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6/23/2015 Wewillfightforourpoliticalobjective:V.Prabakaran|Frontline

http://www.frontline.in/worldaffairs/wewillfightforourpoliticalobjectivevprabakaran/article6808332.ece?css=print 1/4

WORLDAFFAIRSPublished:January23,201512:30IST|Updated:January21,201516:24ISTSEPTEMBER4,1987

Wewillfightforourpoliticalobjective:V.PrabakaranT.S.SUBRAMANIAN

ThesigningoftheIndoSriLankaAgreementonJuly29,1987,inColombobyRajivGandhiandSriLankanPresidentJ.R.JayewardenemarkedaturningpointinthehistoryofSriLankaaswellasinIndiaSriLankarelations.Underit,theIndianPeaceKeepingForce(IPKF)wasdespatchedtotheislandsNorthernandEasternprovinces.ThesituationwenthaywirewiththebeginningofamilitaryconfrontationbetweentheIPKFandtheLiberationTigersofTamilEelam(LTTE)fromOctober10,1987,andamarkedreluctanceonthepartofColombotoimplementtheagreement.TheIPKFLTTEmilitaryconflictsawthedeathofabout1,200Indiansoldiersand660LTTEcadres.AnLTTEsuicidebomberassassinatedRajivGandhiwhenhewascampaigningatSriperumbudur,about30kmfromChennai,onMay21,1991.

ThischangedtheLTTEsfortunesforever.ItcausedatremendousrevulsiontowardstheorganisationinTamilNadu.ItwasproscribedinIndiaandothercountries.PrabakaranwaskilledinaclimacticbattlewiththeSriLankaArmyonMay18,2009.Fiveyearslater,Rajapaksa,underwhosepresidencytheLTTEwaswipedout,losttheelectioninSriLanka,thankslargelytoSriLankanTamilsandMuslimsvotingagainsthim.FrontlinehascoveredtheSriLankanissueconsistentlyandexhaustivelyrightfromthemagazinesinception.

V.PRABAKARAN,theLTTEleader,isakeyplayerinthedramaticdevelopmentsrepresentedbytheIndoSriLankaagreementanditsimplementation.HewasinvitedtoNewDelhibeforetheagreementwassigned,raisedapprehensionsandobjections,metPrimeMinisterRajivGandhiforafrankdiscussionofthesituationandtheproblems,andreturnedtoJaffnainearlyAugust.OnAugust4,Prabakaranmadeaspeechthatdrewwideattention:init,heanalysedthesituationfromtheLTTEsstandpoint,expressedhisdissatisfactionwiththeagreementbutalsohisclosenesstoIndiaandsaidtheLTTEwouldhandoverarmsbasicallybecauseitlovesIndiaanddidnotwanttoclashwiththeIPKF.Aweeklater,aFrontlineteamcomprisingwriterT.S.SubramanianandphotographerD.KrishnanmethimforthissessioninJaffna.Soonafterthis,freshIndianassurancesledtotheLTTEdecidingtogoaheadwiththehandingoverofarms.

ForhisfirstextendedinterviewafterreturningtoJaffnafromTamilNaduinJanuary1987,VelupillaiPrabakaran,theSupremeCommanderoftheLiberationTigersofTamilEelam,meetsrepresentativesofFrontlineandTheHinduinthesecondweekofAugustinJaffna.Theinterview,conductedinTamil,lastsoveranhour.

TheLTTEleaderlookedcoolandrelaxed.HesetstheballrollingbysuggestingthatweshouldgototheEasternprovincewheretheSriLankansoldiers,healleges,arestillharassingTamilcivilians.

TherewasamediastorythatwhentheSriLankaarmedforcesbegantheiroffensiveagainsttheVadamarachchiregionoftheJaffnapeninsulaonMay26,youweretrappedinVelvettituraiandyoumanagedtoescape.Isthisversiontrue?

Prabakaran(smiling):ImovedtoJaffnaonthenightofMay25.Theybegantheoffensivethenextdaymorning.TheyattackedVelvettituraithinkingthatIwasthere.

WhatisyourassessmentoftheIndoSriLankaagreement?Whatareyourapprehensionsaboutit?Yousaythereisashortfallinrelationtoyourexpectations.Whatarethemainareasofdissatisfaction?

Asfarastheagreementisconcerned,theysaythattherewillbeareferendumintheEasternprovinceevenonthemergeroftheNorth

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andtheEast.Moreover,theysaythereferendumwillbedecidedbyasimplemajority.ItisnotaquestionofthemergeroftheNorthandtheEast.Itisourhomeland.Thereisnoquestionofanynegotiationonthis.

Therearesomefurthercomplications.ItisanagreementbetweentheGovernmentofIndiaandtheSriLankangovernment,asfarasweareconcerned.In1983,therewereonlyafewSriLankanarmycampsintheNorthandtheEast.Butnowtherearesome200camps.TheSinhalesesettlementscouldnotberemovedordissolvedwithoutremovingthesearmycampsand,infact,thecampslegitimisedtheSinhalasettlements.Animportantaspect[intheagreement]isthatthereisnoroomatallfortheremovalofthecamps.Tostopsuchsettlementsandpreventatrocities,theIndianArmyshouldstaythere.

ButastrangethingisthattherearenoIndianArmycampsbeyondtheElephantPassorJaffnapeninsula.Buttoday,theIndianArmycampshavebeenestablishedatKodikamam,Achuveli,Palai,Vannankerni,Yakkachijunction,Thalaiyadicoast,PandatharippuandKankesanthuraiLightHouse.Thereisnoneed[forIndianArmycamps]intheseplacesbecausetherearenoSinhalesehere.ButtheIndianArmyhassetupcampsthere.

Wesaythe200[SriLanka]Armycampsshouldberemoved.ButtheIndianArmyisestablishingmorecamps.Thishasledtodoubtsanddissatisfactionamongthepeople,atabeginningstage.Thereisnoatmosphereofsafetyfortherefugeestoreturn.Securityandsurveillancezoneshavenotbeenliftedyet.TheIndianArmycampshavebeenestablished.Thishasledtodissatisfactionamongthepeople.TheycametotheLTTEsofficetogivepetitionsandwetoldthemtogivethepetitionstothem.

YousaidthetextoftheIndoSriLankaagreementwasnotgiventoyou.

Theytookawaythecopy.MrJ.R.Jayewardenetodaysaystherewillbeareferendum.TheBillhasnotbeenmovedinParliament.

Thequestionofcutoffpointsshouldbesettled.TheGovernmentAgentssaythatpeoplewhohadfledtheirplacesafter1983couldreturn.Butpeoplelefttheirplacesevenbefore1983.Therearetwoimportantaspectsinthisagreement.OneisrelatedtoourhomelandconsistingofaunifiedNorthandEast.Thesecondisourland.Botharecomplicatedproblems,majorcomplications.Theagreementhasnotsolvedthesetwoquestions.Thisisthefundamentalproblem.

WhatisyourattitudetowardstheGovernmentofIndiaandPrimeMinisterRajivGandhi?

Attitude?

Imeanyourstandpoint.

Astheytookintoconsiderationtheirowninterestsandhurriedlyarrivedattheagreement,theyhavenotlookedafterthegrievancesofthepeoplewhohavebeenaffectedforsolong.

How?

TherearerefugeesinMullaithivu.Peoplearetakingoutprocessions.Butbeforethat,wehavetolaydownourarms.However,thepeoplesproblemshavenotbeensolved.Theproblemisthatpeoplemustreturntotheirland.Tofacilitatethat,the[SriLanka]Armycampsshouldberemoved.ButtheIndianArmyisnotpreparedtoremovethe[SriLanka]Armycampsandthiswillnotbringaboutasolution.Ifthishadbeendiscussedbeforetheagreementwasarrivedat,wewouldhavelaiddowncertainconditions.Wewouldhavesaidthearmycampsshouldberemoved.Butthishasnottakenplace.

WhenwesaythearmycampsshouldgobacktothepositionthatobtainedonMay25,thenwhydotheyestablishmoreIndianArmycampsinKodikamam?Peoplearenotabletogobackfirsttherefugeesareunabletoreturn.

AddressingthepublicmeetingontheSudumalaiAmmantemplegroundsonAugust4,yousaidyouhadahearttoheartdiscussionwithRajivGandhi.Youalsomentionedthathegaveyousomeassurancesandthenyourelented.Whataretheassurances?

MrRajivGandhigavetheassurancethatwe,theTamilpeople,willbeprotectedintheNorthandtheEast.ButpeoplearenotabletoreturntotheEast.

TheIndianArmyhasgonetherebuttheTamilpeoplearenotabletogotherebecausethereisanincreasingoppositionfromtheSinhaleseHomeGuardsandtheSinhalesepeople.Therearearmycampsthereinindividualhouses,schoolsandcooperativestores.ButtheIndianArmyhasnotbeendeployedinsuchplaces.TheCeylonArmyhasnotbeenevacuated,theproblemhasnotbeensolved.AnotherthingisthepeopleslackoffaitharisingoutofthenonremovaloftheCeylonArmy.EveniftheIndianArmygoes,occupiessuchplacesandlatervacates,theSinhalaarmywillcomeback.Further,wewouldnthavearms.

WhatdidRajivGandhisayabouttheremovalof200armycamps?

Weopposedtheagreementonthispoint.Nobodywaspreparedtoconsiderit.

InDelhi?

Yes,inDelhi[firmly].

InthefuturepoliticalsetupoftheNorthandtheEast,whatistheroleyouenvisagefortheLTTE,oncethelayingdownofarmsiscompleted?

Whenwesaypoliticalrole,wehavecontactswithpeopleattheorganisationallevelandwearestrengtheningit.WearestrengtheningourorganisationintheEastalso.WearealreadyworkingwiththepeopleinTrincomaleeandBatticaloadistricts.Thisisnotadifficulttask.

IstheLTTEstrongintheEast?

IntheEast,ourpeopleareactiveeveninareaswherethereareSinhalese.WhenthepeoplehoistedtheLTTEflagatMudur,theywereshotdead.TheIndianArmyandtheGovernmentAgentswantedtheflagtoberemoved.Tothatextent,peopleareconsciousofthings.

Willyouacceptamultiparty,competitivepoliticalsystem?YousaidearlierthatthereshouldbeaonepartydemocracyonthelinesofYugoslavia.



Thisisimportantandyoushouldknowourposition.WehavenotachievedTamilEelam.IhadexpressedmyviewsonapoliticalsetupforTamilEelam.Butthereisnoseparatecountrynow.Thisisanagreementimposedonus.Inthis[setup]everyoneisequal,everyoneisthesame.Wewillfightforourpoliticalobjective.WewilltaketheEelampoliticalobjectiveinasustainedmannerbeforeourpeople.

WhatIsaidthenwastobedoneaftertheestablishmentofourownState.Buttherecannotbeanycompatibilitybetweenonepartyruleandwhatobtainsnow.Whatistakingplacenowisthis.SriLankaandIndiahaveconcludedanagreement.TheIndianArmyishereandisaskingforourweapons.Ifwedontdothat,wewillhavetofighttheIndianArmy.Toavertthat,weacceptedthesearrangements,butwehavenotabandonedourpoliticalobjective.

ThereareconflictingorvaryingreportsonwhatyousaidduringthepressconferenceyouheldinJaffnaonAugust5.Whileonereportsaidthatyouwouldnotallowantisocialmilitantgroupstocontesttheelections,otherreportssaidyouwouldallowothergroupstocontest.Whichistrue?

Everybodywillbeallowedtocontestelections.Wewillplaceourviewsbeforethepeople.

WhatistheroleyouseefortheTULFastheelectedrepresentativeofthepeople?

Youareawareofwhattheydidbefore.Whatdotheyknowbutthejoboffightingelections?Theywillgobacktofightingelections.Wedontwantpowertopassintotheirhandsthatisourintentionandourstand.Letthepeopledecide.Theywillcontestelections.Wewillstandagainsttheminthefurtheranceofourcause.Thepeoplewilldecideonwhosesidetheywillstand.

AttheSudumalaipublicmeeting,yousaidtheLTTEwouldtaketodifferentformsofstruggle.Whatarethey?Willitbeamassbasedstruggle,arevolutionaryparty,anonviolentstruggleorwillyoutaketoarmedstruggleagain?

Wewillresorttoamassbasedstruggle.

ButisnttheLTTEapurelymilitaryorganisation?

Today,theLTTEisamassbasedorganisation.YouwouldhavenotedourMayDayrally.Thereismilitaryrulehereduringthetimeoftherally.Militaryhelicoptersarefiringfromabove.Atthesametime,theSinhalesepeopleintheSoutharenotabletocelebratetheMayDay.Inthiskindofdangeroussituation,ifweareabletomobilise200,000peopleandtakeoutarallyintheburningsun,itdoesmeanweareamassbasedorganisation.Wehavebuiltupsuchastrength.Ifourshadbeenmerelyamilitantorganisation,peoplewouldnothaveattendedtheMayDayrallyinsuchamassiveway.

WhatisyourattitudetowardstheMuslimsintheEast?

WedontlookupontheMuslimsasaseparatecategoryweconsiderthemanintegralpartoftheTamils.Itisaquestionofpeopleunitedbylanguageanddifferentiatedbyreligion.

PresidentJayewardenehasbeenappealingtothepeopleintheEasttovoteagainstthemergerinthereferendum.WhatwillyoudoiftheMuslimsvoteagainstthemerger?

Wehavenotplannedforthatsituation.Itissomethingthatisgoingtohappeninthefuture.Wecanrespondtotheproblemonlyatthatstage.

Inasystemwheretherearegoingtobeelectionsacompetitivepoliticalstructurewhataretheproblemsyouforesee?

Wehavealreadymetsuchpoliticalcompetition.Wearenostrangerstosuchcompetition.Letthepeopledecideultimatelywhomtheywant.Letthemchooseforthemselvesaproperleadershiptofreethemselvesfromthisconfusion.

Whatwillbethefutureofyourcadres,estimatedtonumber5,000?

Wewilldeviseaproperplanfortheirfuturelife.Wewillnotabandonthem.Wewillfindawayoutforthemtocontinuetheirlivelihood.

Inwhatway?

Wewillcreatejobopportunities.Thosewhowanttostudywillbeallowedtostudy.Wewillarrangeforthemtechnicaltraining.Allofuswillremaindisciplinedandcreateopportunitiesinacollectiveway.

Whatwasthereactionofyourcadrestotheagreementandtothepropositionofhandingoverarms?Didtheyopposethehandingoverofarms?

Asfarasthecadresareconcerned,theyhavemuchfaithinmepersonally.Thatiswhytheydeferredtomyword.Buteventodaythereisnoprotection.DangersariseforusfromthecadresoftheotherarmedorganisationsandfromtheSriLankaArmy.

Wasthereanyopposition?

Asregardsopposition,Imyselfwasnotwilling.Then,imaginethefeelingsofthecadres.Thereisnosecurity.Somanycadreshavedied.

Whathappenstothecyanidecapsulesthatyourmenwearroundtheirnecks?Aretheynecessarywhentherearenoarms?

Ithinkthecapsulesareneededmost,theyareindispensablenow.TheyaretheonlyweaponsforthecadrestoprotectthemselvesintheEasternprovincefromhoodlums,therivalgroupsandtheSinhalaarmy.Notonlythattheywouldcontinuetoweartheminremembranceofthosecomradeswhofoughtalongwiththemandsacrificedtheirlives.

[Atthispoint,PrabakaranasksYogiwhetherhesportsthecyanidecapsule.Yogipullsoutthecapsuletiedtoastringaroundhisneck.Itismadeofwhiteandblackplastic.Prabakaranalsopullsouthiscapsulefromunderthecollarofhisshirtandshowsittous.Whenweaskhimwhetherwecanphotographhimatthismoment,hepolitelydeclinestheproposition.]



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Howdoyoufeelwhenyourfightersarekilled?Forexample,youhavenamedyoursonCharlesAntonyinmemoryofaloyalLTTEfighterwhowaskilledinaclashwiththeSriLankaArmyinJuly1983.

Asfarasourfeelingsareconcerned,wehavebeenverydeeplyaffectedinourhearts.Havingfoughtsomuch,havingsacrificedsomanylivesandhavinglost20,000peopleallthishasbeensubordinatedtoIndiasstrategicinterests.Notonlythat,wetherepresentativesofsuchmartyrs,havenotbeenproperlyrespected.

Hence,inthiskindofsituationduringtheinterimarrangement...wefeelthatwewanttodemonstratetotheGovernmentofIndiathesupportwehavefromthepeople.Indiahasnotgivenusourdue.Withoutconsultingus,theyhavearrivedatanagreement.Hence,wewouldliketoenterpoliticswiththepeoplessupportandwiththegoalofTamilEelam.Thatwillbethefittingreply.

TodaysTamilpapersinJaffnaquoteanLTTErepresentativeassayingtheorganisationwouldnotfullysurrenderarms.

Yes,wemadethestatement.Itisbettertofightanddiethansurrendertheweaponsinaninsecureenvironmentanddieonamassscale!

Whataretheshapinginfluencesonyourlife?

Ra.Su.NallaperumalsserialKallukkulEeram(Itiswetinsidethestone)publishedinKalkimagazine.Ihavereaditfivetimes.ItrevolvesroundtheIndianfreedomstruggle.MrNallaperumalbalancestheahimsaicstruggleandthearmedstruggle.Generally,Ireadanythingonanyfreedommovement.IusedtoreadbooksonJoanofArc,Napoleon,andsoon.Iwasalwaysinterestedinhistory.ShivajiwasthefirstguerillatohavefoughtagainsttheMughalrule.WhenIwasyoung,IalwayshadapictureofNetajiSubhasChandraBose.IusedtokeephispictureonmytablewhenIusedtostudy.Ihadwrittenonmytable,Iwillfighttillthelastdropofmybloodfortheliberationofmymotherland.

Thankyou,MrPrabakaran.