Daily News Editorial

The prisoner release

Thursday 12th November 2015

The first batch of Tamil prisoners held under the PTA were expected to be released yesterday. The prisoners commenced a hunger strike demanding their release on October 12. They subsequently called off the hunger strike following assurances by the authorities that their grievances will be looked into, but resumed it again a couple of days ago unhappy with the response.

There are nearly 200 prisoners under detention and the AG had given the Green Light for their phased out release. It should be noted that these prisoners had been held for long periods. Among them are those who had been already convicted, those still awaiting trial and those whose cases have only been partially heard. Some of the detainees have had their hearings drag on for long periods due to the huge backlog of cases. The UNHRC had recommended that those detained under the PTA either be tried or released. There are also reports of a Presidential Amnesty being contemplated for the prisoners in an effort to promote peace, harmony and national reconciliation among the communities.

True, there may be hardcore LTTEers among these prisoners, who had engaged in bombings and other destructive activities. But one has to view this whole issue in a context where hundreds of hardcore LTTEers surrendered to the military at the end of the war and these men and women have now been rehabilitated and integrated into society. Hence, it could be argued that the demand of the prisoners that they be released is reasonable. Besides, some of them had been in detention for close to 15-20 years and one could argue that their pleas should be considered in this light.

Those favouring a release would contend that since the war is over it is better to close that unfortunate chapter and start on a clean slate. One must not forget that a similar reprieve was granted to the JVP members involved in the movement's first uprising in 1971. These youth too engaged in killings - their victims, both civilians, members of the police and the armed forces. The Sirima Bandaranaike Government, while proceeding with liquidating the insurgents, also called for their surrender which was responded to, with large numbers giving themselves up to the security forces as the did LTTE fighters at the tail end of the Eelam war.

True, the first JVP uprising cannot be equated by any stretch of the imagination to the 30 year civil war waged by the LTTE that led to not just the loss of tens of thousands of lives but also massive destruction to property and infrastructure. The weapons used by the LTTE were not the sten guns used by the JVP but the most modern and sophisticated weaponry. Also the JVP rose against the 'system' while the LTTE was demanding a separate state. But all this had to do with the change in times, both uprisings taking place four decades apart. Hence it is only right that the same course be followed in treating the LTTE prisoners as that adopted with the JVP. Such a course would also go to convince the Tamil community that they are being treated evenhandedly and help bring down the barriers between the two communities.

It would also send a clear message to the Tamil community that the Government is genuine in its efforts at reconciliation and forging concord and amity between the communities. A general amnesty will certainly go a long way in building mutual trust and harmony between the two sides.

True to form, Wimal Weerawansa was seen on television raving and ranting against the prisoner release, claiming that those responsible of bombings too were going to be set free. He also hinted that Sinhala prisoners who are being incarcerated too be similarly released. Interestingly, a group of Sinhala prisoners held on criminal charges too had commenced a hunger strike parallel to the Tamil prisoners, demanding that they too be released, if the LTTE suspects are to be set free. We are not aware if Weerawansa was behind this move, in order to portray himself as a true patriot, by demanding from the Government the release of the Sinhala prisoners as well. Suffice it to say that the two situations are poles apart.

What is being contemplated by the Government is the release of a group of combatants (held for prolong periods) who had risen against the state, a parallel situation with the JVP following the 1971 uprising. This was the case even with the release of prisoners held by the white Aparthied Government in South Africa following the coming to power of Nelson Mandela. Neither Sirimavo Bandaranaike nor Nelson Mandela released prisoners wholesale. Is it asking too much from Weerawansa to view both issues in the right perspective?

Where was Weerawansa, when the hardcore LTTE terrorist Karuna Amman, the Tiger Eastern Commander responsible for the massacre of 600 policemen, attack on the Sri Dalada Maligawa and the butchering of a bus load of Bikkhus, was not only made a Minister in the Mahinda Rajapaksa Cabinet but also an Office bearer of the SLFP. Ditto for KP, the LTTE's chief arms procurer, responsible for thousands of deaths of security forces personnel.