Gigantic Civil Movement to combat terrorism, child conscription needed - Prajathanthra

Lucian Rajakarunanayake, the convener of "Prajathanthra" the Foundation for Socialist Democracy and Freedom of Expression, in a media release yesterday emphasised the urgency of a Gigantic Civil Movement to combat the menace of terrorism and the problem of child conscription by the LTTE organization which is currently one of the dominant topics before the Security Council of the United Nations.

While appreciating the unity among political parties towards this end, the media release pointed out that this task cannot be handled by political parties alone. It urged all leaders, religious, political and civil, irrespective of various differences to launch public protests against this barbaric policy in order to extricate the innocent children of the North and East from the cruel grip of the terrorist tigers.

This will build up confidence among the parents belonging to all communities and strengthen the morals of the parents in the North and East who are frightened to raise their voice in the face of arms and terrorism wielded by the LTTE tigers.

Such a course of action will boost the voice of the international community to condemn child conscription while enabling them to impose necessary bans to counter act child conscription any longer. The media release further said that during the few days immediately preceding the assassination, late Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar was mainly concerned with the proposals before the United Nations to combat terrorism and suggest ways and means to achieve that end. Lakshman Kadirgamar who was an exponent of the awesome form of organized terrorism and its frightening impact on democratic societies became himself the prey of terrorism.

Following the example set by Australia and subsequently set by UK, though belated, Sri Lanka should disband the so-called Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) from the list of registered Non-Governmental Organizations entitled to receive and distribute foreign aid.

The accounts of the TRO which is a strong arm of the LTTE must be immediately scrutinized thoroughly. The Government is by now fully equipped with necessary data in this regard, the media communique pointed out.

Wiping out Terrorism from the shores of this land is a national duty superseding all other differences. This objective cannot be achieved by political parties alone. There must emerge a strong national leadership enclosing all civil, political and religious leaders to achieve this tedious task which is a national and humanitarian responsibility.

This was the task the assassinated leader Lakshman Kadirgamar stood for and for which he sacrificed his life. His demise is not the end but the realistic beginning of the fall of the perpetrator. Let us array ourselves for this task ahead, concluded the "Prajathanthra" media communique.