LTTE: Comeback Trail

The distance between the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) sheltered in the camps in search of a new life and the Externally Displaced Diaspora engaged in a self determining exercise of rediscovering themselves while competing with fractions within the fractured LTTE in exile, is a bridge too far to cross. Both are presently homeless and in search of identities. IDPs have a home to go back; but the Diaspora once hopeful of welcome return for the prodigal sons by the LTTE, will have no welcoming team on arrival in Sri Lanka. IDPs hopefully secured in their homes, by then, may have to greet their visiting cousins and tell them tales of life under the LTTE, which they sponsored from abroad.

IDPs can dream of better times especially for their children. The Diaspora has to live with shattered dreams. They expected to go places under a LTTE regime, as their overseas members who contributing lavishly for the cause, hopeful of future benefits. That hope is devastated. The frustration in being a permanent guest worker abroad is understandable.

The show piece issue is the Internally Displaced People .It is the make or break factor for Sri Lanka. All the sins and omissions attributed to Sri Lanka by critics will stand erased if resolved in the best interest of the inmates. Significantly the camps can become nurseries for national integration or driving seat for the next insurrection. The road to concord or conflict lies through these camps.

Within the camps are possibly constituents of eight electorates. trapped in a space as small in geographical extent as wards in an urban council. The narrow passages between the tent cities are the corridors of political discussion that will widen to reflect the voter behavior at next elections at Opinion does not require to be spread, it is felt.