LTTE can't stop my fight against terrorism - Minister Devananda

by Shanika Sriyananda

"Prabhakaran's fate will be similar to that of Adolf Hitler. Pol Pot and Idi Amin. As long as he is alive, he will not abandon his dream to declare Eelam. He is a fascist", said Social Services Minister Douglas Devananda, who had escaped a suicide bomb attack in his Ministry last week. "The LTTE can't stop me in my fight against terrorism. It is difficult for Prabhakaran to stop me unless he kills me. I strongly feel that until the problem is solved they can't kill me", he said adding that his life is similar to that of cat with many lives.

In an interview Minister Devananda told the 'Sunday Observer' that the attempt to kill him was just like a mosquito bite and Prabhakaran can't stop him in his fight against terrorism.

Question: What have you to say about this attempt by the LTTE?

Answer: This is not new to me. I have experienced very dangerous situations in my life. This is just nothing and I am expecting many more such attacks from Prabhakaran.

Q: How many times did they try to kill you?

A: This is the 13th time if I am correct. But there may be several other attempts by the LTTE to kill me. I am expecting more in the future.

Q: You said you saw it captured in the video camera in your office room?

A: Yes. I saw all those who came to see me. I also saw this particular woman coming and sitting and arguing with my Public Relations Officer Steven Peiris. Then I saw her blowing herself up.

Q: What did you feel at that time?

A: Nothing. I heard a blast but I was not sorry for myself but for my close party member and those injured in the blast. I had worse experiences earlier.

Q: What do you now think about Prabhakaran?

A: I do not think that he will give up his dream to declare Eelam so long as he is alive. He does not have any alternative.

Q: What is the present situation of the LTTE?

A: Prabhakaran thinks that he can survive as in the good old days. But he is facing defeat continuously. What happened to Pol Pot and Hitler will happen to Prabhakaran very soon. Only then people will be able to live peacefully. Prabhakaran thinks that he will be strong forever.

Q: Does this mean that Prabhakaran is facing the same fate like them?

A: Yes. I think his fate is very much similar to theirs.

Q: Do you think that the LTTE is facing defeat?

A: Yes. President Mahinda Rajapaksa is directing the military on the correct path. The LTTE is now losing its strength. The military operations are successful. But they need to be slow and steady.

I think there are two solutions - one is to defeat terrorism militarily and in the meantime the government should bring a political solution to end the problems of the Tamils.

Q: It seemed that you have put a new set of proposals to solve the national problem?

A: It is very clear we have proposed to solve the problem in three stages and they are very practical. The other important thing is these are now new but already in the constitutions. Basically we believe that the present system of provincial councils is the best solution for this problem. We have already given a draft to the APRC and there are three lists - the government, provincial councils and the third is the concurrent list. We firmly believe that at the third stage we need to convince the Sinhala people in the South that it would not lead to separation of the country. In the third stage there is no solution for the LTTE other than entering into the democratic path.

Q: Are you for de-merging the North and East?

A: According to Party policy we are for it. And we consider the North and East as a one Unit. They should be linked.

Q: Do you believe in Mahinda Rajapaksa government?

A: Yes. We strongly believe in this government. I think while crushing terrorism there should be a political process to solve the problems of the Tamils.

- Pic: Kavindra Perera