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I’m committed to LTTE’s cause: Says Vaiko
By Frances Bulathsinghala in Tamil Nadu
Despite the bursting of the volcano which has perturbed the Tamil community and created a split in a guerrilla movement that was regarded as indivisible, one of Tamil Nadu’s most notable sympathisers of the LTTE says he still has faith in the organisation.

Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) leader V. Gopalasamy, better known as Vaiko, was arrested under anti-terrorism laws on July 11, 2002. The charge against him was that he spoke in support of the LTTE at a political meeting in Madurai. After two years in jail, he was released on bail last month, but his incarceration has not dampened his vociferous support for the LTTE and its Tamil ‘cause’. Neither has his faith in the LTTE as an organisation decreased.

His confinement seems to have injected new life into his party's political ambitions of defeating arch rival and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, leader of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, though he himself would not be contesting in the upcoming Indian elections.

“I contemplated. I read. I reassessed,” he says with a deep contemplative air that befits a philosopher than a politician, especially one who has a history of defending an organisation banned internationally, including India.

He begins the interview by saying "he has no reservations in speaking his mind". However, as the interview progresses he stops, creates a deep meditative look and says, "make sure that you note down the full story".

The full story according to the MDMK General Secretary: The Tigers are not terrorists. He has faith in the organisation which has built a solid base for the deliverance of the Tamils. The killing of the Indian Prime Minister is "one separate incident". He does not justify acts of terrorism. The President of Sri Lanka is an "arrogant fascist", an opinion he has apparently developed after her party entered into an alliance with the JVP.

The ‘full story’ continues: He will continue to raise his voice for the Tamils in Sri Lanka and Tamils the world over. The sympathy for the Sri Lankan Tamils smoulder in the hearts of the people of Tamil Nadu. He would canvass widely to better the international image of the LTTE.

His voting for the Prevention of Terrorism Act in 2002 was a ‘mistake’ as was his joining the National Democratic Alliance, a coalition headed by the BJP in 1999. What Vaiko apparently sees as the ‘burning threat in the subcontinent’ is the United States which he accuses of trying to monopolise Sri Lanka. "America and China," according to Vaiko "are trying to get a hold of the country."

Excerpts from the interview:
Q. How do you view the LTTE and its leader Velupillai Prabhakaran?
A. He is a liberator. They are not terrorists. They are not indulging in any terrorist activities in India now.

Q. Do you then justify the assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, husband of Congress Party leader Sonia Ghandi, with whom you are in an alliance now?
A. No. I do not justify it. But that is a separate incident.

Q. If the LTTE achieves its dream homeland in Sri Lanka, what impact will it make on the Tamils in Tamil Nadu?
A. There is no connection between the Tamils in Sri Lanka and the Tamils in India except for the blood bond that we share. We will heave a sigh of relief when the Tamils of Sri Lanka can live in ‘honour and dignity’.
There is no comparison between the Eelam Tamils and the Tamils of Tamil Nadu. India is a democratic country where the aspirations of people of all regions in India are met equally.

Q. Could you specify what you mean by ‘honour’ and ‘dignity’ ?
A. Autonomy. Their right to governance.

Q. But they are trying to achieve it through violence, killing both the Tamil and Sinhala politicians who are opposed to them?
A. The LTTE has been accepted by the Tamil political parties.

Q. But this acceptance is largely due to the gun power they wield.
A. This is the propaganda of the ‘Sinhala stooges’. We have to judge them on their activities at present.

Q. You could be accused of just paying lip service to Prabhakaran as you voted for the POTA when you were with the Vajpayee Government?
A. Spending two years in prison cannot be called lip service. I was compelled to vote for the POTA as a political commitment. This is an act that I regret as I regret the political alliance with the BJP.

Q. You were part of the Vajpayee government, then why did you not take up the Sri Lanka Tamil issue and fight for the lifting of the ban?
A. I have done so within my limitations. I am still committed to this. I will tour the world if I have to, to see that the ban is lifted.

Past does not matter
Although the MDMK is in an alliance with Mutuvel Karunanidhi’s Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Sonia Gandhi’s Congress Party – a seemingly embarrassing union since Sonia was widowed by Prabhakaran in 1991 and Karunanidhi was dismissed for his alliance with Prabhakaran in 1990 – for the MDMK general secretary, there is nothing embarrassing about this political union.

He says the past does not matter and he will not shelve the Sri Lankan Tamil cause despite the threat that the continuous dabbling with the LTTE could once again mean prison seclusion.

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