[Saturday, December 01, 2007 - 5.10 GMT] 

The Ministry of  Defence in a statement rejecting the allegation made by Reporters without Borders (RsF) and other organizations that the recent attack on the LTTE's 'Voice of Tigers was a war crime, states that in addition to propaganda for the terrorist organization the activities there included clandestine armed activities, targeting both the Sri Lankan security forces and vulnerable civilians.
  
Here is the text of the statement:
  
The Ministry of Defence rejects with contempt and as completely unfounded the allegation by Reporters sans Frontiers (RsF) or  Reporters without Borders, based in Paris, and other foreign and Sri Lankan organizations, that the successful air strike on the Voice of Tigers (VoT) radio station of the LTTE on November 27 was a ”war crime”.
  
The VoT facility that was destroyed in the attack was a well known operation of the terrorist LTTE, which in addition to being used for propaganda for the separatist aims of the LTTE, which violate the Sri Lankan Constitution, has also been known to have been used for its clandestine armed activities, targeting both the Sri Lankan security forces and vulnerable civilians.
  
It has to be stated that this attack was not carried out in the course of a war between sovereign states, as attempted to be shown by these organizations invoking the Geneva Conventions and related Protocols with regard to it. This attack was an action required in the current operations to rid Sri Lanka of terrorism that is being carried out by an organization that is committed to the use of violence and terror to further its aims; and has repeatedly shown that it has no regard for any recognized norms of behaviour in seeking to achieve its goals. There are no international conventions that give terrorist organizations any special protection to carry out their propaganda and/or terrorist activity under cover of such propaganda activity.
  
The Intelligence that pointed out the location where SP Thamilchelvan was when the Air Force targeted the place, has over time, also given us many clues to the actual purposes for which this VoT station was being used in addition to its terrorist propaganda purposes, which information we do not have to share with these organizations. Such locations will be taken out with similar accuracy, when it is necessary to do so, in the battle to eradicate terrorism from Sri Lanka .  
  
The armed forces of this country are engaged in a battle to eradicate terrorism from our midst, and there will be no room for organizations, whether foreign or local, who seek to obstruct them in this task, through spurious accusations about “war crimes” as stated by RsF and others.
 

PRINT THIS STORY

Contact Information: Send mail to priu@presidentsoffice.lk with questions or comments about this web site. 
Last Updated Date: December 01, 2007 - 5.10 GMT