Any act of political violence has now come to be treated as an act of terrorism. The underlining causes for such violence may differ from case to case. Yet, all manifestations of political violence are now being clubbed together and branded as terrorism. The Tamil Eelam struggle in Sri Lanka is a problem in Asia, not in Europe. Due to this reason, it has not gained any considerable sympathy or support from the West.
In Asia, virtually in every one of our neghbouring countries, except of course, the Maldives, there is at least one separatist movement. This reality is a plus factor for the Sri Lankan government, when it comes to the question of its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Also, India was forced to have a self imposed alienation from the Sri Lankan national question, for the last several years, since the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. All these factors put together have created an unfavourable political atmosphere for the separatist struggle for Tamil Eelam waged by the LTTE
Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Parliamentarian and lawyer by profession N. Srikantha says that, with the exit of the aid workers from the north, there is a sense of being abandoned and marginalised among the Tamils who, today, are literally, caught in the crossfire of the LTTE and government troops. He also points out that, what is required at present is a halt to the ongoing military operation and the introduction of a political package as a solution to the dragging ethnic question. “We can’t go on fighting like this. Just think of the plight of the innocent Tamils. While both the LTTE and the government troops fight, it is they who are caught in between. This should stop immediately,” he told The Nation in an interview.
Q: As the war in the North escalates, civilians are caught in between. What is the real plight of the civilians?
A: As far as the Tamils living in the Wanni are concerned, their only wish and prayer is that military operations should cease. The people there are experiencing every minute of the fury of the military conflict between the security forces and the LTTE. Of the 400,000 people, half the number is now displaced with most of them housed in schools and in temporary shelters.
There is a big question mark with regard to their very survival. With the government resorting to aerial attacks, the people are gripped with the fear of either losing their lives or getting grievously injured, virtually daily. The supply of food and essential medicines from Vavuniya, via the A9 highway, has now been suspended and, unless it is resumed, there is a grim prospect of severe shortage of these essential items in the next few days.
Overall, the whole situation is very alarming. With the exit of the NGOs and UN agencies from the Wanni, I understand that, there is a sense of being abandoned and marginalized, among these helpless people.
Q: Are you satisfied with the government’s arrangements made to provide shelter and food to the civilians fleeing from the war areas?
A: Well, what are these arrangements and where are they? The government is only concerned now with the recapture of Kilinochchi town. The government has suspended the transportation of food and goods by lorries from Omanthai, the last checkpoint on the A9 highway on the southern side. Therefore, it is very clear that the government is only obsessed with Kilinochchi and hoisting the Lion flag there. There is no humanitarian concern. I would say that the government has deliberately discarded its Constitutional obligation towards the Tamils of the war-torn Wanni region.
Q: Currently, the morale of the government troops seems to be high and is keen to capture territories earlier held by the Tigers. Would this be a psychological blow to the LTTE?
A: It is rather premature for anybody to predict the ultimate outcome of the ongoing military campaign. But, one thing is certain, territories may change hands, as was the case in the last 15 years, but there cannot be any decisive victory for either party in this war, given the lessons of the past. Even if the government succeeds in recapturing strategic areas and main towns in the Wanni region, the LTTE, being a militant organization with rich experience in warfare, can continue to exist and exert itself as a guerilla force.
Given the geography of the Wanni region, the LTTE can fight from there for years to come. The objective of defeating the LTTE decisively or, destroying it altogether, can only be a daydream. Between 1987 and 1990, the LTTE was able to resist the Indian army, the fourth largest in the world, from the thick jungles of the Wanni. History can repeat itself.
Q: While the government forces claim they are on a winning streak, the LTTE has still not admitted defeat. What do you think is the truth?
A: In both love and war, truth is the first casualty. The fact is, in the ongoing war, both sides have been suffering casualties in considerable numbers. But, when it comes to propaganda, it is not fair for anybody to expect the whole truth from either side of any military conflict of this nature.
Q: The TNA that claims to represent the Tamils of the North and East, is today confined to its base, while the Tamil civilians are undergoing immense hardships. Why is that the TNA has not been able to mount pressure on the government against what is described by the TNA as atrocities against the Tamils?
A: I think it is not fair to make such an unkind comment on the TNA. We have been placing the plight of the people at every available forum. If today, there is a clear understanding of the ethnic conflict of this country at the international level, the role of the TNA is definitely among the contributory factors for such a scenario.
If, most of the political parties in the Tamil speaking state of Tamil Nadu in neighbouring India, are up in arms against the ongoing military campaign, in consequent of which, our people in the Wanni region are undergoing immense suffering, it is mainly due to the frequent briefings regarding the ground situation here, that was undertaken by the TNA. Not only the regional parties in Tamil Nadu, but also national parties, including the Communist Party, BJP and the Marxists Communist Party have raised their powerful voices in defence of our people.
There is an emotional upsurge now in Tamil Nadu. It is bound to have its own impact soon at the national level in India. Sri Lanka cannot afford under any circumstances, to displease India. Both, in and out of Parliament, the TNA has been fearlessly championing the legitimate political aspirations of our people.
Q: If what you say has any truth, then, how come the international community in general, and India in particular, have not reacted to the TNA’s appeal?
A: It is true to some extent. There are several reasons for that. Firstly, I would like to cite the post September 11 Western psychology. Any act of political violence has now come to be treated as an act of terrorism. The underlining causes for such violence may differ from case to case.
Yet, all manifestations of political violence are now being clubbed together and branded as terrorism. Secondly, unlike Kosovo in Serbia and that of Osetia and Abhasia in Georgia, the Tamil Eelam struggle in Sri Lanka is a problem in Asia, not in Europe. Due to this reason, it has not gained any considerable sympathy or support from the West.
In Asia, virtually in every one of our neghbouring countries, except of course, the Maldives, there is at least one separatist movement. This reality is a plus factor for the Sri Lankan government, when it comes to the question of its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Also, India was forced to have a self-imposed alienation from the Sri Lankan national question, for the last several years, since the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi.
All these factors put together have created an unfavourable political atmosphere for the separatist struggle for Tamil Eelam waged by the LTTE. But this is only one side of the matter. There is also the other side. That is the issue of legitimate political aspirations of the minority Tamils in Sri Lanka. The Tamils of Sri Lanka have a long recorded history in Sri Lanka. With the gaining of independence in 1948, the Tamils found themselves relegated to second class citizenship.
Fifty percent of them were rendered stateless. This state of affairs, slowly and steadily, has led to the ethnic conflict assuming a military dimension. The Tamils are still ready for a reasonable political solution within the framework of a united Sri Lanka. But where is the solution. Are there any meaningful proposals placed before the Tamils. If tomorrow the government could come forward with a reasonable political package to solve the ethnic problem peacefully, the Tamils would never like to miss that opportunity. You can have that word of the TNA on that. We are positive that the international community understands our aspirations and our willingness to evolve a political solution within a united country.
Q: President Mahinda Rajapaksa, offering a solution, has said in his message to the 63rd UN General Assembly that, there can only be talks provided the LTTE laid down arms. Is this not justifiable?
A: I appreciate the brutal frankness with which the President has clearly expressed his stand, however unpalatable it may be to the Tamil community. Now, with the President declaring from the podium of the world assembly, that there would be no talks with the armed LTTE, the resultant situation for the LTTE offers no choice other than to fight the war. If the LTTE, for argument sake, lays down weapons, it would automatically cease to be a force to be reckoned with. The LTTE is not a political party. It is a militant organisation, fighting for a political cause. Its strength flows through the barrel of the gun.
Logically and realistically, one cannot expect the LTTE to lay down its weapons first, and then talk. It has never done so in the past, when engaged in talks with the government of the day, including the present government. Now, with this announcement at the UN, the LTTE is provided with every justification for engaging itself in war. It has to resist, in order to survive. There is no other choice. No one can now blame the LTTE for fighting the war.
Q: Army Commander Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka has, in a recent interview, said that the minority should not make undue demands in the country. What, in your view does that mean, to the minority community?
A: A disturbing development that has been witnessed in very recent times in this country is that, military men, who are meant to defend the security of the country and prosecute the war, if it becomes necessary in that regard, at times, while overstepping the parameters of their well defined professional role, find themselves unable to resist the temptation of doing a little bit of political speeches now and then. I can very well understand, Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka, the Army Commander, going to any length in leading his soldiers, but of course, within the ambit and scope of the law of the land, in fighting the LTTE. That is his task, and no one can find fault with him for that. But, when we hear intemperate and ill conceived views emanating from him, on purely political questions, it is to say the least, all the more disturbing.
His view that, “this country belongs to the Sinhalese, but there are minority communities who shall be treated like our people”, is very narrow and chauvinist in character and content. I can understand an average politician coming out with these racist remarks. But the commander of the armed forces of the country, who should be above politics and more so, above partisan politics, should not have permitted himself to succumb to this line of thinking. Going by what he has stated, if the country belongs to the Sinhalese, then what is the status of the rest. Do we not belong to this country? If so, what is the option? Do we have to jump into the Palk Strait or think of creating a country for us by carving out a portion of this island?
Published: Sep 28, 2008 15:55:41 GMT