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6/23/2015 Wewillfightforourpoliticalobjective:V.Prabakaran|Frontline
http://www.frontline.in/worldaffairs/wewillfightforourpoliticalobjectivevprabakaran/article6808332.ece?css=print 1/4
WORLDAFFAIRSPublished:January23,201512:30IST|Updated:January21,201516:24ISTSEPTEMBER4,1987
Wewillfightforourpoliticalobjective:V.PrabakaranT.S.SUBRAMANIAN
ThesigningoftheIndoSriLankaAgreementonJuly29,1987,inColombobyRajivGandhiandSriLankanPresidentJ.R.JayewardenemarkedaturningpointinthehistoryofSriLankaaswellasinIndiaSriLankarelations.Underit,theIndianPeaceKeepingForce(IPKF)wasdespatchedtotheislandsNorthernandEasternprovinces.ThesituationwenthaywirewiththebeginningofamilitaryconfrontationbetweentheIPKFandtheLiberationTigersofTamilEelam(LTTE)fromOctober10,1987,andamarkedreluctanceonthepartofColombotoimplementtheagreement.TheIPKFLTTEmilitaryconflictsawthedeathofabout1,200Indiansoldiersand660LTTEcadres.AnLTTEsuicidebomberassassinatedRajivGandhiwhenhewascampaigningatSriperumbudur,about30kmfromChennai,onMay21,1991.
ThischangedtheLTTEsfortunesforever.ItcausedatremendousrevulsiontowardstheorganisationinTamilNadu.ItwasproscribedinIndiaandothercountries.PrabakaranwaskilledinaclimacticbattlewiththeSriLankaArmyonMay18,2009.Fiveyearslater,Rajapaksa,underwhosepresidencytheLTTEwaswipedout,losttheelectioninSriLanka,thankslargelytoSriLankanTamilsandMuslimsvotingagainsthim.FrontlinehascoveredtheSriLankanissueconsistentlyandexhaustivelyrightfromthemagazinesinception.
V.PRABAKARAN,theLTTEleader,isakeyplayerinthedramaticdevelopmentsrepresentedbytheIndoSriLankaagreementanditsimplementation.HewasinvitedtoNewDelhibeforetheagreementwassigned,raisedapprehensionsandobjections,metPrimeMinisterRajivGandhiforafrankdiscussionofthesituationandtheproblems,andreturnedtoJaffnainearlyAugust.OnAugust4,Prabakaranmadeaspeechthatdrewwideattention:init,heanalysedthesituationfromtheLTTEsstandpoint,expressedhisdissatisfactionwiththeagreementbutalsohisclosenesstoIndiaandsaidtheLTTEwouldhandoverarmsbasicallybecauseitlovesIndiaanddidnotwanttoclashwiththeIPKF.Aweeklater,aFrontlineteamcomprisingwriterT.S.SubramanianandphotographerD.KrishnanmethimforthissessioninJaffna.Soonafterthis,freshIndianassurancesledtotheLTTEdecidingtogoaheadwiththehandingoverofarms.
ForhisfirstextendedinterviewafterreturningtoJaffnafromTamilNaduinJanuary1987,VelupillaiPrabakaran,theSupremeCommanderoftheLiberationTigersofTamilEelam,meetsrepresentativesofFrontlineandTheHinduinthesecondweekofAugustinJaffna.Theinterview,conductedinTamil,lastsoveranhour.
TheLTTEleaderlookedcoolandrelaxed.HesetstheballrollingbysuggestingthatweshouldgototheEasternprovincewheretheSriLankansoldiers,healleges,arestillharassingTamilcivilians.
TherewasamediastorythatwhentheSriLankaarmedforcesbegantheiroffensiveagainsttheVadamarachchiregionoftheJaffnapeninsulaonMay26,youweretrappedinVelvettituraiandyoumanagedtoescape.Isthisversiontrue?
Prabakaran(smiling):ImovedtoJaffnaonthenightofMay25.Theybegantheoffensivethenextdaymorning.TheyattackedVelvettituraithinkingthatIwasthere.
WhatisyourassessmentoftheIndoSriLankaagreement?Whatareyourapprehensionsaboutit?Yousaythereisashortfallinrelationtoyourexpectations.Whatarethemainareasofdissatisfaction?
Asfarastheagreementisconcerned,theysaythattherewillbeareferendumintheEasternprovinceevenonthemergeroftheNorth
ShowCaption
6/23/2015 Wewillfightforourpoliticalobjective:V.Prabakaran|Frontline
http://www.frontline.in/worldaffairs/wewillfightforourpoliticalobjectivevprabakaran/article6808332.ece?css=print 2/4
andtheEast.Moreover,theysaythereferendumwillbedecidedbyasimplemajority.ItisnotaquestionofthemergeroftheNorthandtheEast.Itisourhomeland.Thereisnoquestionofanynegotiationonthis.
Therearesomefurthercomplications.ItisanagreementbetweentheGovernmentofIndiaandtheSriLankangovernment,asfarasweareconcerned.In1983,therewereonlyafewSriLankanarmycampsintheNorthandtheEast.Butnowtherearesome200camps.TheSinhalesesettlementscouldnotberemovedordissolvedwithoutremovingthesearmycampsand,infact,thecampslegitimisedtheSinhalasettlements.Animportantaspect[intheagreement]isthatthereisnoroomatallfortheremovalofthecamps.Tostopsuchsettlementsandpreventatrocities,theIndianArmyshouldstaythere.
ButastrangethingisthattherearenoIndianArmycampsbeyondtheElephantPassorJaffnapeninsula.Buttoday,theIndianArmycampshavebeenestablishedatKodikamam,Achuveli,Palai,Vannankerni,Yakkachijunction,Thalaiyadicoast,PandatharippuandKankesanthuraiLightHouse.Thereisnoneed[forIndianArmycamps]intheseplacesbecausetherearenoSinhalesehere.ButtheIndianArmyhassetupcampsthere.
Wesaythe200[SriLanka]Armycampsshouldberemoved.ButtheIndianArmyisestablishingmorecamps.Thishasledtodoubtsanddissatisfactionamongthepeople,atabeginningstage.Thereisnoatmosphereofsafetyfortherefugeestoreturn.Securityandsurveillancezoneshavenotbeenliftedyet.TheIndianArmycampshavebeenestablished.Thishasledtodissatisfactionamongthepeople.TheycametotheLTTEsofficetogivepetitionsandwetoldthemtogivethepetitionstothem.
YousaidthetextoftheIndoSriLankaagreementwasnotgiventoyou.
Theytookawaythecopy.MrJ.R.Jayewardenetodaysaystherewillbeareferendum.TheBillhasnotbeenmovedinParliament.
Thequestionofcutoffpointsshouldbesettled.TheGovernmentAgentssaythatpeoplewhohadfledtheirplacesafter1983couldreturn.Butpeoplelefttheirplacesevenbefore1983.Therearetwoimportantaspectsinthisagreement.OneisrelatedtoourhomelandconsistingofaunifiedNorthandEast.Thesecondisourland.Botharecomplicatedproblems,majorcomplications.Theagreementhasnotsolvedthesetwoquestions.Thisisthefundamentalproblem.
WhatisyourattitudetowardstheGovernmentofIndiaandPrimeMinisterRajivGandhi?
Attitude?
Imeanyourstandpoint.
Astheytookintoconsiderationtheirowninterestsandhurriedlyarrivedattheagreement,theyhavenotlookedafterthegrievancesofthepeoplewhohavebeenaffectedforsolong.
How?
TherearerefugeesinMullaithivu.Peoplearetakingoutprocessions.Butbeforethat,wehavetolaydownourarms.However,thepeoplesproblemshavenotbeensolved.Theproblemisthatpeoplemustreturntotheirland.Tofacilitatethat,the[SriLanka]Armycampsshouldberemoved.ButtheIndianArmyisnotpreparedtoremovethe[SriLanka]Armycampsandthiswillnotbringaboutasolution.Ifthishadbeendiscussedbeforetheagreementwasarrivedat,wewouldhavelaiddowncertainconditions.Wewouldhavesaidthearmycampsshouldberemoved.Butthishasnottakenplace.
WhenwesaythearmycampsshouldgobacktothepositionthatobtainedonMay25,thenwhydotheyestablishmoreIndianArmycampsinKodikamam?Peoplearenotabletogobackfirsttherefugeesareunabletoreturn.
AddressingthepublicmeetingontheSudumalaiAmmantemplegroundsonAugust4,yousaidyouhadahearttoheartdiscussionwithRajivGandhi.Youalsomentionedthathegaveyousomeassurancesandthenyourelented.Whataretheassurances?
MrRajivGandhigavetheassurancethatwe,theTamilpeople,willbeprotectedintheNorthandtheEast.ButpeoplearenotabletoreturntotheEast.
TheIndianArmyhasgonetherebuttheTamilpeoplearenotabletogotherebecausethereisanincreasingoppositionfromtheSinhaleseHomeGuardsandtheSinhalesepeople.Therearearmycampsthereinindividualhouses,schoolsandcooperativestores.ButtheIndianArmyhasnotbeendeployedinsuchplaces.TheCeylonArmyhasnotbeenevacuated,theproblemhasnotbeensolved.AnotherthingisthepeopleslackoffaitharisingoutofthenonremovaloftheCeylonArmy.EveniftheIndianArmygoes,occupiessuchplacesandlatervacates,theSinhalaarmywillcomeback.Further,wewouldnthavearms.
WhatdidRajivGandhisayabouttheremovalof200armycamps?
Weopposedtheagreementonthispoint.Nobodywaspreparedtoconsiderit.
InDelhi?
Yes,inDelhi[firmly].
InthefuturepoliticalsetupoftheNorthandtheEast,whatistheroleyouenvisagefortheLTTE,oncethelayingdownofarmsiscompleted?
Whenwesaypoliticalrole,wehavecontactswithpeopleattheorganisationallevelandwearestrengtheningit.WearestrengtheningourorganisationintheEastalso.WearealreadyworkingwiththepeopleinTrincomaleeandBatticaloadistricts.Thisisnotadifficulttask.
IstheLTTEstrongintheEast?
IntheEast,ourpeopleareactiveeveninareaswherethereareSinhalese.WhenthepeoplehoistedtheLTTEflagatMudur,theywereshotdead.TheIndianArmyandtheGovernmentAgentswantedtheflagtoberemoved.Tothatextent,peopleareconsciousofthings.
Willyouacceptamultiparty,competitivepoliticalsystem?YousaidearlierthatthereshouldbeaonepartydemocracyonthelinesofYugoslavia.
6/23/2015 Wewillfightforourpoliticalobjective:V.Prabakaran|Frontline
http://www.frontline.in/worldaffairs/wewillfightforourpoliticalobjectivevprabakaran/article6808332.ece?css=print 3/4
Thisisimportantandyoushouldknowourposition.WehavenotachievedTamilEelam.IhadexpressedmyviewsonapoliticalsetupforTamilEelam.Butthereisnoseparatecountrynow.Thisisanagreementimposedonus.Inthis[setup]everyoneisequal,everyoneisthesame.Wewillfightforourpoliticalobjective.WewilltaketheEelampoliticalobjectiveinasustainedmannerbeforeourpeople.
WhatIsaidthenwastobedoneaftertheestablishmentofourownState.Buttherecannotbeanycompatibilitybetweenonepartyruleandwhatobtainsnow.Whatistakingplacenowisthis.SriLankaandIndiahaveconcludedanagreement.TheIndianArmyishereandisaskingforourweapons.Ifwedontdothat,wewillhavetofighttheIndianArmy.Toavertthat,weacceptedthesearrangements,butwehavenotabandonedourpoliticalobjective.
ThereareconflictingorvaryingreportsonwhatyousaidduringthepressconferenceyouheldinJaffnaonAugust5.Whileonereportsaidthatyouwouldnotallowantisocialmilitantgroupstocontesttheelections,otherreportssaidyouwouldallowothergroupstocontest.Whichistrue?
Everybodywillbeallowedtocontestelections.Wewillplaceourviewsbeforethepeople.
WhatistheroleyouseefortheTULFastheelectedrepresentativeofthepeople?
Youareawareofwhattheydidbefore.Whatdotheyknowbutthejoboffightingelections?Theywillgobacktofightingelections.Wedontwantpowertopassintotheirhandsthatisourintentionandourstand.Letthepeopledecide.Theywillcontestelections.Wewillstandagainsttheminthefurtheranceofourcause.Thepeoplewilldecideonwhosesidetheywillstand.
AttheSudumalaipublicmeeting,yousaidtheLTTEwouldtaketodifferentformsofstruggle.Whatarethey?Willitbeamassbasedstruggle,arevolutionaryparty,anonviolentstruggleorwillyoutaketoarmedstruggleagain?
Wewillresorttoamassbasedstruggle.
ButisnttheLTTEapurelymilitaryorganisation?
Today,theLTTEisamassbasedorganisation.YouwouldhavenotedourMayDayrally.Thereismilitaryrulehereduringthetimeoftherally.Militaryhelicoptersarefiringfromabove.Atthesametime,theSinhalesepeopleintheSoutharenotabletocelebratetheMayDay.Inthiskindofdangeroussituation,ifweareabletomobilise200,000peopleandtakeoutarallyintheburningsun,itdoesmeanweareamassbasedorganisation.Wehavebuiltupsuchastrength.Ifourshadbeenmerelyamilitantorganisation,peoplewouldnothaveattendedtheMayDayrallyinsuchamassiveway.
WhatisyourattitudetowardstheMuslimsintheEast?
WedontlookupontheMuslimsasaseparatecategoryweconsiderthemanintegralpartoftheTamils.Itisaquestionofpeopleunitedbylanguageanddifferentiatedbyreligion.
PresidentJayewardenehasbeenappealingtothepeopleintheEasttovoteagainstthemergerinthereferendum.WhatwillyoudoiftheMuslimsvoteagainstthemerger?
Wehavenotplannedforthatsituation.Itissomethingthatisgoingtohappeninthefuture.Wecanrespondtotheproblemonlyatthatstage.
Inasystemwheretherearegoingtobeelectionsacompetitivepoliticalstructurewhataretheproblemsyouforesee?
Wehavealreadymetsuchpoliticalcompetition.Wearenostrangerstosuchcompetition.Letthepeopledecideultimatelywhomtheywant.Letthemchooseforthemselvesaproperleadershiptofreethemselvesfromthisconfusion.
Whatwillbethefutureofyourcadres,estimatedtonumber5,000?
Wewilldeviseaproperplanfortheirfuturelife.Wewillnotabandonthem.Wewillfindawayoutforthemtocontinuetheirlivelihood.
Inwhatway?
Wewillcreatejobopportunities.Thosewhowanttostudywillbeallowedtostudy.Wewillarrangeforthemtechnicaltraining.Allofuswillremaindisciplinedandcreateopportunitiesinacollectiveway.
Whatwasthereactionofyourcadrestotheagreementandtothepropositionofhandingoverarms?Didtheyopposethehandingoverofarms?
Asfarasthecadresareconcerned,theyhavemuchfaithinmepersonally.Thatiswhytheydeferredtomyword.Buteventodaythereisnoprotection.DangersariseforusfromthecadresoftheotherarmedorganisationsandfromtheSriLankaArmy.
Wasthereanyopposition?
Asregardsopposition,Imyselfwasnotwilling.Then,imaginethefeelingsofthecadres.Thereisnosecurity.Somanycadreshavedied.
Whathappenstothecyanidecapsulesthatyourmenwearroundtheirnecks?Aretheynecessarywhentherearenoarms?
Ithinkthecapsulesareneededmost,theyareindispensablenow.TheyaretheonlyweaponsforthecadrestoprotectthemselvesintheEasternprovincefromhoodlums,therivalgroupsandtheSinhalaarmy.Notonlythattheywouldcontinuetoweartheminremembranceofthosecomradeswhofoughtalongwiththemandsacrificedtheirlives.
[Atthispoint,PrabakaranasksYogiwhetherhesportsthecyanidecapsule.Yogipullsoutthecapsuletiedtoastringaroundhisneck.Itismadeofwhiteandblackplastic.Prabakaranalsopullsouthiscapsulefromunderthecollarofhisshirtandshowsittous.Whenweaskhimwhetherwecanphotographhimatthismoment,hepolitelydeclinestheproposition.]
6/23/2015 Wewillfightforourpoliticalobjective:V.Prabakaran|Frontline
http://www.frontline.in/worldaffairs/wewillfightforourpoliticalobjectivevprabakaran/article6808332.ece?css=print 4/4
Printableversion|Jun23,20153:38:58PM|http://www.frontline.in/worldaffairs/wewillfightforourpoliticalobjectivevprabakaran/article6808332.ece
Frontline
Howdoyoufeelwhenyourfightersarekilled?Forexample,youhavenamedyoursonCharlesAntonyinmemoryofaloyalLTTEfighterwhowaskilledinaclashwiththeSriLankaArmyinJuly1983.
Asfarasourfeelingsareconcerned,wehavebeenverydeeplyaffectedinourhearts.Havingfoughtsomuch,havingsacrificedsomanylivesandhavinglost20,000peopleallthishasbeensubordinatedtoIndiasstrategicinterests.Notonlythat,wetherepresentativesofsuchmartyrs,havenotbeenproperlyrespected.
Hence,inthiskindofsituationduringtheinterimarrangement...wefeelthatwewanttodemonstratetotheGovernmentofIndiathesupportwehavefromthepeople.Indiahasnotgivenusourdue.Withoutconsultingus,theyhavearrivedatanagreement.Hence,wewouldliketoenterpoliticswiththepeoplessupportandwiththegoalofTamilEelam.Thatwillbethefittingreply.
TodaysTamilpapersinJaffnaquoteanLTTErepresentativeassayingtheorganisationwouldnotfullysurrenderarms.
Yes,wemadethestatement.Itisbettertofightanddiethansurrendertheweaponsinaninsecureenvironmentanddieonamassscale!
Whataretheshapinginfluencesonyourlife?
Ra.Su.NallaperumalsserialKallukkulEeram(Itiswetinsidethestone)publishedinKalkimagazine.Ihavereaditfivetimes.ItrevolvesroundtheIndianfreedomstruggle.MrNallaperumalbalancestheahimsaicstruggleandthearmedstruggle.Generally,Ireadanythingonanyfreedommovement.IusedtoreadbooksonJoanofArc,Napoleon,andsoon.Iwasalwaysinterestedinhistory.ShivajiwasthefirstguerillatohavefoughtagainsttheMughalrule.WhenIwasyoung,IalwayshadapictureofNetajiSubhasChandraBose.IusedtokeephispictureonmytablewhenIusedtostudy.Ihadwrittenonmytable,Iwillfighttillthelastdropofmybloodfortheliberationofmymotherland.
Thankyou,MrPrabakaran.