CLASSIFIED | POLITICS | TERRORISM | OPINION | VIEWS

Thoppigala Victory - Time for Jubilation or Time for Consolidation and Caution?

By Darmitha-Kotte

Reports of the Thoppigala victory and liberation of the East of Sri Lanka from the clutches of terrorists, is no doubt a jubilant moment especially for the Sri Lankan Armed Forces who have done an excellent job of coordination among the Army, Navy and Airforce to fight and eliminate terrorism from the East. LTTE terrorists who have carried on a massive anti-Sinhala/anti-Government as well as an anti-Muslim propaganda worldwide claiming that Tamils in the North are discriminated against have been creating misery and atrocities against the Tamil community whom they profess to represent. Through near 30 years of horror and blood shed initiated by terrorists, they have conducted systematic "ethnic cleansing" of Sinhalese and Muslims from the North and East but peace loving Tamils have lived among these communities in all other parts of Sri Lanka without hindrance while at the same time, conducting their normal business activities on a day to day basis-happily with both the Sinhalese and Muslim communities.

The LTTE terrorists have managed to lead the international community astray with their wild and baseless propaganda through 3 decades and won for themselves, untold of benefits in foreign soil in terms of funds through various nefarious activities such as drugs, money laundering and human smuggling, arms,abduction of children for their "child brigages" and cover operations. While doing all this, they have been tormenting the Tamil community living in the North and East by extortionist activities, depriving their children from enjoying continued education and normal employment possibilities. Does this sound as if an organization is working towards protecting any community? During the last 10 years through the tireless efforts of the Late Mr. Lakshman Kadiragama our former Foreign Minister who himself being a Tamil, enlightened western powers about the brutal campaign of the terrorists was ultimately assassinated by LTTE terrorists. The western world took a long time to understand the "terrorism" that was being wreaked out by the LTTE and finally began to ban them in their own countries, began to monitor their activities and curtail fund-raising operations. However, there are still various NGOs/INGOs/ Church organizations and international funding agencies like the UNDP, World Bank, IMF, ADB etc which have been attempting to make the life of the GOSL and Sri Lankan citizens of this country by threatening sanctions against aid to Sri Lanka. Apart from these, ironically our own Sri Lankan "self-serving politicians" who are sons of this soil, have been carrying on a vigorous mud-slinging campaign by hurling allegations of bribery, corruptions and human rights violations, media freedom and abductions! Their actions have been more traitorous and unacceptable than the attempts by western organizations to bring economic sanctions against our GOSL!

Amidst all these difficulties our Armed Forces have been able to conduct and continue their coordinated efforts to eliminate terrorism and bring normalcy to the ordinary citizens in the East and gradually in the North as well. No war has been conducted in any part of the world by microscopically saving "every ant, crocodile, cow or elephant, innocent human beings, buildings or trees" when targeting enemy ground- this has been amply witnessed in the 2nd World War when America used nuclear weapons against Japan, when America used Napalm bombs against Vietnam, when they used chemical weapons against Iraq destroying a once normal country by invading and attacking "on foreign soil" for their own personal agendas and bringing misery on the citizens of Iraq ( Japan and Vietnam included) just as much as they have brought misery on the citizens of Afghanistan. While America has been doing on foreign soil, has been condoned and supported even by the UN organizations who have opted to turn a blind eye to total disrespect of human rights by American forces- why then are these organizations attempting to harass the Sri Lankan Government and her Armed Forces for trying to eliminate terrorism within our own territory? Our Armed Forces have been attempting to bring normalcy to the citizens and life on our own soil, who have suffered at the hands of LTTE terrorism for 3 decades. Why on earth would a country employ and train an Army, Navy and Airforce if it was not with the express purpose of defending and protecting our territory?

"Peace" is what every citizen of this Sri Lanka is yearning for but that cannot be achieved, without declaring war against blood-thirsty terrorists who have sapped every aorta of strength from this country. In this effort, our Armed Forces have done an excellent job working and coordinating their work. Their achievement and victory at Thoppigala must receive commendation from all of us- they who have put their lives in the front lines to protect us the ordinary citizens of this country. They have sacrificed too much for our sake. However, when fighting against a terrorist guerilla movement such as the LTTE outfit which it is now established, has also links with organizations like the Al-Queda terrorist movement, it is nothing but prudent for Sri Lankans to be cautious when acclaiming victory at Thoppigala because the guerilla LTTE could very well surface from "some other ant-hole" in an attempt to destroy the good work done by our Armed Forces! The Armed Forces have no time for rest and relaxation-theirs is an assignment that is ongoing until the last of the terrorists on this soil is completely wiped out and this country is freed from terrorism. Such a time will be the appropriate time, for true jubilation- when all citizens no matter whether they be Tamils, Muslims and Sinhalese will be able to move on the streets without fear and lead their lives back to an environment of normalcy.

Let the Armed Forces continue their good work without hindrance from any segments of society which are attempting to vilify our service personnel. This is certainly not the time for anti-nationalist forces like the Catholic Church, to attempt "to give a breather" to the terrorists by attempting visit Wanni and talk to terrorist leaders. Sunday Observer of 8th July 2007, carried an article titled " Top Clergymen for Wanni to End Clashes" in which it is stated by the writer Anandth Palakidnar that " A top level delegation of Buddhist and Catholic clergy will visit the Wanni shortly to explore the possibilities of resuming the stalled peace process bring an end to the ongoing clashes in the North and the East according to Mannar Bishop the Rt.Rev.Rayappu Joseph…………………………The delegation of clergy is expected to travel shortly to meet the LTTE leadership. The representatives of the Ramanya Nikaya, Amarapura Nikaya, Asgiriya Chapter and the Maha Bodhi Society are expected to be included in the delegation. Along with the Buddhist clergy, the Catholic Bishop of Anuradhapura Norbert Andradi and the Galle Bishop Harold Antholny would also join the delegation that will travel to the Wanni "Bishop Rayappu Joseph said………………" According to the same article it is stated that the SLMM Chief Lars Johan Solvberg will brief Dr.Rajiva Wijesinghe, Director General of the Peace Secretariat about discussions which he had had with the Head of Peace Secretariat in Kilinochchi S.Pulithevan and the LTTE Spokesman Rasiah Illanthirayan which were supposedly "positive." What is the meaning of positive is anyone's guess as far as the LTTE is concerned! Apparently, the LTTE cadres have assured that they will adhere to the CFA- when did they ever conform to the CFA even during Ranil Wickramasinghe's Premiership they violated every clause of the CFA purely because Ranil Wickramasinghe opted to turn a blind eye and give in to every possible demand of the terrorists!

The Buddhist Clergy was never consulted when the Catholic Church was conspiring together with the LTTE terrorists during 30 years of war, nor did they sympathize when the pilgrims at Sri Maha Bodhi,Anuradhapura were mercilessly massacred, the Buddhist Clergy at Arawanthalawe were massacred and when the Dalada Maligawa was bombed. It is only now that the Catholic Church wants the support of the Buddhist Clergy to join in( to use them as a pawn and cat's paw) when the terrorists are now "whimpering" due to losses at the hands of the Armed Forces. Our Buddhist Clergy who have been insulted and attacked at the hands of the LTTE terrorists should keep themselves out of 'Catholic conspiracies" and maintain their dignity as Supreme Buddha Putras in this country without bowing to every whim and fancy of conspirators. Sweet words and material inducements mean nothing except to use our Buddhist Clergy to serve the purposes of the Christian Church! Our Buddhist Clergy must understand, that this is an extremely sensitive moment and they must keep out of any manipulations. They must not insult the yellow robe which they don in the name of The Buddha Sasana!

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