'Viduthalai Puligal' An official periodical of the LTTE.

Yasser Arafat and Sinhala Chauvinism

The Sinhala state is trying it's level best to give the impression that international opinion is supportive of it's war to suppress the Tamil Eelam national liberation struggle.

Whenever world leaders or international diplomats express some subtle opinion about the war in the Island, the Sinhala chauvinists interpret it as a condemnation of the LTTE. This has always been the basis of the Sinhala chauvinists' propaganda.

Recently, the leader of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation and the President of Palestine,
Mr. Yasser Arafat visited Colombo, where he expressed various opinions about the LTTE and a solution to the national conflict in the Island. The Sinhala chauvinists picked up a single aspect from these opinions and interpreted them as anti-LTTE.

When Mr. Yasser Arafat was asked by a journalist, if he saw the LTTE as comparable to the PLO, his answer was "No. There is a big difference,". The Sinhala chauvinistic elements automatically interpreted this unassuming answer as a condemnation of the LTTE. They proclaimed that
Mr. Arafat had rejected the LTTE and the Tamil liberation struggle. They also declared that he had categorised the Palestinian liberation struggle as a national liberation struggle and Tamil Eelam liberation struggle as a terrorist one. These twisted interpretations and explanations are desperate efforts to discredit the Tamil Eelam liberation struggle.

In fact, Mr. Arafat's statement that there is big difference between both liberation organisations is quite true. His statement is not disputed by the LTTE.

Every liberation struggle in the world is unique and they all differ from each other. Every liberation organisation which is engaged in a liberation struggle defines it's policies and plans according to the historical context it find itself in. So, naturally, each organisation will differ from any other.
Mr. Arafat only explained this fact briefly.

At the same time Mr. Arafat expressed opinions in favour of the LTTE and indirectly dismissed the Sri Lanka government's anti- LTTE policy. He advised the Sri Lankan government that the war should be stopped and that the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE should talk to find a solution. He went even further and stated that he is prepared to mediate in any talks between the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE. By rejecting the Sri Lankan government's attempts to ignore the LTTE (by talking to the other groups) and advising it to talk to the LTTE, Mr. Arafat has implicitly recognised the LTTE as the true political leadership of the Tamil people.

However, the Sinhala state's foreign minister Kadirgamar humiliated Mr. Arafat by dismissing his advice and offer of mediation, in his presence.

During his Colombo visit, when asked "Will you advice the LTTE to give up arms?", Mr. Arafat did not give the answer the Sinhala chauvinists had hoped for. He merely said, "LTTE should follow the path of peace".

Hence, Mr. Arafat who came to Colombo as the guest of the Sinhala government stressed that talks should be held with the LTTE. By doing so, he has recognised the LTTE as the Tamil people's liberation movement. He has also dismissed the Sri Lankan government's condition that the LTTE should hand over its arms. By doing so, he has recognised the LTTE's armed struggle. These are the bare facts.

The Sinhala government has distorted these facts and rejected them. Mr. Yasser Arafat's opinions were honest and neutral. The LTTE respects his desire to stop the war and to bring peace though talks. The LTTE also welcomes his stand that he is prepared to mediate between the LTTE and the Sri Lankan government. However, it has become clear that by rejecting Mr. Arafat's constructive advice for a peaceful solution, that the Chandrika regime has expressed its desire to proceed with its military option, with the cry of "War for peace", regardless.

As a whole, the opinions expressed by Mr. Yasser Arafat about the conflict in the Island are completely supportive of Tamil people's liberation struggle.