My dream is to educate the children of the North - KP

By Shanika Sriyananda in Kilinochchi

Speculations and criticisms pour in with the news that three former LTTE frontliners including its ex-leader Kumaran Padmanathan alias KP are preparing to contest the forthcoming Northern polls.

While the news is getting hotter and arguments are brewing, the Sunday Observer secured an exclusive interview with KP early this week.

Sitting on a mat in the palm thatched hut, KP was enjoying a story-telling session with a few dozen small girls when we entered the Senchcholai Orphanage for Girls, in Kilinochchi. With no concern for the recent petition in the Madras High Court requesting to pressure Sri Lanka for the extradition of KP and his interrogation for his connection with the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, the man tells stories and sings songs with war orphans.

"Appa (father) I an hungry", says the youngest in the orphanage, embracing him. She is too young to realise that she was sitting on the lap of the LTTE's chief arms procurer who smuggled massive loads of explosives and arms to kill thousands of innocents.

His two mobile phones ring every minute. " These calls are from the media asking my views about the 13th Amendment and the northern polls and when I would hand in my nominations ", he giggles while putting the phones to silent mode.

" I am now spending the happiest days of my life. It is no easy task looking after these little girls. It is one of the most challenging tasks I have ever faced", says KP, who travelled to over 40 countries in secret missions, smuggling arms and explosives to the most ruthless terrorist organisation in the world.

Responding to a question with regard to the Tamil National Alliance's (TNA) decision to withdraw from the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) he said they should not deviate from the process at this juncture and should be with the PSC if they genuinely wish to solve the issues.

He said withdrawing from the PSC was not a timely action and would cause much damage as the process would lead to more delay. " To solve the issues related to the Tamils they should talk with the government and not with India or any other country. I believe solutions lie in our soil and not somewhere else", he said.

Following are the excerpts of the interview:

"My life is spent happily. I have over 250 children in three Homes - two in Mullaithiv and one in Kilinochchi. I always thank the Secretary of Defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa for giving me the chance without having to waste my life in Colombo. I remember him every moment and want to do my best to pay my gratitude.

"I am proud as it is a rare chance for a human being. I had my own plans to have an orphanage even before the war on terrorism ended. When I was in Thailand, I always made it a point to celebrate our birthdays in orphanages and there I recalled the children in my own country and their suffering. But I was helpless. My wife and I decided to open an orphanage in Thailand as I never dreamt of a chance to return to Sri Lanka.

I now see Kilinochchi after 40 years and I see a massive development everywhere. With no gun fire, explosions, bloodshed or terror, the people of Kilinochchi are now enjoying the peace. They are happy and live a fear free life.

The children who couldn't dream of a tomorrow are going to school. My only mission is to educate the children in the North. It is the only weapon the younger generation should strive for. We are victims of political dilemmas. Our generation was misled by politicians at their own whims and fancies.

I want to empower the present younger generation with education. When they are properly educated they will choose the correct path. In this mission, my friends in the Tamil diaspora, who were also misled, are helping to run the orphanage to give these orphans care, protection, love and education.

We learnt lessons in the hard way and as human beings we should put them into practice to correct ourselves. We thought we could achieve our mission through an arms struggle but it took 30- long years to prove otherwise. It is never late to create a better world for the future generation.

When the younger generation lacks education it is easy for politicians to mislead them and use them to achieve their ends.

I become emotional when I hear the stories and dreams of these children. If I wished I could have chosen to stay in Colombo in a different environment with a comparatively comfortable lifestyle than this. But, I am genuine in my mission. I don't have any other motives. I enjoy the simple happiness being with these innocent children who cry for love. On the other hand it is a stressful job to look after small girls. If I had a hidden mission, why would I take to this stressful life?

I don't have any long term plans to enter politics. I always believe in God. He has given me a beautiful family and a chance to serve my children. I believe He will be fair by me and show me the correct path in the future.

I hope time and the people will decide whether I should enter into politics or not. I am waiting and watching the developments in the Northern politics.

I don't speak lies and whatever missions I am engaged in, I will do my best to keep the promises. Some people think the only way to serve the people is politics but there are many other ways.

My dreams are big and I want to look after all the war affected children in the North. I will slowly but steadily move towards achieving my dream.

What I want to say to the 'so-called politicians' is , they should first think about the nation and the people. The war on terrorism is over and we need to move forward to have a brighter future for the children. We need to enter the international arena.

For over 30-years, the people of this country suffered and this is the time they enjoy their lives. Let them be happy in a united country. They need no division.

I always dream of Sri Lanka to be the 'Wonder of Asia' as President Mahinda Rajapaksa designed the country's future. If we are united and genuine in our efforts, we could be the Wonder of Asia.

The soldiers in the North are engaged in a massive task and they have built a good rapport with the people while helping them in their day-to-day lives. They are involved in upgrading education by giving scholarships to poor children to continue their education. People have faith in the Army and they do a better service than the politicians. For the first time in the Kilinochchi history, the Army has organised an exhibition for the Kilinochchi schools. It helped to build a bridge between schools in the South and the North.

I am not really interested in the Northern elections as I am fully engaged with these children. Though I have no intention to become a politician, if the Defence Secretary, whom I respect most, asks me to contest, I will contest in the future. I can't say no to him".