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| Sunday, 2 October 2005 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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EU ban end of the road for LTTE Bull's Eye by a Special Defence Correspondent
It is highly commendable. No doubt all Sri Lankans including a majority of Tamils welcome the EU decision, as the move taken even at this late stage would pressure the LTTE to give up its barbarism and return to talks. The move would also encourage donor countries to realize the hidden face of the LTTE, which would enable them to stop further support to the LTTE secret war, which they are waging throughout the country to eliminate people opposed to their separatism and terrorism. The price paid by the nation is heavy. Many eminent politicians, scholars and other social leaders fell victim to the LTTE for the last 22 years. Their sacrifice in the name of democracy should be hailed. A special tribute should be paid at this juncture to late Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar for his supreme sacrifice in the name of democracy, anti terrorism and anti-separatism, which probably convinced the EU of the ugly face of the LTTE. To fully realize the brutality and fascism of the LTTE, one could go through the list of those that fell at their hands, which include inter alia Dr.Neelam Tiruchelvam, A.Amirtalingam, President R. Premadasa, General Ranjan Wijeratne, Gamini Disanayake and Lalith Athulathmudali. Mention also should be made of their unsuccessful attempts on the lives of President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and Minister Douglas Devananda. The assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi demonstrated that the LTTE has no boundaries when they want to eliminate those who stand in their way. The historical record of LTTE assassinations could have stood as good evidence for the international community and donors to take punitive action against them. The EU's understanding of this truth at this juncture is exemplary to others who are still suffering from illusion and sympathizing and supporting LTTE separatism and terrorism. This could have happened earlier had the Sri Lankan Government taken action to go to courts on thousands of murders and other violence committed by the LTTE during the last two decades. Such cases and verdicts given by any judiciary court would have definitely convinced the international community of such sinister acts by the extremist group. However, the weakness of our law has also served the LTTE to escape from the crimes, as the Government was unable to prove them due to lack of evidence. Though legal action should be taken against them after every crime committed by the LTTE, it is a pity to learn that the authorities were able to file action against very few cases as others are even pending today due to lack of evidence. Having realized that the Government is lacking of modern equipment to prove such killings, the LTTE had planned their crimes in such a manner, and except a few cases, all other cases are pending or no action could be taken due to loopholes in the law. If there were more verdicts like that of the Central Bank bombing incident where the LTTE leader Pirabaharan was sentenced to 200 years, they could have had a big impact in the minds of the international community. Such incompetence has been well used by the LTTE and its cronies to put forward a just case on behalf of the LTTE globally. One example is making influence on EU to postpone its decision to proscribe the LTTE in EU member countries and impose sanctions on the LTTE at an earlier occasion. Had the government too campaigned against the LTTE crimes and proven them to the EU, the separatist cronies would have failed in their attempt much earlier. India's prompt action to hear the Rajiv Gandhi assassination and conviction of LTTE Leader was a good example for the Government to act on how to conduct legal battles against terrorism. Even today, Pirabaharan is wanted for the Rajiv Gandhi murder. Such activities would have an impact even on the SLMM to rethink its strategy. As the peace broker Norwegians have a big responsibility at this juncture, as they cannot brush off the EU decision lightly. Acting without bias and reporting the ground truth to the concerned parties is their prime duty. LTTE links with other terrorist organizations should be seriously considered and probed by the international community and foreign governments. According to recent newspaper reports arms deals between the LTTE and Mao guerillas in Nepal, India is a matter of concern at present. LTTE could take the EU ban as an excuse to postpone talks, as they are not welcome in foreign countries. Commenting on the ban, the LTTE political wing leader S.P.Thamilchelvan has warned the EU that it could lead to the collapse of the peace process. However, intelligence has shown that the LTTE has often changed its routine of crimes to escape from the blame and put the guilt on other parties. The newest strategy is that the LTTE has planned to use contract killers in the city. Information has been received that the LTTE has already contacted several contract killer groups in Colombo in this regard. Military and security authorities should not consider this as simple because such a step would seriously threaten the daily business of the city as these killer groups mainly consist of Sinhala youth. Reports have already proved that some Sinhala youth have joined the LTTE to carry on criminal activities and this situation would be very dangerous. Netting such contract killers and gangsters in the city should be considered a No.1 priority. The ambush of Black Maria in Colombo, Gampaha and gunning down prisoners inside recently are indications that such powerful and professional groups are operating in the city and investigations should be focused on these killings to find out whether there are any links between these killer groups and the LTTE. Who would deny that the LTTE might train them to carry on such crimes in the city? As the LTTE finds it difficult to reach some of their prime targets such as politicians due to heavy security escorts, the LTTE might use contract killers to eliminate those they see as enemies. Ananda Sangari might have foreseen this imminent danger when he informed the Judge hearing a case on the party dispute that his life is at risk if he is summoned to courts regularly. Have security authorities taken note of this new threat and what actions are they going to take to counter this dangerous situation which would cost hundreds of human lives especially of those candidates and their supporters during the forthcoming elections. |
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| Produced by Lake House |
The decision taken by the European Union (EU) to impose a travel ban on
the LTTE indefinitely and to take further action to enlist the organization
as a terrorist group unless it stops its killing spree has been a sigh of
relief to the people whose lives are at stake due to LTTE terrorism. 
