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The
leader of the EPDP, one of the few Tamil political
organisatons that haven’t given in to the LTTE
provides answers in an interview with The Island.
Excerpts:
Q:
Two Pradeshiya Sabhas under your control in Jaffna
recently adopted a resolution condemning the illegal
taxes extracted by the LTTE. Can you elaborate on
this resolution?
A:
We control 10 out of 17 local government bodies in
Jaffna. We see how the people suffer because of the
LTTE. In the past too we have protested against anti
democratic activities of the LTTE. The people are
scared to speak against the LTTE. They are being
terrorised. Tamil parties like the TNA - I call them
Tigers Appointed Agents - do nothing to help the
people, who want the LTTE atrocities exposed and we
being their representatives did just that. All 10
councils under our control will adopt that
resolution. Copies of the resolution have been sent
to the President, the Prime Minister, the Monitors,
all foreign missions in Colombo, the LTTE and
several others.
Q:
What was the situation in those areas before the MoU
was signed?
A:
When we were in control of the areas politically,
the LTTE could not operate the way it is doing at
present. Now the situation has changed. The LTTE is
moving about freely threatening the people and
claiming that they (the LTTE) will get the Interim
Administration shortly, they have the backing of the
international community etc. The MoU has
strengthened the hands of the LTTE to do so. Prior
to the MoU, we didn’t allow the LTTE to terrorise
people. Apart from intimidatory tactics, the LTTE is
telling the people that under an Interim
Administration controlled by them, the people would
be taxed anyway and they might as well pay them now.
Q:
But we are told that there were massive rallies in
support of the LTTE when its representatives entered
Jaffna under the MoU the other day. Doesn’t the
LTTE enjoy people’s support?
A:
I can say with confidence that more than 80 per cent
of the people of Jaffna don’t want the LTTE. But
they are too scared to oppose the LTTE. They come to
us with their grievances and complain against the
LTTE. The same goes for the people in many other
areas where the LTTE is operating.
Q:
You are said to be opposed to an Interim
Administration as demanded by the LTTE. Under
President Premadasa and later under President
Kumaratunga, you also wanted an interim council,
didn’t you?
A:
Yes, we advocated an interim administration in the
early 1990s. President Premadasa said, "Balamu"
[Let’s see]. Then later we asked President
Kumaratunga for same and she said,
"Karamu" [Let’s do it]. But nothing
happened as the TULF then opposed an interim
administration tooth and nail. The reason that the
TULF gave was that an interim administration at that
juncture would derail the political process aimed at
finding a permanent solution. But today the TULF is
advocating exactly the opposite of what it said
then.
Q:
How different was the Interim Council that you had
in mind and the one being demanded by the LTTE?
A:
The main difference is that we wanted it for
construction and the LTTE wants it for destruction.
We wanted an interim administration to solve the
day-to-day problems of the people whose lives were
devastated by the war. We saw the need for
alternative political leadership.
Q:
If one remembers right, you wanted to involve India
too, didn’t you?
A:
We wanted India’s participation too. Above all, we
wanted the Interim Administration to be truly
democratic and to promote pluralism in the North and
East. Those who did not grant it, I think, have now
realised its importance.
Q:
The interim council on the cards is also being
projected as a multi party set-up. Why should you
oppose it? Aren’t you also saying exactly the
opposite of what you advocated then?
A:
Even if an interim administration is formed with the
participation of all parties at present, the fact
remains that the LTTE is the only armed group that
will be in it. The LTTE therefore will be able to
force others out. Given the military strength of the
LTTE, others will be too cowed to oppose it. We can
see what has happened to the TNA in Parliament and
elsewhere. At the last meeting that the TNA had with
the LTTE, they were asked to work under LTTE area
commanders. When they are talking about an interim
administration, they are talking about one that will
be in the hands of an armed group. There will be no
democracy under such an administration. The
disastrous outcome of such a set-up will not be
confined to the north and east alone. It will spill
over to the south too.
This
is the main difference between the interim
administration that we wanted and the one that is
going to be set up. That is why we are opposed to
it.
Q:
Then what do you want?
A:
Our position is that an interim administration as
the very term means should be part of a composite
package and should come between the end of
negotiations for a political solution and the
elections held to set up the administration agreed
upon by all parties.
Q:
You seem to be not so enamoured by the MoU. How do
you view it?
A:
First I must say we are all for peace and will
extend out fullest cooperation to the government to
achieve peace. We believe that for this purpose the
UNP, the PA and the JVP must co-operate too. But as
for the MoU we are not happy about certain clauses.
Yet we will support the political process to find a
negotiated solution...
Q:
What are those clauses?
A:
For example, those who can complain against MoU
violations are only the government and the LTTE.
Nowhere is it mentioned that the people can do so.
But we got the Norwegian ambassador to clear it so
that anyone can make such complaints. We are making
complaints on behalf of the people. The government
is not bothered. So far we have taken up 37
incidents - including abductions and killings. Under
the pretext of doing political work permitted by the
MoU, the LTTE is terrorising the people. It is one
way traffic in favour of the LTTE.
The
LTTE has not only entered the areas under government
control but also imposing restrictions on democratic
political parties. All 37 incidents of LTTE violence
that I just spoke of, save a few, have taken place
in the government controlled areas. The other day
the LTTE brought the body of a person to his family
and threatened them not to talk about it. They gave
Rs. 5, 000 for the funeral.
In
another heart-rending incident, the LTTE summoned
the owner of a video shop in Jaffna and asked him to
cough up Rs. 5 million. He did not know what to do.
He went home and while relating to his wife what the
LTTE wanted he fell dead - he had suffered a heart
attack.
We
appreciate Prime Minister Wickremasinghe’s
approach but we have reservations about the MoU.
Q:
You talked of a political process. What is the
starting point and who should be the key players in
the would be negotiations?
A:
Talks must begin. But talks must not be confined
only to the government and the LTTE. Talks may begin
between the two parties. However as they go on, all
other parties must get involved in them and whatever
solution is arrived at has to be underwritten by all
parties. Otherwise what will happen is someone will
try to sabotage it. In this respect, the national
consultation initiated by President Kumaratunga is
salutary in our opinion.
Q:
You are said to be keeping a tab on LTTE movements.
According to your information how intense have LTTE
infiltrations into government controlled areas, been
after the MoU? And what will be the scenario in case
the peace process coming a cropper?
A:
If something goes wrong - God forbid! - the security
forces will be confused as to who the LTTE
combatants are and who real civilians are. In such a
situation unlike in the past when the LTTE attacks
came mainly from the front, the security forces will
be attacked from all sides especially from among
civilians. All the so-called political cadres of the
LTTE are none but combatants, who have entered the
government controlled areas in large numbers. We are
pretty sure that they have smuggled in weapons as
well. This situation will not be confined to the
North and east alone.
Q:
Can you elaborate on the situation in Colombo? How
many LTTE brainwashed bombers or suicide bombers as
they are commonly known and specially trained LTTE
combatants have entered the city after the MoU?
A:
It can be about 50 suicide bombers and 250
combatants. If something goes wrong, it will be
disastrous. We will have suicide bombers walking in
anywhere and blowing themselves up.
Q:
You have had first hand experience with Prabhakaran.
What do you think Prabhakaran’s strategy is?
A:
The conflict in the past had been between the
government forces and the LTTE. Prabhakaran’s aim
is to turn this conflict into a war between Tamils
and Sinhalese. This is exactly what we don’t want.
That will make things very easy for him: In such an
eventuality, he will gain the sympathy of the
international community.
Q:
What about the talks of the LTTE being the sole
representative of Tamils?
A:
Nonesense! We don’t for a moment think that is so!
That’s why we are different from other Tamil
political parties. Democratic pluralism must be
there in Tamil politics at all times. If the LTTE is
allowed to hijack democracy in the North and East,
its adverse impact will certainly spill over to the
rest of the country. This talk of the LTTE being the
sole representative is a very dangerous thing. It
must never be encouraged.
Q:
You pointed to the need for India’s involvement in
the resolution of Sri Lanka’s conflict. Can you
elaborate on that?
A:
India has already been involved and we want that to
continue. India is a regional power and is concerned
about its national security. If we are going to do
something that will affect its national security, it
is going to put a spoke in our wheel. Practically,
India is the only country that can help solve our
problem. Even if India does not come in at this
stage, ultimately we need it. Indo Lanka Peace
Accord is still valid. We cannot pretend that it
does not exist. The LTTE was extremely foolish in
rejecting the 13 th Amendment that resulted from
this Accord. The LTTE recently published a list of
its cadres killed. It placed the figure at 17,000.
By the time the Accord was signed, it had lost only
650 cadres. Had it been wise, it could have saved
all others killed afterwards and thousands of other
lives as well as property worth billions could have
been saved.
Q:
You have welcomed the leasing of part of the Trinco
oil tank farm to India, haven’t you?
A:
Yes we have. It was done in keeping with the
annextures of the Accord, which say that the tank
farms should be a joint venture between the two
countries.
Q:
But the LTTE hasn’t taken kindly to it. Isn’t it
a slap on the LTTE’s face?
A:
Yes, the LTTE is not happy. The TNA is not happy as
the LTTE is not happy. We don’t view the leasing
of the tanks as a move against the LTTE. Sri
Lanka’s economy is in a very bad shape and
ventures of this nature are essential for economic
recovery. Whether we lease out the tanks today or in
ten years time, we have to do it with India. India
is going to put in capital and we believe that this
project is going to generate a great deal of
revenue. The PA and the JVP, we learn, are not
opposed to the deal.
Q:
How do you view the anti-Muslim frenzy of the LTTE
as manifest in the recent LTTE- instigated anti
Muslim violence at Valachchena?
A:
It has been there right throughout. This is not the
first time. The LTTE chased Muslims from Jaffna
years ago. The LTTE believes in ethnic cleansing.
That is one main reason why we are opposed to the
LTTE. We believe that Tamils, Sinhalese and Muslims
must be able to live together in the North and east
enjoying all their democratic rights as equal
citizens. We want all those chased away by the LTTE
to return to their homes.
Q:
So how can the LTTE’s anti Muslim violence be
prevented?
A:
The LTTE is not definitely going to solve this
problem. It is the perpetrator. In the long term all
parties concerned must come forward to prevent the
LTTE unleashing violence against Muslims and others.
In the short term, it is the government’s
responsibility to protect them. It must not shift
camps that provide protection to Muslims.
The
government on the other hand must maintain law and
order so that civilians will be benefited. There is
a vacuum in the law and order situation in the North
and east. People don’t know whom to complain
against LTTE atrocities. The Sri Lanka Monitoring
Mission(SLMM) refuses to entertain their complaints.
When the go to the police, the police too won’t
entertain their complaints.
For
examples, when the LTTE banned the popular Tamil
language journal, ‘Thinamurusu’ in Batticaloa,
the management wrote to the SLMM, which referred it
to the Batticaloa district office, where there is an
LTTE representative. Then the LTTE went and
threatened shop owners and they are now too scared
to sell the paper. This paper had been selling in
Batticaloa for over ten years. Where can the
Thinamurusu seek justice? There are hundreds of such
instances where justice has been denied to
civilians.
Q:
You said certain camps should not move. But the MoU
says that all camps locate in schools, temples etc.
must move...?
A:
But if that is going to jeopardise the security of
Muslims or others, the government must renegotiate
with the LTTE on them and tell them in no uncertain
terms that those camps will not move.
Q:
While on the subject, what really happened to the
LTTE commander in the East, Karikalan according to
your information?
A:
He has been removed. Not in the interest of Tamils
or the LTTE. (Laughing) But in the interest of
Prabhakaran himself. You know what happened to
Mahattaya [one time deputy leader of the LTTE]. When
the IPKF pulled out, Mahattaya tried to cooperate
with the Sri Lanka authorities. Prabhakaran grew
paranoid and thought one day Mahattaya would be the
Chief Minister of the North and East. Mahattaya was
killed.
Prabhakaran
will tell the world that Karikalan was removed as he
was against the peace process etc. But in reality
Karikalan is very popular in the organisation [LTTE]
as well as among others. He was meeting ministers,
religious leaders, army high rankers et al. He is
considered the alternative leader of the LTTE.
Prabhakaran does not like that. Karikalan is a
victim of a personality clash. It is very typical of
Prabhakran, who mistakenly believes that he is not
only the leader of the LTTE but also all Tamils the
world over. Any one who comes up in the LTTE asks
for trouble. Very soon we will have Prabhakaran
blaming all what has gone wrong for him like the
LTTE-instigated anti Muslim violence in Valachchena,
on Karikalan. |
