LTTE seeks better ties with India
By Chris Kamalendran
The LTTE wants the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) to launch a campaign to improve relations with India in a bid to get the Indian government to change its attitude towards the Tigers. The instructions were given during a meeting between LTTE political wing leader S. P. Thamilselvan and TNA Parliamentarians in Kilinochchi on Wednesday.

Mr. Thamilselvan wanted the TNA members to refrain from any criticism of India in Parliament. TULF Vice President Mavai Senathiraja who attended the meeting told The Sunday Times they would be meeting Indian High Commissioner Nirupan Sen to explain the position to India.

The call from the LTTE follows comments by LTTE's theoretician Anton Balasingham asking the Indian government to rethink and re-orientate its approach towards the LTTE. Speaking at the Remembrance Day event in London, Mr. Balasingham said, "We (LTTE) will not act in anyway prejudicial to India's geo-political, strategic and economic interests. We want to establish friendly relations with the Government of India. As such we are seeking a radical change in India's attitude."

Mr. Balasingham speaking for the first time in a public event in more than six months said the LTTE wanted "a healthy relationship with India". "If India wishes to play a significant role in the current peace process then she should not treat the LTTE as a hostile force. Both sides have made mistakes in the past. Let us put the past behind us and look forward. We urge India to adopt a new, creative approach and initiate friendly relations with our organisation," Mr. Balasingham said.

All Ceylon Tamil Congress leader A. Vinayagamoorthy said that what the LTTE wanted from India was to understand LTTE's position. In a related development, the pro-LTTE Federation for Advancement of Tamils for Education in a letter addressed to Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee said India should recognize the right to internal self-determination and help restore normalcy in the north and east.

Back to Top

Back to News

Copyright © 2001 Wijeya Newspapers Ltd. All rights reserved.