16.1.2008
Defence Spokesman, Keheliya Rambukwella said that the Government's stand on the abrogation of the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) was very clear. Addressing a media conference, he said that the CFA was signed in good faith but it turned futile when the LTTE began violating it and as the magnitude of the violations escalated. In the six years of its existence the LTTE sought to cause destruction and death each time it was weakened, he noted. The Minister revealed that various attempts have been made by national leader for over 25 years to settle the conflict in the North and East through discussion, but that the LTTE had resorted to the killing of so many in the forces, on one occasion over 700 policemen were killed in the middle of negotiations. The first and second rounds of the Geneva talks failed, and subsequently the then Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister Lakshman Kadiragamar was assassinated. The LTTE also made an attempt on the life of the present Army Commander, Sarath Fonseka. Other atrocities include the claymore attack at Kebitigollewa killing 64 and injuring 23 civilians and the more recent attack at Nugegoda killing several civilians.
Minister Rambukwalle made these observations addressing the media in Colombo today (16), on the day the CFA was coming to an end.
Although the Cease Fire Agreement was between two parties, LTTE leader Prabhakaran clearly desired to be the sole regulator, once even refusing to recognize members of the European Union who were part of the SLMM.
However the Minister emphasized that the abolition of the CFA was not a declaration of war. The Government was prepared to discuss the problem of terrorism and national security as a national issue with all democratic forces of Tamil Parties and other political parties. He insisted that the Government will not move away from the path of fighting terrorism.
"The Government is carrying out a humanitarian mission to provide security to the people, conduct elections in the East, and give the opportunity for the people in the North to enter the democratic processes. The aim is not purely military and there was still room left for talks and the LTTE could raise its white flag for peace honestly and enter into talks without causing destruction," he said.
There is a definite distinction between terrorists and Tamils, the Minister stressed. He underlined the humanitarian character of the Government's efforts by pointing to the liberation of 40,000 civilians in Vakarai with zero civilian casualties, something that is unheard of in the history of such campaigns.
The LTTE attacks on civilians were not unleashed following the nullification of the CFA but has been a habitual occurrence from the early days of the CFA, the Minister observed. "Today, for instance, the LTTE unleashed their usual terror in Monaragala, killing 27 and injuring 60 odd people including 11 children, while in another incident an army Unicorn vehicle was attacked injuring four soldiers.
Minister reemphasized that butchering had been going on while the CFA was in force. The Government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa although it had received a mandate to pursue its own course of action regarding the CFA, sought to revive negotiations in Oslo and Geneva. These failed efforts and the intransigence of the LTTE and its continuing faith in terrorism had forced the Government to withdraw from the CFA,
he said.
Courtesy
- Government Information
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