Wake up call for critics

The Security Forces have achieved significant success in their unrelenting battle against terrorism. When the Security Forces completely liberated the Eastern Province from the LTTE’s ruthless terror acts, the main Opposition - the United National Party, challenged the Government to take the North as well.

When our gallant Security Forces liberated Thoppigala, the Leader of the Opposition, Ranil Wickremesinghe underestimated the victory of our soldiers and compared it to a thick jungle. However, the Government, the Security Forces and the peace-loving people of this country dismissed those irresponsible statements.

When the Security Forces successfully marched forward at Mavil Aru, Sampur, Vakarai and Thoppigala and created an atmosphere to reestablish democracy in the Eastern Province, the UNP challenged the Government to take Mullaitivu and Wanni - the areas held by the LTTE terrorists. The Government strategically took time to reinforce and launch the next phase of its battle to eradicate terrorism.

Now that the victorious Security Forces are destroying the Tiger power in the North, liberating Thampanai, Madhu, Palampitti, Periyamadu from the Vauvniya front Adampan, Andankulam and Manthei from the Mannar front the critics had to swallow their words.

Thanks to the unlimited ‘liberty’ during the 2001-2004 Ranil Wickremesinghe-led UNP Government, which signed a controversial Ceasefire Agreement (CFA), the LTTE took the upper hand and gained ground while strengthening their fire power.

The Tigers used the human face of the LTTE Peace Secretariat to dupe the international community. At the same time, they exploited the free access under the CFA to acquire military hardware and arm themselves.

In addition, the LTTE engaged in a sinister operation to destroy our military intelligence officers. Several efficient intelligence officers were killed by the LTTE but the then UNP Government turned a blind eye in view of the CFA. Some military and Police intelligence officers fled the country in utter frustration.

When President Mahinda Rajapaksa took office in November, 2005, the LTTE was in a strong position. The LTTE intelligence network was in full throttle and they had posted suicide cadres and dumped explosives at many of their Southern hideouts. Even the Trincomalee harbour was in danger as the Tiger guns were in close proximity at Sampur.

Many were under the delusion that liberating the East was only a pipe dream. But President Rajapaksa inspired the right political vision and appointed the right men.

Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa was a pillar of encouragement to the Security Forces as he has had first hand experience in the battlefront. With the right plan and strategy, the Government intensified its battle against terrorism.

Today, our Security Forces have reached a significant milestone in their battle of eradicating terrorism. Even people such as Kumar Rupasinghe have admitted that the ‘war’ has reached its final stage. We must not forget the fact that our Security Forces have achieved all this, minimising civilian casualties. They respect human rights to the letter.

The LTTE reacted by taking on civilian targets. They used civilians as a human shield at many places, including Vakarai, Mavil Aru and Sampur. When the Tigers were at the receiving end, routed in the East and facing a dreadful situation in the North, they responded by planting bombs targeting commuters in trains and buses.

A leading publication disclosed last week that the Tigers have now lost world sympathy by slaughtering innocent civilians. “The LTTE have lost the sympathy of the world by their slaughter of innocent Sinhalese” a leading US scholar wrote in what is widely regarded as the world’s most influential publication on foreign policy and international affairs.

Prof. Richard Rosecrance made this observation on the LTTE in a contribution co-authored with Arthur Stein entitled ‘Separatism’s Final Country’, in the latest issue of Foreign Affairs (July-August 2008).

US President George W. Bush recently made some important remarks on terrorism and extremism and the way the world should treat the nations that are threatened by them. Addressing the Israeli Knesset at celebrations to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of Israel, the US President said no nation should be ever forced to negotiate with terrorists.

He expressed his country’s belief that the right of nations to defend themselves against terrorism and extremism must not be overridden by whatever sacrifices need to be made for peace. He commended the courageous decisions by the Israeli leaders to build peace as well as to eliminate terrorism and said that no nation should be forced to negotiate with terrorists.

President Bush clearly branded that whatever group that murders innocent civilians to achieve political objectives as a terrorist or an extremist group, and pledged his country would never sympathise with them. “We believe that targeting innocent lives to achieve political objectives is always and everywhere wrong. So we stand together against terror and extremism, and we will never let down our guard or lose our resolve”, Bush was quoted as saying.

President Bush expressed his disapproval with the United Nation’s routinely passed Human Rights resolutions against Israel for the country is a democracy that fights against terrorism.

Sri Lanka is no exception. As President Rajapaksa regularly emphasises, terrorism anywhere in the world is terrorism. It should be dealt likewise.

Hence, all nations who respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of a nation and a legitimate government should reject all forms of terrorism, be it in Sri Lanka or in any other part of the globe.

The LTTE is not only a threat to Sri Lanka but also to world peace. It’s time the international community opens its eyes and looks at terrorism in Sri Lanka in a more realistic manner.