“No other way except separation of Sri Lanka” - Selvam Adaiaklanathan

"The Sinhala army had shot dead a Parliamentarian in the broad daylight. But the Sri Lankan government had hidden the fact that the said murder was committed by the army, and had appointed a Commission of Enquiry to inquire in to this murder. Commission of Enquiry is nothing but to hide the issue as per the liking of the government."


(September 08, Chennai, Sri Lanka Guardian) “Bifurcation of the country is the only way left for the Tamils in Sri Lanka” Selvam Adaikalanathan, Tamil National Alliance MP said in Chennai, in an interview with Kumudam, a Tamil weekly published from Chennai Tamil Nadu.

Adaikalanathan, MP from Vanni was recently in Chennai. He was interviewed by the Kumudam Weekly and the interview appeared in the 3rd September issue of the magazine.

“If the Sri Lanka Government put forward reasonable political solutions to these problems of the Tamils, then Tigers would come forward to consider about it. Otherwise, there is no other option except the bifurcation of Sri Lanka”, he said.

”The main political leaders of Tamil Nadu also should strongly raise their voice in the Parliament. We have a hope that the Tamil community in Sri Lanka could be saved if only India intervenes directly in solving these problems” he emphasized.

In an answer to a question Adaikalanthan alleged that Sri Lanka Army shot dead a parliamentarian. He said, “It is true. The Sinhala army had shot dead a Parliamentarian in the broad daylight. But the Sri Lankan government had hidden the fact that the said murder was committed by the army, and had appointed a Commission of Enquiry to inquire in to this murder. Commission of Enquiry is nothing but to hide the issue as per the liking of the government.

”The Sinhala army has been carrying out all form of attacks, including aerial attacks on the areas where innocent Tamils live. They chase the Tamils away as vagabonds, so as to script an image that they have brought the Tamil areas under their control. For example, Sinhala army entered into areas like Arippu, Silavathuraii and Kokkupidichan and ordered the Tamils living there to vacate their houses within one hour’s time. Our people, as they were not left with any other option, went out of their houses without taking any of their belongings with them. The Army then looted their belongings. These kind of human rights violations are taking place continuously in Sri Lanka” he said.

Earlier, schools used to be closed only during those few days the fighting was on. But now, due to the severity of the problem, schools remained close for the past two months, he explained.

He further said:

Six months back, 1 kg of rice was Rs.25, but now it is Rs.70 per kg. Sugar is Rs. 50 per kg. Cost of a bread packet is Rs.35. Like this, prices of all commodities have gone up by 3 times. In Sri Lanka, a day’s wage of a labourer is Rs.200. Moreover they do not get regular opportunities to work. Hence the Tamil people are forced to live in hunger and starvation for their very survival.

Out of a total of 225-member parliament, there are a total of 30 Tamil speaking members. Out of those, 22 Members belongs to Tamil National Alliance. I am the Chief Whip of TNA in the Parliament. Whenever we raise our voices about the atrocities and injustices against Tamils, other members of the Parliament will come to beat us. Even if we continue our talks, the Ministers of the respective departments will be unavailable in the Parliament. However if we manages and continues to talk in the Parliament, the Government Ministers won’t be present in the Parliament. But we continues to raise our voices in the fervent hope that our speeches, in which we express the distresses of our people, might reach the international community and through them the Tamil community in Sri Lanka might be saved through their efforts.

The Sinhala army had shot dead a Parliamentarian in the broad daylight. But the Sri Lankan government had hidden the fact that the said murder was committed by the army, and had appointed a Commission of Enquiry to inquire in to this murder. Commission of Enquiry is nothing but to hide the issue as per the liking of the government.

If the Sri Lanka Government put forward political solutions to these problems of the Tamils, then Tigers would come forward to consider about it. Otherwise, there is no other option except the bifurcation of Sri Lanka.

The main political leaders of Tamil Nadu also should strongly raise their voice in the Parliament. We have a hope that the Tamil community in Sri Lanka could be saved if only India intervenes directly in solving these problems.

A few years back, Sri Lanka army fought for months and captured many areas from the LTTE’s control. That military operation was named “Jayasikuru”. However in the end, Tigers attacked them only for four days and chased away the army and brought back those areas under its control. In the past twenty-five years we have faced many ups and downs in this struggle. Hence these are nothing for us. LTTE will make there moves. We cannot expect that LTTE will wait for the political changes in US and continue to retreat.

I will not say that everything the LTTE had done is correct. But it is LTTE that is voicing for the rights of the Tamils. If the LTTE fails, Tamils will be destroyed and one day Sinhalese Buddhists will erect Buddha statues everywhere to say that they are Buddhist areas.

Sri Lankan governments in the past have been using the peace negotiations to cheat international community.

Sri Lankan Government by its atrocities has justified the Tamil people’s demand for Eelam. We cannot give up this demand and this demand will exist as long as these atrocities continue.

But if a reasonable solution is submitted, definitely LTTE will accept to study the proposals. In this regard, Indian government should put pressure on the Sri Lankan government to submit a reasonable solution.

People of Tamil Nadu should come forward in large numbers to show their solidarity for the struggle of Eelam Tamils. They should show their solidarity by large scale peaceful street demonstrations. They should send their aids to their Tamil brethrens who are suffering in the war zones. They should give pressure on the Indian central government to pressurise the Sri Lankan Government.

The Tamil Diaspora in all countries should redouble their efforts to pressure the UN, at least to send an UN Human Rights monitoring mission to Sri Lanka.

Video: Interview in Tamil at Kumudam WebTV
- Sri Lanka Guardian