Opinion:

West must look more positively at Sri Lanka

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

The world focus on terrorism was first observed with the 9/11 terror attack in the United States. The massive attack at New York's World Trade Centre and several other locations, shattered the world.

It made the world leaders focus more on terrorism and a mechanism to eradicate it. Many world leaders vociferously vowed to crush terrorism at any cost. The leaders of the so-called big countries not only pledged to crush terrorism using all their might but also promised assistance to other nations hit by terrorism. That raised the hopes of people across the globe, specially countries such as Sri Lanka which were affected by terrorism.

True that those world leaders kept their promises as far as their countries were concerned. They not only went that extra mile to kill all identified terrorists and the suspects who could pose a challenge to the supremacy of their countries. In the guise of taking action against terrorism, certain countries eliminated their enemies and dealt severely with their would be threats.

But they did precious little to assist countries such as Sri Lanka to overcome the threat of terrorism. For instance, Sri Lanka had to wage its own battle to crush LTTE terror. Except for a few friendly countries which helped Sri Lanka in difficult times, none of those so-called godfathers in the global battle against terrorism supported us when we were at the receiving end.

Boston Marathon

Many international media, television, radio channels and newspapers give extraordinary publicity to the recent bomb attack at the conclusion of the Boston Marathon. As peace-loving people, we strongly condemn that terror act which took place in the US. But none of the international media gave enough exposure to the barbaric acts of the LTTE terrorists who killed thousands of civilians in Sri Lanka.

Instead, they called Tigers freedom fighters and insurgents. The Western media too is playing their own game to suit the whims and fancies of their political leaders. While they identify LTTE terrorists as freedom fighters, rebels or insurgents, they do not hesitate to identify the people who indulge in the same devastating acts in the Western countries as terrorists.

Those who talk repeatedly of the Boston Marathon terrorist attack would never understood the sorrow and pain of those victimised at a similar event in Sri Lanka when the LTTE terrorists were at their best.

A suicide bomb attack killed 14 people at the opening ceremony of Sri Lanka's national marathon on April 6, 2008. Minister of Highways, Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, Sri Lanka Olympian cum South Asian Games double gold medallist K.A. Karunaratne and national athletics coach Lakshman de Alwis were among the dead. More than 90 others were wounded due to the merciless terror attack.

The LTTE exploded the suicide bomb when Minister Fernandopulle neared the start line to flag off the runners. Television footage showed chaotic images of screaming people running through bloodied streets in the worst terror attack at a sporting event since the 1972 Munich Olympic Games.

Pettah bomb blast

Today marks the 26th anniversary of the deadly Pettah bomb blast, one of the worst terror attacks ever in the world. A total of 116 people were killed and 298 others sustained injuries when the LTTE exploded a powerful bomb opposite the Central Bus Stand in Pettah, Colombo on April 21, 1987. On the same day, Tiger terrorists stormed Jayanthipura village and shot dead 15 civilians.

The fifth anniversary of the LTTE bus bomb attack at Piliyandala falls on Thursday. On April 25, 2008, the LTTE carried out a cowardly bomb attack targeting innocent civilians who were returning home after work at Piliyandala.

A powerful bomb was exploded inside a CTB bus parked at the Piliyandala public bus stand. Nearly 25 people including a Buddhist monk and several children were killed and another 52 people, including schoolchildren were injured.

These are only a few of the many devastations by Tiger terrorists in their three decades of terror. The suffering and untold misery inflicted on the lives of all Sri Lankans by the world's most ruthless terrorist outfit are immense. Yet, certain countries and international organisations still try to label them as freedom fighters. They are more concerned about the human rights of terrorists killed when confronting Sri Lanka's legitimate army than the human rights of hapless civilians who had lost their life and limb due to inhuman acts of the Tigers.

Those who shout from the rooftops on humanity and acts against mankind were fast asleep when the LTTE carried out merciless acts for over 25 years. Now that Sri Lanka's valiant Security Forces have liberated over half a million Tamils from the clutches of LTTE terror and created a peaceful environment, the human rights protectors of terrorists have emerged for nowhere to frame war crime charges against our leaders and Security Forces purely for the 'sin' of protecting human rights of over 21 million people.

Warfare course

If the world leaders, who often talk of eradicating global terrorism, are sincerely interested in doing so, they should not hesitate to grab Sri Lanka's expertise and first-hand experience on the battlefield.

Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa last week said that the Security Forces used traditional military strategies to face enemy attacks during the country's battle against terrorism. At the graduation ceremony of the asymmetric warfare course conducted by the Sri Lanka Navy at the Trincomalee Naval Base last week, Rajapaksa said that the Sri Lanka Navy without sophisticated equipment or high powered attack craft to sail thousands of miles in the deep sea successfully performed its task in the battle field.

Sri Lanka is already sharing its experiences in the battle field with friendly countries in the zone. The course, which is intended to meet that objective, is the first ever of military strategies organised by a country to share her experiences with the friendly countries. The West too should seek Sri Lanka's assistance to eradicate terrorism, if they want to practice when they preach.

As the Defence Secretary quite rightly pointed out, critics of Sri Lanka must first and foremost come here to witness the development achieved after terrorism was eradicated. People in Sri Lanka had been deprived of enjoying the scenic beauty of all parts of the country due to LTTE terror and most people in the North and the East had to leave their native places and live under dire conditions. But the dawn of peace has enabled not only Sri Lankans but foreigners too to enjoy the scenic beauty of the picturesque Eastern beaches.

A visit to Sri Lanka will provide a great opportunity for foreigners who hold wrong views. They must come and witness the coexistence that prevails among Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims who live peacefully across the island.

Certain interested elements here and abroad are attempting to affect this peaceful coexistence so that they could use it as a tool to meddle in Sri Lanka's internal affairs. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has assured that the Government will not tolerate anyone perpetrating acts to create communal or religious disharmony.

The President gave this assurance when a delegation of resident heads of 15 Islamic countries in Sri Lanka, met him at the Temple Trees last week to discuss various matters of mutual interest pertaining to domestic and international arenas.

Certain Indian politicians, especially those in Tamil Nadu, too have negative thoughts of Sri Lanka. That is purely because they have not gained first-hand experience on the true situation here. However, the Indian Parliamentary delegation on a five-day tour of Sri Lanka, expressed satisfaction of the country's economic progress, especially in terrorist-affected areas in the North.

The multi-party delegation comprising Indian parliamentarians Saugata Roy, Prakash Javedkar, Anurug Thakur, Sandeep Dixshit, Dhanajay Singh and Madhu Goud Yaskhi expressed their views when they met Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa at the ministry.

The Indian team was in the island to inspect the progress of Indian-funded development projects among other activities and to further strengthen Indo-Sri Lanka ties. During their visit, organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), the delegation met Sri Lankan MPs, senior ministers including External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris, Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa, Tamil leaders and opposition political leaders. They also held discussions with Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and United National Party MP Sajith Premadasa.

Visits helpful

Such visits would help to iron out differences. Those who level charges against Sri Lanka are unaware of the true situation here. Most of them assume that Tamils are only confined to the North.

They do not know that the Sinhalese are the minority in the capital Colombo, perhaps the only instance in the world. That is an ample testimony to the peaceful environment that prevails in the country and equal treatment meted out to all communities.

Hence, the West must look more positively on Sri Lanka's forward march since terrorism was eradicated. If the politicians in the West and the UN officials are genuinely interested in Sri Lanka's development and the well-being of the Tamils in the North and the East, they should lend a helping hand to the Government's mega development activities in the two provinces.

Actions such as the US-led Resolution against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC would only affect that forward march and the new lease of live afforded to Tamils in the North.

Sri Lanka needs sincere friends who could partner it in the global battle against terrorism.