Any ceremonial commemoration of terrorist leaders will radicalise another generation of extremists and terrorists, Dr. Rohan Gunaratna said cautioning against the politically motivated moves to celebrate the LTTE's heroes’ day on November 27. Some controversial Tamil politicians said they would organise ceremonies to commemorate the LTTE heroes’ day this week.
Dr. Rohan Gunaratna is an Honorary Professor at the Sir John Kotalawala Defence University, Sri Lanka.
The police obtained a court order against any ceremony to glorify the terrorists, while the Jaffna Provincial High Court on Friday dismissed four petitions which sought to negate the police action.
Commenting on the attempts by some TNA MPs to liken the LTTE to the JVP, he said there was no threat of an armed uprising by the JVP, whereas the LTTE elements overseas attempt to revive the group to achieve their separatist agenda in Sri Lanka. Former TNA MP Shivajilingam has reportedly said that if the JVP members are permitted to commemorate their departed members, the Tamils should also be permitted to do the same and remember LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran.
"The families can pay their respects to the departed at home, a church or a kovil. There is no need for a grand ceremony, red and yellow flags, tiger memorabilia and insignia," Dr. Gunaratna said adding that the commemoration of the dead is a family matter.
"The Government should rehabilitate anyone campaigning to glorify Prabhakaran, the terrorist movement and separatism," he said. He said the Bureau of the Commissioner General of Rehabilitation should rehabilitate those glorifying terrorists, terrorism and other forms of violence.
Dr. Gunaratna said as the LTTE is an international terrorist group, the Government should also list under the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1373 any individual and entity overseas supporting the LTTE, adding that the Government should build bridges to unite all communities through education, sports, employment, urban planning, trade, youth initiatives and other interfaces.
