India will not forget LTTE atrocities

President of India's ruling Congress Party in Tamil Nadu and Lok Sabha Member, V. Thangabalu said India will not forget and forgive the LTTE for its terror acts, including the killing of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

"We do not support the LTTE. We cannot forget and forgive the LTTE," Thangabalu said in Chennai. In an interview with the last week's issue of the Sunday Leader, the Sabha Member said India's stand on the LTTE is very clear and would not change. "There are one or two splinter groups supporting the LTTE openly. We oppose them. We directly and very strongly oppose them. There cannot be any movement. We cannot allow those movements to exist in Tamil Nadu," he said,. The Lok Sabha member said India or the people in Tamil Nadu cannot support the LTTE which is a "banned organisation in India and elsewhere in the world". "It is a very clear stand of the Congress Party. In this direction, our stand is very clear. We are second to none in supporting the civilian Tamils and second to none in opposing terrorism," he told the Lankan newspaper in the South Indian capital.

Asked about his previous discussions with the LTTE Leader Velupillai Prabhakaran leading up to the 1987 Indo-Lanka Accord, his experience, considering the fact that the LTTE is held responsible for killing Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, former President R. Premadasa and countless other acts, the Tamil Nadu's Congress chief said he does not want to have any links with any 'liberation' movements in Sri Lanka. "It is very open. I was very much attached to Rajiv Gandhi. He was my closest friend and my leader. And for that to happen in Tamil Nadu (the killing of Prime Minister Gandhi by an LTTE suicide bomber at an election rally), it is a shame for all Tamils. I cannot think of having a friendship with them. I do not have any friendship with these people," he added.

But Thangabalu was of the view that the moderate Tamil leadership should exist. "The moderate leadership must emerge and see to it that they take the lead instead of the militants in Sri Lanka. This is my opinion," he declared.

When questioned whether he is still confident that Prabhakaran will agree to a negotiated settlement, Thangabalu said he is unable to give such guarantee. "I cannot vouch for Prabhakaran today. It was yesterday's thing. I don't know what his mindset is today," he said adding that prior to the Indo-Lanka agreement, under the leadership of Rajiv Gandhi and the then Sri Lanka President J.R Jayewardene, had had a dialogue with many people. "Not only with Pirapaharan. But, with almost all the leaders. I was very much with all the frontline leaders of the Tamils such as the TULF and others. There is no doubt about it. I'm very open," he continued.

Thangabalu was of the view that the Lankan Government could hold discussions with the Tamil Parliamentarians. "There are different groups, but, as Tamils, they are united today. I know it is difficult for them also. Those moderate Tamil leaders who tried for a peaceful solution for the Tamil people were all killed. It is by the LTTE only. We know that. But, we are not interested in the LTTE or others," he pointed out.

He noted that India would respect sovereignty of Sri Lanka. "I do agree with you with relation to the sovereignty of Sri Lanka. India is a sovereign State. Sri Lanka is also a sovereign State. We respect each other. We do not want to interfere in the sovereignty of any country whatsoever. This is a very clear stand of the government of India," he said. Commenting on the Indo-Lanka Accord, Thangabalu said "those who agreed to it, including the LTTE, turned back and the accord could not be implemented at that time.