Battle against terrorism, still fresh in people's minds

Do we for a moment pause to ponder on the decisive week when the Security Forces made a tremendous sacrifice to save the nation during the final stage in its battle against terrorism?

Precisely three years ago, Sri Lanka's valiant Security Forces risked life and limb in the final phase of their battle against the LTTE's vicious terrorism. Only a few friendly countries supported Sri Lanka during that crucial period when certain Western countries which project themselves as godfathers in the global battle against terrorism did not give two hoots when it came to supporting Sri Lanka.

Nevertheless, the true sons of our soil not only accomplished a gigantic task in an exemplary manner, but also set new international standards in military history. Had the Security Forces not taken such massive risks to avoid civilian casualties in the final phase of the battle against LTTE terrorists, the lives of many soldiers would have been saved.

However, Sri Lanka's Security Forces accomplished that Herculean task with utmost respect for human rights. As Commander-in-Chief, President Mahinda Rajapaksa ordered them to maintain zero civilian casualty rates at all times.

Unfortunately, certain countries which have a notorious track record with the NATO Forces in Iraq and Afghanistan are now pontificating to Sri Lanka on human rights. As a matter of fact, they seem to be more concerned over the human rights of terrorists than those of civilians. Nobody in their proper senses could dispute the fact Sri Lanka's Security Forces, in their landmark achievement, liberated over half a million people in the world's largest human rescue operation.

President Rajapaksa, by virtue of the powers vested in him by Article 33 (f) of the Constitution, appointed a 19-member Presidential Task Force for Resettlement, Development and Security in the Northern Province just a week prior to the Security Forces liberating the country on May 18, 2009. The Task Force was mandated to prepare strategic plans, programs and projects to resettle displaced persons and rehabilitate and develop economic and social infrastructure in the Northern Province.

The Task Force was also commissioned to coordinate Security agencies of the Government to support resettlement, rehabilitation and development, direct and oversee the implementation of the plans, programs and projects of the relevant State organisations including the provincial authorities, liaise with all organisations in the public and private sectors and civil society organisations to implement programs and projects, seek, identify and apply innovative solutions to problems and constraints in the execution of the mandate of the Task Force and regularly review the progress of the programs and projects and take immediate corrective action where necessary.

The Task Force, under the chairmanship of the then Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa MP, did a praiseworthy job, leaving no room for extraneous forces to point an accusing finger at any shortcomings.

The great humanitarian operation, the 59 Division troops crossing the Waddawakkal causeway in the North of Mullaitivu reaching the south of the No Fire Zone on a day like today, three years ago is still fresh in our minds. They also thwarted a major LTTE sea and ground attack to recapture the newly liberated areas and destroyed a large number of Tiger suicide boats and killed scores of Tiger cadres. In that crucial battle in Waddawakkal, the 59 Division troops consolidated their positions along the earth bund which was captured after crossing the Waddawakkal lagoon.

A week before the LTTE was crushed, its cadres destroyed their vehicles and other assets as the final battle to rescue the remaining civilians entered its most crucial stage, with the 58 and 53 Divisions entering the newly formed safe zone and 59 Division advancing into the area from the North of Mullaitivu on May 13, 2009.

The 58 Division and the 53 Division rescued the remaining civilians in less than a week. At the time, not a single international human rights organisation or the UNHRC for that matter uttered a word of comfort or took any tangible steps to rescue those civilians who were held forcibly as a human shield by the LTTE. During the last phase, the Tigers fired indiscriminately at civilians who fled the scene and sought protection from the Security Forces.

The LTTE made a last minute ditch to sully the image of the Security Forces by causing widespread havoc in the new safe zone. They forcibly held hapless Tamil civilians as a human shield till the very end and even set off huge explosions in their surroundings to discredit the Security Forces. Certain Western countries have apparently forgotten these stark facts and are now shedding crocodile tears over the human rights of terrorists killed. These countries must bear in mind that the LTTE cadres killed were hardcore terrorists battling against a legitimate Army of a sovereign State. Will those countries ever brook such nonsense? Moreover, they should also highlight the human rights of Al Qaeda terrorists who were killed in action.

By this, we are by no means attempting to show mercy on any terrorist group. Rather, we only wish to stress that Sri Lanka had a legitimate right to defeat LTTE terrorism at any cost. We also recall President Rajapaksa's unambiguous statement several years ago - that terrorism in any part of the world is the same and should be eradicated likewise.

As the President has emphasised time and again, there are no good terrorists or bad terrorists and terrorists should be dealt with in the language they understand. Terrorists only inflict untold misery on human lives. Be it the now defunct LTTE or the somewhat active Al Qaeda, there is only one definition to terrorism. Can there be two types of definitions to terrorism, one for the West and another for this part of the globe?

If the West is really sincere in its efforts to crush global terrorism and justify its action with the NATO Forces, they should commend the exemplary acts of Sri Lanka's Security Forces, rather than concocting tales against them and level baseless allegations. Sri Lanka could definitely solve its own problems with its home-grown solutions and the West need not show any undue concern over the country's internal affairs.