| "I
have always said I am ready for negotiations with the
LTTE. I have said so earlier and I say so today, too.
In fact in my first statement on assuming office as
President I invited the LTTE for negotiations. But their
response was to begin attacking unarmed members of the
security forces and civilians, from about a week after
I made that request. They have continuedgs almost daily
since then," said Presidentking to Indian journalists
at the Rural Litigation & Empowerment Centre, at
Dehradun where laid the foundation stone for the Indo-Sri
Lanka Human Right Centre for SAARC today (Nov. 26. 06).
Answering questions from media persons
President Rajapaksa said that despite this wave of violence
by the LTTE, the Government did not take any retaliatory
action, but showed great patience and restraint, which
was commended by the world. The first retaliation by
the armed forces took place only after an LTTE suicide
killer attacked the Army Commander in April this year.
After that, in July this year the LTTE blocked the Mavil
Aru anicut cutting off water for drinking and irrigation
to nearly 20,000, people, mainly cultivators in the
East. "I had to ask the armed forces to open the
anicut, as a humanitarian gesture and to defend the
rights of the citizens.
The President also explained that
after blockage of Mavil Aru, the LTTE had moved beyond
its Forward Defence Lines at Muhamalai, and attacked
the armed forces there, moving nearly three kilometers
beyond their lines. The army had to repulse that move.
Answering questions whether Sri Lanka
had he would ask the Indian Prime Minister for joint
patrolling of the sea north of Sri Lanka by India and
Sri Lanka, President Rajapaksa, and whether any such
request had been made to India, President Rajapaksa
said, no such request had been made. What he would request
from the Indian Prime Minister was to work out a method
of safeguarding the waters North of Sri Lanka from the
threats of the LTTE. He said any increased strength
of the LTTE's Sea Tigers was not only a threat to Sri
Lanka, but to India, the other countries of the region.
It was also a threat to international peace.
President Rajapaksa said there was
no specific agenda for his discussions later this week
with the Indian Prime Minister. He looked forward to
the meeting to help explain Sri Lanka's position on
current developments. "We always valued our friendship
with India and our discussion will be based on that
understanding," he said.
Responding to questions as to when
the Government would lift the blockade of Jaffna and
open the A9 route, President Rajapaksa said there was
no blockade to Jaffna. The A9 route was open up to Muhamalai.
It is closed only from there as the LTTE was attacking
the security forces from there. The
government was taking adequate steps to increase food
and other essential supplies to Jaffna. He said there
was a great deal of misinformation about the situation
in Jaffna, particularly by some political parties in
Tamilnadu. Most of what they said was not based on a
correct assessment of
the situation.
In response to questions about reports
about the security forces being involved in the recruitment
of child soldiers, the President said that was a ridiculous
allegation. "To say that our forces are doing this
is a joke. In fairness to the LTTE, even they have so
far never said that the Government or the security forces
were engaged in such work. I totally reject this as
a baseless allegation," he said.
Asked by a journalist whether Sri
Lanka wanted international military assistance to help
it by ending troops to fight the LTTE, President Rajapaksa
said there was no such need. "Our troops are capable
of doing that."
When asked how India could
help, the President said that India could help in many
ways. It could help prevent the LTTE getting funds,
smuggling arms and other illegal activities.
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