Freedom fighters and traitors

National Anti War Front Chairman Dr. Kumar Rupasinghe claims that the LTTEers are freedom fighters but JVP MP Wimal Weerawansa says that those who call LTTEers as freedom fighters are traitors.

Q: What is your analysis on the current situation in the country?

w. w.: The Major problem in the country is the national question. The LTTE got recognition because of the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) signed in 2002. The LTTE is now trying their best to push it further. Some organisations and countries are trying to help Prabhakaran. But many patriotic movements have risen against them. Now what we can see is the struggle between these two forces.

Dr. K. R.: We have reached the crossroads. Cycle of violence has been with us for some time. It endangered the life of the Secretary of Defence which I condemn wholeheartedly. This kind of incidents does not help the peace process. This kind of assassination attempt creates greater distrust among people. Extremists can get the upper hand particularly in the peace process due to the assassination attempt of the Secretary of Defence. Banning LTTE will not make much difference because President Chandrika Bandaranaike also did the same.

Q: Prabhakaran in his annual speech declared the war and reiterated his dream for a separate state. But why so called intellectuals and NGO leaders keep trying to promote the peace process when Prabhakaran has already launched the war?

w. w.: We don't call it a heroes's day but it is a terrorists day. He at first admitted that he is engaging in war as well as peace. He requests other countries to support him for his Eelam dream. He rejected the All Party Conference decision as a solution to the national question. He reiterated that he will continue with the war. If the Government is not responding to him the same way, the country will plunge into jeopardy. Some NGO leaders, some sections in Media and some intellectuals are indirectly supporting the LTTE ideology. We have to neutralise them before the LTTE can be defeated.

Dr. K. R.:He was basically repeating this in his every speech in the past. Eelam is not the solution to the North and East (N&E). The Government should offer a solution and negotiate it. Otherwise, what else do they have to do? One has to look at it in the context how these things have happened. Since, the CFA was signed over 4800 political killings took place. If you analyses it, the LTTE is responsible for killing of intelligence officers and members of the rival political parties. When the Karuna faction came up lots of killing took place between the LTTE, Karuna group and also other armed groups. All of them have to take responsibility for the violence. Political violence is like a cancer which eats into the fabric of democracy. Negotiation is the ultimate answer to the problem.

Q: Will the LTTE leader ever accepts a solution within the framework of a democratic set up? W. W.: He is responsible for destroying the democracy of the Tamil people. He killed many democratic Tamil leaders. TULF leader Anandasangaree can not engage in politics today because Prabhakaran is out to kill him. It is true that he can not live in a democratic set up. That is why he is dreaming of an Eelam where he will be the only his leader, only voice and his law prevails.

Dr. K. R.: I think there is a problem. Because the LTTE is responsible for killing Tamils and there is a war between Tamils which is a tragic aspect in this fight. The LTTE is responsible for eliminating EPRLF but that does not mean that LTTE is not for negotiation.

Q: When MP Raviraj was killed, National Anti War Front (NAWF) took his body for a procession and blamed the Government on his tack of security. But when former Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar and Ketheesh Loganathan were killed and attempt s there made on the lives of Army Commander and Defense Secretary, when Kebethigollawa was attacked, NAWF just issued statements. Why is this duplicity?

w. w.:When the Defense Secretary was almost killed, NAWF condemned it without naming the perpetrators. But when Raviraj was killed, NAWF directly blamed the Government. What is this double standard. The LTTE launched a motor attack on the Seruvila school and Gotabhaya Rajapaksa was almost to killed recently. But NAWF did not get on to the streets. Kadirgamar or Ketheesh killings are not important to them. When a friend is killed only they get on to the streets. The NAWF carry out the agendas of the international organisations. Leaders of the NAWF draw over Rs. 1.5 million salary a month. When the LTTE is getting hammered the NAWF members are disturbed and they get on to streets urging the Forces to stop it. But when the LTTE is attacking the Government, NAWF members are behaving like dumb goats.

Dr. K. R.: Yes, Raviraj was personally associated with us and took part in our demonstrations. Mark of respect for Raviraj was shown very clearly by the mass manifestation and the sinhalese. You can't expect us to conduct demonstrations on every killing in the country. In the case of Kadirgamar and Ketheesh there was no need for us to conduct any demonstration because the Government hosted their funerals. We issued a statement against the Kebethigollawa incident.

Q: Why the NAWF conduct picketing only in Colombo and why not in the North and East against the LTTE atrocities?

w. w.: That is what I am also asking from Anti War leaders. They are always trying to rake mistakes of the Army and try to make a huge cry for the benefit of the LTTE. They hold the majority of their picketing in Colombo to force the Government. They are silent on LTTE atrocities. Have they ever directly named the LTTE for any killing? It clearly show from the statement issued when the Defence Secretary was attacked. But when Raviraj was killed they directly pointed the fingers at the Government.

Dr. K. R.: Interesting question. Once a monk who stormed into our Viharamahadevi rally with 25 thugs posed to me the same question. We conducted a demonstration in Mannar. We were expecting 15,000 people but Army and the LTTE prevented people participating in this. We are going to conduct another picketing in Puttlam urging to pay compensation to Muslims who were displaced 15 years ago.

Q: The LTTE is using 3500 families as human shield in Vakarai and LTTE shelled at 120 food convey lorries. So why should not the NAWF holds a picketing in campaign Vakarai urging the LTTE to stop harassing people?

w. w.:International forces are trying to keep Muslims in low profile. That is why Norway has pumped millions of money to the Muslim Secretariat. I don't know who are the Muslim leaders benefiting from it. Since the LTTE is responsible for the Vakarai incident, the NAWF leaders are dumb on it. But if the Army is responsible then we can see how active all these anti war leaders are who will dominate the entire colombo roads urging the Government to take immediate action. This clearly shows to whom they are working for and their agendas.

Dr. K. R.: There is a military engagement in Vakarai. A large number of people are caught in the middle of this war and large number of refugees live in fear and deprivation. Government sent food convoys and it was disrupted by other arms groups. So what the NAWF did was to issue a statement appealing to both sides to stop fighting and not to use refugees as a shield.

Q: Does the NAWF gets funds from the LTTE front organisations?

w. w.: A leader in the NAWF was involved in the African diamond plundering. He has been blacklisted by African countries and he will never be able to visit any African countries. He was working in the International Alert organisation for sometime. But he is not that poor to get funds from the LTTE but he gives funds to the LTTE from the dollars, Sterling pounds, Kroners, etc. He lives a luxurious life and draws millions as his salary.

Dr. K. R.: We do not get funds from the LTTE or the Government. We get funds from Holland, Scandinavian countries, UK, Canada, etc. We don't have any kind of relationship with LTTE. We are an independent organisation. We are nobody's tool. We stand for a peaceful Sri Lanka where all communities can peacefully live. We have been attacked by monks and had tomatoes thrown on us but we braved all that because we want to give courage to people. It is very important for the civil society to stand up against issues. Q: Will the Prevention of Terrorism Act affect the operations of NGOs that are working in the North and East areas?

w. w.: It will affect the NGOs which are helping the LTTE but not others. We all know that there are organisation coming as humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka but support the LTTE. Recently Karuna told an english newspaper that one Christian NGO helped them to train pilots when Karuna was with the LTTE.

Dr. K. R.: We have to wait and see how the Competent Authority interprets these regulations. INGOs and NGOs play a very vital important role on Tsunami rehabilitation, development and other relief work for war victims. When 45,000 families are forcibly evicted from Muttur, NGOs gave shelter and fed the populations. NGOs play a vital role to reduce suffering in the N&E.

Q: Can you consider LTTE as freedom fighters? W. W.: Those who don't know the meaning of freedom fighters will say that LTTEers are freedom fighters. Freedom fighters never killed their own men and those who opposed their views. Freedom fighters will not chase Muslims from Jaffna and Muttur. Freedom fighters will not be killing innocent people. If someone try to equal freedom fighters with the LTTE, I think he is mentally retarded or he is a traitor.

Dr. K. R.: Its not an easy to answer.If you look at some of their aspirations in relations to people, they are freedom fighters. One aspect of their movement is to liberate people and ensure freedom. On the other hand I am questioning the methods they use to fulfil their aspirations whether such methods negate the freedom struggle. However, it is not easy to define.

Q: Do you consider LTTEers as terrorists?

w. w.: There is no doubt about it. For some NGO leaders Prabhakaran is a freedom fighter. But they have forgotten that many countries in the world have banned LTTE as a terrorists organisation. Terrorism has ruined this country. We have to end the terrorism to create a good future for our people. We urged the Government to do away with the CFA and ban the LTTE. Bringing PTA is not enough.

Dr. K. R.: India and international community recognised LTTE as a party to the conflict. We have to be constructively engaged in bringing them to negotiations. I am not like some other intellectuals who have made this issue a pet hobby. These intellectuals get large columns in Government newspapers urging to bomb Kilinochchi or Jaffna to kill people because they all are terrorists. This problem has to be settled through negotiations.

Q: Do you justify the reasons for the Government to introduce PTA again?

w. w.: Bringing the PTA is not enough. We are happy at least the Government finally realised the importance of bringing the PTA to curb terrorism in the country but it should be carefully used. Innocent people should not be victims. But what is necessary is to ban the LTTE and revoke the CFA.

Dr. K. R.: I can understand why Government was compelled to bring it. But as a human rights activist I don't like it. But we have to study, monitor and ensure that these laws will not be used against innocent people of this country. We need strong mechanism with local and international experts to monitor.