Tamils talk of 'unity'... but divided

[email protected]

TULF leader Ananda Sangaree claims that the people in Vakarai can now enjoy a sigh of relief after living long years under the LTTE fascist rule. The General Secretary of the EPRLF Suresh Premachandra was of the view the LTTE withdrew from Vakarai and the Army captured the abandoned land.

Q1: The Government Forces chased out the LTTE from their stronghold Vakarai in the East. How do you advise the Government to run the administration in the East?

Ananda Sangaree

Suresh Premachandran

A.S: First of all the Government should asses the value of every household. When people are running for their lives, they take only what they can carry. But when they return to their homes, they find nothing other than empty land and damage houses. When I was displaced some years ago, I returned to my house but I saw only a legislative enactment thrown in a corner of my house. Everything had been looted. Therefore, the first thing the Government should do is to protect the properties of people because they suffered at the hands of LTTE for years. They should be given all the facilities to restart their lives again.

S.P: To my knowledge and understanding the LTTE withdrew from Vakarai. The Army is rejoicing over their victory. Some battles were won by the Army and some by the LTTE in the past. The LTTE is intact with arms and cadres and can conduct future operations. But war is not the solution to solve the problem.

Q2: Vakarai people were living under the LTTE rule for many years. Last week the Government took control over the Vakarai in the East. So what is the future of the Eastern people?

A.S: Now people have come to embrace democracy ending the LTTE fascist rule. The Government should totally clear the Eastern Province and should not let the LTTE to at least operate in isolation. Once and for all chase them out. Now the Government should issue a general amnesty for LTTE cadres to surrender with arms. There are boys who have been forcibly abducted and some have joined in desperation. They should be rehabilitated.

S.P: Over 70,000 people are displaced as a result of the military action in Vakarai. 14,000 students lost school life. Now they are packed in refugee camps. The Government should take steps to resettle these people. Security forces should protect their properties. They should not be pushed towards the LTTE anymore. Military action will not help to find a solution. It will be a disaster to the nation.

Q3: Do you think the LTTE is weak and their strength is a media bubble?

A.S: Of course, I told this long time ago. They became further weakened after the defection of Karuna. They showed strength to innocent people from guns and kill unarmed civilians. They are just pretending that they are strong. If they are strong why did they flee from Vakarai? One day I had an argument with Senior Army Generals. They were of the view that the LTTE is very strong. I told them that they are not as strong as what Generals think.

S.P: The LTTE was strong when Karuna was with them.

Q4: Should the Government capture the North as well?

A.S: Liberation of the East or North will not help unless the Government introduced a political solution. The Government should win over people. I have no faith in the APRC. Representatives of APRC are making various adverse comments. Indian model federalism is the solution for us. The LTTE is the enemy of Tamils. It is the duty of the Government and the International community to liberate people from the subjugation of the LTTE. People living in LTTE held areas do not enjoy any basic human rights. They are subjected to ransom, assault, and conscription of children.

S.P: The TNA is totally against violence. We want a negotiated settlement. We cannot solve this problem by war. It will be a disaster if the Government goes ahead with military operations in the North because it's a highly populated area. Certainly it will be a disaster for the nation.

Q5: Should the North and East re-merge?

A.S: I am misunderstood there. Traditional homeland theory emerged with the 1983 riots. Majority Sinhalese protected Tamils and gave them shelter during the 1983 riots. Later affected people resettled in Tamil areas in order to avoid another riot. That is how the homeland theory began. What is the hurry of remerging the East? Before that Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims should bring together and develop the brotherhood among them. Then let the time and people decide when to remerge.

S.P: After 18 years, North and East de-merged. Remerging is vital for future solution. It can be done by bringing a Bill to the House. Supreme Court gave a determination on the basis of a technicality. Remerging is the cornerstone of negotiations. Otherwise, Tamils will not accept any solution. Tamils lived in these two provinces for centuries. Nobody can deny that. Creating new problems will further worsen the issue.

Q6: Should the Government hold an election to the Eastern Province now?

A.S: It all depends on how the Government is mopping up remaining terrorist pockets in the East. But people are running for their lives. Let people to resettle first. Then we can think of holding an election. I don't know how we are going to hold an election now. What is the hurry? We must think whether we are going to sacrifice important lives in an election at this juncture. It is alright if the Government is confident and can assure safety of people at elections.

S.P: We totally oppose any election for the de-merged East. The North and East should be a one political unit. If Government wants an amicable solution, then think of remerging before have any election.

Q7: Is there any attempt by Tamil parties to form a coalition to work together?

A.S: Yes, there is an understanding between TULF, EPRLF Varadharaja Group and the PLOT to work together. We have common policies on issues. If the LTTE wants to join hands with us they can do it provided they stop killings, lay down arms and give up the separate state demand.

S.P: We are already for a coalition. The Tamil national Alliance was formed with TELO,TULF, Federal Party and Tamil Congress. We fight for the rights of Tamils together. I am not aware of any other coalition.

Q8: Should the Government take action against NGOs and INGOs who have provided material assistance to the LTTE?

A.S: Media Minister Anura Yapa himself said that some NGOs are doing a very good service to people. I further say that if NGOs have helped the LTTE under unavoidable circumstances, just ignore it. We should not forget the fact that NGOs are doing a wonderful job in uncleared areas putting up of schools, hospitals, buildings and other public infrastructure and utilities. Heads of NGOs are few foreigners and the majority are locals. The problem is that some NGOs unknowingly have employed LTTE sympathisers or LTTE have forcibly taken away their materials. The Government should very carefully handle this issue.

S.P: I am very much ashamed of the attitude towards NGOs. If not for NGOs the fate of refuges would have been different as the Government cannot look after all the refugees. Just because two tents and two boats of NGOs were found in LTTE camps, it is wrong to accuse every NGO as supporting LTTE.

Q9: The LTTE destroyed public infrastructure like roads, bridges, schools, hospitals ... before they fled Vakarai and they were build from foreign donor assistance. Should not the International Community take action against the LTTE?

A.S: Surely, they should take note of it. Massive reconstruction was carried out after Tsunami disaster at the cost of foreign donors. The LTTE destroyed such projects in the East before they fled. If they love the people they should never have done it. It shows how much they love people.

S.P: I don't know whether Ananda Sangaree is aware of what is happening in the North and East.

Q10: Some claim that LTTE cadres are freedom fighters.What is your view?

A.S: What nonsense. They were freedom fighters 20 years ago but now they are ruthless terrorists. I feel sorry when people like Dr.Kumar Rupasinghe classified the LTTE as freedom fighters.

S.P: It is absurd to ask such questions. The LTTE cannot survive such a long period if there was no support from the Tamil people and Tamil Diaspora. The LTTE is functioning today mainly due to the fault of then Governments not paying heed to the grievances of Tamils.

Q11: The LTTE claim that they are fighting for our people. But thousands of people were deprived of foods as the LTTE have used rice bags donated during the post tsunami period for people to put up bunkers. Why not condemn such action?

A.S: Why not, you can see from this incident how they think of the people. If they have robbed rice bags to build bunkers, it clearly indicates how they think of the people. Civilians are getting killed every day due to LTTE mines. TNA MPs are mum over it. They are greedy of power. They defend atrocities of a terrorist group which is a threat to mankind.

S.P: I don't support the LTTE because I have nothing to do with them. But this is an unbelievable allegation. I don't really know about it. I strongly feel that the Government is very good in its propaganda.

Q12:The SLMM closed their offices in the North and East. Can they monitor from Colombo and do we need them any more?

A.S: I told Solheim that the SLMM is a creation of yours with Scandinavian monitors and they reported 3600 Ceasefire Violations by the LTTE and 176 violations by the Army. SLMM was humiliated even by the LTTE. I can remember the LTTE organised a jeering campaign for a lady monitor who requested the LTTE to stop hoisting their flag in Vavuniya.

S.P: The SLMM wanted to be in Vakarai and Muhamalai but the Government did not allow. So what is the point of them being in the East? Because of this reason they returned to Colombo. The Government is responsible for the present situation of the CFA. No point of blaming the SLMM.