The killing of Eliyathamby Nagenthiran alias Kausalyan by unidentified persons in the Eastern Province this week  is likely to result in the terrorist ending up in the pantheon of martyrs of LTTE terrorism, if we are to go by the tears that are being shed for him by his colleagues. Sentiments  generated by violent deaths  in the ranks of the LTTE very much dependent on a death cult for survival and existence should come as no surprise.  What is a matter of grave concern for all Sri Lankans is the effect of` terrorist propaganda on this issue in the international scene.

It has resulted in not only many international human rights organisations expressing grave concern on the impact of the Kausalyan killing on the 'peace process' but even the Secretary General of` the United Nations, Kofi Annan himself` expressing his concern about this killing and its impact  on the so-called Peace Process in this country. Such an expression of concern , by a holder of this office, we believe, is very rare if not exceptional. Mr Annan  most probably would have been concerned about peace in this country rather than the particular individual but this unusual statement has caused much resentment among Sri Lankans who have been plagued by LTTE terrorism for a near quarter century.

LTTE terrorism has resulted in the killing of about 65,000 people of all parties involved. Thus, what's intriguing is why the death of this middle ranking leader in the LTTE should  be blown out of proportion. It is alleged  by the LTTE that his killing along with a few others who were in his company, was a violation of the Cease Fire Agreement signed between the UNP government of Ranil Wickremesinghe and the LTTE.  Which particular provision of the agreement that is supposed  to have been violated has not been cited by any party. And the  Norwegian led Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission has ruled that no violation of the Cease Fire Agreement has resulted with these killings. Quite obviously this was - as described in sporting terms - a Home Vs Home Match, between two factions of the LTTE. Why oh why, is it that the Sri Lankan armed forces and the agreement are being brought in?

The issue becomes fruitier and nuttier because the government while apologising  for the killings has claimed that it is a violation of the Cease Fire Agreement! This government has been quite at sea even before the tsunami and now seems to be neck deep in it, in this post-tsunami period. By admitting that it is a violation of the Cease Fire Agreement, are they admitting that the Sri Lankan armed forces were involved? If there was any violation of the provisions, it was incumbent on the part of the government to say which provisions were violated.

Who in the opinion of the government was behind the killing of Kausalyan and others? Surely they cannot mean the armed services? Or are they saying that the UNP did it?

The UNP takes us further down the corridors of the Angoda Mental Asylum when they too say that it is a violation of their Cease Fire Agreement but also do not specify which`A0 provisions have been violated. Is it because they want to get the government to take responsibility and garner LTTE support?

The LTTE and their proxies, the Tamil National Alliance have been  hinting that since the killings took place in an area under government control, it would have been done  by or with the connivance of the government forces. This is utter balderdash. Did Kausalyan and his companions inform the armed services that they were entering government controlled territory? If not, who was violating the Cease Fire Agreement? And if the killing of Tigers in government controlled territory  is a violation of the Cease-fire Agreement and there by a threat to the cease- fire holding, what of 45 intelligence operatives of the armed forces killed by the LTTE in  government territory  and the attempted assassination of` Cabinet Minister Douglas Devananda in his office situated right across the street from the UK and US embassies? Was Koffi Annan as concerned about peace in Sri Lanka then?

It all boils down to the ruthless efficiency of the LTTE propaganda machine and flat footed government propagandists of successive governments who are adept only at kicking into their own goals as seen in this Kausalyan issue. Stuck with their proposal for an Interim Self-Governing Authority (ISGA) that was not being accepted they callously grabbed the opportunity of the tsunami to put in place the ISGA proposals: We will take over distribution of relief supplies  and reconstruction; the government should keep out. Pressure had to be put on the government to cave into their demands and they saw an opportunity in accusing the government of discrimination in relief supplies. Kausalyan's killing by the Karuna faction was manna from heaven to blame it all  on the government and accuse it of jeopardising the existing cease-fire. During the weekend they fired on army check points on the A9 road to send a message to the 'international community': We mean war.

President Kumaratunga has no option other than to tell the terrorists and the international community: We want peace but not at the cost of the liberty and independence of all our people and  the territorial integrity of Lanka.