UN support vital

President Mahinda Rajapaksa is due to address the 63rd General Assembly of the United Nations on Wednesday. President Rajapaksa told the United Nations General Assembly a year ago that his Government would hold elections in the Eastern Province in early 2008 and added that it was an opportunity for the international community to play a "vital role in breaking the cycle of conflict by focusing on development".

Today, the Government, under the inspiring leadership of President Rajapaksa, has not only liberated innocent Eastern civilians from the LTTE terror rule but has also restored democracy. The Government has not only resettled nearly 200,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the East but also restored democracy after 14 years. Development work is now in full swing as the people in the area have started contributing to the national economy.

More importantly, a breakaway group of the LTTE won the recent Eastern Provincial Council elections. This alone is a great achievement as a group of former terrorists who had faith in the bullet have now joined the democratic mainstream.

The President had told the 62nd session of the General Assembly in New York last year that human rights were far too important to be used as a "tool to victimise States for political advantage". His fearless address to the UN on international terrorism and human rights, is indeed commendable.

He emphasised at the UN General Assembly last year that State sovereignty, civil society and the rule of law are being increasingly threatened by terrorism and other illegal activities in many countries. The international community should be vigilant about these activities and keep a sharp eye at all times.

Over the years some countries, international organisations and a few INGOs have issued various statements on the situation in Sri Lanka. But most of these negative reports came as a result of their lack of knowledge of the true situation in Sri Lanka and the LTTE's well-knit international propaganda mechanism.

However, the situation changed dramatically and even the few countries and international organisations which had been critical of the developments have now clearly understood that the Government is engaged in a battle against terrorism to liberate innocent civilians from the jaws of the LTTE terrorists.

The forthcoming UN General Assembly would enable Sri Lanka to project the latest situation before the international community. It would provide an ideal platform for Sri Lanka to give an accurate account as the Security Forces embark on the final phase of their battle against terrorism.

Apart from Sri Lanka, many member states of the UN have faced havoc caused by brutal terrorism which has stretched its tentacles to many corners of the globe.

During the 2007 UN sessions, President Rajapaksa stressed that terrorism in any part of the world is the same because the impact of all those acts inflicts misery and pain on innocent people. He said, "Terrorism anywhere is terrorism. There is nothing good in terrorism".

Be it in New York, London, New Delhi, Islamabad, Colombo or any other city, terrorist attacks threaten the democratic way of life. All peace-loving and loyal people must squarely condemn it unreservedly.

It is indeed tragic that only a few countries, international organisations and the so-called human rights organisations condemn the ruthless terrorist acts of Velupillai Prabhakaran and the LTTE. Many turn a blind eye to the LTTE's terror acts against innocent civilians. Nevertheless, these people react differently to an isolated incident or concocted LTTE story.

The Security Forces would soon liberate the Wanni and Mullaitivu districts. Not only innocent civilians in those two districts, who are now being kept as human shields, would be rescued from the blood-thirsty LTTE but the Government would also set up a mechanism to resettle them in no time. Though many INGOs try to paint a dismal picture on the resettlement process, the Government has the expertise and a proven track record to resettle the IDPs within months.

The aim of the Government is to develop the newly liberated areas in the North and the Eastern Provinces and bring them on par with the Western Province. To achieve that goal, the Government needs the support and assistance of the international community and backing from our donor countries. If they are sincerely interested in protecting human rights and contribute to the well-being of the people in the North and the East, they should join hands with the Government.

Whenever the LTTE terrorists and their sympathisers are disillusioned, they use human rights as an effective weapon to discredit the Government.

The Security Forces have undoubtedly conducted themselves in an exemplary manner, bringing civilian casualties to a near zero while respecting human rights at all times.

Some opposition politicians and a section of the local media with vested interests make a big hue and cry on so-called human rights violations to achieve their personal agendas. Some countries and organisations go to the extent of awarding and rewarding those media personalities who internationally 'auction' their country's sovereignty and territorial integrity on the pretext of human rights.

It is sad that most of these human rights watchdogs do not see the pathetic situation of innocent civilians held in the North and that the Tigers keep them as a human shield even without providing them with their basic human needs.

In realistic terms, the human rights of the majority of innocent civilians have been abused due to the LTTE's terror acts.

The United Nations could play a greater role in eradicating international terrorism and liberating innocent people who are being subjected to the cruelty of terrorism.

As Professor Dina Titus, American State Senator who is due to enter the United States Congress from the State of Nevada, said recently, the LTTE terrorism and genuine grievances of Tamils are two different issues and should not be interconnected.

Hence, the Government is responding to the LTTE terrorism in the 'language' which Prabhakaran knows best while the genuine problems of the people in the Northern and Eastern provinces would be addressed through the APRC recommendations.