‘There is no doubt that the LTTE was the only party that fought for the freedom of the Tamil people until its last soldier. Now that the LTTE is no more, can we say the problem is over? Why the Government of Sri Lanka is putting the innocent Tamil people behind the barbwire fences.”_________________
By Nilantha Ilangamuwa
(September 26, Chennai, Sri Lanka Guardian) “The government of India has always maintained double standard on issues affecting Sri Lanka. It is more concerned about economic benefits rather than dealing with the humanitarian crisis faced by the Tamil people in Sri Lanka,” Mr. Balasunderam , the State Secretary of the CPI (ML) Tamil Nadu said in an exclusive interview to the Sri Lanka Guardian at his office in Chennai.
Mr. Balasunderam was born in a rural area in Tamil Nadu and he has taken on active politics since 70s. Communist Party of India (Marxism- Leninist) of Mr Balasunderam is ideologically different to the Communist Party of India (CPI); also the party has large membership in the entire country. They are active in students/women’s movements and Trade Unions activities in India.
Talking on India’s present policy on Indo- Lanka relations, Mr. Balasunderam said, ‘India has two faces in its relationship with the neighbouring Sri Lanka, “ On the one hand they will popularly say the Government of India is always concerned about plight of the Tamil people in Sri Lanka and their rights. On the other hand it is building friendly relationship with the Government of Sri Lanka for its own economic benefits”.
“I think the Indian Government is giving more priority for its economic benefits in their dealings with racist government of Sri Lanka, whilst betraying the rights of Tamil people. There is ample evidence that the Sri Lankan military is involved in war crimes against Tamil people within the last few months. Unfortunately, the Sri Lankan regime doesn’t have a proper plan to solve the ethnic conflict whilst it recognizes the rights of the minorities. That is why (without the political resolution) more than three hundred thousands Tamil people are suffering in the open prison or the so called IDPs camps,” Mr. Balasunderam observed.
When Sri Lanka Guardian asked him ‘As the war was conducted against the LTTE which is recognized as a terrorist organization and the organization was responsible for killing of democratic political leaders including former president of Sri Lanka and former Prime Minister of India, Mr. Balasunderam said: “there is no common definition for “Terrorism”. Even the present capitalist regimes are using the word “ Terrorism” to control the freedom struggles that are based on the people who are subjugated by their own governments.”
“Who was wrong at first? Who tried to undermine the rights of the minorities? What made the Tamils to take arms against the regime’ he questioned.
‘There is no doubt that the LTTE was the only party that fought for the freedom of the Tamil people until its last soldier. Now that the LTTE is no more, can we say the problem is over? Why the Government of Sri Lanka is putting the innocent Tamil people behind the barbwire fences,” he demanded.
“This detention behind the barbwire will lead to another type of post war struggle to fight for the peoples rights,” Mr. Balasunderam said.
“However we cannot urge the Government of Sri Lanka because we have different political ideology and functioning in a different country. We basically accept the sovereignty of a nation state. But in this present situation, the Government of India and its partner in Tamil Nadu must take the responsibility to archive a sustainable solution to the Tamil question in Sri Lanka,” he added.
“It’s not just words that comesout from Sri Lankan Military spokesman matters. India knew every thing we did in the War,” he further said.
‘Talks must be on core issues affecting the Tamil people of Sri Lanka. Even the Government of India must come to the aide of the Tamil people rather than just talking about it,” Mr. Balasunderam concluded. -Sri Lanka Guardian
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