Peoples power will soon overpower LTTE
Backdrop drama by Spectator
During the recent rendezvous between the LTTE Political Wing Leader
S. P. Thamilselvan and the Norwegian special peace envoy Hanson Bauer in
Kilinochchi, the Tigers were convinced that they would be able to stage
the closure of the A9 drama in the international theatre if they flew to
Geneva for talks II.
Though the ulterior motives of the Tigers were felt by the
Government, it had no other option but to meet the Tigers in Geneva as
its humble effort was to work towards peace. However, it did not want to
walk into the tiger trap.
So it refused to reopen A9, much to the disappointment of the masses
suffering within the clutches of the Tigers, the LTTE who posed off as
the sole representative of Tamils and went to Geneva with a public
agenda to discuss humanitarian issues.
Later they had second thoughts at the peace table and shifted from
the original agenda and put forward the A9 issue as a priority. This
move disclosed how the cat jumped out of the bag in Geneva.
This also exposed that Tigers shedding crocodile tears about the
grievances of the Tamils using the woes of the people to gain sympathy
from the international community.
The Government did not intentionally closef the A9 but it was
compelled to do it in the fighting with the LTTE and the latter's
shelling destroyed the road in Muhamale.
Nobody could blame the Government for the closure of the A9 as the
Tigers asked for it. When the tigers realized the consequences, they
were too late and therefore they had to go even up to Geneva to resolve
the issues.
The loss of Rs. 300 million they collected as illegal tax from the
road users were a minor matter to them, and then what would have been
the motive to pay so much attention on A9.
The unexpected road closure created a blockade preventing them from
sending reinforcement to Jaffna, fighting cadres and ammunition to the
Jaffna peninsula to launch attacks on the security forces. Since that
day, they lost control over the Jaffna peninsula. It has been the LTTE
leader Prabhakaran's intention to recapture the North. And his military
agitation in the North had been gradually weakened due to the closure of
A9.
The strict surveillance activities by the Navy and Air Force which
helped security forces to destroy several arms vessels too weakened LTTE
arms smuggling and in the face of these circumstances, it is no surprise
the LTTE undermined the civilian grievances and gave priority to hit
hard on the A9 in Geneva issue.
Earlier, they had a free run on A9 transporting cadres in the guise
of civilians, food for the cadres, weapons, fuel, and medicine beside
the collection of monthly ransom of over Rs. 300 million.
If their humble intention is to wipe out the civilian grievances, why
did they oppose the alternative land route to Jaffna and attack navy
vessels carrying such goods to the North. When the ICRC, which is
'sympathetic' of Tigers refused to sail these goods under their flag,
are valid questions that the Co chairs. Norway, other members of the
international community and LTTE proxy media here and abroad should
answer.
It is also ironical that the pro Tiger activists and media use their
well anointed propaganda to win over the A9. There is a silent and
sensitive story to reveal. That is the applause of parents living in the
A9 and its surroundings.
They said the closure of A9 is god sent as it buckled the LTTE
harassment on their children. When the A9 was open, LTTE military
training was made compulsory to their children.
On week ends, they came to our houses, dragged our children and used
A9 to take them to training camps in the jungles.
They were deprived of the leisure time and home study as they had to
spend the week ends in the jungle camps and now the nuisance is over,'
parents said in a relieved mood.
It is also a known fact that the LTTE was forced to withdraw from the
first Forward Defense Line to the second in the retaliatory moves by the
Government troops during the recent fighting with the LTTE. Another
major strategy was to strengthen their power in the North and launch an
attack to regain the lost FDL.
Without riding on A9, the Tigers would find it extremely difficult to
transport cement and other materials to build new bunkers to intensify
their attacks on the security forces. After all, if reopening of A9
would help a pittance to wipe out the civilians' woes, it would no
doubt, the President would take prompt action without any hesitation to
open it.
Meanwhile, certain newspaper reports on Minister Solheim's seeking
explanation on Vakarai incident looked childish because any blind man
know that none could call explanation from an legitimately elected
government with a peoples mandate.
The newspaper report quoting Norwegian Embassy said, that Norwegian
Minister Erik Solheim sought explanation from the Sri Lankan Government.
Possibly, the Government would not have taken serious note on this as
It has more important business to attend rather than replying
individuals. In this backdrop, public support to the LTTE in their
jungle conclave have been fast diminishing after the Tigers forcibly
used civilians as a human shield.
Most of them who were displaced in Sampur attacks were forced to stay
in Vakarai. As they were no allowed to walk out from the Tiger grip,
many found the tension and panic during the recent fighting to escape in
numbers from the clutches of Tigers and reach the Army camps in Mankerni.
Now Tiger proxies including the certain international media have
tried to display a misinterpreted version in the international theatre
blaming the government for targeting refugee camps even after the
Government has admitted the misfire, apologized to the victims and
ordered compensation to the next of kin.
The shame on these media points and so called human right activists
is their silence over the heinous act of the LTTE which forced use
innocent civilians as a human shield. Do they think that human rights
could be protected in the Government areas where the LTTE roam?
A LTTE woman cadre taking cover among school children last Thursday,
near Jaffna Girls' School, shot and killed a solider. But the security
forces did not retaliate and it saved many lives of students. Similarly
booby traps such as explosives hidden in dead LTTE bodies are now
outdated tricks.
Disgusted and tired people are now withdrawing support and sympathy
and are braving to escape from the Tiger grip seeking relief at the
hands of the security forces. This will well augur for the boycott of
the LTTE hartal and such other protests disregarding the Tiger threats. |