ANALYSIS IN A NUTSHELL: Pirapaharan's Speech
2007
by Gomin Dayasri
It is the sound of defeat…..a defeated man desperately appealing
to the international community to salvage him from defeat and assist
him to reach his objectives which remain unchanged. He blames the international
community for failing to discharge its obligations which it had carried
out in East Timor, Montenegro and Kosovo.
This is a message not to his people but more to the international community
to help him to change the course of the war. He now places confidence
in the international community rather than on his own people for support
which had not so far materialized for which he blames the international
community and now pleads for assistance to achieve his goals.
A man who has realized that he cannot turn to his people to carry him
to his objectives, a desperate man now cornered and isolated ventilating
his anger against the whole world.
He states that the UNP is somersaulting and changing its stance and
taking a contradictory position from its previous stand.
He admits Sri Lankan forces are strong and it is only when the LTTE
display their military prowess that Sri Lankan government is prepared
to take notice. The only victory he could claim is the operation Ellalan
on the air field in Anuradhapura.
The most telling extract from the speech are found in the words 'The
Rajapakse regime, after unilaterally abrogating the ceasefire agreement….".If
the LTTE treats the CFA as admittedly abrogated it grants the right
for the State to treat the CFA as at an end. The declaration of the
abrogation of the agreement has been made unilaterally and voluntarily
and the State should treat it accordingly and withdraw from any obligations
under the CFA. It reveals that the LTTE does not treat the CFA as a
valid agreement any more. If the State fails to make use of this opportunity
it would have forfeited a valid right that has been conferred.
Pirapahran has admitted the East is lost but states it is for tactical
reasons they withdrew setting a trap for the forces to which they have
fallen; in compelling the defense forces to spread and commit a large
force which will spell their doom.
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