13.6.2008
No
talks with the Tamil Tigers until the organization agreed
to disarm, said Mahinda Rajapakse, President of Sri Lanka.
"When
they are weak they call on the international community
to arrange a ceasefire. During this period they train
and rearm and then fight back. This time if they want
to talk, they should disarm first," he said.
In
an exclusive interview with The Times – London,
Sri Lanka President pointed out that even if the Tigers
were to meet his preconditions it seems unlikely that
he would ever be able to conclude a peace deal with Velupillai
Prabhakaran.
"This
man and the three or four henchmen around him are blood-thirsty
killers," said Mr Rajapaksa. "They have no feelings.
It is very difficult to deal with them."
Given
below the full text of the interview appeared in The Times,
London:
Stop
Tamil Tigers raising money in UK, says President Rajapaksa
Richard Beeston,
Foreign Editor
Britain
stands accused of applying double standards to its counter-terrorism
policy because a banned Tamil militant group is being
allowed to raise money among expatriates in London.
President
Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka said that supporters of the Liberation
Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were able to raise millions
of pounds each year from the Tamil community in Britain,
some of whom were coerced into donating the money.
"You
can't have two different attitudes towards terrorism,"
he told The Times this week during a visit to London for
a Commonwealth meeting, where he raised the issue with
Gordon Brown. "I don't agree that there are good
terrorists and bad terrorists. There is only one kind
of terrorist."
There
are about 150,000 Tamils living in Britain, mostly in
North London. The Sri Lankans estimate that £70million
is sent home
These are not voluntary contributions, the money is taken
by force, usually a percentage of their income,"
said Mr Rajapaksa, who attracted Tamil protesters during
his stay. "The money is sent back to buy weapons.
London is not the only place; money is also sent from
Europe, Canada and other places."
The
Sri Lankan leader, who has earned a reputation as a hardliner,
came to power nearly three years ago when a fragile ceasefire
brokered by Norway was still in place. After a series
of clashes — including suicide attacks against the
head of the Army and Defence Minister, who is the President's
brother — the simmering 25-year old conflict erupted
into fresh violence.
Over
the past two years government troops have been successful
in retaking some rebel-held areas to the east and north
of the island, but at a heavy cost. Several Sri Lankan
sailors and Tamil guerrillas were killed yesterday when
the "Sea Tigers", the rebel naval wing, attacked
a navy base on the island of Mannar. So far this year
an estimated 4,000 Tamil Tigers and 357 government troops
have been killed.
Many
of the casualties are civilians and government troops
have been accused of widespread human rights abuses and
of allowing a pro-government paramilitary force to commit
atrocities.
Mr
Rajapaksa said that he was taking steps to protect human
rights. He blamed his Government's poor international
reputation on “clever propaganda” by the Tigers.
“We
have failed in the propaganda fight,” he said.
Mr
Rajapaksa insisted yesterday that in spite of the cost
in lives and damage inflicted to Sri Lanka's tourist trade
he would not resume peace talks with the Tamil Tigers
until the organisation agreed to disarm.
“When
they are weak they call on the international community
to arrange a ceasefire. During this period they train
and rearm and then fight back. This time if they want
to talk, they should disarm first,” he said.
Even
if the Tigers were to meet his preconditions it seems
unlikely that he would ever be able to conclude a peace
deal with Velupillai Prabhakaran, the charismatic rebel
commander.
“This
man and the three or four henchmen around him are blood-thirsty
killers,” said Mr Rajapaksa. “They have no
feelings. It is very difficult to deal with them.”
In
another development, Sri Lanka has refused to let a team
of Norwegian peace mediators visit rebel territory without
a clear “road map” for a democratic solution,
fearing a visit coud be used as propaganda. The military
said yesterday that it was closing in on the Tamil Tigers'
leader.
“The
security forces are attacking Mullaittivu, Prabhakaran's
hideout, from several directions. The army's aim is to
capture Prabhakaran, who is holed up in a bunker, alive,”
Lieutenant-General Sarath Fonseka said.
Courtesy - Asian
Tribune