19 July 2002

JOINT MEDIA RELEASE OF AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND ORGANISATIONS :
CHIEF MINISTER JAYALALITHA THROWS THE GAUNTLET TO THE LTTE TERRORISTS

Swift action taken by the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Hon Jeyaram Jayalalitha to arrest Mr Vaiko (MP) the leader of the MDMK party under the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) has to be applauded by all peace loving people in the world respecting democracy.

Terrorism is the major impediment to poverty alleviation, social development and in general, the well being of many nations in the modern world.  Once laws are adopted by legislatures to deter terrorism, the policy makers should have the wisdom and courage to give effect to such laws, so that the subsequent damages caused by terrorism are minimized. The  Chief Minister has set an example to other policy makers in South Asia by indicating to Vaiko and his followers that their support for Tamil Tiger Terrorism in Sri Lanka is illegal, unacceptable and is detrimental to India's national interest.

The LTTE is the major terrorist outfit contributing to instability in South Asia with their virulent Tamil racist philosophy and heavily militarised cadre. They are a direct threat to the territorial integrity of Sri Lanka and India. The LTTE was not only responsible for assassinating Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in India, but is also responsible for gun running, narcotics smuggling and helping other clandestine armed groups operating in the South Asian region. The LTTE literature speaks of a greater Tamil State, comprising parts of Southern India and Sri Lanka, a direct threat to the Sri Lankan and Indian states. The LTTE is considered to be the most ruthless terrorist organization in the world by many analysts. So far the LTTE has never given any indication that they have changed their ultimate goal of fighting to carve out a separate Tamil State in Sri Lanka.

Therefore, if the cancer of Balkanization of the Indian sub-continent is to be avoided, the LTTE and their supporters have to be treated as terrorists and dealt with legally and militarily as a matter of priority.

Wishful thinking on the part of the Sri Lankan Government and their international allies has sent  them to a state of hibernation. In the interim, the LTTE and their acolyte members of the Sri Lankan and Indian legislatures .continue to endorse terrorism and political violence to justify their end goals of terrorism.

Such divisive, secessionist and fissiparous programs advocated by the LTTE will ultimately cause political and social instability in the South Asian region finally resulting in anarchy.

In this context , the Chief Minnesota's action has to be applauded and appreciated by all democratic forces in the world.

In Sri Lanka, the LTTE is almost half way through in its preparation for a renewed military attack on the Sri Lankan armed forces to establish their own state. The LTTE receives words of encouragement from people like Vaiko in India, Chandrasekarem and Thondaman in Sri Lanka who are members of the legislative assemblies and who have taken oaths to uphold democracy. The time is almost up for the Sri Lankan government to take note of the legal and moral rights bestowed on them by the the citizens of Sri Lanka through the most valued right in a democratic society, "the Ballot". The Government needs to follow the example set by world leaders such as President Bush and tell the world that the LTTE is a banned terrorist organization in many countries and is morally repugnant and a criminal offense to help the LTTE.

The Government of Sri Lanka and its Prime Minister Hon Ranil Wickramasinghe should follow the leadership shown by the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, the Hon Jeyaram Jayalalitha and be tough on terrorists and their supporters , so that democracy could continue to be a living force in South Asia.

President
Society for Peace Unity and Human Rights of Sri Lanka (SPUR)
Victoria
Australia
President
Sinhala Cultural and Community Services Foundation (SC&CSF)
Melbourne
AUSTRALIA
President
Society for Peace Unity and Rehabilitation in Sri Lanka (SPUR)
Western Australia
AUSTRALIA
President
Veera Parakramabahu Foundation (VPF)
AUSTRALIA
President
Society for Peace Unity and Human Rights of Sri Lanka (SPUR)
New South Wales
AUSTRALIA
President
Sri Lankans Against Terrorism (SLAT)
New South Wales
AUSTRALIA
President
Ape Shakthi
NEW ZEALAND
Hitometer 19 July 2002 

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