Masses overjoyed by Forces’ success

The unprecedented success of the valiant Security Forces in the North has received an overwhelming response from people from all parts of the country.

Irrespective of ethnic, religious, political or other social differences, people from all walks of life celebrated the recent liberation of Pooneryn.

Hundreds of thousands of Lion flags fluttered high all over the island as Sinhalese, Muslims, Tamils, Burghers and Malays celebrated the capture of Pooneryn and the eradication of terrorism from several towns in the North as well.

It was most heartening to witness the response of the Tamils in Jaffna who beat all odds to show their innate gratitude to the Security Forces.

Tamil civilians who were enraptured by the recent military success in their humanitarian operations, held a grand street celebration to enjoy the victory.

Around 10,000 civilians were seen marching on the streets of Jaffna town for over three hours in a jubilant mood, shouting patriotic slogans, displaying banners, placards and waving national flags.

A large group of civilians gathered at Gurunagar for the celebrations. The civilians then wended their way along the streets of Jaffna while thousands of others danced in the streets. More than 10,000 civilians were seen parading the streets of Jaffna, expressing their gratitude to the Security Forces for opening a land route to the Jaffna peninsula after 20 years.

Several city organisations too participated in the Jaffna celebrations - the Jaffna Traders’ Association, Fisheries and Fishermen’s Association, Co-operative Movement Association, Samurdhi recipients, Private Bus Operators and members of Trade Unions. Several hundreds of young men, including three-wheeler drivers in Jaffna danced their cares away to join in the celebrations three days after the fall of Pooneryn.

People in the South too have expressed their profound gratitude to the Security Forces as never before. The masses have left no room for opportunist politicians to exploit the situation as people in both urban and rural areas showed equal enthusiasm in hoisting the national flag to extend their gratitude to the Security Forces.

The LTTE’s iron grip of terrorism that suppressed Tamil civilians in the North for decades is on the wane and civilians are now escaping the terror clutches in large numbers. They are acutely aware how the Government liberated the people in the East, resettled them, restored democracy and implemented many development projects.

The liberation of the East was not merely confined to destroying the LTTE militarily. It was only the first step towards true liberation.

Having captured the areas held by the LTTE terrorists in the East, the Government implemented a successful and speedy resettlement program for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). Many development projects such as reconstruction work on bridges destroyed by the LTTE and housing and irrigation projects were launched.

More importantly, the people in the East were given an opportunity to elect representatives of their choice to run their own provincial administration.

Democracy was restored after 14 years and the local government and Provincial Council elections were held in the East. A former LTTE child soldier turned politician, Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan was elected the Chief Minister of the Eastern Provincial Council.

In other words, the provincial administration was handed over to the people in the East to fulfil their aspirations. The Government would have postponed the elections in the East, but President Mahinda Rajapaksa was determined that the democratic rights of the people in the East should be restored immediately after the liberation of the area and successful resettlement process.

People in the North too want to experience likewise. The Government’s aim is to implement the same process in the Northern Province too. Roads and bridges in the newly liberated areas in the North are already being constructed. The opening of the land route to Jaffna would undoubtedly change the lifestyle of people living in the peninsula.

Farmers in the Jaffna peninsula will be better off when the road transportation along the A-32 route resumes. Their products will fetch a better price in the South. That would be an impetus to development in the rural economy.

It would be only a matter of time for the Security Forces to wipe out terrorism from Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu too. Once the IDPs are resettled fully, the Government would also hold local government and Provincial Council elections. Once the Northern Province is completely liberated, its administration too would be handed over to democratically elected representatives in the area.

This is how the Government plans to give a better meaning to the military success in the North. This is not just a matter of overpowering the LTTE militarily their forcibly held territory but affording true liberation to the civilians. These innocent civilians have been subjected to immense hardships under the iron fist of Velupillai Prabhakaran who portrays himself as the sole representative of the Tamils.

Civilians in the North have experienced only misery under the LTTE’s terror rule. They were kept as a human shield and the LTTE even deprived them of their basic human needs. How could such an inhuman and barbaric terrorist leader be a sole representative of the Tamils?

Prabhakaran knows only too well that he could never win the hearts of the Tamils. That is precisely why he ordered the killing of many Tamil leaders, moderate politicians and intellectuals who believed in democracy. The LTTE’s thirst for blood is unquenchable. The Tigers are hell bent on destroying democratic Tamil leadership.

The Northern Provincial Council would be a reality soon and the Government has already allocated a large amount of funds to develop the North. This would be in addition to the foreign aid that is expected to flow in to the North once the liberation process is completed.

The Government and President Rajapaksa are determined to give a more significant meaning to the recent military success by restoring democracy in the North too.