PM, UNP, other political parties condemn LTTE terrorist attack

Another barbaric LTTE attack - PM

COLOMBO:Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake in a condolence message on the barbaric LTTE attack in Kebithigollewa says:

I was deeply shocked when I heard the news of the blast of a Claymore bomb set by the LTTE terrorists at Kebithigollewa which killed a larger number of innocent citizens. "I would like to state that I vehemently condemn this brutal act of LTTE and further state it is shameless to kill unarmed innocent people as a group who are thirst of blood, when hands are stretched for peace to the barbaric LTTE terrorists as a civilized government.

"It has to be stated with great sorrow at present that the occurring of the incidents of this nature almost everyday causes our hearts deeply moved with sympathy.

Some people ask us whether the mere condemnation is sufficient when an incident took place. We are compelled to confine to such condemnation at this moment as we are not murderers like them. I highly appreciate the forbearance exercised by our members of forces, people of south and civilized people without going beyond their limits in the presence of the brutal acts of these terrorists, despite the prevalence of an environment of this nature.

I wish to state further that this act will again expose the real naked nature of the LTTE to the international community.

"None who possesses human qualities will admit the merciless killing of a large number of people including kids. As we all know, it is not a secret that during the last several months the members of forces on operation, innocent Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim civilians became the victims of these blood thirsty tiger terrorists.

While we are seeking avenues of peace as humanitarians possessing human qualities, they commit these brutal murders without respecting peace. Therefore, I strongly condemn this brutal human killings committed without respecting peace and cite them as barbaric actions committed by inhuman beings.

I express my deep sympathies to the relatives of the victimized families."

Nothing could be achieved in such brutal attacks: UNP

COLOMBO:The United National Party (UNP) yesterday strongly condemned the Kebethigollewa claymore mine blast, and said by such brutal attacks on the innocent civilians, nothing could be achieved.

The UNP statement said this could be reckoned as the worst since signing the Ceasefire Agreement between the UNP and the LTTE.

The UNP while condemning the attack conveyed its condolences to the victims' families on behalf of the party and its leader Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The release: "The Government which mocked at the ceasefire operative during the UNP regime has acted foolishly ever since and now reaping the fruits of their own follies. Ensuring the security of the citizens is an indispensable responsibility of the Government.

The leadership including the Cabinet of Ministers as well as the JVP must decide for themselves as what the next step should be.

If this situation continues, nothing can prevent the people from arraying themselves to face the situation. Under the circumstances, the UNP has no alternative but to join the masses as the main opposition."

A concealed motive of the LTTE: JVP

COLOMBO:The LTTE claymore attack in Kebithigollewa yesterday morning targeting innocent unarmed civilians travelling in a passenger bus is not the first attack the LTTE launched against the Sinhala civilians in uncleared areas, the JVP said in a release yesterday.

The release: "A few days ago the LTTE killed 12 Sinhala unarmed inhabitants in Welikanda just a few days after the massacre of eight young unarmed farmers in Gomarankadawala. The motive of the LTTE behind such attacks on unarmed civilians is nothing but their strategy to drive away the Sinhala people from uncleared areas.

The Kebithigollewa blast claimed more than 60 innocent Sinhala lives and wounded a large number. The victims were men, women, pregnant women and children who are innocent unarmed Sinhala citizens. The LTTE separatist terrorists expect to irritate the Sinhala sentiment against the Tamil people to create a communal conflict. We have to understand this concealed motive of the LTTE to portray the image of Sri Lanka as a short-sighted country of incompetence where anarchy prevails under a reign of terror.

This is exactly what the forces hostile to our motherland expect to facilitate foreign domination. Therefore the patriotic masses should act with tremendous self-restraint and a high sense of responsibility under such sensitive circumstances." The release conveyed its sympathies to the victims' families and called upon the Government and the masses to be concerned about the security of the people in uncleared areas.

It pledged total dedication to defeat the LTTE's murderous terrorism.

We condemn the attack: NUA

NORWAY: National Unity Alliance Leader Ferial Ashraff in Norway has sent a message condemning the brutal attack by the LTTE on the innocent civilians in Kebithigollewa yesterday morning.

The release: "We strongly condemn the brutal attack on the innocent civilians by the LTTE. We cannot perceive what the LTTE is trying to achieve releasing such a horror. The Sri Lanka Government and all democratic political parties believe that dialogue is the only way to find a lasting solution.

In such a circumstance, it is highly regrettable the attack aimed at a group of civilians killing over 60 people and injuring many others.

The inhuman attack of the LTTE not only destroys the goodwill that is being built but put the entire Tamil community in danger.

"We express our deep sorrow and send our condolence to the families of the victims of the massacre."

Rise in unison to defeat LTTE: Devananda

COLOMBO: EPDP Leader and Social Service and Social Welfare Minister Douglas Devananda yesterday despised with utter contempt the LTTE Fascist brutality displayed openly through the massive carnage of innocent civilians in Kebethigollewa yesterday morning by exploding a claymore mine that claimed 64 lives and fatally injuring more than 50.

He said: "The mere condemnation of such attacks and wailing over them are of no avail to tie down the cruel hands of blood thirsty Fascist elements. The democratic forces world over should resolve to rise up in unison to defeat the Fascist LTTE and hoist the flag of democracy."

The Minister in the release also conveyed condolences to the victims' family members on behalf of the Tamil speaking people who always yearn for solidarity with other communities and who are not responsible for brutalities caused by the LTTE.

Attack demonstrates LTTE's cruel and barbaric nature: JHU

COLOMBO: The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) yesterday vehemently condemning the LTTE claymore mine attack in Kebithigollewa, said it clearly demonstrated the cruel and barbaric nature of the LTTE terrorists.

The release: "The attack which killed 65 innocent civilians including two bhikkus, 12 children and a member of the Security Forces proved the futility of going behind the terrorists in search of peace. It is now the duty of the Government to stop insulting the meaning and respect of the word's 'patience' and responsibility and take steps to stabilise national security and the security of the innocent public which is its constitutional duty and responsibility."

The release signed by JHU General Secretary Ven. Omalpe Sobhitha Thera said: "The LTTE attempt to defeat the Security Forces through its so-called people's war had failed. The LTTE had now failed even to secure the so-called areas under its control and overcome the attacks made by the Karuna faction.

The LTTE has now started to massacre innocent Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim civilians who are living in fear of the attacks taking place in the so-called LTTE areas.

The Government had taken an unwise move by going to Oslo and this had enabled the LTTE to stage an international seminars in Oslo and transfer its bank accounts in EU countries to Norway and Switzerland.

Therefore, the Government should now take firm steps to defeat terrorism and the JHU would call upon the people to act in a calm and patient manner without giving into emotion and assist the Security Forces and Police in subduing terrorism without trying to take the law into their own hands.

While questioning the response of NGOs' Human Rights organisations, media organisations and the international community to this latest LTTE atrocity, the JHU would wish those killed in it, the bliss of Nibbana and convey its sympathies to the bereaved families.

Government condemns barbaric terrorist attack

COLOMBO: The Government yesterday strongly condemned the barbaric and inhuman killing of 64 innocent civilians at Kebitigollewa, in a claymore mine attack on a civilian bus carried out by terrorists.

It also appealed to the people to be calm and act with restraint, to defeat the aim of the terrorists to instigate a backlash in other parts of the country.

Government Defence spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said this attack was a brutal and savage terrorist attack and a clear example of LTTE terrorism.

He said the Co-Chairs of the Sri Lanka Peace Process and the international community were being kept advised of this latest act of LTTE terrorism.

The injured in the attack on the bus were quickly removed to the Kebitigollewa and Anuradhapura Hospitals.

Minister of Mass Media and Information, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, told the media today "the government is aware that the aim of the terrorists is to instigate a backlash in order to fulfil their evil designs."

The Government has urged the people to be calm and support its endeavours to eradicate the menace of terrorism.

The Government statement said: "The Government appeals to all civilized people and the international community to take cognizance of such evil designs of terrorists and extend all the assistance and cooperation to the Government at this crucial juncture."

President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Government expressed unreserved sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims of this brutal attack.

Military Spokesman Brig. Prasad Samarasinghe said all evidence so far showed a deliberate targeting of a civilian bus by the LTTE, as no armed services personnel travelled in buses on this route.

Dastardly terrorist attacks never accepted by any community: Japan

COLOMBO: On behalf of the Government of Japan, Ambassador Akio Suda expressed his strongest condemnation of the terrorist claymore attack on a civilian bus on June 15 morning at Kebitigollewa in the Anuradhapura District, deliberately targeting common people, a release from the Japanese Embassy said. The release:

Such dastardly terrorist attacks particularly targeting innocent common people are never accepted by any community in this country or the international community. Japan is deeply concerned about the recent increase in the incidents of violence and terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka and rejects any form of violence particularly acts of terrorism.

While condemning this attack in the strongest possible terms Japan hopes that despite this provocative terrorist attack a further deterioration of the situation would be avoided by all peace loving people of Sri Lanka".

Terrorist attack unjustifiable: Switzerland

SWITZERLAND:The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) was shocked to learn of the attack perpetrated on Thursday morning against a bus in Anuradhapura which killed several dozen people, including a large number of children, a release from the Swiss Embassy said.

The release: The DFA very strongly condemns this attack which has plunged the population of the entire region into mourning and which endangers a fragile ceasefire.

Switzerland expresses its condolences to the Sri Lankan population and authorities. It hopes that the perpetrators of this act will be rapidly identified and brought to justice.

Switzerland is worried by the progressive deterioration of the situation in Sri Lanka, which is making the ceasefire between the Government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) increasingly fragile. The terrorist attack on a civilian bus perpetrated on Thursday is unjustifiable. As well as being a personal tragedy for many families, it is a serious violation of the Ceasefire Agreement.

The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs calls on the parties to take urgent action to avoid an escalation that could have tragic results for the future of Sri Lanka and first and foremost for the civilian population, which is already severely affected.

The DFA reiterates its support for the Norwegian facilitator and expects the parties to return to the negotiating table as soon as possible to save the ceasefire, as this is an indispensable prerequisite for any peace talks.

Anuradhapura Bishop deeply shocked, saddened

Anuradhapura: Rt. Rev. Dr. Norbert M. Andradi OMI, Bishop of the Anuradhapura Diocese condemned the Kebithigollewa attack yesterday morning.

Issuing a statement to the media, Bishop Andradi said he was deeply shocked and saddened on hearing "the news of the unwanted, brutal attack on civilian life".

"I am deeply shocked and saddened on hearing the news of the unwanted brutal attack on civilian life at Vihara Handiya in Kebithigollewa. I wish to condemn this attack on innocent civilians in the strongest terms possible.

I wish to appeal for calm and restrain as violence is not quenched by violence. I convey my deepest sympathies to the members of the bereaved families and, in keeping with my faith, implore on all of them God's comfort and strength."

LTTE history rampant with mass massacres: Ministers' Secretaries' Union

COLOMBO:The Ministers' Secretaries' Union, condoling the Kebethigollewa tragedy, stated that the unabated wave of brutalities by the LTTE clearly confirms their absence of any manner of political vision or policy to attain their objective.

The release: "The LTTE making use of the Ceasefire Agreement as a strategy to invoke a back-lash. The victims of the claymore explosion were men, women and pregnant women, schoolchildren and members of the Buddhist clergy all of whom were innocent civilians. The LTTE history is rampant with mass massacres and explosions.

It is timely now for the NGOs who describe the LTTE as a liberation movement to identify the LTTE in its proper guise and declare an open opinion about the LTTE."