Interview with a leader of Tamil National Alliance

Ottawa, February 04, 2002 (SAMS)

Nadarajah Raviraj, MP.

Nadarajah Raviraj’s political career began with the Tamil United Liberation Front in 1987.  He became the mayor of Jaffna in 1988, the post he held until he got elected in 2001 as a member of Sri Lankan parliament under the newly formed four-party-coalition Tamil National Alliance (TNA).  In spite of bloody past with the Tamil Tigers, the Alliance fought the election with staunchly pro Tiger stand and swept the election in the Tamil dominated North and East. Throughout his life Raviraj says he came across many cases where Tamils were harassed by the Sri Lankan security forces and discriminated by policies adopted by successive Sri Lankan governments. In an exclusive interview with South Asian Media Services, lawyer turned politician Raviraj talks about his hope for a negotiated settlement but warns no easy solution to achieve peace in Sri Lanka.

SAMS: Why did you get into politics?

Raviraj: I am a lawyer by profession. I got involved with politics in 1987 when the Indian peace accord was signed. I am a member of the Tamil United Liberation Front, I became central committee member and there after I became a member of the politburo too. I was appointed as the mayor of Jaffna municipal council in 1998 and I continued to be in the post until the 31^st of Dec. 2001. I contested the general elections under TNA where the TULF is also one of the constituent members.

As a lawyer I had liking towards the politics… and as a lawyer I had come across cases where Tamil youths were subjected to various harassment from the security forces and in fact there were several incidents whereby the Tamils were subjected to various discriminatory policies adopted by the Sri Lankan government. This prompted me to get involved in politics so that I can democratically voice for my people.

The political situation has aggravated in a way because the ethnic problem was not solved until to date, and various agreements and various peace accords that have been signed between the Tamils and the Sinhalese government have not been implemented. The ethnic problem is unresolved and Tamils are still suffering.

SAMS: How would you describe the current situation in Jaffna?

Raviraj: If you ask me the current situation in Jaffna particularly the Jaffna district the people are going through tremendous hardships because of the acts of the Sri Lankan government, when I say government I am referring to the successive governments. By adopting the discriminatory policies most of the Tamil youths were compelled to leave the country they were denied the higher educations. They were denied employment facilities. This prompted most of the Tamil youths to leave the country.

SAMS: Why did the TULF feel it was necessary to create an alliance?

Raviraj: At this moment we felt that Tamils have to be united in order to achieve our goal and we have to democratically voice for the Tamil struggle or to demand our rights and this is the right time to be united. So four political parties joined together on a common policy and we went before the people on that policy and requested their mandate, and the Tamil people who were living in the Northeast whole heartedly supported and the alliance won 15 seats in the parliament. Our common policy is to demand immediate cease-fire. To lift the ban on the LTTE. And to start negotiations with them in order to find a peaceful solution to the ongoing ethnic problem on the basis of the right to self-determination of the Tamil people. And the Tamil people give fullest support of the request and they gave us the mandate to voice for this democratically.

If you take the Tamil parties in Sri Lanka, you can divide into two categories the one category was total democratic parties which never resorted to armed struggle that is the TULF and ACTC. The other political parties were one-time militant groups they have now come into the political mainstream. They were in the payroll of the Sri Lankan government so in other words they were working with the security forces. In Tamil National Alliance, there are two parties TELO and EPRLF were also in the pay roll of the defense ministry. But I think within the last four or five years they have been stopped the payment by the defense ministry because of the stand that they took in respect to the LTTE. So now they are no more in the payroll of the defense ministry. They have also accepted this common policy that we have put forward that the LTTE to be considered the sole representatives of the Tamils in order to negotiate with the government and this is how we took them inside but there are some other parties which are still in the pay roll of the defense ministry. Definitely they cannot join our alliance until they give up their stand.

SAMS: So what is the relationship between the Tamil Tigers and the Tamil National Alliance?

Raviraj: There is no relationship. What the TNA desired as political party was to represent the view of the people. The people whom we represent we have to enlighten their views. Tamil people consider, if a solution is to be found to this ongoing ethnic problem, the LTTE should be included in the negotiations. And if at all they can be considered the sole representatives of the Tamils in order to find a solution for our problem that is what the people wish. So we have got mandate for that. We are only democratically voicing for this. Inside the parliament within Sri Lanka even internationally we are lobbying for this purpose.

SAMS: Do you think Conflict will arise if LTTE are considered the sole representatives of the Tamil people?

Raviraj: I don’t think so because this is the wish of the people, because the last elections had proved the fact that the TNA put forward this policy before the people and we got the mandate, so I don’t think there would be any dispute on this. I think now the LTTE has unilaterally declared the ceasefire, and that was accepted by the present Sri Lankan government, and arrangements are being worked out in order to find a permanent kind of ceasefire. So we will further pressure the Sri Lankan government to negotiate with the LTTE…So I don’t think there will be any dispute on this issue.

SAMS: In the past the LTTE has allegedly reacted violently against those who may not have held the same political views/ideologies as that of their group… TULF have been also the victims of Tiger actions. So how have you overcome that barrier to work with the tigers?

Raviraj: We had a lot of difficulties as you mentioned. I accept that, but now we have to look for the future. We have to see what is the reality. We have to talk about what is truth. We never took up arms but they were compelled to take up arms. So there were lot of difference of opinion and it had resulted in a very serious kind of reparations between us and them... but what I feel is that we don’t have to go into those details now. What is before us is to achieve peace. How do you achieve peace when one of the warring parties is the LTTE? In order to proceed the talks they should be brought in under equal status. And negotiations should be held with them. And if at all a political solution is found, that would be implemented in the north and east. So therefore the TNA feel that it is our duty to think about this future and to work for it. That is what the people wanted.

SAMS: Do you think that is a strong enough bond to keep you aligned with the LTTE?

Raviraj: When we say we are putting on this policy there is no relationship… We are independently voicing the views of the people. Already there are allegations by the Singhalese to say that we are Tigers… but it is not true. The fact is this, as representatives we will continue to voice the wish of the people.

SAMS: Why do you think there is such a big support for the LTTE, as you say?

Raviraj: What I feel personally is right from the beginning of the armed struggle, the LTTE is the only organization that is still fighting for the rights of the Tamils by carrying arms and they still committed to their aim and that is why the people think that any solution to the ongoing ethnic problem has to be with them, there is no other way out… So the people feel that their commitment to the cause is very serious and therefore LTTE should be invited into the peace process, they should be given the due status and whatever you agree with them the Tamil people will accept.

SAMS: Do you think lifting the ban on the LTTE is necessary to achieve peace?

Raviraj: In my view yes it is necessary… You know why? Because first of all, you cannot put LTTE as a terrorist organization because the Sri Lankan government has committed serious state terrorist acts which were not considered by any of the international community… I can list them for you.

In the last election 2001… there are people who are living in uncontrolled areas. Those people are also Tamil people. They came to vote in these elections in Vanni district and in the Batticaloa district too and the orders were given to the security forces not to allow them. Thousands of Tamil people were denied to vote. Don’t you think it was an act of state terrorism?

SAMS: The LTTE have also committed acts that are also considered Terrorism?

Raviraj: My argument is this now when you think about a problem you must think on both sides. And you must see the root cause of the problem before you could understand the problem. You must see why this problem has come. These are reasons for terrorism I say: Denial of Tami people’s voting rights is a recent act of state terrorism, number one. Then… I can list the acts of state terrorism that were being put on the Tamils since independence 1947 onwards. The acts of state terrorism are continuing on Tamils

SAMS : Do you agree with the tactics the LTTE use to defend their cause?

Raviraj: When there is an armed struggle I am not the person to say whether it is right or wrong but the fact remains the LTTE was created by the Sri Lankan government so when the original problem was not solved so how can you talk about the other things. And when you go and democratically protest you are arrested you are assaulted, thousands of people are in jail, languishing in prison, our leaders were assaulted, and that was the history. And how many peace accords and how many agreements we signed with the successive governments, but what happened? Nothing is implemented. So still we are in the same status.

SAMS: Do you think the international community is justified in calling the LTTE terrorists?

Raviraj: No, no it is not justified to ban the LTTE, because as I told you they forget the fact and they are not taking into consideration the acts of state terrorism committed by the successive Sri Lankan governments and nearly for thirty years the Tamils were struggling non violently. So therefore I feel that banning the LTTE is not justified… This is my personal opinion and I think is the opinion of most of the Tamil people.

SAMS: If the ban is lifted from the Tigers and they are included in the peace talks, how will countries who have deemed the tigers a terrorist group, react? Britain has deemed the tigers a terrorist group. How do you think the Western countries will react to the Tigers involvement in the peace talks?

Raviraj: I don’t think that any of the Western countries will off set the peace process although they have banned the LTTE in their countries. And they should not do that because for the interest of the Tamil nation I am asking, they should not do that. I don’t think they would do that. I think if at all a political solution is found, most of these problems will be solved.

SAMS: Do you think that the Tamil tigers can take on more than just a military persona within the peace talks?

Raviraj: It is not for me to answer this question. It is totally within the privy of the LTTE. I am not their spokesperson. What I feel is, in whatever form it may be, they should be consulted with any solution we are going to find.

SAMS: AI has asked them to look into a lot of the human rights concerns that were raised against the government? One of the suggestions was to implement a human rights task force, another was to publicly announce that the government is against human rights violations, but one of the big problems is the problem of impunity. Do you think the government will try to resolve that?

Raviraj: On AI’s recommendation there are human rights task forces constructed and there were various conferences on disappearances. Inquiries were taking place, but ultimately the outcome is nothing. The ultimate outcome is the Sri Lankan government has continued to do this kind of activities.

SAMS: Have any charges been laid in the Chemmani mass graves investigations?

Raviraj: No, nothing. All these commissions…some have given a report some have not given a report.

SAMS: Do you think any justice will be done for the families now?

Raviraj: No, not at all they are still suffering. 600 people disappeared and I met the families two weeks ago in Jaffna. They were asking, “what happened to our sons or daughters tell us”. The government is unable to give an answer but they did promote the commanding officer who was responsible for this.

SAMS: Do you think they have to address human rights violations in order to achieve peace?

Raviraj: Of course definitely they have to seriously think about these human rights violations and other kind of terrorism and they should stop that. Why Tamil people are treated differently? Their freedom of movement is restricted. If you want to get into peaceful negotiations, the Sri Lankan government should first address these issues.

SAMS: The Sri Lankan government says the ongoing conflict and restrictions like the PTA and the ER protect the Tamils against ongoing attacks from the Tigers. How do you respond to that?

Raviraj: I think that Sri Lanka was under emergency rule for more than twenty to thirty years. And we have this Prevention of Terrorism Act, a piece of legislation which was brought in 1977 as a temporary provision which has become the permanent law of the country. I don’t think that those two legislations helped anyone in the government curtail the situation, because it is what I mentioned earlier that without finding the root cause of the problem you cannot solve the other problems. Tamils want to live in Sri Lanka as equal citizens and they want their rights safeguarded.

SAMS: Do you think the new government will address the Prevention of Terrorism Act?

Raviraj: The present government is working on cease-fire agreement and I think they will continue to work on the other issues. So we have to wait and see. We are asking them to remove the Prevention of Terrorism act but you can’t expect things to happen overnight so you have to work for it.

SAMS: Do you think that Colombo based media organizations reported accurately during the elections?

Raviraj: Media that are functioning in Sri Lanka are not reporting actual facts because none of them have direct access to the northeast. Neither the northeast people have direct access. There are no e-mail facilities. We are talking about internet. There are no such facilities in Jaffna and in other parts of Sri Lanka. So this media which is based in Colombo or the southern part of Sri Lanka don’t give the correct version of what is happening and most of them are ignorant I should say. I know there are journalists who don’t really know what the mode of transport to Jaffna is.

SAMS: Do you think the removal of the embargo and restrictions are necessary for the peace process?

Raviraj: Definitely but it has not been totally removed, only partially. I think it should be removed totally…There are restrictions on fishing. The people are suffering just come and see the fishing community in Jaffna. How they are suffering, none of the media ever write about this.

SAMS: Has easing the embargo helped the areas that were previously affected? Have you already seen an improvement?

Raviraj: By having these embargoes for more than ten years, I don’t think it has served any purpose other than put the people into difficulties. Economic embargo has not served any purpose militarily or crushing the LTTE or the terrorism or whatever it is. It has only resulted in immense suffering for the people. This partial lifting will definitely ease the suffering.

SAMS: Do you think the fact that they’ve eased parts of the embargo is that an indication of things to come?

Raviraj: Of course, I look upon it in that way. And as a positive sign, a positive step on a confidence building mission.

SAMS: Have you met the Canadian High Commissioner Ruth Archibald?

Raviraj: Yes, as the mayor of Jaffna I have met her several times and she had visited Jaffna. She is only high commissioner who went to Vanni. And I really appreciated that because she went there rather than the sitting and talking or getting information in Colombo. She went there personally and she met the people and she knows what is really happening in that area.

SAMS: Do you think Canada should consider any role in Sri Lanka?

Raviraj: For many reasons. Many Tamil people are living in this country. Canada is a country, which has recognized the right of self-determination. What I am talking about is Quebec, Canada has given the chance for the people to decide. That is what self-determination and that is what the Tamils are asking, because they are a country that loves peace. Canada can definitely be an example.

SAMS: You think Canada will sympathize with the plight of the Tamil people

Raviraj: Of course. They have to be and I urge the Canadian government to pressurize the Sri Lankan government to recognize the right to self-determination and on that basis to find a solution to the ongoing ethnic problem.

SAMS: What is the role of the TRO in Sri Lanka?

Raviraj: I know they do a lot of work in the Vanni and in Jaffna.

SAMS: Has the TRO been diverting funds to the Tigers?

Raviraj: I don’t think so. They are doing good work there they are helping a lot of refugees, school children, orphans. I don’t see anything fishy there.

SAMS: Do you think the Tamil expatriate community is less likely to give to these organizations in light of media reports into their purpose?

Raviraj: The expatriates are living with the memories of their motherland and they really want to help their people. I don’t think there is anything wrong with that. People are economically in bad situation, there are no jobs, and the commodity prices are very high compared to other areas of Sri Lanka. With all these difficulties people are surviving because of these organizations and because of our people living abroad. They really look after their brothers and sisters who are living in the northeast. So I feel that kind of think should continue.

SAMS: How important is the expatriate community?

Raviraj: We have appealed to the expatriate’s community to unite and work with us to create an atmosphere where we can achieve our common objectives.

SAMS: What do you think India’s role in the peace process is?

Raviraj: I think India also has to play a very active role and the LTTE had a request that the peace talks be held in India. As a big country in South Asia I think they should help in whatever way possible.

SAMS: What role TNA should play in the peace process?

Raviraj: We have to voice for a common objective locally in the parliament and also internationally and we have to work for this and we should not obstruct to any of these process in anyway but we must see the process is being worked out and being taken forward. That is what our duty and that is what the people have requested us to do by electing us.

SAMS: What do you think the greatest obstacle for achieving peace at the moment?

Raviraj: They should lift the ban that is the main problem we face.

SAMS: After that?

Raviraj: The Sri Lankan government should recognize the right to self-determination for the Tamil people.

SAMS: What kind of political model do you think is necessary to find a solution?

Raviraj: Of course there are a lot of ideas on this issue. I think we should not commit on that at this time. If the LTTE comes into talks of course we will have to leave it to them and already our Tamil parties have submitted various proposals but definitely I am sure that any solution that is being found it should be based on right of self determination to Tamils and the traditional homeland of Tamils should be recognized and Tamils should be recognized as a nation.

SAMS: The peace talks have failed in the past. Do you think they have a chance this time around?

Raviraj: Well I am democratic politician and as a person I am always optimistic. So we have to see the future with an optimistic view, so I feel, I pray, and hope, that this time this should be a success. That is what we are working for, both internationally and within Sri Lanka, and we will give fullest cooperation to the Sri Lankan government as well as to anybody, especially the LTTE. And we will democratically work for this. I am only talking about the TNA. We will be working for this goal and we will be providing all the facilities enabling the talks to be held whatever the form it may be. Whatever the necessary help we will provide for them.

SAMS: What makes this time different than in previous times?

Raviraj: This time there is international pressure on both parties and this time Tamils have a united voice.