Government says:

Govt ready for pause but no ceasefire

Ranil WIJAYAPALA and Rafik JALALDEEN

The Government is ready for a pause in firing if the LTTE frees the civilians trapped inside the No Fire Zone but it is not ready to for a Ceasefire with the LTTE at any moment, Defence Affairs Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said yesterday.

He said the Government have had many pauses in the Northern battle front when the civilians arriving in the Security Forces’ held areas and was also ready to have such pauses if the LTTE was ready to free the civilians.

“President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Commander in Chief declared a 48 hour pause in firing to facilitate the civilian movement into cleared areas earlier too and it was practiced by the Security Forces whenever they got information about a civilian movement. Therefore, a pause in firing is not a new thing for the Security Forces,” the Minister added. He said it was pleasing to note that the international community has dropped the word Ceasefire as they have realized the fact that the LTTE has used each and every Ceasefire offered to them to strengthen themselves militarily. “The word Ceasefire has become an unaccepted word with the LTTE,” the Minister said.

Minister Rambukwella said the word Ceasefire becomes valid only when the LTTE agrees to lay down arms and renounce violence.

He said no conditions are applied to have a pause in the firing to allow civilians to reach Security Forces’ controlled areas. Military Spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said 62,157 civilians, including the sick and wounded and bystanders arrived in an ICRC chartered vessel have reached cleared areas as of yesterday. “There was a considerable increase in the number of civilians arriving in Government controlled areas within this week,” the Brigadier added. According to the spokesman an estimated 40,000 civilians are yet to arrive in military controlled areas from the No Fire Zone.

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Tranishing Govt’s image: Legal action awaits NGOs, INGOs

Legal action will be taken on certain NGOs and INGOs on the LTTE pay role and using local journalists to tarnish the image of the Government and Security Forces conducting humanitarian operation in the North.

Addressing the media at the MCNS yesterday, Defence Affairs spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said during the last few months, certain NGOs and INGOs were carrying out propaganda against the humanitarian operation conducted by the Security Forces in the International media using local journalists reports. “We have reasonable doubt about their activities from the evidence based on ground realities and the facts that they have been carrying out propaganda to tarnish the humanitarian operations.

“These people, still operating in various areas on the LTTE pay role,” he added.

Minister Rambukwella asserted that these NGO and INGOs are buying articles and images from local journalists and publishing them in the International media to support the LTTE.

“These people operated with support of the Tamil Diaspora to separatism. They buy the local journalists reports to enhance their propaganda against the Government and the Security Forces,” he added.

He said the culprits will be brought to book. “These people will be subjected to the law and strict legal action will be taken against them,” he said.

These NGOs and INGOs have infiltrated the country in the guise of launching development projects but they tarnish the image of the country and forces. They have now been identified.

Minister Rambukwella noted that some organisations have requested the government to grant them permission to access to the war torn area for aid work. However, he said aid workers will not be allowed in the war zone because of their attitude supporting the LTTE outfit. “We have clear and strong evidence that many aid workers are supporting the LTTE in the war torn area. Therefore, no aid worker will be allowed in the war torn areas,” he added. RW and RJ

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Govt ready to crack down economic terrorism

The Government is ready to crack down economic terrorism in the same manner it did with the LTTE terrorism if any organisation tries to block funds and development aid to the country, Defence Affairs Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said yesterday.

Minister Rambukwella pointed out that certain elements working with local political parties were engaged in economic terrorism against Sri Lanka to push the country into an era of financial crisis as the country is on the verge of eliminating LTTE terrorism.

“They are engaged in a conspiracy of economic terrorism against Sri Lanka,” he added.

The Minister pointed out that some Diaspora community has offered to work in hand in hand with the Government’s development program in the North and East under a Foreign Ministry initiated program to channel funds and other aid to facilitate development programs being implemented in the country. “They want to see that the Sri Lankan community is benefited out of this programs through the funding channeled through the Diaspora,” the Minister added. The Minister said the Government is ready to take possible action against those engaged in economic terror within the legal framework of the country.

 RW