Ceasefire ploy

A terrorist den manufacturing bombs in Dehiwala has been raided by the police. This hideout is said to be one of the places where the explosive-laden jackets used by brainwashed LTTE cadres on suicidal missions are made. Three suspects have been arrested and investigations continue.

Yesterday it was also reported that the LTTE had trained their artillery guns on army camps in the Jaffna peninsula injuring two soldiers. The Acting Minister of Defence, Gen. Anuruddha Ratwatte, told parliament the other day that the LTTE had violated its ceasefire on over 30 occasions. Two weeks ago, the navy sank a number of LTTE craft engaged in replenishing supplies.

On March 4 while its ceasefire was on, the LTTE abducted four farmers and killed three of them in Padaviya, Anuradhapura.

The LTTE is manufacturing bombs in Colombo, shelling in the north, and killing Sinhala civilians. According to the police there are dozens of brainwashed Tiger bombers on the prowl in the city looking for likely targets. Yet there is said to be a unilateral ceasefire declared by the LTTE in force. The peace lobby is crying from rooftops that the government must reciprocate the LTTE’s gesture. The LTTE sympathisers are working overtime to project the Sri Lanka government as the ‘bad guy’ with the help of this bogus ceasefire. "Look!, " they are telling the world, "the LTTE is committed to peace. It has declared a ceasefire. The road block to peace is the Sri Lanka government."

Apart from the international pressure mounting against the terrorists, the successful offensives launched by the security forces during the last few months in the north have left the LTTE with no alternative but to hold fire and wave the olive branch. The British ban notwithstanding the LTTE keeps extending its bogus ceasefire apparently until it moves whatever tribunal to be set up to hear appeals from banned terrorist organisations against the British government’s decision. Even if it fails in this endeavour, it is doubtful that the LTTE has the capability to launch another offensive to capture Jaffna. But it will, like a duck to water, revert to destroying civilian targets as Anton Balasingham threatened in London prior to the ban - "We [the LTTE] will become real terrorists if banned."

When the LTTE apologists call upon the government to reciprocate the LTTE’s gesture, are they asking the government also to engage in what the LTTE is doing under the cover of a bogus ceasefire?

The Bindunuwewa Commission

The government has rightly appointed a one-man commission to probe the Bindunuwewa incident. A timeframe of three months has been set for the investigations and reporting. Justice P. H. K. Kulatilake of the Court of Appeal will function as the commissioner.

The massacre of 27 inmates - all LTTE suspects - at the Bindunuwewa Rehabilitation Camp on Oct. 25, 2000 shocked the country. There was no doubt a serious lapse on the part of the government, which failed to protect the suspects in this rehabilitation centre. Hence its responsibility to leave no stone unturned in its efforts to find out what went wrong at Bindunuwewa.

Families of victims have been compensated by the government. But needless to say that the loss of a family member cannot be compensated for financially. Compensation paid is only to be taken as a heartfelt apology extended to the victims’ families.

The on-going court case debars us from venturing further into the incident. However, the government must take all possible steps to prevent repetition of such unfortunate incidents. A commission to inquire into the incident is a step in the right direction.

Likewise, all massacres that have been committed by the LTTE must also be probed and findings made public. The government may begin by appointing a special commission to inquire into the massacre by the LTTE of 600 -700 policemen who surrendered to the LTTE on government orders in 1990.

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