Daya Master wants the Tamil Diaspora to help the Northern Tamils to stand on their own! Nothing was achieved through the 30-year-old arms struggle.!!!

Govt’s rescue operations saved over 280,000 lives:

‘Thanks to the humanitarian operation I’m still alive’ - Daya Master

By Shanika SRIYANANDA

The ex-media spokesman of the now defunct LTTE, Daya Master wants the Tamil Diaspora to help the Northern Tamils to stand on their own. Nothing was achieved through the 30-year-old arms struggle, he said.

In an interview with the Sunday Observer from Jaffna, where he works as the head of operations of a private Tamil TV Channel - Dan TV - he said he was alive today thanks to the military that liberated over 280,000 civilians who suffered under the LTTE.

“It was a very successful humanitarian operation. People were waiting for the soldiers to save their lives”, he said.

The 55-year-old Velayutham Dayanidhi popularly known among the media as Daya Master said that he leads a happy life with his family and witnessed the development taking place in the Northern region after decades.

A few days before the military defeated the LTTE shot dead the LTTE’s leader V. Prabhakaran on the banks of Nanthikadal Lagoon and area, Daya Master fled to the government controlled with thousands of displaced civilians. He witnessed LTTE atrocities while living in Vallipuram.

“The government treated me nicely after I surrendered. They fed us and looked after well until I was bailed out”, he said.

Daya Master, who was summoned with the Deputy Minister of Resettlement Vinayagamoorthi Muralitharan alias Karuna Amman, the trustworthy former body guard of Prabhakaran to identify the body of the LTTE leader on May 19, said thousands of Tamils have sacrificed their lives prematurely for his dream - Eelam.

“We have suffered enough and it is enough. The Tamils of Sri Lanka now want education and peace for a better future”, he said.

Following are the excerpts of the interview:

Q: What do you think about the life under the LTTE?

A: We, the Tamils suffered immensely. The LTTE terrorized the North and East to achieve Eelam. Normally Tamils hate violence. They did not want war. The LTTE made them fight and converted their mind set for a useless cause. They were sandwiched between the LTTE and their perceptions. Especially the young Tamils were compelled to fight. The LTTE did not honour human rights. They ordered all Tamils to fight for its leader’s dream.

Q: You were the LTTE’s media spokesman. Why didn’t you flee the terror before?

A: You know that the LTTE did not spare anyone who defied their orders. People were under their terror and wanted to come out of it. But all, including me were helpless as there was no way to flee.

But during the last few years I was sidelined by the outfit mainly because I was sick with a heart ailment and due to some other reasons only known to the LTTE leadership. Though I was disappointed with the LTTE and its leadership because of the way they operated and the way they harmed innocent people, I kept mum as I did not have a say. I was afraid that they would kill me if I utter the truth. I never engaged in any of the military activities of the LTTE from the beginning.

But I knew that the LTTE’s fate was not luck as the Rajapaksa Government was determined to eradicate terrorism. I knew that LTTE would not survive long.

Q: But were Northern Tamils in favour of the LTTE?

A: Due to the extensive propaganda, Tamils had hopes of an Eelam, earlier. The LTTE had brain washed people claiming that the Sinhala government and the military were engaged in ethnic cleansing. People, who were born after 1983, believed this and were motivated to have a separate land.

But when the LTTE became hard with their own inhumane law, taxing people for everything and with no development, people of North were up in arms. But it was always a silent mission. Those who went against the outfit died prematurely and after that they harassed their families.

People knew the government would liberate them and civilians were getting ready to flee. They were desperately waiting for the soldiers to liberate them. It was so unfortunate that those who ran for life were shot dead indiscriminately.

Q: Do you agree that Prabhakaran destroyed the future of the Tamils and reduced their lives to zero?

A: Yes. He was a man who was glued to his dream - Eelam and until his death he wanted all the Tamils to sacrifice their lives to achieve his dream. Nothing and no one could wake up from his dream. Those who blocked his path went six feet under. The unfortunate thing is that thousands of Tamils sacrificed their lives for his dream.

Q: Do you know KP or have you met him before?

A: No I have not met him but I knew him by name.

Q: How do you see the government’s military operation to defeat the LTTE and humanitarian operation to save over 280,000 civilians in 2009?

A: I personally think that the government did a very successful military operation to destroy the LTTE. Due to failure of the military strategies, the previous governments had failed to defeat the LTTE and it became stronger in its fighting power. But this government adopted a strong and correct military strategy to bring the outfit to zero. The continuous military assault was one main reason that made the operation successful.

The humanitarian operation needs to be honoured as it saved the lives of over 280,000 Tamils. The LTTE during the final stages used us as hostages. They exposed people to fighting. They fixed their heavy guns in the highly populated small patch of land in Puthumathalan. It was the No Fire Zone and but the LTTE attacked the Army from there, their intention was to get the Army to retaliate.

I think we are fortunate to be liberated by the Army. I was with the civilians and if the Army retaliated, I would not be here to talk to you. They never shot at civilians but step by step the soldiers rescued us.

Q: What do you expect from the Tamil Diaspora to do at this juncture?

A: I think, a huge responsibility lies with the Tamil Diaspora to make a better future for the Tamils. They did not experience the gravity of hardships, the Tamils here faced. They lead luxurious lives and we have sacrificed our future for them.

It is no secret that they willingly or unwillingly raised funds for the LTTE. Now it is their noble responsibility to help the people of the North to stand up on their own. We need development and to secure a better future for our future generation.

Peace has dawned and no Tamil wants to go back to that dark era. They deserve a better future. The Tamil Diaspora should help the people of the North to re-build their shattered lives.

Q: But the pro-LTTE Tamil Diaspora still propagates the LTTE’s ideology despite the truth at home. Can they give a fresh breath to the LTTE and can they mislead the Tamils and the international community in future?

A: They will soon realize that they are in a futile mission. There is no future for the pro-LTTE elements internationally. The sympathy for the LTTE is almost over and no one would help them. That is why I say that the Tamil Diaspora needs to shift their activities to upgrade the lives of Northern people. The government is doing well to facilitate the Northern people. They cannot have any more propaganda claiming that Tamils in Sri Lanka are suffering.

Q: Since you are now in Jaffna, what is the feeling of the common people about peace?

A: They are happy and enjoying the lives free of terror. They want peace to be continue. Now, Tamils, especially those who are in the Northern region, wants their children to be educated. They lost opportunities for education due to the war and they don’t want their children to face the same in future.

Q: You are now witnessing rapid development in the Northern region. How was it under the LTTE?

A: Yes, the development is taking place in the North in true sprit. Under the ‘Uthuru Wasanthaya’ program lots of development activities are taking place. New roads, bridges and State buildings are being constructed. Many areas have been given electricity for the first time after the liberation.

The resettlement is going at a rapid pace and people are back with their livelihood with the support of the government. In some areas in Kilinochchi and Mullaithivu, there is a delay in the process due to de-mining. These areas need to be carefully de-mined as those were the areas the LTTE fought last.

Life has begun in the Northern region after decades. People are slowly catching up with their day-to-day activities. The government is helping them in every aspect in life.

Thanks to the humanitarian operation I’m still alive!

SUNDATOBSERVER.LK
Produced by Lake House Copyright © 2010 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.