Right to self- determination is not secession

(By Mirudhula Thambiah)

Pathmanaba Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF) General Secretary, Thirunavukkarasu Sritharan said a political solution to the ethnic question should be based on equality, autonomy with right to self-determination. He further said, "Many had a wrong impression about the right to self-determination thinking that it encourages only secession. It is a misconception! Accordingly, a federal solution will be the most suitable in the current scenario. All communities should unite, but they should not dominate each other,"

Following are excerpts:

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Being a leftist party, how do you view the people's uprising in the North, with the Punguduthivu incident
A: After 1986 we never experienced a democratic space among us. Trade unions, political parties or any other people's movements couldn't function democratically. People never had opportunities to rise up for their problems.
Similarly after 2009, democratic space was further curbed. We should point out that State terrorism was also a reason for such controlling.
After the Prevention of Terrorism Act was introduced several other problems occurred and it controlled the democratic space further.

Post war period reflected the repercussions of militarization in the North among the Tamil nationality, which also lessened the democratic space. Many were arrested and went missing when such protests were launched.
With 8 January, all communities in our country brought in a change in the government. Such a change in the regime brought in a democratic space for the Tamil community in the North and East, as well as other communities in the country. Such space has brought in people's uprising to protest against injustice. It happened spontaneously. Yet we are unsure about the existence of such democratic space in future.
Such uprisings have taken place in the Middle East and countries like Nepal. It will fall and then rise, once democratic space is controlled it may fall, but that does not mean it will not rise again.

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Pathmanaba EPRLF mainly believes that apart from politics, issues of people should be attended culturally too. If so, what would be the best solution for the cultural and social issues that is currently prevailing in the Northern Province
A: Drug addiction is one of the main issues in the North apart from which sexual abuse is more viral in social media and websites. There are many gossip columns in websites which influence sexual violence in society.
If you take the Punguduthivu incident, picture of the corpse was uploaded on social media. Such acts shouldn't be encouraged on social media. This will create more problems in society.
Also the youth in the current context do not concentrate on developing their reading abilities. Gender issues are very high in the Northern Province; our society is full of violence.
However, during 1970s and 1980s, there were many left parties functioning in the North. There was discipline. Many youth were involved in activities carried out by left parties in the North and East. However, now that has changed. Also caste issues have re-emerged with a new cruel face.

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Why did you antagonize the former regime under former President Mahinda Rajapaksa?
A: We supported former President Rajapaksa at the 2010 Presidential Election, as we felt Sarath Fonseka was a military based man and it was necessary to support a democratic person.
We had disagreements with Tamil Nationalist politics; therefore, we united with leftist parties in the South and EPDP.
However, later we experienced a control in the democratic space, therefore, we began to antagonize the former regime.
Current President Maithripala Sirisena was also part and parcel of the former regime. But since he came out of the regime he was able to make a change in the government.
Recently President Sirisena went to meet the affected family, victimized due to the Punguduthivu incident. All Presidents in the past wouldn't visit affected families in the North or East. But now it has happened, therefore, this situation is better than before.

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You were working with former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge. Yet again another government has emerged with her participation. Will you join to work with them?
A: We had a long-term relationship with former President Chandrika's Government. Her husband Vijaya Kumaratunge came to visit me while I was in prison to show his solidarity. When the Indo-Lanka accord was signed, Vijaya and Chandrika supported us.
When Vijaya Kumaratunge was assassinated by the JVP, one of our EPRLF leaders Varatharaja Perumal addressed at his funeral.
Therefore, President Chandrika worked together with us. If we get another possible chance to work together with this government we may consider. She proposed a federal solution to the national question which is far better than the 13th Amendment in 2002.
Unlike now most in the majority community were in support of that proposal at that time. A leader like Chandrika will be suitable to scratch up the Prevention of Terrorism Act, to get over militarization and bring in devolution to the system.
The proposal by former President Chandrika was opposed by the TNA, the reason is only known to them. The UNP burnt the Bill in Parliament for the very obvious reason in practice they were not ready to share maximum powers.

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Former North-East Chief Minister Varatharaja Perumal, was he with your party or was he functioning separately?
A: He did function with us, when he visits us. But recently he said he wanted to work independently.

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Why did EPRLF have a rift?

A: Our party faced a rift in the year 2000. The style of leadership at that time was not collective. It was just individual leadership and they did not commit themselves to full time politics.
We raised questions regarding democracy, economy and about collective leadership. We were especially dissatisfied with the leadership therefore, we had to split from the party.
Suresh Premachandran was the Secretary General of the party after our leader comrade Pathmanaba was assassinated by the LTTE, it seems like until now he is heading the party. Our leader was assassinated in June 1990, after one week Suresh Premachandran became the leader of the party.
We filed a case regarding the entitlement of the party; elections laws were not strong enough to support our claim. According to such laws the entitlement will reach the secretary. Therefore, we decided to name our party Pathmanaba EPRLF. We didn't see comrade Pathmanaba as an individual. Also he had progressive ideas regarding, the national question, unity among nationalities and the international fraternity.
We should point out that he struggled for democracy and his thoughts were democratic.

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EPRLF being a leftist party from the very inception joined the TNA coalition later. What is the difference between Pathmanaba EPRLF and TNA?
A: Apart from the national question this society has other issues such as caste, gender, class and nationality. We strongly believe that unity among nationalities is very important to solve the national question. We believe that every issue should be addressed separately, but according to TNA politics, all issues have been brought under the national question. We view it as a negative approach.
Although the TNA points out a solution for the national question with a merged North and East, their total concentration is on the North only. They are practising Jaffna centric politics. This is politics that is carried out by the middle class in Jaffna. They dominate those in the Vanni as well as the Eastern Province.
All offices belonging to the Northern Provincial Council is mainly based in Jaffna. Such offices can rarely be seen in other parts of the province.

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Do you feel that North and East should be merged again?
A: We cannot just decide about merging both provinces. We should discuss with the Muslims before taking such decisions. There are two different major communities in the North and East. However, our party is not against merging. We cannot think of merging the North and East based on Jaffna Tamil centric.

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There are allegations that the LTTE assassinated your leader Pathmanaba. What was the reason behind this allegation?
A: After the Indo-Lanka Accord we stayed in India. We stayed in Tamil Nadu, Comrade Pathmanaba had a role in forming the North and East Provincial Council, yet he didn't take the Chief Minister post.
We including comrade Pathmanaba did not believe in portfolios, since we had an armed struggle background. We worked for social change. Therefore, he was assassinated because he ran the North-East Provincial Council. LTTE is a fascist organization.

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Do you feel an inquiry on war crimes is necessary for Sri Lanka? Are you for a local or international inquiry?
A: Yes a war crimes inquiry is important. But I feel only inquiring into war crimes during the latter part of the war is not enough, an inquiry should be held for the entire 30 years.
According to international protocol, even a local inquiry would address the issue and we shall not object international inquiries. Many died even before the latter part of the war, therefore, 30 years should be considered.

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How do you think the 13th Amendment should be implemented differently from the current scenario? Do you feel India will definitely fulfil the aspiration of the minorities?
A: We would emphasize again that the proposal brought forward by former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge was far better than the 13th Amendment came with the interference of India. This amendment was brought forward by the Indian Government, implementing their Constitution on how the power is devolved among the States. Therefore, we believe the role of India is essential.

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What should be the minimum solution for the national question?
A: Sri Lanka is a multi ethnic country. We feel that all communities should equally share the power. Power should be shared among Tamils, Muslims, up-country Tamils and Sinhalese. Also the right to self-determination should be provided. Many had a wrong impression about the right to self-determination thinking that encourages only secession. It is a misconception! Accordingly a federal solution will be the most suitable at the current scenario. All communities should unite, but they should not dominate each other. But we should understand that it should begin with the 13th Amendment and reach for further solutions. We cannot force the majority community to understand our problems.
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