 |
|
|
|
| News Stories |
|
|
|
Home Mail2Lanka News Sports World Previous Stories |
Tigers using Vietnam model of negotiations will give armed forces a ‘send off’ — V. Balakumaran DailyMirror:With the talks, the Tigers have achieved international recognition. Everyone is competing to help them and those who earlier banned them are now considering de-proscription. This was stated in a speech delivered by V. Balakumaran (formerly known as V. Balakumar), a senior leader of the Tigers and one-time leader of the EROS, at the release of the book "Ini Vaanam Velichidum" ("Hereafter The Sky Will Be Clear"). The speech was delivered at the Suththananda Hall in Vavuniya on Jan. 11, 2003. This speech appeared in "ULAGA THAMILAR" published by World Tamil Movement, dated January 24 30 2003, Volume 443. The ‘World Tamil Movement’ is the Front Organization of the Tigers in Canada. Balakumar critically observed that "some people say ‘the Tigers have started to eat grass. The Tigers are asking for what the Federal Party asked in 1948. Now, the Americans have come. The Tigers can’t do anything. In addition, India is protecting. India is going to crush them.’ But we have become strong and over the years we have proved that nobody can defeat us through war. This is the fact. Some people are confused, without realizing this fact," he said. "Once Professor Sivathamby told me ‘You don’t have international recognition. Your voice does not have any respect in the world.’ Now the situation has changed. Kofi Annan is coming. Why is he coming? Who invited him? Today the Japanese, Akashi, has come to Kilinochichi. Everyone is competing to help us. Is this what you said that we do not have? So now you can see that we have got that recognition. Those who banned us are now considering the lifting of the ban." "Thalaivar (Our Leader) will always have a master plan. Nobody can understand our Leader. Even I cannot understand him. I accept that fact. His thoughts are becoming a reality. Everyone has contributed to this. We can only win when the time is correct. What we are doing now is diplomacy. It is a long process. Using this path we have to show the greatness of the Tamils to the world. If someone tries to do injustice to us during this peace period...what will happen if the Peace Process breaks down...? Will the Tigers eat grass....? You have to think. I cannot explain anything more than this! I have told once before, that we would have a feast for the Armed Forces, shake their hands and give them a send off. This is going to happen. What we told before has happened and this will happen too. Without realizing that we are trying to overcome the international political conspiracy, some are saying that we are making mistakes and we have given up our demand for a separate state. We are dealing with very dangerous friends. We are moving with enemies who are showing their love. Talks start at the end of war and war breaks at the end of talks. This is the rule of nature. But, there will be a solution only through talks. Talks on Vietnam went on for 15 years. Talks went on and on...for 15 years At the end of the talks they signed an agreement over Vietnam. They also got Nobel Prizes. The way things are going "Ranil Aiya" will also get a Nobel Prize. Vietnam got liberated after the winning of the Nobel Prize. We have gone for talks, depending on the circumstances and the need of the hour. If they resort to racism, we have the weapons ready, which they have given us. Please help us to tell the world the justness of our struggle. We are not protecting Ranil. Let them go to Nambiar and Michael Rose. We will go to Banu and Theephan" he added. Commenting on V. Balakumaran’s remarks, political analyst Dayan Jayatilleka said that they were highly significant and pertinent. He pointed out that the Paris Peace Talks between the USA and North Vietnam commenced in 1968 with the US withdrawing ground troops by 1973. Dr. Henry Kissinger, US Secretary of State, and Le Duc Tho, the top North Vietnamese negotiator, were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. While Dr. Kissinger accepted it, Le Duc Tho refused, asserting that ‘so long as imperialism existed, there would be wars’. By April 30 1975, the North Vietnamese leaders had achieved their goals of national liberation through a speedy and victorious military offensive. How the Americans were outwitted in the negotiations was detailed by Dr. Henry Kissinger in his memoirs, The White House Years. (02/02/03 go2lanka.com) |