Wanted, extra vigilance

Yesterday's LTTE suicide attack at the premises of the Godapitiya Jumma mosque in Akuressa Town is yet another stark reminder of the ever present danger lurking in our midst as the final days of the Tigers draw near.

At the time of writing, 10 persons were killed and over 20 others injured in the dastardly attack targeting a group of Government Ministers who were attending a ceremony to mark the Holy Prophet's Birthday at the mosque.

Among the injured was Post and Telecommunications Minister Mahinda Wijesekera who was hospitalised. The attack comes almost one year after the successful attempt on the life of Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle by a suicide bomber while declaring open an Avurudu Sports festival in Weliweriya.

On that occasion this column dwelt on the propensity of Government politicians to expose themselves to peril at a time the LTTE was on the run and liable to cause havoc in the South. Minister Fernandopulle sad to say was quite nonchalant with his security - perhaps due to his close rapport with the masses and virtually presented himself as a soft target to the terrorists.

One need not be an intelligence expert to know that the threat to VIPs is much graver now with the LTTE close to annihilation.It was only two weeks ago it took the desperate step of expending the last of its aircraft on an abortive mission to destroy the city. Hence it was obvious that the outfit was planning to go down with a mighty bang inflicting as many causalities as possibly among high profile targets.

The mosque where yesterday's attack took place would naturally have been an ideal setting for the LTTE to carry out its deadly mission, given the large presence of Muslim worshippers as is the norm and the general tendency to discard security concerns in a religious sanctuary.

Herein lies another flaw in the thinking of those subscribing to this theory. For, the LTTE in the past have killed worshippers and pilgrims in their hoards, and has no qualms of desecrating a holy place of worship.

One such instance that readily comes to mind is the machine gunning of pilgrims, bikkhus and bikkhunis at the sacred Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi in 1985. Among the blackest episodes in its blood spattered history was the gunning down of over 200 worshippers at the Palliyagodella and Kattankudi mosques in 1990. The cold blooded murder of TNA MP Joseph Pararajasingham during midnight Christmas mass no doubt drives home the point that the LTTE is not selective when it comes to getting at its prey.

We are not here suggesting that Government Ministers should not venture out on their duty errands or attend public functions. To cave in would only grant an advantage to the diabolic forces bent on creating mayhem and anarchy in the country. What we want to impress on our politicians is the need to cultivate a heightened awareness on the current security threat, act with circumspection and above all cease being foolhardy when it comes to their security.

We say this because despite advice to the contrary as much as six Government Ministers travelled to the function as a body. Had the suicide bomber succeeded it would no doubt have been a telling blow not only to the Government and the country but also would have served to demoralise the Forces bringing their hard fought victories to nought. For even a semblance of a victory at this stage to the LTTE would be a negation of the efforts of our valiant men on the battlefront.

The Tigers are now bound to open a new flank of attack targeting VIPs with its rapidly faltering stocks on the battlefield. For no victory would be sweeter to the LTTE than striking at the very core of the Government that is prosecuting the war with unprecedented success.Therefore had yesterday's attempt succeeded the LTTE though down and out on the battlefield would have been able to boast of a morale victory to impress its supporters and the diaspora.

The powers that be should impress on all Ministers not to make themselves sitting ducks to terrorist attacks by slipping their guard allowing the outfit to wrest back the advantage gained by the blood sacrifice of our soldiers.

Ministers should take care not to travel in groups.This safeguard had always been reiterated since the mass deaths of General Denzil Kobbekaduwa and the cream of our military in a landmine attack in 1992. But it appears that our politicians have not learnt any lessons. Hopefully yesterday's incident would open the eyes of all VIPs to take extra precautions about their safety. Above all not to give any cause for jubilation to the LTTE now in its death throes.