The south of Sri Lanka is very enthusiastic at the announcement by the government that it had captured sampoor. Wimal Weerawnsa, JVP propaganda Secretary and JVP Parliamentary group leader has stated that the government should not rest till LTTE is driven out of the entire East. But Ehela Rambukwella, Minister and government spokesman has said that the government has no intention of continuing with any attacks beyond Sampoor.

President Rajapakse has been acting according to the dictates of Sinhala hardliners in handling the Sri Lankan ethnic problem. Therefore, it is not difficult for the Tamil parties to guess what the President’s future action will be.

If we look back at the history of the LTTE during the last 25 years, it is clear that they have faced several defeats but one thing is certain that the defeat never crushes their spirit. After every defeat, they have emerged with greater courage and determination. The opponents failed to realize this fact. Both President J.R.Jayawardena and President Chandrika Kumaratunga had made the same mistake in their judgment.

The LTTE withdrew from Sampoor as a tactical move which is not a set back for them. Kavialazhar, head of the LTTE political research wing, has explained that one cannot determine the strength of any side at a time of Ceasefire and that it could be assessed only when a full scale war breaks out.

Those who hail the performance of the Sri Lankan army in Sampoor that LTTE will not be able to launch any more attacks on the Trincomalee Naval base little realize LTTE’s capability to attack from beyond Sampoor. It must be remembered in this context that the LTTE had the capability to launch an attack on Palay army base from a distance of 30km from Puneryn.

In 1994 November, President Chandrika came to power during Ceasefire. President Rakjapakse also assumed office during Ceasefire. Within a short a time, Chandrika pursued war tactics to capture the Jaffna peninsula holding hands with her Uncle, General Anurutha, while President Rajapakse has captured Sampoor, assisted by his brother, Colonel Gotabaya Rajapakse. In as mush as Chandrika celebrated the capture of the Jaffna peninsula with great fanfare, so did Rajapakse who thought it fit to make the announcement of the capture of Sampoor at the 55th annual conference of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party.

With the Jaffna victory, President Chandrika continued the war to the detriment of the whole island. Now, after announcing the capture of Sampoor, President Rajapakse is reported to have said that he would speak to the terrorists in their own language.

It is therefore clear that although leaders change, their policies don’t.

An English translation of the Editorial in Uthayan, a Tamil daily,based in Jafna

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