Unpalatable decisions for sake of country - President

“I would like to ask the national and international organizations that were urging us to stop the humanitarian military operations to request the LTTE to give the civilians who were being held as hostages for the past 30 years one hour’s freedom to go wherever they like, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday (17).

“If such a freedom was given to the Tamil civilians held back by the LTTE no one could prevent them coming of their own free will to the government administered areas”, the President said addressing a group of indigenous physicians and farmer association representatives at “Temple Trees”.

Continuing he said the operations of the government Armed Forces were not aimed at the Tamil people but against a terrorist group and the operations also did not harass or put the Tamil people into any difficulties but some politicians were alleging violation of human rights against him, the Defence Secretary and the Army Commander and he would not mind facing the gallows but would not betray the country.

Some decisions made for the sake of the country may not please some people but such decisions were made for the benefit of the people especially for the unborn generations, the President also said.