Col R Hariharan
Armed forces and accountability
Sri Lanka government while going
through the difficult process of implementing the UN
Human Rights Council resolution to carry out a “credible justice process” to
inquire into the alleged war crimes during the Eelam war seems to have run into
bit of trouble over the issue, at least with sections of the armed forces.
According to a report in the Sunday
Times, foreign minister Mangala Samaraweera had assured security force
commanders and divisional commanders that the government would protect the
interests of the security forces, when he addressed them recently in Jaffna. Apparently this was in the context of
implementing the UNHRC resolution and inquiring into war crimes. However, he
rejected a proposal by Major General Gallage, GOC of 51 Division, to include a
military representative in the task force appointed by the government to
enforce the provisions of the Geneva resolution. Days later, Gen Galage was
transferred out of Jaffna to take over as director general of infantry at the
Army Headquarters. It is interesting to
note that Gen Gallage was formerly in charge of presidential guards during the
Rajapaksa regime.
Well
known columnist DBS Jeyaraj has quoted former naval chief Rear Admiral Sarath
Weerasekara as telling the media “the sudden and unwarranted transfer of war
hero Major General Gallage from the North to Colombo for voicing his opinion is
a case in point and the government has victimized those who spoke against its
actions inimical to the country’s interests.” The admiral was probably expressing
the feelings of sections of the armed forces, which are increasingly concerned
over the ambivalence in government’s attitude while deciding on the issue,
unlike president Mahinda Rajapaksa who had out rightly refused the demand for
an international inquiry into the war crimes allegations.
The armed forces
are a powerful pillar of support to the government all along. The public hold
them in high esteem for their victory in the Eelam war which eliminated the
Tamil separatist insurgency after decades of struggle. So it would be fool
hardy for the national leadership to antagonize the armed forces. Moreover the
Sirisena government would not like to provide political space for former
president Rajapaksa to use the issue to whip up Sinhala nationalist sentiments
to stage a comeback.
This is probably
the reason for the national leadership to indulge in a bit of doublespeak particularly
on the issue of international participation. It also reflects the differences
within the ruling elite. While president Sirisena is opposed to it, prime
minister Wickremesinghe’s stand is not clear as he would like to retain the
support of the international community which supports him without antagonizing
the public at home who voted for him.
On the other hand,
foreign minister Samaraweera, though fully aware of the popular feelings of Sri
Lankans, has been speaking for international participation in the process to
improve the country’s credibility at home with minorities as well as with other
UN member countries. In an interview in the U.S., the foreign minister had said
that Sri Lanka was looking at all options including foreign judges, forensic
experts, investigators, prosecutors etc. He added that in the next five or six months
the “contours and architecture” of the court would be worked out after
consulting all parties including the Tamil National Alliance.
Whatever be the
process the government finally adopts, pro-Rajapaksa opposition would not miss
out the opportunity to channelize popular opposition and turn it to its
advantage. In view of these sensitivities, the Sirisena regime is likely to
take the final decision after damage control measures are in place. So the ambivalence
in government pronouncements is likely to continue till then.
Demand for a Muslim state
Basher Segu Dawood, chairman of
the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) has once again revived the party’s
original demand for the creation of a separate province for Muslims. The party
secretary general Hasan Ali said the demand would be included in their proposals
for constitutional reforms. However, many of the community leaders including
Aman, son of MHM Ashraff the founder of SLMC, have condemned Segu Dawood for
raising the “outdated” demand. Aman clarified that his father had originally demanded
the creation of a separate Muslim province in the early stages of SLMC’s creation
only in the context of granting the Tamil demands for a separate province.
Generally, the SLMC is
considered representing the liberal segment of Muslims. So it is not clear why
its chairman Dawood has raised the demand now. With the constitutional reform
process under way, he was probably vocalizing the concerns of sections of
Muslims on preserving their distinct cultural and religious identity, lest they
are missed out by the constitution makers. Dawood’s demand also probably
reflects his desire to consolidate his leadership position within the SLMC
which is ridden with factionalism. Perhaps this is the reason for the silence
of Rauf Hakeem, the senior leader of the party and minister in the Sirisena
cabinet, who has not commented on the issue so far.
The demand for a Muslim state
is unlikely to gain more support from the community; many members of the
community are happy that the present national unity government has put the anti-Muslim
Sinhala Buddhist fringe groups like the Bodu Bala Sena under pressure unlike
the Rajapaksa regime which had ignored their attacks on Muslims. But if Dawood
persists with the demand it would give a lease of life to the anti-Muslim
fringe elements struggling for political space since the dethroning of
Rajapaksa from power.
Rajapaksas in the dock
Non-payment
of ITN dues: According to the Colombo weekly Sunday Leader,
the Presidential Commission on Large Scale Fraud is to take legal action
against former president Rajapaksa and a few others for not paying the dues of
the state owned Independent Television Network for airing election propaganda
during the last presidential campaign. The Commission is said to have already
completed questioning several people including the former president in this
case.
Inquiry
into media excesses: In yet another case of investigating the excesses
committed during the Rajapaksa regime, president Sirisena is appointing a
Presidential Commission to probe into the attacks on several journalists and
media organizations including Sirisa TV and Lankaenews. Already the
investigations have been reopened in two other cases botched up earlier -
murder of Sunday Leader editor Lasantha Wickremetunga and the disappearance of
cartoonist Preeth Ekneligoda (now confirmed as murder). The investigations in
these cases have progressed and the judicial action is likely to commence
shortly.
Thajudeen
murder case: The Colombo additional magistrate has ordered
the arrest of six suspects including two sons of former president Rajapaksa - SLFP
parliament member Namal and naval officer Yoshitha and the personal chauffer of
the former president in connection with the murder of national rugby star Wasim
Thajudeen. Yoshitha is already in custody in the case of money laundering by
the Carlton Sports Network in which he was a director. Both the Rajapaksas have
denied their involvement in the two cases.
Written on February 29, 2016
[Col
R Hariharan, a retired MI officer, served as the head of intelligence of the
Indian Peace Keeping Force from 1987 to 90. E-mail: haridirect@gmail.com Blog: http://col.hariharan..info
