Rajiva Wijesinha

“ I have heard international apologists for the Tigers claiming there is some sort of difference between civilian victims of terrorism (some claiming that the Tigers do not deal in such, ignoring the recent massacres in the South, easily enough because their preferred media outlets never mention these) , and military forces that terror destroys. That is a facile distinction. It may be valid as to deaths in battle, but the forces destroyed in the spate of bombs soon after this government took office were taken unawares, the largest massacre being of troops in transit for leave. ”

“ Others want influence, and believe that destabilized countries will increase their own standing in the world. And others still cannot get over the belief that they know what is best for the world, that they can judge when they should suspend rules because their lives are in danger, but unsophisticated third world countries need guidance and control.
It is not their boys who are dying. It is not their civilians who are prevented from leaving the terror zone. ”

“ Teaching the cadets was a pleasure. Though they fell asleep in class more often than students should, they were committed to their work and disciplined and did their homework, and took readily to group work and projects. Of course some were better than others, but it was also heartening to find that in general those who did well in their academic work were also good at military subjects. ”

“ The horrific stories about arms deals, which go back to President Jayawardene’s time, may not all be true, but it is a triumph that they are scarcely heard now, and not credited at all amongst those who need the arms. ”

“ Similarly, once we made it clear that Military Studies would comprise the main part of the course, and the University would not interfere in those areas except to suggest more thorough methods of evaluation, the SLMA staff showed that they had a comparatively enlightened grasp of what university education should consist of in the modern world. ”

“ But what do they care? They need votes, and the diaspora that supports the LTTE is well organized, and makes no bones about saying that people might lose their seats if the voters they control change their minds. ”