Forces on verge of completely eliminating terrorism

Chaminda Perera

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Defence Spokesman and Foreign Employment

Promotion Minister Keheliya Rambukwella in an exclusive interview with the Daily News said the Security Forces are on the verge of completely eliminating terrorism which was presumed to be an impossible task by certain elements. He said the Forces have taken all possible steps to ensure Prabhakaran will not flee the country.

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Q: There was division of opinion on the possibility of eradicating terrorism before humanitarian mission against terrorism was initiated. Today nobody doubts this possibility. How did this come about?

A:Two and half years back , certain elements were attempting to create public opinion that the Government’s endevour to crush LTTE terrorism is unattainable. Many people doubted whether it could be done at all. Division of opinions is a part of democracy. They said the LTTE is well-organised and has international links and the international community will not allow it to be defeated . They said it was irrational to fight Prabhakaran and disregard the advice given by the international community.

They envisaged that the rest of the world would isolate the President and the Government for proceeding with the war against their wishes. We are a soverign nation that can stand on its own. In the long run the people have realised that the Government is capable of defeating terrorism which is a threat to the country’s sovereignity.

Q: How do you ensure that civilians are not affected in the confrontation between the Security Forces and the LTTE?

A: No confrontation in the world will go without affecting someone. What we try to do is to minimise harming civilians. Sometimes there are certain sacrifices we all have to make for the long term interest of the country.

It is the LTTE who is keeping the civilians as a human shield. The Security Forces are following the zero civilians casuality policy of the Government. Therefore, we have been able to achieve victories with minimum casualty.

Q: What have you got to say about the allegation that the Government is not concerned about the civilian population?

A: We are more concerned over the civil population than Prabhakaran who doesn’t have an iota of respect for civilians. I do not think he has any concern for the civil population. Nor are those voiciferous NGOs and INGOs concerned about them. They are trying to make a noise, that’s all.We are the people who are really interested in the protection and well-being of Tamil civilians. We are trying to capture this horrible terrorist, Prabhakaran with minimum sacrifice one could make.

Q: How does the Government rehabilitate the people fleeing from the terrorists clutches?

A: The rehabilitation of people fleeing from clutches of the tigers is a big challenge. Phyciscal development of the North and the rehabilitation of the mindset of the people who were under the LTTE are the real challenges.

We are quite confident that we can overcome this challenge. As far as my Ministry is concerned , I have already made arrangements in the East to set up three free training centres for youth. Perhaps, we should be able to send quite a number of youth for foreign employment.

The Government has a challenge to develop the infrastructure of the Northern Province . The people in the Northern Province were deprived of all their rights and the Government should strive to restore them.

We are working on development. Schools have to be reconstructed, hospitals should be better equipped and electricity should be provided. Human development is more important than any other material development such as physical infrastructure.

Q: Are the Forces trying to hunt down Prabhakaran?

A: Yes, Prabhakaran is in hiding and is on the run. He has a series of bunker lines and changing them every half an hour. One impediment we have is our concern for civilians. Even when we get some positive indications on spotting Prabhakaran in certain areas where he is frequently visiting, we held back air attacks purely due to our concern for civilians.

Q: Is the Government under pressure from various quarters of the world to stop the ongoing humanitarian mission?

A: Well. This is not a new experience. Fortunately, the President has been firm in exercising the mandate given by the people who are sovreign. Nothing more than that. He stands firm like a tower protecting the people. He follows the principle that what should be done must be done.

He is prepared to withstand any pressure .We have handled such pressure for the past two years and we feel we should be able to handle this for the next couple of weeks and finish the menace of terrorism. . We had not only military victories but we also emerged victorious in all spheres. We received assistance from the rest of the world and quite firmly defended our sovreignity

Q: How does the Government face the challenge of rehabilitating people fleeing from the uncleared areas?

A: Once we eradicate terrorism and capture Prabhakaran dead or alive, we will face the real challenge. We are quite confident with the leadership of the President that we will be able to meet this challenge.

Q: The Opposition says military victories are being exploited by the Government. Any comment?

A: Naturally, the Opposition is trying to do their job, But our Opposition plays foul. Military victories do not just happen. They depend on proper guidance, proper strategy and proper plan. The Government is firmly supporting the humanitarian operation of the Security Forces.

Every single person of the country may not agree with the President’s political vision. But 99 per cent of people accept the fact that if not for President Mahinda Rajapaksa we would not have secured these military victories.

Q: Why is the opposition trying to misinterpret military victories?

A: The Opposition is deflated and disgruntled. The main party in the Opposition has completely lost its way.

Its front rankers have left and back benchers who can not utter five words properly have been brought forward . That is not because they love to give them a chance, but because they have no choice.

Q: Will the LTTE terrorists resort to guerrilla warfare after Mullaitivu is captured?

A: We have been engaging in Guerrilla warfare for the past three decades. They never came forward to fight the Forces.

Our forces could have finished this within six months if this had been a conventional war.

They have always been cowardly activating their terrorist and tactical moves.

Q: Is there any plans to hand over Prabhakaran to India if he is captured alive?

A: When we catch him, we will deal with that issue. There are international norms and treaties such as the Vienna Convention and Geneva Convention to which we have been a party.

Within the laws that govern the area and treaties and Conventions that we have signed we will look into that.