Dr. Pradeep Jeganathan

In an important statement, published in the Island today (18/05/09) "[a] collective of Tamil opinion leaders called The Group of Concerned Tamil Citizens of Sri Lanka (GCTCSL)" make several points about the what was, when the statement was written, the on going war, and its already apparent aftermath.

One central concern about civilians trapped by the LTTE is, I would think, no longer an issue, since thousands were assisted out, over the last few days, and hostilities have ended. Freedom of movement, in relation to the IDP camps, and conditions within them, continue to be real issues, and the statements comments on the matter are worthy of note:

The state has legitimate security concerns and it may wish to register and screen IDPs released from LTTE control with the view to identifying and pursuing action against any LTTE cadres among the civilians under due process of law.... The process should take a few days or weeks at most, not several months. As soon as the screening is over those against whom no evidence is available, presumably the over whelming majority of the IDPs, should be promptly released from detention. We are happy to note the assurance given by the state that over 80% of those released from LTTE custody will be able to go back to where they were displaced from by the end of year 2009.

Indeed. On this note, its also worth recording the that Chief Justice Sarath Silva, in what was, I think a private visit to one of the camps, was reported to have said that, "elderly women, pregnant women and children should be sent back as soon as possible from the camps," and said also that "there is no truth in the allegations that displaced people in welfare centres in Vavuniya, were being abused by the armed forces and that women were being raped."

While it is correct that the questions of the IDP camps draw immediate concern, of much more lasting import, is the political future of the Tamils of Sri Lanka. On this matter GCTCSL's statement is that, "A just and credible offer of a political package acceptable to the population of the North and East is urgently needed and central to the task of nation building." I am quite certain that this reflects much of Tamil opinion in the country, and I have little doubt that some thing of this nature will happen soon.

But I have a few questions to ask, and amendments to offer. Why should this 'package' be only acceptable to population of the North and East? There are Tamils and Muslims who live in other parts of the country, who might also want to included in these matters. But more, and making the first point, draws me to the second, I think what is needed is not a 'package' but space for a political process, where the people of North and East, and people elsewhere was well, can participate in, and work out, for themselves what their political futures should be. It is a mistake to assume that 'politics' comes ready made. Politics is a process, and that should be respected. And finally, it must be said, since the statement is silent on this, that such a political process is only possible, given the demise of the LTTE, since for decades Tamils, in particular, have not been able to be part of such a political process, because of its authoritarian brutality.