M.Thanapalasingham, married and the father of two children, an
erudite Tamil scholar, a citizen of Australia, an accountant by profession, and
a brother of a Maha Veeran
who gave his life in the struggle for Eelam, writes from Sydney, Australia:
"Vannakam. Couple of weeks
ago I received a telephone call from a Federal Agent of the Australian Federal
Police (Security Intelligence and Diplomatic Liaison section).
He informed me that two police officers
from India wished to see me in connection with a document (copy of few pages
from an address book) in the possession of the Indian Police, which
contained my name and address. The motives and what context etc were not
explained to me.
I replied that while I am prepared to see
the Australian Agent, I was not willing to see the Indian Police officers.
They agreed that I was within my rights to refuse to see the Indians.
On the following day, two agents from the
Australian Federal police called on me at my residence.
I will state this publicly and for the
record.
Before we started the discussion, I spelt
out my reasons for not wishing to see the Indians. I told them that how one
of my brothers was shot dead by the Indian army
when they occupied our homeland under the guise of peace keepers. I told
them how my brother's killing hastened my mother's untimely death. I also
told them about the
atrocities committed by the Indian army against my people, the Tamil
people - and about how New Delhi's hands are stained with the blood of
thousands of young Tamils who died for Tamil Eelam. I explained that I did
not want to re-kindle my anger and bitterness towards the Indian army. Hence
my reluctance to see them.
The Australian officials were very
understanding. They said they had all the questions from the Indian Police
(the reasons for asking these questions were not stated). They explained
that the questions included a few which the Indians failed to file through
the due judicial/diplomatic process. These questions they would not put to
me.
Among the questions they did ask me were:
Q. Are you a member of LTTE?
I replied:
| 'I have but a feeble
and weak body and lack the courage and commitment required for
membership of the LTTE. To be eligible for membership of the LTTE
requires a level of determination and fearlessness that cries out
"I will not lose my freedom except with my life". This I do not
have. No, I am not a member of LTTE.' |
Q. Have you met Pirabaharan?
To this I said:
| 'Like millions of
Tamils living
in many lands and across distant seas, I do dream of meeting him
one day. To meet him so that I could bow my head in front of him and
with all humility say to him: "Thank you, thank you for restoring
our dignity. Because of you, we Tamils are walking with our heads
held high". This is my dream. No, I have not met
Pirabaharan.' |
The other questions were related to some
photos and names which appeared in many news papers and known to the whole
world.
I thought I need to place this on record
for the benefit of my children."
