“The CFA permitted the LTTE to come to the south and establish political offices but no one could enter the so-called LTTE controlled territory freely. This serious anomaly in the CFA signed by the UNP Leader shows that it had not been studied intelligently prior to the signing. What irresponsibility.”________________________
by Upali Jayasekera in Colombo
(March 02, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The abrogation of the non-operative Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) has been criticised by certain local and foreign politicians and leaders. There is no justification for such criticism and they have not been realistic in doing so.
In February 2002, the UNP Leader, as the then Prime Minister, entered into the CFA with the LTTE though he had no power to do so. It was the President, the head of State, who could have legally and constitutionally, entered into such an agreement.
The Prime Minister had no authority to do so. The CFA was not presented to Parliament. The President was unaware of its contents. So much for the UNP Leader’s adherence to the provisions of the Constitution, even with the limited power he had. Accordingly, the CFA, in a strict sense, had no legality.
The CFA permitted the LTTE to come to the south and establish political offices but no one could enter the so-called LTTE controlled territory freely. This serious anomaly in the CFA signed by the UNP Leader shows that it had not been studied intelligently prior to the signing. What irresponsibility.
The LTTE never honoured the CFA as expected. They used it to penetrate the south and go on a killing and kidnapping spree. The government, led by the UNP Leader, stood inactive and merely ‘complained.’ The world leaders and human rightists protested as a matter of routine. The armed forces were confined to the barracks. The LTTE used the CFA to arm and strengthen itself. The UNP Leader did not have the courage to counter LTTE atrocities. The LTTE as a result used the CFA to its advantage to achieve its objectives.
Thereafter, during the time of the UNP Leader as the Prime Minister, the LTTE in April 2003 withdrew from talks and refused to come to the negotiating table, after having piled up arms and ammunition and electronic media equipment under cover of the CFA due to the government’s weak-kneed approach towards the LTTE. That meant that the LTTE, in a practical sense, abrogated the CFA.
At the last presidential election, President Rajapaksa promised to abrogate the CFA. The voters endorsed it and voted him to power. Nevertheless, the President did not proceed to abrogate the CFA, apparently in the belief that he would be able to convince the LTTE to come to the negotiating table.
The LTTE’s Mavil Aaru adventure of denying water to the people changed the scenario. The President still wanted to settle the issue peacefully. The LTTE stand did not permit that. The LTTE foolishly presumed that the President could be brought down on his knees over the issue. It was at this juncture that the JHU and the JVP decided to walk to Mavil Aaru to open the sluice gates. In fact they commenced the walk.
Envisaging a civilian blood-bath at the hand of the ruthless LTTE, the President decided to call in the armed forces to capture Mavil Aaru and restore water to the people. The so-called human rights activists, national and international, were fast asleep at the time.
With the intervention of the armed forces, the LTTE forces were made to retreat. Water to the people was restored. From then on, the armed forces went from victory to victory. Certain UNP leaders belittled the victories.
The LTTE brooks no opposition. They annihilate those who oppose them. The LTTE has forced the TNA to be subservient to it, and be its Parliamentary wing. The TNA is periodically summoned before the LTTE leadership to receive orders that need to be followed. Knowing what will happen if they do not adhere to LTTE commands, they just follow LTTE instructions.
Those out of step even by mistake have to pay with their lives. What befell Parliamentarians Raviraj and Maheswaran is a good example. As such, the TNA cannot be taken too seriously as it is an unwilling partner of the LTTE.
The world leaders who have promoted terrorism and sustained terrorism but who criticise the abrogation of the CFA by the government should keep mum and set an example by entering into a CFA with Osama bin Laden and the Taliban and stop the bloodbath that is taking place.
The human rights activists who are engaged in well paid jobs and are mere puppets in the hands of their masters should do what they are paid for. They need to be ignored. The UNP should adopt a more realistic and nationalistic approach to the present crisis. The ‘oppose and protest’ strategy will not be effective and the people will desert them in the long run.
The government should decide to abrogate all dealings on this issue with the Western countries which have never been sincere about bringing peace to our country and look to the East and Middle East for support and cooperation.
What is required today is an independent group of Tamil leaders who could come forward to find a lasting solution to the problem facing the nation. The President should go ahead and find an acceptable solution and ensure unity, stability and peace in the country.
Ours is an internal problem. No outside interference is warranted.
by Upali Jayasekera in Colombo
(March 02, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The abrogation of the non-operative Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) has been criticised by certain local and foreign politicians and leaders. There is no justification for such criticism and they have not been realistic in doing so.
In February 2002, the UNP Leader, as the then Prime Minister, entered into the CFA with the LTTE though he had no power to do so. It was the President, the head of State, who could have legally and constitutionally, entered into such an agreement.
The Prime Minister had no authority to do so. The CFA was not presented to Parliament. The President was unaware of its contents. So much for the UNP Leader’s adherence to the provisions of the Constitution, even with the limited power he had. Accordingly, the CFA, in a strict sense, had no legality.
The CFA permitted the LTTE to come to the south and establish political offices but no one could enter the so-called LTTE controlled territory freely. This serious anomaly in the CFA signed by the UNP Leader shows that it had not been studied intelligently prior to the signing. What irresponsibility.
The LTTE never honoured the CFA as expected. They used it to penetrate the south and go on a killing and kidnapping spree. The government, led by the UNP Leader, stood inactive and merely ‘complained.’ The world leaders and human rightists protested as a matter of routine. The armed forces were confined to the barracks. The LTTE used the CFA to arm and strengthen itself. The UNP Leader did not have the courage to counter LTTE atrocities. The LTTE as a result used the CFA to its advantage to achieve its objectives.
Thereafter, during the time of the UNP Leader as the Prime Minister, the LTTE in April 2003 withdrew from talks and refused to come to the negotiating table, after having piled up arms and ammunition and electronic media equipment under cover of the CFA due to the government’s weak-kneed approach towards the LTTE. That meant that the LTTE, in a practical sense, abrogated the CFA.
At the last presidential election, President Rajapaksa promised to abrogate the CFA. The voters endorsed it and voted him to power. Nevertheless, the President did not proceed to abrogate the CFA, apparently in the belief that he would be able to convince the LTTE to come to the negotiating table.
The LTTE’s Mavil Aaru adventure of denying water to the people changed the scenario. The President still wanted to settle the issue peacefully. The LTTE stand did not permit that. The LTTE foolishly presumed that the President could be brought down on his knees over the issue. It was at this juncture that the JHU and the JVP decided to walk to Mavil Aaru to open the sluice gates. In fact they commenced the walk.
Envisaging a civilian blood-bath at the hand of the ruthless LTTE, the President decided to call in the armed forces to capture Mavil Aaru and restore water to the people. The so-called human rights activists, national and international, were fast asleep at the time.
With the intervention of the armed forces, the LTTE forces were made to retreat. Water to the people was restored. From then on, the armed forces went from victory to victory. Certain UNP leaders belittled the victories.
The LTTE brooks no opposition. They annihilate those who oppose them. The LTTE has forced the TNA to be subservient to it, and be its Parliamentary wing. The TNA is periodically summoned before the LTTE leadership to receive orders that need to be followed. Knowing what will happen if they do not adhere to LTTE commands, they just follow LTTE instructions.
Those out of step even by mistake have to pay with their lives. What befell Parliamentarians Raviraj and Maheswaran is a good example. As such, the TNA cannot be taken too seriously as it is an unwilling partner of the LTTE.
The world leaders who have promoted terrorism and sustained terrorism but who criticise the abrogation of the CFA by the government should keep mum and set an example by entering into a CFA with Osama bin Laden and the Taliban and stop the bloodbath that is taking place.
The human rights activists who are engaged in well paid jobs and are mere puppets in the hands of their masters should do what they are paid for. They need to be ignored. The UNP should adopt a more realistic and nationalistic approach to the present crisis. The ‘oppose and protest’ strategy will not be effective and the people will desert them in the long run.
The government should decide to abrogate all dealings on this issue with the Western countries which have never been sincere about bringing peace to our country and look to the East and Middle East for support and cooperation.
What is required today is an independent group of Tamil leaders who could come forward to find a lasting solution to the problem facing the nation. The President should go ahead and find an acceptable solution and ensure unity, stability and peace in the country.
Ours is an internal problem. No outside interference is warranted.
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