3 years that challenged terrorism

Ranil WIJAYAPALA

For a nation that has been hit by brutal terrorism for over two and a half decades, a leader who could challenge terrorism was a pre-requisite if it was to survive and achieve prosperity. The Sri Lankan nation was yearning for such a leader for the past two and half decades as they truly believed that only through defeat of terrorism can Sri Lanka emerge from the grave situation it was facing for the past few decades.

Lankan citizens believe that any temporary measures to cover up the issue of terrorism in the form of negotiations and offering political packages to a terror group would never solve the problem but worsen it and further drag this country towards separation.

The citizens of this country elected many leaders, who had a genuine interest to end this issue of terrorism for ever by any means. But they were not persistent in their attempts but touched the problem only on its surface and succumbed to external pressures at the end of the day.

Many of them were compelled to appease the interests of outsiders who had interfered to resolve this issue by means of pressurising the successive Governments to adopt their own solutions to this problem which were completely strange for this nation which had a long history relating to ethnic amity.

So the people of this country were in need of a leader persistent in his policies and who can stand against any internal or external pressure in his efforts to solve this issue as they knew the solving this issue which had engulfed this nation for the past two and half decades is not an easy task for any leader.

At the same time they were aware of the fact that they too have to undergo severe hardships and have to make sacrifices on behalf of the nation if they need to see an end to this problem. Therefore, the patriotic citizens of this country who did not believe in popular methods to solve this issue, were yearning for a leader who can make their sacrifices on behalf of the nation more meaningful.

They felt this need when the so-called leaders were trying to offer this country to a terror group which never believes in a political solution but in separatism in the guise of peace talks and at a time those so-called leaders remained silent when those brutal terrorists assassinated the Foreign Minister of this country in cold blooded murder.

Though they were not chauvinists they were not ready to see their leaders remain silent when a terror group played havoc killing their own brothers and sisters in the guise of peace negotiations. They needed a leader challenging these terror acts and who could defend this nation in face of so called terrorism.

For the past three years of the Presidency, Mahinda Rajapaksa has fulfilled all these hopes and aspirations of the common masses of the country in the field of national security.

So it would no be an exaggeration to say that it was a three year period which had given topmost priority for national security that gave a strong feeling to the masses of the country that they are heading towards living in a secure country due to the sacrifices made by the war heroes.

If they had any suspicion over national security for the first few months under the Presidency of Mahinda Rajapaksa, in which he made a genuine effort to end the problem by means of a political negotiation with the LTTE amidst terror acts unleashed by them against the Security Forces, they were dispelled when they observed the way he reacted to terrorism when the LTTE attempted to take the life of Army Commander Lt. General Sarath Fonseka on April 25, 2006.

I still can remember I got a telephone call from Trincomalee the same evening, saying that they felt only that day they have Security Forces to defend them. It was when supersonic jets bombed LTTE's so-called Sampur military installations. That was the first time guns were directed towards LTTE military establishments, after exercising patience for a long period in face of their terror acts.

He further tightened the bond he had with the country's national security when the LTTE killed more than 70 innocent civilians including infants and children in Kebithigollewa claymore attack targeting a civilian bus. He shared the sorrow and sadness with the affected people having visited the scene hours after the incident even at the risk to his life, since it entered history as one of the saddest moment of the nation.

But the LTTE had a litmus test when they acted in a most inhumane manner after depriving water for more than 30,000 people in the South of Trincomalee after closing the sluice gates of Mavil Aru. That was the turning point that precipitated the war against the LTTE with the genuine interest of liberating the common masses of the Eastern province from the grip of LTTE terrorism.

He had to go against the tide to wage war against the LTTE. There were many armchair critics who had their narrow minded estimations that the LTTE was an invincible force. To prove these facts wrong President Rajapaksa has a good selection of generals behind him to lead the war against the LTTE as he had put correct people to the correct positions.

His own brother who is a battle hardened officer helped him to guide the Defence Ministry as the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Lt.

General Sarath Fonseka who was a real challenge to terrorism to command the Army, Vice Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda to command the Sri Lanka Navy and Air Marshal Roshan Goonatilleka to command the Sri Lanka Air Force.

The success behind President Mahinda Rajapaksa's policy was that he had a good and clear picture about the country's national security as he had very keenly listened to the observations made by the three Forces Commanders regarding the future reactions of the LTTE and the challenges to national security.

He was very clearly committed to clear the path for the victories of the Armed Forces. He expanded their infrastructure having understood the real requirements of the Armed Forces it they are to defeat the LTTE and maintain that victory.

He had learnt lessons form the past experiences of the country in which successive Governments had to give up the areas they captured when confronting the LTTE in other areas. For example the Security Forces had to evacuate troops in the East to liberate the North. The policy of President Rajapaksa was aimed at reaching successes and maintain that success until reaching the ultimate objective of defeating terrorism.

That was why many critics on war had miscalculations about the victories of the Security Forces and raised doubts about defeating terrorism.

But the past three years under his Presidency has proved beyond doubt that there is no reversal in the military victories the Security Forces had achieved during the past two and half years.

Many people had doubts about these victories as they were not aware of the real changes that had taken place within the Security Forces, in their tactical approach to war and the current operational methods as they were not similar to the huge military operations the country had witnessed for the past two and half decades.

From Mavil Aru onwards the Security Forces were able to reach the climax of their victories after they liberated the Barons Cap area or famously known Thoppigala in the Eastern province which was described by some disgruntled politicians as mere jungle terrain. But they were the breeding grounds of LTTE terrorism in the Eastern province and without clearing those jungle patches there could have been no deviation from terrorism.

The true successes were due to the destruction of these breeding grounds for terrorism. Even at a time these military successes were criticised severely he stood firmly with the Security Forces.

He showed to the nation that the leader of the country can reach the areas liberated by the Security Forces after visiting Vakarai even at a time the terrorists were operating in some parts of the Eastern Province to greet the war heroes who had achieved those military victories.

The liberation of the Eastern Province goes into the history in golden letters as it heralded a democratic era for the Eastern population who had been suppressed by LTTE terrorism for decades, with the establishment of Local Government Authorities and a Provincial Council after having free and fair elections. Rebel turned politician Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan became the Chief Minister of the Eastern Provincial Council.

The war against terrorism was not restricted to the ground. It was under his leadership, the Sri Lanka Navy could achieve the highest victory against the LTTE in the sea having destroyed 10 of their ships in the deep seas, in many instances in the international waters with the kind cooperation extended by the international community to curb international maritime terrorism.

The successes achieved by the Sri Lanka Air Force through their successful air raids targeting the LTTE facilities and leaders also kept President Mahinda Rajapaksa's war against terrorism on a strong footing.

He achieved these military successes as he could stand bravely to absorb the pressures coming from the international community who did not agree with a military solution to the North East problem. But due to the expression of his candid and genuine opinion about the LTTE terrorism he could stand against those pressures and ultimately prove to the international community that his policy was right.

In matters regarding national security he did not deviate from his position either in the political arena or in international fora. He stuck to one policy on national security and was not ready to betray the national security for any of the country's interests whether it was to obtain funds or raise foreign reserves to the country.

It was with the firm belief that only through the defeat of LTTE terrorism the country can we reach true democracy and prosperity.

It was due to his firm stand and commitment the Security Forces are at the threshold of their final victory against LTTE terrorism, on the verge of liberating the entire Tamil community from the clutches of LTTE terrorism for ever, having started the Wanni liberation operation and capturing sacred Madhu shrine, Mannar 'Rice Bowl', Viddatalthivu, Thunukkai, Mallavi and Nachchikuda.

He has clearly told the world that he will negotiate with the LTTE for a political solution only after they give up arms and is in the process of achieving that victory defeating the LTTE in their most prestigious strongholds in Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu and Pooneryn.

President Rajapaksa not only challenged Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran but proved that he has the men to achieve what he has spelt in his challenges, putting the LTTE to its lowest ebb having destroyed more than eighty percent of its military capability as of now.

Those who did not believe in the fact that the Security Forces were in a victorious march against the LTTE are now ready to believe in it as the Government led by President Rajapaksa maintained the same policy and proved that fact beyond any doubt.

His efforts have been praised not only by locals but also by the international community in many fora. But all his efforts to defeat the LTTE was not aimed at crushing the Tamil community but with the genuine interest of restoring them with their true democratic rights which they did not have access to for the past two and half decades.

On the other hand through his firm policy on national security he had given pride to war heroes of this country as he had make all their sacrifices on behalf of the nation more meaningful keeping them on the highest pedestal in contemporary society having given them the due recognition and pride in the society.

So the common masses of this country believe that the achievements reached under the three years Presidency of Mahinda Rajapaksa would be more meaningful once he completes his tenure of Presidency after endowing the North East people with their due rights and uniting the country for the citizens of this country to live without fear.