‘How could Amb. Blake forget TNA’s war-time partnership with LTTE’

Did the TNA ever condemn a single LTTE atrocity?" 

By Shamindra Ferdinando 

Sri Lanka’s war-time External Affairs Minister, Rohitha Bogollagama yesterday said US Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asia, Robert Blake, in spite of being based in Colombo during the war had failed to appreciate rapid development made in the wake of the government’s triumph over terrorism.

Unlike US Under Secretary for Civilian Security for Democracy and Human Rights, Maria Otera, Ambassador Blake had been one of those fully aware of what was going on in Sri Lanka since 2003, Bogollagama said.

"Ambassador Blake knew how we bent backwards to appease the LTTE in spite of grave provocations, including the assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar and attempts on the lives of Defence Secretary, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and Army Commander, Gen. Sarath Fonseka."

Bogollagama was responding to Monday’s threat by Blake and Otera that unless Sri Lanka implemented a credible solution for accountability issues, the US would be compelled to go for an international mechanism for that purpose.

In a brief interview with The Island, Bogollagama said that Ambassador Blake had served the US mission in New Delhi as its Deputy (2003 to 2006) before taking over the mission in Colombo in early Sept. 2006 in the aftermath of the LTTE launching an all-out multi-pronged offensive targeting the SLN base at Trincomalee and the northern frontline extending from Kilali to Nargarkovil on the Vadamaratchchy east coast.  

In fact, Ambassador Blake had conveniently overlooked the LTTE’s partnership with the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) during the war, the former MP said. Had Ambassador Blake bothered to peruse diplomatic cables originating from the US mission in Colombo during 2003-2009, he would know the TNA role, the former minister said.  The TNA had never publicly condemned the LTTE, which the party proudly categorized as the sole representatives of the Tamil speaking people, using children as cannon fodder, he said. But today, the TNA had been allowed to pursue an international war crimes inquiry at the expense of a government, which restored peace through defeating terrorism, he said.

Bogollagama recalled how those wanting to haul Sri Lanka up before an international inquiry now, had remained silent when the LTTE fired mortars targeting a group of diplomats in late Feb. 2007. "What really surprised me is that Ambassador Blake had been among the diplomats targeted on that day. Did the TNA at least issue a statement condemning the attack? Did the TNA ever condemn a single LTTE atrocity?" 

Bogollagama said that it would be interesting to know whether US Under Secretary for Civilian Security for Democracy and Human Rights, Otera had inquired into the circumstances, in which the LTTE held about 300,000 people hostage and how the TNA reacted to the catastrophic situation. "Those human rights champions weren’t interested at all about the civilians. They felt civilian hostages can impede military operations to such an extent that the government will give into efforts to evacuate Prabhakaran, his family and top commanders, including Pottu Amman."

Had the LTTE leadership survived with the help of those pursuing an international inquiry targeting Sri Lanka, the TNA wouldn’t have had the clout it enjoyed today, Bogollagama said. Instead of thanking the government for giving it a fresh opportunity to serve the Tamil speaking people not only in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, but in the South as well, the TNA was making a despicable attempt to undermine the very government, which facilitated its return to national politics by eradicating terrorism. 

Responding to a query, Bogollagama said that the LTTE leadership would never have allowed the TNA to throw its weight behind Gen. Sarath Fonseka at the last presidential polls had it been evacuated to another country at the conclusion of ground fighting. The TNA joined the UNP and the JVP to field Gen. Fonseka against incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Jan. 2009 polls. Unfortunately, the likes of Ambassador Blake, despite being conversant with the situation here and involved with the crisis for almost a decade, continued to express views injurious to US-Sri Lanka relations. 

(The Island)