Cheythi Alaikal: Recent news stories advance the theme
that LTTE should settle for solutions short of Tamil
Eelam. What is your comment on this trend?
Balakumaran: One has to view this with a deep
understanding of the historical background to the
conflict. Thamil Eelam is not a hastily concocted
concept. It did not fall from the sky. Conceptualized before 1948, it developed
gradually over time and was strengthened by history in
the years since independence. I do not want to repeat
history on how the support for Tamil nationhood grew
gradually and finally it received mandate in 1977
elections. Colombo has attempted to blur this truth and
has been trying to establish that Tamil Eelam was
invented by LTTE. The truth is that the responsibility
to advance this mandate currently rests with the LTTE.
LTTE was guided by this ideal since its inception.
However, the movement had articulated clearly that it
was
open to examining credible alternate proposals. We
regret that this request had not received the attention
it deserved. Everyone knows that the South is not ready
to offer any solutions to the Tamil question - even the
solutions proposed by International Community. Recent
news stories are intended to break the determination of
Tamil people and to create confusion among our people.
One has to question why such messages were not
articulated by other powers to national struggles of
other peoples, for example why India didn’t say this to
Bangladesh; US to East Timor, Kosovo, or to the many
nations breaking away from the old Soviet block?
Our people have to clearly understand the motives behind
such moves by the International community.
Cheythi Alaikal: Is there a need for our people and the
LTTE to recognize the political climate of the
International Community, and modify their ideals?
Balakumaran: Certainly not.
Here an important question arises. We are a nation. We cannot
change on the basis that so and so said that and so and
so said something else. Our people have undergone untold
suffering in the past three decades. We are in the midst
of a war. We should preserve our spiritual power to
overcome the odds until we achieve our liberation.
Cheythi Alaikal: A view is expressed that a solution to Tamil struggle can be
achieved only with the support of the International
Community. Do you agree?
Balakumaran:
This is a commonly held view.
At the same time, our people must have a
deeper understanding.
We
must inquire why it is that International actors are responding
differently to the national liberation struggles of
different peoples. The axioms accepted for one struggle
is negated for another.
We will realize that countries
are motivated by their own self interests in the
outcome. A national liberation struggle is cognizant of
the welfare of its own people. If the struggle begins to
listen to other people’s dictates, and compromises its
ideals for other people’s welfare, than that reflects
the weakness of the struggle. Tamil people have a duty
to clearly understand this.
Cheythi Alaikal: For a liberation movement to be
successful, how important is it necessary to show its
strength?
Balakumaran: We traditionally equate strength with
military might; but, military strength is only one
aspect of the liberation struggle. Liberation struggle
draws its strength from the determination of its people.
Desire for freedom, once felt, never leaves the mind
even for a moment. There is no substitute for freedom. A
liberation struggle cannot be quenched except by
reaching its goal. It does not mean amassing battlefront
successes. This is a marathon; having the strength to
confront the obstacles to the finish is how the success
of a liberation struggle is assessed. Our people are
demonstrating this strength and the accompanying
resilience.
Cheythi Alaikal: Can we expect that Sinhala leaders
will offer a just solution to the Tamil question?
Balakumaran: History proves that this will never happen.
Since 1948, our people lived with this illusion – while
the first prime minister D.S. Senanayake was in power,
we believed Kottalawela will be good to us –since then,
South has had a array of leaders J.R. Jayawardena,
Premadasa, Chandrika, and now Rajapakse.
Sinhala people,
driven by their perception of history, is in a mindset,
which will not allow them to elect leaders who can
pursue a fair and just approach to resolve the Tamil
issue.
In the current government policy makers include
extremists like Champika Ranawaka and JHU. Tamil
struggle is aimed at changing this mindset. Our
experience shows this change cannot be created by us.
That is why we are now seeking nationhood to preserve
our lives and livelihood. However, we are not
pessimists; if a Sinhala leadership offers us a just
solution we are willing to consider it.
Cheythi
Alaikal: The leaders of the South are elected
by Sinhala people. Do Sinhala people then deny existence
of Tamil grievance?
Balakumaran: Certainly. Over the years, racist ideas
were sowed within the Sinhala populace. These ideas have
taken a deep root in their collective conscience.
Sinhala people have been led to believe all their ills
have been caused by the Tamil people. Our struggle will
lift this illusion and show the practical realities of
the difficulties Sinhala people face. Our liberation
struggle will also help the Sinhala people to recognize
the real path to achieve peace prosperity and happiness.
Sinhala army is the guardian of Sinhala racism. To lift
this illusion, we must beat back the Sinhala army from
our homeland.
Cheythi Alaikal: What political aspirations should the
Tamil people have?
Balakumaran: We must be clear of our goal. There must no
confusion about our goal. The strength of this belief is
the propelling force. Currently, LTTE is the only
credible vehicle to achieve this goal. People may find
fault with members who spearhead this struggle, may not
agree with every activity; but at no time, their belief
in the goal should waver. The ideal, the liberation,
should transcend the individual. Our people have a clear
distinction between the ideal and the shortcomings of
some individuals who pursue this ideal. Tamil people
have shown this clarity; our message to them is to
continue in this path.
Cheythi Alaikal: How can the media help Tamil people?
Balakumaran: Media must inform the Tamil people with
truthful news.
Cheythi Alaikal: How would you like India to view the
Tamil issue?
Balakumaran: We observe Tamil Nadu state along with
Indian national government. There is a link between us.
Our regret is that the India’s policy makers are viewing
Tamil people’s struggle through their lens of their
country’s political welfare. Until Indian central
government approaches this intellectually and recognize
that ours is a struggle for survival by an oppressed
people in the land of their birth, India cannot make any
healthy, fruitful contribution. India has approached our
struggle as an integral part of their national political
equation. Like in a political chess game, India has
taken positions beneficial to the governments in power.
We have said clearly Tamil Eelam is not against India;
we will uphold Indian welfare as our own. There was a
time, when India looked after our welfare as her own.
India will change its current policy towards us one day.
We believe firmly, our strong cultural ties to our
brothers and sisters in India will help their policy
makers to select a just and fair path towards our
people. We cannot wait for India’s change of mind to
continue with our liberation. One fact should be clear,
no one should doubt our friendship, and strong ties to
India.
A
free translation in English of the interview with K.V. Balakumaran,
aired by Cheythi Alaikal, an Australian Radio broadcast
on 3 June 2008 follows - but the true sense will appear
only from the Tamil audio original.
