LTTE the spoiler and destroyer

THE attempt on the life of Army Commander, Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka, which cruelly snuffed out the lives of several, is clinching proof of the maniacal course the LTTE has committed itself to. Here is clear evidence that the Tigers are in no way associating themselves with Sri Lanka's search for peace, but are savagely intent on returning it to a state of bloodshed and war.

As an important moulder of public opinion we unhesitatingly and unreservedly denounce this outrageous attempt on the life of the Army Commander while offering our deepest sympathies to the close of kin of those who have lost their lives.

We join the Government on calling on the whole of Sri Lanka to remain calm, collected and restrained in this immensely trying moment and associate ourselves closely with the sentiment expressed recently by President Mahinda Rajapaksa that peace and communal harmony should receive the country's foremost attention.

We believe the most fitting answer by the people to the demented course adopted by the Tigers is absolute restraint, self-control and discipline.

We say this because it is quite clear that the LTTE's game plan is to shun the peace path and take the country along the destructive course of war and bloodshed. As we said yesterday, the LTTE-inspired killings over the last few days amply prove that the Tigers are eagerly seeking a re-run of the manic insanity of July 1983.

A fresh outbreak of communal violence is the greatest boon which could be granted to the LTTE at present. The LTTE should be denied this opportunity of a communal bloodbath, by the whole of Sri Lanka remaining restrained and calm.

At this critical juncture, the country needs to recall the words of President Rajapaksa: "We need peace and we need to resolve the problem through negotiations."

These are courageous sentiments the country would do well to treasure and be guided by. The pertinent question may be raised as to how peace could be established if the LTTE is mindlessly opposed to it.

A sensible answer to this poser is that the Security Forces and other sections of the law enforcement machinery would not stand idly by as the LTTE continues to engage in murderous violence. All law breakers would be taken to task by them but the people at large should observe civilized norms of conduct and act with humanity and tolerance.

Meanwhile, the LTTE would be exposing its true nature to the world community which should make the correct inferences from now on. It is plain that the LTTE is the spoiler and the destroyer.