டேய் என்னடா இது தலைப்பு எண்டு யாரும் என்ன விரட்ட முயற்சிக்காதேயுங்கொ. நான் இப்பதான் சிங்களம் படிக்க முயற்சி எடுக்கிறன். இப்ப புதுசா கிடைச்ச சிங்கள நண்பனிட்ட கோமத அவுறுது (எப்பிடி புத்தாண்டு) என்டு கேக்குறத்துக்கு பதிலா வாய்தடுமாறி, இப்படி சொல்லிப்போட்டன். இதுக்குதான் நம்ம முன்னோர் வெள்ளனவே சொல்லி போட்டினம் தனக்கென்டா சிங்களம் பிரடிக்கு சேதம் எண்டு. ஆனா என்ன செய்யிறது TCCட ஏக பிரதிநிதி லண்டன் பாபாவில இருந்து உலகதமிழர் பேரவை என்டு சொல்லுற மூண்டு பேர் கோண்ட அமைப்பின்ட பேச்சாளர் வரை இப்ப சிங்களத்தில தான் பஞ்சு டயலக் விடுறீனம். அந்த காச்சல் எனக்கும் தொத்தி பொட்டுது. இப்ப நான் விசயத்துக்கு வாறன்.
காலத்தால எழும்பி மின்னஞ்சல திறந்தா, உலகதமிழர் பேரவையின்ர பேச்சாளர் சுரேன் சுரேன்திரனிட்ட இருந்து ஒரு மின்னஞ்சல். என்ன விசயம் எண்டு பாத்தா, ‘தன்ன திவயின என்ட சிங்கள பத்திரிகை கலைச்சு கலைச்சு பேட்டி எடுத்தவையாம்’ எண்டு அதே பளய புலூடா. எனக்கு வடிவேல் படத்தில சொன்ன ‘ வரலாறு முக்கியம் அமைச்சரே’ என்ட பஞ்சு வசனம்தான் ஞாபகம் வந்திச்சு. இவையெல்லாம் தங்கள புலம்பெயர் தமிழ் மக்களின்ட பிரதிநிதிகள் எண்டா, எங்கட கோமணம் எல்லாம் அவிளத்தான்செய்யும். எனக்கு வந்த மின்னஞ்சல நீங்களும் வாசிச்சு பாருங்க.
Q: Is there a deadline for setting up of war crimes court?
Yes, there is as far as I know. Hon Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera announced in September at the UN Human Rights Council that he will consult all stakeholders on setting up of the accountability mechanism by end of February 16. The resolution co sponsored by Sri Lanka also calls upon the Government of Sri Lanka to give the Council a verbal report on progress at the June 16 session.
Q:Will you (GTF) appear before it?
GTF will fully co-operate with the UNHRC resolution. However, it is the victims and their statements along with the witnesses including the various military, government and other civil service personnel, remaining LTTE members, photographic, video and other evidences that will be key to be examined by this special court. Remember over 290,000 people came out of the war zone at the end of the fight. Most are still living. All of them were direct witnesses. Crimes committed post end of war in May 2009, has even more victims and witnesses.
Q:Do you (GTF as well as other org which represent the interests of Tamil people living in SL and overseas) want 100 per cent implementation of Geneva resolution approved on Sept. 30?
Beyond whether the GTF and other organisations want full implementation of the resolution, it is Government of Sri Lanka’s responsibility and by co-sponsoring the resolution, it’s her commitment to the UN and wider international community, to implement the resolution in full. It is humanity’s obligation to the tens of thousands of victims to ensure justice is served, after all which is what the resolution is trying to achieve. Remember there are victims of crime from all communities in Sri Lanka, including the military who had thousands disappeared during the war.
Q: What GTF’s relationship with the TNA?
We are two separate entities. GTF has a friendly, healthy and cordial working relationship with the TNA which includes the elected representatives of our people in Sri Lanka.
Q: TNA refused to field ex-LTTE cadres on its Aug. 17 parliamentary polls nomination lists. Did TNA consult GTF before the decision was made?
Of course, not! Like I said in my earlier answer, TNA and GTF are two separate entities. We have separate decision making bodies.
Q: Paranagama Commission proposed international technical assistance and observer status for countries, thereby ruled out international judges, including Commonwealth judges. What is your position?
GTF fully supports the resolution passed by the UNHRC in September 2015, which incidentally was also co-sponsored by the Government of Sri Lanka. The resolution calls for international judges, prosecutors, lawyers and other international specialists to be included in the accountability mechanism.
Q:Former President CBK recently declared that the proposed war crimes probe would focus on the top chain of command of SL military. She asserted that those who ordered atrocities should be held accountable instead targeting those carried out orders. Please comment on CBK’s statement.
I believe that is a widely shared notion.
Q: Can you compare Sierra Leone war crime probe and the proposed investigation in SL.
I am not a war crimes expert, however from what I know I realise that in Sri Lanka during and after the war many and various crimes were committed by both sides breaching numerous local and international laws.
Q:Finally, who backed GTF’s struggle which led to the Sept 30 Geneva resolution and the role played by foreign and local media?
GTF is an umbrella body representing various country organisations. To create awareness of the plight of Tamil people in Sri Lanka and to resolve their issues we proactively engage international and local media, other governments from countries where a large number of Tamil people live, international human rights and other organisations.
Q: Did you receive local (Sri Lanka) media coverage and backing to propagate your stand before Jan 8 revolution?
Yes, we did but it was strictly limited to a very few English print media including The Island. There was never a possibility of GTF being interviewed in the State media outlets like The Daily News or the Rupavahini. There were never any opportunity given to us by any Sinhala media outlets be it print, voice and visual. Any coverage of GTF or any Tamil Diaspora news on these state media were either false propaganda or at best manipulated heavily to portray a negative image of GTF. However, since 8 January 2015, the space for freedom of expression in Sri Lanka has changed dramatically. Even state media outlets like the Rupavahini and Daily News report on GTF and have given space and coverage for us to air our views. They are also reflected accurately. This is however, my first Sinhala print media interview. We are very grateful for this and hope that this types of engagement with the Sinhala people will continue.
Q. and on the international scene, what GTF’s stand on the UK joining US, European bombing campaign targeting Syria?
GTF is a Sri Lankan Tamil Diaspora organisation that only concerns itself with issues related to Tamils in Sri Lanka. GTF is absolutely committed to a non-violent agenda and it seeks a lasting peace in Sri Lanka, based on justice, reconciliation and a negotiated political settlement.