News Update - 20060315
*** Topics: More revelations regarding Geneva talks, shifting political balances, changing reactions ***
More revelations regarding Geneva talks:
After the Geneva talks, a confusing barrage of reports followed of what actually happened. According to one report, the Sri Lankan government requested the talks be isolated from the press, but the government had no choice but reveal its opening statement to the press once the LTTE opening statement had been leaked. The uncompromising attitude of government negotiators was evident even without the help of insider reports. In the final analysis, the government expressed its full commitment to the current ceasefire as is, despite entering the peace talks on a mission to change the ceasefire. The LTTE was successful in officially extracting an additional pledge by the government to disarm all paramilitary groups working with the government.
The government still continues its anti-peace talks rhetoric, although in an indirect fashion. The government's satisfaction in the outcome of the Geneva talks can only be a lie meant to save itself some embarrassment. The LTTE's intention in the talks seems to be fulfilled -- obtaining a pledge that the government will implement the ceasefire, particularly the clause that says paramilitaries will be disarmed. The pledge itself is not as important to the LTTE as the current time bewteen then and April, when the next round of talks is scheduled when the government is to demonstrate its pledge. By having the government make this pledge at a round of peace talks, the pledge must now stand up to the strong international attention focused on it.
http://www.tamilcanadian.com/pageview.php?ID=3851&SID=39
Anton Balasingham, chief negotiator for the LTTE, here describes some of the nit-picky arguments that the LTTE negotiating team faced with the government during and after the Geneva talks.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/COL51635.htm
This report quotes Karuna as saying he refuses to be disarmed by anyone. Regardless of what he says, the government is obligated by its promise to disarm his group however possible.
http://www.eelampage.com/?cn=24452
A speech by Thamilchelvan, the political wing leader of the LTTE, gives details on who said what during the talks.
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=17313
Following the talks, the government engaged in a propaganda campaign to divert attention away from its obligation to disarm its paramilitaries. The effort did not produce tangible benefits politically or in reputation for the government.
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=17322
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=17327
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=17335
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=17356
Instead of disarming paramilitaries, the government has been building bunkers and even launched attacks on the LTTE's forward defense lines, such as this incident. The incident was subsequently reported in the New York Times.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/05/international/asia/05lanka.html?ex=1299214800&en=db7ab0aac533b807&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
http://www.tamilcanadian.com/pageview.php?ID=3871&SID=266
The existence of paramilitaries receiving active support from the government military is documented well by the LTTE. This is a brief overview of the information given by the LTTE.
http://www.sangam.org/taraki/articles/2006/03-04_Looking_for_Loopholes.php?uid=1554
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=17378
http://www.tamilcanadian.com/pageview.php?ID=3876&SID=536
http://www.tamilguardian.com/beta/news_details.asp?newsid=550
Tamil Guardian analysis gives a good picture of the LTTE frame of mind regarding the ongoing political situation regarding Ceylon. Given that the LTTE has gained a clear upper hand in the political process, the last lines of this editorial are full of implications: "As we have always argued, the Norwegian peace process will turn on the implementation of Clause 1.8. And as the LTTE made clear at the table in Geneva, they have a plan B."
** Shifting political balances:
The 3 main parties in consideration in Tamil Nadu are the DMK, the MDMK, and AI-ADMK. The MDMK and AIADMK are offshoots of the DMK, the first Tamil party to contest elections on a Dravidian nationalist, anti-Hindi, anti central-government platform. When the most popular leader of the AIADMK died 20 years ago, an actress (Jayalalithia) took control of the party and aligned herself with everything that goes against what the DMK stood for. She is the current chief minister of Tamil Nadu, and sent the current leader of the MDMK (Vaiko) to jail for 2 years for speaking in support of the LTE. The MDMK and DMK have since enjoyed a powerful alliance, despite the DMK leader's blatant nepotism that ruins the good will between the 2 parties.
The statewide polls in Tamil Nadu, India for the state assembly (legislature) are coming up in a matter of months. It comes as a surprise to many that MDMK-leader Vaiko would be willing to give up his current power for an alliance with AIADMK-leader Jayalalitha. However, it could have a neutralizing effect on the AIADMK in case it comes to power. In a way, more alliances between the pro-Tamil parties and the other parties creates a greater influence for pro-Tamil parties, similar to what Tamils in Canada and perhaps Norway are achieving.
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=17367
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/7598_1647928,000500020002.htm
** Changing reactions:
The LTTE, by drawing international attention to the atrocities happening to civilians and the government's responsibility in these incidents, has gradually gained credibility internationally. The following articles, published in the period after the Geneva Talks, reflect this shift slightly.
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=79&artid=17291
This article should be of interest to many since it is an academic look by a Norwegian professor at the LTTE's change in the past 4 years.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/COL151627.htm
http://www.tamilcanadian.com/pageview.php?ID=3866&SID=39
http://asia.news.yahoo.com/060303/kyodo/d8g3tu7oa.html
http://www.sangam.org/taraki/articles/2006/03-06_Peace_Talks.php?uid=1562