Controversial Darusman Report:

'Can't convince civilized nations that LTTE is disciplined'

Chamikara WEERASINGHE

The controversial Darusman report cannot bring President Mahinda Rajapaksa or the military officials to an international criminal court as it is a personal advisory report where allegations are raised, said the National Patriotic Movement Chairman Dr Gunadasa Amarasekera.

It is a report that had described one of the most ruthless and dangerous terrorist outfits in the world, the LTTE, as 'the most disciplined and nationalist of Tamil militant groups,' he pointed out in an interview with the Daily News. He said there is no way that key players behind the Darusman conspiracy convince any civilized nation in the world that the LTTE is disciplined due to their acts of terrorism.

"Who will accept such nonsense?" he asked.

The United Nations Security Council and the United Nations Human Rights Commission had officially condemned the LTTE for its acts of terrorism committed over many years and the use of civilians as human shields in May, 2009.

The Council also said that the Sri Lankan government has a legitimate right to combat terrorism in the country.

"The controversial Darusman report is not even worth contradicting," he explained.

The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon had appointed the three-member panel to prepare the report about a year since the government declared end to war against terror in the country.

"The report shows all signs of an international conspiracy to obtain what the LTTE leader could not obtain from President Mahinda Rajapaksa through acts of terrorism," he said.

Some countries have been pushing the Sri Lankan government to implement the 13th Amendment and the 13th Amendment Plus with the aim of getting a foothold in the country by promoting division, he said.

He said the government's stance was correct in dismissing the Darusman report, but added it will be a proactive move by the government to apprise the international community about its humanitarian procedure.

"The government should disclose its story of the over 30-year fight against terror to the world.

All nationalist groups in the country must rally round the President and give their fullest support to face external elements that are trying to discredit the government over allegations of war crimes and belittling a historic victory it achieved over terrorism," he added.