Defence Secretary says LTTE remnants still haunting from foreign soil

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Defence Secretary says LTTE remnants still haunting from foreign soil


Monday, 28 June 2010
Sri Lanka’s Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa said that though defeated tiger terrorists do not have the capability to wage a war once again,the now defunct LTTE outfit’s organisation abroad are giving indications that they have not abandoned their terror network internationally despite their defeat in Sri Lanka.
Speaking at a ceremony to open the Security Forces Headquarters inMullaitivu Mr Gotabaya rajapaksa said that although the LTTE has beeneliminated in Sri Lanka, its international network is still active.It is the responsibility of Sri Lankan Government and the SecurityForces to be on vigil without allowing the LTTE to span its wings toSri Lanka. The intelligence units of the Security Services have to bekept on alert. Sunday Observer quoted defence secretary as saying thatthe Navy has a special role to play in protecting the country fromrebels returning after receiving military training from othercountries.The statement made by Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa came justfew days after the media highlighted the arrest of three LTTEintelligence wing cadres by the ‘Q’ Branch of India’s Tamil Nadupolice, when they attempted to smuggle explosives to Sri Lanka.It was a clear indication that their terror network is still operatingin neighbouring India. According to media reports from India thecadres had reportedly procured the explosive materials and stockedthem illegally to transport to Sri Lanka. A cache of arms including4,900 ordinary detonators and 430 electric detonators was seized fromthem.MEANWHILE a senior minister said that it was one of the reasons forGovernment to reject the EU call to abide by its conditions. Becausethey insists us to remove Prevention of terrorism Act and host ofother laws and regulations inclusive of Emergency Regulation that dealwith suspected terrorist activities. . The Sri Lankan government is ofthe view that the EU request, if acceded, would make it difficult tomaintain the law and order and contain present wave of organizedcrimes and unlawful activities perpetrated by some undesirableelementsThe EU in its demand, has gone one step further by requiring SriLankato give validity to the First optional Protocol to the ICCPR. Itappears that the EU has forgotten the very meaning of the phrasecalled Optional Protocol. Because UN is not a law making body butadopts Covenant, Charters and Protocols to which the member countriescan become signatories accordingly. There are several other countriesyet to become signatories to some of the optional Protocols.