No chance for LTTE

Once people are politically empowered: - Pilleyan

Ranil Wijayapala

Shivaneshathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pilleyan made his first public appearance at the Batticaloa Local Government elections on March 10. He used the first vote in his life, marking the transformation from a military outfit into a mainstream political party. His party, the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) emerged victorious at the Batticaloa Local Government elections held after a lapse of 14 years.

Talking to the Daily News at his highly secured office in Batticaloa Pilleyan rejected all allegations against his party saying that any political party can engage in the elections campaign without any problem. He also says that many political parties are complaining against the TMVP only for political reasons.

He is of the opinion that the threat from the LTTE on the TMVP is extraordinary and it cannot be compared in terms of the threats on other political parties since they are the only political party openly challenging the LTTE. He stressed that they are ready to give up arms once peace and democracy are permanently established in the East.

Pilleyan is confident that they can win the elections in the Eastern Provincial Council slated for May 10 and to rule the Eastern province giving leadership to all three communities on equal terms. Following is the interview the Daily News had with Pilleyan on the Eastern elections.

Q: How is your election campaign progressing?

A: So far we have conducted a successful election campaign. We conducted pocket meetings in Batticaloa, Trincomalee and Ampara. We expect to have three election meetings in the three districts within the last 10 days.

This is a historic election for us. People are seeking a separate administration in the Eastern province. We hope people in the East will be able to make that dream a reality on May 10. People are wholeheartedly supporting our election campaign. They are for the TMVP.

Q: Many political parties demand that the TMVP should be disarmed prior to the Provincial Council election. What is your opinion?

A: These allegations are coming mainly from the United National Party, LTTE and the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress. They are against the Government. We are keeping weapons with us. That is not a national issue.

They are complaining against us only for political reasons. Not for any other reason. We are using weapons in self defence. During the past elections the LTTE was using arms in the East. They voted with weapons in their hand.

We observed those things as we were within that organisation. But none of those political parties demanded that the LTTE should give up arms to make those elections free and fair. From 1999 to 2005 elections were conducted in the East when the LTTE was controlling some parts of the East.

Q: If you are facing threats the Government should provide protection to you. If all organisations facing death threats try to take up arms, the Government will face a law and order problem?

A: As a Tamil political party the threats we face are extraordinary. It is true that the Government is providing us security. But we should be considered a special group considering the extent of the threat. We are the main force against the LTTE which is the most dangerous terror outfit in the world. We are a group openly challenging that terror outfit.

It was due to our defection the LTTE faced such a humiliating defeat in the North and East. We are challenging the Tamil homeland concept of the LTTE. The LTTE is ready to offer any price for our life. That is why we need weapons because we know how the LTTE operates.

Q: Does that mean you are not going to give up arms?

A: No, that does not mean we are not ready to give up arms. You know that a large number of our members have been killed even when we have been provided with such security. Velupillai Prabhakaran knows only that language.

We have to protect our membership from the LTTE threat if we are to continue on the path of democracy. The Government cannot provide security for each and every member of the TMVP.

The Government cannot afford to do so. There is no need for us to operate as an armed group once peace and democracy is properly established in the North East. The LTTE will be automatically defeated once peace and democracy is established.

Then we do not need to have weapons in our hand. We should be thankful to President Mahinda Rajapaksa for taking initiatives to provide a permanent solution to the North-East problem. Once that process is completed permanent peace will be established.

At the same time the international community too can guarantee our security. Then we can give up arms.

Q: There is an accusation that the Eastern election is a one horse race involving the TMVP?

A: There is no such situation. Any political party can engage in election campaign as they wish. PLOTE leader Sidharthran and TULF leader V. Anandasangaree have arrived here in Batticaloa. Anandasangaree has come to Batticaloa after 1956.

We have a strong base in Batticaloa. Therefore, we have a big support from the people. At the previous Local Government election we were able to win nine Local Bodies.

Q: The TMVP is a clear voice against the LTTE. Like that there are a number of Tamil political parties opposing the LTTE contesting the election separately. Why did these Tamil political parties fail to unite against the LTTE at this election?

A: We defected from the LTTE as we, the Eastern Tamils, were not given solutions for their problems by our Northern leadership. We faced injustices at the hand of the Northern leadership. It was the Eastern Tamils who sacrificed lives in their struggle to secure a separate homeland for Prabhakaran.

When Northern Tamils were enjoying benefits we, the people in the East, suffered. When we realised that we cannot find solutions to our problem through that process we stood for a separate leadership in the East.

Though many candidates are contesting the election are from the East they are under Northern leadership. Douglas Devananda, Ananda Sangaree, Siddharthan are from the North. Like Prabhakaran they too do not like to see a separate leadership for the Eastern province. We as a political party based in the Eastern province believe in an Eastern leadership.

We have been cheated and misled by the Northern leadership on several occasions. Therefore, we wanted to create an Eastern leadership through this election. We had several rounds of talks with Tamil political parties against the LTTE. But those discussions failed as they do not like to see a separate leadership in the East.

Q: What are the burning issues facing the Eastern people as identified by your political party?

A: The first issue is that Eastern Tamils should be identified as a separate community. The poorest community in the country is living in the East.

They don't have proper security, education, shelter, health facilities and road facilities. The farmers need their agricultural lands. The fishermen want to engage in fishing freely. Development activities have not taken place in Tamil populated areas. We are expecting Government assistance to solve these problems in the East.

Apart from this we need to build ethnic amity in the multi-ethnic and multi-religious population in the East. That is a big priority for us.

Q: There were several allegations against the TMVP of abducting children. The TMVP handed over several children back to their parents recently. Was that a confirmation of the fact that you are responsible for such acts?

A: Children are our future. As a movement fighting on behalf of our community we are not ready to prey on our children. The TMVP had never abducted children. We had never used these children for war. Before the liberation of the East many children were abducted by the LTTE. Those children came to us seeking protection.

After assuring their protection we handed them over to their parents. But a section of children released through the UNICEF were also with us. We will make arrangements to release them too.

Q: If you are so honest in the issue of children, why are such allegations levelled against the TMVP for child abductions?

A: The real story behind the scene is a different one. International organisations complaining against us do not know a single Tamil word. Those who are working for these organisations, drivers, translators, and other field officers are recruited from the North. They are aware that we no longer accept their leadership.

They want to see the death of our organisation as early as possible. It is them who are providing false information to their bosses from international organisations levelling unfounded and baseless allegations against us.

Q: You are contesting the Eastern Provincial Council election with the hope solving your problems within the framework of the 13th Amendment. You are not expecting a provincial council like those existing in the South which do not have the powers stipulated by the 13th Amendment.

How confident are you that the Government would provide the powers under the 13th Amendment to the Constitution to run the Eastern Provincial Council?

A: We believe in President Mahinda Rajapaksa on this issue. We expect that the President would keep his word. So far the Government has assisted us. The Government provided us facilities for the Batticaloa Local Government authorities. We are not asking for a separate country. We are requesting only the required powers to run the Provincial Council.

Therefore, there is no reason for the Government not to provide such powers to the Eastern Provincial Council. President Mahinda Rajapaksa is honestly making an attempt to implement the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.

It will be good example for the North if the Eastern Provincial Council functioned properly. Everybody will understand the fact that we do not need weapons to solve the North East problem if the relevant Provincial Councils are given required powers.

Q: You said you are the Chief Ministerial candidate from the TMVP for the Eastern Provincial Council election. The Eastern province is an ethnically sensitive province. How are you going to give leadership for all ethnic groups if you are elected as the Chief Minister?

A: According to the consensus reached among the parties of the UPFA, the political party which obtains the highest number of seats will be given the Chief Ministerial portfolio.

I believe that the TMVP will be able to obtain the highest number of seats. It is true we are representing the Eastern Tamils as a political party. But the Chief Minister in the East is Minister for all communities. You mentioned about three communities.

When we add the Burgher community the number of the ethnic groups in the East will be four. All these communities are having problems unique to their communities.

I am getting the support of the Sinhala and Muslim community too. I will assure you that I will create a province in which all communities can live equally once I become the Chief Minister.

Q: There are reports that some groups within the TMVP are not accepting your leadership. Is there any problem relating to your leadership to the East?

A: We had some administrative problems. But we did not have any problem regarding the leadership. Our leader Karuna Amman went abroad on his own. I am working on his behalf. As a political party subjected to rapid expansion we also face such administrative problems like other political parties.

Q: What is the position of Karuna Amman within the TMVP?

A: He was a powerful leader in the LTTE. He created a strong opinion highlighting the need for a separate leadership for the East. He practically brought that idea to the fore.

He should be given due respect for that. Unfortunately he is not in Sri Lanka. He went to UK on personal reasons. Only he knows details about his visit. However, we will not hesitate to give his due position in the party once he returns to Sri Lanka.

Q: As an armed group contesting the Eastern Provincial Council how are you going to establish democracy in the East?

A: Even today democracy prevails in the East. You are able to meet me at short notice. Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena came here. Many other leaders came here. We are grateful to the Security Forces and the Police for creating an environment conducive to conduct elections after a lapse of 20 years.

Muslim people can visit their 65,000 acres of paddy fields in the East without any harassment. The Sinhalese people can live without any fear. It was the Security Forces who created this situation. Once again we are grateful to them.

Q: Do you think there is any possibility for the LTTE to raise its head in the East?

A: The Eastern population has rejected the LTTE. Once people are enshrined with political power they will be further cornered in the East. At the same time if we become weaker in the East there will be chances for the LTTE to raise its head once again.

I should tell something to the Southern people too. Once the Government wins the hearts of the people the LTTE will automatically disappear.

Q: The Eastern election is going to be a tough one compared to the Local Polls in Batticaloa. How confident are you of winning the elections?

A: We are 100 per cent sure of our victory. We will be able to obtain 13 to 15 seats. Then we will be given bonus seats. We will be able to establish the Eastern Provincial Council along with other members of the UPFA.

We will be able to meet you in Trincomalee at the Provincial Council building. The Media also has a big responsibility in this task. If you can educate the Southern people and create a bridge between the South and the East defeating terrorism will not be a big challenge.