dailynews
 ONLINE


OTHER PUBLICATIONS


OTHER LINKS

Marriage Proposals
Classified
Government Gazette

Need to make common cause with US

Sri Lanka and the world have seen, once again, the US resolve to fight terrorism, wherever it may raise its heinous head. "Terrorism is unacceptable in any part of the world, be it in Sri Lanka or in the United States," US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly sessions.

This is, of course, good news for Sri Lanka, because we could be sure the US would stand with us, shoulder-to-shoulder in our battle against LTTE terrorism. We could bank on the US to back our every move to fight LTTE terror and bring the Tigers to heel.

This sense of assurance could be enjoyed by Sri Lanka because the US is adopting a principled stand on the LTTE and terror. As long as the LTTE remains committed to violence and terror it would be hunted down by the US and very steadfastly too.

Underlying this policy position is the principle that a country committed to liberal democratic principles and values could never bow down to terror and accept its diktat. We hope every practising democracy would be inspired by this principled position of the US and join it and states like Sri Lanka in their fight against LTTE terror.

That said, it must be noted that the US is also for a negotiated solution to the conflict in Sri Lanka. Although Tiger terror needs to be defeated as long as it is applied, there is no getting away from the reality that in the long term, a negotiated solution must be found to our conflict. With this position, of course, the Lankan State agrees. This is the rationale behind the Government sponsored APC and APRC processes.

However, as long as the LTTE and other terror groups continue to be a threat to civilized and democratic living, they would be dealt with severely by the US. Fresh evidence of this came in the form of the arrest of some LTTE operatives recently in New York by FBI undercover agents. The message sent out by the US is that there would be no let up as long as the LTTE traverses the terror path.

What is particularly important about the US position is its determination to crush Tiger terror on US soil. We are quite aware that most liberal democracies are staunchly opposed to political terrorism.

Many of them have joined the US in banning the LTTE on their soil. However, not all such states are as firmly opposed to the Tiger presence on their soil as the US is. For instance, in some of these states prominent LTTEers are still at large. Tiger front groups continue to function with impunity.

Such laxity on the part of these states would not enable the message to be sent loud and clear to the Tigers that the democratic, civilized world is staunchly and unfalteringly opposed to them.

In fact the failure to be united on the question of fighting the LTTE, with the same degree of firmness and fervour, might weaken the US and states such as Lanka, in their fight against the LTTE. In other words, the civilized world must be determined to the same degree to defeat LTTE terrorism.

We hope the US position would be a fresh eye-opener to the rest of the world. Political terror could never be overcome to the desired degree as long as the world remains varyingly inspired to fight terror.

A joint, determined, consistent and no-holds-barred effort to battle terror on the part of the world is the need of the hour.

We take this opportunity to alert the rest of the liberal democratic West to the magnitude of the battle undertaken by the US against terror. The US, of course, fully realises the high human cost this fight against terror incurs. However, the US' commitment to democracy and its principles is compelling it to forge ahead in its battle against terror; the costs notwithstanding. In other words, the US is seeking to protect liberty against tyranny.

Freedom and liberty are essential for civilized living and this is where the rest of the world should make common cause with the US. The liberal democratic West needs to fully close ranks with the US in this persistent attack on terror.

SWRD Bandaranaike - a unique statesman

On September 26, 1959 Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike was assassinated in cold blood, by a person clad in yellow robes. Bandaranaike had an enlightened philosophy, the full realisation of which suffered certain setbacks.

Full Story

Sirimavo Bandaranaike and the mixed economy recipe

The sixth death anniversary of late Prime Minister Sirimavo R. D. Bandaranaike should help bring back to many a Lankan mind the diverse services rendered to this country by administrations led by her.

Full Story

Rooting out terror and protecting our image

The President's international image should not be permitted to be tarnished by the LTTE or any other group. We certainly know of his commitment to human and fundamental rights. The fact that he has invited Thondaman and accepted him into the Government is a great stride forward.

Full Story

 

EMAIL |   PRINTABLE VIEW | FEEDBACK

Gamin Gamata - Presidential Community & Welfare Service
www.jayanthadhanapala.com
www.srilankans.com
www.srilankaapartments.com
www.news.lk
www.defence.lk
www.helpheroes.lk/
www.peaceinsrilanka.org
www.army.lk

| News | Editorial | Financial | Features | Political | Security | Sport | World | Letters | Obituaries | News Feed |

Produced by Lake House Copyright � 2006 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.

Comments and suggestions to : Web Editor