Terrorism of water

Australia: The Tiger terrorists have scored another world's first. They have introduced the notion of 'terrorism of water', to the world.

Beginning a week ago, they have terrorised Sri Lanka in depriving of 15,000 families of their drinking water, and also held to ransom 30,000 acres of their rice cultivation by commandeering sluice gates and denying the supply of water to residents.

If the world views fundamental human rights as inviolable, what more fundamental can be a human being's right of access to fire, water, air and earth. These are sacrosanct entities from time immemorial for the very existence of life.

The Tiger terrorists of Sri Lanka have now hijacked these fundamental resources and introduced a new dimension to world of terrorism - Terrorism of Water.

Having violated over 6000 times, a hoax of a Ceasefire Agreement with the Government since 2002, the Tiger terrorists have embarked on a vicious rampage of brutality in the recent months.

They are terrorising every Sri Lankan whether they be Tamils, Muslims or Sinhalese by committing murder and mayhem around Sri Lanka with automatic weapons, claymore bombs and employing suicide bombers. Today, and in the past weeks, in the midst of a ceasefire they have been targeting ships at sea, carrying over 800 defence force personnel going on their home leave, on each occasion.

Further, during the week, they have also pressurised and kicked out the peace keepers of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission from the countries of Sweden, Denmark and Finland by virtue of the fact that they are citizens of the European Union.

The European Union of 25 sovereign States and Canada are two of the world governments that proscribed and criminalised the association with Tiger terrorists during the past two months.

The democratically elected Government of Sri Lanka has taken the right steps on humanitarian grounds to use limited military operations to restore the fundamental right of access to water for the deprived families. Also, large amounts of drinking water is reported to be transported by the Government for this purpose.

The world community including Australia needs to give its fullest support and encouragement to Sri Lanka in its struggle against this abject terrorism. To have a confused notion that Tiger terrorists are freedom fighters for the salvation of a homeland that is in fact outside Sri Lanka, is a fundamental error.

It is time that the psyche of the nation is mobilised to its fullest strength and the beautiful nation of Sri Lanka salvaged from the abyss of destruction. The world including Australia needs to do its duty by democratic Sri Lanka, by criminally proscribing the Tiger terrorists.

Nimal Liyanage
Secretary SPUR (NSW)