planet earth looks blue

What is the international definition of terrorism?  The US definition states that terrorism is “premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against noncombatant targets by subnational groups or clandestine agents.”  The key word here is ‘noncombatant”.  Although the label of terrorists on basically all groups could be called into question, today, a ray of light needs to be shed on the situation in Sri Lanka.

The Tamil Tigers are considered a terrorist group by India, America, the EU, and Canada.  But are they?  Aren’t they the literal definition of freedom fighters?  The Tigers are the revolutionary group, started in the 1980’s with the purpose of seceding from Sri Lanka, formerly known a Ceylon.  Tamil is a separate ethnic group within the country, that has been trying to secede from the country.  They are separatists, fine, but terrorists, no.  A separate state was proposed back in 1976.

The Tamils want a small portion of the north and east of Sri Lanka, to form an independent nation, Tamil Eelam, ruled by their people, for their interests.  The fighting has been going on for decades, but over the past year it has been an all out year.  Virtually no media is allowed into the country, banned by the Sri Lankan government, and there is scant international presence at all.  There are camps outside of the conflict zone where some civilians are staying  According to the UN, 186,000 are housed in camps, 1,700 who are severely wounded are in hospitals, and 50,000 more are within the conflict area.  Yesterday was the day everyone in the international community feared, the day they did nothing to prevent - hundreds of innocent people died in one blood bath.  The numbers range from around 600, to a body count of 1,200, with at least 100 children.  According to the Tigers, the government basically went on a campaign of aerial bombing and heavy artillery fire.  The government says the Tigers turned on their own people and are responsible for the killing.

The number of civilian casualties is unknown, and the circumstances are unclear, but the burden of proof rests on those who will not allow an international presence.  It is hard to believe that this was anything other than the military trying to end this conflict once and for all before the next elections, as not everyone supports the violence.  But because many western nations allow the Tigers to fall under the umbrella term of terrorists, the voice in defense of the Tamil Tigers is silenced.  

The situation in the Swat region of Pakistan is only getting worse as many expected.  There was a period of relative calm with a peace deal signed in February, but both sides, the Taliban militants, and the Pakistan forces, accuse the other side of staging attacks.  Right now the residents of the area are fleeing their homes, heading to government set-up camps.  They were previously told to leave, then to return, and now to leave again.  Half a million are expected to flee, with many living in the camps already.  There has been a period of confusion as the government has wanted to call an end to fighting, although this was never the case.  It seems that violence never really ended.  According to BBC news , a major offensive is imminent.The Taliban spokesman, Muslim Khan, accused President Zardari of going to America to look for more money.  The militants, are in a way indirectly fighting America, at least American interests.  Trilateral talks between Obama, Zardari, and Afghan President Karzai, are planned for Washington, Wednesday.  During the unprecedented meeting Obama is expected to put pressure on Zardari to step up Pakistan’s offensive against the Taliban, who has already taken control of the Swat Valley, where the people allowed Sharia Law to be imposed.  The Taliban has said that they will not stop until this strict conservative religious order is implemented in all of Pakistan.So where does that leave the people?  As usual, in the crossfire until things are figured out.  Pakistan has been fighting the militants since 2007, but never to a major degree.  The US has also been attacking the area with aerial bombing through drone attacks, which continued without abatement as American leadership changed hands.  During that entire period, the Taliban basically took hold.  Girls have not been going to school - they in fact only have been able to attend in the refugee camps - women are separated, music & art is oppressed - the usual black and white Taliban law.  Why now?  Has the US been expecting Pakistan to take care of the militants in their own country?  Was it politically wrong to have an official war in Pakistan while Iraq was still considered highly active.  Now we are told that violence has lessened there, the US forces are leaving in a year and a half - is the public ready to accept another war?  It seems there is way more of an actual threat with Pakistan, because of their nuclear arsenal - if Zardari falls, will the Taliban have access to nuclear weapons - would they actually use them?The US right now seems to be putting out the carrot (billions in aid) to Zardari, and asks in return that Pakistan puts its best war foot forward, and blows up as many militants as possible, so at least if America has to officially move into the region (America fight in a country without oil?) it will be quick and painless, like Iraq was supposed to be.The question should really be raised - is all this violence helping anything?  After five years of war, the result is that our former ally, Saddam Hussein, is dead, and the region is a mess.  The exact forces we claimed when it was convenient, to be there to destroy, are ten times more valid, and powerful, with their hands of control reaching far beyond Afghanistan.  Isn’t it true that they have gained credibility as a foil to foreign invaders?  Violence will always breed violence.  Peace will always breed peace.  Give the people schools, clean water, access to a normal life, and they will never join a militant faction.  Bomb their homeland, take the life of their brother, as a side effect of war, and they will always fight against you.

Violence has flared up in Yemen this past week, marking the anniversary of the 1994 two-month long uprising, which was quickly put down by government troops.  The current state of Yemen exists after an agreement in 1990 for South Yemen and North Yemen to unite.  Yemen, bordered by Saudi Arabia, and Oman, is primarily an oil state, with 90% of its exports being in oil.  Yermen is far from a wealthy republic, ranking somewhere around 10th or 11th on the world’s poorest nations lists.  Its oil reserves are quickly running out, and are predicted to dry up somewhere in the next 15 to 20 years.

The South, which is primarily Sunni Muslim and the location of much of the republic’s oil, is dissatisfied with the government.  Starting a few days ago, towards the end of April, the fighting began at a rally.  Since then, 8 have died, four of them Yemeni soldiers.  21 people have been wounded.  The violence is taking place in the south of the country.  The United States has issued a statement, showing concern for the stability of Yemen, asking the different sides to discuss their issues.  A difficult thing to do in a country still with independent tribes, al-Quada influences, poverty, and social unrest.  The government also faces a Zaydi Shi’ite rebellion in the north.

Yemen is led by President Ali Abdullah Saleh.  Strongly supported by America, Saleh was the President of North Yemen since 1978, and of unified Yemen since 1990.  Although he has led for some time, he ran again and won in 2006.  The elections are supposedly “fair”, although Yemen isn’t the most transparent of countries, nor does it have the cleanest human rights record.  There isn’t much international attention directed on the Southwest Asian nation, but because of its geographical importance, rubbing elbows with both Somalia and Saudi Arabia, if the violence continues there will probably be more of a reaction.  Right now the US is probably hoping this will blow over, as one more al-Quaeda hotbed in the region would really be devastating.