ID :
26767
Mon, 10/27/2008 - 09:48
Auther :
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http://m.oananews.org//node/26767
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India should lift ban on L.T.T.E., says Prabhakaran
T V Sriram
Colombo, Oct 26 (PTI) L.T.T.E. supremo V Prabhakaran has asked India to lift the ban on his outfit in order to "fulfil the aspirations of Tamil people," while admitting that Lankan forces have made inroads into the Tiger areas and were at the doorstep of their key town Kilinochchi.
"We expect that it (India) would lift the ban on our
organisation and support us to fulfil the long awaited
aspirations of the Tamil people," the 53-year old leader of
the L.T.T.E. said in an interview.
Conceding that security forces had closed in on the rebel
strongholds and had even entered key areas, Vellupillai
Prabhakaran, however, said capturing the Tigers administrative
capital Kilinochchi was still a distant dream for them.
"The Sri Lankan forces have entered parts of our homeland
and are stationed in close proximity to Kilinochchi town. But,
capturing Kilinochchi is just a day dream of (Sri Lankan
President Mahinda) Rajapaksa," he said.
In an e-mail interview to Chennai based Tamil Magazine
Nakkeeran, Prabhakaran hailed Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.
Karunanidhi's stand of seeking quick relief measures for the
displaced Tamils.
The L.T.T.E. leader also expressed dejection over
All Indian Anna Drvida Munnetra Kazhagam (A.I.A.D.M.K.)
leader J Jayalalitha distancing herself from the Tamil
problem, while praising other leaders of the state for taking
up the ethnic issue in the island state.
"Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Kalaignar is a Tamil
nationalist. He has not only voiced his concern against the
Sinhala state terrorism in Tamil Eelam, but has also showed it
in action.
"Today, it makes us happy to see him taking a stance in
support of the Tamils when they face untold sufferings. We
expect such support in the future as well," Prabhakaran said.
"Jayalalitha had also voiced her support. But, if she has
changed her stand now, what could we say about it," he said
replying to a query.
Showering praise on Tamil Nadu leaders taking up the
ethnic issue in Sri Lanka, Prabhakaran said the support "will
definitely give us more strength".
While accusing Sri Lankan forces of "carrying out
genocidal attacks on Tamils," Prabhakaran also claimed that
the military was facing "severe losses" due to the attacks
launched in Northern Sri Lanka.
"The forces are carrying out indiscriminate attacks on
civilian areas. More than 100,000 Tamils have fled their homes
and are continuously on the move as refugees, seeking safe
areas," he said.
"But capturing Kilinochchi is just a day dream of
Rajapaksa," he told the magazine.
The rebel leader said the Sri Lankan forces had attacked
the political headquarters of L.T.T.E., but that no damage was
was suffered.
"No one was there at the time of the attack," he said.
The L.T.T.E. chief also termed reports that India was
providing military equipment and training to the Sri Lankan
forces as "saddening".
"The media also reported to the world that Indian experts
were involved in providing training to operate the radar
instrument in Vavuniya, which is very saddening," Prabhakaran
said.
On whether he expected a change in the current
environment and any prospects for holding talks, Prabhakaran
said, "we can only expect such a situation depending on the
politics within the government and its military stance".
"We do not carry out attacks on innocent Sinhala
civilians. Ours is a liberation organisation fighting for the
liberation of the Tamil people. We have continuously called
upon the Indian political analysts and policy makers to
clearly understand this," he said.
On Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa's observation
that he (Prabhakaran) could be handed over to India, if he
surrenders or is captured, the L.T.T.E. supreme said, "this is
one of the many dreams of Rajapaksa".
Asserting that he was not living in bunkers, Prabhakaran
said, "We are living among the people, fighting for them and
carrying out our freedom struggle. It is a common phrase used
by the military during the last 30 years".
On whether he still persisted with the demand for a
separate nation for Sri Lankan Tamils, Prabhakaran said "the
Tamil people have at every election since 1977, indicated what
their political aspirations are. That would be the permanent
solution for the ethnic crisis". PTI T.V.S.
Colombo, Oct 26 (PTI) L.T.T.E. supremo V Prabhakaran has asked India to lift the ban on his outfit in order to "fulfil the aspirations of Tamil people," while admitting that Lankan forces have made inroads into the Tiger areas and were at the doorstep of their key town Kilinochchi.
"We expect that it (India) would lift the ban on our
organisation and support us to fulfil the long awaited
aspirations of the Tamil people," the 53-year old leader of
the L.T.T.E. said in an interview.
Conceding that security forces had closed in on the rebel
strongholds and had even entered key areas, Vellupillai
Prabhakaran, however, said capturing the Tigers administrative
capital Kilinochchi was still a distant dream for them.
"The Sri Lankan forces have entered parts of our homeland
and are stationed in close proximity to Kilinochchi town. But,
capturing Kilinochchi is just a day dream of (Sri Lankan
President Mahinda) Rajapaksa," he said.
In an e-mail interview to Chennai based Tamil Magazine
Nakkeeran, Prabhakaran hailed Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.
Karunanidhi's stand of seeking quick relief measures for the
displaced Tamils.
The L.T.T.E. leader also expressed dejection over
All Indian Anna Drvida Munnetra Kazhagam (A.I.A.D.M.K.)
leader J Jayalalitha distancing herself from the Tamil
problem, while praising other leaders of the state for taking
up the ethnic issue in the island state.
"Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Kalaignar is a Tamil
nationalist. He has not only voiced his concern against the
Sinhala state terrorism in Tamil Eelam, but has also showed it
in action.
"Today, it makes us happy to see him taking a stance in
support of the Tamils when they face untold sufferings. We
expect such support in the future as well," Prabhakaran said.
"Jayalalitha had also voiced her support. But, if she has
changed her stand now, what could we say about it," he said
replying to a query.
Showering praise on Tamil Nadu leaders taking up the
ethnic issue in Sri Lanka, Prabhakaran said the support "will
definitely give us more strength".
While accusing Sri Lankan forces of "carrying out
genocidal attacks on Tamils," Prabhakaran also claimed that
the military was facing "severe losses" due to the attacks
launched in Northern Sri Lanka.
"The forces are carrying out indiscriminate attacks on
civilian areas. More than 100,000 Tamils have fled their homes
and are continuously on the move as refugees, seeking safe
areas," he said.
"But capturing Kilinochchi is just a day dream of
Rajapaksa," he told the magazine.
The rebel leader said the Sri Lankan forces had attacked
the political headquarters of L.T.T.E., but that no damage was
was suffered.
"No one was there at the time of the attack," he said.
The L.T.T.E. chief also termed reports that India was
providing military equipment and training to the Sri Lankan
forces as "saddening".
"The media also reported to the world that Indian experts
were involved in providing training to operate the radar
instrument in Vavuniya, which is very saddening," Prabhakaran
said.
On whether he expected a change in the current
environment and any prospects for holding talks, Prabhakaran
said, "we can only expect such a situation depending on the
politics within the government and its military stance".
"We do not carry out attacks on innocent Sinhala
civilians. Ours is a liberation organisation fighting for the
liberation of the Tamil people. We have continuously called
upon the Indian political analysts and policy makers to
clearly understand this," he said.
On Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa's observation
that he (Prabhakaran) could be handed over to India, if he
surrenders or is captured, the L.T.T.E. supreme said, "this is
one of the many dreams of Rajapaksa".
Asserting that he was not living in bunkers, Prabhakaran
said, "We are living among the people, fighting for them and
carrying out our freedom struggle. It is a common phrase used
by the military during the last 30 years".
On whether he still persisted with the demand for a
separate nation for Sri Lankan Tamils, Prabhakaran said "the
Tamil people have at every election since 1977, indicated what
their political aspirations are. That would be the permanent
solution for the ethnic crisis". PTI T.V.S.
