• LTTE's killing spree

• UNP ballots and LTTE bullets

• Kadirgamar: A great son of Lanka

LTTE's killing spree

ONE time Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi on his comeback trail, Sri Lankan President R. Premadasa, aspirants to that office, Gamini Dissanayake and Lalith Athulathmudali, Neelan Thiruchelvam, and now Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar.

They were the high profile national leaders who were targeted for liquidation by terrorist Tiger supremo.

His success ratio has been phenomenal - only one survivor. President Kumaratunga. Even she did not escape unscathed.

Then, as now, the terrorists are spouting denials. Now, as later happened in those killing, the time will come when they will admit to those crimes that they presently deny, calling them unfortunate as ideologue Balasingham did in one of this televised appearances.

Then, as now, statements are being issued by many countries and organisations condemning this latest dastardly assassination. Now, as then, condemnation is likely to be confined to mere words. These will break no LTTE bones.

They will still continue to be accorded VIP treatment when they visit foreign lands. They will still have Vanni-visiting dignitaries from abroad showing servile deference to Prabahakaran and his minions and shaking their blood-stained hands.

They will still have foreign front organisations replenishing their war chest with no hindrance and their spokesmen like Balasingham et al painting them white as liberation fighters and not the treacherous terrorists they really are.

Learning from experience, the LTTE know this and they will continue undeterred on their killing trail, unless, the international community wakes up to reality, remove their tinted glasses and strangle their sources of finance and arms procurement, boot out Balasingham and his ilk.

All this will show the LTTE that, enough is enough, that they will be treated as being in the same league as the Al Queda.

This is the one and only way to take in order to bring peace to all peoples of this tortured land for which they are yearning. Anything less and the LTTE will shrug it off as inconsequential.

The ever smiling Thamilselvam complains that a 'sahadow war of attrition' is being waged against the LTTE. How ironic!

It is they who are engaged in such a war as they whittle away at decent and capable leaders of all communities who oppose or are perceived to be opposed to their aims.

Their overwhelming violations of the Ceasefire Agreement, attested to by the monitors themselves, demonstrate their callous disregard for confidence building that is a sine qua non for successful negotiations.

Representatives of the USA, UK, Japan, Canada, Norway and the EU please note.

L. JAYATILLEKE
- Nawala.

UNP ballots and LTTE bullets

THE late Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar was a courageous leader and a true statesman of rare calibre who played a critical role in getting the blood thirsty terrorist organisation the LTTE banned internationally. He reversed the adverse image the Sri Lanka carried due to false LTTE propaganda.

The heinous assassination of Lakshman Kadirgamar was vehemently condemned by the most distinguished statespersons, social and professional establishments, all religious leaders and all political parties in Sri Lanka, except the United National Party and Tamil National Alliance.

It was very clearly stated in their condolence messages that they condemned the brutal killing calling it a barbaric, horrible and cowardly act of terrorism.

The UNP and TNA have not uttered a word against the LTTE terrorism and they are awaiting the final investigation report to announce their statements. Right thinking people are of the belief that these two political parties will never accuse and blame the LTTE due to the fear of bullets and ballots.

Once the ceasefire agreement was signed by the LTTE and the then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, the UNF Government cleared all barriers (except two) in the city of Colombo, allowing the Tigers to operate their war machinery in the South freely. It is true that coffins with dead bodies are not in transit from Jaffna to Colombo.

Dead bodies of Inspector Thabrew (OIC Dehiwala Police Station) Major Muthalib (Army Intelligence) Mr. Kadirgamar (Foreign Minister) were not brought from Jaffna. Veteran UNP politician and their henchmen should understand that these Tiger killers had come to Colombo from Jaffna with arms and ammunition, and not from down south.

Tamil political opponents, military personnel and Police officers in the North and East are being killed by the Tigers on a daily-basis, violating the CFA. It is the supreme duty of both parties to honour the CFA. The general view of the public is that the CFA introduced by Ranil Wickremesinghe is valid to the Government Forces only and not the Tigers.

At the last general election the TNA introduced Velupillai Prabakaran as their national leader. Hence, they cannot advise the Tigers to adhere to the CFA, other than carrying out their instructions.

The United National Party is dancing to the tune of the LTTE, since they do not want to lose the Tiger influenced vote bank at the coming Presidential election.

The UNP and TNA play test matches with ballots, while the LTTE is playing quick one day games with bullets and different venues in Colombo, Jaffna, Trincomalee and Batticaloa.

MAHINDA NIHAL PERERA
- Moratuwa .

Kadirgamar: A great son of Lanka

THERE is a way we could honour this humane, courageous and noble son, and that is by respecting his view that the peace we wish for could never be achieved unless the Tigers agree to lay down their arms as did the I.R.A.

It will also be some consolation that this great son of Sri Lanka did not lay down his life in vain if we pay heed to this view.

TISSA AMARASEKERA
- Kandy.