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Mixed
signals from Prabha In his annual broadcast to commemorate the dead LTTE cadres during a two-decade long separatist insurgency, Mr. Prabhakaran labelled the JVP as an "anti-Tamil political party steeped in a muddled ideology of racism, religious fanaticism and othordox communism", and branded it as an obstacle to a negotiated political settlement to the insurgency. He said the internal contradictions and the fundamental policy differences in the UPFA had become a stumbling block to the resumption of peace negotiations without a "clear, coherent policy". Blaming President Kumaratunga for aligning herself with a party "drenched in anti-Tamil racism, militarism and Sinhala-Buddhist hegemony", a clear reference to the JVP, the LTTE leader accused the President of being unable to advance the peace process. He concluded his broadcast by saying that the LTTE may be compelled to launch its freedom movement if peace talks were further delayed, a suggestion that he would resume hostilities, but he avoided any direct references to breaking the Ceasefire Agreement, and going back to war. Despite the strong words, Mr. Prabhakaran held out hopes for further efforts at striking a settlement, but he remained stoically unmoved from the known LTTE intransigence saying that talks must start on ISGA (Interim Self Governing Authority) for the North and East. "If some elements of our proposals (for ISGA) are deemed problematic or controversial, these issues can be resolved through discussions at the negotiating table," he said. But he said that ISGA "must be institutionalised and become functional". It will be only then that the LTTE will be prepared to engage in negotiations for a permanent settlement, he added. President Kumaratunga has stated that she is willing to discuss ISGA provided the LTTE discuss a final solution to the insurgency, while the JVP has steadfastly opposed ISGA, but stated that it is willing to discuss "an interim arrangement". In what appeared to be a call to the faithful, Mr. Prabhakaran said his people were "suffocating" without an interim solution or a permanent solution, and warned that they could not live in such a political vacuum for much longer. He blamed the lack of consensus among what he called "the Sinhala polity" for a clear approach to the LTTE's demands. "The Sinhala political organisations and their leadership," he said "are buried in the mud of Sinhala-Buddhist chauvinism". He said obliquely that the LTTE had not given up its right to secede by saying that the "Sinhala parties" seem unwilling to accept that the Tamils constitute a distinct nationality, and are entitled to the right of self-determination, including the right to secede. But he did not emphasise this point too heavily in the broadcast. "If the Government of Sri Lanka rejects our appeal and adopts delaying tactics, perpetuating the suffering of our people, we have no alternative other than to advance the freedom struggle of our nation," he said without any direct reference to going back to war - and urging world governments to understand their stand, which he claimed was "fair and reasonable". |
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