Excerpts:
Q: Your political history started with your academic life?
Varadaraja Perumal : My political life is almost now 45 years. I was in prison when the 1970 constitution was born. I studied in Kottady, Jaffna, entered and graduated from Jaffna University and became a lecturer in the University. We opposed and demonstrated against visit of Sirimao Bandaraike to Jaffna university because no funds were allocated to it by her. We were opposing the policies of the then government. Ruhuna University was started just a little later Jaffna university started in 1974 but Ruhuna University was given enormous funds but such allocations for the Jaffna University. Then we wondered why the government was discriminating against the Jaffna University and the Tamils.
Q: Where are you living now?
Varadaraja Perumal : I am staying in New Delhi, a member of Delhi Bar Council -a practicing Lawyer.
Q: How is your practice?
Varadaraja Perumal : I am at a senior age but the junior-most lawyer of the Council at the same time! And it’s a dilemma-I am neither a junior person or a senior person.
Q: How is your Family?
Varadaraja Perumal : Some of my daughters are married-I am satisfied with them; one in business with husband, one an aviation specialist, another a Supreme Court advocate in Delhi!
Q: Are you returning to Lankan politics?
Varadaraja Perumal : The rules of game of electoral politics have changed- today’s politics are politics of power.
Q: Then why did you return to Sri Lanka and what are you doing here?
Varadaraja Perumal : After war I returned immediately after the end of war but did not see any base for my political activities then. With the new government of President Maithripala Sirisena and passage of 19A, the political climate has now changed. So lets see what we can do, Also I have not seen my friends and relatives in Sri Lanka for a long time and this visits fulfills that too.
Q: Are you interested in entering electoral politics?
Varadaraja Perumal : Not at all. Neither I am interested in becoming a member of any political party. But at the same time I am teacher as well as a student of Political Economics. Therefore I am closely watching what’s happening with regard to developments in North and East and the hill country from an academic view but other than that I have no interest in electoral politics here. Even though war is over and the North and Eastern PCs are active with elections being held from time to time, democracy is vital and People of these Provinces should be part of this democracy-and I too want to be part of it. Then the devolution process-I think there will be a movement for devolution in future and I want to be a part of it too and contribute to that. Democracy is for the people-I am not at the vote asking level of politics. Political power is meant for development, good governance and freedom-not for the sake of political power itself. I am ready to share my political experience and knowledge for the benefit of people.
Q: If you are invited to join politics?
Varadaraja Perumal : If the invitation is for discussion on development, my ability to contribute to the development process, democratic process or improvement of devolution process. As for devolution, the present government has no clear devolution agenda but after the forthcoming general elections, devolution agenda will very much come to the forefront! At that time I shall be ready to contribute. There is need of constitutional amendments.
To resolve the issues of Devolution, there is a need for 21st and even 22nd amendments! I am ready to contribute on the ingredients, compromises, consensus, negotiations for these amendments if and when they start.
Q: Historically you were differently polarized-fighting with the Government as well as other Tamil Militants. These dynamics have now drastically changed. In this new climate, what is your re-entry strategy to the Tamil political conscience-specially the Northern Tamil?
Varadaraja Perumal : Yes, there is a complete change now. See, there are no barriers for me now. I will talk to political leaders on rehabilitation of affected such as widows, development and even improvement in various freedoms- speech, assembly, participation.. But I want to do this without being part of a political party or electoral politics. I am open to the political discourse in any other ways. I want to be representative of the people but not through this electoral process. I don’t even want to become a list MP anywhere. Parliament does not directly work with people but contributes to people’s benefit through its legislative powers.
Q: Your image with the Tamil diaspora-what is your message?
Varadaraja Perumal : Yes, there is an image issue with the diaspora and this needs to be changed. I myself am changing.
Q: You change…from what to what?
Varadaraja Perumal : See, I was supposed to be the political party man and the electoral politician-but I am not and not going to be either! What I will be is a part of everyone who contributes; I have a wide circle of friends in the government, opposition and various political parties- I don’t want to consign myself to one area or one party. My skills are open to everyone. I want to give benefits to the people through their own representatives from various parties. I will talk to these representatives and they can decide whether they want my support or not. Politicians cannot alienate themselves from people, or civil society. If they don’t listen I will find people who listen to me. Of course some will close their doors but others will welcome my inputs.
Q: With your experience, do you see Tamil youth reverting to militancy again to win rights?
Varadaraja Perumal : I don’t think they will go back to militant ways again. Not even for another two decades and even more!
Q: Are you still a member of EPRLF?
Varadaraja Perumal : I am not member of EPRLF now-I am not member of any political party now. As long as I am not going to be in electoral politics, I do not need to be a member of any political party. Then again, being a non-Party man I cannot contribute more to various political discourses. I left SL in 1990 and when Chandrika Bandaranaike’s government came to power I tried to come back but finally came in 1998. When LTTE leader Prabakaran and then PM Ranil Wickremesinghe signed the peace agreement my situation became vulnerable and I had to leave the country again. Then I returned after the war ended in 2010-12 to mix myself into the process but found it was very difficult. With latest political changes made me to come here to see whether I can contribute anything positively and constructively.
Q: What made you to come up with a proposal for a separate state (UDI) in 1990s?
Varadaraja Perumal : Everyone knows we were for Eelam Liberation in 1983-87. All the Tamil parties and fronts were united and together with lots of hopes. Even though that was our wish we realized, with the Indian factor and other international factors the Eelam liberation was just a dream. Our demand for separation was not for the sake of separation but due to the denial of rights of Tamils and the alienation of minorities of the country while Sinhalese Chauvinistic developments also taking place at that time and there was no other option than to ask for a separate state. By exerting that pressure, we were looking for some reasonable proposal from the government which we were willing to accept. But then the Indian involvement took place and both Indian and Sri Lankan governments promised us to accept their proposal which we accepted and tried but failed but both governments did not fulfill their promise-meanwhile Premadasa government and LTTE were in a killing spree of our cadres and I also was targeted.
Q: You were in good terms with President Premadasa-he even provided you helicopter transport-why did you fall out with him?
Varadaraja Perumal : Yes, he provided helicopters to fly between Trincomalee and Colombo but he did not devolve power! And he supported the LTTE to kill us and destroyed the Provincial Councils. Therefore we did not have any other option.
Q: Why did you believe so much on Indians?
Varadaraja Perumal : What do you mean? (Smiles)
Q: You were given protection by Indians, taken there and was looked after…
Varadaraja Perumal : Because India came to the Indo-Lanka Accord and we believed also accepted the Provincial Councils but then India left the country!
Q: After you left, were you able to meet Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi?
Varadaraja Perumal : No I was given protection by the Indian government but I was away from it-being given protection does not mean I had a relationship with the Indian state.
Q: What do you mean by “Indian state”?
Varadaraja Perumal : Any Indian governmental institutions… You see a “relationship” between Govt of India and me and “protection from it’s institutions” are two different things.
Q: How are you with Tamil Nadu?
Varadaraja Perumal : I don’t have anything with Tamil Nadu-I never met the TN leaders after 1990. After 25 years, I visited TN only once and that too to take part in a private function-wedding function of a friend’s daughter in TN.
Q: Are you still getting any support from the Indian government?
Varadaraja Perumal : No. Not now-previously they gave protection and looked after my basic needs as long as LTTE was in its killing spree but now I am on my own. I am also part of a million Lankan Tamil diaspora abroad but now am willing to become a Lankan again. Also there is the wrong notion that my relations was also with some intelligence agencies- the reality was my relations with India was very much part of my usual foreign relations and I met many Indian politicians and officials continuously. That was it!
Q: You met Northern Chief Minister Wigneshwaran?
Varadaraja Perumal : I met him as a courtesy meeting during my visit to Jaffna. It was a good meeting in a very friendly and cordial atmosphere. We both wanted to know more about each other. There was a good exchange of opinion. I made it clear to him that I am available for any positive and constructive efforts and not there for any negative politics. I am not here to support anyone, any party not opposed to anyone.
Q: Have you met TNA’s Sampanthan?
Varadaraja Perumal : I wanted to meet him but could not because there was no opportunity due to the hectic 19 A schedules.
Q: What is your message to Sri Lanka?
Varadaraja Perumal : When the war ended, there was a good opportunity for Mahinda Rajapaksa government to do many things for reconciliation and healing as well as in re-activation of devolution and Provincial Councils. I don’t think you should give everything asked by Tamil leaders since it cannot be. But he could have satisfied Tamil peoples aspirations to some extent with a reasonable solution. What I think is that both the Government of Sri Lanka and Tamil leaders need to revisit their past and review and there should be new start- a new beginning where both communities should restart as a new nation towards a new direction.
- Asian Tribune -

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