Jaffna
people yearn for peace, says Ilamparithi
By Frances Bulathsinghala
The Jaffna district LTTE political wing chief C.
Ilamparithi said the EPDP was one of the biggest worries of the
LTTE and he believed Jaffna has to be rid of this menace because
one of the main problems with the EPDP was that it aids and abets
the government's security forces.
Turning
more or less a deaf ear to questions on LTTE killings in Jaffna,
in other areas of the northeast and in Colombo, the LTTE's Jaffna
political chief focused instead on questions regarding the resettlement
of Muslims and the reasons for LTTE taxation.
The
heavy taxes imposed by the LTTE on any Tamil (or non Tamil) for
every item he purchased or brought into Jaffna, he claimed was necessary
for the development of the Tamil people and added that the tax issue
was used as a 'political boomerang' by forces opposed to the LTTE
as a means of discrediting the organisation.
Following
is the full text of the interview given by the Jaffna district LTTE
political wing chief to the Sunday Times:
In
your view how would you describe the present situation in Jaffna?
The Jaffna people hope they can achieve their fundamental rights
and an environment of peace. They are still suffering economically.
The government has not done anything to improve their living standards.
The military is still a threat to them. They hope military pressure
on them will be reduced.
What
kind of military pressure are you speaking of?
There are fifty-eight fishing jetties in the Jaffna district. Out
of this only about twenty are allowed to operate by the Jaffna security
forces. There is no freedom for fishing for the fisher-folk of Jaffna
because of the strict security measures implemented by the Navy.
The
LTTE is also maintaining its own stringent security measures in
the area before allowing people to enter the Jaffna peninsula, so
is it not understandable that the security forces too would be adopting
similar precautions especially at sea?
These measures invariably affect the people of Jaffna.
With
regard to the security measures you undertake on land, could you
comment on the need for the kind of heavy security precautions taken
by the LTTE by way of meticulously screening all those who enter
the Jaffna district?
There are many government spies who come here. In the past two years
this region has seen a large-scale infiltration by government intelligence
officers. It is to prevent this type of infiltration that we are
compelled to screen all visitors.
But
are not the Jaffna people also affected by these measures adopted
by the LTTE?
No.
What
about the repercussions in case the people are unable to pay taxes
as specified by the LTTE?
That is a different matter. There are tax exemptions for items such
as school equipment.
However
isn't the tax charged in the first instance and a rebate if any
is to be obtained later? Is that correct?
Yes. These are the regulations.
You
spoke of the security forces obstructing the fishermen when they
go out to sea. Aren't you aware that at present the biggest problem
faced by the north east fishermen is from Indian fishing boats poaching
in Sri Lankan waters, which is also posing a grave threat to the
lives of fishermen in these areas?
Yes.
What
has the LTTE done about this?
A. We are not in a position to do anything. It is up to the Navy.
However the fishermen's associations have spoken to the Tamil Nadu
fishermen's society representatives but the problem still continues.
Has
not the LTTE on many occasions staged vociferous protests against
issues arising between the people and the security forces?
And since the Indian fishermen's issue is clearly affecting the
people in the northeast, why have you not taken up the matter with
the Indian High Commission and the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission?
We have done what we could.
It
is often alleged that at present the LTTE has distanced itself from
the ordinary Tamil citizen living in the northeast and in LTTE controlled
areas as they are supposed to be undergoing many hardships. How
do you respond to this?
We deny this. This is baseless.
What
is the LTTE doing to improve the lives of the north east people
and especially those living in Jaffna where the LTTE is now very
clearly making its presence felt?
We are in the process of setting up social groups in all areas of
the Jaffna peninsula to create an awareness among the people about
their rights. We also want them to be ever conscious of the Tamil
struggle.
Is
this part of your political work in Jaffna?
A. Yes. We have to change many things in the social context such
as the issue of dowry. We are aware that there are certain classes
who may be unhappy with the way we operate our political system.
Since
you admit that there may be those who would not fall in line with
your regulations, does it mean that you are aware of a rift in Tamil
opinion about your organisation?
There is no rift as such. I was explaining about the commitment
we require from the Tamil people. But we are aware that those opposing
the LTTE are using the tax issue as a political boomerang.
Some
time ago Muslims and Sinhalese also lived in Jaffna before the LTTE
sent them away at gunpoint. In today's context do you agree that
Jaffna belongs to the Muslims and Sinhalese as well?
Yes. We do not have anything against any Sinhalese or Muslims settling
in Jaffna.
They are free to buy land and make their homes here. They are free
to settle in Jaffna or even Kilinochchi. Any Sri Lankan can settle
in any part of Sri Lanka.
So
do you consider the Kilinochchi region, which you call the Tamil
Eelam in placards placed at your police stations, the judiciary
and banks as a part of Sri Lanka?
Yes. But we do not agree to Sinhala colonization?
Do
you then mean that one person can buy land in the Northeast but
that many cannot?
No. What we mean is that we do not agree to colonization for Sinhala
political purposes.
So
would you say that if the thousands of families who were chased
away by the LTTE were to return then this would be Sinhala colonization?
No.
Regarding
your verbal assurances regarding the resettlement of Muslims and
Sinhalese what are you doing to put these assurances into practice?
We have reassured the Muslims who are coming back that they are
safe here. When necessary we have also seen to it that the houses
of Muslims occupied by Tamils are cleared for the Muslims returning
from the refugee camps to resettle in Jaffna.
It
is alleged by the Muslims who have returned to Jaffna that they
find it impossible to stay on in Jaffna because of harassment by
the LTTE. Do you have any comments?
We do not agree with this. These are all statements made to slander
the LTTE.
What
comments do you have to make on the string of murders of anti LTTE
persons and the latest murder in Jaffna of former Pradeshiya Sabha
member of the EPDP, Arul Prakash?
It is up to the government to comment on these killings. They are
happening in government-controlled areas.
Yes,
but these are people who oppose the LTTE and the LTTE stands accused
of these murders that are taking place despite the ceasefire agreement
signed between Velupillai Prabhakaran and former Prime Minister
Ranil Wickremesinghe.
What are your comments on the common knowledge that the spate of
assassinations carried out in Jaffna and other regions throughout
the country is by your organisation?
We have always denied this. |