Eradicating terrorism

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's insistence to his Lankan counterpart Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka not to give into terrorism no doubt is a reflection of the predicament of a Head of State whose country is in perpetual conflict with forces who use methods of destruction not dissimilar to those witnessed in Sri Lanka.

It also resonates with the constant refrain of the Lankan Premier who has always made it a point to stress the importance of destroying the LTTE.

Both leaders live in countries where suicide bombs go off almost routinely and are forced to battle a hidden enemy. Inherent in the Israeli leader's remark is that their wars cannot be fought applying the Queensbury rules.

Coming from countries which had been fighting protracted battles against forces of destruction both leaders are aware of the travails and tribulations undergone by their countrymen as a result of the wanton bloodletting that have soaked both lands.

It is in this context that the Israeli Premier's remark should be viewed. There is no option but to fight terror with might. The Israeli leader had certainly not spoken of restraint. It is here that one is constrained to ask why double standards are adopted with regard to the two situations by the West which apply fetters on Lanka by preaching human rights while allowing a free run to Israel to combat terrorism.

This is more so since the nature of the conflict in the two countries cannot be compared by any stretch of the imagination and there could be arguments as to the legitimacy of Israel's mission.

In this context Sri Lanka has a more legitimate basis to go all out to rid the country of what is basically a terrorist problem.

But what should be acknowledged is the right of a country to defend itself against the forces of anarchy and destruction with all its might.

What is unfathomable therefore is why Western nations which have the sword of damocles of human rights suspended over Sri Lanka for legitimately waging a battle to protect its sovereign territory from dismemberment are muted in their criticism of the methods adopted by Israel whose leader has made no bones about how terrorism should be dealt with. Why is only Sri Lanka brought under the microscope ?

It is hoped at least now those pro-Western lobby groups in Sri Lanka would gauge the mindset of the Israeli leader who is bent on destroying terrorism untrammelled by such niceties of human rights and civil liberties. His tone and tenor in his remarks to the Lankan Premier demonstrates this to the hilt.

Eastern Polls

The East takes another decisive step today towards the restoration of civilian administration and normality with the commencement of the nominations process for the Provincial Council Elections today.

As Foreign Secretary Dr. Palitha Kohona and the Frontline correspondent in Sri Lanka explain in these pages, the recently concluded Batticaloa Local Poll was almost a 'model election'.

Save for a few minor incidents, the whole election process from nominations to polling day was absolutely peaceful. This was remarkable, given that the region had just emerged from decades of terrorism.

The election also proved that groups with a violent past can transform themselves into democratic entities who believe in the ballot instead of in the bullet.

With that experience in mind, practically the whole world will be watching keenly the events unfolding in the East. The Security Forces did an exemplary job in Batticaloa to ensure that no incidents occurred in the run up to the election and on poling day itself.

Obviously, they will have a bigger task on their hands this time. We fervently hope that they will rise to the occasion and all parties contesting the election too will make an honest effort to rein in any violent tendencies.

The decision taken by Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake to prohibit state property being used at the forthcoming Eastern Provincial Council would also be welcomed by all.

Elections were considered sacrosanct in this country and people went to cast their ballot with an almost religious fervour. It is important that we hark back to those days and restore complete confidence in the system particularly at a time when more and more actors are entering the electoral process. It is incumbent upon the Government not to let those armed groups now entering the political mainstream lose faith in the system.