A cowardly attack

YESTERDAY, the LTTE once again proved that it has never really changed. By staging yet another barbaric terrorist attack in Colombo, this time targeting Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, the Tigers demonstrated beyond any doubt that they are interested only in violence and conflict despite talking peace just a couple of months back.

The fact that the LTTE had the temerity to stage a suicide attack in Colombo while Norwegian Peace Envoy Jon Hanssen Bauer was in the country on a peace mission speaks volumes about its callous attitude towards the international community.

Rajapaksa survived the cowardly LTTE attack almost without a scratch, but many others have not been so lucky. Army Commander Sarath Fonseka recovered completely after sustaining serious injuries in the April 25 suicide bomb explosion.

But the LTTE succeeded in assassinating Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, Peace Secretariat Deputy Chief Ketheseh Loganathan, the Army's third in command Parami Kulathunga and many others including Tamil political leaders during the last 18 months alone.

Significantly, the attack came just a few days after LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran's infamous annual speech.

Although some analysts went to the extent of reading it as a 'declaration of war', that is nothing new for Prabhakaran and the LTTE.

Having stated last November that he was prepared to give one year to the new President to come forward with a peace proposal, he started claymore attacks against the Security Forces within a few weeks.

It is worth recalling that the Government kept virtually silent, honouring the Ceasefire Agreement, in spite of countless provocative acts of the Tigers until the abortive attack on the Army Chief. Only then did the Government sanction limited retaliatory or defensive operations against the LTTE.

Ironically, the LTTE did attend the Geneva truce talks in February and the peace talks in October, promising to abide by the Ceasefire Agreement as usual.

These have turned out to be empty promises and with the latest attack, the question arises again whether the LTTE is really interested in a solution to the conflict.

Although the LTTE's recent actions do indicate a complete lack of interest in a peaceful path, the Government to its credit has not abandoned the quest for peace.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has reiterated his commitment to a negotiated settlement and all political parties are working together to evolve a power sharing plan.

Now that a top peace envoy have witnessed the LTTE's brutality first hand, the international community must impress upon the LTTE the stark reality that senseless violence will not take it anywhere except oblivion. Giving up violence and entering the negotiations process will be its only salvation.

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