Maj-Gen Chaggi Gallage’s Proposal for Military Representative on Geneva Resolution enforcing task Force Rejected by Mangala Samaraweera
(Excerpted from the Column Written by the “Sunday Times” Political Editor Appearing in the “Sunday Times”of february 21st 2016)
Despite the normalcy and the rapid pace of development (In the North), serious issues do exist. Main among them are matters arising from the Geneva resolution. That they would soon come under a probe for alleged war crimes is a subject of much concern for those in the security forces. Officers who obeyed orders and ensured the military defeat of Tiger guerrillas are worried.
This is whilst politicians in the North, including from the United National Party (UNP), co-partners in the Government, are stepping up pressure to seek the release of more lands now under security forces control. See map on this page for areas held by the Security Forces and the extents released to original owners so far.
Two weeks ago, Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera was here to launch the Government’s website to seek views from the public on the proposed new Constitution. He took the opportunity to address Security Force Commanders and Divisional Commanders at the SF headquarters in Jaffna. He made clear that the Government would protect the interests of the security forces.
Major General Chagi Gallage, General Officer Commanding (GOC) the Army’s 51 Division located in Kopay, who was once in charge of the Presidential Guard under former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, proposed that a military representative be included in the Task Force appointed by the Government to enforce provisions of the Geneva resolution. The appointment of this task force was reported exclusively in the front page lead story of the Sunday Times of February 7.
Minister Samaraweera rejected the proposal saying this could not be done. An exchange of words is reported to have ensued. Days later, Maj. Gen. Gallage was transferred out of Jaffna. Senior Army officials declined to confirm or deny the incident. He has now been appointed Director General of Infantry at Army Headquarters.
The incumbent in that office, Brigadier Piyal Wickremeratne, has been named Security Forces Commander, Central Command. Usually, as GOC, an officer is appointed for two years. Maj. Gen. Gallage had served much less than this period. Replacing Maj. Gen. Gallage as GOC 51 Division is Brigadier Mervyn Perera, an officer from the engineering services.
For obvious reasons, senior military officials in the area declined any formal comment on issues facing them. Nor are they authorised to speak to the media. One who spoke on grounds of anonymity, however, said that a “Review Group” had, two months ago, raised their concerns with Army Commander Lieutenant General Chrisanthe de Silva. He said this was in a report of some 70 odd pages where they had dissected the OISL (the title for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights investigation into Sri Lanka) and handed it over to their Commander for study and action.
However, he declined to elaborate on its contents except to give ‘an overview.’ He said the Group had “appealed for the appointment of a Committee in the Army to study the implementation of the Geneva resolution process. It should be made up of senior officers and civilian experts. The idea, the source said, was to educate those serving and retired on the possible accusations and the implications arising out of them.
The OISL report, however, has not mentioned precise charges against any member of the security forces. What appears to be the concern is how they would be affected by two critical areas they may be subject to — the chain of command and command responsibility. As reported last week, visiting UN Human Rights High Commissioner Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussain said in a formal statement that accountability mechanisms were intended to deal with international crimes and gross human rights violations by individuals. A diplomatic source then explained “it is those who did so, (gave orders), politicians, officials and military leaders who will become liable and not the hundreds who carried it out.”
The Review Group, according to the same source, has pointed out that some of the reported acts were in fact committed under the strict confines of “military necessity” though they could be interpreted as a ‘war crime’ and those concerned indicted for it. Hence, they have argued that the matter be viewed from a national viewpoint. They have expressed fears that the military leadership is likely to be implicated primarily though they led the campaign to eliminate terrorism. On the other hand, they point out, more than 11,000 (Tiger guerrillas) were rehabilitated and granted amnesties for crimes against the state.
While emphasising that the Sri Lanka Army is willing to face allegations, the source said, the Review Group has noted that civilian casualties, if any, were unintentional. The sole aim of the Army, the source pointed out, was to gain a definitive outcome against the guerrillas by defeating them, conclude a war and ensure peace was won for the civilians.
It has been pointed out that guerrilla atrocities were grave. The allegations in the OISL report, they have pointed out, should be a collective task spearheaded by the Commander of the Army and cautioned that any individual actions could lead to greater repercussions. “There were many other serious aspects that were dealt with. However, those cannot be discussed,” the source insisted.
Both President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe have during their discourses with the Army high command assured that any probe would be to identify wrongdoers and would not be a campaign against their establishment or the vast majority who were professionals. Hence, they have made clear that there would be opportunities for them to place their case at an inquiry mechanism.
Courtesy:Sunday Times
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