It is very unfortunate that the LTTE’s negotiating team that went to Geneva for Talks has returned without achieving any thing. But this is no surprise to me since I expected this. As often said by me the LTTE has now proved to the International Community that they are not at all interested in finding a solution to the ethnic issue for a variety of reasons. The first and the foremost one being, if and when a solution is found what will happen to the LTTE Leaders and where will they go? Secondly, will the leaders have the same recognition from the International Community and will be visited by world leaders and Diplomats and whether they will enjoy power as they do now? Will the local leaders who wield so much of power derived from the LTTE Leadership and keeping the poor timid Tamil civilians under their strict control, tolerate being deprived of their Princely positions? In a situation like this, when the country is nearing a solution every one of them who will be affected in one way or the other will go all out to disrupt the peace process. That is exactly what had happened in Geneva - II. I wonder whether innocence or over confidence that took this big team of negotiators from the Government side, to Geneva. For the LTTE this is yet another excursion at some body’s expense. I will not blame Mr. S P Thamilchelvan because before he left he honestly declared that they were going only to take up some humanitarian issues including the opening of the A – 9 Road. On this occasion the TNA Members of Parliament also had the courage to make a humble written appeal to Mr. Thamilchelvan signed by their 22 Members, to take up the issue of opening the A – 9 Road, because the poor Tamils of Jaffna are being starved to death deliberately by the Government. This is on the 3rd Month of the closure of the A – 9 Road. During the crucial period not a single MP was in Jaffna. They were all in Tamil Naad. Many organisations and individuals brought to the notice of the Government the various shortages and the Government promptly did every thing possible, inspite of the threat of the LTTE that they will not take the responsibility of giving protection to the ships. They even prevented the ICRC also from giving any assistance. The Tamil Community should take their hats off to those sailors who ventured to Navigate the ships carrying cargo to Jaffna, at grave risk to their lives.
The International Community has its own agencies to gather information and will not be mislead by certain media that black out the true position. The LTTE should take the full responsibility for the shortage of food in Jaffna. Another matter brought to my notice is that the Presidents of some MPCSs appointed by the LTTE, direct many items to the private trade on the sly to be sold in the black-market. Surely the LTTE can put a stop to this black-market business. If the LTTE is really feeling for the people, they can refrain from objecting to the ICRC flying its flag on the ships to Jaffna.
The A – 9 Road which is a vital land route to Jaffna and the only land route too, was kept closed for more than a decade by the LTTE, which had no right to keep it closed. How many valuable lives were lost during that period? Even a civilian plane with 44 passengers and the entire crew perished. The closure of this road is causing immense hardships for the civilians. I plead that the A – 9 Road should be opened to the traffic forthwith and while opening the A – 9 Road the LTTE also should simultaneous announce that they will not levy any tax on any goods and humans taken to Jaffna by the A – 9 Road.
The LTTE clamouring for the opening of A – 9 Road is not genuinely in the interest of the People. Within three months the people who used the A – 9 Road would not have forgotten the illegal, unjustifiable and exorbitant rate of tax collected by the LTTE. There is no provision in the CFA to levy any tax or toll. It will be beneficial for the International Community to know of the illegal activities of the LTTE on the A – 9 Road. Gift items like toys, shirts, saris, Chocolate, Apples were not spared. Even religious statues and idols were also taxed.
1. Every vehicle had to pay a tax to cross the LTTE area.
2. Every passenger had to pay transit tax.
3. Almost all new items were taxed.
4. Every vehicle transporting goods has to unload and reload at least at three points and the cost of labour is passed on to the consumer. This is why Jaffna products are costlier than imported products. The TNA MP shedding crocodile tears for the farmers should know this.
5. New and old vehicles, TV sets, Radio sets, classified as Luxury items were heavily taxed.
6. Those who fled the country and returning to see their relations had to pay heavy amounts with arrears for not contributing to the LTTE fund regularly in their country of residence. Failure to do so resulted in the withholding of their Passports till the amount is paid.
7. Those who flew to Jaffna direct without using the A- 9 Road, within 24 hours of their reaching the destination the LTTE Tax collectors were there to collect the Tax dues.
When they closed business for the day, several gunny bags of currency notes were taken to their Head Quarters. This is the main grievance of the LTTE and of the TNA MPP too. They have not mentioned any one of the above charges or explained the same.
If the LTTE assures free flow of goods into Jaffna without any tax levied and with the promise of no more abductions on the A – 9 Road and stop attacks at Muhamalai defence line, I don’t see any reason why the Government should keep the Muhamalai point closed. Within hours of the LTTE agreeing the Government should act promptly.
At this juncture I humbly appeal to the LTTE to have sympathy on the poor people who had suffered beyond limits of tolerance and face realities. The Norwegian facilitator has very clearly said in his opening speech at Geneva that any solution will have to be found within a United Sri Lanka and also under a Federal Constitution as agreed to in the Oslo and Tokyo declarations. This clearly shows that Mr. Eric Solheim had also reflected the opinion of the International Community. This is also the view of the Indian Government. Mr. Gopalaswamy, Mr. Nedumaran and Mr. Thirumavalavan can’t ask for more for us then what is there for them, in the Indian Constitution. In Geneva the Government team too had given a hint about their new thinking. The UNP and the SLFP are genuinely interested in a solution and the UNP is not after portfolios as accused by Mr. Thamilchelvan. The LTTE should not get the advice of half-baked lawyers and Politicians. There are many spread all over the world to advice them as to what is best in the present situation. The LTTE is bound to accept such advice.
If the LTTE has any love for the Tamil people whom Mr. Thamilchelvan often refer to as ‘our people’, they must without delay openly declare their willingness to give up their demand for separation and to agree for a federal solution within a United Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan people whether they are Sinhalese, Tamils or Muslims and the International Community will very much welcome it and Peace will be restored in Sri Lanka.
MR. THAMILCHELVAN MUST STOP BEATING THE WAR-DRUM.
V. Anandasangaree,
President – TULF.
The International Community has its own agencies to gather information and will not be mislead by certain media that black out the true position. The LTTE should take the full responsibility for the shortage of food in Jaffna. Another matter brought to my notice is that the Presidents of some MPCSs appointed by the LTTE, direct many items to the private trade on the sly to be sold in the black-market. Surely the LTTE can put a stop to this black-market business. If the LTTE is really feeling for the people, they can refrain from objecting to the ICRC flying its flag on the ships to Jaffna.
The A – 9 Road which is a vital land route to Jaffna and the only land route too, was kept closed for more than a decade by the LTTE, which had no right to keep it closed. How many valuable lives were lost during that period? Even a civilian plane with 44 passengers and the entire crew perished. The closure of this road is causing immense hardships for the civilians. I plead that the A – 9 Road should be opened to the traffic forthwith and while opening the A – 9 Road the LTTE also should simultaneous announce that they will not levy any tax on any goods and humans taken to Jaffna by the A – 9 Road.
The LTTE clamouring for the opening of A – 9 Road is not genuinely in the interest of the People. Within three months the people who used the A – 9 Road would not have forgotten the illegal, unjustifiable and exorbitant rate of tax collected by the LTTE. There is no provision in the CFA to levy any tax or toll. It will be beneficial for the International Community to know of the illegal activities of the LTTE on the A – 9 Road. Gift items like toys, shirts, saris, Chocolate, Apples were not spared. Even religious statues and idols were also taxed.
1. Every vehicle had to pay a tax to cross the LTTE area.
2. Every passenger had to pay transit tax.
3. Almost all new items were taxed.
4. Every vehicle transporting goods has to unload and reload at least at three points and the cost of labour is passed on to the consumer. This is why Jaffna products are costlier than imported products. The TNA MP shedding crocodile tears for the farmers should know this.
5. New and old vehicles, TV sets, Radio sets, classified as Luxury items were heavily taxed.
6. Those who fled the country and returning to see their relations had to pay heavy amounts with arrears for not contributing to the LTTE fund regularly in their country of residence. Failure to do so resulted in the withholding of their Passports till the amount is paid.
7. Those who flew to Jaffna direct without using the A- 9 Road, within 24 hours of their reaching the destination the LTTE Tax collectors were there to collect the Tax dues.
When they closed business for the day, several gunny bags of currency notes were taken to their Head Quarters. This is the main grievance of the LTTE and of the TNA MPP too. They have not mentioned any one of the above charges or explained the same.
If the LTTE assures free flow of goods into Jaffna without any tax levied and with the promise of no more abductions on the A – 9 Road and stop attacks at Muhamalai defence line, I don’t see any reason why the Government should keep the Muhamalai point closed. Within hours of the LTTE agreeing the Government should act promptly.
At this juncture I humbly appeal to the LTTE to have sympathy on the poor people who had suffered beyond limits of tolerance and face realities. The Norwegian facilitator has very clearly said in his opening speech at Geneva that any solution will have to be found within a United Sri Lanka and also under a Federal Constitution as agreed to in the Oslo and Tokyo declarations. This clearly shows that Mr. Eric Solheim had also reflected the opinion of the International Community. This is also the view of the Indian Government. Mr. Gopalaswamy, Mr. Nedumaran and Mr. Thirumavalavan can’t ask for more for us then what is there for them, in the Indian Constitution. In Geneva the Government team too had given a hint about their new thinking. The UNP and the SLFP are genuinely interested in a solution and the UNP is not after portfolios as accused by Mr. Thamilchelvan. The LTTE should not get the advice of half-baked lawyers and Politicians. There are many spread all over the world to advice them as to what is best in the present situation. The LTTE is bound to accept such advice.
If the LTTE has any love for the Tamil people whom Mr. Thamilchelvan often refer to as ‘our people’, they must without delay openly declare their willingness to give up their demand for separation and to agree for a federal solution within a United Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan people whether they are Sinhalese, Tamils or Muslims and the International Community will very much welcome it and Peace will be restored in Sri Lanka.
MR. THAMILCHELVAN MUST STOP BEATING THE WAR-DRUM.
V. Anandasangaree,
President – TULF.
