Democracy regains foothold as Easterners reject Tiger terror

LTTE fails to sabotage poll; Strong signal to Northern populace on liberation from tyranny:

People in the Eastern province gave a clear answer against the tyrannical rule of Velupillai Prabhakaran at the recently concluded election after embracing the path of democracy, giving a clear message especially to the international community about their desire to live in a democratic society.

Whatever the allegations levelled against the way the election was conducted, by disgruntled political elements who could not reach their ulterior motives through their participation at the election process, many are of the view that Eastern election was conducted in a relatively free and fair manner though it was not entirely devoid of violence.

Despite criticism by disgruntled politicians and some election monitors who had observed the election just to give a negative aspect of the election, the Government could make a giant leap forward through this election.

It was a giant leap forward in the process of safeguarding the national security of the country as the reactivation of the democratic institutions in the Eastern province contributes immensely towards safeguarding national security in the country as the chances for terrorism to raise its ugly head once again in the East have been fully eliminated through this process.

First it was the process of eliminating terror elements from the Eastern province. It was through a long process, commencing from the Mavil Aru battle the Security Forces cleared Sampur, Upparu, Gangai, Vakarai, Batticaloa South and finally the Thoppigala area to fully liberate the East from the clutches of the LTTE.

Then the Government had to convince the Eastern people that they too are part of this country and they too can enjoy the same rights the people in other parts of the country are enjoying by initiating a Rs.600 billion development drive in the East especially in the areas badly hit by terrorism.

The process of ensuring political freedom of this civilian population commenced as the development drive was in progress with the conduct of the Local Government elections in the Batticaloa district after a lapse of 14 years.

So the Eastern population went through a step by step process until they got the chance of exercising the universal franchise to elect their own representatives to run their own administration in the Eastern province.

Over 600,000 people in the East enjoyed their right to cast the vote on May 10 despite various attempts by the LTTE to prevent them from exercising their democratic right. Therefore, the true feeling of freedom enjoyed by the Eastern people can only be described by citizens who had undergone the immense suffering at the hands of the LTTE for the past two and half decades in the Eastern province but not by armchair critics in Colombo.

Those civilians who fled the Tiger grip under extreme circumstances at the end of 2006 seeking refuge of the Security Forces can now have a flashback and feel the real freedom they are now enjoying in a society sans brutal terrorism of the LTTE. So it was after a long and arduous process the Government has been able to enshrine the Eastern people with their due rights after liberating them from the clutches of the LTTE terrorism.

Now, even after the conclusion of the election the people in the South are contemplating as to who would become the Chief Minister in the Eastern Provincial Council. Many are attempting to arouse communal feelings among the Tamils and Muslims inflating the issue as a tussle between the Muslims and the Tamils.

Anyway it would be a race between M.L.A.M. Athaullah and Pilleyan. However, President Mahinda Rajapaksa was due to have a crucial discussion last evening to take a final decision regarding the appointment of the Chief Minister for the Eastern Provincial Council.

His decision to nominate a Chief Minister would be based on the ground realities in the Eastern province and also the political situation prevailing there. Therefore, the appointment of the Chief Minister for the Eastern Provincial Council should not be aimed at jeopardising the current security situation in the East and also should not jeopardise the long and arduous task undertaken by the Government in the process of establishing democracy.

One major factor that should be recalled here is that LTTE terrorism has not been totally eliminated from the country though the East has been fully liberated from the LTTE. The Security Forces are still engaged in the process of liberating the North and Wanni from the clutches of the LTTE.

Therefore, under circumstances where people were losing faith in the democratic process the LTTE had the opportunity to turn that situation into their advantage and instigate the ex-LTTE cadres now peacefully living with their family members against the Security Forces.

According to Security Forces nearly 1,000 ex-Tiger cadres are now living in the Eastern province under the close observation of the Security Forces and the Police. But opportunities are at a minimum level to reactivate these ex-Tiger cadres according to the wish of the LTTE and so far they have failed in all their endeavours.

To prevent the LTTE from grabbing this opportunity, the Government and the Security Forces need a strong wall against the LTTE in the Eastern province apart from the Security Forces and the Police operating in the East.

Therefore a separate Tamil leadership with strong opposition to the LTTE is a pre-requisite at this decisive moment in which the Security Forces are making their best ever attempt to liberate the Wanni and the North from the clutches of the LTTE.

That role was effectively played by the Thamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) leader Sivansathurai Chandrakanathan alias Pilleyan.

But that does not mean that the Muslims' rights should be disregarded at this moment. The more important factor is to keep the Tamil community's faith on the democratic process because this is the first time they are going to enjoy their political freedom even under trying conditions, in a society sans LTTE threats.

Compared to Tamils the Muslim community in the East lived within a democratic framework although their rights were restricted due to terror activities of the LTTE. Their leaders became partners in forming Governments in the South. But the Government should also make sure that all the rights of the Muslims and also Sinhalese living the East are ensured under any leadership irrespective of the fact they were enjoying their democratic rights earlier too.

Under these circumstances any leadership to the East should reflect on improvements to the security situation until the Government completes the process of liberating the North from the clutches of the LTTE and also should make the sacrifices made by the Security Forces and the Police in their effort of liberating the East from the clutches of the LTTE more meaningful.

Those who became representatives in the Eastern Provincial Council should also keep in their mind that it was due to the sacrifices made by the Security Forces and the Police that they were able to enjoy their full democratic rights.

Apart from this they should also not forget the way the LTTE made last minute attempts to sabotage the PC polls in the East by exploding bombs and firing mortars at villages in the Ampara district and sinking a Naval vessel inside the Trincomalee harbour.

But the Security Forces and the Police, due to their increased alertness could avert many of the attempts by the LTTE leadership sending their suicide cadres targeting the VVIPs engaged in the election campaign in the East.

Following all their attempts to sabotage the elections becoming futile, the Security Forces now observe no trails of these Tiger cadres who attempted to sabotage the elections. So it is a strong message given by the Eastern people to the Northern people who are still living under the clutches of the LTTE that they too have ray of hope to live in a society free of terror.

So the clear message given through the Eastern PC election is that the leadership given by the LTTE has been fully defeated in the East militarily and democratically.

This has put the efforts made by the Security Forces in a high pedestal both locally and internationally paving the way for the Government to further enhance national security through the process of fully establishing democracy in the entire country leaving no room for terrorism.

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Troops in lightning moves for Wanni liberation

As the Eastern people began enjoying the full freedom of democracy following the conduct of the Eastern Provincial Council election the Security Forces continued their arduous task of liberating the Wanni from the clutches of the LTTE on all three battle fronts.

The Tiger outfit has been put in a low ebb of morale in the Mannar theatre after the valiant troops in a surprise move captured the strategic town of Adampan last week without a single casualty on the part of the Security Forces.

"Capturing Adampan was a goal and the troops captured it hoodwinking the LTTE without a single casualty," a senior military official told this columnist highlighting the importance of capturing Adampan on the Mannar battle front.

Many barriers have now been removed for the troops operating in the Mannar battle front after this surprise capture of the strategic town of Adampan. They are now in full control of Adampan area and even extended their defence further north and east of Adampan.

According to ground sources troops are now some 1.3 Kilometres north of Adampan while securing a nearly 2 Kilometrestretch along the Adampan Andankulam road. Troops are operating some 400 metres North of Adampan -Andankulam road.

With the capture of Minnukkulam located some 1.34 Kilometres north of Adampan town Security Forces operating under the 58 Division under the command of the Brigadier Shavendra Silva have now reached the edge of the Mannar 'Rice Bowl' area the end of the open terrain on the Mannar battle front.

As troops of the 58 Division were advancing from the Manthai side, the troops attached to 8 Sinha Regiment battalion also advanced towards Alankulam area located some three Kilometres north of Giant Tank from the eastern edge. Heavy fighting broke out yesterday too in Alankulam area as troops confronted Tiger cadres.

Meanwhile, the LTTE lost one of its senior leaders Gadaffi in a claymore mine attack on a LTTE double cab. According to sources he was a close confidante of the Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran and was in charge of the Repair Section of the Sea Tiger Wing.

According to the LTTE he has been killed in a claymore blast close to Vellankulam on the Vidathalthivu-Pooneryn road on May 8 during night hours. According to intelligence reports he has been the mastermind behind the underwater attack on the Naval logistic vessel in Trincomalee in the wee hours of last Saturday.

Gadaffi has been posthumously promoted to the self styled 'Lieutenant Colonel' rank following his death. Reports also indicate that three other Tiger cadres including Artillery leader in the Mannar sector A-1 had also sustained injuries in the blast. Former Sea Tiger Leader Soosai had participated in the funeral at an unknown location in the Wanni.

Meanwhile Commando troops operating in the Mannar sector were able to kill seven Tiger cadres operating in the Wilpattu jungle. They had captured weapons and ammunition including the Tomba gun they had used to launch a grenade attack on an Army detachment close to the Wilpattu jungle recently.

They were killed close to Chettiyankkattiadai between Parappakandatthan and Madhu area on May 3. With these developments the LTTE is facing severe difficulties in facing the Security Forces in the Wanni front. Meanwhile, the troops in the Vavuniya front following their victorious mission in Madhu are now moving fast towards the Tiger territory. In some areas they have reached upto the Mullaitivu district border.

The troops operating in Palampiddi some nine Kilometres north of Madhu have fixed the Tiger cadres at the Palampiddi junction cutting off supplies to the Palampiddi junction.

The troops are heading towards Periyamadhu area north of Madhu cutting off the Palampiddi junction from various directions. The Tiger leadership has been disturbed as troops captured Palampiddi bridge which links Mullikulam road to Palampiddi junction. Troops braved booby traps and all forms of mines in their bid to capture this territory.

Meanwhile, troops on the Weli Oya front also made remarkable progress having advanced five kilometres into Tiger territory. Therefore, the troops are now in the process of completing the first phase of the Wanni battle achieving set targets within the stipulated timeframes.