New laws promulgated to face ruthless LTTE terrorism

Govt determined to bring peace, President tells Nation:

COLOMBO: The Government decided to re-implement the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) to face the LTTE's ruthless terrorism, President Mahinda Rajapaksa declared yesterday.

In an address to the Nation telecast on national television, President Rajapaksa said terrorism has been defined for the first time in Sri Lanka under these special regulations which have been introduced to combat terrorism in all its forms. This decision was reached after careful scrutiny of all related factors.

"There cannot be any half measures against acts of terrorists who are playing a suicidal game with the common destiny of our peoples. That is why these regulations are necessary. These laws should not be taken lightly. Regardless of one's position, aiding and abetting terrorism is a treacherous act. We will not tolerate that," the President said.

He observed that terrorism is terrorism, though it might masquerade in various guises. "There is no other way but facing it and defeating it. If we shirk this responsibility, it will endanger the future of the Nation. I am not ready to make that grave mistake."

The President appealed to all political parties to support him in word and deed in this endeavour to overcome these challenges. Disunity will only help the proponents of terror. He assured that the new laws and regulations would not curb personal freedom.

The Tamil community and all democratic institutions have nothing to fear. No human rights will be infringed upon. The new laws will only defeat the LTTE's fascist thinking. The laws will encourage democracy in the Tamil political arena.

"Our Government took this step in line with the powers vested in me as President and Commander in Chief to discharge the primary responsibility of protecting the Nation. The laws were promulgated to defeat the LTTE's designs to weaken the Sri Lankan State militarily," he added.

He observed that the new laws would not be an obstacle to the Government's firm determination to evolve a political solution to the North-East problem. The door has not been closed to the LTTE if it genuinely wants to enter the negotiations process but they must be honest.

He recalled that the Government acted with utmost restraint for the sake of peace even though the LTTE began hostilities on December 4, 2005 with the killing of six soldiers. There was no provocation whatsoever for the LTTE to engage in these acts.

"However, when the LTTE attempted to assassinate the Army Commander inside the Army headquarters we decided that we must answer the LTTE in a language that it can understand."

He elaborated on how the Government attended several rounds of peace and truce talks with the LTTE, which walked away citing various excuses and reasons to scuttle the peace process.

Nevertheless, the Government did not back away from the Ceasefire Agreement or negotiations. The Government was never the attacker.

"I am not willing to treat my responsibilities lightly or barter the country's sovereignty in the face of LTTE terrorism. The international community must also reject the LTTE's policy of treating the SLMM and peace facilitators as mere messengers," the President asserted.

Referring to the recent LTTE attack on Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, the President said it almost coincided with their [Prabhakaran's] statement on Eelam. The international community must analyse this deeply.

He expressed his gratitude to the US and all other friendly nations which have firmly eschewed the LTTE's demand and stood by Sri lanka's sovereignty and unitary status.

"The international community must influence to defeat the LTTE's belief that liberation can be created and achieved by bloodshed."

"It is just over one year since the people elected me as their President. They earnestly expected me to protect the nation without appeasing forces that were attempting to divide it. We have been able to extricate the country from a great betrayal."

He stressed that his intention remains creating a peaceful Sri Lanka where all communities can live together under his concept of building a "New Sri Lanka".