|
tamil nadu
& Tamil Eelam
strugglE for freedom
New Delhi won't listen to the political jokers in Tamil
Nadu
says Sri Lankan Army Chief Fonseka
1.Zee News,
7 December 2008
2.
Sri Lanka State Controlled Sunday Observer,
7 December 2008 together with further
comments by
tamilnation.org
"...If the LTTE is wiped out, those political jokers like
Nedumaran, Vaiko and whoever who sympathizes with the LTTE will most
probably lose their income from the LTTE.. If you consider the overall
thing, the LTTE's separate state ideology is a threat to India, because this
ideology will spread in Tamil Nadu too. It is now proved by Tamil Nadu
by staging protests against the Indian
government and seeking help to take the side of the LTTE..."
Comment by
tamilnation.org Spot
the joker?
7
December 2008, Zee News
Colombo, Dec 07: The Sri Lankan Army chief has said that the
Congress-led Indian government would not listen to "the political jokers" in
Tamil Nadu and insist that Colombo go for a ceasefire with the Tamil Tiger
rebels.
Army Chief Lt Gen Sarath Fonseka,
in an interview with the state-run Sunday
Observer, expressed confidence that the Indian government "is not interested in
a ceasefire in Sri Lanka" as it has listed the LTTE as a terrorist organization
and handed the rebel chief a death sentence for his links with the assassination
of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
"The Indian government has already expressed its view on the Sri Lankan issue
and Prime Minister Singh has enough problems after the Mumbai terrorist attack.
They are against the LTTE and nothing in favour of the LTTE would happen," the
Sunday Observer has quoted the army chief as saying.
General Fonseka, whose term of office has been extended by one more year, has
said that India "cannot just look the other side when it comes to Tamil
sentiments" and was keen to ensure that innocent civilians were not harmed
during military operation.
"That is why India is sending food and other relief to make sure that innocent
Tamils are not suffering. That is their concern and Sri Lanka gives our fullest
co-operation to ensure that innocent Tamils are not harmed.... That is what
India expects from us," Fonseka said.
The Sri Lankan Army chief's remarks have come at a time when New Delhi is
increasingly under pressure from its coalition partners in Tamil Nadu led by
ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and its allies in the state assembly for
an immediate truce in Sri Lanka.
On Dec 4, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi held a special meeting in New
Delhi with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia
Gandhi to reiterate his call for an immediate truce in Sri Lanka.
Immediately after the meeting in New Delhi he announced that Manmohan Singh
would send Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee to Colombo 'soon' to persuade peace
talks with the LTTE after declaring a truce. The Prime Minister's office neither
confirmed nor denied the statement of Karunanidhi.
Despite bad weather and heavy LTTE resistance, Sri Lankan troops advancing in
several directions were said to be within the striking distance of LTTE's one
time political power centre - Kilinochchi town, lying 350 km north of here.
Claiming that the advancing troops "will definitely capture" Kilinochchi and
Mullaitivu from the LTTE, the army chief has said that the "only option that
will be left for the LTTE (thereafter) is just to jump to the sea or to bite
cyanide capsules".
Responding to a question on the charges that Sri Lankan security forces do not
have concerns about civilians when attacking the LTTE, General Fonseka has said
that "these allegations are made only by the corrupt politicians in Tamil Nadu
who have been bribed by the LTTE".
"Though they are very much aware that the civilians are not getting killed in
any of these military operations they try to utter some words on behalf of the
LTTE as their survival depends on the LTTE," Fonseka said.
"If the LTTE is wiped out, those political jokers like Nadumaran, Vaiko and
whoever who sympathizes with the LTTE will most probably lose their income from
the LTTE," the army chief has been quoted as saying.
Pointing out that the LTTE activities had caused much problems in Tamil Nadu, he
warned that the LTTE's ideology for a separate state could endanger the
sovereignty of India.
"If you consider the overall thing, the LTTE's separate state ideology is a
threat to India, because this ideology will spread in Tamil Nadu too. It is now
proved by Tamil Nadu by staging protests against the Indian government and
seeking help to take the side of the LTTE," the Sri Lankan Army chief has said.
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LTTE's separate State ideology a threat to India -Army
Chief
By Shanika Sriyananda in
Sri Lanka State Controlled Sunday Observer, 7 December
2008
The Indian Government would never influence Sri Lanka to
restore the ceasefire and it would not listen to the
political `jokers' of Tamil Nadu whose survival depends
on the LTTE which killed one of the most respected Prime
Ministers of India - Rajiv Gandhi, said Army Commander
Lt. General Sarath Fonseka.
The Army Chief, whose tenure was extended by another
year, said that the LTTE had caused much problems in
Tamil Nadu and the LTTE's separate State ideology would
cause damage to the sovereignty of India.
In an exclusive interview with the Sunday Observer Lt.
General Sarath Fonseka said that the Security Forces had
taken all efforts to maintain zero casualties in
military offensives, but the corrupt politicians in
Tamil Nadu who had been bribed by the LTTE make such
false allegations.
"If the LTTE is wiped out, those political jokers like
Nadumaran, Viko and whoever who is sympathising with the
LTTE will most probably lose their income from the
LTTE", he said.
Excerpts of the interview:
Q: While the Security Forces are in the last lap of
eliminating the Tigers, the LTTE through Tamil Nadu is
influencing the Indian government to insist on a
ceasefire in Sri Lanka. How do you see this?
A: I am confident that the Indian government is not
interested in a ceasefire in Sri Lanka and they listed
the LTTE as a terrorist organisation. They have already
accepted Prabhakaran as a criminal and given him the
death sentence. They cannot just look the other side
when it comes to Tamil sentiments. That is why India is
sending food and other relief to make sure that innocent
Tamils are not suffering. That is their concern and Sri
Lanka gives our fullest co-operation to ensure that
innocent Tamils are not harmed. During the military
operation to liberate the East, we have proved it very
well.
Comment by
tamilnation.org
Liberation of the East... and the same strategy
in the Wanni...
Today, the Security Forces have adopted the same
strategy in the Wanni liberation. That is what India
expects from us.
The Indian government has already expressed its view on
the Sri Lankan issue and Prime Minister Singh has enough
problems after the Mumbai terrorist attack. They are
against the LTTE and nothing in favour of the LTTE would
happen.
Q: The Mumbai terror attack has shattered the South
Asian Region. How do you see this attack?
A: Terrorism is a problem everywhere as there are
extremists. Most of the countries are suffering due to
terrorism. Sri Lanka has been affected badly by
terrorism mainly because we did not handle it properly
in the past. Comment by
tamilnation.org
"Throwing a bomb is bad,
Dropping a bomb is good;
Terror, no need to add,
Depends on who's wearing the hood."
R.Woddis 'Ethics for Everyman'
quoted by
Igor Primoratz in State Terrorism &
Counter Terrorism
Pakistan and India are facing the problem
of terrorism today. They cannot ignore the gravity and
the Mumbai attack is a reminder that all the countries
need to take steps to combat terrorism. It is better to
be united to eradicate terrorism rather than trying to
combat it alone. If we are supported by India we also
could finish the LTTE faster than this. Likewise, India
and Pakistan should help each other and understand their
problems, Then these countries can solve the problem of
terrorism easily. The terrorists are capitalising these
issues between the countries.
Comment by
tamilnation.org
"..Well, I believe that terrorism is a tool that has been
utilized throughout history to achieve certain objectives. Some
have been ideological, others territorial. There are
personality-driven terroristic objectives. The bottom line is,
you can't lump all terrorists together. And I think we've got to
do a much better job of clarifying what are the motivations, the
raisons d'être of terrorists. I mean, what the
Tamil Tigers are fighting for in Sri
Lanka, or the
Basque separatists in Spain, or the insurgents in
al-Anbar
province may only be connected by tactics. They may not
share all that much in terms of what is the philosophical or
ideological underpinning. And I think one of our mistakes has
been painting with such a broad brush, which has not been
particularly helpful in understanding what it is we were up
against when it comes to those who pursue terrorism for
whichever ends they're seeking..."
Hillary Clinton
"You Can't Lump All Terrorists Together", 23
October 2007
Q: Despite the efforts to put down the LTTE aircraft,
the LTTE air wing is still in operation. Do you think
that the LTTE's air wing could be a threat to India?
A: It can definitely be a problem to Tamil Nadu. I do
not think that these small aircraft will be able to do
much in India. But the sea tigers can create lot of
problems to India. They have killed enough Indian
fishermen in the past and do smuggling like arms and
drug trafficking and gun running. If you consider the
overall thing, the LTTE's separate state ideology is a
threat to India. Because this ideology will spread in
Tamil Nadu too. It is now proved by Tamil Nadu by
staging protests against the Indian government seeking
help to take the side of the LTTE. There are people in
Tamil Nadu who are sympathising with the separatist
ideologies of the LTTE. That means this poses some
danger to Tamil Nadu.
Q: What do you expect the LTTE will do once Kilinochchi
completely falls to the Security Forces?
A: After capturing Kilinochchi, the Security Forces will
definitely capture Mullaithivu. Then the only option
that will be left for the LTTE is just to jump to the
sea or to bite cyanide capsules. If they want to
surrender still they have a chance. If they wait till
the troops enter these two places there would not be any
cadre to surrender as most of them will die during the
offensives. The LTTE will not have any control by that
time and the civilians will flee to our areas abandoning
the LTTE. Now the LTTE cadres, who have realised their
defeat, have started fleeing to liberated areas mingling
with the civilians. Over 30 LTTE cadres have crossed to
liberated areas with the civilians. Though the LTTE
leader is still unaware of his fate, God knows it very
well.
Comment by
tamilnation.org
"..But imagine it happens:
Killinochchi is flattened,
Mr P is dead,
LTTE
dissolved. Will the Tamil
dream of a Tamil Eelam
die? Of course not. It will be revived, and new
cycles of violence will occur..."
Conflict Resolution in Tamil Eelam - Sri Lanka: the Norwegian Initiative- Professor Johan Galtung,
February 2007
"Kuttimuni will be sentenced to death today, but tomorrow there
will be thousands of Kuttimunis."
Statement by Tamil Leader, Selvarajah Yogachandran (Kuttimuni)
at his trial in the Colombo High Court, August 1982
Q: One major allegation levelled against the government
is that the security forces do not have concerns about
civilians when attacking the LTTE. What are the steps
taken to minimise civilian casualties in the military
offensives?
A: These allegations are made only by the corrupt
politicians in Tamil Nadu who have been bribed by the
LTTE.
Comment by
tamilnation.org
Bribed by the LTTE...? ஈழத்தமிழினத்தின் அவலமும் தாய்த்தமிழக எழுச்சியும்
-
குமுதம் இணையதள காணொளி
Q: How do you see
Prabhakaran's Mahaweeran Day speech,
which asked India to help the outfit to become strong to
realise its dream - a separate state?
A: I think it is like a dying dog barking. But his voice
does not properly vibrates. Prabhakaran thinks that he
has threatened but what I can see is he was pleading to
the world to come and save him. However, he has admitted
that the LTTE has never been attacked this way before in
its history. It means that he has started feeling the
defeat now. It is not a message just a plea to save his
life before he breathes his last.
Q: Since the fall of Pooneryn plans are under way to
open the A-32 highway.
Do you think there will be threats from the LTTE on this
route?
A: No. I do not think so because they are now far away
from the A-32. The LTTE has to come over 30 kms to enter
the A-32. There are over 60 ten man teams operating in
the jungles and it is not easy for the LTTE to
infiltrate into Pooneryn. That is why no such incidents
have been reported during the last two to three. Those
who try to come in, will get killed.
Q: It's now one year since the fall of the East. What is
your observation from the military point of view?
A: At the time we captured the East, over 3,000 LTTE
cadres had died and up to now the LTTE has lost about
13,000. Out of the 12,000 terrorists killed by the Army,
over 7,800 were killed only during this year.
Comment by
tamilnation.org
All Tamils are terrorists... "...Against partisans
backed by the entire population, colonial armies are helpless. They have
only one way of escaping from the harassment which demoralizes them
.... This is to eliminate the civilian population. As it is the unity of
a whole people that is containing the conventional army, the only
anti-guerrilla strategy which will be effective is the destruction
of that people, in other words, the civilians, women and children..."
Jean Paul
Sartre's Statement 'On Genocide' at the Second Session of the
Bertrand Russell International War Crimes Tribunal on Vietnam, held in
Denmark in November 1967
Q: What are the clashes that have taken place in the
East on and disturbing the normalacy in the region?
A: The LTTE has not stopped sending its cadres to the
East to disrupt the normalacy there. They are sending
cadres with claymore mines and pistols to Colombo and we
have recovered enough pistols, claymore mines and
suicide belts in and around Colombo. Sending LTTE cadres
to the East, an area where majority are Tamils is not a
difficult task for the LTTE. If the LTTE is finished
there won't be problems in the East. By doing so they
cannot destabilise the East and also cannot divert
troops from the North. So many of them are getting
killed and surrender. Some who surrendered have told
that the instructions were not to get injured but to
survive to disrupt the day-to-day activities in the
East. There are no plans to divert troops to East as
there are enough troops in the East to provide security.
Q: Your term has been extended for another year but the
former Minister Mangala Samaraweera has said that you
are qualified to serve as the Head of the Salvation Army
but not as the Commander of the Sri Lanka Army.
A: Now I am proud of that because all this time I did
not know that I am qualified enough to be the boss of an
organisation like the Salvation Army. I do not take this statement as an insult as it is an
honour for me. This is one of the most respected
appointments that one could hold. Other than my military
capabilities this politician has seen my other
qualifications. I am very happy with this statement, but
I really do not know what he has really meant by this.
He is sadly mistaken because he cannot simply say that a
General with 37-years of experience is not fit to be the
Commander of the Army.
Q: But after your retirement if you are given the chance
to be the Head of the Salvation Army are you going to
accept it?
A: I do not think that they will accept me because I do
not have the required background to hold that post. Only
this man wants me to hold that post. That may be a more
recognised post than being the Commander of the Army.
Q: According to Mangala Samaraweera, who was quoted by
the Tamil Net, there are over 700 Army casualties in the
recent battles. What is the actual number of soldiers
who died and got wounded?
A: The total deaths in the final attack is 17. Over 60
LTTE cadres were killed. But as he mentioned there are
not such a large number of casualties reported.
When people are mad they see various dreams and this
politician has seen such a dream where over 600 soldiers
are being killed by the LTTE.
According to his figures, if there are 600 deaths, there
may be over 2,000 casualties. Then all the hospitals,
cemeteries and funeral parlours will be full. He would
have imagined this and celebrating this.
He thinks that people of this country are fools to
believe his dreams. He must be working on a contract
given by the LTTE and the anti-war people in the South
who want to see the army losing the war and the LTTE
winning it.
He may be on a contract to discourage people who support
us to defeat the LTTE.I challenge him, if he really
wants to become more popular, he can achieve that by
stitching more dresses.
Q: However, does the Army have enough soldiers to hold
the ground when the troops are advancing into
Kilinochchi and Mullaithivu?
A: As I said before we have enough battalions in the
frontlines and there are another 60 battalions behind
them who are looking after the rear areas.
We have more recruitments and normally we are recruiting
3,000 but during the months of October we have recruited
3,700 and November 3,900. Recruiting drives are getting
better. The Army got the approval to strengthen its
capacity from the present 130,000 to 200,000.
Q: At a recent live program it was said that the LTTE,
which ran out of mortars and artilleries as the Navy had
destroyed the LTTE's ships, is now using locally made
mortars and artilleries. It is said that this drop has
caused less number of mortar and artillery casualties.
Is it true?
A: Over 16,000 soldiers got injured due to mortar and
artillery attacks. Of the total, 10,000 soldiers have
gone back to the battle front after treatment. The
troops which are advancing are confronting mortar and
artillery attacks because they are brave enough to face
any attack from the LTTE. They make all these
sacrifices because of their bravery. Though the troops
have come closer to defeat the LTTE, it is not a cake
walk for the victory. They march through rains of
mortars and artilleries. No one can under estimate the
bravery of the soldiers who face many difficulties to
liberate the North. People should not make these
statements to under estimate the bravery of the
soldiers. Those who utter those will help the LTTE
sympathisers and the anti-war groups to stop the war.
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