The Hindu : Trade, the dividing factor here

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 19, 2002

Opinion

Opinion - News Analysis

Trade, the dividing factor here

By V.S. Sambandan

BATTICALOA JULY 18. The story of Sri Lanka's east is of how a volatile mixture of demography, politics and economics has made armed militancy dictate the island's conflict resolution process.

If people and territories are factors that prop up conflicts, politics and economics have the potential to either defuse secessionist tendencies or fan them. These attributes, which are always at play across Sri Lanka, are now amplified in the east by the political presence of the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

The ethnic mix of the east makes it a powder keg that requires sensitive handling. In 1981, when an all-island census was last conducted, Trincomalee had 34.3 per cent Tamils, followed by Sinhalese (33.4) and Muslims (29.3). In Batticaloa, to the south of Trincomalee, the Tamils were 70.8 per cent, followed by Muslims (23.9) and Sinhalese (3.4). Further down, in Ampara, Muslims were 41.4 per cent, followed by Sinhalese (37.8) and Tamils (20).

Animosity has prevailed between generations of Tamils and Muslims. Apart from the mutual distrust, economic stakes such as trading, fishing and farming are involved as well. While more Muslims are involved in trading, as is the pattern across the island, significant numbers from the Muslim and Tamil communities are involved in fishing and farming, often leading to economic conflicts. Kommathurai, a hamlet about 5 km from this eastern town, saw the LTTE open its latest village-level political office earlier this week.

The appurtenances of political activity were present for all to see: festoons in red and yellow (the colours of the Tigers), songs lauding the movement and a decorated office.

Some residents, including school children, had gathered to watch the event.

Taking a few minutes off from organising the function, Jaya, political co-ordinator for the area, said, "Till now as there was a battle raging, we could not come to the villages. We are here now. Unlike political parties, we are not going to make public speeches and give promises that we cannot keep. We are going to interact directly with the people and focus on areas that have been neglected for a long time, such as education and culture." The sensitive issue of Tamil-Muslim relationship depended on the top leadership. "Our leaders and the Muslim leaders talk to each other regularly," he said.

This seemingly simple approach gets complicated when parliamentary politics is brought into play. One political reading behind the eastern troubles is that the Tigers would stand to gain if the SLMC's support to the Government is replaced by that of the TNA, which won the last elections on a pro-LTTE platform. According to a political leader, "It is still unclear if the Tigers were directly involved in the disturbances. But one thing is sure, if the LTTE wanted they could have stopped it."

It is such indirect, but powerful influence wielded by the Tigers in the east that will determine the path to conflict resolution. As political scientist, Jayadeva Uyangoda, puts it, the east is "too sensitive an area for anyone to make a direct intervention".

The manner in which the eastern troubles broke out and were brought under control is a clear indication that the LTTE's writ runs across this sensitive region. It is also a precursor to the volatile political terrain that awaits the Tigers in the east.

(Concluded)

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