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Message: <blockquote data-quote="badtnc" data-source="post: 1287673" data-attributes="member: 40697">PART 2Sudarman Radliyagoda: Are you saying that there is a mutual understanding between the Tamil youths and the security forces?Lt. General Sarath Fonseka: Definitely. Not only the youth, but the entire population of the area is working together with us. As we see it, there is now no racism in the area. The Sinhalese, Tamil and the Muslims are working united. Specially in Trincomalee, a programme was held recently with the participation of ministers. People of all communities worked in that programme. I do not think these people will stick to the idea created by certain politicians that they are not receiving just treatment.Sudarman Radliyagoda: If we consider the 30 year history, Velupillai Prabhakaran has become the undisputed leader. But it was not Prabhakaran who started this. There were others who had gone further than Prabhakaran. Prabhakaran achieved this status by killing all of them. What has made him such a strong character? Some say it’s done by the media? Others say politicians and the international community is responsible for it. What do you think about this?Lt. General Sarath Fonseka: I think all 3 factors contributed towards it. Many countries in Europe where expatriate Tamils live contributed towards securing weapons and created the environment for him to build the force. The other thing is that certain politicians used to say that Prabhakaran can never be defeated. They accepted that certain areas were ruled by him. That he is on par with us. That we should hold discussion on an equal level. All that made him a hero. Now we have proved that all this was wrong. Now he is a mere individual who is running from bunker to bunker for dear life. His forces are weakened. His world is shattered. His Eelam dream has ended in the east. In the north it is not relevant to 3 districts. Out of 2 million Tamils in Sri Lanka, only 2 lakhs are with him in Kilinochchi and Mulaitivu. Now you can see his fate. Earlier it was all created. By others as we lacked political as well as military will. We did not face him bravely. Now we are fighting under a true leadership. All our forces are united as one. We are fighting with great determination to eliminate the wrong views.Sudarman Radliyagoda: Sir, a lot of people ask where Prabhakaran is and whether he is still alive?Lt. General Sarath Fonseka: Although he is alive, he is merely like a dead person. The security forces attacked several of his hideouts on the information provided by the intelligence wings. We launched attacks on accurate information. But we do not know whether he was directly hit. I need not lie. We have not received adequate information to confirm his death. But we can see that somewhere he is facing serious problems, although we do not know whether he’s injured or dead. There was an important man in the LTTE called Charles, such as Soosai, Pottu Amman. Prabhakaran did not even come to his funeral. We carried out an air strike on day before yesterday on a hideout of the LTTE called X-ray bumker. After the attack all the phones in Kilinochhci area were switched off. They do not answer the phones. A-9 road was closed. Black flags had been hoisted in some places. We have evidence that a powerful person was caught up. But we have no evidence whether that it was Prabhakaran. I do not say that he’s not alive. But he’s living like a dead man.Sudarman Radliyagoda: The main target of these operations is Veluppillai Prabhakaran. How can we know that Prabhakaran has been eliminated? Although it can’t officially known how can we be assured that he is no more? Lt. General Sarath Fonseka: When he is dead, we will receive adequate evidence at a certain time. I earlier said that there isn’t enough evidence to come to that conclusion. We have a good intelligence network. If such an incident takes place, they cannot stop such information from reaching us. Sudarman Radliyagoda: Earlier they said without Anton Balasingham there wouldn’t an LTTE, without Tamilselvan or Charles LTTE would not survive. Now there more. But LTTE is still continuing attacks. They show their military power at certain times. If we take the statistics appeared in the media, the numbers of LTTE cadres killed are more than the Tamil population of the country. People ask us how still they are active. Whether they are progressively multiplying? Lt. General Sarath Fonseka: After the deaths of Tamilselvam, Anton Balasingham and Charles, LTTE has become weak although not completely extinct. They were the strength. Prabhakaran’s face at Tamilselvan’s funeral showed how discouraged he was. Still the leader is there. Somehow they can survive as long as he is alive.That’s why we want to continue these operations to eliminate the LTTE. LTTE is multiplying because every time when they became weak, certain government gave them a breather. Our successive governments were been deceived and gave them a resting period. Like during the past ceasefire, every time they became strong. During the 4 years, the ceasefire was in operation, they bought arms 10 or 20 times. More than what they had. Their numbers were increased four-fold. The government and the leaders were duped. But now the President is firmly saying that we do not want to give a respite to the LTTE. The fight will continue as long as the LTTE agree to lay down the arms. When we are convinced of that,we can stop the war. Sudarman Radliyagoda: Earlier also the LTTE laid down arms. During the 1987-Indo-Sri Lanka Areement,the LTTE officially laid down arms. Can you trust the LTTE?Lt. General Sarath Fonseka: In 1987 they surrendered some outdated weapons. Even before the lapse of a month, they challenged and entered into a war with the Indian army. They had adequate weapons. We were duped by their actions. I do not think we are foolish enough to be deceived again. But if we will be foolish, we will have to face the consequences. If they surrender arms we can go inside their territory for verification.Sudarman Radliyagoda: During the signing of the CFA, it was opposed by many at the time Ranil Wickramasinghe was the Prime Minister of the UNP government. There was a stiff opposition to it, even from inside the party while many other parties vehemently opposed the CFA. Was there any opposition to it inside the forces?Lt. General Sarath Fonseka: During those days I was a Major General. We didn’t even know about it. I do not think opinions were sought from the security forces. But definitely the chiefs of the forces and the Defence Ministry officials would have discussed it. The then chiefs of the security forces agreed with the Government. I was in charge of Jaffna. When it was negatively affecting us I expressed my protest and got the conditions adjusted to suit us. If the chiefs of the security forces agreed to it, it was a foolish act on our part. Due to the CFA, the LTTE became strong and they were globally recognized. They built a force of about 15,000 and demarcated borders. They brought communication equipment and set up police stations and courts. They were on the verge of becoming a separate nation. It was a foolish thing to sign such an agreement. We did not even observe it. Our intelligence officers were killed. The foreign Minister was killed. I was attacked as well as the defense secretary. The forces hands were tied. I think the decision to abrogate the CFA was taken with love for the country.Sudarman Radliyagoda: You pointed out the negative effects of the LTTE. But some say it was beneficial to us as no blasts were taking place. There were no road barriers in Colombo. A-9 road was open. Politicians said that you could go to the north or east at your free will. There were no check points. Did we derive any benefits?Lt. General Sarath Fonseka: It reminds me of the Sinhala saying that a man enjoyed honey with ‘three deaths in sight’. That a crab is frolicking till the water is boiled. It’s true you could go anywhere. Those facilities were enjoyed by the LTTE as well.They brought as many bombs as they wanted. Found hiding places in Colombo. Suicide bombs were sent to Colombo. In addition they said dead bodies are not arriving in the south. It happened because we allowed the LTTE to do as they pleased. There was no requirement to carry out the attacks. Even now if we allow them to have an Eelam nothing of the sort would happen. A man who loves the country would not keep his eyes closed when another man is building a force and a separate a part of the country for themselves. Such people are born in the country for its ill luck.Sudarman Radliyagoda: despite the CFA, there were attacks and counter attacks. The brave soldiers are carrying out operations to secure the north. What type of victories have you achieved so far?Lt. General Sarath Fonseka: When I assumed office after the present President came into power, there was only one brigade of additional troops. We won the east. Now there is 99.9% security in the east. Now I have 5 additional brigades to conduct operations in the north. We rectified all shortages in the army, while the war was on. We strengthened the forces. 32,000 personnel were recruited last year. In five brigades there are 25,000 personnel. Altogether there are 39,000. This year 1,500 joined. Now we are attacking the remainder of the LTTE Eelam from five directions. We conduct operations from Mannar and Vavuniya. While the operation was ongoing in the east, the 57th brigade was involved in the operations in Vavuniya from March last year. A large number of LTTE fighters of the ranks of Colonels and LT. Colonels were destroyed. There are 200,000 people in Kilinochchi. These days they are being forcibly recruited. Two people are some times recruited from one house hold. He will do this until these 200, 000 are killed. But they are not volunteering to join. They are less capable and not well trained. Therefore they are losing strength. In Vavuniya the 57th brigade has killed about 2400 in 11 months. Going by the NGOs and the politicians coming from the area about 15 of them are killed daily. In Mannar about 700 are killed since September. In Weli-oys 25 were killed in 1 ½ weeks. On our side also, thousands have been injured. Considering our fire power, we know the number of deaths increase by 4 or 5 fold on their side. Some do not like to accept the fact. They ask such questions.Sudarman Radliyagoda: You recently said that you will not hand down this problem to the next army commander. Are you optimistic that this will be destroyed during your tenure in office?Lt. General Sarath Fonseka: I think it’s my responsibility by the country. This problem has been handed down from one to another army commander for a long period. There is no future for this country if things will be like this. I am optimistic that we will be able to end this when looking at how far we marched in the last 1 ½ years. We are committed and determined. That does not mean that I will remain the Army Commander for the next 10 years. My term is that of an ordinary Army Commander. During that period this can be eliminated. Already we have proved this. Even the British High Commissioner said after the Sampur victory, although the troops achieve limited victories, they cannot achieve an overall victory. But we captured the entire east. This can also be done, but they should be patient because LTTE is an experienced army.Sudarman Radliyagoda: Our brave soldiers are fighting with great commitment. Some say they work for the salary. But our troops are above that. Are you satisfied with the contribution made by the politicians and the general public?Lt. General Sarath Fonseka: Yes, the public are with us. Even some sectors attempted to misguide them, not only the people in the south, even the people in the north are also with us. The People in Kilinochchi have said that they will kneel down before our soldiers out of respect, if they arrive. We have their blessings. The recruitment of 32,000 personnel shows their view point. Earlier not even 3000 could be recruited. There was no enthusiasm. The government has provided all our necessities. We have built many camps in the east with facilities. The troops in Mannar, Vavuniya and Weli-oya have to suffer much. The troops are working hard as they are well looked after. They are not working for the salary only. Anyway they have to have salaries to look after their families. Some troops have been in the jungles for the last 11 months. That shows their commitment. They trust the government. They know their efforts would be meaningful. From the Commander downwards that confidence is there.</blockquote>

Verification: Hathara warak wissa keeyada? (Hathara wadi karanna 20)

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