Please Don?t Celebrate the
Thoppigala Victory, Yet
Dilrook Kannangara
It is time to celebrate; the Thoppigala terror bastion has fallen to
our gallant forces. It is a big thing to boast about. Out of the eight
districts only four remains with the terrorists since the conflict intensified
in April 2006. This is a 50% loss on the total number of districts in
the N-E; the highest ever since the war began in 1983. When considered
the land mass of Killinochchi, Mullaitivu and Mannar districts, they
are some of the smallest in the eight. This further reinforces the fact
that the LTTE is fully cordoned-off and are fighting against their backs
to the wall. A large scale and swift military onslaught on this area
will make the LTTE history. A prolonged war in the North is the worse
thing that can happen and given the very low population density in LTTE
controlled areas and their inability to source quality fighting cadres
make it an ideal opportunity to annihilate them soon. However, celebrations
at this stage is premature as the war has just begun. The following
are my justifications.
Terrorists have warned of economic and military attacks and they
mean it
If terrorists promise peace, no right thinking person would believe
it. However, when they promise terror, it is too likely that it is promise
that will be kept. After all the LTTE is ONLY capable of terrorism and
nothing else. Without suspecting the ability of our security forces,
we have to expect large scale terror attacks in Colombo, etc. More than
new targets, repeat targets will be taken by the terrorists. However,
the point is not to play ostrich by meekly surrendering to terrorism
as in 2002, but to retaliate even ferociously so that the LTTE would
not risk their security by attacking economic targets. It should also
be appreciated that even the LTTE has economic (and military) targets
and we are only too capable demolishing them. The Wanni terror economy
will die thrice faster than the Sri Lankan economy if the present policy
of retaliatory strikes are carried out. After all, one day we had to
go through this stage although we avoided it for the past 24 years.
Renewed efforts to protect economic nerve centres is required.
The war has just begun and there is no reason to celebrate it now. Nobody
celebrates 5 kilometres into a Marathon, not even one kilometre to the
finish line! We will celebrate voluntarily when the last terrorist is
slaughtered.
Abductions for money verses abductions for security
Although many anti-government activists try to equate the two, these
are far apart from each other. While extortionists should be severely
dealt with, paramilitants should be managed giving enough concern for
the very high risks posed by infiltrators. If the government cracks
down on paramilitaries only to satisfy the donors, they should be reminded
that donors have never donated anything to rebuild what the terrorists
have destroyed in our economic structure. Therefore, it is much more
important to protect our economic nerve centres using whatever means.
It is worthwhile to remember that Lalith Athulathmudali – a giant
in our defence establishment – once said that we would team-up
even with the devil or his grandmother to defeat the terrorists. That
is the calibre of determination we need today.
Cost of living has sky rocketed
Though it is driven by world crude oil prices which has hit recorded
levels of over $70 a barrel, the government would be blamed for it as
it happens everywhere in the world except in net oil exporting countries.
In this context, celebrations should be the last thing we need.
Let us continue to keep military and political affairs separate
The success of the military after 2006 is attributed to allowing a free
hand for the forces commanders. This was stated by the Defence Secretary
himself in interviews. This is in wide contrast to how JRJ, RP,DBW,
CBK and RW handled the matter. They bungled up politics with war/surrender/peace.
The results were catastrophic both politically and militarily. Let the
Defence Secretary handle the war effort with SLFP, UNP, JVP, JHU, LSSP,
EPDP, CWC, UPF, SLMC, TMVP, etc. etc. aligned individuals serving in
the armed forces. As politics has always been a matter of division than
integration in Sri Lanka, let us keep politics out of the military so
that solidarity within the armed forces will continue.
Thoppigala has been captured before
True, this time it is different as for the first time both the east
and the Jaffna district are under government control. However, the terrorists
have vowed to retake it and they have proved their ability. The real
victory will be to retain it as we have retained Jaffna for the past
12 years. Elections in the East will be a sure sign of consolidation
and should be held as planned.
Use other means of countering the Opposition
A power hungry politician in the Opposition has forced many undue elections
on us in the past. In doing so, he has averted his own chances of becoming
the President! His pig like greed should be tackled not using his own
strategies like the doomed ‘palayawu’ campaign, but rather
using other means. There are enough laws to protect the parliament from
traitors. As it is now anyone who can get a sizable number of preference
votes can enter parliament irrespective of his true credentials. That
is why JRJ introduced enough checks and balances to ensure that only
those whose allegiance is towards Sri Lanka (and not Tamil Elam) can
make laws for Sri Lanka. If the government wants to avoid such legal
means, it will always be havoc in the parliament and in the electorates.
Real patriots aren’t celebrating
They have either laid down their precious lives or are waiting for the
war to end to celebrate. And these celebrations cannot do any help to
the armed forces personnel engaged day and night in the combat of terrorism.
So why do we celebrate if the real heroes cannot celebrate?
Untimely celebration should be shunned strongly. Lets be critical of
this foolish effort so that we don’t make a mockery of an historical
event.
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