Rice, war and India’s Sri Lankan Policy

All of them are in the boiling pot. They are going to affect every Sri Lankan.

Rice scarcity is the immediate problem. No government in the world has succeeded in containing prices of staple food commodities, by imposing maximum prices, without leaving a distribution system in place. The Srimavo Bandaranaike government of 1970s, had the backing of the cooperative system, which handled distribution.

Yet, there was hoarding and scarcity. I joined the bread queue at 5.00 am, to buy two loaves. There was black market there too. Some stood in the queue to buy and sell at a profit. The bakers also, sold through fixing maximum price for rice, without an adequate distribution mechanism will encourage hoarding. Scarcity and black market. Those who have money are buying up the available stocks. The poor, who buy their needs daily, will suffer.

All I can do is to quote President Mahinda Rajapakasa’s comment, at last Wednesday’s cabinet briefing. Even if the people keep silent now, they will start to rebel against the government, when they feel the hunger and when their stomachs are affected.

Remind the government, of the 1977 election results. The people rebelled and gave J.R. Jayewardena government, a five – sixth majority.

The war is also going to affect the people severely. The Muhamalai disaster tells us that, the war will prolong and it will be very costly, in human and material terms.

Like you and me, Tigers too knew that, the Army was preparing for a major offensive to break out of Muhamalai. They dug huge trenches in front of their Forward Defense Line, to prevent the movement of tanks and heavy armour. That compelled the army, to send the infantry in front, with the order, to capture the first line of the LTTE bunkers. The LTTE expected that and mined them.

The soldiers advanced to the bunkers on Wednesday morning, and the Tigers showered the area, with artillery and mortar shells. The soldiers jumped into the bunkers for safety and were killed or maimed by mines.

Drawing in the soldiers and attacking them, is the well – known strategy of the Tigers. That is why, they are sticking to defensive battle. As a rule, attackers lose more men and material. That is going to be the greatest problem for the government. Making bold statements like “there won’t be an LTTE next year”, is one thing and making it a reality, is another.

LTTE’s political chief, P. Nadesan told media last week that, they were getting ready to switch, from defensive to offensive mode soon. He also hinted about, the launching of the “soil recovery war”.

He said that, Tamil soil would be recovered in stages.

Does the bombing mission by the two LTTE aircrafts on Saturday morning have any significance in this context?

Significant developments are taking place on the other side of the Palks’ Strait. Look at these two quotes, given by Nalini’s lawyer, S. Duraisamy.

• What happened to my father should not happen to any member of my family.

• If the LTTE has any anger or hatred against my family, it should be buried.

Please place these Priyanka’s statements, along with the news that, three of the convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi murder, including Nalini’s husband Murugan, a devoted LTTEer have written to Priyanka, thanking her, for visiting Nalini.

Do these developments mean that, Priyanka has ensured the safety of her brother Rahul Gandhi, who is emerging as Congress Party’s prime ministerial Candidate?

Priyanka had, on behalf of her brother made peace with the LTTE.

In this context, please look at the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly’s resolution, moved by chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, and passed unanimously on Wednesday. The resolution reads “in order to bring peace in Sri Lanka, India should arrange talks between two parties fighting there. The Central government must come forward, to arrange useful talk, that would bring about a political solution.

Speking on the resolution, Karunanidhi made the following points.

1. Tamil youth took up arms only after the Sri Lankan state failed to respond, to the Gandhian agitation of S. J. V. Chelvanayakam.

2. If the Tamil militant group was not involved in battle among themselves, they would have achieved their goal. He said “if they had fought as one group, they would have achieved their goal, as they did in Nepal. They would have achieved freedom like many other countries.

3. They are weak because, they fought among themselves. Yet, like the mother who helps her sons, considering the intimate relationship she has with them, we like to plead on their behalf.

With his resolution and speech, Karunanidhi had reemerged as the leader of world Tamils. He has won praise from the Tamils worldwide.

The pro LTTE agitators in Tamil Nadu are pushing Karunanidhi, to take the next step.

Please remember that, India is going for polls next year and Rahul is contesting for the Prime Minister post. Karunanidhi had signified his backing for Rahul.