By Jamila Najmuddin

Q: The LTTE has been blamed for the recent bomb attacks in the south which have seen a high civilian death toll.

We are a liberation movement and our main objective is to liberate the Tamil people from the brutal oppression of the Sri Lankan regime. As a liberation movement we care about the oppressed people all over the world and that includes the Sinhala people.  The Sri Lankan regime is presently oppressing all dissenting voices in this island that include Sinhala journalists and the political opposition. As a result the Sinhala people themselves are staging strong protests against the Sri Lankan regime. The LTTE armed forces were not involved in these attacks. The Sri Lankan regime should take the responsibility for these incidents.

Q: Since the abrogation of the CFA, the war between the LTTE and security forces has intensified with civilians now being the main target. Over 200 civilians have been killed this year alone, which has raised concern among the United Nations and other international human rights activists.

 The painful reality is that since the abrogation of the CFA, over 3000 civilians were killed by death squad killings, aerial bombings, mortar and artillery attacks and claymore attacks. A number of parliamentarians and civil society leaders, including NESOHR’s Chairperson, Father Karunaratnam, who was a respected human rights voice from the north and east, are in this list of victims. Several hundreds of civilians have disappeared, were tortured, and detained.

The IDPs are in a miserable situation. The international community and UN agencies have expressed serious concern on this situation. Leading international human rights organizations, and international statesmen like former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu have campaigned for the exclusion of Sri Lanka from the UN Human Rights Council. We appreciate these international initiatives and urge the international community to introduce effective economic and military sanctions against Sri Lanka to prevent further human catastrophe.

The CFA was achieved on the basis of balance of power and parity of status between Sri Lanka and the LTTE. However, it had been weakened and later abrogated by the Sri Lankan state to pursue a war against the Tamil people.  Certain international actions such as black listing one party to the peace process/CFA, the LTTE; encouraged the Sinhala intransigent state to act against the CFA and the peace process. This led to the full scale war and resulted in the current serious humanitarian and human rights crisis.

Q:In a vow to continue with the war until the LTTE is defeated, President Mahinda Rajapaksa recently told the LTTE to “catch him personally” rather than continuing to target innocent civilians.

We do not target individuals or innocent civilians. Our struggle is about freedom, security, peace and development of our Tamil nation. Our armed resistance and political objectives are based on these core principals.

Q: In a previous interview with the Daily Mirror, the LTTE Peace Secretariat Head, Mr. Pulidevan said that the LTTE would not agree to peace talks with the government without Norwegian facilitation. However the government maintains that facilitators would not be granted access into Kilinochchi due to security constraints. With the war only intensifying, and international pressure building on both the government and the LTTE to return back to the peace table, can the country expect to see a compromise between the LTTE and the government and see peace negotiations which would cease this war, anytime soon?

We are for the Norway facilitated peace process. Norwegian envoys also expressed their wish to visit Kilinochchi for further discussions. It is the Sri Lankan government that is denying access to Norwegian facilitators citing the lame excuse of security concerns. It should be noted that UN representatives and heads of other international humanitarian agencies continue to visit Kilinochchi making a lie of the security claim made by the Sri Lankan Government. To carry out their war agenda the Sri Lankan Government is blocking the Norwegian facilitators.

Q:The government had recently said that it is looking for a negotiated end to this conflict but stressed that it was the LTTE who was not showing interest to enter into such a constructive dialogue. The government had also said that if the LTTE returns back to the negotiating table, it would have to leave aside its weaponry.

As I have mentioned above, the latest peace process based on the CFA came about on the basis of balance of power and parity of status. Any future constructive dialogue which would lead to a permanent solution must also maintain this balance of power and the parity of status.

Q: What are your views about India playing the role of facilitator? Would the LTTE support this?

The latest peace process facilitated by the Norwegians had one hundred percent international backing. From the beginning, India too was consistent in giving its support to this Norwegian facilitated peace process.

Q: Has the LTTE been in dialogue with India after the abrogation of the CFA?

No Comments.

Q: On humanitarian grounds, would the LTTE consider opening a passage for civilians in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu to go to government controlled areas if the hostilities intensify towards those areas?

A: The people in the areas under our administration give full support to our armed struggle. These Tamils live without any fear or intimidation. Our goal is to free the Tamil people caught up in the brutal oppression of the Sri Lankan regime like that in Jaffna and other parts of the Tamil homeland occupied by the Sri Lankan Government.

Q: Would the LTTE allow UN monitors to LTTE controlled areas to monitor and report any human rights abuses?

A: We are ready to engage with the UN and we will welcome them to come and have a dialogue with us. The protection and promotion of human rights is part of our freedom struggle and therefore we are always ready to engage with the UN and other leading human rights organizations.

Q: There are allegations of the LTTE still recruiting Child Soldiers. Do you agree with these claims?

Tamil Eelam law prohibits underage recruitment. LTTE policy and efforts to end underage recruitment has been acknowledged by the UN and many countries.

The allegations against us are either politically motivated or due to lack of knowledge of the ground level positive developments in this regard. [courtesy: Daily Mirror.lk]