19.11.2007

Chennai The newly appointed Head of the Political Division of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam has sought the support and help for their liberation struggle.

P.Nadesan: “His loss has caused immense sorrow and shock.

“Justification behind the people’s long standing struggle for liberation has to be favorably considered and expect to be of help and assistance to our homeland dream.” P.Nadesan, Head of the Political Division of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam has told when asked what the Tigers expect from Tamil Nadu and India.

In a wide-ranging interview said to have been conducted through e-mail by Junior Vikatan, a popular Tamil investigative journal, published twice a week, Nadesan lamented the death of Tamilselvan who was killed in an aerial bombing recently, by the Sri Lanka Air Force planes.

P. Nadesan said, “His loss has caused immense sorrow and shock. How much he loved the people and how much people loved him reflected in the numerous meetings held in his memory all over the world.”

Given below excerpts of the interview appeared in the Tamil journal Junior Vikatan, edited and published from Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.

Question: Comment on the slaying of Tamilselvan, the nature of the impact it has created within the Tiger outfit and in the midst of the people of Eelam?

P. Nadesan: Tamilselvan is one of the senior members of our organization. He was not only a commander, but was also a diplomat and functioned as the Head of the Political Division. His loss has caused sorrow and shock.

How much he loved the people and how much people loved him reflected in the numerous meetings held in his memory all over the world. In Sri Lanka during his funeral ceremony, thousands of people gathered, but Sri Lankan Air force planes flew above and threatened the people. Despite the threats and intimidation, people courageously participated in the funeral procession, expressed their grief and gave him a heroic sendoff.

Slaying of Tamilselvan is an unforgettable event in our liberation struggle.

Question: Can it be taken that the killing of Tamilselvan is the reflection of anger for the attack on the military base in Anuradhapura and for the loss of air planes worth well over rupees seven hundred crores?

P. Nadesan: Killing of Tamilselvan is a continuous genocide act of the Sinhala government. Eventhough Anuradahpura airbase was not attacked, Sinhala government would unhesitatingly do such killings. Many incidents of this nature could be pointed out from the sordid history of ethnic genocide.

Question: You have invited Norwegian Ambassador and registered your strong condemnation for the killing of Tamilselvan. How is the international community taking to this killing?

P. Nadesan: We summoned the Head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) and asked him to convey our position and our condemnation regarding this killing to Norway. We have clearly told the SLMM Chief that we are interested in knowing what course of action Norway intends taking against the Sri Lanka Government. I believe many countries by now would have been aware of the anti-Tamil fascist policy of Sri Lanka.

In the British Parliament, many groups and political parties involved with Tamil affaires have publicly condemned this killing. I believe that other countries too would soon follow suit to condemn the Sri Lanka.

Question: Those who support you in Tamil Nadu today remain divided amongst them and scattered in cliques and groups?

P.Nadesan: Numerous political parties in Tamil Nadu are supporting us. As far as we are concerned, the people in Tamil Nadu, totaling to 6.5 crore are concerned about us and are supportive to our Eelam liberation struggle. Though there might remain differences among themselves, but in the issue of Eelam Tamils’ struggle, they remain emotively united.

Question: Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu narrated a dirge in the fond memory of Tamilselvan. This was very receptive in the midst of the Tamils of Eelam, while it has stirred up a controversy in Tamil Nadu?

P. Nadesan: Lines in the Chief Minister’s lyric reflected the sentiments of the Tamils of Tamil Nadu. That elegy was the soothing medication to our wounds and injuries. Tamils of Eelam are grateful for that poem. Other than that, I have nothing to add to the controversy in Tamil Nadu based around that passionate poem.

Question: What are you expecting from Tamil Nadu and India?

P. Nadesan: Justification behind our people’s long standing struggle for liberation has to be clearly understood and expect India to be of help and of assistance to our homeland dream.

Question: Sri Lanka Government has said that they are aware of the hiding places of the Tiger leaders … and threatened that they will kill them one by one?

P. Nadesan: In our thirty years of Eelam Liberation struggle, they have made similar announcements umpteen number of times. Sri Lanka Government announcement of killing of our leaders is simply their day dreaming.

Question : It is said that during the past four years, when the ceasefire agreement was in place, a large number of intelligence operatives from both sides have infiltrated into each the other’s side. It is blamed that one such infiltrated intelligence agent was responsible for the killing of Tamilselvan?

P. Nadesan: We haven’t concluded that Tamilselvan’s slaying was done in that way.

Question : It is said that after Anton Balasingham and Tamilselvan, there are no capable representatives in your midst to function in the international level?

Nadesan: Based only on our Leader’s plans and thoughts, responsible persons needed in various fields are nursed and molded. Our liberation struggle could only be taken forward under such an organizational arrangement. In our struggle we are prepared to face losses. Even if we undergo heavy losses, our organization under our National Leader would be ever ready to fill such losses. Even when sorrow and grief grips us, we have always converted them as steps for our victories. Even today this tendency continues.