Of spotted 'Tigers' and 'Black cats'...
 

Two senior Tamil politicians in Sri Lanka, TNA Parliamentary Group leader R. Sampanthan and ex EPDP MP S. Sivathasan who saved his life from an LTTE vehicle bomb explosion express views about the plight of the civilians in the North and East and comment on the LTTE leader Velupilla Prbahakaran's hero's day message.

Q:What is your assessment on the present situation in the North and East?

S.S.: The LTTE is not interested in the concerns of Tamils. The problems of Tamils are quite different to the problems of the LTTE. The LTTE is not interested in looking after Tamils or anybody. They are only interested in a `one man show' and he is 'supreme' to them. He is not interested in peace. But wants a piece of land for him to rule. Genuine aspirations of Tamils are quite different.

R.S.: The present situation is quite depressing. We have gone backwards. Many believe that there is no military solution to the national question. It has to be resolved only through dialogue and negotiation. But today it is evident that the Government seems to think quite differently. It is an extremely unfortunate and unexpected development which can have very great consequences. People have got caught to aerial bombing and their plantation, properties, etc have been destroyed.

Q: What is the plight of the people who are caught in the grip of this armed struggle undergoing untold hardships?

S.S.: This unwanted scarcity has been created by the LTTE. Till the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) was signed, all essentials were sent to Jaffna mainly by sea. Today the Government is making efforts to send items by sea. Food has been dispatched but distribution has not been properly handled due to the interferences of the LTTE. That is why it is not moving in a normal manner. People who dance to the dictates of LTTE have created scarcities. Minister Devananda in his recent visit discussed with the relevant officials and organisations to address the issue.

R.S.: Over 250,000 people have been displaced and compelled to flee. NGOs have been prevented working in these areas to carry out relief work. Government assistance is not regularly available. People are suffering from starvation and malnutrition. Medicine and fuel are scarce. Children and women are suffering mostly. There has been no progress in the political and humanitarian front. Things are only getting worse day by day. There are lots of talk but nothing effective.

Q: If people are suffering due to the shortage of food and medicine, why did the LTTE start shelling 120 lorries carrying essential items to Vakarai with the ICRC and UN representatives?

S.S.: They are not interested in solving the problems of people but like to see the escalation of problems. They want to provoke people against the Government. When they stop lorries coming to Vakarai people think that the Government is not sending food. That is the impression they want to create among people. However, lorries distributed the food at a number of centres.

 R.S.: Vakari is a long story. Food sent were insufficient in stocks at the beginning. Suddenly supplies were also restricted. We took the matter up with President Mahinda Rajapaksa and he promised to rectify the issue. The Army is restricting food supply and we raised the matter in Parliament too. The Armed forces have a different strategy to chase out people in Vakarai in order to bring it under their rule. Now 3,500 families are living in this area and another 8,000 families have been displaced.

Q: Now the peace process is again stuck on the A9 issue. How can we move from here and why is the A9 so important to the LTTE than a permanent solution?

S.S.: The A9 road was a golden egg layer for the LTTE. They earned millions of rupees a day. Every item was taxed. Closure of the A9, resulted in the LTTE losing millions. That is why they are making a huge cry.

R.S.: The Government has to be more flexible on the whole issue. The arms struggle started consequent to the failure to settle this matter politically with Tamil moderates. But the LTTE entered into a Ceasefire Agrement in 2002 with a long term objective. Then there was a talk of an Interim Authority which never saw the light of day. Then, after the tsunami, there was a PTOMS arrangement which was again scuttled. Then JVP went to Courts on the N&E merger and connived to dismantle the merger. So what confidence can anyone have in the peace process? This is an unfortunate situation.

Q: The LTTE leader Velupillai Prbahakaran said in his recent day message that the CFA is 'defunct'. Did he indirectly threaten to go back to war?

S.S.: He is responsible for the deaths of so many thousands of people and properties. This is the same old record he plays on the `separate state' issue giving excuses that he is unable to coexist with Sinhala chauvinism and Sinhala rulers. We thought it will be quite different this time. After Prabahakaran's speech, the TNA vacancy was filled by Sri Skandaraja. Prabahakaran said that the CFA was defunct? but Thamilchelvam contradicted it. The speech is a declaration of war.

R.S.: True, he stated that the CFA is now defunct. Subsequently when the SLMM met Thamilchelvam, he assured that the LTTE will not abandon or violate the CFA. Prabahakaran referred to the reality of the CFA. It is defunct because we all know that the armed forces are carrying out attacks on identified targets in the LTTE territory violating the CFA. So what Prbahakaran said was the ground reality.

Q: Prabahakaran again said that his dream for a separate state is the only solution. Why did he again go back on his promise to explore a Federal solution?

S.S.: This is what we have been continuously saying. Prabahakaran will not politically or physically fit into a democratic society. He can live only in an anti social society which he is the `master'. As long as Prabahakaran is alive, I don't think that this problem can be solved. The problems of Tamils are one, and the problems of Prabahakaran are something else. Sri Lankan and foreign leaders should clearly understand this definition.

R.S.: He narrated what happened during the past one year. He said there was no improvement in the peace front. There were proposals on interim arrangement, PTOMS and Sub Committee on Humanitarian and Rehabilitation but nothing was implemented. Then N&E merger was dismantled. In the context of these events and failure of bringing a political solution that could satisfy the legitimate aspirations of Tamils, Prabahakaran said he has no other option but to do it this way. He was not aggressive nor issued any challenges. He questioned in that context what option he was left with. You are searching a black cat in a dark room and you want me to just wait until you find the cat, he pointed out.

Q: India reiterated again when President Mahinda Rajapaksa visited India last week that they don't wish to have two states in Sri Lanka. Even the USA maintains the same position. So do you ever think that India will let Sri Lanka to split into two states?

S.S.: The EPDP prior to the Indo-Lanka accord advocated a separate state for Tamil people. But with the Accord we came in to democratic politics. Talk of a separate states is meaningless nonsense because we know it with our experience. So not only India or USA, none of the other countries will support a division of Sri Lanka. Some Indian politicians are in the regular LTTE pay list. The LTTE had purchased houses and other properties and is financing them in different ways.

R.S.: As far as India is concerned they were maintaining this position right throughout. The question is not whether two states, the Government is prepared to deliver an acceptable alternative to a separate state. Chelvanayagam was the first person to declare the restoration of sovereignty of Tamils in 1976. Prabahakaran is not the first one to advocate a separate state.

Q: TULF President Anandasangaree and Minister Douglas Devananda are of the opinion that until Prabahakaran is alive, a solution to the N&E problem can not be fond. What is your view?

S.S.: With all the rigging and mass impersonation our leader was able to get elected to Parliament. I must tell Sambandan for his knowledge that there was no local Government election held recently. Earlier, there were local government elections and last time we won the majority of Pradeshiya Sabhas. We had chairmen. Sambandan is living in a different world. He is in fear of his life. He is clinging on to the LTTE to get elected.

R.S.: Those two people are outrightly rejected by the Tamil people. Devananda could not get a single member in a single local authority at the last local polls. He managed to come uncontested in a few places where nobody filled nomination papers. Therefore, I don't think that I should take them seriously to comment on their statements. It's a waste of my time.

Q: Why have senior Tamil leaders in the TNA become a voice of the LTTE?

S.S.: It's not for the fear of life. But the easy way to get elected. It is disgraceful specially a person of Sambandan's calibre to act like this. Anandasangaree had the courage to stand up against LTTE atrocities. The LTTE hunted my leader several times. Today the TNA is the mouthpiece of the LTTE which is most disgraceful. That is why we call TNA MPs 'Tiger Nominated Agents'. They lost their self respect and independence. Now they are bowing to Thamilchelvam. They are dictated to by the LTTE and get their guidelines as to how they should behave in Parliament.

R.S.: We are not the voice of the LTTE. We maintain our independence. After the LTTE unilaterally declared a ceasefire and expressed its willingness to arrive at a negotiated settlement after signing the CFA in 2002, we thought we should not go separately for our quest for a final solution.

Q: The LTTE killed so many Tamil leaders than Sinhalese leaders. Can you call them freedom fighters?

S.S.: Nobody can describe them as freedom fighters. The LTTE killed many senior leaders such as Amirthalingam, Yogeswaran, Neelam, Thiruchelvam, Mrs. Yogeshwaran, Sivapalan, first principal of St. John's school, Pathmanaba, Yogasangarn, Kiribakaran, etc.

R.S.: We don't condone any violence whether its a killing of Sinhala or Tamil leaders. We condemn all such killings. But the question is, have you come up with a solution acceptable to the Tamil people? Then the LTTE has no legitimate reason to carry on the struggle. That is a crucial question. If it is there, Tamils will ask the LTTE to stop fighting.

Q: Do you think that peace envoys should be changed for their dual role because LTTE renegade Karuna said that he saw Solheim giving 16 million Krones and a six-foot TV to the LTTE?

S.S.: I don't want to make any comments and Karuna went in the peace delegation. He knows better than me. He is in a better position to comment on it. A number of parties want to replace Norway. The SLMM has not done the job as expected. Their decisions and actions were one sided.

R.S.: I don't want to comment on it. I don't know whether any other country will hurriedly come to facilitates us. When inviting foreign individuals to inquire into grave crimes, they are reluctant to get involved in our affairs. Well, anyone can say anything but Norway got the two parties to the table. Rather than blaming Norway we must ask ourself whether we have been truthful to the peace process. We have failed miserably. What is the point blaming Norway when we don't perform our roles.