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Media
Release: January 10, 2006
Open Terrorism by Tamil Tigers calls for Strong Response by Sri Lanka
The latest in a series of terrorist acts is the suicide attack launched by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on the Sri Lankan Naval Patrol in the early hours of January 7, 2006 just outside the Trincomalee Harbour, caused by ramming an explosives laden boat which darted from the midst of fishing vessels to destroy a Dvora Naval Craft killing 13 of the 15 member crew.
The LTTE whilst claiming to uphold the Ceasefire Accord, have by their actions clearly demonstrated their intention to resume full scale hostilities, by carrying out numerous attacks against both the members of the security forces and the ordinary civilians who stand in the way of their fascist dictatorship which aims to create a mono-ethnic Tamil separate state in Sri Lanka. In the last five weeks alone, they have carried out 51 separate armed attacks which have resulted in the death of 90 and seriously injured over 124 persons.
In our previous media release dated December 26, 2005 titled “ Tamil Tiger Terrorists’ Wage Undeclared War in Sri Lanka “, we drew attention to the over 7,000 violations of the CFA on the part of the LTTE during the period of its operation from February 2002, which includes the killing of over 450 civilians and security forces personnel, 3,500 abductions and forced conscription of children and a host of other human rights abuses as reported on by the SLMM and UNICEF. Their record amply shows their total disregard for signed agreements, as all three previous attempts to negotiate a peaceful resolution have been abandoned by the LTTE as they merely used such periods to re-arm and re-group their forces in order to continue their terrorist path.
The
Sri Lankan people have lost faith in the Norwegian peace facilitator because
of their partiality to the LTTE as seen from their overt and covert acts to
bolster this group, and the Nordic Monitors who have proven themselves both
powerless and ineffective with no ability to deter the killings and mountain
of violations by the Tamil Tiger Terrorists.
The politically motivated double standards on terrorism on the part
of the international community, especially in countries such as Canada and
the EU which allow the LTTE to collect funds and operate broadcasting
services and even celebrate the lives of suicide bombers within their
jurisdictions, takes the
pressure off the LTTE from negotiating in good faith and adhering to agreed
rules of conduct. We are left to wonder if the western powers
would reassess the threat of the LTTE in the light of the report published
in the Asia Times of December 22, 2005, wherein Pakistani Intelligence had
revealed the links established by the Tamil Tigers with the Al Qaeda and
Taliban forces in Afghanistan for the purpose of smuggling weapons including
surface to air missiles in exchange for Afghan drugs and money; http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/GL22Df01.html .
In view of the open terrorism on the part of the Tamil Tigers and the
resultant loss of innocent lives, the Sri Lankan authorities can no longer
be required to respect the terms of the CFA whilst the other party violates
it with impunity despite the exhortations of the major powers who are the
co-chairs of the peace process. The
Government of Sri Lanka cannot idly watch while the nation bleeds.
As a first step, the GOSL should temporarily suspend clauses of the
CFA dealing with free access pending re-negotiation of its terms, and
withdraw the freedom of movement granted to LTTE cadres within government
controlled areas, which freedom is denied to the rest of the nation within
the un-cleared areas illegally held by the terrorists.
Those terrorist elements and their accomplices responsible for the
violent unrest, who fail to get back behind their lines should be dealt with
as in the case of violent criminals under existing laws.
All other appropriate options available to the authorities too should
be considered and fully implemented to ensure that law and order will be
restored speedily throughout the territory.
Yours very truly,
Mahinda Gunasekera
Honorary President
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