Unite to defeat LTTE terrorism - Devananda

Uditha Kumarasinghe, Irangika Range and Sandasen Marasinghe

Social Services Minister Douglas Devananda yesterday requested all democratic forces to join hands to find a political solution to the present crisis and defeat the LTTE terrorism.

The Minister making a special statement in Parliament said we should put an end to this war launched against the community by the LTTE on behalf of the Tamil community, and urge all democratic forces to rally round to change this situation.

He said the LTTE is against the rights of Tamils. The LTTE on Wednesday sent a suicide bomber to assassinate me and explode another bomb at Nugegoda by killing several innocent people. The intention of the LTTE is to explode bombs in Colombo and the suburbs and get political milage from such incidents. But Prabhakaran will never be able to achieve his goals through such brutal acts.

I have so much experience on these LTTE bomb attacks. The LTTE attempted to kill me on several occasions. But I am not afraid of Prabhakaran. I am not a coward who runs away from such cowardly acts. Prabhakaran cannot frighten me through his suicide attacks, he said.

"My public relations officer Steven Peiris was killed by the LTTE's brutal suicide attack launched against me. In addition, a large number of innocent people were killed by the LTTE bomb blast at Nugegoda. I convey my deepest sympathies to the families of those who were the victims of this bomb blast," the Minister said.

'Devananda said innocent human lives are being taken away by the LTTE daily. The LTTE says they fight for the Tamils. But why is the LTTE killing its own Tamil people and political leaders who work for the Tamil community? How many Tamil political leaders have been killed by the LTTE during these past two decades? Will the Tamil people be able to get any solution through these LTTE killings?.

"I am ready to face even death. Every political leader who worked on behalf of the Tamils was killed by the LTTE. The problem faced by the Tamil community is completely different from the problems faced by the LTTE." He said we also took up arms at one time. Finally, we put an end to our fight and entered mainstream politics. We also suffered untold hardships those days. But the LTTE in the name of independence killed their own people who held different views."

Devananda said after the Indo-Lanka Peace accord was signed, they came to the democratic mainstream. The LTTE also pretended that they would also come to mainstream politics. Nearly 19,000 youth in the LTTE have been killed. If the LTTE came to mainstream politics, this would not have happened. But the LTTE did not accept the Indo-Lanka Peace Accord.

The Minister said the aspirations of the people should be taken forward. That is why the EPDP is asking for an interim administration structure. But the LTTE is against to it. The LTTE always denies the people's rights. But the EPDP arrangements intend to safeguard the rights of the people.

"We want to save our people from this LTTE destruction. Therefore we ask everybody to support our interim arrangement structure. This was first asked by Prabhakaran. Finally, he did not agree to it. Prabhakaran put forward another thing. The LTTE only wants the destruction of the people. They want to continue their fascism".

"During the regime the former Ranil Wickremesinghe Government, the LTTE had six rounds of talks, under the present Government, the LTTE had talks with Government in Norway and Geneva. During these negotiations, the LTTE only asked for meaningless things, Distraction is the only wish of the LTTE. People do not have any freedom to question the LTTE. The LTTE Leadership is not for peace, he said.

The Minister said nearly 19,000 Tamil youth in the LTTE have been killed during the past two decades. In addition, a large number of innocent civilians and soldiers have also been killed by the LTTE. All together the country has lost nearly 60,000 lives. The LTTE is responsible for all these killings."

At present the international community has banned the LTTE. They do not accept the LTTE as freedom fighters. The LTTE is not a friend to anyone. At present, the LTTE has fallen into a trap, he said.

Prabhakaran in his annual speech has tried to compare the issue of East Timor and the ethnic problem in Sri Lanka as Similar issues.

But these kinds of brutal killings did not take place in East Timor. They did not kill their own people as the LTTE is doing now in Sri Lanka. The LTTE is shedding crocodile tears in the civilised world. They are unleashing terrorist activities the Minister said.

At present our people in the North have faced untold hardships. Amidst the LTTE threats, I frequently visit Jaffna to look into problems faced by the people. Every Wednesday, I have dedicated my service to the public. Truth never dies.

The dreams of the Tamils are always destroyed by the LTTE. From ordinary citizen to higher citizen, everybody has faced this LTTE threat, he said.

Having faced this critical situation, this budget is being debated. Our intention is to develop the whole society. All people have a right to live. Therefore, all democratic forces should join hands to put an end to this destructive war launched against the community by the LTTE, the Minister added.