Patriots and traitors

Tuesday will be a red letter day in the annals of Sri Lanka’s history. This week’s Presidential Election is not merely an election which would decide the political destiny of a country and moreover, it is not merely a prestige battle to elect the Head of State for the next six years.

It is manifestly clear that the Presidential Election 2010 has turned out to be a battle between patriots and traitors. Admittedly, certain traitors were in the patriots’ camp some time ago. Regrettably, they have now turned traitors in their craze for power.

It is evident that they have become puppets of Western forces with vested interests, LTTE ghosts and the Tiger Diaspora. They have teamed up with some Western forces, who want to get rid of an administration which did not dance the fandango round them. Certain countries in the West, which attempted to give the last drop of oxygen to the moribund LTTE till the very end of the Security Forces’ battle against terrorism, are making every endeavour to have a ‘leader’, who would sacrifice anything and everything to appease the West.

In other words, Tuesday’s Presidential Election has turned out to be a two-cornered tussle between those who sincerely love this country and those who do not. Perhaps, both camps may look alike at first glance as they had been together during the humanitarian operations. But subsequently, a man who was in the patriots’ camp turned traitor.

Hence, it is the bounden duty of those who love this country to unite to thwart the Western conspiracy. This is by no means a conspiracy against an individual, a political party or a group of persons but a well-planned attempt to get rid of a leadership which has been a threat to them - a leader who cares less for the big names, in putting the country before self.

People are acutely aware of the international and local NGOs and Opposition pressure President Mahinda Rajapaksa had to withstand as the Commander-in-Chief during the unrelenting battle against terrorism. There had been immense pressure from various quarters to stop the military operations against the LTTE.

Citing human rights as an effective tool to disrupt Sri Lanka’s operation against terror, certain countries in the West and several INGOs embarked on a vicious campaign to bring a premature death to the Security Forces’ successful forward march.

President Rajapaksa courageously faced all those obstacles and wholeheartedly backed the valiant Security Forces, providing them every possible assistance - both logistical and moral support. He did not bow down to any pressure and always gave top priority to the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

When certain countries and INGOs threatened to take Sri Lanka to task and planned to level war crime charges and bring our brave soldiers before any international court, President Rajapaksa said he himself would go before any international courts and suffer the consequences and protect the Security Forces. In doing so, he showed the sterling qualities of a true leader.

In contrast, the traitor showed his true colours when he disclosed sensitive military secrets in public, for which he could be court-martialled despite his retirement from service. On the other hand, he also concocted stories to pander to the needs of the West and said that it was the Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa who ordered ground troops to shoot LTTE leaders who came to surrender, waving white flags.

The traitor’s greatest betrayal provided ample ammunition to the West which had been scouting for opportunities to checkmate Sri Lanka. As a result of the traitor’s shameless statement, the West is likely to take Sri Lanka before an international war tribunal.

As a nation, we were proud when Sri Lanka eliminated the Tigers and became the first country to eradicate terrorism. But all those supreme achievements of Sri Lanka’s Security Forces have been devalued after that greatest betrayal by a man who is prepared to do anything to grab power. One could well visualise the plight of democracy in this country, if this traitor gains power at any cost.

Fortunately, the masses are supporting the patriotic camp which is on a victorious path. This is the greatest relief. Hence, traitors do not stand any chance to fulfil their political aspirations and allow the West to make Sri Lanka their ‘obedient’ servant.

As we have pointed out earlier, people have betrayed countries and nations from time immemorial. Over the years many opportunists had turned traitors, caring two hoots for their Motherland. Sri Lanka is definitely no exception. From ancient times there had been such characters who betrayed their country for petty gains. Even during British rule, from 1815 to 1948, there had been several instances where the country had been betrayed by individuals to gain positions, power and wealth from the British rulers.

Irrespective of the time or period, these traitors had acted in this manner due to their lust for power or personal benefits. The latest in that endless list is one man who calls himself ‘common’ but does ‘uncommon’ things.

Who are the leaders in the traitor’s camp? All those leaders, except for one red spot, are the same people who opposed the operations of the Security Forces and raised a big hue and cry to halt the battle against terrorism. But now, they have joined hands to capture power at any cost and endanger Sri Lanka’s future.

The masses are far too intelligent and would not get trapped to the magical tune of the traitor and the Tiger proxies who surround him. The time is now opportune to defeat the traitors and put a permanent end to the greatest betrayals. The voters would, no doubt, exercise their franchise in an appropriate manner to teach traitors the lesson of their lives.