No political hand in STF re-deployment

Only 25 per cent of STF personnel re-assigned from Ampara:

Sarath MALALASEKERA

COLOMBO: The Government yesterday rejected reports in some sections of the printed and electronic media referring to the ‘total’ re-deployment of the Special Task Force (STF) from the Eastern Province as being totally incorrect.

Only 25 per cent of STF personnel were transferred from the Ampara district not on the request of a political party but only on a normal police routine, said Inspector General of Police Victor Perera at a special media briefing at the Police Headquarters yesterday afternoon.

The IGP totally denied a lead story of a newspaper (not of the Lake House Group) that STF personnel were transferred from the Ampara District on a request made by a political party in the Batticaloa District.

The IGP emphasised that the story would be damaging to the security of the country.

This story not only affects the security of the country but also assists the enemy, when the Forces are capturing more main LTTE camps, the IGP said.

“The STF personnel in the Ampara District were transferred for the benefit of the country and not for the benefit of the Government. Changes are made mainly due to the security reasons and not on any personnel grounds. It is a normal feature in the Police Department that transfers take place after a certain period on the recommendations of the Police Commission,” the IGP said.

The IGP said STF Commandant DIG Nimal Lewke was transferred to Western Province Operations Unit as Lewke, was one of the most efficient, experienced and highly knowledgeable police officers whose expertise is needed to ensure security in the Western Province.

This was not a sudden decision taken by the IGP, as stated by sections of the media, the IGP added.

Senior DIG Mahinda Balasuriya said 25 per cent of the STF personnel were transferred from the Amapara District as they are very experienced personnel who can play a pivotal role in security operations in other parts of the country.

Army media spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said that the STF transfers from the Ampara District was a normal routine and not on any request by politicians. Police, Navy and Army transferrers are carried out depending on terrorist activities and no changes are done on the frequent of any politicians, Brig. Nanayakkara said.

“Re-deployment of Forces on considerations of troop levels, requirements, exigencies of the service and ground realities are considered routine for the Police and such matters should not be reported by the media in a manner at this critical juncture and time which could be an advantage to the enemy,” added a statement issued by the Media Centre for National Security (NCMS).

It scotched reports that the re-deployment of the STF has been made at the instigation of the TMVP in the Batticaloa district. It is a total fabrication and distortion of facts.

Ground realities with reference the strengths available and required in relation to the task of providing the security expected and other matters are some considerations that have resulted in the re-deployment of the STF, it noted.

The Government whilst reminding that the entire STF has not been re-deployed, calls on the media to correct the false interpretations in the printed and electronic media, the NCMS said.