World on notice about LTTE terror

STATEMENTS: This week saw two important statements that sought to keep the world better informed of the terrorism practiced by the LTTE, and the plight of the Tamil community that continues to be oppressed by it. The first came from President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the week opened. Next was the letter from the TULF leader Anandasangaree to the Secretary General of the UN.

Both sought to focus attention of the international community on the terrorism of the LTTE. The President showed how it affects national development as well as denying liberty to the Tamil people; Anandasangaree has shown the extent of oppression undergone by the Tamil people under the LTTE, which he says is now coming to a breaking point.

Addressing the country's development partners at the Sri Lanka Development Forum 2007 at Galle last Monday, President Mahinda Rajapaksa was very clear in naming the LTTE for the terrorist organization that it really is, and also stating the government's policy with regard to the LTTE's terrorism.

Challenges

Detailing the main challenges faced by the Government in the first year of his presidency, he listed the LTTE's terrorism, as well as natural disturbances, heavy rains, floods and earthslips which caused loss of income and disrupted the day-to-day life of the people.

The President said: "Non-cooperation by the LTTE to participate in the negotiation process and their refusal to allow other democratic parties to function, prolonged the conflict interrupting some of the development activities in the Northern and Eastern provinces.

The deliberate escalation of terrorist attacks on innocent civilians, public property and Security Forces caused disruption and led to increased spending.

Our deterrent military actions against terrorism to liberate the people from humanitarian burdens created by the LTTE, has increased demand for funds for relief and resettlement programmes."

President Rajapaksa explained to the representatives from foreign countries and international donor agencies that Sri Lanka has for long endeavoured to find a democratic solution to solve the crisis vis-...-vis power sharing and harmonizing the needs of different communities.

He regretted that the democratic solutions offered or attempted have not succeeded in providing an acceptable solution to the ethnic and power sharing issues.

Bringing into focus the global war on terror and the need for the world to see the terrorist threat in Sri Lanka as part of that war, the President said: "Our country has suffered heavily from terrorism.

It is encouraging to note the global recognition of the cost of terrorism, more seriously than in the 80s. We as a country therefore work hand-in-hand with the global community to deal with terrorism by addressing its root causes through political negotiations and constitutional solutions as well as by counteracting senseless terrorist violence on innocent people and national assets.

Our aim in defeating terrorism is to liberate the peoples who have become victims of terrorism. In such a liberation excise, we are committed to ensure that human rights are preserved and democracy is respected."

Separating terrorism

Emphasizing the need for identify terrorism as being separate from other issues and conflicts in Sri Lanka, President Rajapaksa said: "We consider development in liberated regions and in rest of the North and East as critical in promoting sustainable peace and finding meaningful solutions to many potential conflicts within multi-ethnic and multi-religious societies.

I have no doubt that our development partners will therefore separate terrorism from a conflict in a complex multi cultural society with many income and regional disparities."

What President Rajapaksa sought to do was open the eyes of the world to the actual danger the LTTE posed to democracy, at a time when there were many interest groups trying to downplay the LTTE's terrorism and highlight the alleged threats to the Tamil community from the Government.

This is very often the theme of statements from abroad, whether from peace builders or other interested parties, where there is always a balance of blame being apportioned between the LTTE and the Government, demonstrating an even handed criticism of both parties in a wholly unrealistic manner.

The most recent statement from Sri Lanka's donor countries calling on the LTTE to desist from violence was a welcome departure from this. However, the LTTE's claymore mine blast at Vandaramulla in Batticaloa last Wednesday, killing 11 and injuring 13 police and services personnel and civilians, is an indication of how much respect they have for foreign advice, or a good measure of its contempt for such advice.

The plight of Tamils

If President Rajapaksa speaking as the Head of State informed the world of the threat posed by the LTTE to civilized society and the need to separate its terror from the aspirations of the Tamil people, Anandasangaree, the TULF leader, speaks as one of the few lone voices of the Tamils who has the courage to speak out about the LTTE and its major oppression of the Tamils of Sri Lanka.

His letter to the UN Secretary General is an attempt to keep the world informed about the plight of the Tamils living under the jackboot of LTTE terror, and the sacrifices they are forced to make to sustain the LTTE's position of oppressive control over them.

While President Rajapaksa says: "Our aim in defeating terrorism is to liberate the peoples who have become victims of terrorism," Anandasangaree says: "The most crucial problem facing the country facing today is the liberation of the Tamil people from the LTTE's atrocious rule, in the districts of Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu and in parts of the districts of Mannar and Vavuniya."

The veteran Tamil politician who has seen his own political colleagues betray both their party and the Tamil people to the LTTE, writes with a deep understanding of the situation faced by the Tamil people today.

Agonizing plea

He says: "The LTTE's atrocities have now reached a climax and the people, unable to bear them any more are longing for a change.

If no action is taken immediately, Prabhakaran will soon pave the way for the total annihilation of the Tamil race. I have very reliable information that people want a smooth transfer of power from the LTTE to the Government."

In an agonizing plea Anandasangaree described the tragic ignorance by the world outside of the tragedy undergone by the Tamils in Sri Lanka.

As he says: "The world does not know that there is a group of people, under the dictatorial rule of the LTTE, all Tamils, living in areas under their full control, without rights, facilities and with no guts to protest. There is none to receive the protest and to rush to their rescue.

"They are at the mercy of the LTTE. My solitary voice is echoing and re-echoing the grievances of these unfortunate people, with hardly anyone responding to my call. These people are undergoing this agony not for one or two years but easily for quarter of a century, with no hopes of any relief."

Anandasangaree tells the UN Secretary General how the LTTE is preparing for the next phase of war aimed at capturing the Jaffna peninsula, from where it was once dislodged by the Security Forces. As he says it: "Now with a demand from the LTTE for one person from each household they are prepared to defy the LTTE and revolt against them.

They are also prepared to welcome and give all cooperation for a friendly army that will give an undertaking to give protection for their lives and properties in spite of any provocation that they may have to face, while engaged in the process of liberating them."

Space does not permit giving the details of the LTTE's terror over the Tamil people in its attempt to maintain control overt them, as stated by the TULF leader.

However, it should help in putting the record straight before the world of the true nature of the LTTE, and prevent being misled by counter propaganda about child recruitment that began to surface from the time the operation to evict the LTTE from the East began.

It is evident that the time for the liberation of the Tamil people is fast approaching. How this is done is a matter both for political and military strategy.

However, it is not a matter that can be delayed for too long. If the new Cabinet of Ministers can come up with the proper political solution, it could well justify the size of the Cabinet.