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In an Address to the Nation over a state television last night President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, , asserted that the Government would not leave any room for the LTTE to fasten its grip again on the 500,000 Tamil people in Jaffna. The President said the Tamil people in the North-East were clearly against fascist terrorism. They desire an end to the war. She added that the LTTE record vis-a-vis peace talks clearly indicated its opposition to Tamil people being granted their due rights. It is clear that it has no desire to abandon the war and bring about peace. "The LTTE's obsession is to go against the aspirations of the very people they pretend to be liberating, make terror its weapon and subjugate the entire country including Tamils," the President said. She accused the LTTE of blocking peace efforts initiated both by her government as well as the UNP. Are they seeking to bring the entire country under their control, she questioned. However, she expressed her satisfaction over the UNP's participation in current talks on constitutional reforms and other related matters. She also said that she tried to initiate talks with the LTTE recently. But they continued their killing spree. She reminded the assassination of the TULF MP Neelan Tiruchelvam and also the December 18, last year attempt on her life. President Kumaratunga urged the whole nation to rally round the Armed Forces and the Government at this moment to ensure victory, overcoming any temporary setbacks. "It was about six months ago that the present crisis situation occurred. The Armed Forces faced setbacks in the Wanni and in Elephant Pas. Although this is temporary setback, it is a serious setback. It is in the full knowledge of the seriousness of the situation that we decided to place the country on a war footing," she said. The President said the war footing was essential as the Government, Armed Forces and the Police need powers to successfully and strongly face up to the genocidal politics of the LTTE, which are aimed against all communities in the country. "We have no intention of suppressing the people through these regulations. On the contrary the objective of this exercise is to ensure the security of Tamil people and all other minorities and religious groups," she said. She stressed that the new emergency regulations were purely temporary and would be removed as soon as the present crisis passes, pointing out that the Government had left out certain provisions which were included in the emergency regulations proclaimed by the then Government in 1985 and in 1989. "The present regulations will be used only if a requirement arises. The Government has no wish to administer the country under emergency regulations even for a single unwarranted moment. The Police and other officials have been instructed clearly on how they should act under these circumstances." She reminded the Nation that when the Government came into power in 1994, there were only military camps in the North and the major part of the province was under Tiger control. It was an unofficial Eelam Government. The PA changed this situation after 1994, bringing 80 per cent of the territory in the North under Government control. It was the Pa Government which liberated Jaffna which the UNP had delivered to the LTTE. She said the Government had again tried to talk pace with the LTTE during the last one year through the good offices of other countries. There was no healthy response from the LTTE. "They killed Tamil people's representatives and tried to assassinate me. They have intensified terrorist attacks." She thanked all friendly Governments and the people of those countries for their support they have extended following the appeal we made to them. "It is an appreciation of the foreign policy of our Government as well as our policies to bring ethnic peace that the international community has come forward to support us." Making an impassioned appeal to youth, the President said: "This is the moment when your commitment and co-operation is most needed for the security of our Motherland. Extend all the help you can to encourage the heroic troops in their endeavour to bring about victory."
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