Evidence of meeting #12 for Foreign Affairs and International Development in the 40th Parliament, 2nd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was lanka.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
Actually, we're out of time. I want to mention that we are not going to go to committee business today. My intention for Wednesday, when we have only two witnesses coming in, is that we may extend past the one hour and have at least a half hour for committee business. We want to look at our Washington trip. That's my intent.
We'll get back to you, Ms. Brown.
Mr. Dewar.
NDP
Paul Dewar NDP Ottawa Centre, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you to our guests.
I wanted to know from either of you, and maybe both of you have an opinion on this, how you would describe the operation the government is engaged in right now. What kind of operation is it?
President, Sri Lanka United National Association of Canada
It is to eliminate the Tamil Tiger fighters. But they're not going into the no-fire zone. They've been battling them in the remaining sliver that the Tigers are holding. Also, they've been trying to dig up all the hidden weapons, because if some of these Tamil Tigers manage to get into the jungle, this would prevent them from again causing trouble in the country.
They have been consolidating the area that they regained and they have been making a search. Just yesterday, they found something like 1,400 guns and a large stock of explosives. They're trying to remove these weapons of war to prevent a similar situation from arising.
Of course, I have heard that they have agreed to a humanitarian pause. Even if you have a ceasefire, the Tigers are not going to release the civilians; it's not possible to bring them to safety. They have not been attacking the Tigers, although the Tigers continue to attack the forces from within the safe zone, as they have their heavy guns and their bunkers right in the midst of the safe zone.
Member, Sri Lanka United National Association of Canada
If the government wanted to clean up the Tamil Tigers, they could have done that two weeks ago. They are going very slowly because of the trapped civilians. According to the government, they have a zero tolerance for harming the civilians who are trapped. That's the reason.
NDP
Paul Dewar NDP Ottawa Centre, ON
What both of you have described is what I would call a military operation. Would you agree that this is in effect what is happening?
Member, Sri Lanka United National Association of Canada
Exactly. I think—
NDP
Paul Dewar NDP Ottawa Centre, ON
The reason I ask is that I found it very peculiar that the prime minister described this as a humanitarian operation. I'm sorry, but from my vantage point there's a large difference between what you describe—you're using the military to basically eliminate an enemy, and fair enough, that's your choice. But from my vantage point it is not a humanitarian operation.
Would you agree that the prime minister's comment that this is a humanitarian operation is a bit much?
Member, Sri Lanka United National Association of Canada
As far as I'm concerned, it is a humanitarian operation, because they are trying to liberate the people who have been caught under the Tamil Tigers. That is a liberation of the people. If you liberate the people, that is a humanitarian cause, and—
NDP
Paul Dewar NDP Ottawa Centre, ON
We might disagree on that. I think the prime minister's comments aren't helpful for the support of the international community, when you're using your military to—let's be honest here—wipe out your adversary. I just don't see calling that a humanitarian operation. What you both described to me, when I asked you what you thought it was—and you agreed—is that it's a military operation. I think that does a disservice for understanding what actually is happening and isn't helpful at all.
Member, Sri Lanka United National Association of Canada
To the degree that I understand it, they are trying to liberate the people who are being held back by the Tamil Tigers.
NDP
Paul Dewar NDP Ottawa Centre, ON
Well, whatever. I find that interesting. I don't think it's helpful to have it described as a humanitarian operation. It's the barrel of a gun.
President, Sri Lanka United National Association of Canada
I'd like to add a word. This terrorist problem has been going on for nearly 30 years. The people in the south are not sure, when they go to work, whether they will return home--
NDP
Paul Dewar NDP Ottawa Centre, ON
I don't want to get into that. I was simply wanting to know your point of view.
I'll finish by saying that I understand your point of view, and you were very clear in your comments. I just wanted to state it, because from what you're saying, you believe the government is on the right path. I just don't think that many of us would maybe have the same point of view.
It doesn't help your cause much, though, when you suggest that NGOs are somehow involved in a conspiracy to deliver weapons or convert people. I just have to say that for the record, and I thank you for your presentation today.
Conservative
Lois Brown Conservative Newmarket—Aurora, ON
Thank you.
Mr. Weerasinghe, in your statement you say that only now, after 26 years, are some countries, including Canada, taking an interest in this terrorist war. Yet we have heard from other presenters that there has been considerable intervention in the past, including a peace negotiation presented by Norway. What were the successes of that Norway peace negotiation, which lasted six years? There was a period of time where there was relative—and I'm using this word cautiously—peace in Sri Lanka. Why did peace negotiations break down? I'm looking for some nugget in that peace negotiation that could be built on in the future. There must have been something that was part of its success.
Member, Sri Lanka United National Association of Canada
With respect to the Norwegian peace accord, it was unfortunate that the Tamil Tigers, according to the Scandinavian peace monitors, had by July 2006 violated it 7,306 times. That says what happened. During that time, they brought in 11 shiploads of weapons to this province, and the Scandinavian monitors couldn't do anything about it. The 12th one was let go because the Scandinavian head of the peace monitors tipped the captain of the ship and they got away. The fighting going on now is with all the weapons that were brought in.
Conservative
Lois Brown Conservative Newmarket—Aurora, ON
You're talking about the breakdown. But in the peace negotiation, what was it that both sides agreed to? There must have been something that attracted both sides to the table.
President, Sri Lanka United National Association of Canada
There was a move by the LTTE. After the war and the terrorism, several countries started banning the LTTE. Their sources of funding were blocked. They offered to come to a ceasefire, and they said that they were willing to settle for something short of separation. At the talks, they only bought time to rebuild their forces. They were not interested in any settlement short of separation. The monitoring mission only recorded the number of violations. They had no way of preventing it. They were just keeping score—this side has killed so many military or so many civilians. They just kept records, but that was not effective in preventing violations.
Conservative
Lois Brown Conservative Newmarket—Aurora, ON
You don't believe that peace was negotiated in good faith?
President, Sri Lanka United National Association of Canada
Right. The government thought there was an opportunity to reach a negotiated settlement, but the LTTE was laughing all the time. They never intended to reach any settlement. They were still seeking their separate state, for which they were bringing in weapons, buying time, and delaying.
Conservative
Lois Brown Conservative Newmarket—Aurora, ON
Yet it lasted for six years, so I have to assume that there must have been something that both sides could hold on to. I'd like to explore that further, but I know Mr. Abbott has a question.
Conservative
Jim Abbott Conservative Kootenay—Columbia, BC
At the end of the testimony of the former witnesses, they were talking about caste. I'm wondering if we on this committee, and in Canada, have enough exposure to this issue to understand it. What part does the social structure, and specifically caste, have in the actual conflict? Obviously, it is an immensely complex conflict. It's so complex I can't even start to get my mind around it. What part does the foundation of the society and caste play in this conflict?
Member, Sri Lanka United National Association of Canada
It's a very complex situation, actually, unless you understand the culture of the Tamil community. The word Eelam Tamil is a genus, but the species is.... There are Jaffna Tamils and Batticaloa Tamils, and even to speak in terms of merging the two provinces is not going to help, because the Jaffna Tamils believe they are superior to the eastern Tamils. The eastern Tamils will never accept their authority. That is one of the reasons why Karuna, who is from the eastern province, from eastern Tamil, pulled out.
In terms of a merger, it's not going to work out. It's only going to create more problems. As Professor Matthews said, caste is a hidden problem. People don't realize this. That factor has to come into the equation if people outside want to be involved. You have to understand all of those social aspects.