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by K. Godage

I called on Karikalan, the political leader of the LTTE in the Eastern Province, at his office in Kokadicholai in the Batticoloa District on 16th March.

Karikalan, a native of Kalawaanchikudi, (a village in the Batticoloa District), is in his mid forties. He had been a technical officer in the Buildings Department in Batticoloa and had resigned from service to join the movement in 1984. He is married to a medical Doctor who had passed out from the Jaffna University. She now serves the LTTE.

When I entered the premises where Karikalan's office was situated I found a number of persons there, some of whom appeared to be middle class persons. On inquiry it was revealed that they had come for various permits and to transact various other forms of government business. It soon became apparent that this was the actual seat of government of the District.

The GA was merely a rubber stamp. The man could not be blamed as one of his predecessors had been killed by the LTTE obviously for not having cooperated with them. The District Secretary of Vakarai had been imprisoned for 13 days by the LTTE for non-cooperation. He had subsequently been released and had fled to Colombo after having vacated his post.

Karikalan opened by stating that the government had been compelled to seek negotiations with the LTTE because they had realized that the LTTE was strong and could not be defeated militarily. He then referred to their unilateral cease-fire and stated that it was a major concession on their part.

When asked whether they were not seeking an interregnum because the international climate was hostile to them and further because they were themselves facing a difficult military situation compounded by the fact that they had difficulties in caring for the 320000 persons who were living in the area controlled by them in the Vanni, Karikalan avoided answering the question. Avoidance, evasion, and denial were very much a part of his armoury.

Referring to the Muslims of the EP, he stated that the threat which they perceived from a Tamil dominated Provincial Council and the LTTE was imaginary. He stated that language united them and it was only religion that separated them. He stated that a separate unit for the Muslims was difficult because of the settlement pattern in the province, "they do not have a contiguous area". He further stated "the Muslims should trust Prabhakaran. They must have faith in him, if he orders our cadres not to act against the Muslims they will not do so".

This statement of course begs the question as to what would happen if Prabhakaran orders his cadres to destroy the Muslims or to indulge in ethnic cleansing as they have in Mannar and Jaffna. (Karikalan stated that the Muslims were asked to leave Jaffna within 24 hours only for their own safety!, when asked as to whether they would be allowed to return, he stated "we can consider that after peace is restored".) Karikalan admitted that tensions existed between the Tamils and the Muslims. He stated that during the period that the late Ashraff was Minister he had prepared the Muslims for Jihad. He stated that the Muslims had stockpiled weapons in every village.

He further stated that Ashraff used his portfolio as Minister of Ports to smuggle in weapons to the Muslims. Karikalan stated that they were prepared for any eventuality and repeatedly stated that they were not prepared to agree to either a separate Muslim Provincial Council or to a Muslim unit within the North-East Provincial Council. He stated "We will create conditions under which the Muslims could practice their religion and further their culture". When asked whether the Muslims could be given the right of self-determination, he stated that this was not feasible.

Muslim leaders whom I interviewed in Pothuvil, Ampara, Batticoloa and Trincomalee districts were quite emphatic that just as much as the Tamils were aspiring to a form of self rule they too had the same aspirations and they did not want to be ruled by Tamils in a district where they were equal in number to the Tamils.

Another interesting aspect of this ethnic divide was the issue of land ownership.

Karikalan alleged that over the years Tamils had been dispossessed of their lands in many areas by Muslims who indulged in sharp trading practices. When asked as to what the LTTE intended to do about it, as to whether they would nationalize land, Karikalan's reply was, to say the least evasive. He stated that the Tamil youth wanted to get back the land that had been taken away by unscrupulous means. He followed that by saying "the Muslims will have equal rights". I see a most explosive situation developing.

On the matter of the Interim Provincial Council , Karikalan stated that the LTTE would participate in the Council if adequate powers were given to the Council. On the matter of adequate power he stated that these need not be spelled out because that would create tensions in the rest of the country. He further stated some people are allergic to certain concepts." The LTTE's participation in the interim Council would, he said, build confidence among the Sinhalese in the ability of the LTTE to run an administration. "The North East Provincial Council by its very creation recognizes the Homeland concept and the unity of the North-East" stated Karikalan.

When asked whether the LTTE would settle for less than Eelam.

Karikalan replied, "Eelam is an ideal", but did not expand on it. But he did say that they were prepared to accept a solution within a unitary Sri Lanka which assured them autonomy, "Tamils need self rule which will enable them to realize their aspirations", stated Karikalan.When asked to set out their minimum demand he stated "If you ask us we will say Eelam, it is up to the government to make an offer, which we will then consider" He further stated "the way the PM is working gives us hope".

I next referred to the complaints that the LTTE was extorting money from people, kidnapping children and taking people hostage for ransom and he stated "why are they talking about such matters now. They did not speak about it when the war was on. Now they speak of this to destroy the peace process.

When asked for a comment on the American Ambassador's statement, he stated America cannot threaten us. We cannot betray the 17000 who have martyred for the cause". He would speak no further about it but it would then appear, on the basis of his statement that they would continue with their efforts to reach their goal of Eelam.

When told that the international community was not to be trifled with and that Norway was only a front for the international community which included India and that the world had changed after September 11, he did not seem concerned at all.

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