Thoppigala triumph

July 11 (Wednesday) marked the victory of the gallant Security Forces, and it was a Red-letter Day for all concerned the Government, the people, top brass of the Armed Forces and especially the civilian population of the Eastern Province who have suffered immensely under the dictatorial rule of the LTTE.

Except for the main opposition party which sees this hard-fought victory either with coloured spectacles or blinkered eyes, the rest of the polity and the people proffer their praise, the accolades and the encomiums for our brave young men for liberating the last bastion of the LTTE under difficult circumstances.

For many years, Thoppigala has been the LTTE terrorists stronghold from where they directed operations to launch attacks and fight the Government Forces.

This jungle terrain has been the happy hunting ground to plan and execute sordid deeds that have brought death and destruction to security personnel and the civilians who were under the jackboots of the LTTE.

Unlike the IPKF which came a cropper, the Lankan Forces, with firm resolve and determination, vanquished the enemy and conquered territory within a month, during which, it had to sacrifice precious lives and limbs of the fighting outfit.

Despite the hiccups, setbacks, tragedies and thorns and thistles along the way, the brave sons of the soil marched steadfastly to climax in a magnificent and well earned victory.

The need of the hour now is rehabilitation and resettlement. However, the people in the Eastern Province could breathe a sigh of relief, for in the history of this conflict for nearly thirty years, this is the first time when the LTTE is not in control of the entire province.

Our Security Forces have made them eat humble pie. The Tigers have paid a heavy price by testing the strength of the Government by launching several attacks. They took patience for weakness. It proved a disaster.

Their forcible take over of the Mavil Aru anicut in July last year, depriving agricultural activities and jeopardising the lives of thousands of poor people, proved the death knell for the LTTE.

The remarkable restraint and commendable patience of the President ran out of gear - this time to save the poor and innocent from the heartless grip of Tiger dictates. It was purely on humanitarian grounds that the - resident gave the green light to the soldiers to flush out the invaders and do the needful.

The President’s excellent direction have reaped rich dividends in Muttur, Sampur, Vakarai and now Thoppigala. The once invisible LTTE have met their Waterloo for the first time in the multi-religious, multi-lingual, multi-racial Eastern Province.

The much hyped LTTE have got a battering. Their numbers have dwindled, their invisibility destroyed, their image shattered and destroyed their pride. They will nurse a grudge.

They will avenge with revenge - a right royal response to show off.’ They may strike anytime, anywhere to prove their strength and resilience.

Their ingenuity knows no bounds. Their strategy and tactics are well known and should come under the Eagle eye surveillance on the part of everybody.

Their money power can buy the so called sinhala Tigers. They will coerce and inveigle these traitors to achieve their sordid deeds of bloody violence and carnage at vital targets in the rest of the country. They are notorious for retaliatory attacks.

They are quite capable of aiming at economic targets like the Ports, Airport, Petroleum installations, etc. main bus stands, railway stations, schools, work places, defence establishment and the top brass in the executive. They will take damage control measures to compensate for their humiliation and utter desperation.

The Tiger Supremo will be working overtime in his hideout, spending sleepless nights to spring a big surprise to the international community that all is not lost, and that the Liberation Tigers are a force to be reckoned with.

Hence, it is incumbent on the part of all concerned from the man in the street upto the top echelons in the Police and the Security Forces - to be always alert, active and conscious to the impending catastrophes of possible retaliatory attacks that the Tigers are eminently famous for.

We highly commend the police and security personnel at their alertness in detecting those vehicles with deadly arsenals and weapons. With the blessings of the Triple Gem and the peace loving people, may they go from strength to strength to achieve the desired goal of the Nation.

M. AZHAR DAWOOD - Dehiwela