| SRI LANKA WATCH |
| "We are ready for any eventuality" - Thamilselvan By Wilson Gnanadass The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam’s (LTTE) political wing leader S. P. Thamilselvan describes President Mahinda Rajapakse as a man who says one thing and does another. According to him, the Tamils living in the north east have begun to loath the new president after his government carried out the aerial bombardment in the Muthur and Sambur areas immediately after the April 25 suicide attempt on Army Commander Sarath Fonseka. Thamilselvan in his maiden interview with The Nation, said Rajapakse is no different to his predecessors and added he has already earned the wrath of the Tamil people living in the north and east. "We know how the President is planning to solve the ethnic crisis through his ‘Mahinda Chinthana’. While pretending to show the world that he is interested in peace, Rajapakse goes on with the jingoistic Sinhala politics. This is unfortunate," Thamilselvan said. Following are excerpts from the interview: Q: What is your assess ment of the period of office held by President Mahinda Rajapakse since assuming duties? A: The Tamil people feel that the performance of President Rajapakse is totally dismal and disappointing. By experience the Tamil people see Rajapakse as another chauvinistic leader. He proclaims to be committed to peace and the resolution of the conflict, but at the same time carrying out the normal jingoistic Sinhala politics. This very clearly shows that every action of his is similar to that of his predecessors. Q: However President Rajapakse has given a solemn vow to the nation that he will honour the ceasefire agreement and not even vote for an amendment to the CFA? A: Words and deeds don’t match when it comes to Rajapakse’s governance. His so-called commitment to the ceasefire agreement was totally in disarray and contradicted when he ordered the aerial bombardment calling it an act of retaliation after the April 25 suicide attempt on the Army Commander. Calling the LTTE for talks in Geneva and giving the LTTE the assurance that the ceasefire agreement would be honoured and then continuing to violate it is something that we cannot accept. I must say here that it is under his regime that more than 400 innocent civilians have been killed. Saying that the government is ready to attend the Geneva talks and also invite the LTTE but placing restriction on the transport of the eastern leaders to participate in the central committee meeting is also something that we cannot accept. I think the President is creating problems for the LTTE by stating on the one hand that his government is ready to hold talks and then saying that the LTTE is not keen to participate. So in a nutshell we want to say that Rajapakse says one thing and does a different thing. Q: The government continues to point fingers at the LTTE for the escalation of violence in the north east and says it is the LTTE that throws the first stone. How would you respond? A: Normally the government tends to hold views that are normally advantageous to its governance, discrediting the other side. If one wants to know deeply the causative factors that have contributed to the CFA violence then he/she should go through the ceasefire agreement itself. The CFA places on both parties obligations that are to be fulfilled within a stipulated time frame. Now if one goes to the military occupied area he can see for himself the condition prevailing there and compare it with the stipulations in the CFA and find out whether the government has complied with its obligations to the CFA or not. The people there are not living in their own homes. The armed forces have evicted the people from places of religious worship, schools and public places and continue to construct new check points causing harassment to the people. First of all I must say that the occupation of the army itself is a serious violation of the natural human rights. So the architects of the CFA saw to it that the civilian population be given a respite by moving out the military from densely populated areas and stop harassing the people. But this has not happened. So if you go to the controlled area and compare the CFA vis a vis the violence then you will know who is violating the CFA. Q: Talking of the CFA violations, it must be noted here that even the SLMM has strongly condemned the LTTE and accused the movement of being responsible for CFA violations. After the attacks on two Dvoras recently the SLMM said in no uncertain terms that the Sea Tigers have no business in the sea. So it is not only the government that blames the LTTE? A: Taking the CFA into consideration, the paragraphs relating to the activities in the sea definitely says that the government of Sri Lanka while safeguarding the sovereignty of the nation and so on, cannot engage in any offensive operation against the LTTE. That does not mean that the LTTE has all the powers in the sea. But however, if the LTTE cannot go to the sea, that paragraph need not have been included in the CFA stating that the government cannot engage in any offensive action. There is another specific clause in the CFA that says that the status quo as of December 24, 2001 of both parties will remain. What was the status quo of the LTTE vis a vis the sea on December 24, 2001? We had our own fleet and the Sri Lankan Navy did not dare come closer to us. They were very far from us and it is the CFA that facilitated their movements here. So the status quo of the Sea Tigers with regards to the sea Tiger capacity is confirmed by the CFA itself. In this regard the SLMM has unfortunately given a statement that would not hold water. In fact I made it a point to get the SLMM down here and explain to them that the statement was wrong and the SLMM in return accepted its mistake. Q: Does it mean the LTTE will not hesitate to attack the navy if found in its waters? A: We are speaking in the context of the ceasefire agreement. Yes, if any entity is found to be violating the ceasefire agreement, whether through the air, the sea or the land, the LTTE has all its rights and prerogative to take tough action or punish them. Q: Is the LTTE preparing for war? A: Keeping the defence capabilities in order does not necessarily mean we are preparing for war. Yes, we keep our defence position well secured because this nation was subject to a war and the people of this nation have been subject to persecution and therefore they need to be ready for any genocidal war perpetrated by any entity. So, preparedness has always been there on the part of the LTTE. If in the event the oppressor decides to unleash a war against the Tamils, then the LTTE is every ready for that, squarely. Q: Does the LTTE feel the government is preparing for war in the backdrop of its discussion on defence supplies with India? A: The government’s engagement in the defence procurement, deference pacts and deals with other countries and also the shadow war that is considered as a precursor to the full-scale war are indications that the government is really preparing for war. And we are ready for anything. Q: Unfortunately the second round of peace talks could not be held due to various reasons. What are the chances in your view for the second round of talks? A: Nobody is pessimistic about it. But President Rajapakse’s actions do not tend to convincingly make us believe that the government is preparing the ground for the second round of talks. Q: The LTTE earlier said it would settle down for a solution based on a federal structure. The parties in the South believe a federal structure based on the Indian model is suitable for Sri Lanka while at the same time President Rajapakse is keen to establish a Sri Lankan model that would be acceptable to all the communities. What do you think is ideal to solve the present crisis? A: I think already Rajapakse has told the nation what his model would be through his ‘Mahinda Chinthana’. But as regards the model of governance for the Tamils, it is the Tamil people who have the right to decide as to which form or model of governance is suitable for them. It is the aggrieved party that has the option to make a choice and not anybody else. Q: What are the chances for peace, given the present ground situation? A: The CFA can be called the historical document wherein arrangements were spelled out at least for normalcy in Sri Lanka and proceed towards a political settlement. But now it is hanging on a very flimsy thread. The CFA is juxtaposed with the accelerating violence and killings by the state and we do not know how tenuous the thread is. But if at all the government is interested to have peace in this country, the CFA should be implemented 100 percent. Q: The LTTE is criticized for extorting money from the expatriate Tamils especially living in Canada. Is the movement run in this fashion? A: It is a meticulously crafted propaganda campaign by the government and other organizations to plant certain individuals and get statements from them to discredit our organization. Understand that whether it is Canada, US or any other European country these are all countries that have well structured law enforcement systems, individual liberty and privacy. No father can beat a son. If in the event the LTTE is engaged in extortion, definitely the victim can make a complaint to the police and make matters worse for the LTTE. But in reality the Tamils who feel that they have their roots down here contribute lavishly for the sake of a noble cause- that is to take care of the refugees, the orphans and the war victims. Q: The recently concluded Tamil Nadu election has apparently not satisfied the LTTE as Karunanidhi is not a man termed as ‘pro LTTE’ as against his opponent Jayalalitha. Is this a worry? A: The change of power in Tamil Nadu will not in any way affect the Tamils living in the north-east. It does not upset the LTTE either. There is definitely an umbilical connection between the Tamils living in Tamil Nadu and the Tamil Eelam will always remain tight and very cordial. Whichever the government in power the people’s relationship will continue to be very cordial. And anybody coming to power cannot change their stances against the will of the people of Tamil Nadu who really feel for their brethren here in Sri Lanka. THE NATION, 22.5.2006 |