27.01.2009

PRESS RELEASE.

Forces to act with restraint

I am distressed over the unhappy news reaching from Vanni, about the unusually heavy casualties in the War front, from the time the forces set their feet on the Vanni soil.  Only two days back the whole of Europe, Scandinavia, Canada, USA and India believed the LTTE’s canard, that over five thousand soldiers had been taken as captives and a large number of them were killed.  The whole of last morning all telephones were ringing continuously to find out as to what is happening in Vanni.  By noon, the news, of the capture of Mullaitheevu Town reached all parts of the world, put an end to this mischievous rumour and those who were celebrating the “victory” had to put their heads down in shame.  Whether what we hear today is true or another canard of the LTTE, the people expect the forces to act with restraint, because whatever happens to them, they have a moral duty to safeguard the innocent people, who are trapped in the LTTE held area or rather kept by them under compulsion as human shield, for their own protection.  Hence the LTTE should take the blame for every death that occurs in Vanni today.

The LTTE, once acclaimed by some as very brave, have now become cowards.  At this desperate hour they will not hesitate to do any thing with venomous intentions of putting the blame on the others.  We expect the army that liberated 95% of the area under the LTTE, with minimum casualties, will not do anything in haste to end the war quickly.  But the people expect them to act with caution and not to spoil their name that they earned by sacrificing a lot of their comrades.  I tell the gallant soldiers that they have already won the war with no hopes for the LTTE to regain any part of the territory.  But the civilian lives, they have to protect as a sacred duty cast on them, in defence of the nation.

V. Anandasangaree,

President – TULF.