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Rajapaksa defends his Army

COLOMBO: Putting up a strong and spirited defence of the armed forces of Sri Lanka, which have been accused of killing civilians in hospitals and elsewhere in the last stages of the war against the LTTE in 2009, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa told his troops: “We were with you in the battlefield. It is same today. We will not betray you before the world.”

The troops fought with due regard to international conventions and were carrying out a humanitarian operation, he maintained. “I will recall what I said in the past that our troops went to the battlefront carrying a gun in one hand, the Human Rights Charter in the other, food for the innocent displaced on their shoulders, and love of their children in their hearts. They did not target any communities or religions, and did not march ahead with hatred towards anyone,” he said, addressing the Victory Day Parade 2011, organised to celebrate “eradication of terror” in Sri Lanka.

Mr. Rajapaksa recalled that after the death of LTTE leader Prabakaran, Sri Lanka took care of his parents. “We still look after the families of leaders who surrendered. We were able to protect our country over the centuries from invaders because we did not hate any race, religion or person,” he added.

Sri Lanka would ensure democracy and human right to the people of the North and the East, but will not concede the demands of the terrorists. “When people in this country do not accept their demands, they [the terrorists] look for ways to make us bow down using foreign influence. But I must emphasise that no one can do anything in this country without the consent of our people. It is only we who can solve our own problems, and no one else,” said Mr. Rajapaksa.

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