Ranil, GL and Milinda must be arrested for treachery, says SU leader

by Harischandra Gunaratne
Sihala Urumaya leader Tilak Karunaratne addressing the media yesterday said Minister Milinda Moragoda’s withdrawal from the peace talks should be a permanent one and not a temporary move.

He also called for the arrest of Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe, Ministers G. L. Pieris and Milinda Moragoda, saying that they are traitors.

He pointed out that donor countries provide massive plans for the rehabilitation of the North and East, but Sinhalese living in these areas are not benefited at all and those living in the South where the majority are Sinhalese have to pay back these loans by way of taxes.

Karunaratne said Sihala Urumaya unequivocally demand the disbanding of LTTE suicide bombers, use of Microlite aircraft and the deployment of child soldiers.

We have received information that LTTE plans to destroy the Navy base in Trincomalee, Airforce base in Chinabay and the Army special forces camp in Trincomalee. Heavy guns have been clandestinely transported to the east for this purpose by the Tigers, he said.

He said one of the motives in LTTE’s plan in ousting the Muslims from Muttur and the adjacent areas is that they want to instal these guns in those areas.

A 2000 million dollars luxury 600 bed hospital is being built in Kilinochchi utilising the money donated by the international community said Karunaratne and queried as to why they want to handover this hospital to the LTTE which is expected to be completed in 3 years.

If this hospital was built in Jaffna it’s reasonable but why in Kilinochchi, he asked. If LTTE declares war again it’s quite obvious this hospital will be used to treat its carders, he added.

We have absolutely no faith in both the government and the Opposition. The President is sending mixed signals. Sri Lanka should be ruled by a high powered committee consisting of all political parties, Karunaratne said. Sihala Urumaya urge IGP Anandarajah to resign from his office. If an ordinary citizen is killed in this country they hold an inquiry but no investigations were held with regard to the killing of the long range reconnaissance patrol (LRRP) members by the LTTE. Karunaratne also said Govt. should take action against ASP Kulasiri Udugampola for raiding the DMI safe house in Athurugiriya which eventually led to the LTTE ultimately targeting its members one by one. Ranil has now appointed a commission to inquire into the slaying of the members of LRRP and its like, closing the stable doors after the horse has bolted, he added.

Major Gen. Trond Furuhovde of the SLMM was a moderate person. That’s why he had to leave, but Major Gen. Tryggve Tellefsen is really dangerous and the government should stop inviting Scandinavians as monitors to the peace process and depend on them, said the SU leader.

Champika Ranawaka, national organiser, SU said LTTE has both the weapons and man power. All Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims who speak against them are gunned down by the LTTE. If the LTTE declares war we will lose.

In this scenario government has forced us to take to arms. Ranil, G. L. and Milinda will have to be arrested and instal those who can defy the LTTE, a body consisting of Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims but not Hakeem.

We can’t allow more armed factions to spring up.

We need patriotic people to counter the LTTE. If worst comes to worse we are even prepared to form a suicide squad consisting of patriotic people from all races to counter the LTTE, Ranawaka cautioned.

He said "our people have no faith in the defence system. There are traitors in the PA, Muslim and Sinhala parties as well and bureaucrats who help the Tigers, but Sihala Urumaya does not expect anything in return.

He appealed to the masses to join hands in fighting terrorism and said: "We are not prepared to pay back the moneys provided to the Tigers for North-East development. Tigers have money in millions. They could utilise these monies for such purpose. Japanese made a mistake by giving direct aid to the LTTE. But the problem lies with our government which has requested foreign donors to provide direct aid to the Tigers, he said.

There is no democracy in this country and we have to act accordingly and if necessary be on a war footing. Though we are not inclined to terrorism if the situation demands, reluctantly we will have to form suicide squads with patriotic masses between 18-55. Ranil’s solitary dream is to become the president in 2005; Ranawaka claimed.

130 guns have been already brought by the LTTE to the East and government is helping them by evacuating people from these areas, he alleged. In Welioya 29,000 people were removed from the area to accommodate the LTTE. Today its happening in the areas of Muttur Sampur and Kattaparichchan and 74,000 have been forced to leave for Kantalai in fear of LTTE attacks. This is a repeat of the Welioya episode.

Govt. is trying to give LTTE power to exercise their right in the Sri Lankan seas against the Sri Lanka Navy.

About the radio channel that the SU had requested from the Government, SU leader said its being discussed with the relevant authorities and there is a case against the government for allowing the LTTE to bring powerful communication equipment into the country.

Dr. Neville Karunatillake said he has made a complaint in the Fort Police station about Tamil Chelvan and Karuna visiting Temple Trees after coming in a helicopter.