7th January 2001 |
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No ceasefire before talks, CBK assures service chiefsPresident Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga was in a bouyant mood when the National Security Council met for the fist time last Thursday at Janadhipathi Mandiraya. She congratulated the security forces for their latest victory which has led to almost the entire Jaffna peninsula coming within their control. Stage eight of 'Operation Kiniheera' secured the Navatkuli bridge, Ariyalai and Thanankilappu thus ousting the LTTE from holding any territory in the Jaffna district. But a few areas in the peninsula, south of Eluthumaduval and south of Nagar Kovil, on the north-eastern coast, remain in the hands of the LTTE. She also had a word of appreciation for the Army leadership for promptly responding to the incident where eight civilians were allegedly murdered by Army personnel. On Christmas Day, the Operational Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence admitted it had come to know that eight displaced persons, who were then living in Nelliady, had gone missing. In another news release on the same day, it admitted the eight bodies, said to be those of the missing persons, were recovered by the Police and the Military Police. This action was in marked contrast to the Bindunuwewa massacre. The Army's prompt response not only demonstrated it would act immediately on complaints of indiscipline, but obviated more damage, both to the security forces and the Government. If these were assuring remarks to the service chiefs, a more comforting assurance was to follow from President Kumaratunga. She said her Government would not accept the LTTE's offer of a unilateral cease-fire and hence there was no impediment to further military operations. She said a cease-fire would be considered only after talks proper get underway between the Government and the LTTE. With Norwegian facilitator Erik Solheim due in Colombo this week for further talks, a categorical assurance to service chiefs laid to rest speculation and doubts about Government policy. Just a day ahead, Cabinet Ministers had also discussed the LTTE's unilateral cease-fire offer and concluded it would not be accepted pronto. It became Information and Media Minister, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa's task to announce this at the first weekly Cabinet news briefing for the New Year held on Friday. He said there would be no ceasefire. It was only weeks earlier that Mr. Yapa himself declared 'the declaration of a ceasefire by the LTTE could be a productive exercise.' But now, productive or otherwise, he has made it clear on behalf of the Government there would be no acceptance. None other than Army Commander, Lt. Gen. Lionel Balagalle, told The Sunday Times 'As I see it, they have repeated their regular call for peace talks and a ceasefire in order to gain time, to recruit new cadres, re-group them, re-train the present cadres. They want to obtain more sophisticated weaponry and ammunition so they will be better prepared to take on the security forces.' (See interview on this page) Lt. Gen. Balagalle is not alone in this assertion. At least two of the Government's leading intelligence agencies have come up with evidence that the LTTE is acquiring new military hardware abroad in a bid to counter the enhanced fire power of the security forces. They were also on a recruitment campaign and were re-training their existing cadres to meet the newer threats they face. These agencies concluded that the LTTE required time and the unilateral ceasefire offer helped them. With this in the backdrop, the Council focused on future plans of the security forces to evict the LTTE from areas they hold in the peninsula and the north. For Deputy Minister of Defence Anuruddha Ratwatte, it was the first meeting he was taking part since taking his oaths belatedly last month. Though not playing an active role since his re-appointment, he has been keeping tabs on the developing security situation. He was a notable absentee when service chiefs toured battle areas in the Jaffna peninsula or chairing regular conferences where day to day requirements of the security forces were discussed in the recent weeks. The Sunday Times has learnt that the move is a prelude to a one-on-one meeting Minister Ratwatte is to have shortly with President Kumaratunga. The idea is to not only clarify important issues but also matters relating to key functions. Minister Ratwatte, among other matters, is learnt to be concerned about several issues concerning Police inaction, rising crime and the consequent problems the Government is facing. He has voiced fears there will come a time when the Government's own writ will not run if there is a serious break-down in the law and order situation. He is conscious not to go public on the issue since he is also personally embroiled in a controversy with the Police after his son was arrested over incidents in Kandy that followed the General Election. With regard to mounting crime and related activity criticism has been levelled at various DIGs, some in the City suburbs and outstations, over their conduct which was bringing the Government into ridicule and disrepute. The names of a few have been personally examined and transfers are not ruled out. President Kumaratunga also demonstrated her determination to curb the rising crime rate. This, she did, when she met Inspector General of Police, Lucky Kodituwakku, for a discussion soon after the National Security Council meeting. Mr Kodituwakku, who turns 60 years today, had put up his papers to retire from office on Saturday. He did not seek an extension of his term like his predecessor, W.B. Rajaguru who instead of placing his papers for retirement had made a written appeal for a one year extension which was granted. President Kumaratunga urged Mr. Kodituwakku to serve the Government for a further period of one year. Mr. Kodituwakku told The Sunday Times his immediate priority in the coming weeks would be to adopt more tough measures to curb rising crime. (See his remarks in box story on this page). The extension of Mr. Kodituwakku's service by another year lays to rest speculation on other aspirants for the IGP's post. With the exception of Mr. Kodituwakku, the next senior-most officers in line are A.S. Seneviratne, DIG, H.M.G.B. Kotakadeniya, DIG followed by T.E. Anandarajah, also DIG. Although the last named was a strong favourite at one point, his appointment, Defence Ministry sources said, posed legal snags. Another newcomer to last Thursday's National Security Council meeting was the Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy, Vice Admiral Daya Sandagiri. With barely two weeks in office, he has been busy acclimatising himself with recent developments in the Navy. It transpired last week that Vice Admiral Sandagiri had not been kept briefed about some very important developments including procurements and the move to set up the Navy's Air Wing. He received his first official briefing only last week, only after becoming Commander, and is learnt to have been shocked about the colossal amounts of money the SLN would have to spend on this Wing. Besides, it transpired that if the SLN were to have its own fully fledged Air Wing, they would be duplicating the work of the Sri Lanka Air Force. A full report on the matter is to be submitted by Vice Admiral Sandagiri to the Ministry of Defence shortly. Now that doubts in the security establishment over the ceasefire is clear, there would be more action in the battlefield. Similarly, there would also be more action on the peace front too with Mr. Solheim doing his shuttle diplomacy to facilitate talks between the Government and the LTTE.
The nation must rally behind the security forces:
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