Rohan Mathes (courtesy: Daily News)

COLOMBO: President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday fervently appealed to the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) to join hands with the Government to liberate innocent Tamils in the North and East from the bondage of LTTE terrorism.

Addressing the 59th Independence Commemoration ceremony at Galle Face Green yesterday, President Rajapaksa recalled his appeal made at the Independence Celebrations last year, that the country should stand united to achieve the noble objectives of the Sri Lankan nation.

He said the Government had painstakingly reached a common understanding among all political parties and other forces and strived to establish a new political order that would work towards the nation’s well-being, regardless of the existing disparities among them. The positive result is that a new political thinking had already emerged.

The President said that to date, the TNA has not entered into a dialogue or understanding with the Government. “It is only by joining with us that the innocent Tamil people of the North could be liberated from terrorist intimidation and the misdeeds of violence, and the North could be emancipated.

If you are anguished in fear and anxiety, and lack human freedom, however much democratic the political idealogy you claim to follow, I must state in all honesty that none of you are free men,” he said.

The President stressed that the most reliable weapon against terrorism was to do justice by the innocent Tamil people, and he was also confident that the Sinhala people in the South were prepared for it.

We are not ready, he said, to give into the blood-thirsty demands of the LTTE.

However, at the minimum, we should be responsible and honest enough to agree with [TULF leader] V. Anandasangaree or [Minister] Douglas Devananda.

“The uncompromising stand of our Government is a firm commitment to a policy to safeguard national dignity, and not betray it. We have proved this repeatedly. We now declare loud and clearly that national dignity means the non-betrayal of the democratic rights of the people, to whatever vicious forces, either indigenous or alien, in whatever circumstances.”

The President pointed out that their zeal and gigantic commitment to peace which had been amply proved and time tested, led the Security Forces to liberate the innocent Tamils taken hostage and used as human shields by the LTTE who were pursuing their savage demands. The Security Forces’ valiant efforts deserved the salute of the nation, on this honoured day.

He observed that they should take speedy action to establish democratic governance and normality in the areas liberated from the LTTE in conflict areas. “It is our duty to protect the lives and property of the Tamil and Muslim people, and bring sanctity to the future world of their children,” the President said.

President Rajapaksa said that while being engaged in the unconditional struggle against venomous terrorism, they were implementing the largest development schemes ever, to steer the country towards prosperity and also protecting and adopting a consistent policy on cultural values.

In the process, they would encounter familiar opportunist political tendencies which would seek to jeopardise their deliberations. He urged all those concerned to refrain from any action which may by any chance challenge the stability of the country.

(Courtesy: www.dailynews.com 05/02/2007)