Opposition Leader turns 'Puppet of West':

Elements all out to destabilise country

by K.M.H.C.B. Kulatunge

The United Nations Human Rights Commission is scheduled to begin its latest sessions in Geneva later this month. As in the past, both local and international elements, backed by sympathisers of the now defunct terrorist outfit - the LTTE, have once again embarked on a malicious but well-orchestrated campaign against Sri Lanka and take the international community for a ride.

But the international community, especially the members of the UNHRC must first and foremost have a close look at hundreds of merciless and inhuman attacks carried out by the LTTE when they were active as the world's most ruthless terrorist outfit. They must think of the circumstances which forced Sri Lanka and its Security Forces to embark on a determined battle against terrorism.

That was purely a humanitarian mission to rescue over a half a million people forcibly held by the Tigers, most of them as a human shield. Projecting themselves as the sole representatives of Tamils, the LTTE unleashed nothing but untold misery to all communities in Sri Lanka, including their own community. In the pretext of a liberation battle for Tamils, the LTTE subjected thousands of people living in the North and the East, including Muslims and Sinhalese, to untold privations.

Certain countries and international organisations seem to be shedding crocodile tears on the human rights of terrorists, completely ignoring the very same Tamils, Muslims and Sinhalese who had suffered for nearly three decades due to brutal terror attacks of the LTTE.

The efforts of the Security Forces have now provided an ideal peaceful atmosphere for all Sri Lankans to live in harmony. People in the North and the East, who knew nothing but suffering for decades, have begun a new lease of life, thanks to those immense sacrifices made by the valiant Security Forces.

LTTE's brutal massacre

The Government, while developing the two provinces and uplifting the living standards of the people rescued in the humanitarian battle, has also taken meaningful steps in the reconciliation process. Based on the findings of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) Report, the Government is making a sincere and genuine effort for a greater national reconciliation.

If the international community is genuinely interested in the well-being of Sri Lankans, especially those who are living in the North and the East, they must help Sri Lanka in its development and reconciliation process, rather than attempting to pull from its leg based on concocted stories of alleged war crimes.

Even the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), better known as a proxy of the LTTE, has commended the Government's rehabilitation process of ex-terrorists. The rehabilitation of former LTTE cadres has been carried out in an exemplary manner and all of them, except for a few hardcore ones with specific charges, have been released. Their rehabilitation process included life skill development which has helped them immensely after returning to civil life. Why can't the West see these developments in their true perspective, rather than continuing with the negative pictures created by the LTTE when they were active?

It is high time that the international community, especially the West, stop looking at Sri Lanka through tinted glasses. They must come here and see for themselves the sincere effort the Government has taken in development and reconciliation process. By coming out with alleged war crimes and similar efforts to discredit the country, the West would only attempt to push people in Sri Lanka, especially those who suffered immensely due to LTTE terror, back to that previous era of misery.

If the accountability is the word the West is using to intimidate Sri Lanka and exert pressure on its democratically elected legitimate Government, the same should apply to coalition forces for their acts in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere.

Certain international organisations are flexing their muscles to create a political leadership that would dance to their whims and fancies. Knowing only too well that the masses have pledged unflinching support to the President and his Government, these 'elements' are doing their utmost to destabilise the country. By this, they are attempting to rob Sri Lanka's hard-earned peace, achieved amidst immense sacrifices by the valiant Security Forces.

It was a pity that Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe too has become a puppet of the West and making statements against his motherland. His recent statement to appease the West has been condemned by the masses in toto. Certain NGO goons too have rallied round the UNP leadership to add more power to that international conspiracy against Sri Lanka.

The West must show its sincerity by supporting the Government's development measures in the North and the reconciliation efforts, rather than attempting to cook stories on alleged war crimes. Such unreasonable allegations and actions would only shatter the dreams and aspirations of thousands of innocent Tamil civilians who have begun a new life after they had been rescued by the Security Forces.