Indo-Lanka ties vital to defeat terrorism

The Security Forces are on the verge of capturing the LTTE's nerve centre of Kilinochchi as Velupillai Prabhakaran's Eelam dream is now a mirage.

Knowing only too well that the writing is on the wall, Prabhakaran is desperate for survival.

The LTTE needs to play a new card to boost the morale of its cadres and also to satisfy the Tamil diaspora. In this backdrop, Prabhakaran is trying to exploit the forthcoming elections in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu to exert 'pressure' on the Government and slow down the current battle against terrorism.

Terrorism as any kindergarten child knows has been a severe threat not only to South Asia but even to the superpowers. Countries such as the USA and the UK are facing terrorist threats. This is no different in South Asia. Apart from the LTTE being the most ruthless terrorist organisation in the world, India and Pakistan too are experiencing various acts of terrorism which have claimed many lives.

During the recent past, we have witnessed the high drama unfolding in Tamil Nadu as some of their regional politicians are trying to capitalise on the situation in Sri Lanka to prop up the Tamil Nadu State election campaign. Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister and DMK party chief, M. Karunanidhi is making a desperate attempt to woo voters by showing an extraordinary interest in the Tamil community in Sri Lanka.

Having failed miserably with some of his early tactics, Karunanidhi has sought the help of India's UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. The DMK is a coalition partner of the Indian Government and DMK's 39 seats are important for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's Government.

Fortunately the Indian Central Government has not changed its stance on terrorism and has already pledged to respect Sri Lanka's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Both India and Sri Lanka, along with other countries in the SAARC Movement, firmly believe that terrorism should be eliminated at any cost.

However, certain interested parties in Tamil Nadu and even some political opportunists in Sri Lanka, are trying to link the Security Forces battle against terrorism with the genuine grievances of the Tamil community.

The LTTE has waged a war with a legitimate and democratic Government. They have killed thousands of people during the past three decades and inflicted absolute misery even on their own Tamil community. One of India's greatest sons - former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, the husband of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, was killed by an LTTE suicide bomber.

The Tigers have not only killed Sri Lankan leaders such as former President Ranasinghe Premadasa but has also brutally assassinated eminent Tamil leaders and politicians such as former Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, TULF Leader A. Amirthalingam, Dr. Neelam Thiruchelvam, former Mayor of Jaffna Mrs. Sarojini Yogeshwaran, EPRLF Parliamentarian Sam Thambimuttu and other top officials.

India which has wide experience of the scourge of terrorism, firmly believes that Sri Lanka should completely wipe out LTTE terrorism to establish peace in the country. Hence, India will never intervene to halt the Security Forces' ongoing operations against the LTTE in the North. Whatever domestic political crises and compulsions India may face, we are convinced that India would never change its stand on the need to wipe out terrorism.

Terrorism is a common problem faced by countries in the region including India, Pakistan and Afghanistan and the necessity to defeat terrorism was highlighted at the recent SAARC Summit, chaired by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The sweeping statements by Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister, therefore, would not make any dent in Sri Lanka's battle against the terrorists.

At a time all democratic forces should rally round President Rajapaksa and help eradicate terrorism, the UNP attempts to make capital out of the developments in Tamil Nadu and the utterances of its Chief Minister. It is shameful that the UNP leaders are looking for shortcuts to recapture power through the developments in Tamil Nadu.

The Government has always looked into the needs and genuine grievances of people living in the North and the East. It is the Government which sends food supplies and other essentials regularly for the civilians living in the LTTE-held areas. In recent times, the LTTE has tried to scuttle the Government's attempts to send food supplies to Kilinochchi. Fifty World Food Programme lorries carrying essential food items, medicine and other dry rations for Wanni civilians were forced to return to Vavuniya due to LTTE artillery fire and claymore mine attacks. The food convoy which had come under a barrage of LTTE artillery fire and a claymore mine attack was compelled to turn back to Vavuniya.

If the LTTE is genuinely interested in the well-being of the Tamil community, will they ever resort to this type of inhuman action? It is the LTTE which has been keeping innocent civilians as human shields. These civilians want to get rid of the LTTE terror rule but the Tigers are holding them by force.

However, most civilians have escaped from LTTE terror. More than 90 per cent of people who were LTTE slaves in Kilinochchi have fled LTTE-held areas and are living safely under the protection of the Security Forces.

The Government sends ample food stocks even for the mere 10 per cent of civilians who are still in 'LTTE custody' as a human shield, Though some opportunist politicians in Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka are trying to paint a dismal picture, there is no food shortage whatsoever in the Wanni.

There isn't even a single person in the Wanni who is suffering from hunger owing to a food shortage.