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'India will have to recognize LTTE'

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The Rediff Interview | Tamil editor N Vithyatharan

October 17, 2006

N Vithyatharan is the editor of Jaffna's largest selling Tamil daily, Uthayan.

A few months ago, the man who has met elusive Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam supremo V Prabhakaran 'several times' in his jungle hideouts was urged by President Mahinda Rajapakse to convince the LTTE leader to resume the aborted peace talks. Prabhakaran refused.

Over 1,500 people have died in the violence that erupted since the talks broke down in April -- on Monday, October 16, an LTTE suicide bomber rammed a truck laden with explosives into a naval convoy, killing 92 sailors, perhaps the worst act of terrorism this year -- with the government and the LTTE accusing each other of reneging on the peace accord. Under intense international pressure, the two sides now seem to have tentatively agreed to resume talks.

In an exclusive interview with Managing Editor (National Affairs) Sheela Bhatt in Colombo recently, Vithyatharan explained the genesis of the crisis and defended Prabhakaran's struggle as a fight for freedom. He also argued that despite the LTTE being accused of killing former Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, India will have to get involved and ultimately recognise the LTTE leader as a political player.

Is it a war-like situation now?

Peace talks are completely off. Any moment we can expect the war.

What triggered the current phase of violence?

In the last election of November 2005, the Tamils by not participating allowed the Sinhalese to choose their leader to solve our problem. The Sinhalese have chosen a man who has the Sinhalese chauvinist hardline. He is not handling the peace process in a proper manner.

What were your expectations from President Rajpakse?

He should have adhered to the ceasefire agreement and should have started political negations with the LTTE directly.

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http://www.rediff.com/news/2006/oct/17inter.htm

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