Fabricated allegations and concocted stories

Nearly a million people living in the North and the East prior to May 2009 were subjected to immense hardships due to LTTE terror. The Tiger terrorists not only held those innocent civilians as a human shield but also subjected them to untold hardships.

Not only the people living in the North and the East but also the people in the South underwent numerous hardships due to the merciless terror acts of the LTTE. The Tiger terrorists ruthlessly killed thousands of people in suicide attacks and massive bomb explosions in all parts of the country.

Until our valiant Security Forces rescued those innocent civilians from the clutches of LTTE terror and liberated the country in May, people were living in fear without knowing when the next terrorist attack would come.

But none of the so-called worldwide guardians of human rights uttered a word against the LTTE. The so-called big countries, which often meddle with affairs of other countries, were tight lipped against ruthless acts of the LTTE. Even the United Nations and the European Union confined their reactions to those terror acts merely to issuing statements.

Even when over a half a million people in the North and the East were forcibly held by the LTTE as a human shield, hardly anyone or even an international organisation came forward to raise their voice on behalf those innocent civilians. There were enough and more INGOs to speak on the human rights of the LTTE terrorists. Unfortunately, none of those guardians of human rights supported Sri Lanka to rescue those starving civilians who had no alternative but to live under barbaric LTTE rule and serve as a human shield to protect the terrorist leaders.

Ultimately, it was our valiant Security Forces who risked their lives and liberated those civilians from the clutches of LTTE terror. President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who gave the right political leadership to Sri Lanka's relentless battle against terrorism, took immediate steps to resettle the rescued civilians and develop the Northern and Eastern Provinces. Not only were those civilians rescued from the jaws of LTTE terror but also provided with food, shelter and medical care, spending millions of rupees. The Government has already proved its sincerity by de-mining the area and successfully resettling those displaced in the East.

Whilst resettling the displaced civilians in the East, the Government has also taken prompt action to develop infrastructure facilities in the Eastern Province. The resettled civilians were given facilities to get back to their normal day to day lives. As a result, the Eastern economy is now blossoming with thriving dairy and fishing industries. People in the East are now experiencing the benefits of true liberation, totally different from what the LTTE preached through gun culture for over three decades.

President Rajapaksa and his Government are implementing the same plan to the Northern Province as well. Though the de-mining process has been expedited, it takes time to ensure 100 percent civilian safety. Just because certain countries and INGOs show 'extraordinary concern' about the displaced civilians in the North, the Government cannot afford to take a risk and resettle people before the de-mining process is completed.

It is pity that the European Union is apparently expressing a different view on the issue. Perhaps, they would have been ill-informed about the sincere efforts of the Government. However, it is heartening to see the big brother in the region - India, understanding the issue and backing the Sri Lankan Government's resettlement program for displaced persons.

Many people, including opportunistic Opposition politicians here, expected a negative report from the Indian Parliamentary delegation who visited recently. But those MPs from Tamil Nadu, having gathered first hand information after visiting the camps in the North, were more than happy to see the genuine efforts made by the Government.

The Security Forces were engaged in a humanitarian mission through rescue operations in the North and in the East, to liberate civilians of the Tamil community and members of other communities living in those areas from the clutches of LTTE terror.

However, baseless allegations have been levelled against the Government and Sri Lanka in the document "Report to US Congress on Incidents During the Recent Conflict in Sri Lanka".

As the Foreign Ministry has pointed out, it appears to be unsubstantiated and devoid of corroborative evidence. There is a track record of vested interests endeavouring to bring the Government and Sri Lanka into disrepute, through fabricated allegations and concocted stories.

Sri Lanka, since gaining independence, has maintained an unbroken commitment to democratic governance, with the rule of law remaining paramount.

Hence, the practice of the Government of Sri Lanka has always been subjected to investigation under domestic law and processes those allegations that "prima facie" appear to be credible and well substantiated.

Moreover, the country's domestic jurisprudence provides all the necessary scope for those perceiving themselves subjected to a violation of their human rights, to obtain redress through judicial directives to the concerned authorities.

The allegations against the Government of Sri Lanka in the document "Report to Congress on Incidents During the Recent Conflict in Sri Lanka", thus appear to be unsubstantiated and devoid of corroborative evidence.

These vested interests hope to fan, once again, the flames of secessionism and to undo the concerted efforts of the Government and people of Sri Lanka, for rehabilitation and national reconciliation. Undoubtedly, all peace loving people across the globe and all those who reject terrorism are concerned that this report to the US Congress, may be abused for a similar end.

We should not forget that the LTTE sympathisers and a section of Tamil Diaspora are still operating in a sinister manner and indirectly feed false information to discredit Sri Lanka. These machinations must be defeated in order to protect the magnificent victory achieved by the Government and the Security Forces.