People condemn Prabhakaran's Heroes day speech

Pulse of the People by Ananda Kannangara

People from all walks of life, when interviewed by the `Sunday Observer' last week condemned the statement made by LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran on a separate state.

Below are the excerpts of the interview:

Nissanka Sudharshana, a resident in Veyangoda said that it was not the first time Prabhakaran announced about an Eelam war. "Therefore the Government must straightaway reject this childish statement," he said.

A private sector employee Danushka Amarakoon commended President Rajapaksa's intention of having direct talks with LTTE leader Prabhakaran and said that LTTE leader would have made that irresponsible statement to encourage his cadres.

A businessman from Malabe, Prabu Thirasara rejected the statement made by Prabhakaran and said that his sole objective was to be the leader in a separate state and not to serve the Tamil community.

"If he really loves his fellow Tamil citizens, he would have not allowed to starve them by attacking lorries, transporting food from Colombo to Jaffna," he said.

Mohamed Askar from Urugodawatta said that this type of statements were undemocratic and asked the Government to capture him by using foreign forces.

A public sector worker, H. A. Sirisena said at a time when the USA too rejected the LTTE leader's claim, Sri Lankan Government must use that opportunity and campaign against Prabhakaran internationally.

A retired Army officer Hemasiri Samarasinghe said that LTTE leader had earlier too made such statements, therefore the Government should treat this as childish.

A female worker at a communication centre Nalini Senehelatha said that peace loving ordinary Tamil citizens do not want a separate state as mentioned by Prabhakaran.

"This means at least 95 per cent Tamils do not respect the LTTE," she said.

K. P. Jayaraju, a banker, employed in Colombo whose native place is Nallur said that Prabhakaran must give up the separate state concept and contest for a future election.

Joseph Preena of Modera said "I think majority citizens in Jaffna do not like Prabhakaran or the LTTE due to their unruly behaviour, that's why they are trying to seek the power by using the bullet, leaving the ballot".

K. K. Wimaladasa, a worker in the Sri Lanka Ports Authority said if a Referendum is held, the entire peace loving Jaffna citizens will reject the LTTE. That's why they ask for a separate state by force.

Jagath Kusumsiri, a Railway Department employee living at Pannipitiya asked the LTTE leader not to make such statements and to return to the negotiating table for the sake of peace loving Tamils in the country.

Ranjith Perera of Homagama said that according to the LTTE leadership, they would not withdraw from CFA, They still respect it, if so, Prabhakaran should not talk about a separate state as there is no indication of a separate state in the CFA.

A third -year University student Ramesh Bandara said unlike earlier, LTTE is now a bankrupt organisation. In addition, powerful nations have branded them as terrorists. Therefore, Prabhakaran would have made this statement to strengthen the hands of the few remaining cadres.

Teledrama Director Charith Weliwatta said that Prabhakaran's statement, ought to be condemned by all MPs in Parliament. But so far it was condemned only by the President and the Defence spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella.

A private sector employee Namani Gunaratna said that it was a pity that peace loving people's organisations in this country were still silent over Prabhakaran's Heroes Day speech. Actually they must come forward and make agitation campaigns to condemn the LTTE.

Ramesh Ratnasabapathi of Kotte said small political groups in the country must organise a strong agitation campaign against Prabhakaran's statement and make the international community aware of the reality," he said.

Kumar Wanigasekara, a private sector employee said if LTTE'ers are genuine freedom fighters for the rights of Tamil community, they must first welcome the vehicles carrying food to Tamil citizens from Colombo.

Kosala Krishna of Wellawatta said the concept of separate state, announced by Prabhakaran would be rejected not only by Sinhalese but also by the peace loving entire Tamil community in the world.

Pranath de Silva in Bambalapitiya condemned this statement saying that it was a clear duplicity of Prabhakaran.

"Earlier he wanted to settle the matter through discussions, but again he demands a separate state.

Kumari Samaranayaka of Panadura said that this nature of statements indicate that the LTTE does not want to solve matters through discussions, therefore the best thing is to eliminate them with the international support.

"Like the tigers in the forest, the LTTE'ers cannot be tamed," he said.

Neranjan Peris from Horana said "Though I am a Tamil, I totally oppose the statement made by Prabhakaran, if Tamil Eelam is established, people in the North will have to undergo severe hardships due to the dictatorship rule of the LTTE,"

An unnamed Colombo businessman whose home town is Kilinochchi asked the Government to reject the concept of separate state.

"His (Prabhakaran's) intention is not to help us, but to become a king of a separate land," he said.

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