No room for communal, confrontational politics - Ali Zaheer Moulana

by Manjula FERNANDO

Former UNP MP Ali Zaheer Moulana discloses how Minister Vinayagamurthi Muralitharan entered the democratic main stream in an interview with the Sunday Observer.

Q: Can we know a little about your pre-political life?

A: I can start from 1987. I returned to the country after my education in US where I studied Computer Science. That was the Indian and Sri Lankan Peace Accord time. The 13th Amendment was introduced and then the provincial councils were introduced. A Presidential Election was announced. Candidates were R. Premadasa and the Opposition Leader was Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike.

I was appointed as the SLFP organizer for Batticaloa district as well as district agent for Mrs. Bandaranaike. This was a time she challenged the Peace Accord. She also said the Muslim community was not consulted. However, Mr. Premadasa was elected President.

At this time I was independently working to help these people through an NGO called Refugee Relief Organization. During this time I was not politically involved. In 1994 after the demise of President Premadasa a local election was called in the Eastern Province by President D.B. Wijetunga. I contested the polls as an independent candidate.

I was elected as Chairman of Eravur Pradeshiya Sabha defeating popular parties like SLMC and UNP.

Then, I joined the ruling UNP on the invitation of senior Ministers like M.H. Mohamed, A.C.S. Hameed with a view to deliver something for my people.

Somewhere in August the same year President Wijetunga dissolved the Parliament and announced general polls. I was elected as a UNP Member of Parliament.

Since 1977 no Member of Parliament was elected from Batticaloa district.

When Devanayagam was defeated in 1987 communal regional parties blocked anyone contesting under national parties labelling them as supporting chauvinists.

Although I won my constituency the UNP was defeated in the polls. Then came the Presidential election where Chandrika Kumaratunga was elected President. My election was mainly backed by my personal votes. I was seated as an Opposition Member.

In 1999 CBK went for a re-election. Although UNP lost this election too, I won the Batticaloa district. The PA received just 43,000 votes when I managed to get 115,000 votes for the UNP.

Until 2004, till the Karuna issue came up, I was a member of Parliament.

Q: When did you develop close ties with Karuna Vinayagamurthi Muralitharan?

A: Mr. Muralitharan was a student of Methodist Central College of Batticaloa. I was studying in St. Michael’s College, Batticaloa. But he was much junior. We knew each other, I was a sportsman, so was Muralitharan. He was much junior so he always had that respect for me.

The LTTE came up very strongly in 1983.

Although they started way back in 1977, 1983 communal riots helped them with recruitment. A lot of Tamil youth from Batticaloa and East joined in ‘83. One of them was Karuna. After his GCE A/L Karuna also fell victim to the then popular misconception that they had no future in Sri Lanka and there was discrimination which provoked them to join the movement.

Having joined Karuna went for training in India, etc. I met him somewhere in 1990 when negotiations were taking place between President Premadasa and the LTTE. Then Foreign Minister A.C.S. Hameed was the Government Chief Negotiator at the time.

During that time I met Karuna and Karikalan together in 1990 in Batticaloa.

That was the time Mr. Hameed along with me and former Chairman of University Grants Commission Prof. Arjuna Aluvihare held negotiations with the LTTE to re-open the Eastern University. Karuna was representing the LTTE.

Negotiations took place at the Batticaloa Aerodrome.

We discussed misunderstandings between the communities. Mr. Hameed explicitly said the Muslim agents appointed by the LTTE were irresponsible, immature, misfits who cannot handle matters of our community.

I noticed that Karuna was very flexible and accommodating. He removed all the people mentioned without creating any problems. But the peace talks on the whole did not work out and then Prime Minister Rajiv Ghandi and President Premadasa were assassinated by the LTTE.

In 1994 also the peace talks under Chandrika Kumaratunga failed. In 2002 when UNP elected to Parliament and Ranil came as the Prime Minister Karuna again came to the East as a political leader. I was there in Parliament representing Batti and was a consultant to Ranil. With regard to civilian matters, rehabilitation and reconstruction issues I was meeting Mr.Muralitharan.

He used to tell me ‘Annan’, some politicians are very corrupt but I have great respect for you. We are there to co-operate with you’.

There were three Ks; Karuna, Karikalan, Kaushalyan from Batti district and Paduman in the Trincomalee district. The little issues were always resolved by Karuna upon my request. So we developed a good friendship. I thought he might be a very tough person when I heard about his strategies and command in the battle front.

But he was always very respectful and used the term Annan, (Big brother) whenever he addressed me. I used to call him Amman. He was Karuna Amman.

The Peace Talks were on during this time in Oslo, Thailand, Germany. During the fifth round of talks in Oslo, that was the time the Government negotiators put forward the federal system. Karuna insisted with Anton Balasingham, that in order to resolve issues, they must accept some kind of a political solution. In order to devolve power, the 13th Amendment was there, why not consider the federal solution.

He was influencing Balasingham to sign it. Balasingham agreed to it, Thamil Selvam also agreed. Not to sign but some kind of an endorsement in favour of federalism.

But there was another guy called Rudrakumar who came for negotiations from New York. He leaked this matter to Prabhakaran, saying that Karuna was jumping the gun. Whenever the Government tries to suggest something he tries to agree upon it. Is he trying to betray us.

Then after the round of Talks when Balasingham contacted Prabhakaran, he was so furious that he even scolded Balasingham. He went to London and did not want to talk to Prabhakaran.

When Karuna returned to Kilinochchi, Prabhakaran blackguarded him saying are you trying to betray me like ‘Mahattaya’. When he used that name, karuna got alarmed. This was kind of a signal. The LTTE had 20 wings, re Education, Police, Rehabilitation. It was a 20 member committee. It was like Prabhakaran’s Cabinet.

There was not a single person representing the East.

Some of them had never ever keen involved in an arms struggle. Even they joined Prabhakaran in reprimanding Karuna. He was humiliated. However Karuna managed to settle it with the Leader so that he could come out of kilinochchi. The SLMM was contacted to arrange for a helicopter.

The SLMM informed the helicopter can come only up to Omanthai. This suited Karuna because the helipad in kilinochchi was just next to Prabhakarn’s place and he could have been spotted leaving in the helicopter.

Overnight he travelled to Oamanthai and flew back to Batticaloa.

That was the last meeting he had with Prabhakaran.

After that he called me one day and said ‘Annan we have to have a chat.’ This is the time he openly said he was all out for peace. ‘This was a great opportunity, how long can we kill each other and hide like this. We could sit and talk in a civilized manner, sort out matters. This is what I believe. I don’t know why these people still like war mongers , asking me to recruit more people, still more weapons are coming.’

He was kind of indicating in another way, he was not agreeing with the leadership. I was cautioning him for his well-being. But his intentions were good.

In January 2004, CBK dissolved Parliament having some kind of an understanding with the JVP. April 2 was supposed to be the election day. On May 3 Karuna called me and said he was no more with the LTTE. He cannot work with them. They are not understating. More than Prabhakaran, Pottu Amman was creating problems for him.

Then he started telling me why he joined LTTE in 1983. I joined the LTTE because I felt there was discrimination against Tamils and there will not be a future for Tamils. This was the only way we could find some solutions.What are they doing now, they are discriminating against Eastern Tamils.

Karuna requested some assistance from Kilinochchi to help martyrs families.

The members from Batticaloa who died in war front in Jayasikuru, more than 4,000 cadres. After CFA he wanted to held the families and parents for which Norway government gave some money. Most of them were recruited by Karuna.

The 20 wing leaders put it in the dust bin. It was not even shown to Prabhakaran. This happened many times.

On March 3, he called me and said, Pottu Amman is arguing with me here. They are not even taking up any of my matters with Prabhakaran. All the communities can live in peace in the Eastern Province but not with these fellows. Annan I want to work with you and I want you to lead and guide me.

Q: So your friendship contributed in his defection?

A: When he wanted to come out he found there is a friend. He was coming against the forceful LTTE, a powerful network. He needed someone he could completely trust, rely on. He found that person in me.

Until now I did not come out with all these things but now I can tell because Amman is being recognized. I did not want to let him down. That was one of the reasons I resigned from UNP and sacrificed my self and all my positions.

Q: Do you regret now?

A: No. I had to suffer of course. I had to sacrifice a lot but for the sake of the country I am happy, now that it has brought peace to the country. No regrets whatsoever. That was a turning point to the entire transformation, a one time LTTE leader coming to the democratic mainstream. My contribution paved way for this.

Q: You would not say that you were instrumental in the rift between Prabhakaran and Karuna Amman?

A: I do things with good intentions. He already had problems. I realized this man had to be helped. He had a right to live. He had a good vision. On humanitarian grounds.

People say Moulana just brought Karuna to Colombo. Just like transportation.

No there were so many things involved, for him to trust me and come. Then for him to get that idea and come out.

He came out with 6,000 cadres. They were the front liners. Without this defection Prabhakaran would have survived. He was cut off from the Eastern cadres, he was exposed.

He became a great target of the well coordinated effort of the Government, with Navy, Army, Air Force, proper political leadership on one side and India and China on the other.

But at the time I was not thinking all this. It was entirely on humanitarian grounds.

On February 28 Pottu Amman’s people moved into Batticaloa. They killed the people, and also one of the UNP candidates Sundarampillai he was a former principal and was groomed as a candidate by me, was killed. One Ramanan personally killed him. He called and warned me. He was Pottu Amman’s second man. He also kidnapped my nephew twice in Kathankudi to learn about my residence in Colombo and find out if Karuna was hiding at my place.

My son (13) and daughter (11) were going to school. LTTE suicide cadres were stalking them in Colombo. This was one of the reasons I had to leave the country.

Elections took place on April 2. With the JVP Chandrika was asked to form the Government. Mahinda Rajapaksa became the Prime Minister. I did not contest the election as there was a condition from Rauff Hakeem to Ranil not to field me as a UNP candidate from Batticaloa. Hakeem wanted me to contest under SLMC.

I said I will never contest under a communal party or a regional party. So Ranil accommodated me in the National List. As usual I represented the Batticaloa district.

On April 10, Good Friday, SLMM made a request from me. Wanni LTTE wanted to come to Verugal. So a request was made to the Navy. Navy helped by sea.

According to the Ceasefire Agreement there was a clause, if LTTE wanted escort to travel in Government controlled areas by land or sea, this can be arranged provided they are not carrying weapons.

But here these fellows had come in gun boats. SLMM was one sided. They brought Wanni cadres in a gun boat with the escort of the Navy to Verugal.

Immediately after they shot at civilians. Hundreds of civilians were injured and one was reported to have died later.

So called freedom fighters were killing their own people. So Karuna was helpless. He did not want to confront because in the confrontation there could be more collateral damage. He got his cadres to withdraw beyond the main supply route to Thoppigala.

Karuna took all his cadres. Karuna even asked ambulances to go and help the civilians. Wanni cadres even shot at the ambulance driver. He called me and briefed me.

He said Annan I can’t trust them any more. Army is there in the main supply road. I can use my heavy weapons. I advised him not to resist as there would be a bloodbath. I told him if he wanted any kind of assistance I was in a position to help.

There were some 4,000 young recruits from East. They were recruited by Pottu Amman when Karuna refused to do so. I wanted to reunite them with their parents. They were handed over to their parents in the presence of UNICEF.

UNICEF commended his actions. He disbanded most of his people.

On April 12, he made a request from me. “I want to come to Colombo. He wanted the international community to know. There were violations, the SLMM was siding. I who supported peace have not been recognized. He wanted me to arrange a driver and a vehicle. I said I can’t trust anybody. The LTTE was everywhere. They were prepared to get Karuna alive or dead. They were ready to pay millions of rupees to whoever help them catch Karuna.

Q: How did he contact you?

A: I have my mobile phone. He used to call me on my phone all the time. Anyone can call me anytime, even now.

Q: Couldn’t the phones have been tapped?

A: I didn’t know if they were tapped. I used this phone but he was calling me from different numbers. He had so many.

So I said OK, I can’t trust anyone and I will come by myself on my way to Colombo. The day was April 12 (2004) evening. I had to go closer to Thoppigala area in my vehicle with my driver and another person. Karuna sent another vehicle to follow as a signal.

He was there in a paddy field wearing a bush shirt and with a small briefcase in his hand. There were two other guys with him. I got him in my vehicle and there were four young ladies, the commanders of his female cadres. They also got in the vehicle.

I made them a request. When I am going to Colombo, we will be subject to checks at every check point so make sure you are not taking any weapons.

Karuna said Annan we will never let you down and he opened and showed me his briefcase also. It was full of documents.

This man knowing the harsh repercussions came out in a very brave manner when he knew the LTTE was not sincere although they were very powerful. He exposed Prabhakaran. This was god’s blessing.

Even people told me what a foolish thing you have done. Can you name any other Member of Parliament who would resign for the sake of the country.

Q: What were you doing during the period you maintained a low profile, soon after leaving the country in 2004?

A: I am still keeping my law profile. I went with my wife and my son and daughter. On my way I went to Saudi Arabia and did Umrah asking for Allah’s blessings and courage and then proceeded straight to US. There were reports I was in UK, Canada. That was not true.

I had to maintain my family so I worked as a sales executive. My wife worked in a school as a director. When I wanted to come back my children did not want me to go. The incidents are still fresh in their mind. They are still pursuing their studies.

When President Mahinda Rajapaksa came to New York he wanted me to come back to the country. I said I will come but not now.

Then he appointed me as the Economic Minister to the Embassy. We negotiated with IMF and obtained 1,500 million for Eastern road development. Recently the US $ 2.8 billion IMF stand by arrangement to stimulate our economy was also negotiated by us.

Q: Why did you decide to come back?

A: Now there are no threats for me. My mother is in Batticaloa, she is 94 years old, she is not well. I wanted to come and see my mother. I was waiting for this.

The other reason was, I was appointed as a diplomat at our Embassy in Washington DC. It was a two year appointment. It ended in December. I did not want to go for an extension.

Now the election is also there, I thought I should help the President.

When I left in 2004 I resigned from UNP. I was a senior Working Committee member at the time. They did not recognize my good work. Wickremesinghe said we have nothing to do with that operation. Moulana has done it on his own.

Q: Why did you decide to back President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the forthcoming election?

A: I look at him as a people’s President. A man with charisma. He is a good friend of mine, a personal friend. I saw him as a young member of Parliament in 1970’s in my school days. When I was doing my GCE A/Ls in 1975/76 he came to Batticaloa with Rajan Selvanayagam, a former Member of Parliament and young Anura Bandaranaike. They were trying to organize a youth group. That was the first time I met him.

I was inspired by him. When I was appointed as an organizer by Mrs. Bandaranaike. I met him many times. When he was the opposition MP I met him with my uncle Alavi Moulana on so many occasions.

He never forget even the trivial favour done to him by someone. When he came to attend UN he hungged me and told everyone about some small favour I had done to him in the past, adding I can’t forget this man. Karuna who was present joked saying, Annan I thought you helped only me.

He said by helping me, you had to resign from all your posts and leave the country as a refugee. He said I want to make sure you becoming an MP and serve your people. Karuna came to the Airport to receive me. No one invited me I came on my own.

I am going to support the president with all my people’s support. I have not put forward any demands and I don’t try to claim any credit or demand any reward.

Q: Are you planning to contest the General Election?

A: This is what my people are asking. I never did communal politics, regional politics or confrontational politics.

This is my style. People know for who I am. Now Tamils, Muslims and Sinhalese the entire country is enjoying peace. You can travel to Batticaloa any time. You can now hire a van and go all the way to Jaffna.

Q: Will it be under UPFA ticket?

A: Yes it’s better for me to join the Government. Then I can do something good for the people.

Q: What you think about the UNP, JVP and the candidacy of retired Gen. Fonseka?

A: I never thought the UNP will join JVP. The UNP always had certain policies. JVP always engaged in confrontational politics. They are negative thinkers. Now, Gen. Fonseka was an Army Commander not a politician. But he talked politics.

He even said minorities whether they are Tamils or Muslims they must learn to live with the majority people. These are things that hurt the feelings.

If such a man comes as an Executive President minorities will be upset.