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教育專題 ◎ 2009-01-15
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教 育 專 題 深 入 報 導《2009-01-15》

本期內容
  ◎國際專題:斯里蘭卡內戰 即將落幕 
  ◎斯里蘭卡將終結「坦米爾之虎」了嗎? 
  ◎政府軍與「坦米爾之虎」游擊隊衝突時間表 



國際專題:斯里蘭卡內戰 即將落幕
  策劃、編譯■謝雯(人予)、陳玫伶
本月2日起,斯里蘭卡政府軍先是拿下境內反抗長達25年以上的「坦米爾解放之虎」(LTTE)的根據地基里諾奇,

更往北部賈夫納戰場節節挺進,拿下大象隘口。

11日出動武裝直升機和地面部隊,向反抗軍最後匿藏森林區發動大攻勢,

企圖一舉殲滅「 坦米爾解放之虎 」,

這場延續了將近4分之一個世紀的內戰即將畫下尾聲。

斯里蘭卡佔大多數的辛赫拉族(Sinhalese),信奉佛教,控制了大部分的資源,

讓身為少數的印度教坦米爾族人,不得不選擇使用激進手段來爭取尊重和獨立。

如何跨越宗教和種族的藩籬,讓所有人民皆能共榮共生,

將是和平到來後,長遠的課題。
(回目錄)



斯里蘭卡將終結「坦米爾之虎」了嗎?
   
上週末斯里蘭卡政府軍前進「坦米爾解放之虎」反抗軍最後的大本營,穆萊蒂武地區的港口,希望能一舉殲滅這支亞洲在逃最久的反抗軍。

政府軍在過去10天內贏得兩場主要戰役,拿下反抗軍自封的首都基里諾奇以及通往賈夫納半島的戰略門戶大象隘口。許多人都在問,這場纏繞斯里蘭卡25年的內戰是否真的要畫下句點了?目前是還沒有。但,以下是幾個接著可能發生的情況。

斯里蘭卡陸軍司令挺進海邊

因為基里諾奇和整個賈夫納地區都在政府掌控之下,「坦米爾之虎」所控制的地區急速減少,被逼到斯里蘭卡東北方幅員將近330平方公里的楔形地。軍方和分析家都表示,「坦米爾之虎」已經將重裝武器和最精悍的部隊運送到穆萊蒂武地區東部的港口,準備最後反撲。

由於大象隘口重回政府掌控中,A9公路目前開放給穆萊蒂武地區四面八方分散的軍事部隊重新會師整裝。

這有點像美國南北戰爭時北軍少將威廉‧特庫賽‧薛曼圍攻喬治亞州薩凡納鎮,讓南方聯軍除了跳海外只有投降,斯里蘭卡政府軍指揮官薩拉特‧豐塞卡中將計劃要在穆萊蒂武地區圍攻「坦米爾之虎」。

但是,「坦米爾之虎」組織成員在脖子上都帶著氰化物以防被捕,投降對他們來說,似乎不太可能。

老虎沒了牙?

許多分析師表示,現在反抗軍的士兵人數大概只剩兩千人左右,以典型的軍事規模來說,勝算很小。

因為總統拉賈帕克薩全力支持,和總統的兄弟、國防部長戈塔巴亞有經驗且信心的領導,斯里蘭卡政府軍和過去相比設備更精良,訓練也更加有素。「坦米爾之虎」仍持續在首都可倫坡進行自殺炸彈攻擊,在基里諾奇淪陷後就發生過。

許多人擔心相同的事。豐塞卡表示,一旦內戰接近尾聲,他預測「坦米爾之虎」的中堅份子會進行地下游擊戰。但豐塞卡表示政府軍已經對此作好了準備,在先前「坦米爾之虎」所控制的東方部署完成。

內戰區域的居民狀況如何?

援助組織推測,大約有23萬坦米爾族難民在內戰區域流離失所。

人權團體控訴「坦米爾之虎」強迫徵召難民成為士兵或勞工,但「坦米爾之虎」否認這項指控。

也有許多人害怕斯里蘭卡政府的難民營,在那裡難民們會被甄別是否為同情「坦米爾之虎」的同路者。「坦米爾之虎」同情者可能會使政府的進攻減緩,因為軍方保證不造成平民傷亡。軍方從過去的經驗了解到,太多平民傷亡,會使印度或其他世界強權施壓停火。

印度會介入嗎?

一點機會也沒有。雖然印度境內坦米爾族裔的政治人士抗議,印度總理曼莫漢仍聲明,他對終止斯里蘭卡的戰爭沒有任何計畫。

曼莫漢政府將「坦米爾之虎」列為恐怖份子集團。自從孟買發生伊斯蘭主義者槍擊脅持事件後,恐怖主義就成了印度5月大選的主要議題。曼莫漢不太可能對「坦米爾之虎」釋出同情。曼莫漢與拉賈帕克薩達成共識,認為坦米爾人的不滿應該用政治方式來處理,這也是許多西方人士的看法。拉賈帕克薩計畫利用選舉為「坦米爾之虎」的反抗畫下句點,可是批評家認為做不到。

軍事勝利表示大選會提早開始嗎?

拉賈帕克薩因為這場戰事而聲勢高漲。稍早的民調已經充分顯示了。今年選舉預算增加了4倍,已經有兩個省份的議會2月要重新進行選舉。斯里蘭卡最大反對黨「國家團結黨」(UNP)已經開始造勢活動。

有許多原因會影響拉賈帕克薩決定選舉的時間。拉賈帕克薩知道,「國家團結黨」最大的批評,來自於320億美元(約1兆720億台幣)的紓困案。

關於經濟方面

一如預期,可倫坡證券交易所,和下滑的斯里蘭卡盧比,自從基里諾奇被政府軍佔領後有一波回升。但兩者皆回歸基本面走勢,如同這25年內戰期間一般。

可倫坡證券交易所和斯里蘭卡盧比一度表現亮眼,但因為去年金融海嘯的影響而重創。斯里蘭卡苦於短期外債、外匯存底減少,及財政赤字。主要的出口物,如茶和紡織衣物,也受全球景氣不佳影響,而且內戰預期會導致20億美金的損失。

這會是拉賈帕克薩的危機嗎?

並非如此。對總統拉賈帕克薩來說,這次戰役不盡然是危機,尤其是他擁有眾多民意的支持。目前經濟困頓的環境下,拉賈帕克薩在鄉村的主要支持者,因為他針對平民的預算和發展計畫,僅受輕微影響,拉賈帕克薩希望在戰爭結束後,能募得戰後重建經費。

然而拉賈帕克薩的期望,可能會因上週所發生的兩起暴力攻擊事件而遇到一些阻礙。這兩起暴力事件激怒許多資助國,讓它們縮減金援。

(路透)

Sri Lankan troops over the weekend forged ahead toward the Tamil Tiger rebels' last stronghold, at the port of Mullaittivu, with the goal of ending one of Asia's longest-running rebellions.

The military in the past 10 days has won two major battles, capturing the rebels' self-declared capital of Kilinochchi and the strategic gateway to the Jaffna Peninsula, Elephant Pass. Many are asking if Sri Lanka's 25-year war is over. Not just yet, but here are some scenarios of what could happen next:

FONSEKA'S MARCH TO THE SEA

With Kilinochchi and all of Jaffna in army hands, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) are confined to a fast-shrinking wedge of northeastern Sri Lanka of about 330 square km (127 sq miles).

The military and analysts say the Tigers have shifted their heavy weapons and toughest fighters to the eastern port of Mullaittivu for a final stand.

With Elephant Pass back in army hands, the A-9 highway is now open for a mechanised division to join the units converging on Mullaittivu from all directions.

Much as U.S. civil war Major-General William Tecumseh Sherman made the Confederate army surrender by forcing them to all but jump in the sea at Savannah, Georgia, Sri Lankan army commander Lieutenant-General Sarath Fonseka plans to do the same to the Tigers at Mullaittivu.

Since the Tigers wear vials of cyanide around their neck in case of capture, surrender seems unlikely.

ARE THE TIGERS NOW TOOTHLESS?

Many analysts say the rebels are down to around 2,000 capable fighters and have little future as a conventional force.

The military is now much better equipped and trained than in the past, has President Mahinda Rajapaksa's full backing and experienced, confident leadership in the form of his brother, Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, and Fonseka.

The LTTE still can carry out suicide bombings in the capital Colombo, and is blamed for one right after Kilinochchi's fall.

Many fear more of the same. Fonseka has said he expects the hardest-core Tigers to go underground and conduct hit-and-run attacks once the war nears its end. He also said the army is ready for that, as it has been in the former Tiger-held east.

WHAT ABOUT CIVILIANS IN THE WAR ZONE?

Aid agencies estimate there are around 230,000 Tamil refugees in the shrinking war zone who are suffering without much shelter.

Rights groups accuse the Tigers of forcibly conscripting them as fighters or labourers. The LTTE denies that.

Many are afraid of government camps where they are scrutinised as potential LTTE sympathisers. Their presence could slow the onslaught because the military has pledged no civilian casualties, keenly aware that too many could prompt India or other world powers to press a ceasefire, as in the past.

IS INDIA GOING TO INTERVENE?

Not a chance. Despite protests from Tamil politicians in India, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has made it clear he has no plans to stop Rajapaksa's war.

Singh's government lists the LTTE as a terrorist group. After the Mumbai attacks by Islamist gunmen made terrorism a big issue in polls due by May, he is unlikely to be sympathetic.

He and Rajapaksa have agreed that grievances of the Tamil people must be dealt with politically, a view shared and urged by much of the West. Rajapaksa plans to call elections to meet that end, but critics say that will be inadequate.

DOES MILITARY SUCCESS MEAN EARLY ELECTIONS?

Rajapaksa is riding high on the war. Signs of early polls abound: the election budget this year has been quadrupled, polls are set in two provinces in February and the main opposition United National Party (UNP) has assumed a campaign stance.

Allies say there are plenty of factors that will influence Rajapaksa's decision on timing. He is aware that the UNP's main criticism is the state of the $32 billion economy.

AND WHAT ABOUT THE ECONOMY?

As predicted, both the Colombo Stock Exchange and the sliding rupee currency got a boost from Kilinochchi's capture. But they both went straight back to moving on their own fundamentals as they have throughout the quarter-century war.

Both have recorded impressive performances in that time, but have been hit in the last year by a gloomy macroeconomic climate.

Sri Lanka is suffering from expensive short-term foreign debt, declining forex reserves and a high deficit. Key exports like tea and garments are also hit by the global slowdown, and the war is expected to cost nearly $2 billion this year.

Despite a sovereign rating cut last month, most analysts say default is unlikely. The government said growth was likely to slow to 5.0-5.5 percent this year.

IS ANY OF THAT A RISK TO RAJAPAKSA?

Not really. His mainly rural power base has been largely shielded from economic woes through populist budgets and development projects. Rajapaksa is also counting on a flood of post-war reconstruction money to come in after fighting ends.

That could be complicated by two violent attacks on the media in the past week, which has infuriated many donor nations -- who have yet to apply the only real leverage they have -- money.

REUTERS
(回目錄)



政府軍與「坦米爾之虎」游擊隊衝突時間表
   
游擊隊的成立、反覆失敗的停火協議和近來政府軍的進攻

1975:「坦米爾伊蘭解放之虎」(Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam,簡稱LTTE)成立,訴求為斯里蘭卡北邊和東邊的少數民族坦米爾族能夠獨立建國。

1983:內戰爆發。

1991:坦米爾組織的自殺炸彈客暗殺印度首相拉吉夫‧甘地,報復印度的和平維護部隊進入斯里蘭卡與反抗軍作戰。

1993:「坦米爾之虎」以自殺炸彈暗殺當時的斯里蘭卡總統普雷馬達薩,抗議普雷馬達薩政府和平政策無方。

2002年2月:斯里蘭卡政府與「坦米爾之虎」簽訂停火協議。

2005年6月:斯里蘭卡政府與「坦米爾之虎」之間的關係因為國際海嘯救援物資分配的問題而惡化。

2005年8月:斯里蘭卡外交部長卡迪葛瑪遭暗殺。身為坦米爾族的卡迪葛瑪反對斯里蘭卡少數民族獨立建國。「坦米爾之虎」被指為這次暗殺行動的主謀。

2005年12月:反抗軍發動自停火協議之後的第一次大型攻擊,十數名斯里蘭卡海軍在這次戰事中喪生。繼而發生一連串的攻擊行動。

2006年2月22日:政府與反抗軍首領在瑞士會面進行和平會談,雙方同意減少軍事對抗。然而原訂於數月之後進行的第二輪會談,因為雙方在運輸和安全方面的爭議而延後。

2006年6月8日:在挪威所舉辦的和平重建會談破裂。

2006年7月20日:「坦米爾之虎」關閉東方一座水庫,切斷超過6萬人所需的用水。「坦米爾之虎」此舉迫使斯里蘭卡政府軍發動自2002年停火協定以來,第一次在坦米爾佔領區的大型攻擊。

2007年11月2日:政府軍空襲,造成「坦米爾之虎」的政治領袖塔米爾塞凡喪生。塔米爾塞凡據信是該組織的第二領導人。

2008年1月2日:斯里蘭卡政府決定取消國際仲裁的停火協定,同時表示,如果要有進一步的和平會談,「坦米爾之虎」必須先解除武裝。

2008年1月16日:斯里蘭卡的停火協議正式終止。

2008年8月2日:斯里蘭卡軍方表示,軍方在11年之後,首度進入「坦米爾之虎」的根據地。

2008年8月29日:斯里蘭卡政府鼓勵在反抗軍統治地區的人民,逃亡到政府軍控制的領土。

2009年1月2日:軍方表示斯里蘭卡政府軍已經進入游擊隊的根據地基里諾奇(Kilinochchi),預測在數小時內會徹底攻陷此區。

(衛報)
(回目錄)



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