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Message: <blockquote data-quote="rapa" data-source="post: 610681" data-attributes="member: 212">Q: What about the ammunition dump that was blasted?A: Those things you have to accept. Unfortunately, a mortar bomb fell on this dump.Q: But didn't they advance and push the military back?A: No. Now, the present positions of the FDLs are in front. We are 11 km in front of the present position. In this instance, certain troops operating in the front line came back. It is not a question of losing ground. The tactics here are different. We have inflicted casualties.We are not interested in real estate in the Wanni. It is not practical. We have to weaken the LTTE and its strengths, cadres, assets, and bases. That is what we are doing in the Wanni. Without knowing the true picture and the plan of the commanders, most analysts do harm by failing to give the correct picture to the people.Don't think this is personal to the President or the Defence Secretary. It is not so. It is a problem facing the country. The country should support us to defeat terrorism. Irrespective of which community one belongs to, the people have to support us to defeat terrorism and weaken the LTTE. Everybody has to keep that in mind. Irrespective of politics, or any other differences, the people must support us to win this war against terrorism and bring peace to the country.Q: Recently the Army Commander himself said the military was not interested in taking the north, but efforts were being taken to weaken the LTTE to bring it to the negotiating table. Your views?A: That is exactly what I said. What he meant was we are not interested in grabbing land, but intend to weaken them militarily. Our task is to weaken them. It is left to the politicians to bring them to the negotiating table.Q: Do you justify a poor country like Sri Lanka spending more than US$ 75 million on purchasing five MiG 29s to bring the Tigers to the negotiating table?A: How did you arrive at that figure?Q: At the rate of 15 million dollars per MiG 29.A: What we would finally buy will depend on the air force, according to their requirements. We need to have an interceptor, but the decision as to what type, depending on what is available in the world, and considerations like efficiency, conversions and the rest lie with the air force. They are the best people who could tell us exactly what their requirements are, after a thorough evaluation.Q: On the one hand, the military establishment and the government have had success in getting foreign governments to block funds to the LTTE from the Tamil diaspora. But the decision to send back Tamils to "their places of origin" from lodges has had an effect on the diaspora. Your comments?A: This is because the whole exercise has been misinterpreted. Maybe we failed to get the correct picture across. In any event I don't want to discuss the matter as it is before court and it is sub judice.Q: India has shown concern over two issues — civilians caught in war-related violence and the rising number of IDPs. How has the military and the government fared in this respect?A: Take the case of the IDPs first. I think everyone interested in this problem must visit the east and see for themselves how successfully, how professionally, and how efficiently we have handled the IDP issue. You cannot have 100 percent success but what is important is to look at the positive side of the whole exercise. We have done extremely well and even the UNHCR has commended us.We first tackled the problem in Vakarai. It was only yesterday (Thursday) that I visited Maha Oya to be briefed by the STF on the resettlement programme there. In Batticaloa they are doing it sector by sector. They have divided the area into four sectors and have already completed two, while the third is in progress. It has been very successful.They don't do it in an ad hoc manner. First they carry out the mine clearance and after a certificate from the UNHCR is received that it is safe to resettle, they begin that part of the operation. Over all, it has been very successful as it has been done in a professional manner. At least for the sake of the country, the media should give the correct picture to the world. Q: What about the issue of civilian casualties?A: That too is an important factor. I have explained this in detail to the authorities there when I visited India recently. They too are very happy about it. One of the concepts we adopted in the operations is to ensure zero civilian casualties. That does not mean that there isn't a single civilian casualty. But when we plan at military level, at a practical level we have the concept of zero civilian casualties in mind. So during operations in Vakarai and even Batticaloa, we had minimal civilian casualties.I have explained this to the Indian authorities and they too were very happy about it. Even in future operations, this concept will be honoured. Even if we have to delay certain operations or give in, in certain places, it will be to uphold this concept.Q: With regard to the IDPs, before the IDPs in the east have been resettled, nearly 17,500 people have been displaced in Mannar and Vavuniya. Your observations?A: The IDPs here are not due to military operations, which started only recently in the Wanni. These civilians are those escaping from LTTE conscription and harassment and not due to military operations. They are even escaping LTTE areas on the sly. Q: UNP MP Lakshman Seneviratne in parliament named a police officer and a former air force officer in connection with a spate of abductions. You have also been dragged into this controversy. What is your stance?A: I am not a politician and I don't want to be dragged into this political debate. So far I have not done anything political. It is true enough that I am one of the President's bothers, but I have not done anything to harass any UNP or JVP members or supporters. My only concern is fighting terrorism. It is very unfortunate that my name has been unnecessarily dragged into politics.I have committed no crime. I have assisted the military and the police to face this terrorist threat, and that is the only crime I have committed. I have not committed any other crime. I don't know why these people are attacking me. The LTTE tried to kill me. According to intelligence reports, I am the number one target of the LTTE and now I am becoming the target of politicians too, and I don't know why. I am only assisting the military and police to tackle this menace. I know the public supports me. Through the calls I receive and in the letters and emails I get, the people urge me not to give up.Q: How do you ensure transparency in military purchases?A: I am a very honest person. My one aim is to eradicate corruption in the military. Some talk about corruption in procurement, but I have ensured transparency in military purchases. When procuring war-like material, I wanted to ensure the particular service (military) and the producers of equipment have direct contact and do not go through an intermediary. To eliminate the third party, I have created a government agency under the Defence Ministry called Lanka Logistics and Technology Limited to play the part of the local agent.The other important decision I have taken is to ensure that the particular service that wants equipment gets involved in the requisition, evaluation, price negotiation and selection without the involvement of others. I have not only ensured transparency but also that the correct procedure is adopted. I also ensure that these go before the technical evaluation committees and the cabinet appointed tender boards. I have got the university academics involved in studying the equipment and making recommendations before purchasing.Very unfair criticism and bogus and unfounded allegations have been made. I am only a board member and what I do is carefully monitor the whole process. If anyone can prove that I have taken even one red cent out of any of these deals, I will not only resign; I don't even want to live. I am a very honourable person. Anybody can inquire and conduct whatever investigations they wish. There should not be unfair allegations as there is a thing called karma and I believe in it. I am a very religious person.Q: You criticised the United Nations and the European Union recently. Is that correct?A: I am not blaming the UN. What I meant was the LTTE as a terrorist organisation has been in existence for some 30 years. And the LTTE tries to infiltrate all places through local recruitment and the UN has to be careful about this.As for the EU, I have pointed out that they cannot try to treat us the same way as they treat the LTTE, which is a terrorist organisation. This is an elected government. A war against terror has been declared and they should try to help us to do this job. They should try to help the government eradicate the root cause.If there is a mistake, they should not try to punish us unnecessarily but they could point out such shortcomings. They should not try to balance things by blaming the LTTE and then blame the government. Q: But is the root cause of this problem only terrorism? What about the allegations of discrimination and the question of aspirations?A: Militarily, you have to weaken the LTTE, and that is my job. The politicians would then take over to start a political process, provide a political package, and a political solution. But that is not my job.Gotabhaya's stance on abductionsQ: Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe told the diplomatic community that he would rest his case as you have admitted to abductions in comments you made recently. What is your response?A: What is unfair is what I have said is the covert. If you have read that article properly, it is said that the Defence Secretary said he was against abductions. Abductions and military operations are two different things. If somebody tries to equate military operations or intelligence operations to abductions, that is wrong. Abductions are done by people who want to take advantage by ransoms and for personal benefit.Q: But aren't abductions taking place?A: Yes it is happening. I am not denying it. That is why we are trying to stop it. That is wrong. I am not saying that they are covert operations. This is where Ranil has gone wrong. What I am saying is, when the military operations are conducted, if you compare them to abductions and say they are covert operations, it is wrong.I am not condoning abductions. What I am saying is, when the military conducts some intelligence operations and if you try to call them abductions, it is wrong. That is what I have said. The abductions done in Colombo for personal gain are wrong. If you read the interview, the interviewer himself has said the Defence Secretary has condemned these abductions.</blockquote>

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