MINORITIES BREAKING LAWS AND HUMAN RIGHTS

MAJORITY MUSLIMS given eviction notice from Glany Street, says one online news column. Quoting leaders from the respective minority, they compare it to other imaginary situations and attempt to portray the episode as one of unfairness, and violation of rights of these people.

But the facts say otherwise.

The quatters forcibly occupied government lands located in the heart of the city as if it were their personal property, while their actions denied lawful usage of the property for government purposes which are intended to provide services to all citizens. And for decades, successive governments failed to take appropriate action to evict them for fear of antagonizing the 'muslim' constituency.

The news sources say this time the Dept. of Defence has issued the order to vacate. The same news item questions the rights of the government on the action and attempts to legitimize squatting on government property simply by the fact that previous governments have failed to do so.

Sri Lanka has many and varied problems. Some are much bigger than this one, but the salient point here is that at last someone seems to be taking the initiative to do the right thing. Failing to do so is a grave injustice to all those other millions of Sri Lankans who did not illegally occupy state lands for their personal gain, but instead chose to live and travel further distances on a daily commute to and from work. as can be expected, no one seems to consider the rights of the right people, but only those created under imaginary rationale for the wrong people.

Its probably a sign of the times we live in; rights are shouted loudest by those who break laws and endanger others in society, while those who live in obedience of the law continue to suffer in silence.

I certainly hope the government has the spine to carry through this action to its intended conclusion. Sri Lankans need to understand the importance of respecting property laws and rights of those who respect the nation and its laws.

In the meanwhile it is only understandable that the media will highlight only the minorities affected by the state action, as sensationalism is the business they are in.

TAMIL TERRORISTS BEGGING FOR HELP

Sri Lanka's world reknowned terror group, the Tamil Tigers are at the recieving end of a determined military campaign, and are whining to the outside world for help.

"... Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation said in its morning news bulletin that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) now hit by military campaign in the north is engaged in an attempt to drag Tamil Nadu to intervene on their behalf in order to see an end to military operations..." http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-07/12/content_8533615.htm

India tried to step in and help the Tamil Tigers and others like them in the late 1980's which resulted in the death and injury to thousands of Indian soldiers when attacked by the LTTE. It also led to the assasination of the then Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi when a Tamil suicide bomber struck on Indian soil.

The current military campaign began when the LTTE, as a 'Final War' towards carving out a mono-ethnic Tamils-only homeland comprising two thirds of the island nation's most economically viable areas for the nation's 4th largest minority commenced attacks which killed scores of military personnel and civillians and also attempted to assasinate the Sri Lankan Defence Secretary.

Many nations including US, EU, UK and India consider the LTTE terrorists and the FBI has called them the World's most dangerous terror group.

CHANGING FORTUNES AND CHANGING STRATEGIES

THE increased focus by Sri Lankan Defence Forces to capture the last remaining LTTE sea-route on the Western sea-coast rings the death knell to the seperatist terrorist struggle in Sri Lanka. Successful encirclement and sea access denial will prevent the LTTE from being able to replenish its stocks in the face of an imminent on-slaught against their remaining strongholds.

Tamil Tiger efforts to get India involved in pressurizing SLG to at least temporarily halt offensives could see a spike soon for this very reason. India's objective and hands-off policy towards every efforts made by the LTTE so far through its intermediaries must be indeed infuriating to the Tiger chief who has so far evaded any personal repurcussions for ordering the assasination of Rajiv Gandhi, at the same time expecting a successful campaign from Tamilnadu to force an Indian intervention.

In the meanwhile, there is strong evidence that the LTTE sympathetic lobby in the USA is attempting to pull the wool over the eyes of the American public and its law makers by creating a picture of a similarity between the situation in Burma and Sri Lanka. The following comments appearing in the authoritative internet publication http://www.strategypage.com/ carry a further confirmation of this fact;

"Ron Harvey - Tamil Tigers attempting to camoflage themselves by hiding behind other legitimate movements 7/10/2008 8:27:25 PM

Coming under tight scrutiny in the United States and other nations makes life particularly difficult for any terrorist group. It also makes life hazardous for those who sponsor terrorism in other nations while residing in Western nations. The Tamil Tiger movement is yet again proving to be adept at hiding its stripes and overcoming obstacles placed in their path by the US and other nations by adopting simplistic methods.

On the 23rd of July this year a demonstration has been planned to be held in front of the Senate, ostensibly by the Burmese expatriate groups residing in the United States to condemn Sri Lanka along with Burma for accpeting Chinese military aid to carry out attacks against civillian populations. The planning, funding and brains behind this operation yet again is a group that supports the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka.

The Burmese appear to have apparently walked into the well planned event unknowingly, and as a result are likely to become tainted for good by association with the world's number one terror group.
The Tigers have nothing to lose, and everything to gain by associating their cause with that of the Burmese.

The two have nothing in common; the Burmese are a legitimate group struggling against a brutal military junta, while the Tamil Tigers are accomplished criminals who engage in international terrorism in senseless pursuit of a mono-linguistic, racist tamil only landscape. The Burmese have never resorted to violence; in fact they have been on the recieving end of it, whereas the Tamil Tigers have perpetrated crimes that put Al-Quida in the junior league.

The idea is said to be to confuse the American public and elected officials to believe they both are similar. Some folks still under-estimate the intelligence and commitment of the American people to eradicating terrorism from our world..." [blog comments on www.strategypage.com]

Concerned Sri Lankans would do well to be aware of these new developments and also to take necessary measures to contact and appraise the expatriate Burmese population as necessary.

NOT THE TERRAIN, BUT THE KILL...SAYS THE TWO-FISTED GENERAL

"..We don't go just for the terrain, but for the kill.." Sri Lanka's most successful Army Commander of recent times, Gen Sarath Fonseka has told the media. For once, we seem to be having people who understad their job, and are serious about results. And for once, politicians and the military both seem on the same page, after the same objectives, all the while staying out of each others' way. At least that's what it looks like outwardly, and in the absence of any solid fact to the contrary, believably so. And that's good news.

It is true that the cost of living is spiralling up. Some in Sri Lanka speak out against it as if it is the government's doing. Meanwhile, increasing gas prices around the world is making even Americans scrounge for cheap alternatives, clip coupons and even think twice about how they spend their money. The whole world is heading for a crissis. Sri Lanka will too. After all, we are at war.

What Sri Lanka has achieved in the military domain's big event, ' the war on terror' astounds even countries like the USA that is struggling against a lesser credible terrorist group. Military academics are watching the conduct of the war in Sri Lanka with increasing interest. Meanwhile there are those even from among us who will sabotage the gains the SL Defence Forces have won, for their own personal agendas.

While fighting her enemies, Sri Lanka need to act with restraint when dealing with unarmed, yet suspicious civillians. Extra-judicial executions and disappearances must cease, not because we give a hoot for others' opinions, but because we need to remain superior to those we consider to be barbaric terrorists. The economy is an issue and needs close attantion, even though we are in the midst of a war.

INDIAN MILITARY PRESENCE AND ITS OPPORTUNTIES

THE Indians are at it again, or at least that's how the southern bretheren are apt to look at it, when the Indian security forces arrive to provide cover for the dignitaries arriving to take part in the SAARC summit in Colombo. The Sri Lankan govt has agreed to the deployment of thousands of Indian troops, airforce and naval assets to secure the venue for the event which will see the participation of heads of State from India, Pakistan and a host of oter regional nations.

Sri Lanka has acted prudently in either asking for, or accepting an offer of Indian military presence during this event, whether anyone likes it or not. While relieving the burden of having to divert troops from active duty in the war zone, it also provides Sri Lanka to re-assure India of our solid alliance with them and also the growing need for an integrated security mechanism between us.

A related article provides a detailed description of what's envisaged;
http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7011455742

Below the surface of of these preparations and declared intentions, the very fact that thousands of specialized Indian troops moving into Sri Lankan soil with overwhelming fire power should make the LTTE heirarchy flinch. It is no secret that the Indians are still simmering for the killing of Rajiv Gandhi and they have delayed a much anticipated military effort to avenge his death. India could very well be looking to settle that score, given an opportunity.

WHITHER TO, MY COUNTRY..

Irrespective of what each side wants to see happen, the most likely outcome will be a consolation price for both sides. There will not be an outright victory for SLG or complete defeat of the LTTE in military terms.

Nevertheless, the outright defeat for the LTTE will come, in the form of democratic, multi-party politics they will be forced to embrace within a unitary state with vastly devolved regional authority.

This is not to say that the present LTTE leadership will continue to hold sway. They won't. Yet the LTTE will continue to remain a force with significant military capabilities for the foreseeable future, even if a permanent peace dawns in SL.Such an outcome may be to the dislike of some or even many Sri Lankans whose expectations have been unrealistically raised as a public relations ploy by the present govt.

In the long run, things will get better, and Sri Lankans as a nation will learn to move forward when the dust settles and the money starts to flow.

TAMIL TERROR UNDER GLOBAL THREAT

CANADA, the main financial base of Tamil Tiger Terror took another swipe at the LTTE front organizations when they banned the TRO, a well known source of funding for the world's most dangerous terrorist group.

In Italy, the police swooped thru a number of cities to round up over 30 LTTE operatives who were similarly engaged in raising funds for Tamil terrorism. In the UK, India and elsewhere governments continued to crack down on organized Tamil terrorism. http://www.theacademic.org/index.shtml. Malaysia requested for details of a LTTE terror ring operating from their territories to arrest and detain the culprits as well.

All these determined worldwide anti-LTTE activities coinciding with determined military action by the Sri Lankan government against the Tamil Tigers will inevitably bring about a resolution to South Asia's longest running human tragedy. It will also close the chapter decisivvely on a carefully created peacenik myth that terrorism cannot be defeated militarily. It can, and Sri Lanka will be the very definite case in point.

The changing dynamic has some important implications to Sri Lanka. While without a doubt the decisive weakening, if not outright defeat of terrorism raises fantastic possibilities for the nation's development in all spheres, it also provides the much needed respite the voiceless moderate Tamil community has long waited for.

An outright defeat or simple marginalization of the Tamil racist terrorists will salvage the Tamil community from being held to ransom by barely literate mass murderers and allow for its qualitative and quantitative regeneration. It would allow the community to develop its leaders and provide a meaningful direction and inclusivity in the modern, increasingly inter-dependent world. It will also wean the greater Sri Lankan public and polity from the shadow of southern Sinhala chauvanism. All these positive prospects can come from the decisive military victory over the Tigers.