A President's passionate plea

by Deshaputra

Almost on the eve of marking his first year in office, President Mahinda Rajapaksa presented the second budget of his Government in Parliament on Thursday in his capacity as Finance Minister. Making an impassionate plea, President Rajapaksa appealed to all concerned to sacrifice today for a brighter tomorrow. He pointed out that such a sacrifice could lay the foundation for a bright decade. His thought was pure, the intention was noble and the plan was noble. He said the challenges ahead were formidable as the global economic climate was volatile with fluctuating oil prices from time to time. However, he noted that he was not prepared to compromise national security.

As he enters the second year of his presidency, President Rajapaksa's statement on the need to safeguard the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the motherland should be welcomed by patriotic minded people. Here is a leader prepared to lead from the front to save the nation. He is not for war.He quite correctly told Parliament that the increase in defence expenditure was not meant for any offensive. He stressed the need to negotiate with the LTTE to find an acceptable solution. He called upon the LTTE to return to the negotiating table. He has made this appeal many a time to that terrorist organisation. What have the LTTE done? They come and go without reason. Whom have they been deceiving?

The LTTE has a record of deceit. The people of this country are no fools. They have experienced the strategies of the LTTE time and again. The Tamils of this country cannot be fooled anymore by Prabakaran. Who is responsible for the increase in defence expenditure? It is Prabakaran and the LTTE and not the peace-loving Tamil people in this country. Surely, the government which has given top priority to economic development in this budget would have loved to utilise the increased per-centage on defence on development. The LTTE is not an organisation that is concerned about the well-being of the Tamils. If so, they would not murder them. President Rajapaksa on Thursday reiterated that the LTTE should lay down arms and return to talks. So far the Tigers look deaf to this call made many a time.

Now Prabakaran is said to be getting ready for his so-called "Heroes Week". Who are his heroes is the question. In reality, the so-called heroes are perpetrators of crime against innocent unarmed people and legitimately elected governments and leaders. Prabakaran is good at issuing annual warnings on his birthdays which fall during the so-called "Heroes Week". The Tamil people now seem to take those warnings lightly knowing the weight of those warnings. If Prabakaran is genuinely interested in the development of the North East and the Tamil people, the time is ripe for him to heed the President's call to enter the democratic process. President Rajapaksa on assuming office last year said he would walk that extra mile to meet him if Prabakaran was sincere in his quest for a peaceful solution.

In his second budget, the President stressed the need to launch an enhanced development strategy in the North and East. If Prabakaran is not interested in peace, how could the government move ahead with development projects untilising huge sums of money? The LTTE has caused enough and more destruction to life and property in those areas. The considerable rehabilitation done too have been destroyed by the LTTE since it launched provocative offensives during the past eleven months. Should a government waste money if a bunch of terrorists are prepared to destroy what is built for their own people? The Tamil people must ask Prabakaran to answer these questions.

Today there is consensus in the South to find a peaceful solution to satisfy all people. President Rajapaksa has managed to bring all southern political parties under one umbrella on the national question. This achievement is a colourful feather in the President's cap within an year of administration. The peace-loving Tamil people and their political parties too yearn for an early political settlement. Who stands in the way of a solution that is at hand now? It is the LTTE who claims to be the sole representative of the Tamils. In reality, this claim is far from the truth. The international community should pressurise the LTTE and not the government. The government is prepared to talk. This has been reiterated all the time. The LTTE sits at the table, then imposes its will on demands that cannot be met instantly. Certainly, such conduct is unjust and unfair after parties travel thousands of aeronautic miles to a destination.

The international community seems to be much interested in this internal question of this country. They've been making statements and appeals for both parties to resume negotiations. Well.. President Rajapaksa on Thursday has called upon the LTTE to return to the negotiating table. They have not responded yet. Now it's the duty of the international agencies, donor community and Co-Chairs to get the LTTE to respond in a positive manner.

Then only the people in the North and East could benefit from the huge funds allocated for development in those areas in the 2007 budget.