Greet Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka celebrates 50 years of its independence tomorrow. We wish the people of our south Asian neighbour all the happiness and prosperity. While sending our greetings to the government and people of Sri Lanka on this great occasion, we feel, concerned at the news of heightened militarism in the emerald island. The government forces have, reportedly, killed 300 LTTE men in what has been referred to as the first major confrontation between the Tamil separatists and the Lankan troops in the new year. We are afraid all this might just take the gilt off the gingerbread.
In a way this was on the cards though. Only weeks before LTTE, the secessionist Tamil group, engaged in a long drawn-out battle with the establishment for a separate Tamil homeland, found itself formally outlawed by the Lankan authorities. Few would contend that it has stung LTTE with a new sense of military reassertion.
We feel LTTE's campaign for a separate homeland cannot hold its own against Sri Lankan government's offer of devolution which is deemed to have fallen only inches short of absolute autonomy. Given the kind of recalcitrance and hostility with which Prabhakaran's men have reacted to every peace initiative so far it looks like the LTTE has little concern for the people whom it has come to use as its rationale for an armed struggle.
LTTE should realise soon that it can't go anywhere from here. None can gain from this war of attrition. We hope the golden jubilee of independence will inspire both sides to wake up from the nightmares of history and contribute to the economic reinvigoration of this beautiful island nation.
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