|
Q:
What have you got to say now since the LTTE has
agreed to allow other parties to conduct political
activities in the North/East?
Who are they to give permission to us to conduct
political activities in the North and the East? We
have no faith on LTTE’s utterances. Recently they
have abducted three of our long-standing members and
they say that they have allowed other parties to
move freely. They got to prove what they are saying.
That is the important thing.
Q: Your views on the latest developments with regard
to the peace process?
We have been saying the same thing for the past ten
years or so about power sharing at the center and
the autonomy in the region. All those killings,
destruction and creating havoc in the country was
unnecessary. But, I don’t think that the LTTE is
genuine about it.
Q: Do you think that the LTTE should disband their
army to show their genuineness?
Yes. They should. They must hand over the heavy
weapons like artillery immediately and all other
arms after the settlement and the political
agreement. It is important for the peace process to
succeed.
Q: Your comments on the allegation made by SLFP
parliamentarian Anura Bandaraniake that Norway had
handed over powerful communication equipment to the
LTTE to commence a radio and a television station?
We don’t know who supplied the equipment but we
know that it has already reached them. There is a
move to establish a TV and a Radio station by the
Tigers. Knowing the LTTE we have no hope on them and
they will use the radio and the TV station for
destruction.
Q: How about the newspaper North/East Herald funded
by the Swedish, SIDA?
It is run by Taraki alias Sivaram the man who runs
the Tamil Net, which I refer to as the Tiger Net. It
is a Tiger paper. We don’t see any justification
for an international agency to finance a newspaper
of this nature because it’s promoting the
terrorist viewpoint.
Q: Would you like to meet Prabhakran to iron out the
differences between your two parties?
It is not necessary. But, If he proves that he is
genuine and sincere then we may consider it.
Q: You are also a leader of a Tamil party and there
is an effort to recognize the LTTE as the sole
representative of the Tamils. Could you accept that?
No. They are not the sole representatives of the
Tamils. Because in Jaffna during the last elections
the 5 party coalition led and backed by the LTTE
also contested. They got 102,000 and the EPDP
without any other party joining us got 52,000. There
were so many allegations that TNA stuffed the boxes.
They stuffed more than half the votes. So, you see
we have got more than half of the votes without any
problems and without the backing and the support of
the LTTE. The LTTE cannot contest alone and they
know it.
Q: Do you think that the LTTE can enter democratic
politics?
So, far they have no hope. In the last interview
Prabhakran said that they are for a separate state.
They give a different picture to the Tamil community
in the Tamil media and give a different picture to
the international community and the media. Recently
some important LTTE members living in Europe who
were collecting money said that they were for a
separate state. So, Prabhakaran should prove
otherwise.
Q: How could he prove it?
By his actions only. Look at their demonstrations
against us, the LTTE is trying to chase us away from
the Delft, Jaffna and other areas. But, in Thailand
and in Oslo they say something else. Just look at
what is happening in the North and the East? They
still use students for
demonstrations and other activities.
Q: Do you think that Prabhakaran could ever come out
in the open?
No. Not at all. It is difficult for him to do that.
He cannot survive in a democratic set up and
that’s why he wants a piece of land to rule like a
dictator.
Q: Do you have faith in the Norwegians and the SLMM?
Partly. They don’t know the correct picture. But,
the Indians know the correct picture. So, that’s
why we want the Indians to get involved.
Q: Could you elaborate on that?
In all aspects, monitoring, implementation and so
on. I say that the Indian involvement is not enough
now. But, they may get involved now since they
understand the reality.
Q: Do you often have discussions with the Prime
Minister and what are your parties understanding
with him?
Yes. We discuss all issues, political and practical
problems. Since we handed over the arms after the
MOU it is their duty to protect us.
Q: Do you think the crisis in the SLMC could affect
the peace process?
No. It is the responsibility of the government to
represent and speak on behalf of all the citizens of
this country. Plight of the Muslims is also a part
of it.
Q: What are your parties support base?
We have explained it clearly with the case of the
general elections. There are 500,000 people living
in Jaffna and the LTTE is unable to get more than
100 people in Jaffna to demonstrate against us. That
too, they force them and get school children
involved. They say in Oslo that they don’t get
students for protests and so on. But, they still do
that. If the LTTE ask the principals to give
students they immediately do that. That does not
mean that they are with the LTTE. It is done out of
fear. They have terrorized the people and the people
are scared of them.
Q: How is your rapport with the Southern parties?
They understand our stand and we have a good rapport
with all of them.
|
