PUNITIVE WAR AND IMMUNITY FROM LAW

SL Defence Forces took a beating when the Tamil Tigers launched multiple counter-strikes a few days ago and lost between 50-100 soldiers. At least 100-200 have been injured during the same time. The particluar military contingent that was targetted had been on continuous deplyment over the past 2 years and fatigue may have played a role in it taking high casualties in this event.

The military seems to take it all in the stride, and everything appears to be business as usual. Follow on attacks by the SLDF killed at least 30 Tigers within the next 24 hrs and the relentless pressure is continued. However, it needs to understand and address the needs of its combat forces for rest and replenishment and address those needs as the intensity of operations continue to grow.

For a change the pro-LTTE media has something to crow about and the howling is on. The focus is on the numbers of SLA killed, which is only slightly higher than the LTTE's own killed, anywhere between 30-75 for the same period. Some people count the numbers, while conveniently ignoring the facts of where all the action is leading to.

For the average Sri Lankan there appears a light on the distant horizon, and a hope that our future generations would be able to live without fear, while for others the writing is on the wall; for their wet-dream of an ethnic pure landscape built upon murder of thousands of defenceless innocents is dying just as day-break kills all dreams.

In the meanwhile, petty criminality and the numbers of those who challenge the law with apparent impunity and recieving political immunity appear to stay unchanged, if not increasing daily. Though a notorious supporter of Merv the Perv stands accused of molesting an under-age girl the police appear to be either helpless or dis-interested in dealing with this issue. A social situation which is a nurturing ground for vigilanteism already exists and the day when wide-spread lawlessness breaks out agianst those who practise violence against the helpless, defenceless and the innocent is about to dawn.

A light on the horizon was the recent denial of bail for the buddhist monk who violated noise pollution laws and challenged a court order, by the higher courts of Sri Lanka. A politico-religious circus is likely be the outcome, which the courts should stoically refuse to budge to.