Vinayagamoorthy Muralidaran also known as Karuna Amman – a former LTTE eastern commander and now Deputy Minister of Resettlement -- spoke to Daily Mirror online about Kumaran Pathmanathan alias KP and concerns about the resettlement process.


Q - What were the views of the Tamil Diaspora representatives who visited Sri Lanka on the invitation of the government and on former LTTE chief arms procurer KP?


A - There are many divisions in the Tamil Diaspora with one segment actively supporting the LTTE, another supporting the Tamil people and others supporting the Government. We encouraged the Diaspora to help with development. Before they visited the country and saw things for themselves they believed the negative propaganda of the LTTE. But now their attitudes are changing.
Only nine people KP invited. A lot of people other than whom he invited from the Tamil Diaspora visited Sri Lanka and I have also met some of the delegations. I have explained to them and we are in constant contact. Some of them initiated hotel projects. I have stressed to them that we needed job opportunities to the resettled people in the war affected areas. Not everyone can expect and secure government jobs. The diaspora should support us in terms of their donations. Relatives of most of the Vavuniya IDP’s are residing overseas and they should be able to help their people build houses at a minimum cost of Rs.500,000.


Q -- Will KP enter Sri Lankan Politics?


A -- That will not happen. There is no plan for him to enter politics. The Government has no plan of that. This issue was raised in the Parliament by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) who said that he was going to made the chief minister of the Northern Province. KP is not a politician and he will not become one. He is under custody and he supports the government while being in custody.
Politically KP had no power since he was the chief weapons procurer of the LTTE he held a lot of secrets which I’m sure the government has come to know. The LTTE has a lot of funds that is not solely controlled by KP. The funds are under organizations like the Tamil Reconciliation Organization, Hindu Organization and Tamil Movements to name a few and after the death of Prabhakaran these organizations might have refused to provide their funds to KP. These organizations play with a lot of money.


Q -- Was KP Useful to the Government?


A -- He couldn’t avoid. He had to provide the Government with all the information of the LTTE. I have not asked and I’m not interested about KP and what he has to tell. I don’t want to meet him. He was arrested by the Government and he is in the custody of Terrorist Investigation Department, Police and the Military investigation teams who are capable of extracting information from him. I don’t see the need for me to get involved.


Q -- India is reportedly donating 50,000 houses to the IDPs How many will be given to the Muslims and Tamils?


A -- We have not divided as to how much we will be donating to Tamil and Muslim areas. I requested 10,000 of the 50,000 houses that will be donated by India for the Eastern Province and the remaining to the Northern Province. Since I believe there are more people in the Mullaithivu camps who can be resettled if houses are built for them. Although I think in total we need around 18,000 houses for the Eastern Province.


Q - What do you think of the 13th Amendment to the constitution?


A -- It is a very good solution to the Tamil people. Even the President is interested in the 13th Amendment. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has told me that he needs to add to the 13th amendment. JVP blames the Government not to grant the 13th Amendment. We don’t need to talk about the unnecessary thing like the Police and Military power. What are we going to so with the Police power in those areas we are a small country. It is pointless. A lot of Tamil people are joining the Police and that issue is solved now.


Q -- You were seen having a Gala time at a Wedding on National television and on newspapers pictures which ran into controversy. What do you have to say about that?


A -- That is what the media exposed. We din’t go to the night club or behave in an indecent way. It was a wedding house and we were having fun with the music and the band. It is a small issue. President never pulled anyone up. I also saw it was reported on the newspapers. If we go to the weddings and act like robots then people will be afraid to approach and talk to us. We did not dance in the hot water as newspapers had carried.


Q -- What do you say to people who call you a traitor and to those who say you have blood on your hands?


A -- It was the LTTE hierarchy who called me a traitor. But most of the Tamil, Sinhala and Muslim people do not think so. Since I broke away from the LTTE. I quit the LTTE because Prabhakara was not interested in a solution and peace he avoided many peaceful solutions to our problem.


Q -- What do you say to people who think that you should be tried in court since General Sarath Fonseka is?


A -- I have also seen those posters of ‘Karuna Rajageta Fonseka Hirageta’ that is the work of the JVP. That is pointless propaganda since the General’s case is different to mine. I worked with the President and I didn’t become a traitor to him or go against him. Whereas Sarath Fonseka worked with the President and he divided from him that is a different case. The JVP cant compare him to me. The JVP has killed more than 80,000 people and they caused a lot of destruction. The United National Party (UNP) are very friendly with me. But I think the JVP has realized their mistake since it has been awhile since they accused me of things.


Q -- Do you think General Sarath Fonseka was charged with crime since he went against the President?


A -- Sarath Fonseka’s term as the Army Commander was twice extended by the President. I have never heard of any other President whose done so. Fonseka I think made a hasty decision to go against the President. Under the Presidents and Defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s guidance he implemented their plans.


Q -- This September will mark the 2th Anniversary of the Muslims evicted from Jaffna. As the Deputy Minister of Resettlement what have you done about it?


A -- There cases are little different. Most of them have permanently resettled in the Puttalam area. Some families don’t like to return to Jaffna but I encourage people with their deeds to reclaim their land as long as they have proper paper work.


Q -- Given that most people are deedless and lack of information at the land registry what will be their plight?


A -- I have asked the Government Agent to work with the Land Commission to sort out this problem. The aggrieved parties can easily find a solution to their problems meeting with the land commission. So far we haven’t received any complaints from the Jaffna Muslim areas. Mostly people have reclaimed their land peacefully. Although people from the areas like Kilinochchi have many problems since they don’t have any document to prove they own the land.


Q -- Will the Muslims that were evicted from Jaffna and are now resettled in the South have to forego their land before they reclaim land from the North?


A --If those IDP’s are receiving assistance from the Puttalam GA then they will not be entitled to the assistance of the Jaffna GA. But they can own land in Puttalam and Jaffna if they want to. Noone can stop them.


Q -- How is your relationship with the Eastern Province chief minister Pillayan?


A -- There is no problem with Pillayan. I think they leant their lesson at the past elections. They contested at the elections and failed. I don’t want to have a problem with him. My aim is to develop those areas and represent those people. We frequently meet at development meetings and discuss issues.


Q -- What was the Problem between you and Pillayan?


A -- The Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikkal (TMVP) party was created by me because I needed to have a political party. If I joined with the Government at the beginning the LTTE propaganda could have easily said that I’m a traitor and people also believed that. So I opened a political party to make the people understand my point and I achieved that. So later I wanted to join main stream politics. So I joined the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP).


Q -- Who do you represent and in future what area will you choose to be elected from?


A -- I can contest from anywhere and win. Even Colombo if I contest I can easily win. Specially the Sinhala people like me and also the Tamils. Muslims also like me since I closely worked with them. My area is Batticaloa but I have not worked only for them I try to provide my services to Vavuniya, Mullaithivu, Tricomalee and Kilinochchi. My responsibility is to resettle the People. We have enough funds.


Q -- A large amount of LTTE suspects and even the cadres that broke away with you are held in Prison. What will be their plight?


A -- The president has an idea of giving them a public amnesty and that is why the government has so far not filed any cases against them. There are some 14,000 persons who have surrendered to the Army or taken by them. Of which 4000 people have been released are receiving vocational training in the rehabilitation camps. The hardcore LTTE cadres are now being rehabilitated and released while the suspected LTTE supporters are in prison for four to 10 years. I have held discussions with Justice Minister D.E.W Gunasekara and I have asked him to speed the cases or release them.