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Politics By Other Means

By Chandi Sinnathurai

07 February, 2009
Countercurrents.org

The politics of the world does not revolve around an altruistic axis. The world powers talk about humanitarian interventions not without selfish intentions. Politics as we know, is about multiple discourses.

When we talk about the plight of the civilian Eelam Tamils we begin to catch glimpses pathetic human beings through the fog of war. The world powers, sadly have kept their silence for better part of the long-drawn Sri Lankan conflict -- only to issue, at times, some token public statements. On the whole, the international community have supported overtly for a political solution to this conflict. But covertly, they have given their nod to a military solution. And of course, they have supplied arms and intelligence.

Clausewitz was right when he said, 'war is a continuation of politics by other means.' Hence the rationale of finding solution for conflict in both - through political and military means. One encompasses the other.

This does not mean to say that this is a moral position. Unfortunately, when it comes to international relations and geo-politics it all becomes an amoral game. That might be the only way to appease the disturbed conscience.

The Sri Lankan regime's intention is to marginalise and terrorise the Tamils even further. The indiscriminate killings of civilians in the process comes under the cloak of war against the Tamil Tigers. Such a discourse falls into a circuitous questioning. Who are the Tigers? They are Tamils. Who are the Tamils? They are Tigers. Go any where in the world, and when you say that you are a Tamil, they would jokingly ask, are you a Tiger? So, the inevitable question to the Sinhala state is: who are you trying to eliminate? Wouldn't such a rapid elimination tantamount to genocide?

The world governments however, are adamant not to condemn the atrocious actions of the Sri Lankan state.

President Rajapaksha is trying to achieve one fundamental aim through this war. And that is to "Disarm" the Tamil Tigers.

But this disarming is two-pronged:

1) To make the Tigers militarily impotent.

2) To render the Tigers politically disabled.

Political power, no doubt, is derived from the people. Rajapaksha is trying to bomb, kill and scare the Tamil civilians in order for them to turn against the Tigers and to run to the Government side. Without the support of the people the survival of a guerrilla movement becomes extremely vulnerable.

The question however is: How can the Tamil civilians trust the Government that is bent on liquidating them?

The tragedy of humanitarian catastrophe continues. None can see any signs of sustainable peace in Sri Lanka.

Most unfortunate.

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