Insight By Sunil Kumar

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The Tamil Diaspora backed tirade against the Government of Sri Lanka inƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ calling the killing of hardcore LTTE terrorist Thamilselvan in a SriƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Lanka Air Force raid,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ anƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ attack on the peace process is one example citedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ recently by the President at a recentƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ passing out conventionƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Armed Services graduatesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ as ample proof of how the Diaspora manoeuvres towards false portrayal of the GOSL where in his capacity as the highestƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Commanding Officer of the land he has replied with assertion saying that such criticism was part of their strategy to force Sri Lanka to call off its battle against LTTE terrorism.

Inasmuch as being the observations of President RajapaksaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ as well as many defence strategists and terrorism expertsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ it has always been plainly visible to theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ many discerning who keep tabs on LTTE related Diaspora activitiesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ that those who had backed the LTTEƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s cause were still active and posed a serious threat to Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s post-war recovery process as well as National Security.

In urging the Armed Forces to remain alert to the persistent threat though the LTTEƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢sƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  formerƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  capacity as a terrorist forceƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ had been neutralised,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the President has emphasized the importance of never letting your guard down particularly when it comes to elements who have been asƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ dangerous as the LTTE.

Somehow the terrorist leader Thamilselvam seems to have taken on a folk hero status in the minds of certain myopic LTTE activistsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  around the globe where some even attempted to erect a statue in his honour in rural FranceƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ which became an embarrasment to the Government of France in the not too distant past.Thamilselvam who contributed to many LTTEƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ atttrocities during his tenure was effectively removed for the common good of Sri Lanka’s citizens perhaps as a precursor to the demise of the ignominious Velupillai Prabhakaran and consorts throughƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  the military strategies directed by the Rajapaksa Administration whereƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Airforce jets bombed ThamilselvanƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s hideout in Kilinochchi in the first week of November 2007 in response to a devastating LTTE raid on Anuradhapura airbase and that perhaps signalled the beginning of the end for the LTTE.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Much of what the President has tried to emphasize as the possible dangers of an LTTE resurgence if their activities and those of their supporters are not monitored effectively and measures taken to suppress them has been highlighted through President Rajapaksa’s address atƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  the passing out convention of military graduates recently previously refered toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and transcribed here from the Island Newspaper~ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ whereƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ heƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ has indicatedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ that the LTTE had the backing of certain individuals, various organisations and political parties which of course is now common knowledge.

Quoting:

In responding to criticism of the conduct of the Sri Lankan military by a section of the international community.

As you have received higher education, unlike those trained in the handling of weapons, you should be able to comprehend the ground situation here and rapidly changing economic and political scenes at global level. You should be aware of the current focus on the Asia Pacific region. Emphasising the importance of those holding command positions at all levels to be disciplined. Those holding junior ranks and ordinary soldiers didnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t like to carry out orders given by an undisciplined senior, he asserted, while warning that the failure on their part would bring them to ridicule in the eyes of their juniors. The President urged the newcomers to earn the respect of those under their command.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Commenting on LTTE fund raising operations during the conflict, the President has saidƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ “They spent money to acquire arms, ammunition and equipment. They had to maintain a large fighting cadre and then look after the children of those sacrificing their lives for their macabre cause. But today, what they raised abroad is spent on an anti-Sri Lankan campaign. Unlike those bogus human rights champions, we never deprived civilians of essential items. We paid the salaries of those public servants serving in areas under LTTE control. We in fact went to the extent of paying pensioners living in areas outside our areas, whereas the LTTE maximises its resources against the state. There would not be a sharp drop in defence expenditure in the aftermath of the war. Of the staggering sum of Rs. 229 bn allocated for defence, Rs. 197 bn would be spent on paying salaries of those serving the defence forces and other payments as well as welfare. Funds once made available to procure, arms, ammunition and equipment were now primarily used to uplift the standard of the military. TheƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  measures taken to support the services, those wounded in battle and families experiencing economic difficulties were emphatically explained towards their importance and effectivity.

He also discussed ongoing efforts to haul Sri Lanka up before an international war crimes tribunal over accountability issues, while referring to attempts made during his visits to the UK, USA and Australia to indict him. The President said that he didnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t consider such action as personal attacks on him, but targeting the country on the basis of unsubstantiated allegations made by the LTTE.

The President explained the LTTE strategy during and after the war.where during the war, the LTTE took refuge among the civilians and attacked us. But in the post-war era, they exploited human rights to target us.” Referring to the recently concluded ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”White flagƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ case,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  former Army CommanderƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s unsubstantiated allegation of execution of surrendering LTTE cadres at the final phase of the conflict continued to cause trouble. Pro-LTTE television documentaries and setting up of international war crimes tribunal targeting Sri Lanka were part of the anti-Sri Lanka campaign, he said.”ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ end of quote.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ In the final analysis of the President’s observations at this convention he has emphasized the need for continued surveillance of the Nation from all boundaries and has conveyed to the world that Sri Lanka will never be intimidated by allƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ herƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ oppressors regardless of their political might or misconceived opinions

based on falsely presented information particularly by the enemies of the state of Sri Lanka in their continuing attemptƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  to ursurp and discredit all the democracies involved which now seems to point to the misguided reasonings of a few Western Powers for reasons which seem toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ circumvent the path of true justice and point toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ myopia and distorted vision relative to the huge global lobby of Tamil Diaspora some of whom have managed to infiltrate into key offices within these sources of power!