The President’s reassuring words
Against the backdrop of the news that
the LTTE has forcibly occupied the Karadiyanaru hospital in the East,
causing immense hardships and suffering to the civilian population,
comes President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s commitment to forge ahead with the
peace and development processes, machinations by groups and individuals
notwithstanding.
In the seizure of the Eastern hospital by the Tigers, we have further
proof of their irredeemable callousness towards and utter disregard for
the civilian population of the Eastern Province.
The news is that they have forced the civilians out of the hospital
with the aim of having their wounded cadres treated by the hospital. In
doing so, the LTTE is hoping to bring the civilians into the firing
line. Once the civilians are placed at a risk, the Tigers would make
strident claims of civilian repression.
However, as regards the State’s treatment of the civilian public,
Defence Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella’s recent statement on the relief
measures carried out by the Government in the affected areas, should
help to put the record straight. As disclosed by the Spokesman, more
then 87,000 civilians who have fled LTTE harassment in the uncleared
areas of the East are being fended for by the State in the cleared
areas.
While not underestimating the gravity of the problems faced by the
State as regards resettlement, the Defence Spokesman was unambiguous on
the point that the Government is doing its utmost to help resettle
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in their original habitations. He
was also emphatic that IDP figures and connected issues are being
grossly exaggerated by interested parties and sections of the media.
Seen against this background, the President’s assurance that he would
be carrying on undeterred with the task of bringing peace and
development, acquires considerable significance.
Whereas the need of the hour is unity among all sections of the
polity for the furtherance of peace, development and stability, some
individuals and groups, in connivance with some sections of the media,
are intent on undoing the good work of the State.
By placing the blame for killings, abductions and other serious
crimes, on the State, for example, these detractors are hoping to
besmirch the image of the Government. They should know fully well that
by doing so they are endangering the national interest and are
consequently helping the LTTE to fulfil their destructive intentions.
Therefore, a number one priority is strong political leadership and
the President, through his reassuring words, is providing this need. We
take this opportunity to urge the President to forge right ahead with
his efforts to bring peace and development to the country. The majority
of the people or the moral majority would be solidly behind him in this
momentous undertaking.
A statement by Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama in Washington,
that political proposals towards resolving our conflict would be ready
in a few weeks, gives credence to these pronouncements by the President.
What it proves is that the State is moving undeterred and
single-mindedly towards discharging its prime responsibilities.
Thus it could be seen that the State has been going ahead steadily
with the dual process of meeting any military threats posed by the LTTE
while evolving a political solution to the conflict. It goes without
saying that one could see the President’s steady guiding vision and hand
in these developments. |
Conflict resolution Lessons for Sri Lanka
It was the ingeniously effective propaganda spin
which floated the Eelam myth to ‘liberate’ the Tamils. The writer
sees the Education Department circular of the 1960s which stipulated
that Sinhala children should study in the Sinhala medium and Tamil
children in the Tamil medium as a most pernicious order.
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Mavilaru precipitated LTTE’s downfall in the East
Forces close to fully liberating the province:
The LTTE made a major mistake in mid last year
when they decided to close the Mavilaru anicut depriving water to
more than 30,000 people. On paper they had a better argument to
justify their decision to close the Mavilaru anicut.
Full Story
Full Story |
