TGTE Prime Minister Says Tamil Eelam Is Still A Viable Solution
Pitasanna Shanmugathas
I conducted an interview with Visuvanathan Rudrakumaran—the Prime Minister of the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE). Mr. Rudrakumaran spoke in depth about the mission of the TGTE, viability of a separate homeland for the Tamil people, his work as the former legal advisor to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), and alleged human rights violations committed during the ethnic conflict.
I asked Mr.Rudrakumaran, why a separatist solution, in the eyes of the TGTE, still remains the most viable solution for the Tamil people.
Mr.Rudrakumaran responded by stating that “the Tamils constitute a nation” entrenched with objective factors such as a distinct language and distinct culture. Mr. Rudrakumaran, furthermore, asserted that based on the relationship Tamils have to a “definable historic homeland” it is the position of the TGTE that “Tamils do not constitute a minority but a nation.” Therefore, Mr. Rudrakumaran stated, “they [Tamils] are entitled to the right to self-determination.” Mr. Rudrakumaran cited the General Assembly resolution 2625 as evidence that the Tamils’ right to self-determination can be exercised in various forms including, “in the form of a federation or associative structure and also in the form of an establishment of an independent state.”
I asked Mr. Rudrakumaran what the TGTE has accomplished since its creation six years ago. Mr. Rudrakumaran stated that the TGTE has kept the aspirations of the Tamil people alive. On the 40th anniversary of the Vaddukoddai resolution, the TGTE held its commemoration across from the UN head office which Mr. Rudrakumaran added signified how the Tamil issue, because of the role played by the LTTE and the TGTE, “galvanized the international community.”
Adding to the accomplishments of the TGTE, Mr. Rudrakumaran stated that the TGTE has established a Monitoring and Accountability Panel (MAP), consisting of five individuals with international credentials, with a mandate to “monitor the design and mechanism of transitional justice in Sri Lanka” from a “victim’s perspective.” The MAP will ensure, according to Rudrakumaran, “whatever mechanisms proposed by the Sri Lankan government are in compliance with the human rights council resolution” and this mandate, Mr. Rudrakumaran added, is to “prevent any sham or show trials” which maybe orchestrated by the Sri Lankan government.
