‘Tamil people for peace, development’

It was the US which commenced the war on terror and banned many terrorist organizations, including the LTTE after 9/11.The US identified the LTTE as a terrorist organization and encouraged the government to destroy it. But now, they are saying a different thing and trying to find fault with us for destroying a terrorist group. Sri Lanka has been able to eradicate terrorism, which the US has not been able to do in Iraq and Afghanistan. The people of the Northern and Eastern Provinces are happy today after the ending of the war. Everything is getting better in Sri Lanka especially in the North and East. People live without fear and in peace, and the country is experiencing massive development, said Vice President of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and Resettlement Deputy Minister Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan in an interview with the Daily News.

Q: The US resolution on Sri Lanka at the UNHRC has allegations only against the Sri Lankan government. Nothing is mentioned about the violations committed by the LTTE such as killing pregnant mothers, children, patients and elders. Comment.

A: US identified the LTTE as a terrorist organization and encouraged the Sri Lankan government to destroy it. After 9/11, the US banned many other terrorist organizations and encouraged states to destroy them.

Deputy Minister Vinayagamoothy Muralitharan

The US itself commenced the war on terror. Now the US tells something else after the Sri Lankan government destroyed the LTTE. The 47 countries in the Human Rights Commission vote according to their wish and the US cannot order them or demand them to do anything because they are independent countries. But the US is campaigning against Sri Lanka. I do not know why the US is so interested in Sri Lanka's internal affairs.

After the humanitarian operation, everything is getting better in Sri Lanka especially in the North and East. People live without fear and in peace. They travel everywhere. They engage in agriculture, studies and lead a normal life. All ethnicities live together in peace and harmony. All ethnicities are represented in Parliament. What the US is trying to do is not acceptable at all. It is bad for the US too. The US has already created enough problems in the Arab world. A lot of civilians are getting killed. When the US kill civilians, it is not violating human rights. Here all the human rights were violated by the LTTE. The Sri Lankan government only rescued the people from the LTTE clutches.

Q: The resolution does not call for an investigation or a mechanism to account for crimes against humanity of the LTTE. Therefore there is no way of getting justice done for the victims of the LTTE. What do you think about this ?

A: It is like this. The US wants to cover up the LTTE. Not like in the US, here in Sri Lanka, the Sri Lankan government has totally eradicated terrorism. There is no LTTE in Sri Lanka now. But the US could not do it in Afghanistan, Iraq or any other place. There are many terrorist attacks in those countries and they face many other problems. Now, the LTTE is running a transitional government from foreign countries. Its leader lives in the US. Why is the US supporting them after banning the LTTE identifying it as a terrorist organization? All the countries need to realize the double standards and reality. The only thing the US wants is to destroy Sri Lanka's integrity. They want to create new problems among the Sri Lankan ethnicities. They do not want to do justice for the victims of the LTTE. The victims of the LTTE are nothing to the US. The US is waging an economic war against developing countries, especially against Sri Lanka in the name of human rights. Sri Lanka is now on the right track to achieve developed status.

Q: The LTTE is intact, alive and active outside Sri Lanka and is conducting various campaigns from time to time to win LTTE demands. The 'Geneva human rights campaign’ is one of them. How can we defeat such initiatives?

A: The Tamil Diaspora is there. Some in the diaspora play with a large amount of money. They have LTTE funds extorted from the Tamil people living in foreign countries, including the US. But the youngsters know nothing about Sri Lanka, the LTTE or the barbaric acts committed by the LTTE. This young Tamil generation born in foreign lands knows nothing about the war. They have been completely misled by the diaspora.

All youngsters visited Geneva and participated in protests did so because they were asked to take part in them. They are born and grown up in Canada, the US and other countries. They live and study in English in those countries. They know nothing about Sri Lanka. Because of this, they can be easily misled and dragged into protests. But the Tamil Diaspora has to think about Sri Lanka as their own country. All ethnicities are represented in the Sri Lankan Parliament. We have peace and development here.

The TNA did not go to Geneva and now the Tamil Diaspora blames the TNA for that. The TNA leader told the media that they have to think about their future. This is a good idea. If all think like that, there will be no problems. Earlier, the Diaspora received a lot of funds from the people but now the people don't give money to them. The Diaspora expected millions of people in Geneva but just a handful turned up for their protests.

Q: What is the importance of the Indian factor in terms of Western pressure tactics?

A: Former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was killed by the LTTE. Prabhakaran and Pottu Amman were the main accused. Tamil Nadu politicians shout against Sri Lanka because they do not know anything about the ground situation in Sri Lanka. Before shouting, they have to visit the North and East and see for themselves.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalitha, Karunanidhi etc can visit Sri Lanka at any time. If they really love the Tamil people, they must visit Sri Lanka, see what is happening here and and support us.

But the Central Government of India is not like Tamil Nadu. It is very concerned about everything, especially regional affairs and acts wisely. India will definitely support Sri Lanka in Geneva.

Q: Have you identified the local agents of the LTTE and LTTE supporters?

A: There are some persons and parties which try to catch fish in muddy waters. Now they are talking about giving rights to the Tamil community. Earlier, the same persons and groups were against the granting of any rights to the Tamil people. This is ridiculous.

The UNP just wants to grab power. There are ways of doing things, but, trying to use this particular situation as a tool to grab power is something very unethical and unacceptable. The Sinhala people will never appreciate it.

This problem is all about Sri Lanka, our motherland and not about the government. This is not against President Mahinda Rajapaksa. That is why we have to work together to win this challenge.

Q: Comment on the LLRC report's recommendations and the progress of the government's reconciliation and rehabilitation process.

A: We welcome the LLRC report and its recommendations. The Commission carried out its duty without any interference. There was no political or any other interference at all. Many prominent members were in the LLRC. The LLRC recommendations will be implemented soon. I encourage inquiries because there is nothing to hide. Many countries welcomed the LLRC. During the war time many things happened in Sri Lanka and it was not only in the North and East. Bombs went off in Colombo, South etc.

In 1971 and 1988, the JVP commenced a violent campaign and the Sri Lankan government successfully controlled them. Today the JVP is in Parliament following the democratic system. In the same way the Sri Lankan government gave many opportunities to the LTTE to come into the democratic stream and were elected to Parliament. Over 26 countries banned the LTTE identifying it as a terrorist organization. After giving so many opportunities and waiting for a long time, the Sri Lankan government banned the LTTE and destroyed it. This is a very good example to the world.

Since the Sri Lankan government eradicated terrorism and rescued the Tamil community from the LTTE through the humanitarian operation, not even a single shooting has taken place in the region. The ordinary Tamil people living in Sri Lanka ask for development and live in peace. But the Tamil Diaspora which is based in the US has no idea about this situation and organizes protests. This is one sided propaganda.

Q: What do you think about the proposed Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to find a solution to the problems of the Tamil community?

A: The proposed PSC is a free committee. Anybody can take part in it. It is open for all. No restrictions at all. TNA is welcome. It is better to do something than doing nothing. All issues can be openly and freely discussed. I am a former LTTE member and now I am a member of the Sri Lankan Parliament. I am the Vice President of the SLFP.

This shows the rights I enjoy. I freely discuss the problems of my people. Tamil civilians can join the police. Trilingual policy is already implemented. Resettlement is almost completed.

This is an internal issue and the biggest problem, terrorism is over now. I invite all political parties to take past in the PSC and discuss their issues. This is not a problem that suddenly appeared.

The ethnic problem was there for many decades. Therefore, the PSC is the best mechanism to discuss and solve this long standing problem. This is a turning point and a golden opportunity.

Q: Do ordinary Tamil people demand police and land powers?

A: Recently I went to the Eastern Province and talked with people. They said that they want nothing but peace and development. They do not like armed struggles and violence.

They want roads, school buildings, their land problems sorted out (not land powers), they want their vehicles which were forcibly taken by the LTTE returned. Tamil political parties want to win elections.

Law and order in the North and East is taken care of by the Police and not by the Army. All crimes in the North and East are committed by civilians and not by the Army. Lands are controlled by the Divisional Secretary and Provincial Councils. Without the signature of the Divisional Secretary who is a public servant, nothing can be done to lands. This is the system that has existed for a long time. Now the Tamil community has realized this and now they cannot be misled.

Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa is rendering a great service to the North and East. Earlier, other ministers served only their electorate. We received Rs. 365 million to develop 365 GN divisions in the East. Minister Rajapaksa is not serving only Hambantota. He serve us as well. All line ministries are functioning very well now.

Q: Do you have any message to the local Tamil community?

A: The Tamil Diaspora has connections with grass roots level people. I request the people to explain the true situation in Sri Lanka to the Diaspora. I request the Diaspora to understand the ground situation in Sri Lanka. The children of the Diaspora are now settled down in the US, Europe etc. They will never come and reside in Sri Lanka. Rudrakumar is a US citizen. His children study in luxury schools in the US. He has never visited Sri Lanka. The Diaspora is only trying to create problems and not to solve them.

We do not need Western advice and strategies. The truth is that Western and European countries are jealous of Sri Lanka. This is because we won the war. They never expected it. President Rajapaksa said there are no minorities in Sri Lanka. The President and all Cabinet Ministers regularly visit the North and East. People can talk to them. I request all Tamil people living here and abroad to make the Diaspora realize the reality.