Asian Tribune: Do you believe in an undivided united Sri Lanka?
Suresh Premachandran: We have told again and again, several times and Mr. Sampanthan - leader of the TNA has told repeatedly, that ‘we wants to resolve our problems within a united Sri Lanka.’ Therefore, there is no point in asking again and again, “do we believe in a united Sri Lanka?”.
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Tue, 2012-07-10 06:34 — editor
By K.T.Rajasingham
Colombo, 10 July, (Asiantribune.com):
The Tamil people want to have the share of their political power. They want the political settlement. They want to look after themselves. This must be clearly understood by the leaders of the government.
It is better to allow the people to decide for themselves - what to do and how to do. Let the people do their own development work. Why do you want to decide from Colombo? - Asked Suresh Premachandran.
The TNA parliamentarian Suresh Premachandran said, “Actually it is more and more alienating the people from the government and the government could not win the hearts and minds of the people.
The best example is in the parliamentary elections and in the local government elections, TNA won convincingly. You must consider why the Tamil people are voting for the TNA?
In fact Tamil people wanted to look after themselves. They want to develop their own area. They want to keep their own security. They want to take care of their children’s education, their economical growth and they want to do all these for themselves.
Suresh Premachandran when talking to Asian Tribune said at present, the land issue is the primary issue. We are not against Arm Forces. You know in 1983 also they had a camp at Palaly. And also in Vavuniya and they can go back to the 1983 position.
He said If the government want to keep their armed forces in the North and East and if they want to grab lands and if they want to put up the Buddhist temples where there are no Buddhists, then the Tamil people will think that there is no point in talking to this government and there is no point in living in this country. So they have only an option of going out of this country or fight back.
Given below excerpts of the interview Asian Tribune had with Suresh Premachandran M.P., one of the important leaders of the Tamil National Alliance:
Asian Tribune: I want to ask you whether TNA is contesting in the Eastern Provincial Council?
Suresh Premachandran: We are contesting.
Asian Tribune: What about any alliance with Sri Lanka Muslim Congress?
Suresh Premachandran: The TNA is the only alliance we are having. The Muslim Congress to my knowledge and understanding, they will be with the government.
Asian Tribune: There were some reports to say that TNA is also seeking alliance with the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress?
Suresh Premachandran: Yes we told them, but all depend on them.
Asian Tribune: Have you contacted them?
Suresh Premachandran: Yes we have sent our request and we told them very clearly, but all depend on them.
Asian Tribune: Regarding the resettlement - you staged a satyagaraha recently at Thirumurukandy. What is the latest on the resettlement?
Suresh Premachandran: You know very well that the land grabbing matters are still going on in the North and Eastern Provinces. So in the North, so many thousands of acres of land have been taken by the Sri Lankan arm forces for their own requirements. There are state lands, as well as private lands involved in the acquisition by the Army.
In the case of the lands in the Thirumurukandy village is concern, all the lands over there belongs to the private people. That the people wanted to go back to their own area.
According to the Geneva Convention, the displaced people have the right to go back to their own lands. But Sri Lankan government is telling the world that they are sending them back to their original places, and resettling them. Unfortunately in Thirumurukandy they didn’t allow the people to go and resettle in their own lands. That is why we staged an agitation against the government, likewise you know in Jaffna, in Mannar because of government’s involvement in the land grabbing.
Asian Tribune: What is happening in Mannar?
Suresh Premachandran: In Mannar also the Navy has taken over a complete village called Mullikulam, located in the Muslai Divisional secretariat area. That village is located very closer to the sea. The fishermen of that area were not even given a place to go and settle down. The fact is that people belongs to Mullikulam are displaced and they don’t have a place to go. That area is being taken by the Sri Lanka Navy. They have put up a camps there. Now they have brought their families also.
So these poor people of Mullikulam do not have any place to go. Now they are in the jungle. The government did not clear the jungle and resettle them even in the jungle. They are simply there.
This is a small example and in other parts of Mannar also, there are several other areas where the Army wanted put up their camps. The place called Channar in Mannar district and there also the Army has taken a very large amount of area to put up the camp and so the people could not stay there.
There are several areas in the Mullaitivu district, in Kilinochchi district, in Vavuniya and Mannar districts and also in the Jaffna district. So, all these areas are facing the same problem.
We are not against the armed forces. You know in 1983 also they had a camp at Palaly. And also in Vavuniya and they can go back to the 1983 position.
Why still they need such a huge area. In Jaffna they are occupying large number of houses. In Tellipalai area in the 24 Grama Sevaka divisions they did not allow people to go back for the last 25 years. Also in Mathagal in the place call Thiruvadinilaiyam, Navy want a huge area of land, may be runs into hundreds of acres.
Asian Tribune: I want to know details of you all staging of Satyagraha
Suresh Premachandran: Satyagraha is the democratic way of protest. We are showing our anger and frustration and tell the government “look here, hundreds of thousand displaced persons need resettlement and government must come forward to resettle them as the citizens of this country.
Asian Tribune: Do you believe in an undivided united Sri Lanka?
Suresh Premachandran: We have told again and again, several times and Mr. Sampanthan - leader of the TNA has told repeatedly, that ‘we wants to resolve our problems within a united Sri Lanka.’
Therefore, there is no point in asking again and again, “do we believe in a united Sri Lanka?”.
The way the government behaves is simply pushing the Tamil people into a corner.
He said If the government want to keep their armed forces in the North and East and if they want to grab the lands and if they want to put up the Buddhist temples where there are no Buddhists, then the Tamil people will think that there is no point in talking to this government and there is no point in living in this country. So they have only an option of going out of this country or fight back.
Asian Tribune: What do you mean by ‘fight back’?
Suresh Premachandran: You know, when we say fight back, Late Mr. S.J.V. Chelvanayagam fought with the succesive governments for more than 30 years. And again for another 30 years there was a violent struggle.
And if now the government thinks that there is no need to give the Tamils their rights back, then that all available and acceptable democratic process we will use to retrieve our rights.
In fact Tamil people wanted to look after themselves; they want to develop their own area. They want to keep their own security. They want to take care of their children’s education, their economical growth and they want to do all these for themselves.
So why can’t the government give the powers to them so that they can do as they wish.
There are several countries like in Switzerland, like in India, like in Canada , like in Australia and similarly there are various other countries, they are having a system where people are living together and looking after their own economy in their own states, or in cantons or in their provinces. So why can’t the government of Sri Lanka do something like that.
Asian Tribune: Are you happy with the development works this government is doing in the North and East? Do you think that the government can win the hearts and minds of the Tamil people through these development works?
Suresh Premachandran: No ... not at all. Because the entire population is badly affected.
1. They want to go back to their own land
2. They need assistances to build their houses.
3. They need some help for their livelihood
Unfortunately, these things are not there. But the government is only putting up the highways. These highways may be helpful for the army for their easy movements.
It is better, let the people decide for themselves what to do and how to do. Let the people do their own development work. Why do you want to decide from Colombo?
Actually it is more and more alienating the people from the government and by this the government could not win the hearts and minds of the people.
The best example is in the last parliamentary elections and in the local government elections, TNA won convincingly. You must consider why the Tamil people are voting for the TNA?
Because, the Tamil people want to have the share of their political power. They want the political settlement. They want to look after themselves. This must be clearly understood by the leaders of the Government.
- Asian Tribune –
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