Putting the record straight with the truth

Sri Lanka wants to get on with the process of national rejuvenation but any good news of this kind seem to be anathema in the ears of extremist elements who want to deprive Sri Lanka of the rich possibilities that a state of normalcy offers. This is the perspective in which the controversial Darusman Report and its consequences for this country need to be placed and the inference is inescapable that Sri Lanka is up against recurring international efforts to cripple its progress.

The contents of the report are now known and a question that constantly crops up, particularly in the wake of the recent killing of terror leader Osama bin Laden, is whether Sri Lanka does not enjoy the inalienable sovereign right to defend and uphold her national security, territorial integrity and unity, while countries much more powerful than her seem to be freely availing themselves of this crucial right, with hardly a care for the consequences such actions have for the rest of the world.

The barrage of criticisms leveled at Sri Lanka in the Report over, mainly, the action taken by her to rid herself of a terrorist organization, which posed a serious threat to her national security and geographical integrity, should prompt world opinion into wondering whether the international community is not guilty of exercising double standards on this issue. While Osama was killed and hardly a murmur was raised internationally about the manner in which he was eliminated, legitimate action taken by the Lankan state to rid herself of a similar cancer locally, seems to be drawing criticism of the most trenchant kind. What wrong has Sri Lanka done? Why is Sri Lanka's legitimate act of preserving her national security and law and order being viewed through an entirely different lens by some sections of the international community?

Osama needed to be eliminated and the same went for the LTTE chief since they had the worst crimes against their names. But why is only Sri Lanka being pilloried? Crucial posers of this kind easily lend credence to the view that sections of the international community are decidedly hostile towards her and are seeking her downfall, at whatever cost. Sri Lanka is clearly being discriminated against and is the target of victimization.

Since the Report's validity is not being recognized by Sri Lanka an answer by her to the Report would not be forthcoming, but every effort would be made by the Lankan state in the days ahead to enlighten the world about the good this country is doing by way of reconstruction, rehabilitation and development in general. This position was clearly spelt out for the country by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. 'Sri Lanka will reveal the truth and expose the Report's falsity', he told the country recently and this would be one of the state's principal tasks in the days ahead.

Rather than lose any sleep over how each and every allegation in the Report would be replied, the state authorities would be effectively rebutting the gamut of charges by highlighting the good Sri Lanka achieved during the humanitarian operation and after. This, as a reply, would be more resoundingly effective than any verbal reactions and long hours of hair-splitting.

The Report has hit out wildly and vitriocally at our armed forces and state authorities for excesses and abuses allegedly suffered by the Tamil populace at the time of the humanitarian operation, but the truth is that the state spared no pains to ensure for the civilians their essentials. For instance, food was supplied with such liberality that some of it even found itself into LTTE bunkers. The armed forces were so disciplined that tens of thousands of civilians preferred to flee into government-controlled areas rather than suffer the worst indignities at the hands of the Tigers. It is also now amply clear that the state fended for the displaced to the best of its ability and ensured that they were sent back to their former habitations at the earliest opportunity.

The good work, moreover, is continuing. The state is now in the process of dismantling High Security Zones in the North and such land is being handed back to its former inhabitants. Infrastructure development, which is continuing apace, is ensuring for the Northern populace more than their bare essentials. Besides, former LTTE cadres are being rehabilitated by the state and returned to a normal civilian existence. More and more Tamil youth are being recruited as Police officers, and this list does not by any means exhaust the good that the state is doing to the North-East populace.

All this needs to be flagged before the international community and we hope the necessary awareness-raising would be performed. As the state has said, the whole of Sri Lanka needs to be converted into one Peace Zone. This would be Sri Lanka's moment of glory.