— Photo: K. Pichumani

Anandasangaree

CHENNAI: The Indian model of Centre-State ties is best suited for Sri Lanka, according to Tamil United Liberation Front president V. Anandasangaree.

He said the Indian model satisfied those opposed to the idea of a federal constitution and also those against a unitary type of constitution.

"First and foremost you [Indians] do not call it federal or unitary. A lot of people in our country are allergic to the one word [federal] or the other [unitary]," he said in an interview on Wednesday.

Mr. Anadasangaree said his proposal had found widespread acceptance among the Tamils, the Sinhalese and senior Buddhist monks.

"I have also written to the [Sri Lankan] President, Mahinda Rajapakse, LTTE leader V. Prabakaran and many other leaders, including the representatives of diplomatic missions in Sri Lanka."

Widely articulated

He said his views had been articulated widely in both English and Sinhalese media. "The Tamil papers do not publish any of my statements under threat [from the LTTE]."

The reactions suggested that many wanted to consider the proposal and have a re-look at the ethnic problem.

"Everyone is opposed to a division of the country... The Indian model will be welcomed by the people and Government of Tamil Nadu, and will also silence Tamil Nadu politicians, such as Vaiko [Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary], P. Nedumaran [Tamil Nationalist Movement leader] and Thol. Thirumavalavan [Dalit Panthers of India general secretary], who do not have full knowledge of the ground situation. They have no moral right to demand more powers for the regions in Sri Lanka than what they have in their own State of Tamil Nadu."

"They only gain time"

Pointing out his proposal would not be accepted by the LTTE, he said: "Their agenda is entirely different although they keep saying they want to talk. This is only to gain time. They will never fall in line."

Mr. Anandasangaree said he wanted the Sri Lankan Government to come out with a peace proposal on its own or based on his ideas. This should be discussed by all sections and adopted.

"Liberate people from LTTE"

On the failure of the latest round of negotiations between the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE, he said there was a feeling that merely by bringing the LTTE to the negotiating table, the issue could be solved.

He said, "If you ask me, the problem for the people living in LTTE-controlled areas is the LTTE [itself]. I have told the Sri Lankan leaders to liberate the people from the LTTE."

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