TNA Parliamentarian, Suresh Premachandran has accused the government of opting for a military solution and buying time to annihilate the Tamil people.

In an interview with The Sunday Leader, Premachandran said the government is making a mistake by believing it can solve the problem militarily and went on to charge that the Mahinda Rajapakse administration was the worst ever in independent Sri Lanka when it came to human rights violations.

Following are excerpts of the interview:

By Gamini Ruan 

Q: Why is the TNA unusually silent these days?

A: It is not silent. In fact a TNA delegation went to Europe and visited 12 states including Norway, Denmark, Italy, France, Germany, Poland, Finland and England, as well as the European Commission. We explained the ground situation, the government's military agenda, the current APRC meetings, and the Sri Lankan ruling party's proposals that talk about district level devolution. We also discussed human rights violations and humanitarian needs. All these things were explained to the international community. There were five of us - our Leader Sampanthan, G.G. Ponnambalam, Senathirajah, Selvarajah and myself.

We have also taken up these things in parliament at the adjournment motion last week, and about the security situation. The international community knows very well now that the Sri Lankan government has no intention of solving the ethnic problem through negotiations, and most of the countries are very disappointed and frustrated about Sri Lanka's attitude. We hope that they will take up this matter in the European Parliament. We will be taking up this matter again with the British Prime Minister and the relevant ministers. So the TNA is doing all it can to solve this problem, through political negotiations.

Q: Chief Government Whip Jeyaraj Fernandopulle has recently said that the TNA will never vote to defeat the government. Does that mean the TNA is happy with the current military operations and the government's approach to the ethnic issue?

A: I think Fernandopulle is living in another world. He may be aspiring to become prime minister, and so wants to show himself as being one of the hardcore Sinhala nationalists, which is why he is making so many statements against reputed international personalities. Even during the Colombo lodge evictions, Fernandopulle took a stand against the Tamil people, even though he is a Tamil speaking man. He seems to have inferred on his own that the TNA will not allow the government to be defeated.

This is definitely not true, and when the proper time comes, or the main opposition goes ahead with their plans, the Tamils and the TNA will not support the government. We are totally against the government's agenda, the military campaigns, and their attitude towards the APRC and other issues. The Tamils will not support the Sri Lankan government. Fernandopulle has to understand that.

Q: We have it on good authority that one of the TNA legislators, MP Sathasivam Kanagaratnam had told Fernandopulle that the TNA will not defeat the government. What do you have to say?

A: I do not think that can be a correct statement.

Q: If this is not true, can you explain why the TNA MPs are hardly in parliament? This has been so for the past few months.

A: As I earlier said, we have been on foreign visits such as the European tour I spoke of earlier. Some of our MPs have also gone to India to meet various Tamil political leaders in Tamil Nadu and other parts of India. Some of our MPs are also abroad because of the security problem. Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam and one or two others are out of the country because they fear for their lives.

Q: There is a perception that the TNA does not want a general election because the party would not be able to muster 22 seats it currently enjoys and also for the fear of the Karuna Group entering parliament. Can you comment?

A: Firstly we have to see if the government can be defeated. It is only if the government can be defeated that we have to talk about an election. The TNA is not afraid to face the Tamil people. The only problem is whether the government genuinely wants a free and fair election. Then the LTTE and all the government's paramilitary groups will have to be disarmed, allowing a free and fair election.

Q: All groups including Karuna's TMVP?

A: Yes. Everybody, whoever it may be. The international monitors must be there, monitoring each and every polling booth. Otherwise we are absolutely certain that not only the paramilitary groups, but the government itself will fill the ballot boxes. We know that very well from past experience, because the government just wants to be continuously in power, with their muscle power and armed forces. We know what they will get up to in the future. But before we talk about elections, I don't know whether the UNP is even in a position to defeat this government. The main opposition, including the TNA does not have enough votes in parliament to do this.

Q: So the TNA wants to defeat the government?

A: Yes, if the main opposition can mobilise a majority then the TNA will definitely take the proper steps at that time. Policy wise, the TNA is totally against the Sri Lankan government's policies. Both their military agenda and their political agenda. On the political front, they are talking of district level devolution. Militarily they are trying to destroy the LTTE and at the same time annihilate the Tamil population. In this situation, what steps should the Tamils take.

Q: Why did the TNA abstain from voting when an amendment to the CPC was passed, extending the period of detention for specific crimes from 24 to 48 hours? The provision can be liberally used against Tamils who are suspect.

A: As far as that bill is concerned, on our side, our parliamentarians spoke against the bill. We knew very well that they were going to pass it with the JVP also supporting that bill. But at the same time, when you look at the people in Vaharai, when the government was refusing to send food to the Tamil people there, not a single UNP MP spoke to support us. They didn't ask a single question in parliament about why the government was restricting food deliveries to the people of Vaharai. Of course the UNP also is playing a game. Whenever it is suitable for them they will support the Tamils.

This time the UNP must understand that if they want to have cooperation with the Tamil people they also have to understand what they are doing. So if the UNP is prepared to work with the Tamil parties, especially about the political problem and the Sri Lankan government's attitude, the TNA will take the necessary steps.

Q: But why did you not vote against that specific amendment, out of symbolic defiance if for no other reason or a matter of principle?

A: Well we spoke against the bill in parliament. If you look at it that way even the UNP sometimes supports the emergency bill. In a way this too is supporting the government to pass the emergency, despite the TNA always opposing the emergency. The UNP knows very well how the government is operating, and how the human rights violations are taking place, we should then ask the UNP why they are supporting the emergency.

Q: How does the TNA view the military operations by the government as a means to ending the ethnic conflict?

A: Not only this government, but all previous Sri Lankan governments also first make military mistakes, and only then choose to talk with the LTTE. Even J.R. Jayewardene thought he could crush the struggle. Even Premadasa thought he could crush the Tamils but ultimately negotiated with the LTTE. Even Chandrika tried to crush the LTTE, she couldn't do it, so she started talking with the LTTE. Now this fellow is also doing the same thing. I am sure that the government cannot wipe out the LTTE or the Tamil liberation movement militarily.

The only way the government can solve the problem is through negotiations. They have to stop the war, and talk with the LTTE or the Tamil leaders. If they think they can go ahead with their military agenda, and they can capture the LTTE areas, and take over the Northern Province, then definitely they are making a mistake. Unnecessarily, several hundred Tamil civilians will get killed, several hundred of the armed forces will get killed. Is the Sri Lankan government prepared to lose unnecessarily the innocent Sri Lankan people from the farms and villages? They are the ones who are in the armed forces.

The government is not going to solve this problem militarily. Even if you take the east, the war is still going on. STF officers are still getting killed. Even in a recent incident, about eight or nine STF officers were killed in Kadithuricharai. Everyday there are land mine operations, and killings are taking place. The government says, 'we have taken over the entire Eastern Province, and it is totally under our control.' Granted, the armed forces may be spread all over the Eastern Province, but still the LTTE is there, the armed forces are getting killed, and the police are getting killed. It is not possible to find a military solution.

Q: The LTTE too has been unusually quiet in recent months. Is it due to being weakened by the military offensives and that the LTTE is no longer in a position to pose a serious threat to the government security forces?

A: That is a question for the LTTE, I'm not the LTTE's military spokesman. I think the LTTE will strike when they feel it is necessary.

Q: The budget is due in November. How will the TNA vote? And how many members of your party are likely to be present in parliament at voting time?

A: The TNA is always against the budget, in every government. Whenever the government is under emergency, or giving enormous amounts of funds to the military and defence budgets, the TNA will vote against the budget. We have always done this, and it won't change.

Q: The reason I asked is the recent statement by Jeyaraj Fernandopulle?

A: Fernandopulle is playing to the gallery. He has a fear that the Sinhalese might label him as a Tamil, which is why he comes off as a strong Sinhala nationalist. That's why he is saying such nonsense. Actually we are not taking his word seriously.

Q: How serious a threat is the Karuna Group to the TNA, especially in the east?

A: The security of our parliamentarians is very important. Definitely our MPs are scared, not only of the Karuna Group but also of the other paramilitary organisations. Our MPs could not go meet the people, and do their jobs as elected representatives. They tried to get the proper security for their political activities, but the government did not lift a finger to help. So they are confined to their quarters.

If this was a democratic government they should provide the elected MPs adequate security to perform their political activities. They are not doing it. In that sense, our people are very scared of that, we cannot deny that. We are scared of the Karuna Group and the other groups working with the Sri Lanka Army.

Even recently, an EPDP member was killed by Karuna's men. Tomorrow one of our MPs may be killed and the government can blame Karuna, who can blame the EPDP, because all of these people are openly carrying weapons.

Even the military high command in the east has admitted that the Karuna Group is working with the army in the east, and that they are carrying weapons. Not only in the east but even in the north, in Jaffna and Vavuniya. You cannot have a free and fair election without disarming all these groups.

Q: Would you say the human rights situation in the north-east has improved during the recent past? If not why?

A: This is one of the crucial issues we took up on our visit to Europe. Several hundred Tamil people have been abducted and there are so many extra-judicial killings. So many Tamil businessmen have been taken away and released for ransom. It has now become clear that these people who have been arrested were working with the armed forces. We could see that most of the Tamil business people are running away from Sri Lanka. In a way the government is chasing away the Tamil business people.

The TNA is very concerned about the human rights situation and we have taken all steps available to us. The present government doesn't feel that this is a human rights situation but it is part of the war. Any Tamil person can be killed. Anyone can be abducted  or attacked without reason. In Jaffna more than 120 people have gone to hide at the Human Rights Commission because they are scared to be anywhere else.

Q: How much worse is the current human rights problem compared to other times since the 1950's?

A: This is definitely the worst ever. Not even J.R. Jayewardene, Premadasa or Chandrika were like this. There were violations, but mostly these were private issues, with hooligans and extremists. But here, an elected government is using its armed forces and using their paramilitary groups to enable the abduction and killing of so many hundreds of Tamil civilians and businessmen. This has never happened under any other government. This is the worst.

Q: Do you see any solution to the ethnic conflict emerging through the APRC?

A: I don't think so. If anyone says something will come out of the APRC that will be a miracle. The government's proposal to the APRC talks of district level devolution or decentralisation. Even the Bandaranaike-Chelvanayagam pact signed in the 1950's was better than this proposal. Mahinda Rajapakse has gone back in time over 50 years. If the Tamil people want a separate state, you must offer at least a viable alternative. The government is not willing to even do this.

Even when the APRC came up with a viable framework that we all agreed on, what happened? The government asked Hon. Tissa Vitharana to put aside the package, and nobody talks about that. The present APRC also wanted to come out with another package, but before it came out, the government stopped it. Now if a new proposal comes out, we won't accept it as it will certainly be a watered down one. The government just wants time to annihilate the Tamil people, so they appoint these committees as a stalling tactic, to deceive the international community. But now they, the international community, know what is happening with the APRC, so they cannot be fooled any more.

Q: There is currently a debate on the unitary character of the Sri Lankan state with the SLFP, JVP and the JHU wanting to retain this while others oppose it. Will the TNA accept a solution that defines the character of the state to be unitary?

A: The Bandaranaike-Chelvanayagam pact was abrogated by Bandaranaike, not Chelvanayagam. Then of course, the Indo-Lanka Accord, where a government party went to the Supreme Court and got the Northern and Eastern Provinces demerged. I strongly feel the government is strengthening the cause for a separate state for Tamils.

All their activities polarise the people. The Tamils get spontaneously evicted from the capital; there is aerial bombardment and multi-barrel rocket artillery shelling in populated areas. In that situation how can the Tamils feel safe? If Ranil Wickremesinghe comes out with a proper alternative, maybe. I do not know whether he is in a position to topple the government, or whether there will be elections.

Q: You criticised the UNP's recent actions in opposition, but what was your experience with them while they were in government, while the ceasefire was active?

A: Of course there was a ceasefire and the UNP was in power for two years. But the ceasefire had clauses that had to be fulfilled in certain time frames. The UNP failed to meet their obligations under the ceasefire despite being in power for two years. He had no control over the army and the defence establishment. It has happened in Ranil's time also. Even now when Ranil Wickremesinghe speaks in public meetings, he says that the government is not running the war properly. He is implying that he could handle the military operations more efficiently. He criticised the present defence secretary and wanted to bring Janaka Perera to that position. But if you ask any Tamil, Janaka Perera is the number one killer.

Q: The government is soon set to come out with its final devolution proposals. What will be the TNA's suggested action on these proposals? Will you present them to the Tamil people only, or should they be the subject of a national referendum?