Rajiva Wijesinha

“ Meanwhile the method in which the hostages were freed also shows that the arguments of the Tigers and their voluntary and involuntary supporters were all wrong. Weeks of pleas and then the pauses led only to greater Tiger intransigence. Contrariwise, carefully targeted operations that spared civilians and involved only minimal collateral damage succeeded. Unquestionably, any collateral damage is regretted, but as numerous hostage situations over the world have shown, quick action is necessary, and a few risks, if large numbers are not to suffer death. ”

“ Nothing will change, except that the UN at last, helped by genuine experts on such situations as the Special Representative on the Human Rights of the displaced, seems to be trying to move forward instead of allowing itself to be tied up in the bonds of Tigers and their apologists. ”

“ That restraint paid off handsomely yesterday in the rapid flight of the civilians whose rescue had been the main motivation behind government policy over the last few weeks. However it is unlikely that this will be followed by pleas from those who have been arguing the Tiger case to allow the rest to follow. Far from looking at the evidence and concluding that the Tigers should be told firmly to close up shop and give relief to the suffering Tamils they still hold, we will find more contortions to claim that the humanitarian option is to allow terror to continue. ”