[TamilNet, Sunday, 23 June 2013, 00:04 GMT]While listing ‘national’ security threats faced by genocidal Sri
Lanka, its Defence Secretary and presidential sibling Gotabhaya
Rajapaksa included the name of TamilNet and said that it is controlled
by the Tamil Coordinating Committee, led by Nediyavan, which in turn has
control over most of the assets of the LTTE’s international
organisation. Gotabhaya who said it on 13 June, while addressing the
Kotelawela Defence University, also said that now all the various
intelligence services of his State are brought under one Chief of
National Intelligence, who reports directly to him (as Defence
Secretary). What Gotabhaya said on TamilNet either shows the ignorance
of his intelligence or his intention to distort TamilNet’s image.
TamilNet challenges him on the truth of his statement.
The LTTE’s “former procurement chief Kumaran Pathmanadan, better known
as KP, took control over this [LTTE] network and indicated that it would
continue to work for the separatist cause through peaceful means.
However, a breakaway faction emerged almost immediately, led by
Nediyawan, who wanted to continue Prabhakaran's ideology of violence.
Nediyawan's group, was previously known as The Tamil Eelam People's
Assembly or the Tamil National Council and is now known as the Tamil
Coordinating Committee, Based in Norway, this group has been working
with other international groups to promote the LTTE's separatist cause
in many parts of the world. The Tamil Coordinating Committee has control
over most of the assets of the LTTE's international organisation,
including its media networks such as Tamil Net,” Gotabhaya said.
In
November 2012, the International Crisis Group (ICG), in its Asia
Report, Number 239, published a similar statement on TamilNet, but
silently withdrew it after challenged by TamilNet.
It is likely
that one of the sources that fabricated the story about TamilNet, and is
keen in reasserting to it, has now advanced it through Gotabhaya’s
written speech. Such is the state of affairs of Sri Lanka’s
‘intelligence’.
* * *
Gotabhaya was
lecturing on “Sri Lanka’s National Security Concerns” to the faculty and
students of the Kotelawala Defence University, on the occasion of the
university’s inauguration of M.Phil/ Ph.D programme.
Kotelawala
Defence University seems to have now become the hub for evolving an
intelligence-based, elite military rule of the island. In his speech,
Gotabhaya was envisaging that “as Sri Lanka moves forward, it is hoped
that the Intelligence agencies will be able to keep track of and contain
domestic National Security concerns.”
Last month, Sri Lanka’s
Terrorism Professor in Singapore, Rohan Gunaratna came out with all
praises for the Kotelawala Defence University and its military
Vice-Chancellor, General Milinda Peiris. He projected the military
university a model for higher education in the island and wanted other
universities to follow it.
* * *
Describing
internationalization of the Sri Lankan situation as a main national
security threat, Gotabhaya was talking of “keeping adverse external
influences at bay.”
He was referring to India training LTTE in
Tamil Nadu, the Thimpu talks arranged by India and the grave
consequences that would have come had Sri Lanka not refused to the
demands and India directly intervening in 1987 as the first phase.
In
the next phase of internationalization, the Norway-mediated Ceasefire
Agreement came, he said, adding that in 2009, the foreign ministers of
France and the UK attempted to intervene in the military campaign.
Gotabhaya was viewing the Geneva Resolutions of 2012 and 2013 as further internationalization.
* * *
According
to Gotabhaya, one third of the TGTE members, “loyal to Nediyawan went
against the leadership of Rudrakumaran because they wished to engage in
more radical action,” the GTF emerged with many of the same members as
the BTF, and all the LTTE-linked groups are coordinated by the GTF and
united by one overarching objective.
“Some of the efforts of
these LTTE-linked groups have been successful to a certain extent in
that despite the war having ended four years ago, the internal affairs
of Sri Lanka have been kept at the forefront of the UNHRC's Sessions as
well as at the top of the agenda of several prominent international NGOs
even in the recent past.”
“Though they [Tamil political parties
in the island] appear to have a democratic face, their actions and
remarks clearly show that the extremist separatist ideology has not yet
disappeared. Their ultimate objective is achieving the division of Sri
Lanka. As a result of their actions and statements, it is very much a
possibility that certain radical elements will feel empowered to once
again attempt to take up arms in the name of separation. This is a major
National Security threat that needs to be taken with the utmost
seriousness.”
Gotabhaya was equally vilifying the Muslims:
“After
the LTTE's defeat, some of these groups [Muslims] have begun to engage
in activities that stem far beyond self-protection. There is some
information that some of these groups have even tried to link up with
the global Islamic terrorist movement.”
“It is clear that there
are some in the Tamil community who identify themselves more with the
Tamil community of Tamil Nadu than with their fellow Sri Lankans. This
has been encouraged by some parties overseas who wish to promote the
idea of a greater Tamil Nation.”
“Similarly, it has been
observed that there are some foreign groups that wish to encourage Sri
Lankan Muslims to identify themselves more with the global Muslim
community, thereby reducing their integration within Sri Lanka.”
Gotabhaya was defending the racism in Sinhalese as a response to Tamil and Muslim politics.
* * *
The presidential sibling targeted India and the West with a special reference to Tamil Nadu:
“In
addition to military supplies, the LTTE's cadres were initially trained
at bases in Tamil Nadu. Given the recent activities of LTTE-linked
organisations outside Sri Lanka and particularly in Tamil Nadu, this is
very much a current threat even today.”
He was referring to “incidence of pirate fishing in Sri Lankan waters by South Indian fishermen.”
“Protecting
our waters from these fishermen, as well as from others who might seek
to exploit our other oceanic resources including oil and gas, will be
one of the key maritime security challenges for Sri Lanka in the
future.”
In today's environment, the possibility of foreign
interference in our internal affairs remains a significant National
Security concern. With the involvement of countries like India, Norway,
and the United States of America in Sri Lanka as a result of the
terrorist conflict, matters relating to this country's internal affairs
have gained increased visibility within the international community.”
“India
in particular is very sensitive to what is going on in Sri Lanka
because of the large Tamil population in its influential southern state
of Tamil Nadu. Especially during the elections cycle, Sri Lanka figures
large in its power politics.”
“In the recent past, we have seen
even the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu attempting to pressurise the
central government into opposing Sri Lanka internationally. This is a
serious threat to Sri Lanka's security, and perhaps even its
sovereignty.”
“There is a possibility that some western powers
wish to have a Sri Lankan Government that is closely aligned with their
interests, and will seek to influence Sri Lanka's destiny so that it
cannot pursue the independent course it is following at present.”
“The
likelihood of the United States showing more interest in the region and
aligning more with India is a factor that may affect Sri Lanka.
Further, its establishment of a base in the Maldives is also changing
the complexion of the region. These are developments that need to be
monitored from the point of view of Sri Lanka's national security.”
* * *
In
facing his ‘national’ security concerns, Gotabhaya was harping on
intelligence, militarization on North and East, biometric
‘nationalisation’ of even body, and strengthening special relationship
with China and Russia:
“It is essential for the military to be
placed in strategic locations throughout Sri Lanka. Particularly in the
North and East, where we know that there are still potential threats to
National Security.”
“It must also be underscored that as a
Sovereign nation, Sri Lanka has every right to place its security
elements in any part of the country it so chooses.”
According to the Defence Secretary, his genocidal Sinhala military enjoys a ‘cordial’ relationship with Tamils:
“While
some in the international community talk about the so-called
militarisation of the North and East, and some political parties in Sri
Lanka decry the presence of the military in these areas, it must also be
understood that the people of the North and East mostly have a very
cordial relationship with the military.”
Gotabhaya, learning
from the West on making every human body a matter for scrutiny by State,
wants a new biometric identification system for the peoples of the
island as well as visitors:
“To address this critical weakness
[in the existing identification system], the Registrar of Persons
Department was brought under the Ministry of Defence & Urban
Development, and a new identity card system that uses biometric
information will be introduced shortly.”
“The problem of people
coming into Sri Lanka and staying here illegally under false pretences
will be addressed through the introduction of a proper border control
system in which biometric information will be incorporated into the
passport and international standards used for identity verification.”
“Finally,
with regard to external threats, it is of the utmost importance that
Sri Lanka maintains cordial relationships with its allies.”
“Despite the present pressure from Tamil Nadu, it is essential to maintain a strong and healthy relationship with India.”
“Relations
with the many countries that helped us in the past, both in economic
terms and through political support, should be strengthened further
through skilful diplomacy and further development of mutual ties.”
“It
is essential to further strengthen the existing cordial relationships
with powerful nations such as China and Russia, which have permanent
seats on the United Nations Security Council and can influence any
international action on Sri Lanka more significantly than other
nations,” Gotabhaya concluded.
However, including the genocidal
approach to the national question of Eezham Tamils, the policies,
orientation and actions of Gotabhaya as a US citizen, cannot really be
in contradiction with the ‘national security concerns’ of the USA,
political observers said.
Political solution figured nowhere in
Gotabhaya's speech that was calling for ‘Sri Lankan-ness’ and was
talking of military, economy, and diplomacy.
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