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The latest incident of gun running and suicide by the LTTE are undoubtedly ominous signs for the Peace Process which increases their intensity as being much too speculative and tentative about the real intentions of the LTTE while heralding much more credibility into the theory by many analysts that it is going nowhere unless the much publicised outcry, that the LTTE MUST DISARM for any peace to be effective. Something which has to be formulated within the Legislature in no uncertain terms and ratified.
The chief projectors of the Peace Process meanwhile continue with their inane grins and handshakes across the table, broadcast on prime time television adding an air of ludicrousness to what tantamounts to a melee of pretence waved on by Norway the mediator who has thus far mainatined mostly a stiff upperlip with the exception of a few odd token comments by their monitors towards disarmament but themselves have had to take a hurried seabath in northern waters to escape being blown up by the entity whom they mostly have empathy for.
According to Official Reports, the Sri Lankan Navy apprehended an LTTE boat suspected of transporting arms on Thursday night about four nautical miles south of the northern Delft islet in the North of Sri Lanka. Subsequently, the Navy and the LTTE agreed to wait for the arrival of truce monitors from the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM). The truce monitors, two Norwegians and a Tamil interpreter from Jaffna having boarded the vessel early this morning, found one 23mm anti-aircraft gun, 1 AK-47 assault rifle with several hundred rounds of ammunition and three hand grenades. They escaped unhurt as they jumped overboard when the Tigers set fire to their boat. The boat reportedly exploded around 11 a.m.
Finally the worst fears of those who oppose the Peace Process before a much needed disarmament have been vindicated and here then is clear evidence that the LTTE have no regard whatsoever for the Government with whom they are allegedly negotiating for peace under the guise of a cloak of subterfuge being rather transparently spread around the Wickremasinghe Administration who have not thus far responded appropriately but has waved on the continuation of talks without addressing this latest development which was almost predicted by the President and all those in opposition towards what they deem a flawed Peace process by way of dissent based on issues of vital importance being overlooked.
By-passing the Prime Minister's obligations towards the Nation's Security which appears negative and tentative at best, the President has directed the Navy to take into custody the boats and weapons and has requested a written agreement from the LTTE " that they will not engage in such activities in the future" but as to whether such documentation will ever be a reality or bear any weight towards its implications towards peace is a matter for speculation leaving much room for skepticism.
Although the incident is being down played by the Monitoring Mission and the protagonists for peace globetrotting at the taxpayer's expense that this is an isolated incident there have been countless missions of gun running and the transportation of weapons by the LTTE which have got past security in favour of the Peace Process and leaves much speculations as to whether the real reason for such indiscretions on the part of the Government involves a hidden agenda and mere scrutiny and investigation at this juncture seems very insufficient as opposed to a beefing up of security, joint exercises with the Indian Naval Authorities which is now in the works and a matter of time before its implementation but to all intents and purposes a general build up of security at all strategic locations vital to the Nation seems to be dire need and a foremost priority.
It is a responsibility which cannot be shrugged off in favour of a piecemeal Peace Process as it would constitute a letting down of the guard and provide platforms of opportunity to the LTTE who themselves need to be disbanded and sent packing rather than bartering peace with as the writing seems to be on the wall so much similar to the manner in which the Iraqi Leader Saddam Hussein has continued to fool the rest of the undiscerning world that his intentions just as much as those falsely projected by the LTTE Leadership are dishonorable.
There are feeble references to a 'Communication Failure' infered by the Norwegian Facilitators that the LTTE vessel was unprepared for the inspection in a manner which almost suggests a collusion with the LTTE where they may have had the option to get rid of their armaments or dispose of them prior to the inspection without detection, making a mockery of their commitments towards the Peace Process whereas their only response should have been in the direction of a stringent accusation that the LTTE have deliberately and arrogantly violated the ceasefire and need incarceration.
Their loudest expressions furthermore have been expressions of sympathy that three terrorists lost their lives and nothing further needs to be said about what this implies that the Monitoring Mission seems to be an LTTE friendly entity who seem to have forgotten past incidents where they have been literally manhandled by the LTTE and held under threat.
The Wickremasinghe Administration now has been thrust with the rather unenviable responsibility of calling the LTTE Bluff about their Peace Moves and assert for itself whether it too sees a lasting path to peace through gun running and increasing the vulnerabilities of Sri Lanka by permitting the LTTE to continue unabated.
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