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| Sunday, 2 October 2005 |
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EU declaration: LTTE view TamilNet in an interview discussed the views of the LTTE about the EU Declaration with the LTTE political wing leader Thamilchelvan TamilNet: What is your reaction to EU Declaration that LTTE Delegations will no longer be received in any of the EU member countries, until further notice? Thamilchelvan: The declaration is based on unsubstantiated charges by the Sri Lankan government. It is lopsided and issued without taking into consideration the opinion and the just arguments of the Tamils, an equal party to the peace process. The declaration has caused irreparable damage to prospects for peace and has ruined the trust the Tamil people had on the International Community. The announcement effectively blocks the opportunity and facilities available to representatives of the Tamil people to present their case directly to the members of European Union and has denied international community access to truth. For more than fifty years after British leaving the island, Tamil people have been subjected to oppressive policies by the successive Governments of Sri Lanka. The Sri Lanka Government did not abandon its policy even after the Cease-fire Agreement. Rights violation with the use of Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), restriction on transport, agricultural activities and fishing, and economic restrictions have continued to impact the daily lives of Tamil people despite the CFA. Continued occupation of houses and public buildings by security forces has caused immense hardships to daily lives of our people. Sri Lanka Government continues to violate key provisions of the Cease-fire Agreement. Colombo is also waging a shadow war by engaging paramilitaries in violation of the CFA. The European Union, instead of pressuring the political leaders of the South to negotiate in good faith, has chosen to penalise the Liberation Tigers, disregarding the feelings of our people. As an equal partner seriously committed to a peaceful negotiation, we are concerned that this will impact the future progress of the peace process. Also Colombo's views and stand on the peace process will harden as it will interpret the EU's declaration as providing tacit support to its policies. TamilNet: Will the EU travel restrictions affect your stand on neutral venue for direct talks with the Sri Lankan government? Thamilchelvan: The declaration deprives us not only of a neutral venue, but also denies the Tamil side a respectable and symmetric position at the talks. It also denies an opportunity for us to meet the Tamils in Diaspora to exchange views and get their support. The EU Declaration is likely to cause Tamil people to lose faith in the peace process. TamilNet: Sinhala nationalists in the South are campaigning against the Western influence on the peace process. How do you view this? Thamilchelvan: The sections of Sinhalese who have refused to acknowledge injustice to Tamils in the past, will unlikely yield into meting out justice to Tamils in the future. When P-TOMS proposals were forwarded to fulfill humanitarian needs, the Sinhala nationalists went to courts and blocked the implementation. Recently, the Sri Lankan state and the Sinhala media criticised the involvement and support the West extended to the peace process. Their protest was not because the West was supporting the Tamils, but because the West was not helping them implement their oppressive policy against Tamils. But the Tamils continued to welcome the impartial involvement and support of the West in the peace process. This being the case, a pernicious impact will result when the EU's stand is interpreted as supportive to the adversary to peace and penalises the advocate to peace. This will end in losing Tamil faith and support to peace. The attempts of the West to bring peace to the island in the future will also lose its credibility. TamilNet: Do you view the latest development as tilting the "Diplomatic balance of power," towards one party to the CFA? Thamilchelvan: This Declaration has not affected the Diplomatic balance of power alone. It has attempted to damage the image of the Tamils as well. It deprives us of the opportunity to participate in the talks as equal partners and with dignity. Furthermore, I am afraid, it will create barriers to peace moves as well. TamilNet: How do you react to the accusation of underage recruitment? Thamilchelvan: We have been denying these charges for a long time. At the same time, we have also continued to provide the true picture as regards to our recruitment policies. I wish to categorically say that we do not recruit underaged children. Whenever we discover children trying to join the movement, we hand them over to their parents. We are making attempts to construct an extensive and pragmatic plan in collaboration with the UN. We are eagerly waiting for the arrival of the UN Rapporteur. The welfare of our children is of utmost concern to us. Our National Leader has been directing the formulation and implemention of plans that address the welfare of our children, both during war and during peace. Different Welfare Institutions, the TRO and UN bodies are involved in these projects. Our children have been badly affected by war. The discriminatory policies of the Sri Lanka governments destroyed educational opportunities, and the social and economic lives of our children. Furthermore, thousands of children were killed in indiscriminate aerial bombardments and shelling conducted by state armed forces on villages and schools. Thousands of children have been made destitute. TamilNet: Aid Co-Chairs have asked the LTTE to show its "Willingness to change." What is your response? Thamilchelvan: We are continuing with dedication and hope in our search for peace. We have undertaken a number of goodwill projects and been strengthening the climate of peace from the time Norway became the facilitator of the peace process. In constrast, the government of Sri Lanka has been working against peace. It has not faithfully implemented key provisions of the CFA. It has stalled the peace process by placing unfair conditions delaying even the talks on the implementation of Cease-fire Agreement. TamilNet: What is the expectation and demand the Tamils, as a people, are placing before the International Community? Thamilchelvan: Today, the Tamil people have rallied under one leadership to fight for their right to self-determination. They are asking for recognition of their basic human rights; they are asking to prevail on the Sri Lanka Army occupying their lands to vacate, so that they could return to their own places of residence. It is our hope the International Community will heed to the request of our people. |
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