Be united against Tiger terror

It augurs well for Sri Lanka that President Mahinda Rajapaksa remains committed to peace talks. "My religion - Buddhism - teaches me how to be patient", the President was quoted saying, reminding Sri Lanka and the world that hatred would never cease by hatred. We hope the President's forbearance would serve as an inspirational guide to all figuring in our conflict.

In contrast to the LTTE's monumental hatred and distrust, the President's commitment to a negotiated settlement is most exemplary and heartening because the President's sentiments strike a chord in the hearts of all peace-loving persons. As long as such foresight and thoughtfulness guides our political leaders we could be certain that wisdom and humanity would prevail in this country.

However, the President would by no means compromise the national interest. This is the consideration that led to retaliatory strikes by the Air Force on Tiger bases in the East recently. Being committed to peace does not imply that the enemies of the State would be given a free hand in undermining its stability and internal accord.

Wrong-doers, such as the LTTE, would always be taken to task and all sensible sections would agree that this is the course to adopt. The world community too would need to see the reasonableness of this position. As in the case of the President, they too would give peace a chance but it would not be peace at any cost or the "peace of the graveyard".

If the enemies of a State constantly run amok, unleashing murderous violence and cause internal havoc, the government concerned would have no choice but to crack down hard on these lawless elements. No Western government would disagree with this point of view because all governments are duty-bound to protect and promote the national interest.

Likewise, the Government of Sri Lanka is obliged to protect its land and its people from the LTTE's marauding hordes. The Government did just this in the East recently and no right-thinking Western government would disagree with this line of thinking.

The same policy should underscore any government's handling of the LTTE and its front organisations on its soil. Inasmuch as these governments would not tolerate law-breakers within the bounds of their states, they should not tolerate the Tigers too as long as they do not down arms and shun the negotiatory process.

There could be no quibbling on these questions by any governments anywhere. What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. As long as the LTTE remains committed to violence it should be hunted down.

Consistent action on these questions by the governments of the world would aid Lanka's search for a political solution. As could be seen, it is the inability of the world community to speak with one voice on LTTE extremism and its lack of consistency and unity in cracking-down on the Tigers which is helping the terror group in its avoidance of the noose of the law. In short, such inconsistencies and prevarications are undermining Lanka's peace effort.

Therefore, if the world means what it says when it renounces terror, it should launch united punitive action on the LTTE.