We have to destroy common
enemy, asserts Defence Secy.
"That doesn’t mean govt. is not interested in a political
solution’’
by Shamindra Ferdinando
Reiterating his commitment to bring the war on LTTE terrorism to a
successful conclusion, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse yesterday
declared that President Mahinda Rajapakse was solidly behind the military
effort.
There is absolutely no dispute over the need to defeat the LTTE militarily,
he said, asserting that a halt to operations would only give the LTTE
an opportunity to regroup again.
"There is no other option but to destroy the common enemy,"
he said, expressing confidence that the ongoing hullabaloo over a range
of issues with the focus on human rights and press freedom would not
derail the efforts to further weaken the LTTE.
The president understands the undeniable need to tackle the military
threat posed by the LTTE, he said, vowing to resist any attempt to give
a lifeline to the LTTE.
"But that doesn’t mean the government was not interested
in a political solution. We are unreservedly committed to a political
solution and accept the right of all Tamil political parties and groups
take part in the process," he said.
The outspoken official said that the president very clearly articulated
this position in his Friday speech to the 96th sessions of the ILO in
Geneva.
It is no secret that the sharp differences between defence and foreign
ministries contributed heavily to SLFP heavyweight Mangala Samaraweera’s
break-up with the ruling coalition, well informed sources said.
The defence secretary dismissed the opinion that the LTTE should be
given special status. "They may have forced the TULF/TNA to accept
it as the sole representative of the Tamil speaking people. But that
position is irrelevant as far as the government is concerned."
Rajapakse said that the international community too would not accept
the Tigers’ so-called special status.
In an interview with The Sunday Island, after his return from Maha
Oya in the East and Vavuniya last Thursday, Rajapakse expressed satisfaction
that the forces were on target. He praised the elite Special Task Force
(STF) for professionally handling the resettlement process in the Batticaloa
district.
In fact, the international community has been impressed with the ongoing
resettlement process, he said. "They have been given access to
these areas and their response was encouraging."
Claiming that the resettlement process was on track in the East, he
urged political parties to resume political work in the region. "The
LTTE has been brought to its knees in the East. They may set off a claymore
mine, fire at a foot patrol and explode a vehicle bomb or target a politician
or a security official in Colombo. But that would not offset the loss
of their bases in the East."
In fact, the change of situation in the east, Rajapakse, said had made
the Oslo-arranged CFA irrelevant. "We no longer recognize an area
under LTTE control in the East," he said, adding that the army
was in the final phase of its action against LTTE units holed up the
Thoppigala jungles.
"That’s the undeniable truth," he asserted.
He urged UNP and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe to share his
experience with the government. As far as LTTE terrorism was concerned,
Wickremesinghe has had more experience than any other leader, he said.
Unfortunately the present UNP leadership had conveniently forgotten
two critical events - the terrorists’ decision to quit the peace
process during Wickremesinghe’s tenure as prime minister and denying
of the northern Tamils the right to vote at the last presidential election
in November 2005.
The LTTE never had permanent friends. In fact, they had only permanent
interests and they would do anything regardless of consequences to advance
their course, the secretary said.
Fielding questions, he asserted that the war on terrorism here or overseas
could not be conducted according to the whims and fancies of the press.
"We will not succumb to hostile press coverage or bent backwards
to appease them," he said.
Had they bothered to investigate the amount and the quality of information
received by security forces and police from Tamil civilians, particularly
in the northern and eastern provinces, they would know what the civilians
wanted, he said.
"They want us to wipe out the LTTE. They don’t want to prolong
the agony," he said.
He expressed his gratitude to Tamil youth working alongside with security
forces and police. "Let us identify the common enemy and liquidate
it."
The champions of human rights would undermine government efforts purely
due to monetary reasons and fear. Had they genuinely believed in democracy,
human rights and the freedom to dissent they would have vociferously
protested against the LTTE winning recognition as the sole representative
of the Tamil people and the attempt to blame claymore attacks on the
civilian community or forcibly train a civilian militia.
He strongly rejected accusations that the government had authorized
death squads. ``Why should we engage in any activity that would help
the enemy? Who gains by the display of bodies?’’
Referring to a recent Tony Blair interview (The Island-World View of
June 14) Rajapakse said that he would not be deterred by press attacks.
On one hand the British encourage the local (Sri Lankan) press to target
the government on a range of issues, particularly press freedom and
human rights.
``But read what Blair has said,’’ he remarked. ``Unfortunately
the Sinhala press does not give adequate coverage to foreign news.’’
In a bitter parting swipe at newspapers and television, Blair said
that the media behaved like a "feral beast, just tearing people
and reputations to bits. He called for new curbs on the media after
warning that increasingly sensational news coverage threatened politicians’
"capacity to take the right decisions for the country."
The Colombo-based foreign press or locals working for international
wire services (not all) were no exception.
"I won’t hesitate to tell the truth," he said, emphasizing
that he would not be intimidated by the press whatever they report.
As end of the day, all except a few madmen do not accept the need to
destroy the LTTE,’’ he said.
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