Govt. ready to meet any challenge - Keheliya

with Shanika SRIYANANDA

Various governments or the various heads of States have supported the LTTE for many reasons

It is said that while the public is with the Government to crush terrorism, certain politicians are trying to capitalize even minor defeats in a very mean way.

 Tamils will be the major beneficiaries of these liberation operations.

Tamil diaspora has realised that Prabhakaran's dream would not bear fruit.

 Tamils intend to live under one country.

NGOs are dictated to by Prabhakaran and dance to the tune of the LTTE.

The UN can put pressure on the LTTE to free civilians.

MP Mano Ganeshan plays his own politics based in Colombo.

"The Mahinda Rajapaksa Government would not have negotiations with Prabhakaran at any point but is ready to have talks with the rest of the Tamils to address their grievances", said the Military Spokesman and Minister of Foreign Employment Keheliya Rambukwella adding that the Government would not heed to any international pressure to withdraw military offensives in the Wanni.

"Liberation of Wanni, where the LTTE terrorists have been prepared for the last 25 years for their final battle will not be a cakewalk", he said.

He said that the Government and security forces were strategically moving forward and would achieve the set target soon as dedication to end LTTE terrorism comes from the top, Defence Secretary, Heads of Forces and even from the soldier of the Civil Defence Force.

In an interview with the Sunday Observer the Defence Spokesman Minister Rambukwella questioned the UN as to why it could not pressurise Prabhakaran, who took the Tamils to the stone-age, to stop using innocent civilians as a human shield. "I think the UN should play a better role and we need them to do more", he said.

Excerpts:

Q: The LTTE is active again after a series of significant defeats. Your comments?

A: If people expect the liberation of Wanni to be a cakewalk it will be a big mistake. Because after 25 years of terrorism they will not give us it on a platter and they will fight for every inch. So, this is going to be tough.

Although they have been cornered into one portion they have been preparing for this fight for the last 25 years. In this context one needs to look at this more rationally but not politically.

So, if one tries to project the recent incident as a weakness of the military, I think it is a shame on the people who sacrificed their lives with all the difficulties to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country. They do their best. But when dealing with a terrorist organization we got to expect this kind of incidents.

Various governments or the various heads of States have supported the LTTE for many reasons. They may be done in good faith. For instance, late President R. Premadasa gave them money and help. I do not say that he did it with the intention of running down the country and may be he had different plans. There was a time that the world identified the LTTE as one of the most dangerous and ruthless terrorist organizations in the world. So, taking all these into consideration, this is not a bed of roses.

From time to time, we would have to face incidences like this. And where on this earth that a war was fought without any setbacks. The public has taken these setbacks positively but unfortunately some of the politicians are trying to capitalize this in a very mean way. I am sad to say that some of the speeches made in Parliament were running down these valiant soldiers who have sacrificed their lives to safeguard the country and its people.

Those who get a satisfaction by criticising these incidents, I think, are having a kind of mental disorder. And the public will soon reject them totally. It is pathetic and this is the background that we are working in.

But the Government and the security forces are strategically moving forward.

And the policy of defeating terrorism will firmly stand and we will achieve the set target. And I am sure that it is been taken right from the top, Defence Secretary, Heads of Forces and even upto the soldier of the Civil Defence Force. So, there is no turning back and we will move forward meeting all these challenges.

Q: What are the predictions that the Government can make about the LTTE's strength to hold their last bastion, the Wanni?

A: They will do their utmost to retain their last territory and we should understand that. One of the most respected Generals in the Army General. Kobbekaduwe in his strategy had said that there would be over 15,000 casualties. Now what has happened was General Fonseka together with the Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has implemented a plan which converted the conventional army into more of a guerilla type. So, now the deaths have come down but there cannot be a war without shedding blood from both sides. That is the most unpleasant thing in a war but we have no option. The only option is to negotiate and settle it but with whom are we to negotiate. The Government is ready to negotiate with the rest of the Tamils but not with Prabhakaran.

Therefore, we have to get rid of terrorism while working on a long term solution addressing the grievances of Tamil people. In fact, it is Prabhakaran who drove the Tamils into the stone-age. For generations Tamil children are deprived of their rights to basic education. No development has taken place there at all. This is more evidence after the Eastern liberation. Now people are happy and most importantly they are living without restrictions. They are not been dictated to by a fanatic.

We are looking forward and the Tamils will be the major beneficiaries of these liberation operations.

Q: Kilinochchi fell into the hands of the LTTE on November 26, in 1998. Do we have a time frame to recapture Kilinochchi?

A: Certainly the military has certain targets which I cannot divulge now. For sure, I can tell you something. That is our forward march and the target of getting Prabhakaran will continue and there will be no turning back. We are supported by the public and it was quite well manifested in the last election as people have endorsed it. Every one right from the top to the bottom needs to make some sacrifices; otherwise you cannot achieve anything substantial or worthwhile. Today, people are willing to believe the Government because the results for their sacrifices are shown.

This is what happened to those Tamils living around the world. They have been sacrificing, contributing, advocating and marketing for the LTTE and Prabhakaran thinking that they will achieve their homeland or motherland, whatever that they call it. For that, they have sacrificed for more than 25 years or more. But now they have realised that those sacrifices are not going to bear fruits. At this moment, Tamils are withdrawing their support and they want to live in one country with the identity of Sri Lankans. Q: All foreign aid workers were asked to vacate their offices in Wanni by the Government. Is there any guarantee that they are bringing all their equipment and heavy machinery back?

A: Well. There is no guaranty as such. With regard to the itinerary with them, I think it is an area which we really need to focus ourselves. This is like nobody's land and anybody can come and register them as an NGO and start working. This has to be prevented. One might argue that they are looking after the civilians. But the reality is that these NGOs are dictated by Prabhakaran. These INGOs and NGOs have to listen to Prabhakaran's orders when they have to deliver the things for the civilians.

Q: But if they walk into government controlled areas with empty hands do we have a mechanism to take legal action against these NGOs ?

A: We have made the request that they bring all their equipment back with them and they have accepted it. We will do our best to prevent the hidden support that is available for the terrorists. Let's wait and see.

Q: Do you think that the United Nations and international human rights groups can play a major role to free the civilians under the clutches of the LTTE?

A: Yes, the UN can really play a major role at this moment. They have been talking about humanitarian efforts. Why is it only the Government humanitarian and why not Prabahkaran. They can exert force on Prabhakaran as well. If they are worried about civilians they can definitely put pressure on them. I think that the UN also must make a sacrifice and say that we are with the civilians. We are an elected government. What I can ask is why not the UN pressurise these blood hounding terrorists to be humanitarians. Therefore, I think the UN should play a better role and we need them to do more.

Q: But The UN Director General Ban I Moon has urged the Government to commence negotiations. Your comments?

A: Yes, the Government has laid down conditions and it is definite that the Mahinda Rajapaksa Government will not have negotiations with Prabhakaran. We are firm in our decision.

Q: The military has mapped out safe corridors for the civilians to flee to Government controlled areas. What is the progress and facilities for them?

A: That is where the INGOs and NGOs can play a major role. They can facilitate the movement of IDPs. Here we need to look at it in a more practical way. We will do our part because we have experience in Vakarai. Within two or three days we were able to look after thousands of civilians who fled the LTTE controlled areas of the East and we have been able to send them back to their own places within a few months. The Government is handling the IDP issue successfully. The Government is now fully geared to provide basic facilities for these civilians.

Q: The bunkers and cemeteries constructed by the LTTE in their areas are the evidence to show how the terrorists have abused the things sent by the Government for the benefit of the people. Will the government take action against the culprits?

A: I think the best is that by gones be by gones to have a greater achievement. There may be a few mistakes down the line.

But, we have to take correct decisions to remedy the situation to avoid things going back to the hands of the terrorists.

Q: The TNA Leader, R. Sampanthan who was in Delhi had a discussion with the Indian Foreign Minister and it is said that the TNA wants India to pressurise the government to stop offensives in Wanni. If there is such a pressure from India will the government stop the on-going military offensives?

A: The government does not believe in acting on any one's pressure as we are a sovereign nation. We are working with India very closely and confident that India has understood the national problem. I believe that Mr. Sampanthan should go to Kilinochchi, where he has access I am sure, and tell Prabhakaran not to hold these innocent civilians as a human shield.

He should tell him to use his terrorists to fight against the security forces but not the innocent civilians. He should explain to Prabhakaran that he is holding their own people and he will not achieve his dream for Eelam.

I do not think that India will pressurise us and they have looked at our problem very positively. India has listed the LTTE as a terrorist group. They have enough facts to do so and they cannot forget that their own leader was killed by the same ruthless terrorist organisation. They know what the LTTE is better now. However, the government will not act on any one's advice and listen to others. We will march forward until the terrorism is wiped out.

Q: Still the LTTE is active in their propaganda and how effective do you think is the government propaganda machine to counteract the LTTE's propaganda?

A: It is visibly declining and we are very proud to be a party to it to disseminate the truth to the rest of the world. I take this opportunity to thank all the Sri Lankans irrespective of their caste, creed or religion who helped to crush terrorism. They themselves have now understood what the reality is. And they are withdrawing their support financially and in many other ways to the LTTE. It is happening in UK, States and Italy. They know that Prabhakaran is not their sole representative. Realization is the best thing and it is happening now.

Q: MP Mano Ganeshan has claimed that hundreds of Tamils have disappeared. Your comments?

A: What I can say is that he is playing his own politics based in Colombo.He has his political agenda. His accusations are not based on realities but on political agendas.

Mano Ganeshan can contribute by stating openly that Prabhakaran should give up arms and come for negotiations. In fact, he is there to build up stories.

We have had this syndrome about abductions and disappearances earlier and we have given enough and more explanations. The world has come to know about the reality that many people who are supposed to be abducted have in fact two weeks later applied for visas in various countries.

It is a complete planned strategy to discredit the government. Because they know that Prabhakaran's days are numbered and they are trying various methodologies to discredit the government and to attract the international attention focused on us.

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Who is Keheliya Bandara Dissanayake Rambukwella

Will a politician be a more qualified 'politico' and get a tough skin if he is left behind bars? Throw this question to the Military spokesman. Recalling the days that he had spent behind bars in 1999, where he kept a record by being the Provincial Councillor who bagged the highest number of votes, he would nod his head saying, "Yes of course, I became a full politician after I was sent behind bars. I feel that I am now a well experienced politician as I have experienced another side of the society''.

But never wanted to become a politician but was accidentally dragged into politics by late Minister Gamini Dissanayake. The military spokesman and Minister of Foreign Employment Rambukwella is one of the happiest men on this earth, he says, mainly for his contribution towards the liberation of the Tamils from the LTTE and then for being the dad of four studious children.

While his batchmates, are hoteliers and leading cushy lives and earning well abroad, Minister Rambukwella says he does not regret though his life is at risk and mostly caged. "I feel I have sacrificed my private life for a worthy cause - to free my country from terrorism and I explained to my family how five of them can contribute towards this by sacrificing their happiness for the benefit of 19 million people. I cannot take my children to a restaurant freely". But he does not regret as he has joined hands with President Rajapaksa to crush the world's most ruthless terrorist organisation in the world.

Strongly sticks to his own principle: "You can argue, you can disagree, you can be negative. But you have no right to insult others", Minister Rambukwella, who has a very friendly relationship with the media, says. That some journalists bring discredit to the noble profession by penning down things to achieve their own petty agendas.

The Military spokesman was once tagged as another 'Minister Mervyn Silva', who has a bad track record for misbehaviour and assaulting scribes in the Mahinda Rajapaksa Government, over an incident related to his son's school.

But he described that moment as an incident where an ordinary school quarrel was blown out of proportion.

Serving people, he says, is his share of duty as a politician and he always wants to see that things take place more democratically. "I will not hesitate to say sorry even to a beggar if I have done something wrong. But I will not do so even for a king if I have not done any wrong", the tough and serious looking Military spokesman says.

He feels that he has done well as the Military spokesman. "Well, I think I have done well. I am confident and I think I am able to manage the media very well. They are very friendly with us. And lots of media guys are enjoying the sessions. Although sometimes we have heated arguments we do not carry over things''.

Minister Rambukwella is grateful to President Rajapaksa for being a big brother and close friend to him. 'I had a big vacuum after the death of Minister Gamini Dissanayake. But now I am happy that the President is there for me. He is everything to us. Sometimes he is there for us in very difficult moments in life", says the Minister of Foreign Employment.

Armed with a doctorate awarded to him by the International Open University in recognition of his contribution as the Military spokesman, he does not want people to address him as Dr. Keheliya Rambukkwella.

Ask him why? "It makes no difference. Because what I am is what I am here. The work I am doing is more important than the titles".

"But I want to be Dr. Keheliya Rambukkwella in international forums".

With less opportunity to have a healthy sleep for eight hours, this Military spokesman and Minister of Foreign Employment has no time to enjoy his hobbies after a tired day.

"I do not want to spoil my sleep for a hobby. Hitting the bed is my favourite pastime and I enjoy that".