Opinion:

Human rights and LTTE atrocities

by K.M.H.C.B. Kulatunga

Genocide of Tamils, acts against mankind, war crimes and human rights violations are some of the popular terms that have been used by certain countries in the West and the LTTE rump to tarnish Sri Lanka’s image in the international arena.

Some of the Western politicians, who heavily depend on Tiger sympathisers and LTTE Diaspora for their political survival both in the form of voting and funding, are playing a major role in levelling concocted war crimes allegations to an Army which had liberated over a half a million hapless civilians from the jaws of the LTTE terror.

Since the latest sessions of the UN Human Rights Commission are now on, we would like to enlighten the international community and the Colombo-based diplomats on some of the worst ever acts against the mankind, carried out by the LTTE.

When the people of Sri Lanka were at the receiving end, fearing for their life without knowing as when the next LTTE’s massive bomb would explode at a public place, none of those human rights activists ever uttered a word against the Tigers.

Now that Sri Lanka had won its own battle, almost single handedly with the support of only a handful of friendly countries, those who indirectly supported the Tigers now try to tell Sri Lanka on what it should do. They even go to the extent of telling us as where we should locate our military camps and how we should implement our reconciliation process.

One thing we would like to stress strongly to all those diplomats here is that locating Army camps, dismantling high security zones, implementation of LLRC proposals or the manner in which the reconciliation process should go forward are entire matters of the Government of Sri Lanka.

They should refrain from attempting to advocate Sri Lanka on those as they are internal matters of a sovereign state. As any other sovereign nation, Sri Lanka has a right to take its own decision and such would entirely a matter of Sri Lanka.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Government is acutely aware of what the country needs the best.

No other country, foreign leader or international organisation could have a greater pain and worry on people of Sri Lanka than our own leaders. Hence, the world should let Sri Lanka resolve its own internal matters.

We know how Sri Lanka’s friendly countries has been helping even from the difficult periods. But they have never interfered with our internal matters.

It is those who never supported us during the humanitarian operation and turned a Nelsonian eye when the LTTE terrorism was at its best who are trying to advise and intimidate Sri Lanka. They have no moral or logical right whatsoever to do so.

If those who advocate us on human rights and reconciliation are genuinely interested in the well-being of the people in Sri Lanka, especially those who are living in the North and the East, they should demonstrate their sincerity by making a tangible contribution for the development process in those two provinces. Instead of not making any such worthwhile contribution, certain countries in the West try to play a mere advisory role. Why could not give such advice to LTTE terrorists when they were at their best, subjecting all Sri Lankans to untold privations?

In the name of liberation to Tamils in Sri Lanka, the LTTE subjected untold misery to their own community. Moderate and peace-loving Tamils, who rejected terrorism and violence, were gunned down in broad daylight. One of the most unfortunate such incidents took place exactly 27 years ago.

On June 26, 1985, the LTTE shot dead the Principal of St. John’s College, Jaffna, C.E. Anandarajah in Jaffna purely for the ‘sin’ of allowing students of his school to play a friendly match against a Security Forces team. Prabhakaran showed his cruelty when the LTTE later claimed responsibility for Anandarajah’s death, saying that the principal was killed for organising a match between the students and the Security Forces. Was that the liberation Prabhakaran was talking about?

Although any killing or terror act could not be approved by any right-thinking and loyal citizen, one could still understand if Prabhakaran and his goons were only killing and targeting Sinhalese. But there was no race or religion for the LTTE terror.

Anyone who opposed their terror acts were simply eliminated in the most inhuman manner. Hence, Apart from thousands of Sinhalese, many Muslims and Tamils too had to die during LTTE’s three decades of terror. In most cases, the LTTE carried out its genocide not only against Sinhalese but also against Muslims. Even Tamils who rejected violence were gunned down by the Tigers.

On June 27, 2002, the LTTE cadres threw grenades and attacked a crowd guarding the Valaichenai Mosque and killed five Muslims. The LTTE had been making a big hue and cry over rights of minorities in Sri Lanka. Don’t the Muslims has an equal right as Tamils as a minority?

Six years ago, the then Deputy Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army Major General Parami Kulatunge was assassinated by the LTTE. On June 26, 2006, a suicide bomber killed the third seniormost in Sri Lanka Army along with three others at Pannipitiya. At the time of his death, Major General Kulatunge had served Army for over 34 years.

Major General Kulatunge, two other soldiers and a civilian were killed when an LTTE suicide bomber riding a motorcycle blew him up targeting the vehicle of the Major General, near Pannipitiya junction. He was on his way to his office at the Army Headquarters from his official residence at the Panagoda Army base when the suicide bomber struck at the entrance to Sri Devramvehera road connecting the Old Kottawa road and the Highlevel Road. Besides Major General Kulatunge, his driver Sergeant Gomes and Lance Corporal Buddhika were also killed in the attack.

Debris of vehicles were seen scattered over a wide area at the explosion site and parts of a head believed to be that of the suicide bomber were lying about 50 metres away from the spot of the blast.

The attacker had clearly targeted Major General Kulatunge’s vehicle as his Peugeot was totally destroyed. Other vehicles including the backup security vehicle had minor damages.

This is just one of the many such suicide attacks carried out by the LTTE.

The West as well as international organizations such as the UN should commend Sri Lanka for its speedy resettlement program and steps taken to develop infrastructure facilities in the North and the East.

More importantly, the rehabilitation of the ex-LTTE cadres has been exemplary, setting new world standards.

Recently, a rehabilitated ex-LTTE combatant from Kilinochchi, Sri Kanthan (21) had his wedding at Welikanda, Kandankaduwa rehabilitation center. Sri Kanthan tied the knot with 19-year-old Thangarasa Induruvee at a glamorous and a most traditional Hindu wedding ceremony in the presence relatives and officials at center – an ample testimony how Sri Lanka Army treats even their one-time enemies.

Thangarasa was Sri Kanthan’s fian?e‚ before the latter was dragged and forcibly conscripted into the terrorist outfit. Sri Kanthan was all praise for the officials at the rehabilitation center who had put every effort in tracing the whereabouts of his fian?e‚ and making their dream come true.

“This was a total surprise. I thought I’d lost him forever and when they said that he was at Welikanda, I was lost for words”, an emotional Thangarasa was quoted as saying on the twist of fate experienced.

“They who claimed to be our ‘sole saviors’ were the perpetrators and those who I was forced to take-up arms against were the true-angels”, Sri Kanthan had said, looking into the eyes of his lost-found love. Has there ever been a single incident of this nature where an Army had treated an enemy in this fashion.It is Sri Lanka’s rich Buddhist culture that has inherited these social values.

People in Sri Lanka know how to respect not even to a stranger but also for an enemy. Foreigners need not enlighten Sri Lankans on human rights and values as we have been a civilised nation with a rich culture, long before those countries in the West were founded.