Now there is no one. They realise the situation. In those days they didn’t, due to LTTE propaganda...!!!

No successors
after KP

Minister Muralitharan

The Nation interviewed Minister Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan on his thoughts on the elections and the support that the LTTE still has (if at all), his thoughts on KP and his future plans etc. Following is the interview

By Rukshana Rizwie....nation.lk

Q. What are your thoughts on the recently concluded elections in the North and East?
A. There was a fairly low turnout indicating that only few people showed interest. This is because these elections were taking place after a very long time in the area. We witnessed the same situation in Batticaloa, where only a handful of people turned out to vote in the initially and it gradually increased leading up to the provincial councils. It’s only a sign that people are starting to take an interest because they realise they have a choice.

People are now changing to embrace a more democratic future. They have had nothing but war for the last thirty years. During these years, elections or even their political future were the last things people thought of. They had no choice at the time because the LTTE had already made their decision for them. But they now have to change little by little and they realise that.
But at the same time, a lot of people are concerned of the IDP situation and thought it was early to have an election.

Q. Do you think it was too early to have an election?
A. I also think that this was a little too early. Despite the low voter turnout, we have to, any way appreciate the activism shown by the people to participate.

Q. Since you say they were reluctant, how do you think they feel?
A. I believe they are more open to the idea of democracy than before. For instance Anandasangaree who secured only 450 votes from Jaffna got on stage and talked of federalism and Eelam. But people didn’t like it. They didn’t approve of it. They say they like to live peacefully in one country and we need to show them how that can be done.

Q. Do you think there is support for the LTTE?
A. No, no way. People in those areas disliked the LTTE. They are more worried about their livelihood than the LTTE now.

Q. Not even sympathy as others say?
A. We can’t call that sympathy. For instance in Jaffna, when people felt that the LTTE was to be defeated, they started to feel left out because, to them, the LTTE had taken care of their political needs. I also think that many Tamil minority parties tried to invoke these nationalistic feelings in them by giving false hopes. I think it’s a form of racism. By denouncing who supports who, they also create a division. So in this context people would have naturally had second thoughts.
But this is exactly what we must be wary of. It was this that led to a quest for Eelam many decades ago. We must not leave room for it to happen again.

If now you take the issue concerning their rights, they have, for instance, land rights. A wealthy merchant in Jaffna can easily buy land in Colombo or Kurunegala. People won’t interfere and neither will the law. But if a Sinhalese person wanted to buy land in Jaffna or a plot in the central market place, will the Tamil people there allow it? This is a mentality we need to change.

Q. What is your view of the current situation of the IDP camps? The past few days have witnessed flooding in some places to a point where people had to be relocated again.
A. I’ve been visiting the camps frequently and spoke to the President of my concerns there. I have also spoken with the respective minister’s concerned and requested them to address the needs of the IDPs.
What, I think, is worth mentioning here is that during the last week alone, we released 12,500 IDPs from their camps so they could go back to their homes in the East. Some people have also been resettled in their villages in the manner. This is something that was welcome and appreciated. So we shall continue that gradual resettlement.

Q. Are you satisfied with the rate of progress that is being made?
A. Yes, our plans are on track and going fine. I understand people like to go back to their homes soon. They can never compare the IDP camps to their homes. And the government has no plans to keep people in IDP camps. We want to resettle them soon.

Q. What is your assessment on the arrest of Kumaran Padmanadan?
A. That was a very good thing. Because after the LTTE was defeated and Prabhakaran was killed, Kumaran Padmanadan announced that he was the leader. An LTTE leader at that. So I am glad he is arrested and in police custody. The LTTE can never come up again.

Q. What do you know of KP? Were you in touch previously? What kind of man was he?
A. KP was handpicked by Prabhakaran as their International liaison for arms dealing, purchasing and handling their funds. It was always Prabhakaran who maintained contact.
KP is an intelligent man. He speaks many languages which is why he was chosen. He is a graduate of the Jaffna University.

Q. What do you make of the manner in which he was arrested?
A. I think it was to be expected. It was a joint operation that countries like ours was required to work along, especially after 9/11. It is imperative on every country to support the fight against terrorism.

Q. Do you think there are any successors after KP?
A. They can’t do anything because all international networks were controlled by KP himself.

Q. How certain are you they won’t claim leadership as well?
A. According to my knowledge, there is no leader like KP. There were people who claimed that they were de-facto leaders, even some lawyers. But they can’t do anything. No one is as strong or influential as KP was.

Q. How do you think the Diaspora will react now that KP is arrested?
A. Now after the arrest of KP – all their networks are scattered because KP was the man who discussed matters with Prabhakaran. Now there is no one. They realise the situation. In those days they didn’t, due to LTTE propaganda.

KP collected a lot of money, most of it forcibly which Diaspora didn’t like to give away. They were forced to do it at that time. Now they have a choice. They can concentrate on a political solution for the Tamil people. Our government too, has a clear policy on how they handle the national issues at hand. My request for the Diaspora is to help up rebuilt the war torn areas again.

Q. Do you know exactly how much funds KP had under his control? What resources he maintained?
A. (Laughs) KP had so much that we never wanted to count. He had a lot of money. More than that, he had so much property. A lot of shipping lines belonged to him. There was wealth everywhere.

Q. Do you know of anything since his arrest? What he might have said?
A. I have not even seen him.

Q. Are you not interested to know?
A. (Laughs) I am not interested. I don’t care, it’s all over. LTTE is finished.

Q. Where do you go from here?
A. My electorate is Batti and I want to contest from Batticaloa. People in the area, as far as I know, like our policies and our nationalist party. They are not inclined to the other parties and I am glad.

Q. But are you happy though to be with the SLFP?
A. Being in this party has given me immense opportunities to contribute. For which I am happy about. A lot of ministers campaign with me, participate and to raise fund for our people. For instance, next week we are inaugurating an industrial zone in Batticolao. It is only one of many development plans in the pipeline. I believe I could do more for the people, with the party I am now. I am the only Tamil politician working with the government totally. Being in the SLFP has made things within reach for me. I can always discuss issues with President and take ministers to the East to address the needs of people. It is also the first time, our people are getting the chance to meet ministers and voice their concerns.

Q. What are your plans, albeit the party. Personally, what have you set out to achieve?
A. I would like to see a bigger representation of the Tamil politician in Parliament, more Tamil politicians on the side of the government. There is no point in having a few on the opposition benches and others in different parties. Recently even a few Muslim members of the TNA spoke to me, and said they wished to join hands.

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