24.9.2008
 Photo
courtesy Daily Mirror
President Mahinda Rajapaksa, addressing the 63th Session
of the United Nations in New York today (24), said "the
Government would not and cannot let an illegal and armed
terrorist group, the LTTE, to hold a fraction of the population,
a part of the Tamil community, hostage to such terror in
the northern part of Sri Lanka and deny those people their
democratic rights of dissent and free elections."
The President, who pointed out that terrorism is a fast
spreading phenomenon, observed that the United Nations has
a grave responsibility to save today's and succeeding generations,
from this new and continuing menace.
The
following are parts of his speech devoted to the issue of
terrorism:
"We
have been talking for long enough; it is time for clear
action in this regard. Like many other countries, Sri Lanka
too has not been spared this global menace. Exploiting perceived
ethnic grievances, that must and can be addressed through
political means, the vested interests of a well organized
terror group, the LTTE indulges in blatant and brutal acts
of terrorism, including suicide bombings to seek negotiating
leverage, political recognition and legitimacy. What is
happening in Pakistan today is the destructive policy of
bloody terrorists. I am saddened by the loss of life and
destruction caused by the recent terrorist attack there.
"Our
Government has always been ready to address the causes of
these issues and effectively implement political and constitutional
solutions to meet the aspirations and rights of all communities.
What the Government would not, and could not do is to let
an illegal and armed terrorist group, the LTTE, to hold
a fraction of our population, a part of the Tamil community,
hostage to such terror in the northern part of Sri Lanka
and deny those people their democratic rights of dissent
and free elections. Through our past actions, we have proved
it.
"The
Government has therefore declared its policy of engaging
in dialogue and discussion with the democratic leadership
of the Tamil community, a people who have lived in harmony
with other Sri Lankans for centuries. Today, there are Tamil
leaders holding responsible ministerial posts in my government.
A former Attorney General of then Ceylon, Sir Ponnambalam
Ramanathan, also a loved Tamil politician, in September
1904, had this to say at a public meeting in Colombo: 'I
have been to many countries in the world. But, no where
have I seen such a friendly race as the Sinhalese who also
uphold high moral values.' Such was the harmony between
the Tamils and the Sinhalese. But a malicious group has
turned all of this upside down.
"All
successive governments of Sri Lanka have endeavoured to
resolve the problem for over twenty five years, including
through Norwegian facilitation and international Co-Chairs
overseeing a so-called peace process that was treated with
contempt by the terrorists. On each occasion that talks
were held seeking peace, the terrorists of the LTTE walked
out on the flimsiest of excuses and reverted to terrorism
of the worst kind, indiscriminately targeting innocent civilians.
"Our
Government would only be ready to talk to this illegal armed
group when it is ready to commit itself to decommissioning
of its illicit weapons and dismantling of its military capability,
and return to the democratic fold. The Government has also
made it clear that the elected Government cannot and will
not permit undermining of the territorial integrity of the
sovereign UN Member State of Sri Lanka and the division
of its territory. We are clear in this message.
"The
Government's objective is to enable the people to enjoy
the benefits of the democratic processes and to speed the
development activities in those areas where there is a heavy
presence of terrorists. This would be similar to the fast
tracking of economic development taking place in the Eastern
Province of Sri Lanka, where former terrorists now function
as democratically elected Provincial Councilors, and a former
child soldier conscripted by the LTTE is now the elected
Chief Minister, having abandoned terrorism and embracing
democracy. Significantly, the restoration of democracy in
the East of Sri Lanka was achieved in less than one year
of it being freed from the clutches of terror.
"Our
Government has also sought and received the cooperation
of the United Nations, ICRC and other agencies to help us
in providing humanitarian assistance to the Internally Displaced
Persons (IDPs) and other affected civilians. The UN Secretary
General's special representative on IDP's who visited Sri
Lanka some years ago said and I quote: "Sri Lanka represents
the unusual situation of a central government providing
relief aid to persons under the control of (the) main opposition
group. In a world replete with examples of Governments and
rebel groups using food as a weapon against civilian populations,
the situation in Sri Lanka is one that deserves closer attention
if not more publicity as an important precedent.
"The
Government of Sri Lanka continues this humanitarian policy
even today although we know that the terrorists seize a
good proportion of these humanitarian supplies. Our supplies
are not confined to food; they extend to medicines, and
all other essentials as well as schools and hospitals, with
teachers, doctors, nurses, and all other essential staff.
This is not all, the government also purchases the paddy
and other foodstuffs produced in those areas. I do not think
there is any country in the world where there is a government
that provides such humanitarian assistance to terrorists
that attack it. Our government considers the supply of humanitarian
relief to its people as its prime responsibility.
"The
complex situation in Sri Lanka needs to be addressed and
resolved through an appropriate process of deterrent law
and order action and patient political efforts of consensus
building. We have achieved the difficult but essential task
of building democracy in the Eastern Province and are confident
that it can be done in the North as well."
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- Sudath Silva |
