Sanctioned by religion, killings go on by Kumbakarna

In 1997 Sri Lanka had established a world record as being the country with the highest number of suicides in the world, with 47 per 100,000 persons. The total for the year was approximately 9000. While the figure came down to 4000 in 1998, the total number of people who had taken their own lives numbered one lakh since 1983. 90 percent of these were Sinhala Buddhists. But Sri Lanka does not seem to be too bothered by these deaths. Instead she is showing the greatest concern about the suicides of 147 Black Tigers.

Why is it that the government ignores the suicides of a lakh of people but is ready to even change the Constitution because of the suicide of 147 Black Tigers.

Could it be because the 147 are Tamils and the others are Sinhalese? Or is it because when they kill themselves they also kill eminent persons. The answer could be both reasons.

The Tigers have admitted that 14,000 of their cadres have been killed during the past 16 years. About 9000 have died after 1995 and among them are the 147 Black Tigers. Anton Balasingham once said that while the Tamils have thousands of youth willing to sacrifice their lives for Eelam, the Sinhalese had only one soldier -Gamini Gunaratne of Hasalaka. But the fact is that while there is no publicity and the government even tends to deliberately suppress the information, there is no dearth of Sinhala soldiers who are willing to lay down their lives for the country. Unofficial reports state that hundreds of them sacrificed their lives at Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi etc.

Unfortunately the Sinhala community which can repeat by rote the names of the Black Tigers including Captain Miller, has no such information on their soldiers. Instead they build statues and memorials and hold commemorations for soldiers- dead and missing in action.

The LTTE always uses the example of the Black Tigers as the personification of strong character, discipline and dedication because of their readiness to swallow the cyanide capsule, any time.

Many international commentators repeat the mantra that after the Vietcong of Vietnam, the Tigers are leading the world in sacrificing their lives. On the other hand the Sri Lankan security services are depicted as frightened mice who desert their posts, in order to show their low morale.

It is generally estimated that there are about 22,000 deserters from the forces. Some of them do return to the army but are moralised soldiers. However, when you look at the total numbers in the armed services which stands at about 247,000 the deserters amount to around 10 percent, in the last two decades.

More important is the fact that the soldier does not have a special place in the hearts of the larger segment of the Sinhala community whose life is one big carnival. It merely sees the soldier as another customer for its goods.

South of Vavuniya the soldier encounters a coterie ready to pick his pockets and a pack of self-interested power hungry politicians. In such a scenario it is a miracle that only 10 percent have deserted the armed forces.

Even in the LTTE where hosannas are sung about their heroism, deserters are plentiful. We don't hear about those who abandon the cyanide culture. But between 1993 and December 1998, 788 Tiger cadres surrendered to the Army. This year the figure was 276, making a total of 1064.

At present it is reported that the strength of the LTTE is around 5000 and for any combined operation they can muster some 3500 cadres. This itself is a miracle. Many commentators say if operation Riviresa had been followed immediately by Jaya Sikurui there was a possibility that in the Wanni at least 50 percent of the cadres would have deserted the LTTE. This was proved during the IPKF operation in the Wanni in 1988.

The cyanide culture, and the dedication of the Tigers is another myth invented to enhance the image of the Tigers.

But in the last five years there has been some impact of Hindu fundamentalism on the LTTE. Groups such as the RSS (Rashtiya Swayan Sevake) the International Hindu Front, the Shivsena have begun learning from the LTTE and vice versa. Even though the LTTE has been described as a Christian missionary army, the impact of Hindu fundamentalism is considerable.

While Prabhakaran says the LTTE is aligned with the Hindu vision, the US Secretary of State once said that the LTTE is a Hindu fundamentalist organisation. (She retracted this later, but US officials hold the view that Hindu fundamentalism influences the LTTE).

According to a dialogue between Krishna (Vishnu) and Arjuna, the taking of one's life and that of another is endorsed by religious belief. Under the Hindu concept of an unchanging soul transmigrating from life to life, death does not end life, and life does not end with death. Krishna tells Arjuna there is no sin in taking one's own life. The appearance may change, but the unchanging soul will not. So suicide and killing of others is justified by religion. Sections of the Defence authorities who are falling over each other to build Hindu kovils would do well to realise the newest spiritual sustenance of the Tiger killers is the Hindu Atman concept. With great foresight the LTTE is publicising a video which shows the Black Tigers performing Vishnu Pujas before their departure to kill their targets and themselves. The Christian missionaries supporting the LTTE and propagating their religion will soon meet the reincarnation of Vishnu, in the Wanni and the East.

(Sunday Times, 15th August 1999)