Terrorism Is Still A Security Threat Nationally And Globally

Although terrorism was defeated in the country in 2009, the threat still lurks as internal and external forces are still lobbying for a separate state and also still funding and fuelling separatist ideologies.

According to the latest edition of the Annual Threat Assessment of the Counter Terrorist Trends and Analysis report of the International Center for Political Violence and Terrorism Research; S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies of Nanyang Technological University, Rohan Gunaratna Head, ICPVTR and Professor of Security Studies points out that though Sri Lanka has not seen a terrorist attack since 2009, its progress towards reconciliation after the end of 26 years of civil war has been under intense scrutiny by the international community. He points out that the threat of international and national terrorism is projected to grow in 2014.

“Half the countries in the world suffer from political violence and ideological extremism, and terrorism will remain a tier-one national security threat to the stability of most countries in 2014,” he observed.Highlighting the threat still faced by Sri Lanka in spite of the war having ended he said that although Sri Lanka experienced no revival of terrorism since the Tamil Tigers were dismantled in May 2009, the terrorists are reorganizing themselves in Tamil Nadu.

The Tamil Diaspora has played a significant role through its financial and ideological support to the military struggle for a separate state. Although the May 2009 defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has dramatically reduced the Diaspora’s influence, the majority of Tamils outside Sri Lanka continue to support a separate state, and the Diaspora’s funding and influence still poses a huge threat to the sovereignty of the country. The people who have suffered as a result of the conflict are more concerned about rebuilding their lives under difficult circumstances rather than supporting the continuation of the struggle for an independent state

However as long as the separatist ideology remains, the threat to the country will certainly persist. The Tamil Diaspora in various countries is endorsing the call for a separate state and boycotting any internal solutions for reconciliation. They are lobbying for an international investigation into alleged war crimes by the Sri Lankan state. These parties however, refrain from criticizing the LTTE or holding it responsible for its crimes or its contribution to the shattered state of Sri Lankan Tamil society. It is important to note that many of these LTTE-linked groups claim that they no longer have any interest in terrorism. Most of them say they engage only in political activism and not violence. Almost all of them pretend to have a democratic face. But make no mistake – the Tiger has not changed its stripes. The modus operandi of the LTTE linked organisations remains as unchanged as their agenda. There is no doubt that these groups will continue trying to create an enabling environment internationally for a separate state, while also encouraging the resumption of an armed struggle within Sri Lanka.

To understand why the LTTE linked organisations remain so powerful, we need to understand the electoral politics of western nations. The stances that Governments adopt are a consequence of their internal politics. Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and many parts of Europe have very large immigrant Tamil populations. These populations form notable voting blocs within electoral constituencies in those countries. Although the number of radicalised elements within the overall Tamil population is small, they are politically very active. These radicalised elements and LTTE-linked groups use skilful propaganda to project their anti-Sri Lanka objectives as goals the entire Tamil population is interested in.

During a recent briefing in Geneva for diplomats on the progress in national reconciliation, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga speaking on the ‘Progress in the reconciliation process in Sri Lanka’, had said the Government of Sri Lanka had done all that was humanly possible to implement the National Plan of Action for the implementation of the LLRC recommendations, since its approval by the Cabinet of Ministers in July 2012. During the discussions most of the countries that attended the briefing commended the government for its commitment to and efforts in implementing the LLRC recommendations, some questioned aspects of the implementation and the speed at which it was taking place. Many expressed the view that the international community should provide assistance to Sri Lanka and continue a constructive dialogue with Sri Lanka in dealing with human rights issues. Commenting on its own tragic experiences and continuing hardships in fighting terrorism, a diplomat from one of the countries present, commented, “It is only the wearer who knows where the shoe pinches”.

Meanwhile Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha responding to queries on what measures were being taken to prevent terrorism recurring in the country, explained that while terrorism had been eradicated in Sri Lanka, many former LTTE cadres and sympathizers continued to be active, particularly in Western countries. He said that for these elements it was important to keep the pot boiling in Sri Lanka, as a means of staying relevant and justifying their continued existence in their more affluent host countries. He appealed to such countries to be very cautious of this fact, as it ran the danger of derailing reconciliation efforts in Sri Lanka.

The LTTE was a deadly threat, and even though its military arm was defeated, it is evident that efforts are being undertaken in the international arena by the LTTE-linked groups to keep the separatist cause alive. The regrouping and reorganizing of terrorists within Sri Lanka is still a threat to national security. It is only logical that the Government takes every precaution it can to guard against it. Maintaining a sizeable Army and establishing camps in strategic locations throughout Sri Lanka is essential. This is particularly true of the jungle areas in which the LTTE established camps, and through which it conducted its terrorist operations against our Security Forces.

One of the greatest strengths of the LTTE was its ability to smuggle weapons acquired through funds raised abroad into Sri Lanka via the coastal areas. The LTTE was the only terrorist organisation in the world to develop an offensive air capability. It acquired this strength through light aircrafts smuggled into Sri Lanka by sea. In addition, it also smuggled in surface-to-air missiles, surface-to-surface missiles, artillery guns, heavy and medium mortar, armoured vehicles and enormous amounts of ammunition and explosives by sea. In order to prevent such incidents recurring, it is critical that the security forces remain vigilant at all times and take the necessary precautions to safeguard the hard fought freedom from terrorism. “The conflict has been over for just about five years and although we have defeated terrorism we have not been able to completely eliminate the separatist sentiments that are being kept alive by several parties both locally and internationally,” Military Spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasuriya noted.

In fact since the end of the conflict and the defeat of terrorism, separatism has gained momentum with the emergence of the Global Tamil Forum, British Tamil Forum and the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam – Nediyavan and Vinayagam Factions et al.
They have got themselves established mainly due to the sympathetic tendencies of the Diaspora elements. They have used these sympathetic views of the Diaspora to whip up the separatist sentiments in the international scene.

Although there is a sense of security on the island from a military standpoint, the possibility of the reemergence of violence is not completely eliminated.

A large number of former LTTE cadres have evaded the rehabilitation process, and the Military estimates this figure to be in the thousands. These former cadres pose a considerable threat to society. Around 12,000 ex cadres have been rehabilitated; but there is still a possibility that they could be yet vulnerable to manipulation by those espousing separatist sentiments. Therefore it is imperative that a strong security presence continues to be maintained in order to ensure that there is no reemergence of violence in the country.

By Camelia Nathaniel