Darusman Report Used Data &;amp; Statistics from Tamilnet &;amp; LTTE Sources-Prof Gunaratna

The final session in the first day of the international seminar, “Defeating Terrorism-The Sri Lankan Experience” now underway at Colombo, Galadari Hotel was addressed by the globally-acclaimed expert on terrorism, Prof Rohan Gunaratna who presented an overview of the LTTE modus operandi across continent. 

The seminar first of its kind in Sri Lanka, meant to share Sri Lanka’s experience on the road to military defeat of the LTTE, the world’s most ruthless terrorist organization, is being attended by over 80 delegates representing 41 countries, including Sri Lanka.  

Prof Gunaratna elaborating on reasons that were attributable to the defeat of LTTE terrorism said firstly, the Army was able to detect hideouts and disrupt LTTE supply lines in partnership with naval troops, secondly, the Army had the luxury of attracting recruits to the Army on a large scale as the MoD was closely interacting with the people at that stage. Thirdly, the clear and determined will of the President of Sri Lanka, despite international pressure, managed the international pressure in an excellent manner.

As the theatre of war was in full swing, the LTTE reached out to British, US and Canadian constituent members and heavily lobbied asking them to organize an immediate ceasefire in Sri Lanka but when they were asked to surrender by the European Union and other sympathetic nations they declined, which in turn angered those powers. Instead, the LTTE expected to buy space as a ceasefire as they had been in the practice of doing so in previous instances, taking the governments for a ride.

With the marked improvement in professionalism of the Sri Lankan soldier, particularly due to training over time, the world saw the other side of the story and began to ridicule the LTTE. ‘Excellent relations with India, the government has had in the period of operations, today and also in the future need to be maintained and continued for Sri Lanka to prosper. Even to-date, LTTE threat overseas prevails and Sri Lanka should enact international law and jurisdiction, through which any terrorist operating overseas can be brought back home for justice. LTTE has now moved out to the international arena. A comprehensive mechanism to counter LTTE’s false propaganda should be strengthened,’ Prof Gunaratna said.

Commenting on the need for a huge information network that reach out to western capitals, he added that the LTTE with its satellite information networks continue to spread disinformation against ground realities in Sri Lanka. ‘Biggest challenges that lie ahead include emergence of mainstream Tamil political leadership and implementation of a huge information infrastructure that set Sri Lankan case in correct perspective.’

‘Darusman report consists of direct data and statistics taken from Tamilnet Website and other pro-LTTE resources. Now, though there is no war, you need to fight with laptops in the corridors of power,’ Prof Gunaratna underlined.

Referring to the notion of reconciliation, for which the Sri Lankan government has done a lot by now, Prof Gunaratna said time has come to look back at distant past as well as distant future, considering root causes of terrorism. Both Sinhala and Tamil students need to learn together and use each other’s language to create a prosperous nation. ‘On a Christmas day when I was with some 11,000 LTTE cadres, it was the Sri Lankan Army which offered its ration packets of soldiers to be used as special meals on that day since the food providing agency has unexpectedly stopped supplies,’ he said.     

He also pointed out how the LTTE after giving up procurements from Bulgaria and Ukraine shifted its purchases through other eastern Asian countries and Middle East.