Prepared to sacrifice our lives for the sovereignty of our Motherland - Somawansa

The JVP condemned UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour's statement which said "violations by any party could entail individual criminal responsibility under international criminal law, including by those in positions of command."

In condemning the decision of the Government to withdraw from the CFA Ms. Arbour emphasised that international law prohibited all sides in the decades-long Sri Lankan conflict from committing unlawful killings or torture, arbitrary detention, recruiting or deploying child soldiers, and forcing people out of their homes.

Speaking to media in Colombo, the JVP leader called Arbour's warning as international terrorism. He said, "If any politician or military officer is taken before the international law for taking decisions on behalf of the Motherland they would have to take them over our dead bodies. We emphasise this to the military leaders of this country and the international community.

They make these kind of statements to threaten this country and the government. This is international terrorism. It cannot be allowed. Don't forget we, too are a member of the UN. We call upon international community to support us to completely eradicate barbaric terrorism from Sri Lanka. For this intensify the struggle against terrorism in your countries," he said.

Speaking about the prevailing political situation Amarasinghe said, "They are trying to bring in devolution proposals at this moment. It is a serious blunder. It is casting away the victories achieved by heroic security Forces. Surveys have pointed out that more than 83% of the people in the North are with the Security Forces. These are not only Sinhalese; there are Tamils and Muslims as well. It is a great victory achieved by Security Forces. It shows how professional our Security Forces are.

We still have suspicions regarding the government. The President is in a quandary. If you read a paper today you would come across parties in the government making contradictory statements. Retaliatory action only would not be enough against terrorism. Only retaliations are carried out. Now there should be forward determined attacks. War cannot be won only by defending. To win a war there should be forward attacks," said Mr. Amarasinghe.

Speaking further the leader of the JVP said, "Abrogation of the CFA is a victory. The JVP too has a big share of this victory. A main item of the MoU we signed with the present President when he was the Prime Minister is the abrogation of the CFA. The belated step to abrogate is not complete. The decision to disband the so-called APRC should be taken in parallel to this. Establishing that committee is against the mandate. There is no right to establish a committee to discuss devolution proposals.

What we did was swimming against the tide. When we made statements against Norway, we were condemned as extremists and non-diplomatic. However, we knew in which direction the country should move. The JVP is prepared to sacrifice our lives for the sovereignty, the unitary state and territorial integrity of the Motherland," Mr. Amarasinghe said.

The leader of the JVP said, "We have a road map to solve this issue. First terrorism should be defeated militarily. Next separatism should be defeated ideologically. Democracy should be established.

Elections should be held in those areas. Development should be taken to those areas.