posted July 04, 2000 12:07 AM            

VP: We are ready for talks with- out pre-conditions. What we desire is that these talks take place in a relaxed and peaceful atmosphere. The new government has partially lifted the economic embargo. This is a positive step and an expression of its goodwill. We welcome it. However, the embargo has not been fully lifted. The ban on certain essentials yet continues. That aside, the government continues to curb the free movement of people between the peninsula and the mainland by keeping the land routes closed. That is not going to improve the economy of the people, nor ease their burdens. Above all, it is most essential that conditions be created to enable the mil people to lead a peaceful life in their own areas. We have said that we are ready to halt the fighting. But apparently the government is showing hesitation in stopping the war. Aggressive acts by government forces continue; offensives by the Sri Lankan Navy in particular. These are bound to dampen peace initiatives. All in all, the situation in Tamil areas has yet to return to normalcy. It must be said that there is now an aura of goodwill, yes but the groundwork for a peace settlement and a return to normalcy remains to be, worked out. It is only the government that can take constructive steps towards building up this process.

BBC: You have said that you were ready for talks without pre- conditions. But you are also saying that the economic embargo has to be fully lifted and the cease-fire has to be agreed. Aren't these pre- conditions?

VP: We are not imposing any pre-conditions for talks. We are only pointing out that a peace process has to be necessarily con- ducted in a peaceful atmosphere. In the absence of a declaration of cease-fire, is it not possible that war-like actions can continue? Wouldn't it be meaningless to go on with the war on one hand, and hold peace negotiations on the other? That is why we are saying that a cease-fire becomes necessary. As long as we are subject to economic constraints, as long as we are subject to the pressures of war, it becomes difficult to engage in talks with mutual goodwill and feelings of openness. The new government has to take this into consideration. If the government agrees to a cease-fire, we will accept it as a token of Its good intentions and a positive signal for peace.

BBC:You are saying that the government must express its good intentions by announcing a cease-fire. But there is a view prevalent among the armed forces that you would make use of the cease-fire to strengthen yourself militarily. What is your response to that?

VP: I must say that this is a totally erroneous assumption. Militarily speaking, a cease-fire is not advantageous for us. It is only by continuing to seize arms from the enemy, or in destroying them, that we can ensure our growth and military preparedness. That is possible only by continuing the war. To think that a cease-fire would benefit us is therefore incorrect. Despite that, if we desire a cease-fire, it is only to bring about the right climate for genuine peace, and for no other reason. As long as the state of war continues, there is always the possibility that there could be sudden, unexpected military confrontations and loss of lives. Wouldn't such incidents damage the peace efforts?

BBC: You have been stressing the need for a Tamil homeland. But Prime Minister Chandrika has reportedly made it clear that she was not going to accept the concept of a Tamil homeland, nor that she is prepared for a North-East merger. What she envisages is a re-demarcation of provincial boundaries. What are your comments on that?

VP: I am not the only person to stress the need for a Tamil homeland. That had been the voice of Tamil consciousness and stressed time and again, over a long period. This is a historical fact. The areas that consist of NorthEast province had been the homeland of Tamil-speaking people. That includes the Muslims. That is our position. We are not aware of what views Prime Minister Chandrika holds on this question. As to what new framework she has, we do not know. It would not be prudent for us to comment on something that had not been examined. The government position will be known in the course of our talks. At that point of time, we can express our views.

BBC:In the event of your having talks with the government, will you accept the participation of other Tamil groups as well?

VP: Those Tamil groups are having discussions with the government, individually and collectively. We have no objection to that. But who are the authentic representatives of the Tamil people? Who are those who are shedding blood in waging a struggle for the Tamil people's rights? We believe that the new government realises the wisdom behind all these. So, our wish is that the government should hold direct talks with us, we who truly represent the Tamil people's aspirations. That could be the only talks that would be meaningful and useful.

BBC: At the time you were having a dialogue with the Premadasa government, you broke the talks half-way. So why should the present government trust you and initiate talks with you?

VP: It is wrong to say that we broke the talks with the Premadasa government. We did not break away half-way. For nearly two years, those talks had been going on, but at no point of time did the Premadasa government get down to discuss the fundamental grievances of the Tamil people; neither did it come forward to place any tangible proposals to solve the problems. The talks merely drifted along into a meaningless, fruitless drag, and came to its natural end. That was what really happened. To say that we abused the trust placed on us was mischievous propaganda. At all times, during all talks, we place the interests of the Tamil people foremost. What we have been stressing all along is that our people should be in a position to live in peace, with honour and dignity. If talks in the past failed, it was simply because successive Sinhala governments refused to redress the genuine, fundamental grievances of the Tamil people, and failed to act with fair-play and justice. Time and again, the, Tamils were cheated. Breaking gentlemen's agreements, dishonouring pacts and agreements, it was the Sinhala. governments that had been abusing the trust that the Tamil people placed in them. No one can refute these facts of history. If the new government is prepared to concede the reasonable demands of the Tamil people, and is pledged to a genuine commitment towards justice, there is no reason why the new government should have any fears.

BBC: There are allegations -that the Liberation Tigers are the ones who are obstructing the opening up of land routes between the peninsula and the mainland. What is your answer to that?

VP: There is absolutely no truth in these allegations. There are two land routes between Jaffna and the Tamil mainland, that of Elephant Pass and Poonakari (Pooneryn). The Sri Lanka government forces have closed both these routes and prevented movements of people with a view to laying a military siege over the Jaffna peninsula,. It is because of this that the people are using the sea route of Kilaly. In the act of preventing even this, the Sinhalese armed forces have resorted to innumerable killings. To enable the people to undertake. this risky journey with some safety, our Sea Tigers have made immeasurable sacrifices. Their acts of valour in this regard are legion. Today, the Kilaly sea route is under our control. People are now using the Kilaly sea route without fear, under the protection of our cadres. But if the government is prepared to take steps to open up one of these land routes, and facilitate the movement of people and vehicles, we would certainly welcome it. There should be freedom of movement for the people without army checks and harassment. If the government would withdraw the remaining armed forces at Poonakari and open up the Sangupiddy pathway, our people are certain to welcome it wholeheartedly.

BBC: Could you not have participated at the recently held Parliamentary elections? Why didn't you contest?

VP: There has to be a permanent solution to the problems of the Tamil people. Only then we can think of contesting elections. The Tamils have participated in Parliamentary politics for a long, long time. But Parliamentary politics has failed to find a solution to our problems. Not only has it failed in that respect, but it was through Parliament that several discriminatory and oppressive laws and legislation have been directed against the Tamil people. Sri Lankan Parliaments have been concerned only in meeting the needs and aspirations of the numerically powerful Sinhalese population, while crushing the rights of the Tamils at the same time. It is against this background that we think there is no purpose in Tamils entering the Parliamentary process; especially when elections are held under conditions which are legally and morally indefensible.

BBC: Recently, I visited Muslim refugee camps in Puttalam. Those Muslim people whom you had forced to evacuate from Jaffna told me that they had lived together with the Jaffna people in amity and friendship, and they were pained over what happened. They said if their protection was guaranteed, they would like to come back to Jaffna. If conditions were to return to normal, would you permit them to come back to their earlier habitats?

VP: Those people belong to the Jaffna soil. Because of some unfortunate developments at a certain point of time, they were forced to become refugees. We express our regret over this. When conditions become normal, we will permit them to come back to Jaffna. As a result of this war, there are three lakhs of Tamils living as refugees in the Jaffna peninsula alone. Because the armed forces have forcibly occupied their areas, particularly in the islands division and in Valikamam north, these people were compelled to abandon their homes, and are now living as displaced people. A considerable number of them have sought refuge in areas previously occupied by the Muslim people. If the Sinhala armed forces would withdraw from the areas they forcibly occupied, these displaced people would be in a position to get back to their original habitats. In such an event, we would permit these Muslim refugees to get back to Jaffna.

BBC: Mr.Pirabakaran, it is apparent that there is an overwhelming consensus in the minds of everyone, whether in the North, or East, or in the South, that this war should end, and that peace should prevail. Given this yearning for peace, what is the message you would like to give to the ordinary masses of Sinhalese people in the South - leave alone the politicians?

VP: The ordinary Sinhalese people do not like this war. They desire peace, and that we realise fully well. Even the results of the Parliamentary elections indicate that. We want peace ourselves; a durable one that would enable all people to live with peace of mind. What obstructs that, is this war. Therefore, the war should be brought to an end. Those who forced this war on us, are the ones who can also bring it to an end. There can be no solution to the problems facing the Tamil people through waging war or through military repression. This, the Sinhalese -nation has to realise - It is only through fulfilling the reasonable aspirations of the Tamil people that a solution could be found to the ethnic question. It is only through peaceful means that this could be achieved. It is only the Sinhalese people who could impress this fact on Sinhala chauvinist governments and those who lobby for war. We hold the Sinhalese people with affection. We bear no hostility towards them. Those responsible for the present predicament, and the enmity between the Sinhalese and Tamil peoples, are the forces of Sinhala chauvinism. The Sinhalese people have to identify these forces, and cast them aside. Only then, there would be durable peace in this island.