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| Sunday, 18 December 2005 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Security imperatives of the day Bull's Eye by a Special Defence Correspondent Army Commander Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka's determination to reorganize military intelligence would no doubt win praise from military sectors and other sections of the society where the stakeholders know the importance of such restructuring to national security. Prompt action has to be taken until new blood is infused to save the lives of the rest of the military intelligence and other soldiers from the jaws of the Tigers.
However, it appears that the Government is tuning in, to the correct methodology to face the country's terrorist problem. Picking up correct persons to fill correct positions and putting them to work a common agenda, rather than leaving them to operate in isolation was a long felt need to fight terrorism and this would be the first time over the two decade history of internal conflict that a unified and integrated effort both in the goal of achieving lasting peace as well as strengthening the national security has been taken. It is upto the new President to give maximum support to this constructive effort in maintaining law and order of the country until a lasting solution to the prolonged conflict is found. Combined operation Maintaining a combined operation of intelligence and sharing intelligence and communication among the Police, Army, Navy and Air Force is also vital. This harmony would help them in achieving a common goal. So integration of all intelligence and sharing the intelligence among themselves is also vital for successful anti-terrorist operations and crime preventive measures. Previous orders to security forces in the North and East whether political or otherwise had mainly reduced the morale of the forces as the security forces were asked to tolerate Tiger attacks and other forms of provocation. They had to condone LTTE killings of the innocent and no action of a militarily or legal nature could have been taken as the forces were not allowed to launch search operations and round up the perpetrators. The new orders that enabled the forces to act in self defense and defense of the public are the right decisions, that should be taken by any democratically elected Government as the duty of such a government is to provide security to those who elected the Government. This basic right was denied during the past. Therefore, appointments of those who are committed to correct such a situation are a right step taken by the President in the right direction. While working hard to improve intelligence, it is the duty of the new Commander to restart investigations into past corruption and abuse of military office by those who commanded the forces to earn dirty money. Newspapers reported during the last election campaign how several retired generals of all three forces gathered in unison to protest against a minor statement made by the JVP leader. It is a pity that they took a mere political statement made on the election platform so seriously and organized press conferences while maintaining stone silence when the Tigers exploded claymore mines killing soldiers including those who were under their command some time ago. What was their interest to hold such press conferences on the JVP leader's statement? Couldn't it be their fear of skeletons in the cupboard being exposed? People do not forget the deadly Antonov aircraft, several of which crashed killing hundreds of soldiers during the office of these top officers. No investigation was completed and mystery surrounds these crashes as they were not shot down by the LTTE. Fresh investigations to these controversial aircraft deals should be started under the same corruption preventive scheme to identify the culprits. It would at least bring some relief to the near and dear of those who sacrificed themselves. Investigation into major procurement deals of weapons and aircraft during the last two decades should be conducted. The public has placed great confidence in the new commander for his straightforward action to combat corruption within the army. He should reinvestigate secret deals including the purchase of four Antonov aircraft which crashed with hundreds of soldiers. Allegations were made against such deals in 1995 to 1997 saying that some discarded planes were purchased at over valued prices and others at exorbitant rates while rejecting similar brands at lower rates. The four crashes said to have been engine failures took place near Handala on September 13 in 1995, at Kankasanturai on November 22 in 1995, at Ratmalana Airport in February 1997, and at KKS in May 2003. These deals and many more are to be investigated. The retired generals' exaggeration about imminent war suggested to people to vote for Ranil to stop such a war and among the Generals some served during the PA or UNFP governments since 1994. Having enjoyed all perks and privileges why such officers wanted to make Ranil victorious is also questionable. Challenge before government If the Generals were scared of war and the LTTE, their utterances would have damaged the morale of the forces. Many are of the opinion that terrorism would have been eliminated long ago had the war against terrorism during the past two decades was prosecuted without corruption, immature political interference and commitment. Therefore, their challenge before the new government is to do away with all these evils and steer the country towards development. Solving the conflict in the North and East comes first in this daunting task of country building. Providing sufficient protection and other facilities for intelligence to maintain their secrecy is of paramount importance today. Besides the LTTE threat, circumstances prevailing in the police and the armed forces are discouraging the brave officers as insiders who may have links to the LTTE or other racketeers go all out to sabotage such officers from investigating crimes and corruption. Identifying these traitors could be a very strenuous job but it should be done for genuine officers to work and save the name of the service. There are official shortcomings too where such brave officers are left alone when investigations are directed to the courts. Many fear that such situations would throw them into unnecessary trouble such as sudden transfers, change of duties and so on. On such occasions, committed officers become helpless as there is no authority to complain of these injustices. After the Heroes' Day speech of Prabhakaran in the Vanni the LTTE escalated violence in the North and East to show that the LTTE leader is still powerful to face a war. This had happened even during certain foreign envoys' visits including that of the head of Amnesty International. The LTTE Political Wing Head S. P. Tamilselvan found it very difficult to talk peace with those foreign envoys when his cadres contradicted his stance by launching attacks on non offensive forces and civilians. Simultaneously, LTTE intelligence seemed to set scenes in Vanni to blame the Government alleging that Government ministers are harbouring the Karuna group in the East and using them to launch attacks against the Vanni cadres. This allegation is not new as the LTTE's aim is to justify their cause. The recent LTTE press conference with the participation of so called Karuna cadres that surrendered to the Vanni cadres is one such trick.. It is ridiculous if anybody on earth believes a person in LTTE captivity dares to talk the truth. However, conducting press conferences is a democratic right and people would appreciate them if they continue after incidents such as claymore mine explosions, firing at the air force passenger transport helicopter which was on its way to bring back Italian Deputy Foreign Secretary from Arugambay. Tiger signal This could also be a Tiger signal to the foreign envoys those who intervene in tsunami or other rehabilitation activities in the country and such acts would convey a strong message to those countries to confirm that the LTTE is none other than a group of terrorists. Recent joint naval exercises by India and Sri Lanka and simultaneous visits to the country by several top security personnel after the new government was formed seemed to worry LTTE leader Pirabaharan. He does not need to worry so if he is committed to peace as the new President and other world forces want peace in the country. The new phenomenon which is setting the ground for peace may be sending a strong and stern message to Pirabaharan, to choose between war and peace. People in the Vanni who have been suffering for about two generations are now fed up with Eelam hopes and they would not tolerate Pirabaharan's hegemony which would drag them to another war where they have nothing to sacrifice as they have sacrificed everything they had. Traitors Apart from the terrorist threat, those who make humble efforts to do away with terrorism and corruption should be secured from the traitors within the forces. Sri Lanka has enough black scars and bitter memories where the war fattened the pockets into a few top politicians and their henchmen who commanded the security forces and the police. Traitors were not only those who advocated ASP Udugampola's raid of the military hideout in the Millennium City but also those who contributed to hatch the conspiracy against the military intelligence unit. It is also questionable how information of this hideout located in this private housing scheme leaked to an irresponsible policeman. A suspicion also falls on a certain businessman who knows the ground situation of this scheme. The public is aware that DIG Kotakadeniya became a victim of following a complaint made by a certain powerful former hillcountry Minister against his operations in the city to the then Head of State. Circumstances were arranged, may be for reasons beyond the control of the then first citizen to send Kotakadeniya home. He has been called to the front again at a time when the county feels the need for such brave officers. People expect from DIG Kotakadeniya, now in charge of the police service to reinvestigate the Millennium City betrayal and bring the culprits to book. Similarly, this column disclosed that committed officers are scared to act against social evils due to various possible influences from the top rankers and it is time for DIG Kotakadeniya to take corrective measures to prevent such unethical practices that attempt to protect certain criminals. Meanwhile, intelligence sources learned that the LTTE has long term plans to destroy the security forces by sending HIV positive prostitutes to the city and other area targeting the security force personnel. It is also divulged that they have planned mass killings of security forces through food poisoning and similar crimes. |
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