Expose LTTE crimes, too

We carried in our Midweek Review section on Wednesday an article ("A Mandatory Pilgrimage" by C. A. Chandraprema) on the "JVP terror" exhibition, which was held recently in Piliyandala. The exhibition smacks of a hidden agenda in that its obvious aim is to tarnish the ‘new image’ of the JVP by making people revisit the JVP-instigated ‘reign of terror’ of the late 1980s. However, it is an adroit counter propaganda move, which has startled the JVP. Apart from the threats issued by the JVP Propaganda Secretary, Wimal Weerawansa, to sue the organisers of the exhibition, there appears to be no way the JVP can counter the "JVP terror exhibition."

It is puzzling why the government, which the JVP says is behind the exhibition, has not launched a similar propaganda drive to counter the LTTE propaganda, both here and abroad. The strength of the LTTE lies also in its successful anti-Sri Lankan propaganda abroad. Despite its crimes against humanity, the LTTE through Goebblesian lies has managed to project itself as the underdog in Sri Lanka’s conflict. Its propaganda has also helped it pull the wool over the eyes of many western leaders. Two senior Canadian ministers, it should be recalled, graced an LTTE fund-raising dinner last year.

But successive governments have done precious little to counter this kind of adverse propaganda, which is mostly a set of flower-arranged blatant lies, for the consumption of ‘western liberals.’ Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgarmar, who is leading the battle against terrorism from the front, is on record having stressed the need to defeat the LTTE on the propaganda front as well.

Now that the government has sent the JVP reeling under a successful propaganda blitz, it must seriously consider giving a dose of the same medicine to the LTTE as well.

If the world is given an opportunity to see the dastardly crimes the LTTE has committed so far, Minister Kadirgamar’s task of getting the LTTE banned in the west will not be so difficult. What is called for is an exhibition of LTTE terror with the main focus on terrorist attacks on civilians. The exhibition can be held first in Colombo with the participation of representatives of the so-called international community so that those who are still ‘playing footsie with the LTTE’ will realise the danger it poses to global peace.

The LTTE has so far committed over 200 massacres as we have repeatedly pointed out in these columns.

The following incidents selected at random are glaring examples of what the LTTE terror is like: 1984 - the LTTE kills 127 civilians mostly Sinhalese in the north, 1985 - The LTTE kills 150 Sinhala civilians at prayer in Anuradhapura, 1986 - (May 3 ) The LTTE bombs an Airlanka plane in Colombo killing 16 people and (May 7) bombs the Central Telegraph Office, Colombo killing 14 people, 1987 - the LTTE kills 113 people in Colombo by exploding a car bomb and in June kills 29 Buddhist monks at Arantalawa, 1988 - The LTTE kills 15 Sinhalese civilians in Morawewa on March 3, blows up a truck in Trincomalee killing 24 civilians on March 5, blows up a bus in Trincomalee killing 22 passengers on May 1 and kills 27 Sinhalese civilians in a bus on Nov. 14, 1989 - the LTTE kills by hacking and shooting 34 Sinhalese civilians in Duluwewa on Feb. 11, kills 37 Sinhalese civilians at Borawewa on Feb. 28 and kills 51 people in Trincomalee on April 23, 1990 - the LTTE massacres 600-700 policemen who surrender on government orders during the LTTE-UNP talks, the LTTE uses machetes, guns and grenades to kill 40 Muslims praying at a mosque in eastern village of Kattankudy on Aug. 3, the LTTE massacres 122 Muslims in Eravur on Aug. 12, 1991 - the LTTE kills 21 Sinhalese villagers in Moneragala on April 21, and kills 27 civilians in Batticaloa, 1992 - the LTTE kills 56 Muslims at Alinchipathana on April 29, explodes a bicycle bomb in Batticaloa on Oct. 15 killing 22 Muslims, the LTTE massacres 166 Muslims in Palliyagodella on Oct. 15, 1993 - the LTTE assassinates Sri Lankan President Ranasingha Premadasa on May 1 together with 22 others, 1994 the LTTE kills 15 bus passengers at Anuradhapura on Jan. 19, the LTTE kills 22 fishermen in Puttalam on March 21, the LTTE kills Sri Lankan Opposition Leader Gamini Dissanayake and 51 others in Colombo during the LTTE-government talks on Nov. 24, 1995 - The LTTE kills 42 Sinhalese civilians at Kallarawa, the LTTE kills 24 Sinhalese civilians in Colombo on June 4, 1996 - the LTTE bombs the Central Bank killing 82 civilians, the LTTE bombs Hotel Galadari killing 18 civilians in October, 1998 - the LTTE bombs Dalada Maligawa killing 16 persons, the LTTE explodes a vehicle bomb in Maradana killing over 10 civilians in May, 1999 - the LTTE explodes a bomb at the Kandy private bus station killing 2 civilians, the LTTE assassinates TULF MP Dr. Neelan Tiruchelvam in July, the LTTE makes an attempt on President Chandrika Kumaratunga in December and kills 22 civilians, the LTTE bombs a UNP election rally on the same day killing 10 civilians, 2000 - the LTTE kills Minister C. V. Gooneratne and 22 others in June, the LTTE kills 6 persons opposite the Eye Hospital in October.

The government must prepare an exhaustive list of the LTTE crimes, coupled with pictures and video clips.

The exhibition could then be taken to all the western capitals —starting from London – where the LTTE fund-raisers are active. This will certainly be an eye-opener for the vast majority of the people of those countries who are in the dark as to what the LTTE really is. If hosted on the internet, the exhibition will surely be a counter to the LTTE websites, which are disseminating diabolical lies to tarnish the image of Sri Lanka.

The LTTE is making a desperate attempt to avoid a prospective ban in Britain by retracting its claws and waving an olive branch. Countering terrorists propaganda and exposing the crimes they commit are a prerequisite for a successful military campaign against terrorism. The time has come to checkmate the LTTE on the propaganda front.

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