Sri Lankans wish to live in unity:
No external force can solve our problems - KP
By Shanika SRIYANANDA
Shanmugam Kumaran Tharmalingam alias KP, former arms procurer of the
now defunct LTTE, questioned the concern of the Tamil Nadu politicians
in creating an Eelam state in Sri Lanka, while Tamils here want to live
peacefully in a united country.
“It is hilarious to see the concern of the TN politicians to create a
separate land for us in an era where the Sri Lankan Tamils want to live
in a united country. I strongly believe now that no external force can
solve our problems, which are only unique to us”, he said.
In an exclusive interview with the Sunday Observer KP, who is under a
protective environment, said Sri Lankan Tamils know how to solve their
problems and don’t want external intervention.
Discussing the issues such as the intention of the Tamil Nadu
politicians to intervene in Sri Lankan issues, political mishaps of
Tamil politicians in Sri Lanka, the forthcoming event – the Tamil Eelam
Supporters Association (TESO) conference in Chennai and the dubious role
of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), he said he believed the problems
of Tamils could be solved through devolution of power.
He invited the Tamil Nadu politicians to voice on behalf of Sri
Lankan Tamils in refugee camps there and against Indian fishermen
intruding Sri Lankan waters if they are truly concerned about Tamils in
Sri Lanka.“Karunanidhi is a seasoned politician and he knows how to play
the political game. For him there are no new issues in Tamil Nadu to
talk, so he has picked up Eelam to retain his popularity”, he said.
Following are excerpts of the interview:
Q: The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu (TN) and DMK President M.
Karunanidhi was advised by the Indian government not to speak about
Eelam at the forthcoming conference by the Tamil Eelam Supporters
Association (TESO). What is your comment?
A: Yes, though it’s appropriate advice, Karunanidhi has
reiterated that he has not dropped his Eelam concept, yet, and somebody
has misquoted him. I must say that Karunanidhi or any of the other TN
politicians are not willing to support the people of Sri Lanka who were
affected by the decades long battle. From the beginning they took the
issue of our problems onto their political stage as it was the trend in
TN to keep their vote base alive. Their strategy was to grab votes by
showing their concern about Sri Lankan Tamils. During each battle
against the LTTE, these TN politicians, who were active, sought the
support of the international community to talk on behalf of us- the
Wanni civilians.
But innocent people who don’t know their political agenda believed
them but it is sad and unfortunate how this pack of politicians used
them as a tool to strengthen their vote base.
It is hilarious to see the concern TN politicians have to create a
separate land for us in an era when Sri Lankan, Tamils want to live in a
united country. I strongly believe now that no external force can solve
our problems, which are unique to us.
We, the Sinhalese and Tamils lived together for centuries. There is
ample evidence in history. In those conflicts we solved our problems
without external help. We don’t want to see any other force pressurising
us to solve our problems.
For example the Indian community in Malaysia never allowed TN
politicians to interfere with their issues. I want to ask the TN
politicians whether they will they allow our Tamil politicians to take
decisions on behalf of their people? No. They will not allow us to
interfere in their problems. Why do they want to poke their noses into
our problems.
Q: However, the TN Chief Minister has said that their efforts
and the TESO conference would help to create a separate Eelam. Will this
conference be successful?
A: Karunanidhi is a seasoned politician and he knows how to
play the political game. For him there are no new issues in TN to talk
so he has picked up ‘Eelam’ to retain his popularity. It will not be
successful. They will try to glamorise issues in Sri Lanka but the
war-affected Wanni people will get nothing out of this.
Q: But they are to discuss the issues like the safety of
Tamils and livelihood restoration.
A: (He answered with a sarcastic smile) Whatever they like let
them speak there. We don’t have any links with them. The biggest joke is
how they hold fora to discuss our issues and who are they to do all
this. If we have problems, we - the Sri Lankan Tamils will discuss them
among ourselves and the Government to get solutions. The ordinary Tamils
never asked or wanted TN to discuss our problems and find solutions.
As I explained earlier, it is a power struggle and a game to retain
in politics. In this game, they don’t spare anyone and they try to get
mileage from everything. This is Karunanidhi’s practice and the others -
Nedumaran, Vaiko, Seeman - will follow him.
I challenge these TN politicians to show their genuineness by voicing
on behalf of more than 100,000 Sri Lankan refugees in TN who are
virtually living in hell. If they want to support the Sri Lankan Tamils
then voice on their behalf for those living for more than 25 years
there. They are struggling to live. Children don’t have proper education
as they don’t have birth certificates. They are still languishing in
camps with poor living conditions.
If they are so concerned about us, I request them to stop Indian
trawlers intruding into our shores and over harvesting our fish
resources. The livelihood of the fishermen in the coastal belt is
threatened and their families suffer a lot due to the poor income that
is earned.
These are the issues they should look into help us. We don’t want
Eelam but Sri Lankan families who were caught in the battle want to live
peacefully. If TN politicians are genuine they should help us not by
holding talk shows but send money spent on these conference to uplift
the lives of affected Tamils in Sri Lanka’s North and East.
Q: Though you say there is no link with local politicians here
as far as the conference is concerned, the TNA is to take part in the
event. How do you see the TNA’s stance?
A: (His sarcastic laugh once again) I saw the TNA leader commenting
about the conference saying his party has not yet decided to
participate. But it is no surprise, if the TNA flies to TN to be there.
The TNA leader is famous for making contradictory statements. What I
feel is the party lacks leadership.
Q: How can you say that because Mr. Sampanthan is a seasoned
politician?
A: I don’t underestimate his political experience but his
comments show the party needs a strong political personality. The May
Day issue proves it. Sampanthan hoisted the National Flag along with
Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe but TNA MP Maavai Senadiraja
apologised saying he did it without the consent of the Tamils. Then
Sampanthan got afraid as most of the pro-LTTEers criticised him as a
traitor.
He knew that he was losing support and at the 14th Convention of the
Illankai Thamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) in Batticaloa, he took a different
stance by saying that the Tamils should prove to the international
community that they would never be able to realise their rights within a
united Sri Lanka. His speech was again misleading the Tamils in Sri
Lanka.
The Tamils want politicians who are genuine in solving their issues
and don’t want to be misled. But these politicians who are selfish are
engaged in the same old strategies. I have never seen these politicians
living with ordinary Tamils in the Wanni. Only during the election
campaign they mingle with the people to grab their votes.
Sampanthan as the TNA’s leader can’t change his politics and stance
from time to time. This is not the quality of matured leaders. When he
is discussing with the Government his stance is different to what he
discusses with people outside. Why is this dubious role? Tamils, I want
to say, have been fooled once and misled but they are not ready to be
misled again. Politicians need to be aware of this.
Q: You are a key person who supported the LTTE’s separate
State ideology and it took 30 long years for you to realise that it was
futile. Will the Northern people drop this idea while the TNA is
propagating it?
A: If someone read TNA MP Maavai’s speech in Jaffna last week
he will be surprised and question the motive to mislead Tamil youth
again. He requests them to read Western revolutionary stories. Again he
made a statement in connection with the Provincial Council elections
that Tamils should vote for the TNA to make the West understand that
Tamils need a political solution.
The West has its own problems and don’t have the time to be bothered
about provincial elections in Sri Lanka. Six months ago, they ran to
India to lodge their political grievances but now they have started to
fly to the West and the UN to seek redress.
I want to recall the former TN Chief Minister, C.N. Annadurai’s
statement. In the US, he had a discussion with a journalist, he said TN
could solve its own problems locally and no external help was needed.
Even Nelson Mandela didn’t seek the support of others to solve problems
of South Africa as they could be handled locally. But the TNA runs to
India or the US or any other Western country even for a ‘common cold’.
If they are genuinely interested in helping Tamils in their issues,
they should first meet President Mahinda Rajapaksa. But their trend is
to seek support internationally. This is just another step to cheat the
Tamils of this country, as a sovereign nation will not accept packages
offered by other countries.
Q: One main reason that damaged the historical friendship
between the Sinhalese and the Tamils is language. The Government has
started several courses for Tamils and Sinhalese to learn these
languages and those who are conversant in these languages are given
priority. Do you think this effort will bear fruit?
A: Yes, definitely. I am sad I have very little opportunity to
learn Sinhala. I am always busy taking care of orphans in the North.
Language can do wonders to bridge the gap between communities. But as
Tamils we should oppose the TNA for trying to prevent Tamils learning
from the Sinhala language. Early this week TNA MPs criticised ex-LTTE
cadres for studying Sinhala.
Once a person learns another language, his ability to communicate
improves and also he gets better opportunities. As Sri Lankans we should
know each others language well to understand each other. If a Tamil
wants to come beyond Vavuniya, he needs to know Sinhala to communicate
and its vice versa. So this is the best opportunity. The same
politicians don’t oppose diaspora children living in Canada learning
French. There children are encouraged to learn French to get more
opportunities.
I can recall how we, as young students were misled by our Tamil
leaders saying they would not allow Tamil children to learn Sinhala.
Everyone knows the repercussions today. This hatred made us both to
suffer for three decades.
It is sad that the same politicians who prevented us from learning
Sinhala, sent their children to Colombo and gave them a good education,
and they are fluent in all three languages. Our Tamil children were used
as baits and are deprived of facilities and education and remained in
the North to fight for an unrealistic cause.
Unfortunately, the politicians still promote this and there is no
politician on this earth who oppose his own people learning another
language. The most important factor in the post conflict era is
reconciliation. Language is a key factor to reconcile among the
communities. The true political leaders encourage reconciliation but
these politicians are an unqualified lot.
Another reason for them to think like this is they have not been
‘rehabilitated’ like me. (He laughed) I was trapped in the separatism
ideology; but once I was brought back to Sri Lanka I am under a
‘protective’ environment.
This facilitated me to undergo ‘self rehabilitation’ and think more
about the importance of reconciliation among the Sinhalese. These pack
of TNA politicians who are trouble makers and who are still poisoning
youth about separatism, need a similar type of rehabilitation as they
were connected to the LTTE earlier. I feel sorry for them as they are
now facing difficulty in reforming themselves in post conflict issues to
help Tamils.
TNA MPs - Sridharan was an ex-LTTEer, Suresh Premachandran was a
Mandayan Group leader, Maavai, though he didn’t carry arms had motivated
youth to take up arms. As they missed the opportunity to convert
themselves they still don’t see the ground realities in the North. Those
who promote separatism and carried weapons were appointed by the LTTE to
be people’s representatives.
Like how Nelson Mendela directed the African National Congressmen to
rehabilitation to commence reconciliation, I think these MPs need to
follow a similar process to drop their damaging ideas.
Q: If you take main Tamil political parties, though they
clamour for Tamils rights, they are not united. Don’t you think they are
doing a great injustice to the Tamils of this country by taking them for
granted for their survival?
A: Yes, of course they do. That is why I say there is a power
struggle and no genuine effort by these Tamil politicians to help the
Tamils of this country. They are well established and politics is a
means to get an additional income. As they have just parachuted they
don’t know the value of being a politician and also how they can serve
the people. They are selfish. Politicians should come from among the
people then they know the people’s problems. It is sad to say these
politicians will not expedite decisions when ordinary people seek help,
but when they have problems they will meet ministers or government
officials to find solutions.
These TNA politicians never raised a voice regarding the Indian
fishermen issue because their families are settled in TN.
Q: TN politician Viko had accused you for betraying the Tamil
cause and becoming a partner of the Government. How do you respond to
him?
A: First of all I want to ask him who is he to blame me for
betraying the Tamil cause. I am a Sri Lankan and I fought for a separate
state for the Sri Lankans. I have realised I was misled and it was an
unworthy cause I dropped it and try to serve my people. It is true we
had a dream but all our dreams will not come true.
He should recall for what the leader Periyar wanted - a separate
Dravidian state with Andra, Malayalam, Kerala and TN together as one
country but it failed and still these states remain as individual
states. This was their dream. Vaiko was among the dreamers. How can he
forget his dream. The same fate befell Eelam too. Only one country
succeeded in guerrilla warfare. How many youth followers were there for
Che Guevara. We also failed. We are the affected party and we know how
we suffered and what we want in the future but the TN politicians like
Vaiko, never experienced the gravity of the war. I don’t take these
accusations seriously as he is not a Sri Lankan Tamil to blame me. This
is my motherland and I know what is best for my country and my people.
Q: Do you have plans to enter politics?
A: No! I don’t have any plans to be a politician. But I have a
mission. That is to see my people in the Wanni, who suffered for
decades, live peacefully and happily. I want children and youth to study
well and to see that they stand on their own feet. At any cost I will do
my best to fulfill my mission. There are many rumours about me entering
politics but these are all rumours.
Q: Are you happy with the freedom you enjoy now?
A: Yes. I don’t think I am confined to a particular area. I am
connected with people and I am given freedom to engage in service to my
people. I meet the Tamil diaspora. I am happy as I can serve the people.
I feel I too am undergoing rehabilitation and it gives me the
opportunity to purify myself from misleading ideas. I hope I will be a
complete man once I finish this process. It is a new era and we all need
to work hard to develop our motherland. I am happy as I am engaged in
that now.
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