Economic prosperity and political stability depend on security:

Sri Lanka is one of the safest countries - Prof.Rohan Gunaratna

By Manjula Fernando

Prof.Rohan Gunaratna who had served as an expert witness in a number of LTTE cases before Canadian Courts says the move by the Canadian Government to introduce tougher anti-terrorism laws, in the aftermath of the Jihadist gunman's attack in Ottawa, will certainly benefit Sri Lanka.

Speaking to the Sunday Observer in an email interview from Singapore, Prof. Gunaratne who is also the Head of the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, affirmed that the LTTE cells were still active in Canada in the form of criminal gangs.

He added the new anti terror laws 'must not only fight terrorism but ideological extremism' since the latter find resonance among the expatriate communities.

Questions:

Q: A Jihadist gunman rampaged through Canadian parliament on Wednesday after killing a soldier near the Ottawa war memorial. How would you view this development as against Canadian Government's somewhat liberal stance towards extremist organisations including the LTTE?

A: Traditionally, Canadian approach to terrorism has been weak. As such Canada is a safe haven for multiple terrorist groups that engage in support activity. Governments act against terrorism only when they perceive a serious threat to their citizens and their property not to others.

Canadian authorities will be compelled to fight back as the ideologies of extremism find resonance among their expatriate communities. Canadian counter terrorism legislation will need to be reviewed and revised to fight not only terrorism but ideological extremism. If neglected, radicalization activities of the terrorists and extremists will spread and produce a support base that will not only threaten Canada but the US and Europe. Canadian parliament should support Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), State Police, CSIS, CBSA and other law enforcement and intelligence services by passing wide ranging laws to fight the current and emerging threat. RCMP was responsible for a number of raids, arrests and prosecutions which exposed LTTE cells and fund raising fronts in Canada a.

Q: Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has vowed to strengthen the nation's terror laws after the incident. How could this be beneficial to Sri Lanka? Will this contribute to dismantle LTTE support base on Canadian soil?

A: Canadian political leaders are susceptible to minority votes. Former Prime Minister Paul Martin attended a dinner organized by the Federation of Associations Canadian Tamils (FACT), a group designated by the US as a terrorist front. However, Prime Minister Harper and other leaders resisted constituency pressure when the Conservatives proscribed the LTTE. The LTTE overseas network in Canada that funded three decades of terrorism remains active. Although over 90 percent of Tamils no longer support terrorism, LTTE has not given up on their separatist designs. Sri Lankan security agencies are working with their counterparts in Canada and Europe as LTTE cells are still active but mostly engaged in crime from human smuggling to financial crimes.

Therefore, strengthening Canada's counter terrorism legal framework will benefit Sri Lanka and other countries.

Q: Sri Lanka is still fighting its own battle with LTTE extremism, this Canadian gunman and another man who was involved in a similar incident a week ago reportedly harbored extremist Islamic ideological views. In the aftermath of these shooting incidents, can we expect a shift in Canada's stance and a better understanding towards Sri Lanka's war challenges?

A: It is too early to predict a shift in Canada's policy towards Sri Lanka as a direct consequence of Wednesday's attack. After the defeat of LTTE militarily, the LTTE overseas is mostly advancing its interests politically. Most LTTE activists and supporters who funded terror have been tamed. The LTTE activists are speaking about human rights! The TNA that embraced and endorsed the LTTE is also speaking about human rights! The latest strategy of the terrorist propagandists and fund-raisers are to infiltrate the Canadian parliament. They are likely to succeed!

Q: Sri Lanka ended a brutal terrorism war with LTTE five years ago. How serious is the threat of ISIS or Al-Qaeda to Sri Lanka as a country trying to emerge from the ashes of a past conflict?

Sri Lanka is at peace. Despite attempts by the LTTE and its proxies to paint a negative image of Sri Lanka, the country so far has done exceptionally well. Colombo is the cleanest city in South Asia. Colombo is emerging as one of the most beautiful capitals in Asia. Since the LTTE infrastructure in Sri Lanka was dismantled in May 2009, the Sri Lankans in the north and south have united in harmony. The ethnic and racial hatred and mistrust created by the LTTE has disappeared.

Despite attempts by a handful of TNA elements to glorify Prabhakaran, LTTE ideology is fading away. With no forced recruitment, no abductions and no killings, Sri Lankan Tamils, Sinhalese and Muslims are enjoying the peace dividends. As long as Sri Lankan security forces maintains a robust security presence in the north and the east of Sri Lanka, terrorism will not return to Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka also should pass a Harmony Act to deter anyone from exploiting ethnicity and religion to advance their personal and political agendas. The focus of the government in the next thirty years should be to build a generation of youth that are free from ethnic suspicion and religious prejudice.

Q: How serious is the possibility of Al Qaeda having a presence in Sri Lanka ? How could it affect the region?

A: With the US drawdown from Afghanistan, al Qaeda and Taliban is poised to recapture Afghanistan. The threat posed by Al Qaeda and Taliban is growing and affecting the security and stability of the South Asia, especially India and Pakistan. India and Pakistan should unite under Prime Minister Modi and develop a common strategy to fight terrorism, the greatest national security challenge facing the world. Sri Lanka should share their invaluable but costly experience with its neighbours and beyond.

Sri Lankan Muslims value moderation, toleration and coexistence. Sri Lankan Muslims are a model community until recently and the Muslim leaders must preserve traditional Islam. The version of Islam practised in the Middle East is incompatible with the Islam practised in Sri Lanka for centuries.

Sri Lanka should also take three steps to control the spread of extremist ideologies among all faiths.

First, Sri Lanka should learn from the riots in Aluthgama and Beruwala and send a clear message that it will prosecute anyone who breaks the law. Another riot will gravely damage Sri Lanka's reputation and image as a nation that has returned to peace.

Second, Sri Lanka should pass a law that criminalise hate speech and incitement., Under this law, Sri Lanka should exclude preachers of hatred from traveling to Sri Lanka.

Third, Sri Lanka should build an education system where children of all faith study together. In keeping with the character and spirit of Sri Lanka and Sri Lankans, there should be no separate Buddhist, Hindu, Christian or Muslim schools.

Q: There have been unverified reports that notorious Lakshar e Taibar (LeT) terror group was having a cell in Sri Lanka?

A: Al Qaeda operatives have transited through Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka has cooperated with foreign governments including the United States in the Global War Against Terrorism.

In the past, LeT operatives have used Sri Lanka and the Maldives to target India. As Sri Lankan law enforcement and intelligence services are effective, neither Let nor al Qaeda has succeeded in creating a base in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka has a zero tolerance approach against foreign terrorist groups.

Q: Can the recent arrests and developments in India and Malaysia, linking Sri Lankan Muslims be a masterminded ploy to destroy or strain improving Sri Lanka India relations?

A: Sri Lankan government should work closely with all governments in the fight against terrorism. Sri Lanka should work closely with India especially since Tamil Nadu has emerged as an important base for the revival attempts of the LTTE. There is a criminal-political and a terrorist nexus in Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu politicians are corrupt and they provide a platform for the LTTE to survive. Sri Lankan Ministry of External Affairs should build a close relationship with Tamil Nadu political parties.

Q: Sri Lanka's security forces have been hailed for the way it tackled the LTTE and ended a 30 year long conflict. The security establishments worldwide have been approaching Sri Lanka to get an insight into Sri Lanka's strategies. In the face of new threats how hard it is to maintain this reputation ?

A: To the world, the Sri Lankan security forces demonstrated that it could defeat any terrorist group, even a group capable of suicide terrorism. Today over a dozen nations are benefitting from the experience and the expertise of the Sri Lankan military, law enforcement and intelligence agencies.

The Sri Lankan security forces have transformed from a fighting force to a development force rendering a yeoman service to the civilians in the north and the east.

A few governments in the West lobbied by the LTTE fronts accused the Sri Lankan security forces but today those very countries are benefitting from working together with their Sri Lankan counterparts.

The attempt to demean the domestic armed forces of developing countries before the local population is not good for domestic local cohesion. One must have confidence in your armed forces and any attempts to undermine should be challenged. Good governance and global human security can be build by training and retraining the domestic law enforcement, military and intelligence organizations and not by taking away the credibility they deserve especially after they defeated one of the world's most ruthless terrorist groups.

Q: At the recent review of ICCPR in Geneva, it was questioned as to why Sri Lanka was still enforcing the PTA. Do you think things have come back to normal and PTA is no longer required in SL ?

A: Today, Sri Lanka is one of the safest countries in the world. It is because Sri Lanka maintains a robust security and intelligence presence. The LTTE has been dismantled in Sri Lanka but the LTTE is operating overseas. The LTTE is building a network in Tamil Nadu. Furthermore, elements of the TNA are working with the LTTE fronts overseas. Six plots by the LTTE to mount attacks has been disrupted. To maintain security and stability, PTA is essential. The PTA in Sri Lanka was modelled on the PTA in Britain. As economic prosperity and political stability is dependent on security, government must not compromise security.