Definitions needed for 'terrorism' and 'terrorist':

Conflict resolution theory expired in May 2009 - Minister Dullas Alahapperuma

By Nadira GUNATHILEKE

Extracts from an exclusive interview with the Treasurer of the SLFP and Skills Development and Youth Affairs Minister Dullas Alahapperuma on the historical background of anti Sri Lankan elements and the Darusman Report.

Q: What is the historical background to the Darusman Report?

A: The Darusman Report was not initiated by the UN or its Secretary General. They are not against Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka has nothing against them.

The report is not an accident, something that came out by chance or a natural instrument made to investigate war crimes.

There is a very clear historical background and international involvement behind it.

In May 2009 the world famous `Conflict Resolution Theory' expired in Sri Lanka.

A new theory by President Mahinda Rajapaksa replaced it.

On October 24, 1945 the UN was established, to protect humanity from war. Since then the UN was balancing power between the US and the USSR - the two world giants.

It was also working to prevent a third World War. But after the collapse of the USSR, the UN lost its main task and took over a new task `Conflict Management / Resolution'. It's a new theory brought about by certain Western and European elements, to go into democratic countries and intervene in their affairs in the name of protecting human rights.

It began in the countries that separated from the USSR and spread to other countries. According to this theory, a conflict should have a win win solution and there is no way of eradicating terrorism. All universities grabbed this new and popular subject.

Sri Lankan leaders obeyed the theory and opted to hold talks with the LTTE in order to achieve a win win solution.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa did the same. But in 2009 President Rajapaksa proved that the theory is no more valid as it had already expired.

The conflict Resolution Theory died in 2009 after two decades of its birth. The only way of salvaging the dead theory was by naming the new theory (invented by President Rajapaksa) as a `Genocide'. But there were no killings in the said `Genocide' ! Only the name was there.

The humanitarian operation implemented in Sri Lanka saved the lives of over half a million Tamil people.

These people live happily in their original homes after spending 30 years in LTTE custody. Where was the so called Genocide ? The US still battles its 'War on Terror' but President Mahinda Rajapaksa concluded ours.

Now the countries of the world can point out the new theory introduced by President Mahinda Rajapaksa and say "Look ! We do not need your `Conflict Resolution/ Management Theory'. We can implement the Sri Lankan theory and find a solution.

There cannot be two different ideologies in two reports published by the same organisation. In the Darusman Report the LTTE was named as one of the most `disciplined'. In all UNICEF reports the LTTE had been accused for recruiting and using child soldiers.

This is something unacceptable and very contradictory.

Tamil politician, scholar and former Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadiragamar told the UN that the latest political weapon used by the West was `Human Rights'. Human Rights was the base for the expired `Conflict Management Theory'.

That is why the West opposed President Mahinda Rajapaksa's theory from the beginning.

Q: What do you think of the EU's comments on the Darusman Report ?

A: Regrettable. Several countries in EU suffer from terrorist attacks. Such comments promote world terrorism and hinders the War on Terror launched by the US.

It is sad to see how such comments cultivate and reawaken separatist ideologies in the minds of innocent and peaceful nations.

Such comments release wrong signals to the armed forces of democratic countries such as India (Assam), Ireland, Spain, Philippines, Afghanistan and Latin America which fight against terrorism.

The LTTE was banned by the EU itself. The EU cannot be blamed for its comments because the comments come in the absence of relevant definitions for terrorism and terrorists.

Q: What should Sri Lanka do to the Darusman Report and similar challenges that can come our way ?

A: Sri Lanka should stand up as one country and one nation. `Buts' and `Ifs' should not be there when it comes to the country. All should get together and fight for Sri Lanka without any differences. It is not about a paddy field belonging to President Rajapaksa.

It is all about, the motherland of all Sri Lankans. Sri Lankan political parties that ruled the country during the past, aimed at grabbing power in the middle of national disaster.

They did not stand by Sri Lanka even during the 2004 tsunami.

They were divided on the 30-metre buffer zone after the tsunami.

It's time to change the habit. How can a party think about grabbing political power using a disaster ?

Q: How about including definitions for terrorism and terrorist in the UN Charter ?

A: The UN was established to protect humanity against man made disasters such as the Second World War. Yet, after 65 years of its inception, the main subject and the key responsibility of the UN has no definition.

Including definitions for terrorism and terrorists is a must because the UN's functions are based on these topics, to protect human beings from violence created by terrorism and terrorists.

Sri Lanka has the right of requesting the UN to include definitions for terrorism and terrorists in the UN Charter.

The world's best humanitarian operation was implemented by skilled and intelligent Sri Lankan armed forces who rescued around half a million people in a very short time.

Sri Lanka is a tiny country that eradicated terrorism without the help of world giants, struggling to stand up as a developed nation.

There is no point of destroying this country for the second time.

All should help Sri Lanka stand up and develop for the benefit of all ethnicities. This is the request Sri Lanka makes of the international community.

Q: What is the impact of Osama Bin Laden on the Darusman Report ?

A: Osama Bin Laden was a Muslim by birth. He faught against the West and the norms of the West and became the world's top terrorist. Prabhakaran was not a Muslim.

He did not fight against the West or its norms. So he was a `disciplined terrorist' ! After 9/11 the US wanted to define terrorism and terrorist.

They appointed a special committee for the purpose. But it was a flop because the West did not accept it. There will be no end to world terrorism without defining terrorism and a terrorist.