Well Played, Sirs !

The British have maintained their stiff traditional upper lip in the 15- year -old Sri Lankan problem. Like English umpires, they have maintained strict neutrality which has not been appreciated very much in many quarters and has been described as a kind of disastrous neutrality between the fire and the fire brigade. This has been the attitude adopted by most other western nations as well, with the exception of the United States and Canada who in recent years have come to recognise the LTTE as an international terrorist organisation and the United States going further and even proscribing it.

The failure of these western nations to openly criticise the terrorism of the LTTE not only sent a wrong message to Sri Lankan terrorists but also to Sri Lankan Tamils who had nothing to do with the terrorist movement. The assumption was made that these countries were sympathetic towards the LTTE because they were permitted to carry on their activities unhindered. Sympathy towards Tamils affected by the military conflict was mistaken as sympathy towards the LTTE. This was the impression created in the minds of most Sinhalese as well. One reason for the strong objections by many Sri Lankan organisations against any of these countries playing the role of a Third party mediator or facilitator was because of suspected pro LTTE sympathies of western nations.

This week was one of surprises where Britain was concerned. It was reported that British High Commissioner, Mr. David Tatham, in his address to the Jaffna Municipal council had made some startingly significant points which had not been made before. While conceding that the people of Jaffna faced severe problems, he had said :... 'there is no monopoly of suffering in this country---every community had suffered in this country. Some may have suffered more than others but no community wishes the war to continue'.

Saying that Britain was a friend of Sri Lanka and of all people of the island, Mr Tatham had noted that while Britain could do a certain amount towards peace and rehabilitation of Jaffna such efforts must be made from all sides. He then went on to make an extremely significant statement: 'What I would urge you to do is to appeal to the Tamil diaspora, to your friends and relations abroad, to help not in destroying this island but in rebuilding it'.

We do not wish to put words into the High Commissioner's mouth and we leave it to our readers, particularly to Tamils attributed with great mental prowess, to draw inferences, if any.

More important is that soon after the High Commissioner's refreshing remarks came the official announcement of the British government on new counter terrorism legislation. The announcement said that while the British government had decided to enact tough legislation to counter Irish terrorism , Britain will also bring forward legislation that will make it, for the first time, a specific offence to conspire in the UK to commit terrorist and other offences abroad. This legislation is aimed primarily at non- Irish terrorism, the official press release said.

The proposed legislation would go further and even strengthen the government's powers against international terrorism by including powers against fund raising. This is one aspect the Sri Lanka government has been pleading with western governments to take action on.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair should be complimented for taking such decisive and prompt action against international terrorism. Even a quarter century of Irish terrorism had failed to move his predecessors in such a manner, despite their commitment to fight international terrorism,

Recent events have made western countries admit that even countries in the backwoods of civilisation can be made use of by international terrorists. If western countries want Third world countries to cooperate with them in their battle against international terrorism, then they too have a role to play by eliminating terrorist bases and organisations operating from the hearts of their affluent capitals.

Enactment of legislation alone will not wipe out global terrorism. There has to be a determined commitment , particularly by anti terrorist agencies and intelligence agencies of all countries. And above all other western nations should follow suit. If Sri Lankan terrorists are forced out of one western nation but are able to operate from another such nation , the consequences are obvious. With US, Canada and now Britain making the initial moves it is time other western nations harbouring international terrorists follow suit.

Meanwhile with the Sri Lankan nation glued to the TV and the London Oval packed to capacity for the Sri Lanka- England test match, we in cricketing terms say: Well played Blair and Tatham !