Terrorism

17th Anniversary of Aggression

By A.A.M.Nizam, Matara

This month we step into 17th anniversary of the ugly chapter of our nation. Since the day the megalomaniac Prabhakaran launched the ruthless aggression against the nation 17 years ago, by massacring 13 soldiers, thousands of our valiant soldiers have sacrificed their precious lives to save the nation from dismembering. Several innocent civilians and a number of politicians have fallen victim to the savage bombings and suicidal attacks made by the terrorists. People have undergone and are suffering with unendurable hardships to sustain the war chest in the hope of an end to the horrendous terrorist menace. The sufferings of the people have reached an intolerable plane. Every sincere effort made to find a solution has ended with failure and utter disappointment.
The reason being the lack of interest in the part of terrorists for any settlement, except their dreamland of a separate nation. Although the governments have offered several conciliatory measures, even undeserving concessions, the war mongering terrorists have not changed an iota of their original stand. In 1986, in an interview to India Today magazine, Praphakaran said that 'they have crossed the stage of being able to visualise a solution within the framework of a united Sri Lanka, and they have come to a point of no return with regard to the Eelam goal'. As such the prime objective towards a solution should be to defeat the terrorists militarily. However, gains made through modern weaponry and territorial adjustments will not remain durable unless their supply and financing sources are eliminated.

Today this terrorist aggression has taken a new dimension rather than achieving their dreamland objective. The aggression has become imperative to nurture an international mafia gang rooted in western countries through an effective misinformation network. The gangs monthly revenue through drug trafficking, money laundering, extortion, human smuggling, prostitution, etc, is estimated to be several millions dollars. A part of this money is channelled to support the aggression.

Therefore, in the same vane the war efforts are being carried out, a massive and immediate diplomatic effort should be launched to dislocate and crush this mafia gang, and get the key leaders apprehended and extradited, with the help of western governments. It is appreciable that Sri Lankan expatriates in Britain and Canada have initiated protest campaigns against the terrorist outfits in those countries. The U.S ban on the terrorist gang, and the recent anti-terrorist convention ratified by many western countries, including Canada should optimally be utilised. If this was not done effectively and expeditiously, the sufferings and destructions will continue unabated .