Denial of water - a sheer terror tactic

TERROR CAMPAIGN: Terrorism has always been perpetrated against civilised society. Terrorists always need to disturb civilised society and see civilized people in agony for the sake of reaching their ultimate goal of terrorism over the misery of the common masses.

The Tiger terrorists, the most ruthless terrorist group in the world, proved their ruthlessness this time in a different inhumane method.

The LTTE vociferously championing human rights in the international arena for the sake of obtaining sympathy of the international community and defame Sri Lankan Security Forces internationally, last week committed the gravest crime according to international law by depriving people of their basic need, water.

The Tigers who claim to be fighting for the liberation of the Tamil community forcibly cut off the irrigation water supply for thousands of villagers in Seruwila, Muttur and Ichalampattu areas in Trincomalee from the Mawilaru Anicut preventing Irrigation Department officials from opening the sluice gates.

The Tiger terrorists used the same type of tactic a few years back by cutting off the water supply for the people living around the Valachchenai.

As rightly defined by the Government Peace Secretariat this act by the LTTE contravenes all norms of civilized behaviour and is in violation of international law.

Under Protocol I to the Geneva Convention, "it is prohibited to attack, destroy, remove or render useless objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population, such as foodstuffs, agricultural areas for the production of foodstuffs, crops, livestock, drinking water installations and supplies and irrigation works, for the specific purpose of denying them for their sustenance value to the civilian population or to the adverse Party, whatever the motive, whether in order to starve out civilians, to cause them to move away, or for any other motive (Protocol l, Geneva Convention - 1977).

The LTTE played the same game in the latter part of August 2000 by disconnecting the water supply to around 12,000 civilians in Valachchenai area in the Batticaloa district as a retaliatory measure against action taken by the Armed Forces to prevent the products manufactured by the Paper Mill in Valachchenai falling into LTTE hands.

The issue was settled after the International Committee of the Red Cross intervened into the matter and restored the water supply to the paper mill and also for the 12,000 people including Tamil people.

But this time there was no indication from the side of the LTTE as to why they have cut off the flow of water for more than 1,500 acres of paddy land in the villages of Seruwila, Muttur and Ichchilanpattu areas. It was obvious that the LTTE disregards the fact that it was not only the Sinhala community that suffers due to their inhumane act but also their fellow Tamil civilians.

The paddy fields of the Sinhala community in Seruwila immediately benefit from the inflow of water from the Mawilaru Anicut. The LTTE should realise the fact that if they try to evacuate the Sinhalese people from the area through their inhumane act, it is the same water that flows into the paddy fields of the Muslim and Tamil community in the area.

The attempts made by the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission to settle this dispute after having discussions with LTTE Political wing leader in Sampur, had failed. The LTTE had even stopped area the irrigation Engineer and the Truce Monitors who tried to reach the anicut, a day after the LTTE closed the sluice gates one Kilometre ahead of the anicut.

The LTTE during their discussion with the SLMM also had not given any reason for their action.

The agitation campaign by the people in the area led by Seruwila Raja Maha Viharadhipathi Ven. Saranakiththi Thera was put off on Tuesday at 5 pm as Government requested few days to settle this issue.

However, the Government is now ready to take this matter even to the UN to ensure the right of the people in Seruwila, Muttur and Ichchilanpattu to have irrigation water for a better harvest in the coming Yala season.

The Government took steps to turn its words into action by launching limited air strikes in identified targets in Verugal in Trincomalee South on Wednesday afternoon. The Government this time realised the fact it is useless to expect a positive response from the LTTE for the humanitarian appeal.

The fighter jets of the Sri lanka Air Force took identified targets in Verugal with the intension of urging the LTTE to open the sluice gates to ensure water supply for more than 30,000 acres of paddy lands and also drinking water for the villagers.

The Tiger terrorists are now in the process of using the same tactics they used for the Mawilaru anicut, to cut down the number of Ceasefire Monitors in the Sri lanka Monitoring Mission. They continue to insist that the truce monitors representing EU countries should quit the Monitoring Mission by September 1

The ultimate result of this unilateral demand of the LTTE , if the monitors representing the EU countries quit the Mission through fear, would result in reducing the number of truce monitors to 20.

This would help the LTTE to achieve their goals by restricting the monitoring activities to limited areas, as they have not shown any interest to include monitors from other countries despite Government's eagerness to have bilateral talks to settle this issue.

The LTTE was very keen to increase the number of monitors when the Navy engaged and destroyed their arms smuggling vessels in the sea off Mullaitivu following the signing of the Ceasefire Agreement.

But it has turned out to be a bitter pill for them when truce monitors on board the Pearl Cruiser II reported the LTTE attempt to destroy the troop carrying vessel even disregarding the security of the Ceasefire Monitors on board.

As the LTTE was trying to cripple the peace in the country by posing challenges to the Southern polity and also for the Security Forces, the valiant soldier who promised to be a challenge to terrorism set his feet on the soil of Mother Lanka on Tuesday evening.

The arrival of Lt. General Fonseka surprised even senior military officials at the Army Headquarters as they came to know about his arrival only when the helicopter taking him from the Katunayake airport landed at the Army headquarters grounds at 6.15 p.m.

After fully recovering from injuries caused by the suicide bomb attack the Army Commander took over the command exactly three months afterwards.

The Commander is due to resume his normal functions in the coming week.

Though the arrival of Army Commander was a morale boosting factor for the Security Forces it will definitely be bitter news for the LTTE which tried to take his life by deploying a woman suicide cadre. It is obvious that the LTTE will not allow the Commander to do his work according to his usual pattern.

However, the Army Commander will continue to be a challenge for Tiger terrorists just as he declared on the date he assumed duties in December last year.

It is learnt that the Commander is determined to carry forward all programmes initiated by him to boost the morale of the Security Forces and to effectively face the challenges of the LTTE.

As a man who created history after becoming the first Army Commander to survive a deadly suicide attack of the LTTE, he would definitely take action to minimise the threats posed by the LTTE through their continuous claymore attacks.

The soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army continuously become victims of the LTTE claymore mine attacks and this has lessened the morale of the soldiers serving in the North and East. It is expected that the Army commander will give priority for this issue to boost the morale of the soldiers.

The attention of the Commander should also be focused on matters relating to transport facilities for Security Forces personnel. A speedy provision of solutions to these problems will definitely boost the morale of the soldiers and also encourage enlistment by more youth, two vital factors that can propel the Army forward.