LTTE's gun culture continues

Twenty years ago, we experienced the bloody massacre and the brutal mutilation of 33 young Samanera monks and their mentor Ven. Hegoda Indrasara Nayaka Thera at Arantalawa in the Ampara district.

The ruthless and bloodthirsty LTTE terrorists shocked humans across the globe with this merciless act. Two decades later, there are the so-called peace agents and sympathisers who try to give a human face to the deadliest terrorist organisation in the world.

A group of young Samanera monks were in a bus from the Mahavapi temple with their chief incumbent on a pilgrimage to Kelaniya on June 2, 1987 when they were intercepted by LTTE terrorists. About 20 Tiger terrorists clad in commando military fatigues emerged from the jungle thicket brandishing swords, knives and machine guns. Two Tigers boarded the bus and gave the driver orders to drive into a jungle path.

The first sword fell sharply on the neck of Ven. Indrasara. Then two terrorists began to cut and chop the young monks and two other Tigers began spraying bullets at the monks indiscriminately. Howls of pain and wailings of misery rent the jungle air but all pleadings were of no avail as the LTTE completed another merciless mission.

Despite many rounds of peace talks and a controversial Ceasefire Agreement (CFA), the Tigers have not deviated from their terror acts. They remain the same and their goals and objectives too have not changed.

It is sad that the so-called human rights organisations and INGOs still try to whitewash this group of criminals who have turned out to be the most ruthless terrorist organisation in the world.

Nowhere in the world can one find a group of savage bandits who had ruthlessly and inhumanly destroyed the life and property of the very State that educated, nourished, and sustained them to the extent of atrocities caused by the LTTE for over two decades.

During the past couple of weeks, the LTTE bombs targeted two security forces buses in Colombo and Ratmalana. Many innocent civilians too died while several others were wounded. But the human rights watchers, media watchers and INGOs who make a big hue and cry apparently turn a blind eye.

Nevertheless, the Government has repeatedly stressed its desire for peace and its willingness to find an honourable solution through dialogue. President Mahinda Rajapaksa while stressing the need to weaken Prabhakaran militarily has again declared that a political solution remains his only aim to the current conflict. During his recent interview with the Al-Jazeera television, President Rajapaksa said his increasing emphasis on military action was only a minor element in the pursuit of a political compromise.

Asked if immediate negotiations depend on prior military victory, the President was emphatic that it was not so and that a political solution was his only aim but at the same time terrorist leader Prabhakaran must be weakened militarily. He said though the LTTE does not have to surrender arms initially, they must first stop hostilities. It won't be long, before Prabhakaran realises that he has no choice but to negotiate. Our brave security forces have weakened the LTTE. When Prabhakaran is weak, he talks about peace, when he becomes strong, then he wants war. That's the simple mentality of the LTTE leader. The LTTE's cruel acts in recent times have prompted more countries to blacklist them. Following the ban by the USA, Canada, India and the 27 other European Union countries, Greece and Australia too are set to brand the LTTE as a terrorist organisation.

Although the Australian Federal Government says it has made no formal decision to proscribe the LTTE, there is a move believed to be under way in Canberra. The news reports said the move would rank the LTTE alongside 19 other proscribed groups, such as Al-Qaeda, Jemmah Islamiah and Lashkar-e-Toiba. The latest move would bring Australia in line with other Western countries that have banned the LTTE. The Tigers cannot fool the international community anymore. It is now evident that they are not sincere about peace. Even if they do so at this very decisive stage, the Government is ever willing to return to the negotiating table.

The recent bus bomb explosions clearly show that the LTTE would do anything to fulfill their aspirations. They still target innocent civilians. They not only target civilians and add misery to their lives but also use their own community as human shields.

The world community and all peace lovers must teach Prabhakaran the importance of peace. But nobody would be able to do so until Prabhakaran is defeated militarily. All what Prabhakaran knows is fighting and all what he has taught the younger generation in the North and East for the last two decades is his gun culture. It's he who has deprived the right to education for his own younger generation.

Unless the international community cages Prabhakaran and his Tigers, there will be no liberation not only to Tamils but also to the Muslims and Sinhalese.