Ltte Plitical leader B Nadesan's Interview with Tamilnadu New Paper .
English translation of the full interview:
Q: Kilinochchi which was under your control for ten years has now been captured by the Sri Lankan Army. Is this not a setback?
A: This is not the first time that Kilinochchi has been captured by the Lankan Army. We have retrieved Kilinochchi from the army several times and had it under our control for long periods. This is history. We do not see this as a setback.
Q: Why does the LTTE not retaliate in many places in this phase of war?
A: To withdraw is a war strategy to ensure minimum casualties.
Q: What does the Sri Lankan government want to achieve through this war?
A: The government wants to eliminate the entire Tamil race. But Eelam Tamils are not orphans; The most important message conveyed to this world and the Sri Lankan government is the seven crore Tamils of Tamilnadu will not remain mute spectators to the sufferings of Eelam Tamils
Q: Are you not upset that Prabhakaran’s dream city Kilinochchi has been attacked and captured?
A: We are of course upset. But only buildings have been affected. Our doors to liberation remains strong. We would retrieve the lands and construct our buildings. I would also like to mention that police department, banks and finance departments have been functioning despite being relocated.
Q: Where are the residents of Kilinochchi now?
A: They have relocated to safer places in Vanni. When situation is favourable to us, we would recapture Kilinochchi and let people live there.
Q: What do you feel about the sexual violations of Army men after disrobing the clothes of dead women cadres of LTTE?
A: The inhuman actions of the Army are only a reflection of the racist mind set of Sinhala government. The international community should recognize our struggle for liberation at least after witnessing such inhuman actions.
Q: What is the situation in areas under LTTE control?
A: Facing the consistent military actions and continuous relocations, our people hope to retrieve the lost lands. All our people have been making huge sacrifices for this cause.
Q: How do you react to the news on LTTE quarters and LTTE’s mental strength?
A: Our mental strength is the reason for this liberation struggle to form as the liberation struggle of the masses. This strength is the major reason for our consistent battles with the Sri Lankan Army for the past three decades.
Q: Do you agree that the loss of territories to the Army is because of their strength?
A: Sri Lanka is a government. Several countries have been rendering military and economic help to Sri Lanka. Ours is a liberation movement. Tamils are in minority when compared to the Sinhalese. The struggle is made possible because of the strength of our people and the moral support of Tamils across the world. It is only normal during a war to lose territories and retrieve them.
Q: You demand that the ban on LTTE be removed and its struggle for liberation be recognized. Is this possible?
A: The support rendered to our struggle by the global Tamil community in unison proves that it is possible.
Q: India seems closer to the Sri Lankan government than the LTTE.
A: This causes us deep anguish. We have been reiterating that India should understand its true friends are Tamils.
Q: It is said that several other countries have joined hands with Sri Lanka in this war.
A: This is entirely true. Several countries especially Pakistan and China have been sending ammunition to Sri Lanka by ships. This has been confirmed by media in Colombo.
Q: How do you think that India should intervene in Sri Lankan issue?
A: India should stop all military assistance to Sri Lankan Army and recognize our struggle for liberation.
Q: Sri Lanka’s air attacks and missile attacks have increased. How do people safeguard themselves?
A: For thirty years, our people have been facing the dangers of air attacks, shell bombings and other military actions. Our people are experienced in safeguarding themselves when they are subjected to the attacks of the military. Our life is a struggle. All our people from children to the elders are becoming experts in safeguarding themselves in this struggle. I would also like to point out that the government is using the internationally banned cluster bombs on our people.
Q: Was the relief material sent by people of Tamilnadu distributed in a fair way?
A: The relief material has been distributed through international Red Cross society functioning in our regions. They have been doing the distribution in a fair and complete way. Tamils are our umbilical cord relatives and this timely help will remain etched in our memory.
English translation of the full interview:
Q: Kilinochchi which was under your control for ten years has now been captured by the Sri Lankan Army. Is this not a setback?
A: This is not the first time that Kilinochchi has been captured by the Lankan Army. We have retrieved Kilinochchi from the army several times and had it under our control for long periods. This is history. We do not see this as a setback.
Q: Why does the LTTE not retaliate in many places in this phase of war?
A: To withdraw is a war strategy to ensure minimum casualties.
Q: What does the Sri Lankan government want to achieve through this war?
A: The government wants to eliminate the entire Tamil race. But Eelam Tamils are not orphans; The most important message conveyed to this world and the Sri Lankan government is the seven crore Tamils of Tamilnadu will not remain mute spectators to the sufferings of Eelam Tamils
Q: Are you not upset that Prabhakaran’s dream city Kilinochchi has been attacked and captured?
A: We are of course upset. But only buildings have been affected. Our doors to liberation remains strong. We would retrieve the lands and construct our buildings. I would also like to mention that police department, banks and finance departments have been functioning despite being relocated.
Q: Where are the residents of Kilinochchi now?
A: They have relocated to safer places in Vanni. When situation is favourable to us, we would recapture Kilinochchi and let people live there.
Q: What do you feel about the sexual violations of Army men after disrobing the clothes of dead women cadres of LTTE?
A: The inhuman actions of the Army are only a reflection of the racist mind set of Sinhala government. The international community should recognize our struggle for liberation at least after witnessing such inhuman actions.
Q: What is the situation in areas under LTTE control?
A: Facing the consistent military actions and continuous relocations, our people hope to retrieve the lost lands. All our people have been making huge sacrifices for this cause.
Q: How do you react to the news on LTTE quarters and LTTE’s mental strength?
A: Our mental strength is the reason for this liberation struggle to form as the liberation struggle of the masses. This strength is the major reason for our consistent battles with the Sri Lankan Army for the past three decades.
Q: Do you agree that the loss of territories to the Army is because of their strength?
A: Sri Lanka is a government. Several countries have been rendering military and economic help to Sri Lanka. Ours is a liberation movement. Tamils are in minority when compared to the Sinhalese. The struggle is made possible because of the strength of our people and the moral support of Tamils across the world. It is only normal during a war to lose territories and retrieve them.
Q: You demand that the ban on LTTE be removed and its struggle for liberation be recognized. Is this possible?
A: The support rendered to our struggle by the global Tamil community in unison proves that it is possible.
Q: India seems closer to the Sri Lankan government than the LTTE.
A: This causes us deep anguish. We have been reiterating that India should understand its true friends are Tamils.
Q: It is said that several other countries have joined hands with Sri Lanka in this war.
A: This is entirely true. Several countries especially Pakistan and China have been sending ammunition to Sri Lanka by ships. This has been confirmed by media in Colombo.
Q: How do you think that India should intervene in Sri Lankan issue?
A: India should stop all military assistance to Sri Lankan Army and recognize our struggle for liberation.
Q: Sri Lanka’s air attacks and missile attacks have increased. How do people safeguard themselves?
A: For thirty years, our people have been facing the dangers of air attacks, shell bombings and other military actions. Our people are experienced in safeguarding themselves when they are subjected to the attacks of the military. Our life is a struggle. All our people from children to the elders are becoming experts in safeguarding themselves in this struggle. I would also like to point out that the government is using the internationally banned cluster bombs on our people.
Q: Was the relief material sent by people of Tamilnadu distributed in a fair way?
A: The relief material has been distributed through international Red Cross society functioning in our regions. They have been doing the distribution in a fair and complete way. Tamils are our umbilical cord relatives and this timely help will remain etched in our memory.
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