'Fall of the last LTTE bastion in sight ', says New Delhi paper
(By: Walter Jayawardhana)
In its leader editorial entitled , 'The Fall of LTTE's Last Bastion in sight' The Pioneer of New Delhi said that the Sri Lankan Army continued to make progress against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and predicted that the last bastion of the "terrorists" may fall before the year is over.
"The battle may now have entered a decisive phase," said the editorial which also added, "Kilinochchi is likely to fall soon and when it does it will be a big victory for the Government."
The editorial said since the beginning of the conflict the government troops have made the most progress. When Kilinochchi falls it be one of the biggest victories of the government, the editorial further stated.
The newspaper said it was right for the government to reject the LTTE proposal for a ceasefire since there can be no negotiations with terrorists who are wedded to mindless violence and have nothing to do with Tamil aspirations.
The following is the editorial that appeared in the Pioneer on December 22:
"The Sri Lankan Army continues to make progress against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and the last bastion of the terrorists may fall before the year is over. The last few days have seen heavy fighting around Kilinochchi, the LTTE's stronghold.
The battle may now have entered a decisive phase. At least 120 LTTE cadres have been killed and 250 injured along the Kilinochchi battlefront. On Saturday, the Sri Lankan Navy destroyed a suspected LTTE ship along with four enemy attack boats.
The Government troops have gained control over an important stretch west of Paranthan and Kilinochchi and are now consolidating their defences. The Sri Lankan troops have also established control over a strategic supply route as a result of which LTTE's links in Mullaittivu have been severely restricted.
The troops have captured Ampakamam, which was a key LTTE bastion. The Sri Lankan forces have opened up several fronts across the northern war zone in an effort to capture Kilinochichi, the LTTE's political capital. Though soldiers from both sides may have fallen, the Government troops have made the most progress since the beginning of the conflict. Kilinochchi is likely to fall soon and when it does it will be a big victory for the Government. The Tamil Tigers have been forced to defend itself since September when Government troops went on an offensive.
In the past month, the latter have seized several important towns and pushed further into LTTE held areas. Even Ponneryn, which was the Tigers' last strategic sea base on the western coast, has fallen. There has been so much pressure on the LTTE that in November it had pleaded for a ceasefire. However, Colombo has rightly spurned the appeal: There can be no negotiations with terrorists who are wedded to mindless violence and have nothing to do with Tamil aspirations".
"In the past whenever the LTTE has suffered reverses it has called for a ceasefire, only to attack again once it has regrouped. President Mahinda Rajapaksa had invited the LTTE for peace talks when he assumed office. But the latter refused to talk and began a series of attacks that were in violation of the existing ceasefire agreement. It is to Mr Rajapaksa's credit that he then adopted a tough line and committed his Government to liberating Sri Lanka from LTTE terror.
The Army's efforts have since led to the country's Eastern Province being freed from the LTTE. Democracy has been restored there and Mr Rajapaksa has promised that he will take similar steps in the north. With civilians trapped in the war zone, there is no doubt a looming humanitarian crisis. But no war against terror can be won without collateral damage. We have to live with this simple truth.
