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Message: <blockquote data-quote="badtnc" data-source="post: 1287676" data-attributes="member: 40697">Part 4 (Last Part)Sudarman Radliyagoda: Although you mentioned this, many human rights organizations point their fingers towards you. They say the army continues to violate the human rights of Tamil people. How did this come about? During 83 troubles also, fingers were pointed at the Army. That the troubles in the North started after raping incidents, concerning Tamil youths and behind these accusations there are local as well as foreign powers. Have you identified the officers or authorities responsible for this? Lt. General Sarath Fonseka: During the past few days, a name of a female officer of an international organization regularly appeared. Her accusations were also criticized. Certain people came here and made accusations. A female officer of the U.N. has said that human rights are violated and they should be taken to the international tribunals. There are no reasons for all that. Although they point fingers that so many people are killed, so many human rights violations have taken place and so many people are missing, complaints have not been made in this connection. There are no eyewitnesses. The reports are provided by the terrorists themselves, their family members and those support them. There is a law in this country. Just because they accuse that ten soldiers have committed the murder nothing can be done, they have to prove it. We can’t just lockup soldiers. They say the murders of 17 aid workers in Muttur were carried out by the Army. There is no evidence. The Army went to the area after two days of the incident.We can’t punish or imprison soldiers just because for their accusations. They also have human rights. They will file HR cases against us. There is a law in the country. We can’t take any action against innocent soldiers because of those who protect and sympathizes with Tigers and those who wish for the welfare of the Tigers, wanted us to take actions against innocent soldiers. In that case then they have to prove it with evidence. Anybody can say anything. The Tigers have given money and bribes and got hold of many people, for this purpose, the propaganda campaign. I don’t think it affect us. Sudarman Radliyagoda: Sir, Now the East has been completely liberated, in North they are limited to a very small area. When you make such statements, civilians were subject to attacks in Buththala, Moneragala. In one bus alone 27 people were killed. About 10 villagers were brutally killed. Now when you are liberating the North and East from their grip, as the LTTE come to the other side. Is that what is shown by these incidents. Lt. General Sarath Fonseka: In a country where there are vast jungle areas, 3 or 4 people can walk through jungles and shoot un-armed innocent civilians. It can be done even in Colombo. An underworld gang member can come to Galle Road with a T-56 assault firearm and kill about 15 people. It is difficult to stop such action in one or two days. We can solve their problems after winning the North. But it will take some time. It does not mean that there is no security in the South. We cannot arm all the people in the country. Can the army protect 19 million people in the country? If a brute is ordering massacre of innocent people, it is difficult to stop it. We can protect this as a country. It is difficult to provide security to all the individuals. It has to be done. But it will take some time. We are destroying a terrorist force of 10 to 12 thousand. It is difficult to destroy all the terrorists in the jungle. On the other hand, those who speak of human rights, don’t speak of the human rights of the innocent people killed in the South of Yala and Buththala. Nobody said that the LTTE is killing innocent people, and they are violating human rights. So are they looking into the rights of the reasonable people or terrorists? Why doesn’t talk of the innocent people killed in Buththala. When all these are generally considered, it shows that some are supporting terrorists and trying to give oxygen to them. They are trying to prevent their decimation. Sudarman Radliyagoda: So far, none of the terrorists said to be hiding in Thanamalwila and Buththala have been arrested or killed. Why haven’t you been able to track down a small number of terrorists? Lt. General Sarath Fonseka: We have captured one terrorist alive who was involved in the Yala attack. With his assistance, we have obtained much information. Our commandos opened fire on terrorists and found a body of a female terrorist. Again we attack their hiding place. They had given saline to 4 to 5 people and left the equipment near Kumbukkan-oya. Yala blocks 1,2,3,4 have been protected. They went to the other side of Kumbukkan-oya to do this.We are carrying out an operation with a large number of troops. We think in a few days we will be able to attack them. It is a vast jungle area of 50 square miles. It is difficult to track down 3 or 4 persons. If there are 100-200 terrorists we can attack them in one or two days. It is like tracking down a big pin with a mark and it’s cumbersome. Our task is similar to that. But from Siyambalanduw to Moneragala and Lunugamvehera security has been provided. 2500 home guards, 1000 police personnel and 800 army personnel have been deployed South of the Menik Ganga to provide security. Now we are trying to flush out the terrorists inside the jungles. Sudarman Radliyagoda: Sir, similar to Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi, why do incidents continue to take place at Kebithigollewa? Several claymore mine explosions took place at Kebithigollewa. Why is this happening? Lt. General Sarath Fonseka: A jungle is laying North of Kebithigollewa up to Kilinochchi. From the South East the jungle is above Trincomalee. They can infiltrate from the North. There is a bunker line. But they can penetrate. There are a few terrorists in the North of Trincomalee, who are fed by some people in Sambalthivu and Nilaveli. They are the ones who do this. Due to the jungle around Kebithigollewa the terrorists can carry out these attacks.But security is being strengthened in the area. We have deployed about 300 troops on the Padaviya – Kebithigollewa Road, earlier there were only 25 troops. There were 300 home guards. We have deployed about 800 more. We have also strengthened the Padaviya – Pulmudai Road. Troops and home guards were deployed on Horawapathana – Kebithigollewa Road. These areas were neglected in the past. While the war is being waged, the security in those areas is being strengthened. We request the people in Buththala, Kebithigollewa and Thanamalwila to be alert and be concerned about their security. Sudarman Radliyagoda: After the Buththala incident, the issue of closure of schools came up. Many parents worry whether the schools will be closed. Some say schools should be closed. There is a rumor that you also requested the President to close the schools for three months. Has the security forces made such a request? Lt. General Sarath Fonseka: It is completely untrue, we don’t make such requests as a principle, even to close a road. If security is lacking then we strengthen. We don’t allow action to be taken to disrupt normal life. It is not true that I made a request to close schools. Those who are on duty in Colombo are under us. Before this rumor was spread, we were interested in the security of schools. There is no threat now. Those who are anti-government elements attempted to make political gains from the explosion at the Nippon Hotel and the assassination of the Minister. They are the ones who are spreading these rumors to create difficulties for the government. The two minor explosions at the telephone booth and the Fort Railway Station were also carried out by these rumor mongers and not the acts of terrorists. They are trying to fish in trouble waters. There is a section who only wants to topple the government. They would mislead people or set fire to the country.They are power crazy. They are doing this. But our people have forgotten as to what happened in Colombo earlier. There were number of explosions. There were explosions at the Central Bank, and at the Galadhari hotel. Those are incident which cannot be forgotten. We have not allowed such disasters to take place. We are optimistic that security measures can be maintained. Sudarman Radliyagoda: For all parents, their children are valuable. Have you formulated a security scheme for the protection of school children? Can you give an assurance for their security? Lt. General Sarath Fonseka: Yes, definitely security has been successfully strengthened around schools, when children, arrive and leave schools. We will not deploy the troops inside schools. We have deployed the police near the schools. We have provided back-up support to schools. Security forces personnel are displayed close to schools to check vehicles. Sudarman Radliyagoda: People say that when the CFA was in operation, people could freely move around without road blocks and barriers. Although we can’t challenge orders of the Supreme Court regarding the removal of road barriers, which has been since of late a subject to controversy. It has been criticized. Some people say the blasts in Colombo took place as a result of the removal of road barriers. How do you view this? Can checkpoints stop bomb explosions? Lt. General Sarath Fonseka: Definitely, certain measures should be taken to strengthen security. Road barriers should be set up. Searching houses and vehicles has to be done. The terrorist can find some relief if there are loopholes, as they can get through them. Therefore, certain duties have to be performed. The court order did not direct the removal of all road barriers. It was only for those that were harassment to the people and did not serve any purpose. Accordingly we have not removed all the road barriers for a few days there was a misunderstanding. But now there are road barriers in the required places. Sudarman Radliyagoda: During the past we saw that you were directly accused of being politically biased. Certain politicians directly accused you of being politically motivated. What was the reason for that? Lt. General Sarath Fonseka: Actually, the army commander is fulfilling political needs. The army is maintained in a country on political requirements. We are obeying them. But the government is not getting us to perform any political activities. They advise us to carry out our professional responsibilities. The government has the right to make decisions. We are waging a war. If we hatch a coup and go against the government, then it is wrong. There is nothing wrong with the present situation. If we have even indirectly criticized people having other political views, that was only when it was relevant for us. If somebody is creating a distorted picture of what was done by us, it is their responsibility to correct it. Otherwise people will not know what is right and what is wrong. Other than that we are not politically motivated. So far, the government has not asked me to make either an appointment or a transfer in the army. They don’t ask us to appoint or transfer the personnel even in the President’s guard. That is also done according to the regulations. Therefore, nobody can tell that the army or the army commanders are politically motivated. Protecting the country is our responsibility. It is in writing. Our duty is not protecting the politicians who are anti-government. Sudarman Radliyagoda: You have repeatedly said that if the killer is killed, the war will came to an end. There has been a national problem in the North and East. The history shows that the Tamils in the North and East have a problem. As a civilian do you think that a political settlement is required for the North and East after defeating terrorism? Lt. General Sarath Fonseka: There are political problems in every country even if we take Hambantota or other under-developed areas, there are political problems. There must be such problems in the North and East. The President has said this openly, that they will look into their problems and take the necessary action. A political solution is going to be presented by the government. We accept that the action to be taken by the government is correct. If they have problems they should definitely find a solution for it. We are not fighting the Tamil people or the North & East. If anybody in this country has such problems, they should be solved. But I do not agree that certain people inherit motherlands. What I believe is that anybody in this country should have the right to live anywhere. There are ethnic minorities in the country. I don’t think it’s fair to divide the country into separate motherlands. Everybody should be able to live anywhere in the country. The country belongs to everybody. For the people in the North and East, instead of a small portion in a corner, this whole country belongs to them. I believe that even regarding a political solution. Sudarman Radliyagoda: Yesterday the All Party Representatives Committee handed over their proposals to the President. Some were suspecting that a strategy to halt the operations was being implemented by certain forces. As the army commander what are your views about this?Lt. General Sarath Fonseka: There is no need to think that way. President has openly said that operations are being carried out to destroy the terrorists and the political solution is for the general public. The political solution is not to solve the problems of the terrorists, so that the two need not clash. The government has ordered us to carry out our duties. A situation has not arisen, where we were asked to do it halfway or to stop when required. The political solution is being carried out and the leadership of the president but the anti-terrorist operations will be conducted by us they are destroyed. We pledge people of all communities of Sri Lanka that we will destroy the killer and his associates who are engaged in terrorists’ activities and usher in peace. We will protect the people and provide the desired freedom. Editors Note : The interview with Lt. General Sarath Fonseka was held in Sinhala language. This is an unofficial translation from the Sinhala language to English.- Asian Tribune</blockquote>

Verification: Nawa warak dahaya keeyada? (Namaya wadi kireema dahaya)

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