Reverberations of the Thoppigala Liberation - How it Silenced the International Interferers

There are wide ranging aftershocks of this historical victory. One reason why the East is more important for the LTTE than Wanni is that it frustrates potential attempts by the international community to intervene in SL with a forced solution. This needs further elaboration as it is one of the most strategic repercussions of the Thoppigala affair cunningly avoided by the UNP controlled media and the foreign media.

When the doomed CFA (Cease Fire Agreement) was singed in 2002, the two parties had to accept the ‘de facto’ ‘line of control’. Each party had to, thereafter, honour each others’ ‘line of control’. While the LTTE always tried to expand their terror network, the Sri Lankan government gave up the administration of justice. The starting point was therefore the most important thing and the LTTE rapidly expanded their eastern front from December 2001 to end February 2002 in time for the CFA. Even when the CFA was being singed, there were clashes in the Eastern waters between the terrorists and the Navy.

What would happen if a similar endeavour is made now? The LTTE will never accept the new ‘line of control’ which comprises only the land area from Omanthai to Muhamalai and not a square inch in the East. First thing they would do is to grab a chuck of the East before such a ‘ceasefire’ comes into being. That means the attempt would hit an impasse at the inception. On the other hand, if the LTTE is prevented from recapturing the East, they will not come for this new ‘ceasefire’. There is a third option. It would be to follow the same strategy as they did after the 2002 agreement; to wage a one-sided war. However, it is going to be almost impossible to do it without violating the ‘agreement’. There are no further options available to the LTTE. LTTE must accept the same fate as Jaffna for the East.

For these reasons, the international community would be very reluctant to interfere. The only way they can interfere is by reinforcing the ramshackled 2002 CFA agreement. Such an attempt would spark court cases that will annul the illegal CFA. The attempt of the international community to tighten the ‘peace’ screws on Sri Lanka has failed. Any new attempt would hurt the LTTE and not the GoSL as it is disadvantageous to them.

The results are silent, but clear and immediate.co-chairs went silent with their attempted engagement
appeals to the UN, etc. by various Elamists stopped abruptly the British attempt to interfere with the conflict stopped on the track Indian interest in interfering also stopped.

Silencing all interferers is a strategically important achievement of the Thoppigala liberation. No amount of money-wasting celebrations could match this feat.

It also frustrates UNP’s “Surrender for ‘Peace’” strategy. This is the real reason why the UNP tries to belittle the victory. If Ranil becomes the president and Mangala the PM, the second thing they do (first thing being celebrating their victory in each other’s company) is to come to another surrender agreement with the LTTE (or revive the 2002 agreement). Reviving the 2002 agreement means pulling back the forces from Thoppigala, etc. If people consider Thoppigala to be strategically important, reviving the 2002 CFA is going to be impossible. On the other hand, if a new agreement to be reached with the LTTE, still, the forces got to be pulled back from Thoppigala, etc. Either way it is a surrender. Therefore, the UNP does everything possible to paydown the real importance of the East and Thoppigala knowing very well that the tigers only need Thoppigala to roam the complete East.

What the government should do to frustrate these LTTE cum UNP aspirations?

1. Hold the Provincial Council election in the East ASAP
2. Retain the East by whatever means necessary
3. Catalyse economic growth and investment
4. Improve school attendance rates
5. Build coexistence with the Karuna-group ironing out any differences that may emerge peacefully, because the ‘restive East’ needs peace at least now; definitely not another war.
6. Bring in tough laws to protect reserves (including jungles) vesting it upon the government to protect these with severe punitive deterrents. If rainforests are unimportant by themselves, Ranil may handover the ‘Sinharaja’ forest to the LTTE!!

The strategic importance of the East is growing by the day. Real celebrations would begin when Thoppigala and the East becomes an obstacle to any future surrender endeavour. That is when the real aftershocks of our MBRL barrage, the sonic booms of SLAF jets and the sighs and laughter of our gallant soldiers would be felt loudest by the Elamists, separatists and their henchmen.

It is a sad saga for the UNP that Ranil surrenders to the LTTE which was defeated by Lalith. The need for Lalith in the UNP helm was never so desperate than today when we celebrate a strategic turning point in the 24 year-old conflict.

(http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items07/200707-1.html)