Saving civilians from LTTE

Much is being made of the plight of the civilian population in the areas held by the LTTE, presently caught up in the on going operations. Many are the allegations from Tamil politicians making out as if the situation is of the Government’s making.

TNA Parliament group leader R.Sambandan has nothing but scorn for the Government. Nowhere has he made a single accusation against the LTTE during his speech in the Emergency debate.

Who brought about this state of affairs the critics of the Government should ask themselves. Do they expect a sovereign State to genuflect before a band of terrorists who are hell bent on breaking up this country and holding a part of its community prisoner in its iron grip ?

The Government has responded only as any sovereign democratic Government anywhere in the world would respond. The international community is fond of saying the ultimate goal should be a negotiated settlement. But it is plain to any observer of the history of the conflict that any negotiations are a dead letter with the LTTE.

The record of negotiations between the Government and the LTTE from Thimpu to Bangkok and Geneva spanning two decades is one litany of deception and subterfuge on the part of the Tigers. The Government for its part while not closing the door to negotiations has decided to do so on its own terms.

For the first time in this conflict a Government has had the courage to call the shots not cowing down to international pressure or heed pious lectures of Foreign busybodies. Critics of this Government have also failed to acknowledge that it is this Government which for the first time has offered an escape route for innocent civilians trapped in the conflict zone.

It has taken several measures to ensure the safety of the civilians throughout all operations. No longer do we hear tales of carpet bombing and strafing of civilian localities or bombing of churches and kovils. All air attacks by the Air Force has been precise with zero or at worse minimal casualties.

The Government has already airdropped leaflets in the uncleared areas announcing a safe passage to civilians into Government controlled areas through earmarked corridors. We cannot recall any other adminstration taking such a step to ensure civilian safety.

Therefore those of the Opposition who are shedding copious tears on the plight of the civilians on TV talk shows should do well to turn the searchlight inwards. Of course the flight of civilians during military operations is not a new phenomenon nor is it confined only to this country.

Even during operation Riviresa civilians fled the theatre of operations and later relocated when things returned to normal. The tactics employed by the LTTE to use civilians as human shields are nothing new.

The difference this time though is the initiative take by the Government to deliver the civilians from the LTTE’s clutches. True it is handicapped in this regard due to the LTTE’s beastly conduct.

But this is not for want of trying. The Government of course has to prosecute the war to its ultimate end. LTTE fortresses are falling one after the other like ninepins to the military juggernaut.

But the Government can by no stretch of the imagination be accused of being callous and insensitive to the plight of the civilian population. It is doing everything possible to liberate these hapless civilians from the clutches of the LTTE.

It has taken precautions to ensure that no harm is caused to aid agencies and aid workers operating in the conflict Zone and has urged them evacuate to safety. It has also emphasized that this would only be a temporary measure in preparation for the final thrust and that these humanitarian agencies would be able to return once normality is returned.

And the Government is certain of this return to normality sooner rather than later. It is already preparing the groundwork for holding democratic elections in the North. According to our front page news report today steps are underway to hold elections to 33 Government bodies including Mullaitivu and Killinochchi, where polls were deferred last year due to the security situation that prevailed at the time.

Steps are underway to introduce an amendment to the Provincial Councils (Special Provisions) Act to pave the way for elections to be held to these local bodies shortly.

According to Local Government Minister Janaka Bandara Tennakoon the Government is all out to ensure that the people of the North enjoy the bounty of democracy that their brethren in the East enjoy today.

That the Government has already set it sights on holding elections in the uncleared areas is a measure of its confidence that very soon the LTTE will be history. The phenomenal success achieved by the Security Forces in overrunning Tiger defences in the terrorist heartland has given added weight to this confidence.