Vanquishing invisible forces

It seems that certain parties and individuals with vested interests are attempting to create unrest and panic in the country under the guise of suspicious characters as evidenced during the past few weeks.

Although the real culprits behind these incidents are yet to be exposed, their motives are as clear as daylight. At a time the country is reaping the dividends of peace, having eradicated terrorism, these criminal elements are working behind the scenes in an attempt to push back the country towards another dark era.

People should not fall prey to the concocted stories being spread about suspicious characters. Such phobias could pave the way to unruly acts.

This is exactly what has come to light in many parts of the country pertaining to suspicious characters. In some areas, certain parties have created a panic situation to achieve their selfish motives. The masses should not swallow the bait and keep a vigilant eye on sinister elements which attempt to disrupt law and order.

The Government has made it unequivocally clear that it would not brook any nonsense from any quarter and take every step to bring to book these suspicious characters, masquerading as various types of devils. Be it any devil, insurgent or destructive force, the Government has vowed to eliminate all such evils and maintain law and order.

No right-thinking person would condone the recent unruly acts in Puttalam and the manner in which a young police constable was brutally killed by unruly mobs. It was deplorable to say the least that the police officer who visited the area to investigate the complaints made by people in the same area, had to suffer such a horrendous fate. Can the police conduct proper investigations on these diabolical characters, when people in these areas assault and kill the police officers performing their duty? The government has vowed to take drastic action against those who take the law into their hands, damage public property and assault public officials.

It is now crystal clear that certain groups are trying to destabilise the peaceful environment prevailing in the country. The peace enjoyed by one and all today and the conducive environment for all communities to move freely have been earned after tremendous sacrifices by Sri Lanka's valiant Security Forces. Are the Tiger ghosts teaming up with some disgruntled elements to disrupt the smooth functioning of civil society and create mayhem? Hence, even those who mislead the public should be taken to task.

It is now evident that certain groups are having a hand in the assault on police officers and attacking Security Forces' camps. Taking the law into their hands is a flagrant violation of the laws of the land and the maximum punishment should be meted out to such transgressors.

No mythical creature on earth could take the law into his or her hand on the pretext of 'punishing' suspicious characters. Organised groups or for that matter even an individual cannot commit crimes such as murder and assault civilians or damage public and private property.

Sri Lanka is world famous for her warm hospitality. People even in far-flung villages treated strangers with open arms at their doorstep from time immemorial. How come we lost sight of this valued tradition overnight in some areas and turned out to be a set of barbarians, killing strangers requesting an address or other help? Nobody has the right to assault, injure or hack to death anybody entering a rural area. This arrant nonsense should cease forthwith.

An invincible hand by underworld gangs in the recent unruly acts cannot be ruled out. It is quite understandable that such elements should strike at a time the Government is going hammer and tongs against underworld gangs.

Criminals such as rapists, robbers and smugglers are taking undue advantage of this scenario. Hence, the public should exercise caution and act intelligently, without myths getting the better of them.

These 'suspicious characters' and so-called monsters are Old Wives tales recounted by certain parties or gullible people who are being literally taken for a ride. Thanks to the unrelenting efforts of the Army and Police STF, normalcy was restored soon in Puttalam and people went about their daily chores.

It should be borne in mind that there are several organisations, both here and abroad, who detest Sri Lanka fast-flourishing as one of the most developing economies in the world. Moreover, certain countries and international organisations which pontificated to us on peace and to negotiate with a bunch of terrorists such as the LTTE are vehemently opposed to Sri Lanka marching forward as a united nation. Their sole yearning is to see Sri Lanka suffering with internal problems and unending acts of terrorism.

Irrespective of petty political differences, the masses should steadfastly support the Government to usher in prosperity to the country. Baseless allegations are being levelled against Sri Lanka continuously by certain Western countries and pro-LTTE foreign media institutions with a hidden agenda. They could capitalise on the weaknesses of a negligible section of the society.

The Government rescued nearly half a million civilians from the clutches of LTTE terror and resettled them in double quick time. The news reports last week that several displaced persons in Vavuniya are reluctant to be resettled in newly built houses and prefer to stay in camps is conclusive proof in the manner the local authorities had looked after them after they were rescued from the Tigers.

The LTTE poltergeists are still lurking round the corner. To add insult to injury, certain international organisations and a section of the Tamil diaspora are doing their damnedest to fulfil that day-dream. We should not unwittingly fall into their trap.

It is the supreme duty of one and all to show that we are a loyal and patriotic nation whose foremost priority is country before self. When Sri Lanka was under British rule, the authorities at the time adopted a divide and rule policy and exploited people's differences to the optimum. We should ensure that such practices would never recur.

United we stand, divided we fall.