a group of Sri Lankan expatriates and friends of Sri Lanka who are living in the U.S. On behalf of thousands of victims of Tamil Tiger terrorism, the FOSUS would like to make the following responses.
For your information we are sending you the following background material on the present conflict of Sri Lanka 1) a list of LTTE Attacks on Civilian Targets 2) a copy of the book on International & Regional Security Implications of the Sri Lankan Tamil Insurgency by Rohan Gunaratna.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have questions or need more information.
Sincerely,
Hanry Amarasooriya Wagage
On behalf of FOSUS.
Enclosures:
1. "Facts on Excuses of LTTE Terrorists" by Friends of Sri Lanka in the U.S.
(FOSUS).
2. LTTE Attacks on Civilian Targets.
3. International & Regional Security Implications of the Sri Lankan Tamil Insurgency
by Rohan Gunaratna.
cc.:
Honorable Constance Morella, the United States Congress (w/ enclosures)
Mr. Steven R. Mann, the United States Department of State (w/ enclosure 1)
Mr. Jehan Perera, National Peace Council of Sri Lanka (w/ enclosure 1).
by
Friends of Sri Lanka in the U.S. (FOSUS)
June 20, 1997
The U.S. Institute of Peace and the Asia Foundation organized a presentation on Sri Lanka's Ethnic Conflict on May 28, 1997. The speaker was Mr. Jehan Perera, Director of the National Peace Council of Sri Lanka (NPCSL).
During his presentation Mr. Perera used many arguments which are routinely being used by the supporters of the Tamil Tiger terrorists group which identifies itself as the LTTE. The LTTE supporters use these arguments in their futile attempts to justify various activities of LTTE against thousands of civilians in Sri Lanka and their democratically elected government. These LTTE activities include wanton killing and maiming of civilians, ethnic cleansing, killing of political and religious leaders and human right activists, destruction of public property, conscription of children for the war, international narcotics and illegal arms trading, and illegal immigration.
On behalf of thousands of victims of Tamil Tiger terrorists, the Friends of Sri Lanka in the U.S. (FOSUS) would like to make the following responses to the above arguments. The FOSUS is a group of Sri Lankan expatriates and friends of Sri Lanka who are living in the U.S.
1. Making Sinhala as the National Language in 1956 as a Cause of the Ethnic Conflict
The Speaker: In 1956, then Prime Minister Bandaranaike, the father of the present President, brought an act to make Sinhala as the only official language in Sri Lanka. This act made Tamils not being recognized in their own land and caused them to seek political independence.
FOSUS: The speaker did not mention that the above act is mere history at present. Sri Lanka thrived as a multiethnic, multi-cultural society until the LTTE began ethnic cleansing in the land it considers as the Eelam, a separate state for Tamils. Sri Lanka has three official languages, Sinhala, Tamil, and English. The government's official documents are printed in these three languages. The university education which is fully sponsored by the government is in three languages with the exception of engineering and medicine for which the medium of instruction is English. Even with economic hardships Sri Lanka allocates its limited resources to the needs of the minorities.
2. LTTE's Bombing of the Central Bank
The Speaker: I saw the case of Oklahoma bombing on TV. The bombing at the Federal Building in Oklahoma has killed 168 people. We had a much worse incidence in Sri Lanka. An LTTE suicide bomber rammed an explosive laden truck at the Central Bank in January 31, 1996. This killed 86 people, made about 100 people permanently blind, and injured 1400 people. Sinhalese see this attack in Colombo as a major threat. But Tamils say that similar destruction is done by the military in Jaffna. The military has bulldozed their buildings in Jaffna.
FOSUS: It is difficult to compare one mass murder like the bombing at Oklahoma with another at the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. Both are worse, especially to the victims and their families and friends. We need to focus on ways to stop such terrorists attacks but not find justification for the terrorists for their barbaric, cowardly activities. Trying to find justifications to the mass murders of this magnitude would only invite terrorists to continue their attack on civilians.
The homegrown terrorist who was convicted and condemned to death for the bombing at Oklahoma City had his own reasons but no person with right mind can accept those. There is no wonder that the LTTE terrorists also could come up with excuses to the bombing at the Central Bank in Sri Lanka. It is important to note that all the LTTE terrorists are Tamils but all the Tamils are not LTTE terrorists.
How can one compare the destruction of some buildings to a wanton killing and maiming of civilians? The Sri Lankan military does not attack on civilians. In cases of isolated incidences, the government has taken stern actions. But on the part of LTTE, killing and maiming of civilians is in its strategy and culture. The military gives advance notice to civilians to evacuate before any offensive on the LTTE terrorists. If some buildings were destroyed as collateral damage, is this the way to settle differences? If the purpose was to make a property damage to take revenge, the LTTE suicide bombers could have attacked during the middle of the night when not as many civilians were around. Instead, the LTTE terrorists chose 10:30 in the morning of a working day, when most civilians were present.
Finding the real reasons behind LTTE's wanton killing of civilians would not help reduce the grievance of the victims and their families and friends. However, such facts would help understand the LTTE terrorists and their motives. The LTTE was gradually loosing international support because of its attacks on civilians. The LTTE wanted to turn the tide and was looking for an easy way out. The LTTE intended to kill and maim the maximum number of people in order to ignite communal disturbances.. Had communal disturbances began, the network of LTTE supporters could have posed that the LTTE was simply trying to protect the minority Tamils. The communal disturbances in July 1983 began after the LTTE hacked to death fourteen security personnel. When the political leaders of that time could not stop the communal disturbances which followed, the LTTE diverted the sympathy of the international community to serve their own objectives. By attacking the Central Bank, the LTTE expected a repetition of July 1983 disturbances.
The mass murder at the Central Bank was not LTTE's first mass murder which was intended to incite racial disturbances. The following is a few of LTTE atrocities that occurred before this incident:
On May 14, 1985, the LTTE terrorists invaded the city of Anuradhapura and killed 120 people and injured 85, including Buddhist pilgrims who were praying at sacred Sri Maha Bodhi (Buddhist shrine with a recorded history of over 2,000 years) premises..
On January 21, 1987, the LTTE bomb blast at Pettah Bus Station in Colombo killed 111 people and injured 752.
On June 2, 1987, the LTTE terrorists killed 31 saffron-robed Buddhist monks at Aranthalawa in Amparai district.
On May 25, 1995, the LTTE terrorists attacked Kallarawa, a fishing village, and hacked and shot to death 42 people.
The mass murder at the Central Bank was not even the last mass murder of the LTTE terrorists. The following is a few of LTTE atrocities that occurred after this incident:
On July 24, 1996, the LTTE terrorists exploded two bombs in a commuter train in Dehiwela, a suburb of Colombo, killing 70 people and injuring over 400 people.
On September 12, 1996, the LTTE terrorists opened fire on a civilian bus at Arantalawa, in Ampara District killing 11 people and wounding 27.
On November 11, 1996, over two hundred terrorists attacked Ilaavankulam, a village in Putlum District, and massacred 14 and injured 7 villagers and set fire to their houses.
After these mass murders, the political leaders in Sri Lanka did not fall into the trap of the LTTE, and managed to keep the situation under control. Actually, it was the LTTE who fell on to its own trap. The LTTE showed its nakedness by exposing itself to the world that the LTTE is a gang of mass murderers. With bombing at the Central Bank the LTTE identified itself as an international terrorist organization: among the wounded were two U.S. citizens, six Japanese, and one Dutch national. The LTTE lost all the international support and were forced to find excuses. As we see here its hard for the LTTE to find any justification.
There is no excuse or justification for wanton killing of innocent civilians!
3. Who is Responsible for the Breakdown of Peace Talks with the LTTE in April 1995?
The Speaker: Right from the beginning the President [Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga] was not serious about the peace talks with the LTTE. With her charisma and the 60% of popular votes she thought that she could corner the LTTE. Even while the peace talks were going on "somebody in Colombo said that the peace talks were not for the LTTE." The LTTE was serious. They sent their top leaders, other than the "Supremo" to negotiate. But the government did not send a single senior minister. The government sent only religious leaders and academicians. This humiliated and offended the LTTE and they were forced to break peace talks.
FOSUS: President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga came to politics knowing its dangers: she had lost her father and husband to political violence. The President had personal experience and intelligence to be serious enough in handling LTTE terrorists. The speaker must not be naive to suggest that the President was not serious. She had the courage to pursue peace with the LTTE, who had assassinated many political leaders including two heads of States, Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi of India and President Ranasinghe Premadasa of Sri Lanka. Even with mounting criticism against negotiations with the LTTE terrorists, the President appears to have attempted to keep her word on which she came to power: peace. But the LTTE forced the President to a war which she had never wanted!
The President may not have sent senior Ministers to negotiate with LTTE terrorists. But she did send religious leaders and academicians whom she and the country could respect and trust for their judgment.
Once again the LTTE terrorists played their own old trick! The LTTE uses the guise of peace talks to regroup, reorganize, and attack. During the second peace talks with President Premadasa, the LTTE captured and killed 900 policemen by firing at point blank! This time the LTTE attacked on two largest navy boats. The President fell into the trap because of her candidness for making peace.
It was not the president but the LTTE who was not serious about peace!
4. Mistakes and Ignorance of the Sinhalese Political Leaders Caused Tamils to Seek Political Independence
The Speaker: Being in the majority many past Sinhalese leaders mistakenly ignored the needs of Tamils. The President has admitted that these mistakes were made. Tamils were treated as second class citizens in their own land. This forced them to find political independence.
FOSUS: The President not only admitted but also proposed a plan to redress the grievance of Tamils through devolution of power and far reaching constitutional changes.
5. President's Decision to Retake Jaffna from the LTTE
The Speaker: Even with the risk of loosing many lives, the President decided to take over Jaffna from the LTTE.
FOSUS: The President has to perform the duty that she was elected for by popular votes in Sri Lanka. A government can not give in to criminals.
6. LTTE's Military Strength
The Speaker: Although the LTTE is confined to the jungles, the LTTE's military machine is intact. Even after a major military offensive, the LTTE attacked a major military camp and killed one thousand service men!
FOSUS: The said attack on the military (Mullativu) camp did not occur after a major military offensive; it was the other way around. Even after this loss, the military attacked and retook then LTTE stronghold Kilinochchi and Paranthan. The LTTE is on the run! The military is retaking all LTTE strongholds, one after the other, in major offensives, e.g., Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Paranthan, the major road from Vavunia to Mannar, and the major road from Vavunia to Jaffna (in progress).
7. Aspirations of LTTE
The Speaker: Aspirations of the LTTE have to be respected.
FOSUS: What are these aspirations of the LTTE? Is the world to respect the mass murders and ethnic cleansing of LTTE terrorists for the sake of their dreamed state for Tamils? Has anybody heard of respecting aspirations of criminals? The usual practice in the civilized world is to bring the criminals to justice and make them responsible for their deeds.
8. Obstacles for Negotiation
The Speaker: Our organization [NPCSL] has identified three obstacles to peace in Sri Lanka: a) unwillingness of the Sri Lankan Government to consider the LTTE as an equal negotiating partner, b) not having unity among main opposition parties, and c) Sinhalese considering that the LTTE is a Terrorist organization.
FOSUS:
a. How can a government elected by popular vote consider a gang of mass murderers
equal partners for negotiation? The President attempted to ignore the past and talk peace
with the LTTE. But the LTTE terrorists lived to their reputation: unilaterally broke the
cease-fire, and without a warning, attacked the navy. What negotiating qualities has the
LTTE shown so far? After the LTTE broke off peace talks three times, twice with previous
governments and once with the present government, what is the evidence which shows that
the LTTE is genuinely interested in peace?
b. There is some development in the unity between the government and the opposition on the issue of terrorism. Both the President and the Leader of the Opposition signed an agreement to this effect. The speaker ridiculed this agreement by saying that both parties did not even meet or shake hands after signing the agreement and that it was done by mail. However, in Sri Lankan politics this was a major breakthough which was hailed by many countries. Unlike the U.S. which has over 200-years old democracy, Sri Lanka has about 50-years old democracy. Unlike in the U.S., where major parties are identified as the majority and the minority, in Sri Lanka they are identified as the government and the "opposition." Whoever are in the opposition try to live to the reputation of their name by opposing the activities of the government. In this context, we commend the President and the Leader of the Opposition for setting their personal and political differences aside and making an agreement for the good of the nation.
c. Not only Sinhalese, the whole world, including Tamils, has identified the LTTE for what they are: terrorists.
9. Peace Through War Or Peace Without War?
The Speaker: The government's position is to bring peace through war. But our (NPCSL's) position is that peace be achieved without war.
FOSUS: This is mealy-mouthed talk! Who else other than the LTTE would like a war. The LTTE terrorists have forced the government into the war!
10. How do Tamils Like the LTTE?
The Speaker: Tamils say that if not for the LTTE, the government would not even talk to them. People do not like the war but their children are fighting for the LTTE.
FOSUS: Of the eighteen million total population in Sri Lanka, 18% are Tamils who are in the following categories:
a. Indian Tamils comprise 6% of the population. These people have no affinity with the LTTE.
b. Sri Lankan Tamils, who live in areas where Sinhalese are in majority, comprise 5% of the population. These people live by choice with Sinhalese and other minorities and have no truck with the LTTE.
c. Sri Lankan Tamils, who live in the areas where Tamils are in majority, comprise 7% of the population. Of these only 400,000 (only 2% of the population in Sri Lanka) live, not by choice, in areas controlled by the LTTE. The LTTE uses these people as a human shield and there are strict restrictions preventing people leaving the area: a person who leaves the area has to leave a surety, who will be punished by death if the person fails to return! The LTTE conscripts children of these people for the war. Parents are left with no choice other than letting the LTTE carry away their children as baits! In its desperate attempts to be the sole representatives of Tamils under its control, the LTTE killed many Tamil political leaders.
11. Third Party Mediation of the Conflict
The Speaker: When there is a conflict between two parties a third party would help to resolve the conflict. There is a talk in the country that an involvement of a western country would be beneficial.
FOSUS: These are general observations which may look like logical thinking But the logic doesn't work with the LTTE. The first country which came for mediation was India. When LTTE found that it was not going to get the Eelam through negotiations, India had to pay the price for attempting to make peace in Sri Lanka: an LTTE suicide bomber blew up Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi! The world needs no more repetitions.
The leaders of the present government of Sri Lanka has shown that they are intelligent enough to make decisions on handling LTTE terrorists. The best way the other countries can help is not intervene in internal affairs of Sri Lanka, unless their help is sought by the government. International community instead must act to stop overseas support for the LTTE, especially fundraising. Funds collected ostensibly for humanitarian purposes are used to illicitly procure lethal weapons and explosives to create havoc, destroy properties, and kill civilians in Sri Lanka.
The world is seeing increased terrorists activities including wanton killing of civilians. The Tamil Tiger terrorists group of Sri Lanka known as LTTE is the foremost group of terrorists who are well equipped with a worldwide network of supporters, some of whom pose themselves as human right activists. These supporters of terrorists appeal to the emotions of the world by misinformation and distortion of facts. The irony is that the victims of terrorism and their families and friends, who do not have similar networks, are generally not heard.
On behalf of these victims and their families and friends, the Friends of Sri Lanka in the U.S. (FOSUS) would like to make the following appeal to all the citizens of the world. Be weary of misinformation and distortion of facts provided by sympathizers of terrorists and idealistic peace-nicks who 1) encourage terrorism due to their misplaced ideals or 2) make a living by allowing continuation of the conflict through pseudo-solutions and thereby letting the victims and their families and friends pay the price.