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‘Tamil youth won’t take up guns again’-Varathraja Perumal

Annamalai Varadaraja Perumal, described as the revolutionary Lankan Tamil youth of 80’s, became the sole Chief Minister of the North-East Provincial Council in 1988 (now demerged) and is now a Lawyer and a member of the New Delhi Bar Council. Varadaraja Perumal. The former Jaffna University Lecturer in Political Economics, Perumal, in his lengthy conversation with Asiantribune in Colombo on 29 April, reveals his various entries and exits to and from Sri Lanka at various times and says his image with the Tamil diaspora needs to be ‘corrected’, that he is now primed for a political role -but away from electoral politics! “The devolution debate will come to the forefront as soon as the General Elections are over -and Lankan Tamil youth would not resort to an armed struggle again” describes Lawyer Perumal.
 

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 -

 

உனக்கு நாடு இல்லை என்றவனைவிட நமக்கு நாடே இல்லை என்றவனால்தான் நான் எனது நாட்டை விட்டு விரட்டப்பட்டேன்....... 

 


rajaniThiranagama_1.jpg

ராஜினி திரணகம

MBBS(Srilanka)

Phd(Liverpool, UK)

'அதிர்ச்சி ஏற்படுத்தும் சாமர்த்தியம் விடுதலைப்புலிகளின் வலிமை மிகுந்த ஆயுதமாகும்.’ விடுதலைப்புலிகளுடன் நட்பு பூணுவது என்பது வினோதமான சுய தம்பட்டம் அடிக்கும் விவகாரமே. விடுதலைப்புலிகளின் அழைப்பிற்கு உடனே செவிமடுத்து, மாதக்கணக்கில் அவர்களின் குழுக்களில் இருந்து ஆலோசனை வழங்கி, கடிதங்கள் வரைந்து, கூட்டங்களில் பேசித்திரிந்து, அவர்களுக்கு அடிவருடிகளாக இருந்தவர்கள்மீது கூட சூசகமான எச்சரிக்கைகள், காலப்போக்கில் அவர்கள்மீது சந்தேகம் கொண்டு விடப்பட்டன.........'

(முறிந்த பனை நூலில் இருந்து)

(இந் நூலை எழுதிய ராஜினி திரணகம விடுதலைப் புலிகளின் புலனாய்வுப் பிரிவின் முக்கிய உறுப்பினரான பொஸ்கோ என்பவரால் 21-9-1989 அன்று யாழ் பல்கலைக்கழக வாசலில் வைத்து சுட்டு கொல்லப்பட்டார்)

Its capacity to shock was one of the L.T.T.E. smost potent weapons. Friendship with the L.T.T.E.  was a strange and self-flattering affair.In the course of the coming days dire hints were dropped for the benefit of several old friends who had for months sat on committees, given advice, drafted latters, addressed meetings and had placed themselves at the L.T.T.E.’s  beck  and call.

From:  Broken Palmyra

வடபுலத் தலமையின் வடஅமெரிக்க விஜயம்

(சாகரன்)

புலிகளின் முக்கிய புள்ளி ஒருவரின் வாக்கு மூலம்

பிரபாகரனுடன் இறுதி வரை இருந்து முள்ளிவாய்கால் இறுதி சங்காரத்தில் தப்பியவரின் வாக்குமூலம்

 

தமிழகத் தேர்தல் 2011

திமுக, அதிமுக, தமிழக மக்கள் இவர்களில் வெல்லப் போவது யார்?

(சாகரன்)

என் இனிய தாய் நிலமே!

தங்கி நிற்க தனி மரம் தேவை! தோப்பு அல்ல!!

(சாகரன்)

இலங்கையின் 7 வது பாராளுமன்றத் தேர்தல்! நடக்கும் என்றார் நடந்து விட்டது! நடக்காது என்றார் இனி நடந்துவிடுமா?

(சாகரன்)

வெல்லப்போவது யார்.....? பாராளுமன்றத் தேர்தல் 2010

(சாகரன்)

பாராளுமன்றத் தேர்தல் 2010

தேர்தல் விஞ்ஞாபனம்  - பத்மநாபா ஈழமக்கள் புரட்சிகர விடுதலை முன்னணி

1990 முதல் 2009 வரை அட்டைகளின் (புலிகளின்) ஆட்சியில்......

நடந்த வன்கொடுமைகள்!

 (fpNwrpad;> ehthe;Jiw)

சமரனின் ஒரு கைதியின் வரலாறு

'ஆயுதங்கள் மேல் காதல் கொண்ட மனநோயாளிகள்.' வெகு விரைவில்...

மீசை வைச்ச சிங்களவனும் ஆசை வைச்ச தமிழனும்

(சாகரன்)

இலங்கையில்

'இராணுவ' ஆட்சி வேண்டி நிற்கும் மேற்குலகம்,  துணை செய்யக் காத்திருக்கும்; சரத் பொன்சேகா கூட்டம்

(சாகரன்)

ஜனாதிபதி தேர்தல்

எமது தெரிவு எவ்வாறு அமைய வேண்டும்?

பத்மநாபா ஈபிஆர்எல்எவ்

ஜனாதிபதித் தேர்தல்

ஆணை இட்ட அதிபர் 'கை', வேட்டு வைத்த ஜெனரல் 'துப்பாக்கி'  ..... யார் வெல்வார்கள்?

(சாகரன்)

சம்பந்தரே! உங்களிடம் சில சந்தேகங்கள்

(சேகர்)

அனைத்து இலங்கைத் தமிழர்களும் ஒற்றுமையான இலங்கை தமது தாயகம் என மனப்பூர்வமாக உரிமையோடு உணரும் நிலை ஏற்பட வேண்டும்.

(m. tujuh[g;ngUkhs;)

தொடரும் 60 வருடகால காட்டிக் கொடுப்பு

ஜனாதிபதித் தேர்தலில் தமிழ் மக்கள் பாடம் புகட்டுவார்களா?

 (சாகரன்)

 ஜனவரி இருபத்தாறு!

விரும்பியோ விரும்பாமலோ இரு கட்சிகளுக்குள் ஒன்றை தமிழ் பேசும் மக்கள் தேர்ந்தெடுக்க வேண்டும்.....?

(மோகன்)

2009 விடைபெறுகின்றது! 2010 வரவேற்கின்றது!!

'ஈழத் தமிழ் பேசும் மக்கள் மத்தியில் பாசிசத்தின் உதிர்வும், ஜனநாயகத்தின் எழுச்சியும்'

 (சாகரன்)

சபாஷ் சரியான போட்டி.

மகிந்த  ராஜபக்ஷ & சரத் பொன்சேகா.

(யஹியா வாஸித்)

கூத்தமைப்பு கூத்தாடிகளும் மாற்று தமிழ் அரசியல் தலைமைகளும்!

(சதா. ஜீ.)

தமிழ் பேசும் மக்களின் புதிய அரசியல் தலைமை

மீண்டும் திரும்பும் 35 வருடகால அரசியல் சுழற்சி! தமிழ் பேசும் மக்களுக்கு விடிவு கிட்டுமா?

(சாகரன்)

கப்பலோட்டிய தமிழனும், அகதி (கப்பல்) தமிழனும்

(சாகரன்)

சூரிச் மகாநாடு

(பூட்டிய) இருட்டு அறையில் கறுப்பு பூனையை தேடும் முயற்சி

 (சாகரன்)

பிரிவோம்! சந்திப்போம்!! மீண்டும் சந்திப்போம்! பிரிவோம்!!

(மோகன்)

தமிழ் தேசிய கூட்டமைப்புடன் உறவு

பாம்புக்கு பால் வார்க்கும் பழிச் செயல்

(சாகரன்)

இலங்கை அரசின் முதல் கோணல் முற்றும் கோணலாக மாறும் அபாயம்

(சாகரன்)

ஈழ விடுலைப் போராட்டமும், ஊடகத்துறை தர்மமும்

(சாகரன்)

அடுத்த கட்டமான அதிகாரப்பகிர்வு முன்னேற்றமானது 13வது திருத்தத்திலிருந்து முன்னோக்கி உந்திப் பாயும் ஒரு விடயமே

(அ.வரதராஜப்பெருமாள்)

மலையகம் தந்த பாடம்

வடக்கு கிழக்கு மக்கள் கற்றுக்கொள்வார்களா?  

 (சாகரன்)

ஒரு பிரளயம் கடந்து ஒரு யுகம் முடிந்தது போல் சம்பவங்கள் நடந்து முடிந்துள்ளன.!

(அ.வரதராஜப்பெருமாள்)

 

 

அமைதி சமாதானம் ஜனநாயகம்

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