Sri Lanka: Sri Lankan army chief vows to crush LTTE

Thursday, 11 October 2007

Colombo, Oct 11: The Sri Lankan army on Thursday vowed to continue its operations against the LTTE saying it would "crush terrorism" to convince the rebels that the ethnic problem cannot be resolved through violence.

"The army will crush terrorism to convince the terrorists that their problems could not be solved through terrorist acts,"

"The army will crush terrorism to convince the terrorists that their problems could not be solved through terrorist acts," army chief Sarath Fonseka said while addressing the 58th Army Day celebrations at the army headquarters here. On April 25, last year Fonseka had a miraculous escape when a suspected LTTE female suicide bomber rammed into his motorcade at the army headquarters. He was badly injured in the incident.

Fonsenka noted the army's successes "starting from the Mavilaru operation up to the liberation of Silavatturai".

"In the future too the army would continue to march forward triumphantly," he said.

The army chief said that while engaging in violent activities on the pretext of abiding by a ceasefire agreement for almost four years, "the terrorists (LTTE) have unsuccessfully tried to defeat the security forces".

"Yet the army realising its role and responsibilities has acted with restraint drawing commendation from all quarters in the world. I feel happy about it," he said.

The army chief also called for a fight against corruption.

"In no manner can any corruption or wastage be tolerated. All of you should work to preserve the dignity of the whole organization," Fonseka said at the function attended among others by senior military officials.

A Norway brokered ceasefire between the government and LTTE in February 2002 had brightened hopes for peace but the talks broke down in 2005.

Parleys were again held in Switzerland in February last year and then in October in Geneva but failed both the times.

In November, LTTE chief Vellupillai Prabhakaran declared the talks with the government had failed and independence was the only option.

Tensions have escalated since the government drove the tigers out of eastern Sri Lanka in July, ending 13 years of rebel rule in that region.

According to army spokesman Uday Nanayakkara, more than 120 tiger cadres have been killed in last month alone.

Set as favorite

Bookmark

Comments (0) add comment