Myth of LTTE invincibly shattered

Q. How do you look at the last phase of the war to end terrorism?

A. The northern war has clearly exposed the contradiction in our society. The UNP, INGOs, NGOs and the diplomatic community together held that war is no solution to the ongoing crisis but only a negotiated settlement could resolve the conflict.

Very often they maintained that the LTTE represented a substantial segment of the Tamil population and therefore the entire Tamil community was rather inclined towards the LTTE. However, now the cat is out of the bag!

Now it is crystal clear that the ‘support’, the LTTE is said to have commanded is not that big; its military strength is crumbling. Over valiant security forces which fought under a superb military leadership and with tactical manoeuvring exposed to the world the myth of LTTE invincibility.

Even the Indian army failed to ensure complete sway over the LTTE fighting cadres. Our President as the supreme commander of the forces, service commanders, and our soldier have been able to earn international accolades over the victory against the most ruthless terrorist organisation in the world. Some of the top Indians who visited Sri Lanka recently concluded they had lot to learn from us.

The Wall Street Journal in the USA cited Sri Lanka as the best example to prove that terrorism could be militarily defeated. Besides, they editorialised on Sri Lanka’s success against terrorism. So those who firmly believed that only a negotiated settlement could resolve the crisis, have to eat the humble pie.

Q. Ho do you comment on LTTE’s behaviour in holding about one lakh of innocent Tamil civilians as a human shield against the advancing forces? The very same people who asserted to be the sole deliverers of the Tamils are now holding the poor entrapped people as cannon fodder.

A. Our Government, particularly our President, India, the Christian Church and many countries of the world together with several international organisations have urged the LTTE to allow the entrapped civilians to come to the liberated areas.

The President appealed to them to let go the poor people where they would like to. But the LTTE was very adamant. The President is back at the struggle to protect human rights.

What the pro-LTTE elements should do at this critical juncture is to prevail upon the LTTE and compel them to release the entrapped civilians. Let the civilians to take their own decisions. Finally the Eelam struggle has transformed into a form of genocide, and also a savage, fascist organisation which deprived the Tamil community its inalienable right to decide its own destiny.

Q. Do you observe some pro-LTTE elements now shifting their stand?

A. Yes. That contradiction is now averaging within the TNA. Now it has polarised into two camps. Inside Parliament they acted as the LTTE proxy. They never hesitated to act as LTTE representatives. Their very existence is now at stake as the LTTE is at its last lap of defeat. Six of seven TNA Parliamentarians have settled down in Europe.

As the LTTE is breathing its last, it has dared to commit political hara-kiri. Sambanthan and a few others have opted to continue in democratic politics. Now the contradiction has come to the surface.

We can truly say that no other country in the world has ever successfully led a campaign to eliminate terrorism as we have done. The war is still raging in countries like Iraq, Afghanistan and Sudan. A very heated situation arose between India and Pakistan some time go. In our efforts to ward off the evil of terrorism we have set a classic example to the whole world.

Q. In the midst of the war which is nearing completion elections for Wayamba and Central Province Provincial Councils are being held. The UNP is very vociferous that the Government is capitalising on war victories. Your comments?

A. An election often tests the public opinion. What is important is not the voter casting his vote at the polling station alone. Our elections turn to be a sort of referenda on the President and the Government.

Every election being held tends to be an occasion to affirm the faith in both the President and the Government, it seems. We had the Eastern Province elections, them followed the Sabaragamuwa and the North Central Province. Now the Wayamba and the Central Provincial Council elections. We are quite certain of our successes in these two elections as well.

It is because the people vote for the Government on their own, with no compulsion at all. The election monitors, both local and foreign conclude that the elections, are free and fair and also peaceful.

Once the war ends, the Government will embark on a master development plan. During the last 2 to 3 years the village areas in the country witnessed a tremendous development; wherever one goes one could see new roads, school buildings etc; investments have increased. So the beneficiaries extend their full support to the Government.

Q. The Wayamba and the Central Provincial Council elections do not seem to have that ‘election heat’. It looks as if the Opposition has given up the fight?

A. If you take Kandy district, one has yet see a opposition poster or Ranil’s pictures. He must have come only once or twice to the Central Province. Even his near and dear do not display the boss’ pictures in their posters. We have our posters bearing President’s picture everywhere.

The Central Province is polarised between SB’s faction and that of Ranil. Always Ranil is at the receiving end. They keep mum. They are also pulling SB’s leg from behind.

Of course, the UNPers are much more familiar with this set up. If the party loyalists believe the party will win one day, they would not desert it at all. Unless they move forward, the UNP can never win an election. Far from marching forward, they find their organisation shaken to its foundation.

Q. The popular notion is that Tamils and Muslims generally vote for the UNP. But this time the situation is pretty different. Tamils and Muslims are largely inclined towards the UPFA. Is it not so?

A. Yes, of course. Traditionally it was so. Now there is a shift Thondaman and Chandrasekeran, the leaders of the estate Tamils are working together with the government.

They are contesting under UPFA ticket. So this is not ethnicity, religion or cast-motivated. Another significant matter is that about 35,000 new voters in the Kandy district alone will cast their maiden vote this time.

At the time I joined the politics there were only six lakhs of voters in the Kandy district. Today it has shot up to 930,000. Voters themselves have completely changed. The election results will certainly correspond to it. There is a big demand for youth politicians.

Translated by K. D. M. Kittanpahuwa