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by a Special Defence Correspondent

Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar's high-profile demise at a time when many major international powers are embroiled in their own internal terrorist threats came as the most grueling shock to the Sri Lankans, not only because it was another show of LTTE brutality but it was also a "wake-up" call to all those concerned with national security.

It also struck the body politics of this country in a worse manner than ever before as millions of grateful and terribly shaken masses shared their grief by way of putting up huge banners, white flags, etc. In short, the swift condemnation from many corners of the world were first-hand testimonies to the apex of Kadirgamar's statesmanship, if not for his popularity among his worldwide contemporaries.

LTTE strategy

LTTE strategies at preparatory pre-violence stage (stage setting) or ground preparations, its subsequent modus operandi or methods used for perpetration of the crime and finally the post-crime behavior, engineered through their meticulous planning phases, are needed to be closely screened, largely to learn how they operate and execute such heinous crimes.

Every time, the LTTE with the express help received from a section of our media, including sometimes some south-based ones, first of all, goes on to wage an adverse propaganda blitz against their orchestrated target.

So was the case with our hero of the times, Kadirgarmar. Some of the pro-LTTE newspapers had the audacity to ask why he was allowed to be alive some time back and other "media pundits" went on record highlighting matters pertaining to his overseas travels and expenses, to cite a few examples.

A similar type ' LTTE ground preparation' is now on against one more LTTE's "arch enemy," TULF leader A. Ananda Sangaree who is also top on the LTTE hit list.

The case in point is how the LTTE media has superimposed Ananda Sangaree's face on a speaker addressing a group of military people to project him as a "traitor". Investigations done by authorities have reaffirmed that this superimposition has been blatantly done by "TamilNet" and other LTTE media after robbing a photo of the Army Website (www.army.lk) from a story connected to the visit of Vice Admiral Daya Sandagiri to Jaffna as new Chief of Defence Staff as old as November 17, 2004.

Refer the story, headlined "New Chief of Defence Staff speaks to soldiers in Jaffna" and see the Photo No. 5 in the story. See what the Army Website published about Ananda Sangaree's superimposed photo story on Friday 19, 2005. This was a classic example that spoke volumes regarding LTTE's sophisticated manipulations with less care for journalistic ethics.

This account would not be complete unless one of the most recent stage managed "LTTE mock dramas" at un-cleared Madurankenikulam area, about 5 km north of Kadjuwatta, Batticaloa was mentioned where LTTE, through their intense radio transmissions pretended that a huge explosion planted by rival Karuna faction killed five of their cadres and injured many civilians.

The act followed desired results. Their misinformation strategy was so successful that through bogus informants the LTTE got the story published even in local Sinhala media. This handy mind-set was also the precursor of the series of LTTE atrocities that were to get under way in the future but it was something beyond understanding for story-greedy media men.

Secondly, the LTTE modus operandi and its perpetration is another important aspect that has to be viewed very closely, adequately rectified and accounted for by responsible authorities. LTTE's videoing of Kadirgamar's official residence, mind as against what our media reported by two suspected LTTE men just couple of days ahead of his slaying, traces of cigarette butts and used snacks packets, etc after assassination, could be seen construed as purposeful plots to lead us on and divert investigations to another direction.

For example, the LTTE having firmly determined to kill Kadirgamar while he was at his private residence went on videoing his official residence, instead.

Why was it so done ? So much so with leftovers at the hideout used for sniper attack and also recovery of 40 mm launchers. Where the LTTE was trying to persuade us as regards the execution of this dastardly crime should therefore be well grasped and need to be placed in right perspective to understand LTTE strategy. No doubt, trace of those items tallied with what Thamil Selvan later resonated denying LTTE involvements in Kadirgamar's murder.

Post-crime LTTE behaviour, as in the most recent crimes of Lieutenant Colonel Muthaliff, DIG Charles Wijewardene and most recently of Kadirgamar amply proves that the LTTE propaganda network remained well oiled, pre-arranged to set in motion within seconds after such assassinations.

Distortion mill

Their calculated version to refer those crimes into anybody else's account and also their concerted efforts to deny any LTTE involvement should be placed in correct context since LTTE misinformation and distortion mill, mind whether we admit or not, has been one of the most efficient and fast networks, particularly after most modern radio and other electronic equipment were donated to the LTTE under the CFA. When Kadirgamar was shot, even before the doctors officially proclaimed he was gone, LTTE's TamilNet pasted a story to that effect at 12.12 midnight. So was the report on DIG Wijewardene.

Police were informed of his murder at about 3.20 p.m. but the TamilNet confirmed his death at 2.14 p.m. What were most ridiculous and appalling were how the Norwegian news dispatches, including the Norwegian state television centre (NRK) reported the LTTE murder of Kadirgamar.

Instead of naming the killer, as supposedly advised by former Norway's LTTE leader turned NRK journalist now, Rajan Chelliah, the NRK went on advising Norwegians to desist from visiting Sri Lanka, giving the impression to the audience that Sri Lanka is full of killer goons.

Yes, One can argue that media there has full independence to report as they perceive. But do they ever regard him as an exemplary Sri Lankan Tamil, who maintained excellent relations with Norway until he boldly and candidly asked Norwegians to "do it or leave it" ?. One also shouldn't forget how the LTTE inflicted physical injuries on DIG Wijewardene to blame on the so called "angry civilians" to support their nasty theories.

Kadirgamar, as the most outspoken statesman against LTTE terrorism overseas no doubt remained one of the tops in the LTTE hit list but his enormous contribution towards creating peace here after pruning the wings of LTTE terrorism, was overwhelmingly remarkable and invaluable.

The UN resolution on Suppression of Terrorist Funding saw the light of the day as an Act in the Parliament thanks to his untiring efforts. So much so for adoption of the UN resolution by him on child soldiers which was a severe blow to LTTE as the UNICEF began to come out with facts and figures. By his own appearance on the international stage, being himself an ethnic Tamil, he showed the world that LTTE verbose contradicts the fact that the LTTE was the sole representative of the Tamil people.

Another crowning attribute of this great man was his shuttle diplomacy towards reaching a broader understanding with India on bilateral defence matters, not to mention how he voiced against vandalization of Taliban Buddha statues and worked towards making Vesak a public holiday through UN. Could any sensible man, of course other than LTTErs, unashamedly justify the murder of a national leader of that caliber?

All these slayings remind us of our pathetic and desperate status quo in relation to the continuing implementation of the so-called CFA which is flouted unilaterally by LTTE with scant regard to its provisions and our na‹ve monitors who are scared of LTTE as and when a violent act is repeated.

On the other hand, the LTTE gives us the message that their adamant stand on the Eelam issue has not changed by an inch, though peaceniks speak otherwise since they cannot forge ahead without hard currency.

Do our policy makers understand this unflagging LTTE stance and counter it accordingly? Our miserable failure to understand the LTTE in its entirety, but execution of prima facie counter measures as quick solutions has also given the advantage to the enemy.

On the other hand, judged by the nature of killings so far perpetrated on eighty-six leading political leaders of this country, and also numerous numbers of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Police personnel, it is crystal clear that LTTE would no matter continue that violent cycle until they take their last target too.

Duplicity of foreign community

Uninterrupted issue of communiqu‚s by foreign missions and international community whenever a tragedy struck in Sri Lanka appears to be the order of the day for the sake of mere issuing or "courtesy", but in retrospect, all those statements so far issued have failed to blame the LTTE in a single instance even after identifying it at Police levels.

Was it the practice when the US, UK, Iraq, etc are attacked ? How come "shoot to kill" practice in Britain, for example ? By not naming the culprits when the case was pretty obvious, the international community very directly and openly encourages and promotes LTTE terrorism with a view to appeasing terrorists.

In other words, people who talk of our elections keep mum on LTTE terrorism and publicly aid and abet to destabilize a friendly nation for no fault of the government or its people.

What is urgently needed is a set of concrete actions on the part of the international community against the LTTE's continuing obduracy and killing spree. It is also the case with various Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs).

To date not a word of condemnation was heard on LTTE's brutal murder of TV newscaster, a mother of breast feeding infant, and her husband (except a few media organizations of course) just a day before Kadirgarmar was gunned down. Where are the Human Rights champions? Where have the Amnesty, Alert or Watchdogs gone or are they afraid of their own lives?

Security lapses

One might think that intransigent LTTE was using super methods to hunt their foes, but it was not the case.

They through days and weeks, perhaps months and years of long surveillance, identify our loopholes and weaknesses and finally manage to exploit them at the first opportune moment. As the terrorist dictum goes, a target has to be lucky all the time but the assassin has to be lucky only once. Let us admit that our Security Forces have erred and there had been lapses but how could one justify LTTE killings of that magnitude.

The wolf has come to our doorstep and we still appear to be groping in the dark as the dog-fighting in the south for power continues.

It is fitting to remind here that all those political jaunts would be possible, only if the country's security could be maintained. So give all their reins to the military as well as the Police to deal with the situation, so that they could do their job without any political interference. Let us resolve to do so, sooner the better without waiting until the next leader is butchered.

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