(March 13, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka Guardian) The TMVP, which fielded candidates under the UPFA’s betel leaf symbol for the Batticaloa Municipal Council, decided yesterday to appoint Sivageetha Prabhakaran, alias Padmini, as the Mayor of Batticaloa.Mrs.Prabhakaran, who polled the highest number of preferential votes (4722 votes), is the daughter of Rajan Sathyamurthi, the TNA candidate gunned down, allegedly by the LTTE, in the run up to the General Elections in 2004.
The Secretary of Thamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) better known as Karuna group's Mrs S. Padmini has been given an exclusive interview to Nilantha Ilangamuwa in 2006. It was her first interview with Journalist. We decided republished the interview after two years she become mayor in Batticaloa.
Full text of an interview
by Nilantha Ilangamuwa with S.Padmini
Q. Could you tell us more about your role and status in the Tamil Makkal Viduthalei Puligal [TMVP], better known as Karuna Faction?
I play the role of a Secretary in Thamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) and carry out the duties, which a secretary of an organization normally does. Moreover in the great guidance of our President Mr.Karuna Amman I along with the other members of the organization do my best to meet the people's needs and lead them towards a bright future.
Q. Why did you joined with the TMVP?
There is a well-known saying "Service to mankind is service to God". In that view TMVP has come forward to serve the people with commitment and dedication standing in democratic political mainstream. It strives to get our people their rights and their legitimate political aspirations through democratic way.
The ancient epic story of India "Ramayana" says about a little squirrel that helped
"Sri Raman" in building up the bridge to Srilanka. Likewise in TMVP's political journey towards people's care I wish to be like that squirrel.
Q. Could you tell us about your background and other interests?
No comments please.
Q. How many functioning political offices controlled by the TMVP in the Country and what are your objectives?
Altogether there are eight TMVP Political offices functioning in the country including Political Head Secretariats, Distrit Political Head Secretariats and Political offices. Our Political Head Secretariat is located in Colombo and our Political Head Secretariat for the Eastern Province "Meenagam" is situated in the heart of Batticaloa. Our Political District Secretariats are located in Amparai and Trincomalee and our other political offices are at Arasady- Batticaloa, Mankerny- Batticaloa, Chenkalady-Batticaloa and Morakettanchennai-Batticaloa.
Further, as requested by the public we have decided to expand our political service island wide by opening our political offices in other districts too which we have already started the necessary steps. Moreover in order to serve the people TMVP will be contesting in the coming elections too.
When we refer to the past we can see that the arm struggle has caused heavy destructions. It has killed many thousands of innocent civilians and innocent youths. So we realized that it is a pointless one and we entered the democratic political main stream to serve our people and to keep a full stop to the meaningless blood shed in the name of 'Eelam'.
It is our position that a federal solution recognizing the territorial integrity of Srilanka is gained through peaceful means. Our stance is extensive and irreversible devolution of power within the United Srilanka. As I mentioned above, TMVP strives to get our people their rights and legitimate political aspirations standing in democratic mainstream. Our organization has already taken measures to lead our soil in the path of development in all sectors including education and economic. We have to wipe out terrorism from this beautiful island and should create a peaceful environment where all the communities can live in peace and harmony with unity and understanding in the lap of Mother Lanka. In brief "Service for the People" is our only objective.
Q.The LTTE has warned few moths ago that they will attack all your political offices. What are your comments?
When you refer to the history it is obvious that Praba Group has eliminated Tamil intellectuals, politicians and opponents. They don't recognize and value diverse identities and experiences, as they do not believe in democracy. In that view there isn't anything surprising in their warning of attacking our political offices.
Q.Mr. Allan Rock, the special representative of UN accused the TMVP on Child soldier recruitments. What was your reply when you and other TMVP members met Mr. Rock last Sunday at your political office in Colombo?
The UNICEF delegates led by Mr.Allan Rock, Special Representative of UN met us in our Political Head Secretariat on last Sunday (Nov, 12,2006). We explained the TMVP's stance on children's issue to the UNICEF delegates. We assured that with the view to protect the fundamental rights of the children TMVP would provide its full cooperation to the activities of the UNICEF. We also said that TMVP has taken measures to promote the fundamental rights of the children such as education, rights to live with their parents, health, sports etc. The UNICEF delegates welcomed this.
Particularly answering to the questions asked by the UNICEF delegates regarding the forced child recruitments we explained them the real situation. It is that, day-by-day the support for our organization is increasing among the public and therefore in order to bring disgrace to our organization Praba Group identify themselves as members of TMVP when they carry out forced child recruitments. And we clearly told them that our military wing does not have any kinds of connections with the Srilanka Army. Further we requested them to contact us and clarify things when they receive such complains.
Q.What you have to say about the allegations that the TMVP is a paramilitary force?
As we have reiterated several times before we are not a paramilitary group. Thamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) is a politico-military organization. We carry arms only to protect our selves from Praba Group attacks. When we entered democratic political mainstream we sent our combatants to their homes. But Praba Group killed them. They have killed more than 400 of these combatants. Not only the combatants but they also started killing our supporters too. There fore we carry arms in order to defend our selves from Praba Group attacks and to liberate our soil and people from the repressions of Praba Group. We are an organization who have entered democratic political mainstream and the Srilankan Government has to provide us security. Once we liberate our people from the repressions of Praba Group, there after we don't have any needs to carry arms.
Q. Why the TMVP support de-merging North and East provinces?
We honor the verdict given by the Supreme Court. Our stance on this subject is, without arguing this issue in the parliament it is better to find out the people's wish by holding a referendum. Let the people decide on this.
Q. But your leader Mr. Karuna Amman had said in various an interviews and statements that he supports the Indo-Lanka peace agreement singed in 1987, which had merged the two provinces.
At the same time, the North, East areas in Srilanka are the antiquity motherland of the Tamil Speaking People and in this, there is no room for diverse opinion.
Q. What do you think about Memorandum of Understand [MoU] that had singed between SLFP and UNP few days ago?
We welcome that the ruling SLFP and the main Opposition UNP has reached a Memorandum of Understanding to find solution to important issues confronting the nation today It is a turning point in the political history of this country that now the two main parties have come to an agreement to work in consensus regarding important issues. MoU of the main parties is a great progress in the journey towards the solution for the ethnic conflict, which is a fistulous one for years in this country. It is appreciated that both main parties have got together and have come forward to solve our people's problems by giving their fundamental rights and by fulfilling their legitimate political aspirations. We are happy that they understand the difference between the Tamils and Praba Group tigers.
How ever we have to wait and see the move of this agreement.
Q.What is your opinion about the next hero's day speech of Mr. Prabakaran?
In his every hero's day speech he puts dead lines. Last year he put deadline to President Mahinda Rajapaksa to solve the problem within one year. In another hero's day speech of his he put a dead line that they (Praba Group) will capture Jaffna within one year. Putting deadlines at every hero's day speech has become a habit for him. His speeches are meaningless. They are only to hoodwink the Tamil community and others. No one including the International Community doesn't seem to have any interest in his speech. As usual this time also he has only two options to mention in his speech either to declare war or to put a deadline to hoodwink the people. Other than these he doesn't have any other options. Yes, surely this time also it's going to be the same old lyrics.
Q. Mr. Karuna Amman had compromised with Prabakaran's hero's day speech last year? Why was that?
Actually the heroes who attained valorous death in the battlefield should be honored. 17,000 Eastern combatants have dedicated their precious lives in the battlefield. Their dedication should be honored. But these dedications have been wasted due to selfishness and imperialism of Prabakaran.
Prabakaran is trying to find comfort in the dedications of these innocent youths. We can't give room for this. In his every hero's day speech he announces the statistics of the cadres who attained valorous death in the battle field and through that he tries to gain sympathy wave by hoodwinking the Tamil community. We can't give room for this.
Therefore it is our duty to tell the Tamil people and the whole world about Prabakaran's cheatings. Prabakaran's aim is a one that cannot be won forever. A full stop should be kept to this meaningless bloodshed.
Q.How about your leader decision on this November (2006)?
This year's statement, which we will issue on Hero's day, could include the message for the parents requesting them not to give room to victimize their innocent children for Prabakaran's meaningless war.
- Sri Lanka Guardian
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