VELUPILLAI PIRABAHARAN

Interview with Anandhi Sooriyapragasam,
BBC Tamil Service, 2 March 1993

English translation of the Tamil version of the interview in the LTTE’s weekly ‘KALATHTHIL’ published from London.

A: There is nothing specific I can say about the present military-political situation. As far as the political atmosphere is concerned, as usual a gloomy situation prevails. There is no sign of any effort being made to peacefully solve the Tamil problem. In this con­nection, there have been no fresh initiatives. The government appears to place a newly found confidence in the anticipated final report of the Par­liamentary Select Committee. Howev­er, the Tamil people do not believe that the Parliamentary Select Committee would put forward a just reasonable solution to our problem. That is be­cause the main Sinhala parties that are represented in the PSC are not ready to accept any of the fun­damental demands of the Tamils. It has to be said that there has been absolutely no change in approach of the Sri Lankan government.

A: The continuation of the war, the ending of the war and finding a peace­ful solution — all these depend only on the decision of the government. It is the government that started the war and is prolonging the war. It is the government that believes in a military solution to the Tamil problem. In spite of the fact that we have on several occasions requested that the war be brought to an end and that the prob­lem be solved in a peaceful way, the government appears to have turned a deaf ear. On the contrary, the govern­ment is engaged in intensifying the war and escalating the economic pressure upon the people. This war is directed at the Tamil people. It is the aim of Sinhala chauvinists to enslave the Tamil people by inflicting destruc­tion and suffering upon them, by breaking their determination and by weakening their fighting spirit. The western countries are indirectly giving assistance to this ethnocidal war. It is with the help of loans granted by the west that the government is con­tinuing the war. If the west stops the assistance given in the form of money and weapons, the government cannot continue the war. Then only an atmos­phere conducive to peace will be created.

Q: The number of government troops is 60,000. Your strength is estimated at 10,000 fighters. In this unequal situation, are you confident that you will emerge victorious in this war?

A: The strength of weapons or man­power does not undermine the victor in a war. The testimony for this is provided by the history of wars of liberation in the world. Did not the superpowers with massive manpower and military might face defeats in Vietnam and Afghanistan? Unshak­able determination, valour and fervour for liberation are the determining qualities for achieving victory. Our fighters and our people possess these qualities in full measure.

A: From time to time, the Sinhala forces have introduced several modern weapons. The government seems to believe that it can achieve victory by introducing modern weaponry. They thought so when they purchased the Sia Marchetti planes and later some tanks. Even now they are buying hordes of new weapons. But weapons do not determine victory. A people in revolt cannot be destroyed by weapons.

A: Weapons are forced out from the enemy-forces. We fight the enemy with the weapons taken from the enemy. For example, in this war we captured a large quantity of weapons from the enemy last year. During last year, we captured a large quantity of weapons from the Sri Lankan military including 1172 automatic rifles, 106 light machineguns, four 50 calibre heavy machineguns, 23 anti-tank weapons, 25 rocket launchers, 1622 rockets, 30 communications instru­ments, 700,000 rounds of ammunition.

Q. When I journeyed to Jaftna, I had to travel through the Kilaly lagoon with great danger to my life. Because the use of this route has been prohi­bited by the security iorces, the plight of the people has become worse due to their inability to travel to and from Jaffna. If the Tigers and the government were to come to an agreement on this issue, people can travel without fear. What is your stand on the UNHCRs efforts to open up the Sangupiddy-Kerativu ferry route?

A: It is also our stand that the Sangupiddy-Kerativu route should be opened for travel. People must be able to freely use this route without any harassment from the security forces. In order to achieve this, there should be no military posts or checkpoints, and we insisted that the army should move a little distance away from this route, but the army was not prepared to agree to this proposal. The army wants everyone who travels through this route to be subjected to their checking. But this would result in danger to the people, and in particular to our supporters and sympathisers. Because of the stubbornness of the army on this issue, the UNHCR’s efforts have proved a failure. That is why we have suggested that at least the prohibition imposed on the Kilaly lagoon should be removed. Surely, it should be possible for the UNHCR to bring pressure on the Sri Lankan government to remove the prohibition on humanitarian grounds.

Q. It is believed that the Parliamen­tary Select Committee appointed to find ways and means to solve the Tamil problem is to put forward a federal scheme on a provincial basis, that is to treat the northern and eastern provinces as two separate units. Will you accept such a federal proposal?

A: Even the Colombo-based pro-government Tamil groups have ex­pressed their strong opposition to this federal scheme on a provincial basis. How can we, therefore accept such a proposal which dismembers our Tamil homeland?

A: If a federal scheme that recog­nises the territorial integrity of the Tamil homeland is put forward, we are ready to consider it. There are many forms of federal systems of government with varying degrees of powers that are devolved. We are prepared to consider a federal system which provides for sufficient autonomous powers that fulfils the political aspirations of the Tamil people.

A: We have to approach their problem on the basis that the Muslim people are an ethnic group possessing their own cultural identity. We are of the view that, while the identity and land rights of the Muslim people are pre­served, it is by living together with the Tamil people that their social, political and economic life will be enhanced. Sinhala chauvinists and selfish Muslim politicians are attempting to prom­ote differences and enmity between the Tamil and Muslim people. The Muslim people should not fall victims of such conspiracies.

A: In the Amparai district, communal riots broke out in 1990 in which a considerable number of Tamils were killed, and following this there was the danger of riots breaking out in Jaffna also. In those circumstances, in the interest of the security of the Muslim people, we requested them to tempor­arily leave Jaffna. But once the war ends and a peaceful atmosphere pre­vails, we will permit them to settle again in Jaffna.

A: We are not opposed to the Sinhalese people settling in the Tamil areas. We are opposed only to the planned colonisation settlements in Tamil areas.

Tamil people are being driven out from Tamil villages, and in their place Sinhalese colonisation is taking place. These colonisation schemes are under­taken with the intention of splitting and dismembering the Tamil home­land, and it is these types of colonisa­tion schemes that we oppose.

A: It is because of the wrong and exaggerated fear about the Tamil li­beration struggle that India is adopt­ing a tough approach against us. India is apprehensive that our freedom struggle will instigate separatism in Tamil Nadu and act as an inspiration­al force for national struggles in India. During the last ten years, the Indian government has, in various ways, in­terfered with and obstructed our struggle in view of this unnecessary and exaggerated fear. It is determined to destroy our movement which is taking forward the liberation struggle of the Tamils. The Indian government has misunderstood our legitimate struggle against genocide and we have been gravely affected by the unjust actions it is engaged in. The conditions of our people have been worsening. Encouraged by India’s hostile approach, the Sinhala government has been mercilessly intensifying its geno­cide of our people.

A: They are not true. There are no differences of opinions in our move­ment. Certain changes have been brought about in our organisation. Responsibilities of certain senior members have undergone change. These have been misunderstood giving rise to speculations.

A: He undertook the journey to Jaffna with a view to creating an atmosphere of peace in Thamil Eelam and with a peace proposal from some western countries to commence negotiations about the Tamil problem. He tried to come to Jaffna only for the purpose of discussing the peace proposal with us. The Quaker organisation has con­firmed the intention of his journey.

A: I cannot describe in words the depth of feeling that has affected me. Kittu was a pre-eminent Commander. He was a great fighter with an ideal. He was a great man of action. Kittu’s death is a massive loss not only to our movement, but also for our country.

A: If there is to be solution to our problem by peaceful means, there should be a fundamental change in the attitude and approach of the Sinhala chauvinist rulers. If such a change takes place, I believe that a peaceful solution to our problem is possible.

A: I genuinely wish for peace. My aim in life is that my people should live in peace, in freedom and with dignity. We have not prescribed any conditions for peace. It is the Sinhala government that has been prescribing precondi­tions for peace and negotiations.