It is fortunate for the peace process in Sri Lanka that the Tamil Tigers have defeated a breakaway group. Tamil negotiators face a newly elected government which promises to take a tougher line over the rebels honoring promises made in return for government concessions already granted. They could ill afford to have a charismatic figure such as Vinayagamoorthi Muralitharan, the real name of Col. Karuna, leading a breakaway faction. Karuna was once a leading strategist for the Tigers but became dissatisfied with his position within the rebel leadership and led his loyal fighters in revolt. But when the Tigers moved against the rebels, few of them were prepared to shed the blood of former comrades.
Some in Colombo may be disappointed that the divisions within the Tamil military leadership have been brought to an end. It certainly seems that some of the hard-line military were actively supporting Karuna’s revolt. Substance was added to this suspicion when a high-ranking Sri Lankan army officer had said that Karuna would be given protection by government forces if he sought it.
If this was in any way an attempt by President Chandrika Kumaratunga and her newly victorious People’s Alliance to divide and rule the rebel Tamils, it was ill-considered. What is needed is stability to restore the momentum of the peace process. The interim self-governing authority demanded by the Tamils effectively exists. Nevertheless Tamil negotiators have claimed that the 1972 and 1978 constitutions discriminated against their community and by inference that a new constitution could rectify this. This strongly suggests that there is still a middle ground upon which an autonomous Tamil territory in a single Sri Lanka could be built.
The continued maneuverings of both parties take place in front of two communities exhausted by years of murderous conflict. One of the great wrongs has been the Tamils’ use of child soldiers. The main rebel leadership has claimed to be discharging all these young fighters, but UN officials say there are still child soldiers in its ranks. What was certain however was that Karuna, despite denials to journalists, had many such youngsters in uniform. One excellent outcome of the rout of Karuna’s faction is that the main rebel leadership discovered and discharged around 100 of the boys.
The Tamils appear to have healed the rift within their own ranks. Now it is up to the new People’s Alliance Sri Lankan government to ensure that it can produce a united and coherent negotiating position. The challenge is that the coalition includes the nationalist JVP (People’s Liberation Front) which is prepared only to cede devolution to the Tamils, ruling out independence, now or ever. The Tamils would be wise to compromise, if only to maintain the peace which all Sri Lankans so need.
