For letting LTTE 'run riot'

Fault lies with Sinhala leadership

Sunday Meeting by Shanika Sriyananda

The People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) emphasises that genuine efforts initiated by the two main political parties, the United National Party and the People's Alliance (PA) could reach a solution to the country's national problem instead of depending more on the international community.

The PLOTE will lobby against the LTTE in Germany,Switzerland and Norway during the 'Weera Makkal Thinam' (Heroic People's Day) which commemorate the people, who were slain by the terrorists.

In an interview with the Sunday Observer the leader of the PLOTE, Dharmalingam Sithadthan, said that his party believes that aspirations of Tamils could be met within a united Sri Lanka with the support of whichever party is in the opposition. " But as far as the LTTE is concerned they still survive because of the fault of the Sinhala leadership. I am not talking about the government. I am talking about the Sinhala leadership", he said.

Here are the excerpts of the interview:

Q: Initially Prabakaran and Uma Maheswaran, who was the founder Chairman of the LTTE were together and what was the reason for them to split and form the LTTE and the PLOTE ?

A: Well. They had different opinions mainly on policy matters and the other reason was the LTTE's code of conduct proscribed members from falling in love or getting married but then Uma fell in love with a girl in the movement and this too was also one of the causes. But I feel it was a case of personality mismatch and the ensueing clashes. Prabakarn is a single minded man and he is the same even today. He believes that he can achieve the goal only through arms struggle. Uma believed in mass struggle. So, this was the basic difference.

Q: How do you see your party and the LTTE in today's context?

A: The basic difference between us, is that the LTTE still believes in a separate state and Prabakaran believes that his commitment towards a separate state is absolute and I know for sure he will never give up his demand for a separate state.

As far as our party is concerned we gave up the idea of separate state in 1987 with the Indo-Lanka Accord believing that a settlement could be found within a united Sri Lanka. So, still we believe that a solution could be found within an united country even though at times we were frustrated because nothing is happening towards that cause. And, still we believe that continuing with the arms struggle will only destroy the country and as well as the Tamil community. Due to this attitude the North and East has been completely destroyed now.

Q: What are the problems or injustices, as claimed by the LTTE, that the Tamil people had faced for years?

A: This is a national struggle. Tamils want to be identified as a national minority in this country but not as a minority. This is also our claim of the right of self determination preferred over the federal structure. What we believe in is that the Tamils should be allowed to look after their own affairs.

Q: How do you access the present situation in the North and East ?

A: Militarily, the Sri Lanka Army definitely has a upper hand in the East and they have cleared all most all the areas under the LTTE control. But this does not mean that everything is fine in the Eastern Province. If you take the North except the cleared areas for example there is a large area that is still under the LTTE control.

What we fear is that the LTTE will try to take over Jaffna or try to extend their areas of control. In this battle Tamil people will have to face the worst ever destruction that they have never faced before.

The situation there is very volatile. In the cleared areas in the East, the government is trying its level best to resettle people but we are very unhappy especially in the Trincomalee area, that is, Muttur and Sampur which have been declared high security zones and over 20,000 families have been denied their homes. So, the government should reconsider its decision because people must be allowed to recommence their normal lives.

Q: Do you agree that the LTTE is a terrorist organisation and how do you think that the LTTE should be defeated ?

A: I believe in what late US President Ronald Regan said 'One man's terrorism is another man's liberation fight'. But as far as the LTTE is concerned they are still able to survive among people due to the fault of the Sinhala leadership. I am not talking about the government. I am taking about the Sinhala leadership.

Still they are allowing the LTTE to play around with that cause. As long as the cause is in their hands there is no way of weakening the LTTE.

There is no point in blaming the government today for not putting a correct solution forward. The first step to defeat the LTTE is, they should be alienated from the Tamil masses. It is very possible to alienate the LTTE from the Tamil masses. Lots of people believe that it is difficult to eliminate the LTTE but it is possible to alienate the LTTE. There is no point of accusing the government that this is not going to work. Both parties - the UNP and the PA, must sit together and find a solution.

Why I insist on the UNP and the PA is because they represent over 80 percent of the country's population. Only they can find a workable solution. I am also sure that majority of Sinhala people are fed up with this and they like to go for a reasonable solution. But unfortunately these two parties are in fear of each other.

Q: How strong and efficient is the opposition against the LTTE abroad ?

A: There is a sea of change abroad. Among the expatriate community there is a feeling that the LTTE is treading on a wrong path and will never be able to win a separate state. Slowly this is regaining momentum.

Q: What prompted you to campaign against the LTTE abroad?

A: Simply because we believe that the way the LTTE is going, it is going to destroy the Tamil community. We also once started a struggle for a separate state but later on we realised that this goal can not be achieved because the international community especially India from the beginning talked about unity, integrity and sovereignty of the country. Without the help of India a separate state concept can not be achieved. It is foolishness to continue with the arms struggle which can not achieved. On this basis only we opposed the LTTE not only abroad but also here.

Q: Since the inception of the war, how many Tamils, including Tamil politicians and intellects have been killed by the LTTE ?

A: It is very difficult to give the exact number. A large number of Tamils, especially the opponents or people who did not go along with the views of the LTTE were killed. The LTTE has killed over 20,000 people and this includes the cadres belonging to the other groups as well.

Q: What is the progress after the President's recent visit to Switzerland ?

A: He met our cadres and supporters there. They had explained to him clearly that they are ready to render whole hearted support to find a political solution. And I was told it was a very cordial and successful discussion.

Q: Do you believe that the aspirations of Tamils could be met under this government? And what are your proposals to solve the national problem ?

A: As I said earlier aspirations of the Tamil people can not be met under any government unless the Opposition, whoever it might be, also come to terms with the government. Otherwise it is very difficult to solve this. This can not be done by a single party effort because this country has been divided between the PA and UNP. So unless both of them get together this can not be solved.

Q: Can the Govt and the other political parties keep hope on the Co-Chairs to end the national problem ?

A: I do not think so. They can apply pressure on the government on humanitarian issues. But, this is a solution which could be found within the country. One thing that we should not forget is that without India, we can not find a solution. India's involvement is a must. Whether India likes it or not they are involved in it since 1964, when they signed the Sirima-Shasthri Pact. When I say we need their involvement, I do not say that they must intervene directly but there are lots of ways and means they can help us.

Q: What is your view about Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) and how do you propose to amend it ?

A: Unfortunately when the CFA was signed it was heavily one sided. Yes, it should be amended and definitely a CFA is important as only the CFA can encourage everybody for talks, otherwise there is no possibility to begin talks. But this must be a perfect CFA. Because at that time when it was talked about CFA it referred to the ceasefire between the government and the LTTE only. That is the fault of it because they never thought about what would happen to other groups. If the LTTE kill only the armed forces then there is a ceasefire violation whereas if they kill others there is no such violation because it is not included in the text.

So a perfect CFA must be there and an atmosphere must be created in the North and East where everybody can live in peace. A democratic set up must be there. Democracy under pluralism must be encourage and then only a meaningful solution can be found.

Q: You have said that you are not satisfied with the SLMM. Can you comment on this?

A: Yes, we are not satisfied with the SLMM because they are one sided and they were never worried about killing of people who belonged to other groups. When one of our very senior leaders Ganeshalingam alias Farook was kidnapped and taken to Vanni by the LTTE I complained to the SLMM and sadly the SLMM never bothered to investigate it. Every time when we write about killings or kidnappings they do not seem to care.

When our people were killed or kidnapped, we complained to the SLMM several times, but they did not even bother to send us a reply. Their reaction and response is very much to be desired. If they take the same interest in dealing with the LTTE I do not think this would not go to this extent.

For an example the LTTE's Political wings in-charge of the Batticaloa Kayshayan was killed, and even the UN Secretary General condemned the killing. But when our very senior man was kidnapped and our political in-charge of Vavuniya was killed by LTTE purely because he organised a protest over the kidnapping of Ganeshalingam he was killed by the LTTE on the third day but not a single protesting voice was heard. I believe the attitude of the international community and the INGOs, the press in Sri Lanka, especially the Tamil press and also the Sinhala and English press who have indirectly encouraged these killings.

Q: How do you think that the national problem could be solved, through a federal or a Panchayath system like in India ?

A: We believe that a federal system can solve the problem. As I said earlier it is not a question of discrimination. It is a question of nationality. We believe that Tamils who live in the North and East must be allowed to look after their own affairs. But lots of people are in fear especially the Sinhala leaders who think that federalism is something of an anathema. But it is wrong. All over the world, Federal system never went for separation. When we talk about our own affairs it is not defence or foreign affairs but development, education and health.

Unfortunately, there is a mistrust, where the Tamils do not trust the Sinhala leadership and visa versa. We are talking about seeking international meditation because of this mistrust.

Picture by Vipula Amarasinghe

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