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“LTTE does not represent Tamil community”

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka has counselled India and others concerned about the situation in the island country and welfare of Tamils to ‘perceive marginalisation of the LTTE in the correct perspective’ and not to be ‘influenced by malicious propaganda’ against the military campaign of the government targeting the Tigers.

In a suo motu statement on the floor of Parliament on the assassination of the former Sri Lankan Army General, Janaka Perara and several of his United National Party colleagues by a suspected LTTE suicide bomber in Anuradhapura on Monday, Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama specifically referred to the move by National Security Advisor M.K. Narayanan to summon the Sri Lanka Deputy High Commissioner in New Delhi to express India’s ‘concern over the situation’ in the island country.

“It is very important that all those who are concerned about Sri Lanka, including the welfare of the Tamil community, should perceive the marginalisation of the LTTE in the correct light. LTTE does not represent the Tamil community in Sri Lanka. Therefore, military action against the LTTE should never be perceived as action against our brethren, the Tamil community. We are concerned about them and will work with them to ensure their welfare, security, and aspirations since they are our fellow citizens,” he told the House.

Reminding members about reports of Mr. Narayanan expressing concern on the situation, the Minister reiterated Sri Lanka’s policy of maintaining a close dialogue with India, with whom it has a ‘time-tested relationship based on mutual goodwill and trust.’

Mr. Bogollagama said the Anuradhapura suicide attack makes it clear that the LTTE is ‘firmly and irreversibly entrenched in the path of violence and terrorism’ and it is not the time for recrimination or finger pointing.

“No attempt should be made to whitewash the LTTE and throw it a lifeline, as it faces imminent and certain defeat at the hands of our valiant security forces. All political parties who subscribe to democracy should unite and join hands with the government to once and for all rid Sri Lanka of the scourge of terrorism,” the statement said.

The Minister argued that the onus is on other countries to support Sri Lanka by ‘taking concrete and tangible measures to combat terrorism’. He said that while the island country did appreciate significant steps taken by its friends who have proscribed the LTTE and helped in interdicting the supply of arms and ammunition to the terrorists, ‘much more needs to be done’ to pursue front organisations of the LTTE, posing as charities and humanitarian aid organisations, which openly engage in raising funds for LTTE’s war.

He complained that while the security forces were engaged in an operation to free people from the “fascist and dictatorial control” of the LTTE, critics of Sri Lanka and LTTE sympathisers were attempting to portray a “totally false notion” that the government was opting for a military solution.

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