Gota says north not militarized
Sri Lankan defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa has stoutly denied he was militarising the northern region and insisted troops “are maintaining absolutely essential presence” and were spread across all 22 districts on the island.
He was responding to the charge by Tamil parties and the diaspora that army camps flooded the north even after the government won the war over 30 months ago and no civilian activity — not even family celebrations — could happen without the presence of an army officer.
“We have achieved large-scale development and restoration of normalcy within a short span after ending the 30-year war on terror.
It’s sad some people do not recognise this and instead are talking of sanctions against us. Is this fair and justified?” Mr Gotabaya, the influential brother of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, told India’s Deccan Chronicle in an interview at his high-security office in Colombo.
Rajapaksa also pleaded for a “fair assessment” of the development work and restoration of normal life in the northern region “within a short time of ending the 30-year war against terror” instead of summary branding of the government as rights-abuser.
“In these two-and-a-half years since winning the war, we have made great progress but, unfortunately, some people do not recognise that and harp on unnecessary issues, talk of sanctions (against Colombo).
It was not an ordinary insurgency but real war. You cannot compare the LTTE with any other terrorist outfit, not even Al-Qaeda,” Mr Gotabaya said.
Asked about the fate of senior LTTE leader V. Balakumar (ex-EROS), the defence secretary quipped, “I do not know specific cases. Was he in detention? I do not know. Most of the known characters died in the final battle. Some surrendered. There was ICRC and other agencies during the surrender process.”
Stoutly contesting the charge that the surrendered Tigers were killed in cold blood, Mr Gotabaya said international agencies, including the French MSF (Medicines Sans Frontiers) and the Indian medical team, were present in the battle zone to receive survivors and surrendered militants, the Deccan Chronicle reported.
North has to be heavily militarized Gota. We can’t forget the past in couple of years. We Sri lankans want the total freedom from Dewundara thduwat to Peduruthuduwa. Simply we cant just throw away the life’s of beloved soldiers who have sacrifice for last 27 years to achieve this freedom. Tamils can be easily fooled because of their ethnic ego/ religion so must keep a good watch till they get their bolts tighten and become atheist.
Everyone who can recognize the Country by the name SRI LANKA, and who followed the WAR news in the last Two and a half years will say that the Defence Secretary is lying through his teeth when he denied that he was militarising the Northern Region of Sri Lanka. He was and he is against any Tamil speaking Tamils except a few self-centred Tamils who you can count with your fingers, who he calls his friends to gather information about Tamils living abroad. He has made several contradictory statements to media while being interviewed and has not stopped doing so. what is the guarantee he won’t in the future too if he has one?
in civilised democratic nations the presence of army its atachments vehicles uniforms etc violates the free movements of the citizens.
act when it is warranted in all other cases presence of army in public places create a feeling of occupied territory irrespective the colour of the individual
Gotabaya only knows to speak lies. He has never spoken a word of truth.