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LTTE not for war, resume peace talks soon, says Sampanthan
By Frances Bulathsinghala
The TNA General Secretary, R. Sampanthan in an interview given to The Sunday Times assured the LTTE will not go to war and said the peace talks between the Government and the LTTE should commence immediately.

"We will only talk peace with the government, not war. There is the certainty that the LTTE would not revert to hostilities", he explained adding that the prospects of a closer role by India with regard to the peace process is welcome because 'the LTTE too wants to build a good relationship with India'.

Mr. Sampanthan said that Norway however should continue to remain in the main facilitation rung.

He was also specific about the resumption of talks between the Government and the LTTE being based on the Interim Self Governing Administration proposals submitted by the LTTE.

Striking a personal note regarding the LTTE’s influence on the TNA, Mr. Sampanthan said the LTTE only "invites" and does not "summon" them to Kilinochchi.

He said there was no division in the TNA and dismissed the temporary differences of opinion with the eastern group of the TNA as a thing of the past.

Mr. Sampanthan spoke to The Sunday Times soon after the TNA held their Parliamentary group meeting and issued a statement last Thursday demanding that peace talks be resumed immediately and expressed his displeasure on Douglas Devananda, an arch enemy of the LTTE and the TNA, being appointed as a Minister of the UPFA government.

Following are excerpts of the interview :
Q: Could you specify as to how the TNA sees the UPFA's moves to change the Constitution?
A: We are concerned only with reforms based on self rule for the north and east. All other matters are peripheral.

Q: Would you say that the abolishing of the Executive Presidency is also peripheral?
A: Yes.

Q: Could you specify the TNA's reaction to the previous attempt, made by the People's Alliance government in 2000, to change the constitution ?
A: The draft constitution submitted to Parliament in 2000 was a mutilated version of the 1995 draft which we sincerely felt addressed the Tamil question adequately.

Q: Would the TNA support a Constitutional change by the Freedom Alliance if the TNA is given a bigger role at the drafting stages ?
A: Our co-operation would be unstintingly given for constitutional reforms if it is based on the aspirations of the Tamils where the key Tamil players in the ethnic question are consulted. We want the UPFA to take heed of the Oslo declaration. Let them stop fudging. Let them stop conning. We will judge them by their actions and not by their words. I am not concerned by what the President says. I will judge her by what she does. But before anything else we should have proof of the UPFA's commitment.

Q: g Are you saying that the UPFA is not genuinely concerned about pursuing peace ?
A: What the Freedom Alliance is concerned about is yet to be seen. It will have to prove itself.

With regard to the new government and the immediate future of the peace talks what are the instructions you have got so far from the LTTE ?
A: I do not take instructions from the LTTE. We are in the progress of talking to it and will hold our next meeting early this week. The LTTE has indicated a keenness for early talks.

Q: But aren't you and the TNA members summoned by the LTTE hierarchy to Killinochchi ?
A: We are not summoned. We are invited. We are equals and we talk as equals.

Q: But does not the gun power the LTTE wields, and the fear they arouse, create a difference ?
A. They have now entered the democratic mainstream. We do not fear them. If I want to criticise them, I will do it to their face.

Q: The Alliance has specified that it was prepared to talk with the LTTE, but on what basis would the TNA extend its support to the Alliance for this purpose ?
A: The UPFA would have to talk to the LTTE on the basis of the Interim Administration (ISGA) proposals submitted by the LTTE.

Q: Could you specify the Tamil Homeland concept?
A: In a very simplistic form, the homeland is where people have their homes. This is what we want it to be. The north- east is where the majority of the Tamils live.

Q: Could you compare this vis a vis the Tamil Eelam concept ?
A: The Tamil homeland concept goes hand-in-hand with self rule on the basis of a federal structure where power is equally devolved to the regions. It has nothing to do with separatism.

We never wanted Tamil Eelam. It is the Sinhala politicians who forced the LTTE to fight for Tamil Eelam. We will settle for something less if the Tamil people are assured of separate autonomy.

Would the TNA push for Norway to continue as main facilitators ?
A: If it means the dismissing or the sidelining of Norway, it will be an act of utter ingratitude and will only go to prove that chauvinistic fundamental forces have become powerful.

Q: How do you see a prospective Indian role in the peace issue ?
A: India has been a consistant witness to the sufferings of the Tamils. Neither the LTTE nor the TNA is against India getting involved in the peace process. We know for certain the LTTE is very keen to build good relations with India. India is a regional power and our closest neighbour. No one can stop India's involvement in local issues.

Q: Tamil Nadu's MDMK General Secretary last month in an interview with The Sunday Times stated that he would continue to be a sympathiser of the LTTE. Would the LTTE have any plans of capitalising on such Indian sympathies to get India lift its ban on the LTTE ?
A: We would like the LTTE ban lifted not only in India but internationally. We have many sympathisers in Tamil Nadu and all over India and we would certainly hope to strengthen that support.

Q: Has a time frame been conveyed by the LTTE for the resumption of peace talks ?
A: No time frame has been conveyed to us by the LTTE but we are aware they are ready for talks and are awaiting a positive reaction from the newly elected government.

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