ICSLS 2005
Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://repository.kln.ac.lk/handle/123456789/10254
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Item Negotiating Peace in Sri Lanka: Dynamics and Implications(University of Kelaniya, 2005) Singh, K.Peace in any society is primarily a contractual peace, which becomes durable with the social capital formation. The diminishing social capital generates the unrest and, thus negotiations for peace starts for revitalizing the process of social capital formation. The negotiation may take place, if the negotiating parties perceive the cost-effectiveness of the negotiating process in their favour. However, unanticipated consequences occur in the course of time before the final negotiation is reached. The parties, which are outside the negotiating process, get involved when they perceive the implications and consequences of the final outcome affect their interest and, thus they may get involved as the negotiating process advances. Negotiations for durable peace in the island-society have been initiated four times during the last two decades of unrest and ethnic conflict. Several rounds of peace talks took place every time but the efforts for negotiation could not succeed due to skepticism and suspicions which gripped the negotiating parties as well as the parties/groups which are not directly committed to negotiating the peace. The latest peace process was started with the active role of the Norwegian facilitators and changing political dispensation in the last parliamentary elections in 2001. There is a Sri Lankan think tank, which perceives Norwegian facilitation as a colonial intrusion, government’s policy as appeasement before the LTTE’s extremism. Such parties though peripheral but become an actor outside the formal process and affect or sometimes determine the whole process. Parties committed are the LTTE,the Government of Sri Lanka and the Norwegian facilitators. The parties involved are the political parties not directly committed to the peace process, non-LTTE Tamil groups, Sinhalese groups, countries like India, international donors of financial support to Sri Lanka, underworld and military establishment and so on. All such parties generate and strengthen the skepticism and suspicion, which contribute to form a public opinion against credibility of the peace process and thereby jeopardizing the whole peace process. The cumulative effect of all is that the recent hold on of the peace process. The assertions of the constitutional authority of the President, political power of the Prime Minister and, presentation of the counter-proposal by the LTTE, have aggravated the whole peace process. The parties committed for negotiating the peace are on tactical withdrawal. The efforts are on for reconciliation at various levels to resume the peace process but the situation is really complex and the final negotiation seems a distant goal.Item Suicide Terrorism and Its Impact – Sri Lankan Perspective(University of Kelaniya, 2005) Sally, T.S.This paper takes the form of a research paper that traces the origin, ideology and development of this black tiger phenomenon, analysing the successful suicide attracts and their impact on the political and economic stability of Sri Lanka and also examines the potential threat and effective counter strategy. The liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), with the most effective suicide capability in South Asia is indisputably the most efficient and brutal terrorist organization ever to utilities suicide terrorise other than the lose of political and military leaders, the country’s national leaders , the country’s national political, economic and cultural infrastructure has been damaged by suicide attack. The political contest of each suicide operation reveals how the LTTE has managed to survive and advance its aims. In this contest, this paper analysis and examine: Firstly, the origin, ideology and development of the Black Tiger phenomenon; Secondly , the key elements behind the success of the suicide attack; Thirdly, selection of target and the modus operandi of black tiger land and sea tiger cadres; Fourthly, the successful suicide attacks and their impact, psychological , political, economic and military ; and finally, the potential thread and an examination of an effective counter strategy to break the cycle of violence and evolve possible solutions to suicide terrorism . This paper also makes an attempt to examine weather the impact of suicide terrorism today is the same as it was prior to 9/11, given that international opinion on terrorism has now changed, and is no longer one where terrorist had free sanctuary to conduct their operations on the basis that they were, as they had portrayed themselves, freedom fighters and saviours of religion. However, whether the action taken by international community so far to curb international terrorism, particularly suicide terrorism is sufficient, is open to questions.Item The LTTE Air Asset(University of Kelaniya, 2005) de Silva, G.Y.U.The LTTE's Acquisition of Air Assets means that it has acquired Strategic Depth and capabilities that would not only bolster its Military, that mainly comprises guerrilla fighters, but also bring VPs, Air Assets and High Security Zones of Sri Lanka and India within its target range. The constituents and dimensions of this Air Threat are: a) airstrip of about 1250 meters in Iranamadu allowing light to medium size aircraft to operate with a payload of 1.5 to 2 tons. (A fuel load adjustment could provide for a payload enhancement, however the range will be reduced and vice versa). b) The airfield has been provided with surveillance and self-protection means - radar, other electronic means and the support facilities to enable safe operations. The hard kill options are expected to be the Close Range Anti Aircraft weapons and Surface to Air Missiles and c) The type of aircraft in possession of the LTTE is the Czech Aircraft ZLIN Z-143. The biggest aircraft in the 143L range can carry four passengers with a payload of about 500kgs. The ZLIN Z-143 can be used for training, cross-country flying, reconnaissance, communication duties and limited air offensive missions. Purchasing and shipping an aircraft requires adherence to end user licenses and other stringent regulations. Yet the LTTE has been able to buy their air inventory despite being branded a terrorist organization. Any aircraft is required internationally to be registered (even applicable to the Military), have identification marks/symbols and tail number, and to be flown as per both International Civil Aviation Organization Regulations and the relevant laws of the land. The aircrews and the maintainers need clearance from a competent authority. The skies over Sri Lanka are under the sovereign control of the Government of Sri Lanka, aircraft flying in the Sri Lankan airspace should have express authorization of the SL Government. International airspace is controlled by International Agreements. Flying by an unrecognized group like the LTTE, is therefore a gross violation of both Sri Lankan and International Law. The need of the hour is to nip the bud otherwise it would be just a matter of time before the LTTE scouts for more potent air platforms and weapon systems. The Sri Lankan authorities should at the minimum trace the documentation trail - the commercial transaction, details of importer, import license and where it was obtained, contractual agreements etc.