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Sunday, 13 September 2009

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Sinister campaigns

Various sinister campaigns, masterminded by local and international elements, are out to tarnish the country's image, its democratically elected Government, the valiant Security Forces and the people of Sri Lanka.

The controversial video telecast by the British Channel 4 with fabricated allegations against our Security Forces could well be a part of a well-knit international campaign to besmirch the reputation of Sri Lanka. The mastermind, no doubt, behind it would have attempted to underestimate the great achievements by the country to eradicate terrorism.

Regrettably, some power-hungry opposition politicians and people who were lavishly funded by certain INGOs, too are adding fuel to fire, initiated by certain interested parties who still could not believe that Sri Lanka was the only country to eradicate terrorism.

When the Security Forces were on the last leg of their humanitarian battle, certain countries and organisations in the West made desperate attempts to inject the last bit of oxygen to Velupillai Prabhakaran and his terrorist organisation - under the cover of human rights and innocent civilians.

None of them ever uttered a word when innocent civilians were forcibly held as a human shield by Prabhakaran and his cadres. The civilians in the North and the East had been subjected to untold hardships due to the LTTE's terror that prevailed for nearly three decades.

Not only people in the North and the East, but also those in South too were brutally killed by LTTE terrorists. The value of lives taken and the damage done by the LTTE are immeasurable. People from all walks of life - social, political and religious leaders were brutally assassinated by the LTTE terrorists in broad daylight. But none of the so-called human rights organisations, free media personalities, INGOs or international TV channels raised their voice on behalf of those unfortunate victims.

When the terrorists were at the receiving end and were on the verge of being eliminated, all of them teamed up in a sinister campaign to discredit the Government. The safety of civilians, human rights and media freedom was the common term used to discredit the Government and the Security Forces.

Strangely, the same campaign we witnessed during the final stages of the humanitarian operation has surfaced again in the international arena in a different format. The controversial Channel 4 video and the subsequent pressure exerted by certain quarters of the International Community is the latest episode of the well-planned campaign to discredit the Government and the fearless leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The Government led by President Rajapaksa, will by no means, succumb to any outside pressure in executing the mandate given to him by the people of this country. The President and his Government is only answerable to the people of Sri Lanka who have democratically elected them.

The illustrious leadership of President Rajapaksa and his fearless decisions in the battle against terrorism may have perhaps hurt the feelings of certain countries and INGOs who had been backing the LTTE and its illegal battle for a separate state. But the President did his utmost in safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country, in keeping with his constitutional obligations as the First Citizen.

As the Construction and Engineering Services Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne pointed out at last week's press briefing at the Mahaweli Centre, no international force can deter the President who has won the hearts and minds of leaders of progressive countries.

Sri Lanka's friendly countries have been a tower of strength in its valiant battle against terrorism. Though many countries have stressed the need to eradicate terrorism globally, only a few countries expressed a genuine desire to do so. Hence, Sri Lanka is ever grateful to those friendly countries which relentlessly backed its battle against LTTE terror.

Even some of the judgements passed by the judiciary here have been challenged and criticised by a few countries and organisations in the West.

Do they have an ethical right to raise their voices against cases such as Thissanayagam who was convicted by the Judiciary of Sri Lanka for aiding and abetting terrorism?

The Government has taken legal action against the journalist who was accused of aiding and abetting the terrorists under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and he was tried in the courts. Can we condone him for such an offence in the guise of media freedom? No one is above the law. Hence, no one can demand the release of a convict in an unlawful manner and challenge the laws of the land. The Constitution is always supreme.

The GSP Plus concession granted by the European Union for Sri Lankan garments has also been connected to human rights. Nevertheless, Sri Lanka, with the help of its friendly nations, could stand strong, without bowing down to international pressure. If the EU is sincerely interested in lending a helping hand to developing nations, they should do so without attaching strings to it.

Bankrupt politicians, rejected by the people in toto, are now supporting sinister campaigns orchestrated by certain countries and organisations. This is the modus operandi of some Opposition politicians with a 'losing mentality'. Knowing only too well that they could not win people's mandate, they are now resorting to regain power at any cost.

The era of decision-making to please the West is now history. We are mature enough to make our own and rightful decisions as a sovereign nation. President Rajapaksa and his Government are taking each and every decision to suit the best interests of the country and its people.

The President has taken Sri Lanka to greater heights and all countrymen are indeed proud of the great achievements accomplished to protect the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

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