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| Sunday, 20 July 2003 |
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Features |  |
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Weapon transfers More on political games Hope springs eternal in the human breast, so wrote the Bard of Avon. The spring board from which CBK's hopes gush forth is not a mystery as everybody now knows the 'palace coup' which had gone sour. CBK had realized, from experience that the bird in hand is worth the many in the UNF bush! Alas we can all breathe a sigh of relief, that there were no casualties, though the ego of the 'powerful' one may have been hurt. The deputizing angel from the salubrious hills was, overheard saying why shouldn't Ministers exchange notes with the opposing one, so where else can we hear feedback and criticism, which is good for the collective soul of the UNF Government. A ginger group, a bird whispers, is being formed. One wonders why? We have all those Whips in Parliament who prefer to listen to their own stentorian tones than the voices of the MPs, shouldn't we lend our ears to them? CBK was also cross with the Defence Secretary and the Head of Government Intelligence, for having brought in an alien into the regular "Top Secret" intelligence services meeting, CBK was vehement in admonishing the Defence Secretary and made no bones about tolerating foreign breeds at the top level intelligence chiefs meetings. Again, she had got her wires crossed, as this 'Alien' was not an ET, but a trainer whom the American Big Brother had, attached to the defence establishment. Where else can an aspiring 007, learn his ropes than at the feet of our masters! What a privilege he had accorded to our intelligence gurus. We should have more disciples like this to strengthen our team. Viva! big brothers and 'big' sisters. LTTE games The LTTE have truly entered the fantasy land. They are fantasizing about the sweeping authority as sole representatives of the Tamil people, devoid of the cantankerous and untrustworthy SLA which is presently occupying their fatherland! Hail Prabha! There are some thorns in the side which need to be sorted out though, the vesting of the Oil farms at Trincomalee, Reconstruction of Palaly Airport awarded to Indians, Fishing rights to the Chinese, the American Big Brother to farm mineral sands at Pullmoddai, was done in the best interest of our brethren in the North. They hardly have the wherewithal to go about doing this, as most of the poor men are busy stockpiling weapons of mass (or for that matter tiny) destruction (WMD) CBK is answerable to this, what with all those threats she keeps at, re catching the Tiger by the tail (or is it tale?) Weapons transfer system The modus of how these weapons are spirited into Sri Lanka is now clear. The LTTE have in their possession fighting crafts and other boats which ferry cargo and military hardware. The Sea Tiger bases in the North East Coast are equipped with radar to assist the operation by timing these transfers. How 'operation stockpiling' continues is that the 'lethal cargo' which is sourced in Thailand and Cambodia, are initially loaded onto small vessels or fishing trawlers that sail out to mid sea. Then the cargo is transferred in mid sea to Ocean going LTTE vessels. These vessels when reaching Sri Lankan waters, transfer the consignment to smaller boats or trawlers, for discharging at pre-selected coastal spots. These transfers during 2002, goes to show the futility of the stockpiling operation. In many sense this wasteful exercise amidst an impoverished Tamil population, could be avoided and instead LTTE should deploy their cadres in the reconstruction work which is critically needed by the people. The US intelligence's success at disrupting the Cambodian operation is another 'thorn' in the side, for the LTTE and further reduces the efficacy of their 'weapons transfer system'. Peace talks Though members of the LTTE Think Tank have recently been in the country to analyse the Interim Administrative Structure, which is on the way, they consider the support of US, Japan, the EU and Norway for the GOSL at future peace talks with trepidation. Such a line up would most definitely sour the long-term plans which the LTTE is cooking! The Canadian Government has already met Dr. Balasingham in London to warn him that the LTTE will be proscribed in Canada too, if they do not stop the violence against rival political groups. The response to this, is somewhat intriguing in that they wish to assure the GOSL of their intention to return to talks but no assurance of curbing their violence. The GOSL also learns that the LTTE's intimidatory and psychological tactics in forcing officials involved in the rehabilitation effort in the East to award contracts to pro LTTE elements and contractors to pay a percentage of their earnings as taxes as well as that project implementation should be carried out according to their dictates, means our Tamil brethren are headed to a fatherland more than motherland. The question which every citizen of the north and east must raise is: Is this the freedom one wants? JVP's concern The Rathu Sahodarayas are much concerned about the welfare of the long suffering, state sector workers, many of whom are on an extended vacation on state salary, and are on strike action in the Health, Railway and Electricity Board and the Water Resources Board. They have chosen to champion the demand for increase in salaries, and against the privatisation of State Institutions. When you are a wolf in sheep's clothing you need to agitate for the downtrodden and the suffering Government employee, purely to gauge the worker response as their union strength in the state sector is weak. May be we should call it sacrificing the innocent sheep to further the JVP's agenda. Pulling the wool over the sheep's eyes is a new game friends! - The Mole |
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