6 November 2021 12:00 am Views - 395
Akhila Ilankai Tamil Mahasabha, a political party registered in Sri Lanka, said the government should not have talks with the Tamil Diaspora groups that funded the LTTE in its war.
Issuing a statement, its President K. Vigneswaran said his party welcomes the Statement issued by Foreign Minister Professor G.L. Peiris to the effect that the Government of Sri Lanka does not intend to have talks with the Tamil Diaspora groups for the purpose of resolving the problems of the Tamil people of Sri Lanka.
At the outset, all the Tamil political parties and the militant organisations including the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) supported the Indo Sri Lanka Agreement of July 1987. The 13th Amendment to the Constitution was the outcome of the Indo Sri Lanka Agreement. However, the LTTE was looking for some excuse to sabotage the Agreement. The fast unto death forced upon Thileepan was used by the LTTE to start the war against the Indo Sri Lanka Agreement and it was extended to the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. In October 1987, the LTTE began its war against the Indo Sri Lanka Agreement and Devolution of Powers. While this war was raging in North-East Sri Lanka, the Government of India pleaded with the then Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) which was headed by Appapillai Amirthalingum, to contest the elections to the merged North-East Province and to take over its administration. But the TULF comprising the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi and the All Ceylon Tamil Congress, backed out due to mortal fear of the LTTE. The Eelam People’s Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF) came forward to contest the election and to administer the NorthEast Provincial Council. However, the war funded by the Tamil Diaspora groups did not cease.
The LTTE’s war was directed not only against the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) but also against the North-East Provincial Council that was attempting to implement the devolution of powers contained in the 13th Amendment. In March 1989, the LTTE formed a cozy relationship with the Government of President Premadasa. The LTTE went one step further and obtained weapons from President Premadasa himself to fight against the devolution of powers. It was during this short honeymoon that the LTTE killed the TULF leader Amirthalingum and Member of Parliament Yogeswaran. These killings eventually paved the way for Rajavarothiam Sampanthan to take over the leadership of the TULF. In March 1990, the IPKF departed in keeping with the policies of Indian Prime Minister V.P. Singh. After the departure of the IPKF, in May 1990, the LTTE went on to attack President Premadasa’s armed forces. The LTTE continued the war with funds provided by the Tamil Diaspora groups. The Tamil Diaspora groups are guilty of having funded the war against the Devolution of Powers The Tamil Diaspora groups continued to fund the war by the LTTE and made sure that the North- East Provincial Council had a natural death. -Dr. K. Vigneswaran