17.12.2007
Dr.Keheliya
Rambukwella: It must be said very emphatically
that all the Tamils are not terrorists, but unfortunately,
all the terrorist are Tamils.
Sri Lanka intelligence agency is well aware of the developments
in the Vanni hideout of Prabaharan, the leader of the Tamil
Tigers. They are tracking very closely and minutely following
the developments. Even the intelligence group is aware of
the minor injury sustained by Prabaharan last month and
they are actively trailing him to bring an end to terrorism
in the country.
Dr.Keheliya Rambukwella, Government Spokesman for the Defense
and National Security and Minister of Foreign Employment
Promotion and Welfare was speaking to Asian Tribune.
He
said that the Sri Lanka Armed forces is bent on bringing
an end to terrorists menace in the country. Answering
to a question he said with confidence that though he was
unable to give a time frame to defeat terrorism in the
country, “But we are quiet positive of achieving
our final aim of defeating the terrorists in the country,”
the Minister said He further added when asked “Any
details you can reveal that is taken up to end this menace
of terrorism? He said, “I think we are in the right
direction and we are determined and we will.”
Excerpts
of the interview Asian Tribune had with Dr.Keheliya Rambukwella,
Government Spokesman for the Defense and National Security
is given below:
Question:
There was a report to say that Liberation
Tigers leader Velupillai Prabaharn was slightly injured
in the last month’s aerial bombardment?
Dr.Keheliya
Rambukwella: Yes, there was certain stories around that
and our intelligence people are certainly aware of it.
Our intelligence group is fully aware of what is happening
in the Vanni hideouts and we are very closely monitoring
the developments in Vanni. Anyway our intelligence people
are very certain that they are active in the trail of
Prabharan. Well, you see we are looking at totally defeating
the menace of terrorism.
Question:
How long it will take for you to eliminate terrorism in
Sri Lanka?
Dr.Keheliya
Rambukwella: Time period are impossible in these kinds
of things and it is not practical. But we are quiet positive
of achieving our final aim of defeating the terrorists
in the country.
Question:
Minister Douglas Devananda says the only way to bring
an end to the LTTE is to kill its head of intelligence
Pottu Amman, since he is the person who guides LTTE leader
Vellupillai Prabhakaran and others in the organization?
Dr.Keheliya
Rambukwella: People who are involved and are knowledgeable
of the inside set up and especially those who are fully
aware of the system of LTTE will of course have their
own point of view and express their opinion.
Question:What
is the Government view about Pottu Amman, the intelligence
Chief of the LTTE?
Dr.Keheliya
Rambukwella: He is known as a man who is handling their
intelligence and operation and at the same time in a terrorist
organization there are only very few who matters at the
end of the day. Pottu Amman in our view is one of them.
Question:
Any details you can reveal that is taken up to end this
menace of terrorism?
Dr.Keheliya
Rambukwella: Yes, I think we are in the right direction
and we are determined and we will.
Question:
Arresting of the Tamils in Colombo and South? What was
the reason for that unpopular exercise?
Dr.Keheliya
Rambukwella: One has to accept the fact that worst thing
for the country is to wage a war against any group within
the country, but it has so happened that Prabharan seems
not to understand anything about this. Therefore, whether
we like it or not, we have to face it. It was very unfortunate
the people has to undergo many inconveniences, but to
achieve the final target of defeating terrorism, all citizen
has to pay a prize on such matters and make certain sacrifices.
This is not a bed of roses.
Question:
Why always the Tamils?
Dr.Keheliya
Rambukwella: It must be said very emphatically that all
the Tamils are not terrorists, but unfortunately, all
the terrorist are Tamils and under these circumstances,
it becomes necessary to exercise ‘cordon and search’
operation from time to time for the safety of the citizens
who are Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, Burgers and Malays,
in the process of safeguarding the citizens of this country.
Question:Many
of the Tamils who are arrested are those who fled Vanni
and the North of the country for their security and safety
to Colombo and the South and by arresting and harassing
them, you are driving them back into the hands of Prabaharan?
Dr.Keheliya
Rambukwella: This is an argument that has been put out
by various people.
Question:
It is not merely an argument, but it is a statement of
fact?
Dr.Keheliya
Rambukwella: No, it is an argument which is brought about
where we see certain realities in it, but unfortunately
if you look at it, if I may cite an example, if you look
at the women who came to assassinate Hon. Minister Douglas
Devananda. If she was arrested 10 minutes prior to that
act, if she was caught that way, they will blame that
the security forces has arrested a handicapped innocent
Tamil woman and harassed her. This is the issue that we
are facing. When they were taken into custody, within
24 hours 90 percent of them were released. We found 9
people who have certain links with LTTE and also one person
who have had flying training, whom we suspect had a link
with carrying out the air operation. Therefore, we are
very grateful to the people who have to undergo immense
difficulties for the sake of the country. They too are
also citizens of our country.
If
you look at the people in the so called border villages,
who comes under the threat of Prabharan, they all the
time had to undergo immense difficulties right throughout.
So much so, innocent women and children have to move out
into the jungle during the night, fearing brutal attacks
on their home by LTTE. So it is very clear that irrespective
of ethnicity, the sacrifices that we make are to finally
achieve the goal of having a peaceful country by eradicating
terrorism.
Question:
Do you think Colombo is now safe from suicide LTTE carders?
Dr.Keheliya
Rambukwella: You see that nobody could give guarantees
on terrorism. But defense authorities have checked many
things and keeping the situation under control. By this
you can minimize the threat.
Courtesy - Asian
Tribune