Sri Lanka conflict

The frequent articles on the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka have been very interesting, though a few of them border on sensationalism and a touch of sympathy towards the minority, which probably is part of journalistic life. The recent article of the July 12, 1995 issue regarding the bombing of a church and the subsequent deaths of babies is one such article where a foreign Sri Lankan watcher can be misinformed into thinking in terms of genocide and human rights abuse.

However sad and tragic warfare is, it is a fact that civilian casualties can never be avoided but only minimized. The bombing of the church was not deliberate but accidental, as was confirmed by personnel of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

It will be remembered that even the well equipped and experienced American Army erred during the Gulf War which resulted in civilian deaths. The irony of the Sri Lankan situation is that the world at large cries foul when the security forces take offensive action to safeguard the unitary status of Sri Lanka, but when the terrorists massacre civilians in a deliberate attempt to carve out a separate state by resorting to ethnic cleansing there is not much condemnation by the world community.

One must bear in mind that no terrorist group can survive without the support of the civilian population, and Tamil separatism is no exception.

SATYAJIT SATARASINGHE

Jakarta