NIP IN THE BUD
Posted on July 22nd, 2011
Malin Abeyatunge
Today’s Island (21/7/11) reported that a senior cadre of Eastern Province Chief Minister S. ChandrakanthanƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s party TMVP was arrested yesterday by the CID at Wennappuwa for masterminding the robbery of Rs. 160 million cash and Rs 15 million in jewellery from the PeopleƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Bank branch at Puttur two weeks ago. When a criminal of a close associate politician is caught, itƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s more than usual for a politician to disown such criminal. It is alleged that S.Chandrakanthan a.k.a Pillayan has disowned TMVP criminal as a close associate who has been arrested for the above robbery. It is also alleged a prominent TMVP member who was arrested for a murder has been released due to some political intervention. One can imagine what would be the situation if police powers are given to Provincial Councils.
This is an alarming situation taking us back to post 1983 LTTEƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s clandestine operations to find money for their cause.
Now that the funds collected by the remnants of LTTE among the Tamil Diaspora in the west are used for other purposes like producing film clips and pay the western media to show them as real situations (ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Sri Lanka killing fieldsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ is a case in point) against Sri Lanka, buying politicians, academics, journalists, so called humanitarian organizations to talk for them etc,. Who knows the local remnants of the LTTE may be trying to find funds on their own to regroup by robbing banks. This situation endorses the necessity of the Government to continue with the Emergency regulations and anti-Terrorism laws to meet such threats.
A terrorist outfit does not need thousands of members to create mayhem in the country. A few tens of terrorists can do an irreparable damage. Look at what is happening in India (twice in Bombay in the recent past) where a few terrorists under various groups in various states bomb trains, other public transport, police stations and market places etc. Sri Lanka cannot rule out that this will not happen here again. A few terrorist elements can create a calamity for many.
In the developed countries in the western world. even if a criminal is released on parole, he/she is being skillfully monitored by the law enforcement and prison authorities. Very often, the civic minded people refuse to accept such people as residents in their commodity. Now that Government has released almost 11000 ex LTTE cadres (exact figure unverified as different authorities give different numbers) to the community they belong after rehabilitation, whether their movements are closely monitored, I donƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t know. I believe that once a person gets the taste of violence and sadism, given a slightest chance, there is a big possibility of them joining the rot. It is alleged that the criminal who masterminded this robbery is an ex LTTE cadre.
It was also reported that government has declared an amnesty in the East to surrender of illegal arms but response had been very poor. Illegal arms with the terrorist groups, politicians and the underworld is a menace to peace loving Sri Lankan in their day to day lives and this is common island wide and not restricted to the East only. The cancer is gradually spreading to the North as we read and hear murders, kidnaps and robberies on a daily basis. If there is no surrender of illegal arms as per the amnesty given, the law enforcement authorities should search every household for illegal arms. The Government should enforce this amnesty to other parts of the island as well and should include politicians of all levels. There had been some well planned bank robberies in the South in the recent past where army deserters were involved.
The police investigating into the above robbery should not leave any stone unturned irrespective of the involved are politicians or ordinary thugs. The government should refrain from intervening in the investigation and give a free hand to the police. The Government should also not be complacent with this type lawlessness and should nip in the bud before another LTTE splinter group emerge from the remnants. This is not an impossibility despite the Government claims that there is no room for another terrorist outfit to emerge.
Malin Abeyatunge
21/7/11
July 22nd, 2011 at 7:20 pm
The start of the LTTE atrocities began, with Bank Robberies to fund their Organisation, and for purchasing arms. Pillayan was a chief architect of alleged atrocities, and now a Chief Minister. If the alleged suspect has been a close Associate, then in all probability it was carried out with his knowledge and blessings.
The Government is in complacent mode just now. These holy water washed former terrorists know that. So they will have an agenda to break into more banks and smuggle arms. With illegal arms floating around the whole Country, lives of the President downwards are in jeopardy. ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY MILLION CASH is not a small amount. Tamils and Muslims have lost their Jewellery worth 15 Million.
It is time that the Banks, instead of having Open House, seriously look into the Security of the Building they are housed in. Have switches all over the establishment, connected to ALARM BELLS, including one to the closest Army Unit and Police. Install Security Cameras, and emergency automatic door closes. CREATE THE NECESSARY DETERRENTS.
The efficiecncy of the Police Investigators, will be strictly put to test, in the recovery of the loot, and the complete exposure of the culprits, be they be ex LTTE, or politicians. Blessings to the Investigators.
July 23rd, 2011 at 2:17 am
Open your eyes Mr.President. No need to show the world that everything is all right here in our Motherland.Who cares about the world.we care about our country,our homeland.We suffered long time because of stupid, power hungry,money hungry politicians in our country. We love our land and we want peace in our land,We cannot dance according to outsiders.We need to protect our people and our properties therefore secure the whole country affectively and punish those who break the law whether he is your cousin or friend.It’s in your hand Mr.President we believe in you and we need you to be strong and take these things seriously and act.
The snakes are there in the open again.Monitor them and take immediate action whether it maybe a Minister or any mother’s son if he or she is threat to our sovereignty. We need tp protect,land sea and Air without fear. Be tough on corruption in Govt OR in private. Be vigilant in corrupt law enforce personnal. Dont give room to any killer,murderer,thief or saboteur to escape the law. If you are not tough or vigilant we may face the same situation like before pretty soon as we see what is happenning in the country today. Democracy is not giving pardon to criminals because of their connections. Democracy is PEACE and fair play to all law abiding citizens not for terrorism and criminals. Secure the whole country before it’s too late. Majority is with you Mr.President.
July 24th, 2011 at 5:58 am
As Susantha indicated LTTE also raised money initially by robbing banks. It is likely that trouble is brewing and an organisation may be raising money for more terrorism. It is time to be fully alert and to dismantle mono ethnic Tamil areas. It is also time for us to be militarily and economically strong and to be properly organised.