EELAM THE ROAD AHEAD
N.Nandhivarman General Secretary Dravida Peravai, Pondicherry, India in an exclusive interview to TamilBrisbane.com
1.Question:
News reports state that Government of India had sent some proposals to
Srilankan Government for devolution of powers to States on the model of Indian
experience at the behest of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Kalaignar M.Karunanithi’s
initiative. What is your opinion?
q N.Nandhivarman:
If my memory is correct the advocacy of state autonomy is a brainchild of
Thamizh Arasu Kazhagam leader M.P.Sivagnanam. In the aftermath of Chinese
aggression in 1962 Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam led by Aringnar Anna gave up the
demand for separate Dravida Nadu and subscribed to state autonomy. In pursuance
of this goal within the parameters of Indian Constitution, The Government of
Tamil Nadu headed by Kalaignar M.Karunanithi constituted P.V.Rajamannar
Committee to study autonomy proposals, I think in 1969. On this committee’s
report DMK constituted an inner party committee headed by Murasoli Maran and
Era.Chezhian, both then Members of Parliament? At Anna Nagar, in 1970 DMK
organized a State Autonomy Conference headed by then Chief Minister Kalaignar
M.Karunanithi. Thirty-six years have gone since I as Student DMK leader handed
over the State Autonomy Torch in the hands of Kalaignar M.Karunanithi at that
conference. Later Sarkaria Commission recommended various measures in
furtherance of state autonomy demand. Murasoli Maran’s book on State Autonomy
must be read and compared with the practice prevailing in India. State Autonomy
still is a mirage we are chasing and we are suggesting that such a mirage will
quench the thirst of Eelam people.
q In
four decades what we in India had achieved for our States by way of autonomy?
Article 356, which empowers Indian Union Government to dismiss State
Governments, hangs over the head of every state Chief Minister. Even DMK for no
valid reason was dismissed twice misusing this provision. Shall I humbly ask
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister to touch his conscience and say whether the autonomy
Indian states have will satisfy Eelam Tamils? Or whether it is a worthy end
after sacrificing 70,000 Tamil lives in a civil war continuing for decades?
q
Scholars opine what
we have in India is “Asymmetric Federalism
in India” M.Govinda Rao and Nirvikar Singh in a
publication by University of California
focus on unequal arrangements and special treatment for some units within
Indian federalism. These scholars analyze the causes and consequences of
asymmetric federalism. Article 370, which gives special powers
to Jammu and Kashmir, is an example of asymmetric federalism. The asymmetric
arrangements in political, administrative and fiscal relations, asymmetric
arrangements arising from constitutional arrangements or conventions evolved
over the years and asymmetric treatment due to administrative and political
exigencies are also analyzed in that treatise. When we have asymmetric
federalism, is it correct to offer our model as a solution to Srilanka? I want
to ask Indian experts who have now let the cat out of the bag, as if it is a
new formula to solve Eelam ethnic crisis.
2.Question: What efforts you and your
party made in suggesting to resolve this conflict?
N.Nandhivarman:
We brought out a White paper on Srilankan Ethnic Conflict and on What India
should do towards conflict resolution on 9 th
May 2000. I presided over the seminar. Tamil Maanila Congress Vice
President Balaji Ex MLA, Vice President of PMK Thiru.P.Sankaran, Pondicherry
PMK Convener M.Manjini Ex MLA, Senthamizhar Iyakkam President N.M.Thamizh Mani,
Meenavar Vidhuthalai Vengaikal Convener R.Mangayarselvan, Samata Party State
President J.C.Manja, Freedom fighter D.K.Ramanujam Ex MLA, MDMK State Convener
S.Muthu Ex MLA, Janata Dal [Secular] State President M.Elango Ex MLA, Professor
Muthu Gunesekaran and Professor Lenin Thangappa participated in that open
debate on what India should do. It was widely reported in all newspapers.
In that white paper we said: We have
been hearing parrot like repetitive statements from policy framers of this country
that a political solution within the frame work of a unified nation is alone
the only panacea available to resolve the conflict between freedom fighters of
Tamil Eelam and the oppressive Sinhalese regime of Srilanka. We must go back in
our memory lane to find out what happened to 1] The Bandaranaike-SVJ
Selvanayagam Pact of 1957 2] Dudley Senanaike-SVJ Selvanayagam Pact of 1965 3]
Indo-Srilanka Accord 4] 13 th Amendment to Lankan Constitution in 1987 5] The
Democratic People Alliance proposals of 1988 6] The interim report of Mangala
Moonesinghe Parliamentary Select Committee of 1992 7] The Gamini Dissanayake
proposals contained in the UNP Manifesto of 1994 8} Draft proposals by
Chandrika Government etc.
Twenty-three initiatives between 1957
and 2000 had failed to yield any result. Yet Indian bureaucracy is trying to
mislead the Government that political solution is possible within the unitary
Constitution of Srilanka. India that cannot resolve Kashmir issue or for that
matter the question of sub-nationalism in India is now gearing itself to commit
another faux pas in its foreign policy.
This we told in our White Paper in 2000.
Situation is back to square one. Once again India advocates what in past had
failed to resolve the crisis.
3.Question:
What do you think will resolve the ethnic conflict?
N.Nandhivarman:
Well in our white papers concluding remark we stated “ Even in matrimony if
necessary divorce is one way of conflict resolution accepted in civilized
societies.” When both ethnic communities could not live together, divorce is
the best option.
4.Question:
A separate Eelam will be against India’s geo-political interests, it is
being argued. What would you like to say?
N.Nandhivarman:
The geo-political compulsions and theories woven around such out of tune
policies have lost their meaning and relevance in these days of globalization.
The geo-political compulsion that compelled India to create Bangladesh had not
served Indian interests anyway. Sharing of river waters with Bangladesh is
still a thorny issue. Some of our enclaves are even now within Bangladesh and
Bangladesh has its enclaves within Indian Territory. This minor territorial
adjustment itself could not be accomplished with Bangladesh, which India helped
to create. This does not mean it will be same with Eelam. I am only saying
humoring Srilanka will not further our geo-political interest. Every nation has
its own interest and there will be clash in interest whether it is with Eelam
or Unitary Srilanka.
5.Question: What India should do?
N.Nandhivarman:
New Zealand had shown the way. It sought United Nation intervention to decide
about the future of its last colony. This year people of Atoll of Atafu and
other tiny islands exercised their franchise to free themselves from colonial
rule. If around 644 persons could use ballot boxes to reach road towards
freedom, why not India, Norway and other countries urge for United Nations
sponsored referendum to decide the future of the people of Tamil Eelam. The
referendum whether people want to live under unitary Srilanka or under separate
Eelam must be held under the aegis of United Nations and the decision of the
people accepted.
6.Question:
Why everyone asks what India should do? Do you think world bodies like
United Nations have nothing to do?
N.Nandhivarman:
United Nations must accord same status, which they accorded to Palestine
Liberation organization to the freedom fighters of Tamil Eelam. Observer status
in United Nations for the representatives of Tamil Eelam is inevitable,
essential to take Tamils into confidence towards finding a lasting solution to
the ethnic divide and resultant demand for homelands.
7.Question: What
help India should do to the refugees and people stranded in Tamil Eelam ?
N.Nandhivarman:
Less than 10,000 people had reached Indian shores that too paying huge amount
to get a lift to shores of safety. Unable to afford, 150000 people are homeless
uprooted from their homes and are refugees in their own soil. India must seek
United Nations help to send Peace ships to Tamil Eelam areas to ferry refugees
to safety in Indian shores. All refugee camps must be brought under United
Nations Commissioner for Refugees or International Red Cross. United Nations
sponsored International Red Cross ships must be kept ready to give all treatment
to the wounded civilians, freedom fighters and anyone caught in the cross fire.
8.Question:
Your plans for a Eye Opening Seminar on Indian policies towards Eelam Struggle
seems to be running into rough weather?
N.Nandhivarman:
Venue and other hurdles posed by overenthusiastic bureaucracy will not deter us
in opening a public debate in North India about India’s foreign policy. It is
our view that for a true democracy to flourish wider public debate is need of
the hour. For lack of quorum many important debates in Indian Parliament has
few to contribute by way of inputs in ideas, hence people-debating issues is
healthy sign.
9.Question:
Tamil Nadu Parliament Members can play effective role in highlighting Tamils
issues, why they are lagging behind?
N.Nandhivarman:
John F.Kennedy won Pulitzer Prize for his book Profiles in Courage, which lists
out Parliamentarians who spoke against racial discrimination. Our Parliament
members try to write their profiles in courage and for that must seek more
freedom from their party bosses. At least on the line taken in Tamil Nadu
assembly, The Tamil Nadu Parliament members can echo the feelings of Tamil
people.
[ Interviewed by : Thiru N.J.Karthikeyan B.A.B.Ed,
B.L Former Sub-Editor: SUN NEWS Tamil
Chennai]
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