With the Sri Lankan army closing in on Kilinochchi, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam headquarters, army officers are confident of decisive victory in the civil war. But LTTE political chief B. Nadesan does not agree. Recently, the Sri Lankan government dismissed Nadesan's statement that the LTTE "had always wanted ceasefire" and was "fighting a defensive war" as a trap and demanded that the Tigers lay down their weapons before coming forward for any talks.
In an email interview with THE WEEK from Kilinochchi, Nadesan says the LTTE is far from being defeated. Excerpts:
How is the situation in the Tamil Eelam?
The Sri Lankan government does not allow journalists-local or international-and human rights activists into our area. As a result, the massacre of Tamils by the Sri Lankan military does not reach the outside world. Aerial bombing and artillery shelling on Tamil civilians are continually taking place. Our homeland has been subjected to a severe economic blockade for many years. The current military action has displaced Tamils and many are living in forests.
The government is intent on brutally oppressing a group of people who are waging a struggle for their rights. Sadly, the media does not bring this out. I view this as a great human tragedy of the 21st century. The government and military chiefs insist on a military solution while we have been saying that a solution can be reached only through ceasefire and peace talks. The government unilaterally pulled out of the ceasefire. The world must understand this reality and recognise our struggle.
Is the 30-year-old struggle weakening?
This is a view propagated by the Sri Lankan government and military. They have the habit of making such victory declarations. During all these years, every government that came to power claimed that it was going to defeat the LTTE, but ended up facing humiliating defeats at our hands. During their Riviresa operation in 1995 and the Jeyasikuru operation in 1998 they said that 90 per cent of the LTTE strength had been wiped out. In reality, after Riviresa, we defeated the Mullaithivu military camp in a conventional war with the support of our people; and a few days after Jeyasikuru, we won back the land they took 18 months to capture.
Even now, they say that we have been weakened. The Sri Lankan military is facing heavy losses at the forward defence lines. To make up for the losses, they are bringing in men from other districts to areas surrounding Kilinochchi. Many army men are deserting their camps. A new military division, 61st Brigade, is being created with the captured deserters.
Responding to concerns raised by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Sri Lankan government said it was attacking extremists, not innocent Tamils.
This is not true. Children and old people have been killed and injured in large numbers by aerial bombings and artillery shelling. The economic blockade has left our people without adequate food and medicine. We have sent news of attacks on civilians to the media with ample evidence. The expatriate representatives of the international agencies in our areas know about this situation. Now, even they have been expelled from our area by the government. This shows that the government has taken steps to block news of attacks on innocent people reaching the outside world.
How do you feel about the support rendered by the people, including the film fraternity, in Tamil Nadu?
The genocide in Tamil Eelam through indiscriminate attacks and the eviction of Tamils from their homes are the reasons for the rising support in Tamil Nadu. Whenever the people of Tamil Eelam faced great miseries at the hands of the Sri Lankan military, people of Tamil Nadu have expressed their support, beyond their political differences.
Has this increased the confidence in your struggle?
The oppressive action of the government has enraged not only the people of Tamil Nadu but also the Tamil diaspora. Sinhala political leaders, military chiefs and even Buddhist monks are emphasising a military solution. If the government continues to believe that an ethnic issue in a country can be solved by a military solution alone, it will only lead to the oppressed ethnic people achieving their aspirations with help from other countries.
The chief minister of Tamil Nadu says it is fratricidal war that has weakened the Tamil Eelam struggle. Do you agree?
He is saying this with good intentions. We, too, wish to bring Tamils together and wage our struggle as a strong force. Sadly, one or two Tamils have become traitors for trivial perks offered by the Lankan government.
Is it true that
The Sri Lankan government and military chiefs have openly claimed that the Indian government has been giving them military assistance. The Indian government is silent over this comment. This is indeed an issue that saddens the Tamils, people in Tamil Nadu, and Tamils all over the world.
What help do you expect from the Indian government?
It must stop all military assistance given to
How do you react to comments by Sri Lankan army chief Sarath Fonseka about V. Pirapaharan's health? He said Pirapaharan would not live long.
Our leader is in excellent health and is leading the current war. This comment is an expression of the hatred he has for the Tamil people and our movement. Recently, he said the island belongs to Sinhala Buddhists. This shows that he is an irresponsible and immature military chief.
