JHU urges direct action against LTTE

Chamikara Weerasinghe

COLOMBO: The Jathika Hela Urumaya yesterday called on the Government to take direct action against the LTTE if national security is to be protected.

The Leader of Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), Ven. Ellawala Medhananda thera expressing concern over yesterday's terrorist attack, said it is a matter for regret that the incident had taken place within the nerve centre of the country's security establishment.

"This calls for direct pragmatic action from the Government to beef up its security instead of merely resorting to issuing messages of condolence and statements condemning these acts," Ven. Medhananda Thera said speaking at a press conference held at the Shanthi Foundation in Colombo.

Ven. Medhananda Thera also asked politicians not to interfere with security matters and allow the Security Forces to perform their duties without restraint.

He said: "The army is responsible for ensuring security. They need not be told how to do their job." He said political interferences had always stood in the way of Army strategies and these interferences has been partially responsible for putting the country's security in jeopardy.

Medhananda Thera also requested the public not to take the law into their hands and called on the Government to take immediate action against the LTTE in accordance with the Constitution without further jeopardizing the nation's security.

He also requested all political parties to support the Government at this juncture without seeking political advantage and to treat it as a national problem.

JHU Secretary General Champika Ranawaka asked the Government not to depend on the international community and the EU until they proscribe the LTTE as a terrorist organisation.

"Even if they ban the terrorists, this will not stop terrorist killings inside the country. Therefore steps must be taken to disable the LTTE inside the country to ensure security to the citizens," he pointed out.

He asked if the people of this country, including Army commanders, politicians and civilians had been sacrificing their lives to the LTTE for the purpose of getting the international community to proscribe the LTTE.

He said this is the borderline of peace. It was clear there can be no peaceful path with the LTTE. He requested the government to take direct action against the LTTE to protect the security forces, civilians and democracy.