Prabhakaran's terror and UNP's agenda

The recent LTTE terrorist attacks in Anuradhapura and Yala make it increasingly clear that Velupillai Prabhakaran is not interested in going back to peace talks. If this ruthless terrorist leader, who has brought endless misery to over 70,000 people and their families over the past three decades, had even an iota of interest in going for a negotiated settlement with the Government, he would not have even dreamt of resorting to such a dastardly act.

The LTTE's terrorist attack on the Anuradhapura Air Force Base came just a couple of days after many renowned world experts ended a three-day International Counter Terrorism Conference in Colombo. This is a good eye opener to the international community that the LTTE does not have a genuine desire for peace, but to go for their targets through their terror acts.

On the other hand, those who make a big hue and cry about human rights and try to discredit the Government internationally, should seriously consider whether their recent acts and statements are impartial. Why are some international organisations and INGOs silent when the LTTE indulges in ruthless terror acts against a legitimate Government?

Even the United Nations and other so-called world super powers should help Sri Lanka in its valiant battle against terrorism. Some countries which make a huge noise against terrorism in their countries, take a different point of view or keep mum when terror attacks take place in countries such as Sri Lanka.

As President Mahinda Rajapaksa has emphasised at many international fora, including the recent UN General Assembly, terrorism anywhere in the world is terrorism and should be treated likewise.

There can't be two definitions or solutions to terrorism because terror acts, irrespective of which part of the globe it takes place, inflict misery on innocent civilians. Hence, whether Al Qaeda's Osama Bin Laden is behind the explosions in the United States and LTTE's Velupillai Prabhakaran follows same in Sri Lanka is not the question. What matters is that these acts are terror attacks against democratically elected legitimate Governments and should be defeated at any cost.

The INGOs which shed crocodile tears and their local agents who sell their country for the filthy lucre that come regularly to their accounts, do not utter a word about terrorist attacks and human rights of those who suffer as a result of those attacks. If they are genuinely interested in human rights, they should raise their voice in the same way when human rights of civilians are violated as a result of LTTE terror acts.

There is no doubt that the LTTE attacks in Anuradhapura and Yala was a considerable blow to the Security Forces. Losing eight aircraft is not something that can be taken lightly. Apparently, there have been security lapses which had enabled the terrorists to capitalise on. As a result, the Defence Ministry appointed an overall commander to coordinate security operations in the Anuradhapura area.

All these are minor setbacks in Sri Lanka's unrelenting battle against terrorism. The isolated terrorist attack in Yala does not mean that our brave Security Forces have lost their grip in the East. That cannot undermine the great victory our brave sons have achieved in liberating the Eastern Province from the clutches of LTTE's blood-thirsty terrorism.

We may have lost a few valuable aircraft but that has certainly not weakened the air capability of the Sri Lanka Air Force, which has been increased by 50% during the past year. It will not weaken the SLAF air strikes on enemy positions. The LTTE should realise that they cannot by any means weaken the morale and determination of our brave soldiers. Those terror attacks have only increased the determination of our Security Forces that they have to eliminate terrorism at any cost.

It is indeed a pity that the UNP is trying to gain political mileage though Prabhakaran's terror acts. If the UNP is a responsible opposition which is sincerely interested in protecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country, they should back the Government in its efforts against terrorism. Unfortunately, we have an opposition leader who has lost two successive Presidential elections and is still looking for short cuts to regain power.

Had the UNP acted in a responsible manner to protect national interests, they would have won the hearts of more patriotic people. But in trying to gain political advantage in humiliating our Security Forces after the attacks in Anuradhapura and Yala, our opposition politicians have proved how 'sincere' they are.

Prabhakaran's barbaric terrorism continued for three decades due to the backing they have been getting from some of our irresponsible and opportunist politicians. At least now, the UNP should give up its opportunist politics and help combat terrorism. Unless they act as a responsible opposition and take a broader view on national issues, they would continue to sit in the opposition benches.

The country needs sincere, honest and patriotic leaders whose top priority is the people. Unless we unite to combat terrorism, Prabhakaran and his gun culture would gain the maximum advantage. The UNP by all means could continue to criticise the Government on any issue but on matters pertaining to our national security, all parties should unite to beat the common enemy.