In May 2009, the Sri Lankan authorities managed to defeat the fighting units of the Tamil Eelam Liberation Tigers (LTTE)terrorist organization and take control of the entire territory of the country.

The LTTE is known worldwide as one of the most violent extremist separatist groups. Over a quarter of a century of bloody armed conflict in Sri Lanka killed more than 70 thousand people. "Tigers" committed dozens of horrific terrorist acts using suicide bombers, and often suicide bombers. Among the victims are Indian Prime Minister R. Gandhi, Sri Lankan President R. Premadasa, and Foreign Minister L. Kadirgamar, who is a Tamil by nationality. Other prominent political and public figures who did not agree with the terror of the "tigers", and just ordinary people of different nationalities and religions - women, the elderly, children-were torn to shreds.

N. A. LISTOPADOV

Doctor of Historical Sciences

The LTTE is recognized as a terrorist organization in many countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, India, and the European Union (EU).

THE ROOTS OF INTERETHNIC CONFLICT

What are the origins of the Sinhalese-Tamil ethnic conflict?

Both Sinhalese and Tamils are very old inhabitants of the island. They have lived here for two and a half thousand years. True, both of them are not indigenous ethnic groups, but migrants from Hindustan. Indigenous people are considered to be a few Veddas. Currently, of Sri Lanka's 20 million inhabitants, about 80% are Sinhalese and about 20% are Tamil.

Throughout history, both Sinhalese and Tamil states have existed on the small island. Of course, the relationship between them did not always remain cloudless. There were wars and conflicts. Among other things, religious differences also affected. Sinhalese are mostly Buddhists, Tamils are Hindus. However, there was no insurmountable hostility between the two communities. They got along on the same island, adapting to each other.

The situation worsened during the colonial period, when in the XIX century. Hundreds of thousands of Tamils were resettled from Hindustan to work in coffee and then tea plantations. The Sinhalese considered them outsiders, and after independence in 1948, a campaign was waged to return them to India. In the colonial administration, the Tamils dominated, and the Tamil bourgeoisie occupied a leading position in the economy. Naturally, the Sinhalese majority took this with displeasure. There is a growing trend of Sinhalese nationalism. A number of Sinhalese politicians did not fail to play on nationalist strings. There was discrimination against the Tamil language.

Since the second half of the 1960s, Sinhalo-Tamil tensions have been growing, and relations between the two largest communities have sharply worsened. Ultra-left extremist groups have sprung up among both Sinhalese and Tamils. A number of Tamil political organizations have demanded that the Government grant broad autonomy to areas in the north and northeast of the island populated mainly by Tamils.

There were armed clashes between Government forces and militant Tamil groups. A bloody battle begins between the "tigers " and"lions". Sinhalese associate themselves with lions (actually, Sinhalese means "lion"), and Tamils - with tigers.

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam organization is being formed, which has declared its goal to create an independent Tamil state on the island at any cost. Both Tamils and Sinhalese were killed in skirmishes. In May 1983, a state of emergency was declared in the country.

When we talk about the Tamil problem in Sri Lanka, we must not forget that Tamils are a very large nation. If there are only about 4 million Sri Lankan Tamils, there are more than 70 million in India. Indian Tamils live mainly in the state of Tamil Nadu. Influential and cohesive Tamil communities are scattered all over the world. They can be found in Canada, the United States, Great Britain, Norway, Australia, Singapore, Myanmar, and other countries.

In the face of the Sinhalo-Tamil conflict, the Indian leadership found itself in a difficult situation. The creation of a Tamil state on the island of Sri Lanka does not fit into the interests of New Delhi: it would lead to an increase in separatist sentiments in the state of Tamil Nadu. On the other hand, the Government of India cannot be indifferent to the fate of Sri Lankan Tamils. After all, Indian Tamils consider them their brothers.

The conflicting parties, with the mediation of India, were looking for a political solution to the problem. On July 29, 1987, in Colombo, an agreement was signed between the leaders of India and Sri Lanka on the peaceful settlement of the Tamil problem on the basis of granting partial autonomy to Tamils within the framework of a single North-eastern province of Sri Lanka. To maintain order, a contingent of Indian troops was sent to the island.

In accordance with the agreement, provincial council elections were held in the country in April and June 1988, and the temporary merger of the Tamil - dominated Northern and Eastern Provinces was announced in September. The situation seemed to be returning to normal.

However, some Sinhalese and Tamil extremist groups opposed the agreement and began to prevent its implementation by armed means. Sinhalese ultranationalists considered that granting Tamils any kind of autonomy threatens the integrity of the state. Tamil extremists dreamed of full independence and accused the Indian leadership of betraying the interests of Tamils.

The agreement on the peaceful settlement of the inter-ethnic conflict turned out to be unviable. In 1990, Indian troops were withdrawn from the island.

TERROR OF THE "BLACK TIGERS"

By the beginning of the twenty-first century, the LTTE controlled almost a third of the island's territory. Up to 15 thousand militants were put under the gun, including children. The "tigers" had not only land armed detachments, but also naval forces, and even aviation, which had several light-engine aircraft at its disposal.

A special place was occupied by the so-called "black tigers" unit, which trained suicide bombers. Its offshoot was a group of sea "black tigers", which rammed Sri Lankan Navy ships on boats. The LTTE leaders, led by V. Prabhakaran, established strict control over the organization. All those who doubted the correctness of their policies were mercilessly destroyed. The Tiger movement has become a kind of armed totalitarian sect.

The Tamil-Sinhalese conflict had become a protracted one, with no end in sight.

The situation changed after the largest terrorist attack in New York on September 11, 2001, when the problem of countering international terrorism was declared the No. 1 task of the world community. LTTE branches around the world were under the cover of special services. The flow of funds to the Tigers has significantly decreased. The sympathies of various human rights defenders to them have been reduced.

In December 2001, the LTTE declared a unilateral ceasefire. In February 2002, a ceasefire agreement was signed between the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE. Norway acted as a mediator. The peace process was actively supported by the United States, Japan and the EU. There seemed to be a light at the end of the tunnel. But, alas. After several rounds of negotiations, the peace process stalled. The positions of the parties were too divergent. In fact, the "tigers" were satisfied only with complete independence, which the Sri Lankan authorities, of course, could not do under any circumstances. In 2006, fighting resumed, and with it, bloody terrorist attacks.

President M. Rajapakse set a course for the military annihilation of the LTTE. Remarkable political will was shown. At the same time, the authorities demonstrated flexibility. They managed to split the "tigers", attract General Karuna, who commanded the detachments, to their side

LTTE in the east of the island. Many years of people's fatigue from the conflict have been playing into the hands of the authorities. As a result, the Tigers ' war machine was destroyed.

It would seem that we should welcome the end of the armed conflict, the defeat of the bloody military machine of the "tigers".

However, in Western countries, human rights defenders and politicians have been accused of almost war crimes for violations of human rights and humanitarian law... Sri Lankan authorities. The fact that it was the "tigers" who used tens, hundreds of thousands of civilians as a "human shield", staged terrorist attacks against those Tamils who fled the war zone, is mentioned in passing. But these facts are generally accepted.

The campaign of massive pressure on the Sri Lankan Government has continued in recent months, ever since the Sri Lankan armed forces launched a decisive counter-terrorism operation against the LTTE in the north of the island.

Many governments of Western countries, and especially Great Britain, demanded a cessation of hostilities and the start of negotiations with terrorists. Sri Lankans did not succumb to pressure, quite rightly proceeding from the fact that this is possible only if the militants lay down their weapons. Fortunately, this did not happen. Suspending the anti-terrorist operation would only prolong the agony, allowing the terrorists to regroup and strengthen their positions, as has happened before.

The development of events did not go according to the scenario of Western countries.

By May 18, the last militant groups had been defeated, and their leaders, including terrorist No. 1 B. Prabhakarana, - destroyed. In the West, they stubbornly continued to ignore this, demanding a suspension of the already ended hostilities and the rescue of civilians. In fact, merciless terrorists and a completely legitimate government of Sri Lanka are put on the same level.

The truth is that there has been no bloodshed in Sri Lanka since May 18. Although, of course, scattered groups of militants continue to hide in remote jungles, make attacks, and try to organize terrorist attacks. Fortunately, they can be prevented.

A POLICY OF DOUBLE STANDARDS

What are the reasons for such a reaction in the West?

There are several of them. Of course, governments in a number of countries are forced to take into account pressure from the influential Tamil community. It is especially high in the UK and Canada. These are hundreds of thousands of people, and therefore voters. Until recently, the Tigers ' foreign headquarters were actually operating openly in London. Over the decades of its existence, the LTTE has developed an extensive network of support for terrorism around the world. A very active propaganda campaign was conducted through the press, radio, and the Internet. Hundreds of thousands of foreign Tamils are being paid tribute. Do not disdain the "tigers" and criminal business. For some of the leadership of the "tigers", the armed conflict has become a lucrative business, especially with regard to arms smuggling. Peculiar mafia structures were formed.

In addition, Western politicians must somehow demonstrate their commitment to democratic principles and human rights and punish their violators. And Sri Lanka, a small developing country, is a very convenient target. And what is better than" Al-Qaeda " LTTE terrorists? Because they don't kill Americans or Europeans? There is a policy of double standards.

And it is also advantageous for Western countries to keep the Sri Lankan government in the role of the culprit, reserving the opportunity to use this circumstance at the right time as a lever of pressure.

No one claims that Sri Lanka is doing well with respect for humanitarian law. But we must not forget that there was a real war on terrorism, and in war there are no victims. Apparently, it is no coincidence that Washington, mired in Iraq and Afghanistan, takes a more moderate position than the EU, although it also cannot resist the usual moral teachings.

But Sri Lankans who have suffered from relentless terrorism do not need moralizing, but help to overcome the humanitarian crisis. After all, the Sri Lankan government needs to rehabilitate about 300 thousand internally displaced persons, in fact, refugees placed in temporary camps, and restore normal life in the territories liberated from terrorists. The socio-economic structure there has been destroyed over decades of conflict, and people have become impoverished.

RECONCILIATION IS NEEDED LIKE AIR

The Sri Lankan authorities understand the urgent need for national reconciliation. President M. Rajapakse said that the victory over terrorism, the military defeat of the LTTE does not mean the defeat of ^the Tamils1. In other words, the Lions didn't defeat Tee-

grove". After all, in nature, these "kings of animals" practically do not fight with each other, preferring peaceful coexistence. Destroyed"tigers" -cannibals.

Now both Tamils and Sinhalese have the opportunity to live in peace. In such difficult circumstances, accusations of a vicious violation of human rights in Sri Lanka, trumping unverified figures about the alleged tens of thousands of civilian casualties during a counter-terrorism operation are inappropriate. Such a line perpetuates discord between Tamils and Sinhalese, works not for reconciliation, but for the growth of distrust. Human rights defenders, like doctors, should first of all be guided by the principle of "Do no harm".

Western countries would do well to encourage influential figures in the Tamil diaspora to engage in dialogue with the Sri Lankan Government. This is a difficult case. But you can't do it without it. After all, Sinhalese and Tamils still live together on a small island. It is necessary not to incite hostility, but to extinguish passions.

Moreover, since Sri Lanka gained independence in 1948, a multi-party parliamentary democratic system has taken root, which makes it possible to resolve any problems within the legal framework. Tamil political parties are also represented in the country's Parliament. The country is ruled by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and the United National Party, which succeed each other in the general elections, and enter into coalitions with other parties-communist, Tamil, and Buddhist monasticism.

Western countries are still trying to internationalize the situation in Sri Lanka and bring this issue to the UN Security Council for consideration. And why do this? In order to once again practice human rights rhetoric? After all, no one, including the Sri Lankan government, denies the seriousness of the humanitarian situation on the island, the need to find, ultimately, a political solution to the interethnic confrontation.

At the end of May, EU countries managed to convene a special session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, putting forward a draft resolution equating the responsibility of terrorists and the legitimate government. There was a split along the lines of Western countries - and all the others-Russia, China, India, the Non-Aligned Movement, the Organization of the Islamic Conference. The EU project failed.

Russia welcomes the end of the protracted armed conflict on the island and hopes that this will pave the way for the establishment of lasting peace, stability and security in Sri Lanka based on ensuring the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as respect for the rights and interests of all national and religious groups on the island, including, of course, Tamils.

This approach was confirmed by telephone conversations between President Dmitry Medvedev and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in May with their Sri Lankan counterparts M. Rajapakse and R. Bogollagama, respectively.² The very fact of the conversations shows that Russia is far from indifferent to what is happening in friendly Sri Lanka.

* * *

The inter-ethnic problem can only be solved by political means, with an emphasis on improving the standard of living of the Tamil population. This will take a considerable amount of time.

The current leadership of Sri Lanka, led by President M. Rajapakse, enjoys huge popular support due to the military defeat of the Tigers. As a result, it will be easier for him to make compromises in resolving inter-ethnic conflicts without fear of accusations from Sinhalese nationalists. This may include granting some form of autonomy to areas inhabited by Tamils. If the military victory over the terrorists cannot be consolidated politically and economically, then the resumption of inter-ethnic conflict cannot be ruled out.

Sri Lanka has a historic chance to overcome the country's long-standing divide by peacefully reconciling the two largest national communities. It is important not to miss this chance. The international community should not hinder, but rather help, this beneficial process.

¹ Official website of the President of Sri Lanka - www.president.gov.lk/speech_new.asp?Id=75

² Official website of the President of Russia - www.kremlin.ru/text/news/2009/05/216829. ghtml. Telephone conversation between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Sri Lankan Foreign Minister on May 6, 2004, Russian Foreign Ministry website - www.mid.ru

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