President seeks new era in foreign relations......!!!

President seeks new era in foreign relations

By Sandun A Jayasekera

President Mahinda Rajapaksa, addressing a colourful and dignified National Victory Day Parade said yesterday that having won the freedom of the motherland it was necessary to begin a new era in foreign relations to safeguard the newly won freedom and to establish our freedom and sovereignty internationally.

“As a nation we have to go very far to make our independence complete. Terrorists were able to get the world to bring pressure on us - a free and sovereign State. That was possible because the terrorists had the capability to bring pressure on those governments. We are not a carbon copy of any other country. Our country that gave courage to Asia by defeating terrorism that could not be defeated elsewhere in the world should be made the Pride of Asia,” he said.

Addressing the Nation at a ceremony held to pay tribute to the three Armed Forces, Civil Defence Force and Police personnel following the victory against LTTE terrorism, President Rajapaksa said: “l have hoisted a flag in a single country unified under a single standard. Before me are our armed forces who astonished the world by their skill in war, discipline, efficiency and valour. It is with great expectation for the future that I address the Sri Lankan nation that is having pleasant dreams of bringing about the dawn of a great and distinguished future”.

“This great and glorious victory was achieved because of the younger generation that stands before us today. Some mothers and fathers gave all of their children to the armed forces and the police. When the eldest child had already sacrificed one’s life for the country, they gave more children to the armed forces. If anyone were to ask me what the secret of the victory is, I would extend my hands and show our beloved people, who include these mothers, fathers, wives who gave their closest and dearest for this battle. Our entire nation owes an immense debt of gratitude to these mothers, fathers and wives. They sacrificed their children and loved ones for the nation, to save the lives of others,” President Rajapaksa said to a large gathering of which many had moist eyes apparently with sadness for the fallen war heroes and with the happiness that the threat of terrorism is history now.

This is the Motherland of us all. We should live in this country as the children of one mother, as brothers and sisters. There can be no differences here. The war fought against the LTTE was not a war fought against the Tamil people. Our heroic troops sacrificed their lives to save the innocent Tamil people from the clutches of the LTTE. We cannot forget the great service rendered by them, he emphasized.

“Today, nearly 24,000 brave children of our land have fought for freedom and are resting for ever in their motherland. Similarly, nearly 5,000 children of Sri Lanka are wholly disabled. The last breath of our heroic troops must be blowing in the wind where the national flag I hoisted today, flies proudly.

Therefore, with every breath we take we must remember these heroic sons and daughters of our land. I also offer my respect to the high morale of our valiant troops who have been disabled but courageously participated on their wheel chairs in this event. There is a unique value in the sacrifices made by our heroic troops. Those great sacrifices have not been in vain. The victory we gained defeating the LTTE, is a victory for our entire land. It is great victory you obtained. It is a victory for all who live in this country. It is now the time to win over the hearts of the Tamil people. The Tamil speaking people should be protected. They should be able to live without fear and mistrust. That is the responsibility of us all,” he stressed.

The great humanitarian operation that unified the motherland under a single national standard has opened the path to our nation that is eager to step forward to a future of greatness and distinction. Until now the world had not seen such a powerful terrorist organization. It had ships, aircraft, submarines, huge fire power, and most of all hundreds of men and women suicide killers. The LTTE prevented its own people from living in a pleasant and prosperous land. Our responsibility is to honour those valiant forces who made great sacrifices, by joining together to build a great nation,” President Rajapaksa told a gathering visibly moved.

“For this very reason, the world and some in our own country believed that in order to defeat the most powerful terrorist organization in the world, the army of a world military power would be needed. Others thought it may be necessary to deploy forces of the United Nations,” he said.

It is frightening to see how, not for a short period, but for full thirty years the terrorists had our country it their clutches. They had terrifying plans to subjugate the entire country.

By 2005, the terrorist leader remained unharmed having waged war against four Heads of State and having assassinated one of them. The terrorists fought the powerful Indian Army and in the end assassinated a great Prime Minister of India. A Commander of our Navy, Admiral Clancy Fernando was also assassinated.

The LTTE was able to assassinate our valiant Generals from Lt. Gen. Denzil Kobbekaduwa, Maj. Gen. Wijaya Wimalaratne, and Maj. Gen. Lucky Wijeratne to Lt. Gen. Parami Kulatunga. It sank several Dvora vessels and had free rein at sea bringing in armaments at will, and also downed several aircraft and killed more than 35 pilots. Defence Minister Ranjan Wijeratne and the National Security Minister Lalith Athulathmudali who led the way to the Vadamarachchi Operation were also assassinated.

The LTTE had the ability to carry out major attacks in High Security Zones, on the venerable Dalada Maligawa or any other place. Our Economic Zone inclusive of Colombo was easy prey to the terrorists.

As a result, quite apart from attacking the terrorists, there was the fear of them taking revenge for several generations if one even spoke against them. Amidst all this, during the period of the ceasefire agreement the terrorists were able to develop into a dictatorial government. The Government had to provide protection to these terrorists who had killed our policemen and security forces by the thousands. Yet, for fear of provoking the terrorists the Government did not giving our troops even a piece of a gunny bag to help build a bunker.

The orders to our forces were to be patient for the sake of peace, even if the terrorists came in front of their bunkers, raised their clothes and carried out provocative acts of indecent exposure. We must not forget that it was such an unarmed group of troops that was killed in an attack by the terrorists in December 2005. Our troops had to suffer all this in silence.

What was considered the most ruthless and most powerful terrorist army for thirty years was shattered and destroyed in less than three years. In order to defeat racist terrorism the people of the country have a mature knowledge of the threat before them. The fortune of a nation lies is such knowledge and maturity, he said.

“Terrorists are no more invincible. It is only you, the valiant troops and our Motherland that are invincible. I recently went down on my knees and worshipped the glorious Motherland that obtained its freedom through the sacrifice of the lives of thousands of our heroic troops,” President Rajapaksa declared.

“Some mothers prepared meals to be sent to the displaced people from the North. Where else can one find a people who have sent their children to the forces to battle an enemy and at the same time, sent humanitarian assistance to the people in the areas where their sons are fighting? Our valiant troops went to battle carrying the gun in one hand, the Charter of Human Rights in the other, and their hearts filled with love for their children,” President Rajapaksa said.

The people, while making sacrifices to the armed forces on the one hand; showed kindness and compassion to those displaced by war, and all the while, in their hearts, were on the battlefield. They protected the country by forming civil defence committees and carrying out inspections of villages, towns and vehicles. It was not only the troops that we deployed against the terrorists; we deployed the people of this country too against terrorism, he said.

“Savagery is not bravery. Being humane is to be brave. I extend the respect and gratitude of the entire nation for their brave leadership to the Defence Secretary, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Chief of Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Donald Perera, Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka, Navy Commander Admiral Vasantha Karannagoda, Air Force Commander Air Chief Marshal Roshan Gunetilleke, the Inspector General of Police Jayantha Wickremeratne, Director General of the Civil Defence Corps Sarath Weerasekera, the Brigade Commanders who bravely led the fighting till the end, all company commanders and the troops of all ranks for displaying such bravery in giving leadership and carrying out this battle,” President Rajapaksa stressed.

Therefore, we cannot allow the land that was won with such great sacrifice to be divided or even a shadow of separatism to fall on it. In the solutions that we offer there will not even be an iota of space for racism and separatism. We shall, as soon as possible, move towards our own solution of not dividing the land that is now made one and ensuring that there will be no threat to peace in our region, he said.

We have honest, close, and friendly relations with our neighbouring countries in Asia. We have also been able to build genuine good relations with the Arab and African countries. Those honest friends have carried out the greatest responsibility towards our freedom and sovereignty in this era. We value very much the assistance we received from all those countries at this moment. Our people who enjoy the satisfaction of freedom together with them must always have in their hearts the friendship extended by these friends.

Our nation that has been a symbol of courage to the world must now stand on our own feet. We must build a nation that is second to none.

One of the biggest challenges we faced was to remove the ‘border villages’ from the map of Sri Lanka. Next was the need to remove the ‘threatened villages’ from our map. Having overcome these challenges what is left is to remove the villages stricken with hardship from our map. We have already initiated action in this direction. I am aware that due to the defeat of terrorism, the reduction in the budget deficit, economic development, and raising the level of investment are all targets that are well within reach.

When development is undertaken there are many obstacles due to ideological differences and attitudes of vision. These lead to delay. Ideology, political principles, issues of vision should be for the country. Instead, we cannot commit this country for the success of political, visionary or any other ideologies. We must emerge from ideological differences and look towards the country. It is not the struggle that should go forward but the country, he said.

There was once only a dream that we would destroy the world’s most savage terrorist leader and all other terrorist leaders. Today, that dream has come true. Do not let terrorism own one inch of our land but instead make this a single unitary State. With regard to the development of our country too, it is the same that I have to say. We are now living in times when dreams are turning into reality.

There is an important aspect we should not forget at this hour of victory. That is our children. They looked at our victorious march with great love and anticipation. They obtained great pleasure by seeing on television screens, the brave march of their fathers, brothers and sisters to save the motherland. Those who were most satisfied the moment the news of the freedom of the motherland was known, were our children. Thereafter our Lion Flag waved most in the hands of our children.

“I am the proudest Head of State in the world for being able to see with my own eyes a future generation such as you who love your country so much. I am the proud father of such a generation. I told you earlier, that we will not hand over to you the problems that we face today. Today, my sons and daughters, we have not left a terrorist problem to be faced by you,” he declared.

“Therefore, it is your duty to grow up as true heroes who with your wisdom, good qualities and strength love and protect this country, which is now being brought together under a single National Flag. I wish to emphasize again that I am not the owner of this land but only its custodian. Therefore, this unitary country which is without fear and mistrust, I now entrust to you,” President Rajapaksa said.

The highlight of the march past following the 21-gun salute to the President was the parade of disabled war heroes of the three Armed Forces, the Police and the Civil Defence Force, who received a standing ovation from the gathering.

Brigadier Shavendra Silva who was in the forefront of the humanitarian operation also received a standing ovation from the invitees when he went in the parade.

President Rajapaksa was presented with ‘Sannas Pathra’ or ‘Parchment of Appreciation’ by the service commanders and the police chief.

One of another significant feature of the ceremony was the cultural display of the National Youth Services Council and organized by the Cultural Ministry by dance troupes representing all nine provinces.

The ceremony was concluded with a display of supersonic fighter aircraft, helicopters and parachute jumping by the Air Force and a display of fast attack craft, warships and special attack craft of the Sri Lanka Navy.

Opposition UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe was conspicuous by his presence at the ceremony with many expressing their approval of it.

DAILYMIRROR.LK