Siddharthan appeals to International
community
by Gunarathinam Nehruji
Mr. Dharmalingam Siddharthan, president of the Peoples
Liberation organization of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) has
appealed to the International community to exert pressure
on the Sri Lankan government and Liberation Tigers of
Tamil Eelam to commence discussions on core issues of the
ethnic conflict instead of dragging their feet as in the past.
Mr. Siddharthan has also vehemently protested the labelling
of PLOTE by Mr. Balasingam during the Geneva talks and
expressed concern that the action had malicious intent of
painting those refusing to accept LTTE dominance as
collaborators.
Mr. Siddharthan it is learnt has sent these letters to a
number of envoys stationed in Colombo including the chief
diplomatic representatives of the USA, Britain, India, Japan,
Canada and EU.He has also outlined in brief the
acrimonious history of the Tamil militant groups with special
emphasis on PLOTE - LTTE relations.
The letter is as follows -Your Excellency,
MALICE A’FORETHOUGHT OF LTTE
It has become a habit for LTTE to portray and maliciously
blame all other Tamil parties time and again as traitors, fifth
columns or collaborators whenever there is a failure or
military defeats on their part or any other organization which
refuses to play second fiddle to them.
In the CFA(Cease-fire Agreement) document of Feb 2002,
the term "Paramilitary" was tossed in by the Norwegian and
LTTE, and endorsed by the then Srilankan government.
The term "Paramilitary" used in the CFA has been
misunderstood and often misinterpreted. Since CFA, pro-
LTTE medias use this term with malice a’forethought to
justify the killings by the LTTE.
After 30 years of war the LTTE has not won anything in
terms of self rule or the separate state it has promised or
had done nothing to reduce the hardship or enhance the
basic amenities to alleviate the suffering of the people, but it
is only obsessed with pursuing the agenda of factional
supremacy.
LTTE has once again demonstrated, in Geneva, that it will
continue to undermine the democratic rights of Tamil people
by trading it for its own survival and imposition of its fascist
rule over the Tamil people, with the connivance of Srilankan
government and Norway.
A duty is cast on me, as the president of PLOTE, to alleviate
any misconceptions created by the propaganda of LTTE to
undermine the reputation of our organization, among the
international community and to understand our political
goals.
In 1976, Tamil New Tigers(TNT) was restructured and
renamed as Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eealm(LTTE), and
late. Mr. Umamaheswaran was elected as the first head of
the LTTE.
In early 70’s the need for the Tamil armed militant
movements arouse as a result of armed oppressions of the
state. There were several individuals and groups took up to
the armed struggle. Prominent individuals among them were
‘Urumparai Sivakumaran’ and ‘Maanavar Peravai
Sathiyaseelan’. Small groups of young men organized
themselves into militant groups such as TNT, TELO, EROS
(EPRLF) and ‘Naaga Padai’(Cobra Force).
In 1980, due to some difference of opinion between
Umamaheswaran and Pirabakaran, there was a split in the
LTTE. They parted with the understanding that either of
them would not use the name. Mr. Umamaheswaran
organized People’s Liberation Organization of Tamileelam
(PLOTE). PLOTE involved in mobilizing the Tamil speaking
people with the aim of carry forward the struggle with the
mass participation, rather than an armed confrontation of an
armed militant group. We were unable to implement our
work-program, because huge quantities of our weapons
were confiscated by the custom officers of a foreign country
in Feb 1985.
With signing of Indo-Lanka accord of in 1987 and the arrival
of Indian Peace Keeping Forces(IPKF), all groups had to
surrender their weapons. We welcomed the Indo-Lanka
accord and surrendered the weapons believing IPKF would
guarantee the safety of our members. Since then we have
registered our political wing as a recognized political party
with the election commission of Srilanka and has been
continuing our struggle to win the rights of the Tamil people
through non-violent means.
Unfortunately LTTE, with the collaboration of Srilankan
Security Forces, started killings our members not only in the
NorthEast but in Colombo as well.In April 1989, with the help
of Srilankan Armed Forces LTTE kidnapped three of our
members (Mani, Kattayan and Gunaseelan) in Mount-
Lavaniya and subsequently dumped their bodies in Wattala.
And with the help of Chilawathurai Army, LTTE attacked one
of our base in Mullikulam(Mannar district) in June 1989. We
have eye-witness to the fact that three trucks loads of
weapons were supplied from Chilawathurai Army camp to
the LTTE at Agathiyarkulam for the purpose of attacking our
base in Mullikulam. A large number of our members
including some very senior members were killed in this
attack. In the same manner, our Musalkuththi base
(Vavuniya district) also attacked and many of our members
were killed.
Since the recognition of our party, we have our political
offices in all the districts of NorthEast and an office in
Colombo. These offices have been functioning for more
than fifteen years, with the exception of Jaffna office which
was opened in 1996.
In 1994 March Local Council elections, we won the Vavuniya
Urban Council and several Pradeshiya Sabhas in the
eastern province. In 1994 August General Election three
MPP were elected from Vanni district. In 1997 Jaffna district
Local Council election, we obtained 28% of the total votes
polled in Jaffna district and won two Urban Councils, two
Predeshiya sabhas and we were the opposition in Jaffna
Municipal Council.
It’s a well known fact that during our tenure as MPP and
Chairman of U.C, Vanni district(Govt controlled areas) had
the highest development program implemented in whole of
NorthEast. Vavuniya base Hospital, Vavuniya U.C Library,
Vavuniya Technical College, several school buildings stand
witness for this fact.
In Geneva, LTTE has claimed that they have found out
some top secrets about our dealings with Srilankan Forces
and incriminate us as paramilitary group and gave names of
our party district organizers as paramilitary group leaders.
There is nothing secret about our political offices or the
organizers. A large number of public visit these offices
regularly and discuss their problems with our organizers.
And, several foreign diplomats and foreign dignitaries have
visited these offices and discuss current political situations
and needs of the districts with our district leaders.
After signing CFA between the Srilankan government and
LTTE, we have handed over the weapons given to us for
our protection, on the guarantee of safety of our cadres by
the Srilankan government and the Norwegians.
Unfortunately they have let us down badly. Our cadres are
unarmed and helpless in the face of armed attacks by the
LTTE. Several of our unarmed political workers have been
killed/abducted by the LTTE during the period of cease-fire.
We have complained each and every violation by the LTTE
to the Security Forces, the Police and Srilanka Monitoring
Mission(SLMM). Unfortunately they have shown little or no
interest. I have personally complained to Hon. Eric Solhiem
about the abduction of our four members including Mr.
Sinnathamby Ganeshalingam@ Farook and requested him
to secure their release from LTTE.
The government has assigned police / military personals to
our offices for its protection. It’s obvious when Srilankan
Security Forces give protection , the military officers have to
have continuous dialog with our organizers or members to
ensure the security of our offices. Some of the names of the
military officers mentioned in the LTTE’s document we never
heard of.
The claim of LTTE that we are a Paramilitary group is
malice, unfounded and with the intention of getting tacit
approval of the international community to continue their
killings spree.
The Geneva talks very clearly shows that both the Srilankan
government and the LTTE are not interested in finding a
lasting solution for the Tamil problem. It seems both of them
are interested only in dragging the talks until they are
satisfied that they have achieved the military superiority.
We earnestly request you to use your good offices to put
adequate pressure on both Srilankan government and the
LTTE to start talking on the core issues with the aim of
finding a permanent solution.
Thanking you.
D. Sithadthan,
President of PLOTE
