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| Sunday, 5 December 2004 |
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Prabhakaran contradicts himself Weekend Politics by Suraj & Viraj LTTE leader Velupillai Prabakaran's so called heroes day address has now proved that the Tiger position on the resumption of peace talks is contradictory. The LTTE over the past few months claimed that their stand was to resume the dialogue on an unconditional basis.
The government too was prepared to begin talks on that basis with immediate emphasis on an interim administration to provide humanitarian relief to the North East people whom the LTTE claimed were undergoing untold hardships due to the delay in the resumption of peace talks. The Tigers seemed not interested in the government's response to find immediate relief to the suffering people of that territory. At this point the LTTE began to unfold its true colours. Urgent relief Instead of accepting the proposal to start talks based on an interim administration to provide urgent relief to the suffering people there, the LTTE in its usual style moved away from the urgent need of the people to focus on the Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA). The question that the Tigers should answer is what they meant by their continued stand using the term 'unconditional'. The so called LTTE theoretician Anton Balasingham, a good interpreter with a sound knowledge of English as he claims, should now look up the Dictionary to understand the correct meaning of that word. If the LTTE stand was unconditional, the demand for the ISGA to be the criteria to resume talks would be contradictory. Despite the LTTE's position of an unconditional stand to resume talks, the Government sincerely accommodated the request to provide immediate humanitarian assistance to the suffering in the once trouble torn area by proposing an interim administration that included more benefits to those people. President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga sent several messages through the Norwegians to the LTTE leadership asserting her commitment to resume talks and to provide relief to the people in that territory. However, the Tigers seemed ignorant to react promptly on behalf of the people whom they claim to represent. Instead, Prabakaran used the heroe's day address to insist on the ISGA as the basis to resume talks. He also warned of a freedom struggle if the resumption of talks further delayed. This looked a direct threat to the government ruling the country. Prabakaran's record of freedom struggles has never been peaceful. He has claimed thousands of lives of all communities. Even during the ceasefire, both under the UNF and the UPFA, his cadres have killed several political opponents of the Tamil community. Following his warning, the Government swiftly responded this week ending the ding-dong battle on the so called ISGA to be the basis to resume talks. The government which read Prabakaran's heroe's day address between the lines, threw the challenge back at Prabakaran questioning as to what he meant by unconditional talks. The government argued that if the position was unconditional as claimed by the LTTE, there could be no condition for an ISGA to be a basis to resume talks. Well, the ball is now in the LTTE court and Prabakaran must clearly define as to what he meant by the term 'unconditional'. Freedom struggle The LTTE leader and his theoretician Anton Balasingham seem to utilise many strategies to pressurise the government. The set of twenty two Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarians are known sympathisers of the LTTE. They are the voice of the Tigers in the august assembly. On the advice of the LTTE, the TNA parliamentarians have begun to lobby the LTTE demand for an ISGA during the current budget debate. The government has so far countered them successfully. These parliamentarians during their protests in the House have unfolded the true meaning of the term 'freedom struggle' of their leader in Vanni. They warned the government that if the ISGA demand was not met, the ultimatum would be war. The truth is that Prabakaran's so called freedom struggle is another war to bathe the nation with blood. Already the LTTE has gone into action in that direction. Their conduct in the North and East have irked the security forces who control the government areas. The LTTE is enlarging their areas and moving their bunkers to a proximity of 500 meters that would result in clashes with the troops. Last week they shot two soldiers. One of them succumbed to his injuries on Thursday. These are actions that provoke the legitimate armed forces who maintain law and order. The Norwegian Monitors look lethargic towards acting against the LTTE violations of the Ceasefire Agreement. These Monitors should realise that whatever Prabakaran may say on any day, the LTTE has to honour the provisions of the agreement. Prabakaran who has warned of a possible freedom struggle cannot launch such struggles on his own accord. He has to abide by the section of the ceasefire agreement that binds both parties to give two weeks notice if they decide to withdraw. Common enemy The LTTE has identified the JVP as the common enemy of the move to resume talks based on the ISGA. The TNA says that even the hardline Jathika Hela Urumaya could be made amenable to the ISGA but not the JVP. The LTTE is using the support of the UNP to the ISGA to strenghten their opposition against the JVP. Despite the JVP's rejection of the ISGA, the government as a whole has now taken a stand that Prabakaran must clarify what he meant by 'unconditional talks'. The LTTE has however decided to ignore the exact position put forward by the JVP towards the claim for an ISGA. The JVP while rejecting an ISGA as the sole criteria to resume talks have stated that the ISGA must be linked to the final solution along with all other proposals before the table for discussion. Prabakaran over two score and half years has not been satisfied with any meaningful proposal put forward by any government. At or outside the table he would introduce an impossible proposal that would be difficult to be met by a government ruling a multi ethnic country. His rival Karuna in his address on heroes day analysed in Tamil the history of negotiations held in the past to resolve the crisis and claimed the stumbling block was not the Tamil people but Prabakaran. He identified Prabakaran as the enemy and traitor of the Tamil people. The Tamils in the North and East have started to resume normal life in those areas under the current ceasefire over the past two and half years. If Prabakaran decides on his so called 'freedom struggle' which the Tamil people have not authorised, he would certainly be substantiating the claim of Karuna that he is the enemy and traitor of the Tamils who yearn peace. Another UNP crossover At the last Cabinet meeting Posts, Telecommunications and Udarata Development Minister D. M. Jayaratne complained that the funds allocated for Udarata Development was not enough. He requested President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga to allocate more funds for the next year. The Cabinet meeting went off without much hassle as many Ministers were in Parliament participating in the Budget debate. President Kumaratunga last Thursday made a surprise visit to Parliament, when the Education Ministry vote was taken up for debate. Opposition members protested that there was no Minister nor Deputy Minister in the House. While they were voicing their protest President Kumaratunga appeared in the House when Deputy Speaker Geethanjana Gunawardane was in the Chair. After she sat in the Prime Minister's seat all protesting opposition MPs were silenced. This was her third appearance in the House. Earlier she came to present the PA Government Budget and to present the new draft Constitution in 2000. Industry, Tourism and Investment Minister Anura Bandaranaike got the devil into him when he came to know that TNA MP Raviraj had made insulting remarks about the Bandaranaike family. The following day he came to the House and raised a privilege issue requesting the Speaker to remove such derogatory statements. The Speaker promised to look into the matter. Chief Government Whip Jeyaraj Fernandopulle also locked horns with UNP MP T.Maheshwaran when Maheshwaran said that the Bandaranaike family ruined this country. The Minister said that the Government was very hurt and would not respond to his questions in the future. Meanwhile, SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem held a meeting with his confidantes in the party last week and decided to call for explanations from three MPs who joined the Government recently. After sending letters the three had asked for 10 days time to respond to letters. Former Minister and wife of the late Minister Athulathmudali, Srimani Athulathmudali passed away at the age of 58. Her funeral took place at the Borella cemetery in a simple way. The media was not allowed to cover the funeral. UNP heavyweight Dr. Rajitha Senaratne along with Gamini Lokuge organised a protest march near Parliament. UNP allied trade unions participated in the protest. UNP MP Senaratne told MPs close to him that this was a very successful protest that showed that now the party could muster the support of people. He had told them that this protest would be a good lesson for people who pulled back when he proposed to hold a protest at a party meeting. JHU blames Government Meanwhile, the JHU is planning to stage a fast unto death on December 12 if the Government does not respond to their demands. They blamed the Government for supporting the Mega Indian Film Star show to be held on December 12, the day the late Ven. Gangodavila Soma Thera passed away one year ago. They have also demanded President Kumaratunga to revive the Commission to inquire into the death of Ven. Soma Thera, fix a date to debate the anti-conversion bill and revoke the licences given for super markets to sell liquor. UNP MP Ranga Bandara was charged with corruption by the Bribery and Corruption Commission when he was the Wellawa OIC. The Commission charged him for obtaining chairs and Rs.10,000 from a person in 1999. Another UNP Urban Council member crossed over to the opposition. Moratuwa Urban Council UNP member Deepal Rodrigo sat in the Opposition protesting the stepmotherly treatment given to him and his leader Tyronne Fernando by the party. He had accused the party leaders of listening to people who carry tales. |
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