The experience of Tamil people has been that promises made by Sinhala politicians soon as they come to power on this issue are forgotten ...!!!

V.ANANDASANGAY: Everything depends on how we view self rule....Shakuntala Perera

Leader of the Tamil United Liberation Front speaks to Hard Talk about the aspirations of the Tamil people towards a political solution, the duplicity within the Tamil political scenario and the futility of announcing a Provincial Transnational Government (PTG) of Tamil Eelam by the Tamil Diaspora.

Q: With the failure by the APRC in bringing a consensus on a political solution, are you concerned that there is a delay in seeking a political solution as Tamil political leaders like you have been calling for?

I warned the President soon after the end of the elections about the possibility of such a delay affecting a political solution being sought in the country. The experience of the Tamil people has been that the promises made by politicians soon as they come to power on this issue are forgotten within a few months. I knew this would happen so I am not surprised. But the situation is such that new problems have cropped up and the problem has been further complicated as a result of this delay. I don’t think the government will look at this issue till the Presidential election is over. My concern is that because of the delay the problem is being unnecessarily complicated and the people are further confused. There is a group that says that now that the war is over, there are no more problems and that the people can now live peacefully. How can it be so easy? My one consolation is that the young Tamil people are no longer poisoned and misled that there will not be another militant struggle. I have full faith in the educated youth who are thoroughly un-communal, unlike the older generation.

Q: So you don’t agree with those that argue that development and a sustainable economy in the North and the East is all the solution that the problem nee to be resolved?

This is a section of the people who are day dreaming about ideal situations. The fact remains that the Tamil people don’t want any development till a political solution ensures their rights. What is new about re-running the Yal Devi train? These things won’t win the people over. They want genuine peace. These people have lived under the worst of human conditions under the LTTE, their children had no electricity so studied for examinations under an oil lamp. They have suffered immensely. Can such a people forget everything simply because development takes place? It is utterly foolish to think that these problems of the minorities can be solved merely by developing the areas.

Q: But the President in his address to Parliament immediately following the defeat of the LTTE stressed that there were no longer minority communities in the country, that all would remain equal citizens under the Constitution. Are you having your reservations about this commitment of the government?

The very fact that the President had to mention that denotes the fact that there is a problem of the minority communities in this country. You can’t deny that there are religious and ethnic minorities in this country. Of course the President may have been talking about what he perceives the future Sri Lankan society to be. In fact that is our plan as well where no Tamil man feels a minority, or being discriminated against. But the fact still remains that today there is a problem to do with the minority communities that needs to be resolved through a political solution. We are as a country, just months after the end of a war, facing the problems that such a country would face at this juncture. A lot of minority problems have cropped up. I am fully with the President on the dream to create such a society possible. But that is not yet so. He must make every Tamil citizen feel that everyone is equal in the country.

Q: What in your opinion needs to be done on am immediate basis by the government to ensure that the path is made clear for such a situation?

The President must now openly tell the people, even by legislation that any form of ridicule or discrimination based on someone’s ethnicity is banned by law. Everyone must campaign for a minority and class less society. We can’t deny the fact that we live in a society where the minorities are discriminated against. The government must bring in laws that ensures rights against language discrimination. To date I get letters from Parliament in Sinhala. The law must exist where that person who sends that letter can be taken action against. These are simple measures that can solve this problem.

I intimated to the President to address this issue by going before the people for a mandate on grounds that granting the minority communities would not mean selling the country. The people would follow such thinking because it comes from the leader. If that assurance can come from him and what is offered became reasonable enough to the minority community then the majority community would be willing to grant them. The President would have his mandate he needs to do that.

Q: But isn’t there already a resentment towards the 13th amendment growing in the country which is most likely to prevent such a move taking place?

I always held that the 13th amendment was the cure for an ulcer that was delayed thereby it having to now cure a cancer. The late Mr. Bandaranaike was the leader who thought of a federal solution and saw it as the solution for the problem. I was at the inaugural meeting he had when forming the SLFP where he clearly supported the language policy of ‘swabasha’. However within six years when he was given the opportunity to capture power he betrayed that policy and within 24 hours made the Sinhala only policy law. My point is that if he could attempt a ‘swabasha’ policy when there was no ethnic disharmony in the country, why can’t we implement the 13th amendment when there is such a feeling of communal harmony and as desire for peace in the country? The President should do it so that we eliminate all room for any form of separation in the future. This is why I have always called for an Indian model of devolution. It is really a duplicity of the British system. The fact also remains that, what ever you choose to call it if you follow it the pressures mounting from the 60 million people in Tamil Nadu would also subside. Of course we’re under no obligation to TN but if we do that we’ll be releasing the tensions on the Central government as well. It is irrelevant whether it is home grown or imported as long as we remove all room for future meddling by anyone.

Q: So would you say that the argument that the desire of the Tamil political culture for some degree of self rule has been removed by the defeat of the LTTE is not entirely true?

It all depends on how we view self rule. Why do people talk about it? Its only because they believe that some of these issues can only be solved under self rule. But as an ordinary citizen he won’t be happy without it even if he has equal rights, if such rights make him feel different. For instance how can I feel I have equal rights when I see the way the elections are currently being held in Jaffna? There are silent cyclones blowing in Jaffna which are gaining momentum today. No people should be forced under a leader in these areas. People must have the freedom to choose. No leader should be brought from some other province and dumped here. The good name earned by the government over the last three years seems to be losing over the last two months because of the way the elections are being held here. There are Ministers who come here and promise various things and allow very little room for people to freely think. When they go in to their houses and tell them to vote, can that be called democracy? If I am armed and tell you to do something would you question me? How can people freely express themselves if they are living under another armed group today?

Q: Are you saying that the people did not get the breathing space they needed to face an election after the war? Are the polls being held too early in your view?

Its not just too early but also unwanted. Half the people are not even in their homes today; they are displaced and scattered all over. The other half don’t even know if they have a vote or not. The people’s movements are restricted therefore making it difficult for them to even come for an election meeting. I don’t have people even coming for my meetings. Jaffna is under the dominance of a heavily armed group with offices in every junction today. I still strongly urge the President to postpone the elections. A9 has been opened to please one person. I am someone who fully supported the end of terrorism, but I am now suffering under those I supported. I am being slaughtered like a temple cow, by setting people against me. I was someone appreciated for my moderate stand. My election is not to confront the government but to serve the people enjoy the peace.

Q: But Minister Muralitharan (Karuna) is very strong on the opinion that the desire of the voter in Jaffna is for the educated young and no longer these with old ideas of the past. How difficult is your position with the Jaffna voter made in this scenario?

With all due respect to him, I must mention that he is in no way qualified to make such a statement. Don’t forget there are even those who will vote for Minister Devananda in these areas because of the many promises made by him! I personally have nothing to offer them except the promise of a genuine attempt at negotiating with the government on their rights. The President himself is in agreement with the Indian model of a solution.

Q: The LTTE last month announced that a committee was established to form a Provincial Transnational Government (PTG) of Tamil Eelam. The Committee is to recommend how to pursue the Thimpu Principles which has always seen as the common link of all Tamil political parties. Where do you stand in this aspect of Tamil nationalist politics?

These are mad people who propose these governments. If anyone thinks they can do from outside what Prabakaran failed to do with arms inside the country, they are foolish. These are people who only have their interest in earning money from this. In fact this is the biggest disservice to the Tamil community in this country, because it has the threat of forcing the government to have to tighten the screws on the Tamil people, because of the threat such a move would hold. All I have to say to these people is that we can look after ourselves here. Let KP and others like him not ruin us further. There won’t be any support for such a move from the Tamil people in this country. Their wrong if they think the Tamil people are that foolish. They will now only threaten our chances of peace here, but also their own existence in those countries, because those foreign governments are not going to tolerate such moves in those countries either. Look at the danger done to societies like Canada already by such people?

I personally don’t believe in the Thimpu principles. I believe in a united country where people can live in peace of the pre 1956 era; where the Sinhalese people enjoyed visits to the North and the Tamils can visit areas like Polonnaruwa or Kandy. Let everyone, even the co-called patriots mend themselves so that this can be allowed to grow. A patriot is someone who loves his country and its people and not just his people. Thankfully the ultra nationalist feelings of some sections of the Sinhala society which seemed to gain strength immediately after the victory has now subsided. I think these feelings will die if these people are allowed to see the plight of the IDPS in those camps. These people have lost everything. There are rich Tamil people whose most treasured item is a plastic plate or a cup today. This is not the life they desired.

Q: There is one school of thought that belive that the Tamil people lost all its bargaining power with the defeat of the LTTE. Is this your reading of the current situation with regard to your position as a representative of the Tamil people dealing with the government as well?

The government failed to take some important steps after the defeat of the LTTE, thereby moving the people away from them. There are people in these areas who are wondering if their suffering has subsided. These are people who suffered immensely under the LTTE, which is why they chose to leave LTTE areas and sought refuge under the government. But kept behind barbed wires their trust on the government may wean. Children must go back to school and not be put in to vocational training courses. Husbands can’t be kept isolated from wives, or grandparents from their grand children. Pregnant women find it difficult to spend days on end under the scorching hot sun in tin roofed areas. Why would I talk like this having supported the government if there were no issues? I know what is happening there. Certainly these claims of government adopting a Sinhalization process in resettling people and distributing land are not those that I would ever make. I have no objection to Sinhala people being able to buy land or live in these areas.

Q: But with the strong likelihood of Minister Douglas Devananda following on the footsteps of Minister Muralitharan and joining the SLFP, do you fear the loss of a Tamil political base strong enough to stand together in support of the needs and concerns of the Tamil people?

I too like the idea and would support this two party theory. I don’t believe in regional parties but of national political parties. But now is not the time for it. This must happen gradually with the people’s consent. Once everyone feels equal and when regional parties are no longer felt the need for I’ll be the first to join the national party. But this is the worst time to think about it. Let us always understand what happened and appreciate their implications.

Q: What is your own role today as a moderate Tamil political leader in a scenario where the LTTE’s militant struggle for a separate state for over three decades today stands defeated?

Although the Sri Lankan forces had a bad name for some time because of the propaganda spread by the LTTE and the failures of the political administration of the South, they did a wonderful job with the war this time around. We are very thankful for that. But the room for a military rule that we’re hearing of must not take place. The Army especially is favored very much today and their commitment to civilian welfare is immense. But I can’t agree that because there is still a danger of a militant struggle in the future therefore the need to keep the pressure alive with a military presence. Certainly, this structure may be needed and could go on for a couple of years till all normalcy is in place, after that they must revert back to normal police and army duties.

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