For example:
Q: Taking from that, you said Sri Lanka should defend itself, whereas President Bush pursued the terrorists. The world is telling Sri Lanka to defend itself. Cannot we say that if we go to the root cause and pursue them, it would be much more effective?

 

A: I think it is dangerous to make comparisons between one country and the next. Every single country is different. In our case, the terrorists that we are pursuing are mostly stateless organizations like Al Queda that are not based in any single country. They are just out to kill as many Americans as possible, and there is really no point in trying to negotiate with them because they do not have any political objective to speak of. I think the LTTE, by contrast, though surely is pursuing terrorist objectives, has the ultimate political objective to establish some sort of framework where the rights of Tamils can be respected. So we believe that there cannot be a military solution to this, and that there has to be a negotiated settlement where the aspirations of all Sri Lankans; Tamils, Sinhalese, Muslims and others, can be respected.

I think it is dangerous to make comparisons between one country and the next. Every single country is different. In our case, the terrorists that we are pursuing are mostly stateless organizations like Al Queda that are not based in any single country. They are just out to kill as many Americans as possible, and there is really no point in trying to negotiate with them because they do not have any political objective to speak of. I think the LTTE, by contrast, though surely is pursuing terrorist objectives, has the ultimate political objective to establish some sort of framework where the rights of Tamils can be respected. So we believe that there cannot be a military solution to this, and that there has to be a negotiated settlement where the aspirations of all Sri Lankans; Tamils, Sinhalese, Muslims and others, can be respected.

Indeed, you are quite right about the LTTE for the first time. It does have a political agenda, and more importantly, your acknowledgement that the protection of Tamil rights is the ultimate goal and Hallmark of the LTTE quest for an independent state is the first by any Colombo based foreign ambassadors in recent times.

You may would have also continued in your observation since Tamil rights are paramount and currently suppressed that LTTE demand to an independent state can be easily neutralized by giving the Tamils the real self respect rights in Sri Lanka, which the successful Singhalese racists have oppressed for more than three decades.

Indeed, LTTE is a birth of such oppression; after all, LTTE is not from outer space and members of LTTE are fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters of a nation that have been oppressed. In addition, I was also thrilled to find the sharp differences that you hold between Al Queda and LTTE. You seem to be well read between cultural and religious killers and a liberation struggle. The latter has a political agenda of self-respect and freedom, which you seems to have distinguished very intelligently.

Furthermore, you are the first of any U.S. Representatives in recent times to indicate that the Al Queda wants to kill innocent American civilians and that the LTTE agenda is to kill the oppressors.

Q: Does it not bring a much more serious threat to the region, not only to Sri Lanka?

 

A: I do not think so. I think the LTTE has been very careful about confining their operations to Sri Lanka because they are aware of the fact that if they should do so if they not want to antagonize particularly neighbors like India. So they have been very careful and I think they have realized that one of the greatest strategical mistakes they made in their history was targeting Rajiv Gandhi.

I do not think so. I think the LTTE has been very careful about confining their operations to Sri Lanka because they are aware of the fact that if they should do so if they not want to antagonize particularly neighbors like India. So they have been very careful and I think they have realized that one of the greatest strategical mistakes they made in their history was targeting Rajiv Gandhi.

Here again, Mr. Ambassador, you seem to have the depth and understanding of the LTTE. Your contradict, in a positive light, some of the self-made anti-terrorism analysts in state departments and some law enforcement agencies which claim that LTTE interacts with other world terrorist organizations to bring new world order.

Indeed, you are right; LTTE's threat is local, only for the racist Sri Lankan government and to ruthless security forces. Concerning Mr. Rajiv Gandhi's killing, only history will tell the rights and wrongs of any strategical mistakes. If Mr. Rajiv Gandhi's killing was a mistake you have rightly pointed out so.

Q: Would you recommend a Patriotic Act for Sri Lanka?

 

A: Well, every country is different. I do not want to start to prescribe how to do things. I think the Government has a good sense of where the LTTE is. Civil liberties, frankly, are already under strain here. So, I wouldn't want to suggest other things that might further imperil them.

Well, every country is different. I do not want to start to prescribe how to do things. I think the Government has a good sense of where the LTTE is. Civil liberties, frankly, are already under strain here. So, I wouldn't want to suggest other things that might further imperil them.

Once again you show your Harvard education quite readily Sir. Kudos to you, indeed Civil liberties do not exist in Sri Lanka.

For example, the so-called antiterrorism laws are quite notorious even in Taliban standards. Consequently, if you are a Tamil civilian, you can be killed by security forces without any question or reprimand for the armed forces. Thus, killing Tamil civilians has been similar to non-contact sports in the armed forces of Sri Lanka.

In conclusion, I have only one question for you sir, let's assume that all Tamils had just said, hell with LTTE, bunch of terrorists and asked the international community, specifically the United States of America, at what point will you agree for a peaceful separation of Sri Lanka and self determination of a Tamil nation? Or more simply, what will be the criteria for a peaceful separation of Sri Lanka and for the birth of the Tamil nation?

Sincerely,
Professor Aaron Rajah
San Diego, California, USA.