The full text of his speech is as follows:
Comrades, today the crisis in our country has taken a very acute form in the north. The barbaric war conducted by the government against the Tamil nation has come to the point where well over hundred thousand Tamil people surrounded by the army. And defiantly the Tamils are resisting and it is claimed that the army is also getting severe damages.
In spite of that, the Mahinda regime is pressing the armed forces to move foreword to crash the rebellion of the Tamil people and to kill leaders of the LTTE. But, the task still seems to be impossible. Because the army is moving in spite facing severe damages, so much so that it is claimed that the government has shown their own dead people as the deaths of the LTTE.
It has come to point somewhat like the struggle of the Jews in Warsaw Ghettos during the Second World War. The German Jews defiantly fought and fought until all were massacred. Is that the situation being created in our country? Are the world powers waiting to see that all these Tamils are massacred by the Sinhalese forces? Is their no way out?
The view of the NSSP and the Left Front is that the world working class movement and the democratic movements as well should put pressure on world powers to see that this massacre does not go further, and some peace negotiations must start right away with an immediate ceasefire.
We have been campaigning for a ceasefire for a long period. But the fact that India, America, Japan and other countries are seamed forcefully behind the government, giving everything the government wants, including arms and ammunitions. So the government is adamant and carries on the barbaric war and wants to finish off the Tamil rebellion.
The Tamils are rebelling because they have been deprived of their democratic rights in the last half century. At the beginning they protested and used mass agitation to arrive at a solution. But the consecutive Sinhalese governments since independence continuously attacked them and their peaceful demonstrations were suppressed. Even though some parliamentary seats were obtained by Tamil people and these representatives unitarily demand that devolution of power must be established with regional powers to the Tamil Homeland in the North and East. But nothing happened. At last Tamil youth come out with arms, because, there were no democratic way-out for Tamil aspirations. Then at the end of the 1980’s there was an attempt was made to offer a solution by J.R. Jayewardene – the President at that time – where he established provincial council to cover the north and East. But, because of the pressures within and outside of the government, the racist pressure and the pressure of the Sinhala chauvinist rebellions this was abandoned. Even the 13th amendment which gave some powers to provincial councils was not implemented properly. Powers were not given. So much so even the EPRLF chief minister found it impossible to carry on and he himself declared independence for the North and East and ran away to India.
And while this is the history it is sad but true that Indian ruling class is still behind the government in this repression. That is very clear, without their support; in no way can Mahinda does all these repressive actions. Not only are the members of LTTE, all others who are associated with the Tamil struggle too assassinated.
So many people have been suppressed. Even the Sinhala media personal that came forward to expose the reality of the war are being either killed or forced to run away from the country. Continuously media people have been harassed. The Mahinda regime wants to suppress the truth of the Tamil struggle and the cruelty of the war.
Hence, we appeal to the world working class and the democratic forces to rice up and pressurize their governments, not to support the repressive measures of the Mahinda regime. It is s crime against humanity.
There is a similarity between the Muslims in Gaza Strip and Tamils in the North and East. Both people are deprived of their human rights. And when they advocate for human rights they are attacked. And that gives justification to the armed uprising of the Tamil people. Neither LTTE nor any other armed groups rise simply because they love to do violence. It is not the need of the Tamil people. The continuous harassments, the violation of human rights and the attack on day to day life have given rise to the armed uprising. This armed uprising of the Tamil people cannot be eliminated by military means.
They can attack and kill Tamils. But, generations and generations either through military methods or guerrilla warfare, the armed struggle will continue until the government of Sri Lanka - not only the Sri Lankan government but also the other countries - must agree that the Tamils have the right to be free. If there are for a united country it must be done only through voluntary basis. On the basis that the Tamils voluntarily agree to live with the Sinhala people. Unless that is achieved there is no way that the country can be maintained as a united country.
We of the NSSP and Left Front continuously appeal to the Tamils, while fighting for their freedom, to be united with the working class in the south. And that is the basis to arrive at a united country in the future.
But if the repression goes on, there is no other way than the Tamil people to aspire for freedom and separation. This aspiration of the Tamil people cannot be eliminated by military methods. More they kill more people will decide to separate. The only way they can unite the country is by appealing the Tamils to accept substantial devolution.
This campaign we have been doing for a long period. Since 1974, we stood for the rights of self-determination. At that time not a single person in Sri Lanka spoke of devolution. By continues fight we have been able to bring this discussion to the level where Sinhala governments started discussing devolution. Even this government while killing and removing all possibility of power sharing still maintain that they are for devolution. They say that because of the popular ideology created by us in the Sinhala society. That there is no way out for this problem except by the devolution is well accepted by the Sinhala community. Even warmongers in this government cannot openly say that they are against devolution.
So therefore there is a positive side that Sinhala people can be made to understand devolution of power. Sinhala people are mostly Buddhists. But, some Buddhist monks do not accept what originally Lord Buddha says about war instead they use some kind of diplomatic legal Buddhism send to Sri Lanka by Emperor Asoka. Lord Buddha, who remarked on war once, “The killer begets a killer. One who conquers becomes conquered. Victory follows defeat and defeat follows victory. But the wise keep away from any involvement in war”. The positive ideology on war is there.
But the reactionary government and Sinhala chauvinists, who are a small minority, are continuing this war and creating this situation. It is most unfortunate that India, America and other global powers are keeping this minority in power. This chauvinist minority are being kept in power simply because they wanted to grab resources in the North and East. The agenda of the world capitalist powers has been to grab resources in the North and East by making all the Tamil people refugees.
However, before finishing my speech, I must clearly comment on the suggestion put forward by the global powers that as a pre-requisite for ceasefire and peace, LTTE must drop there guns first. But, for a genuine ceasefire it is very clear that the oppressor should stop shooting first and drop his guns. Then only the victims can drop their guns. There is no way out to the LTTE could disarm, when Sinhala armed forces massively encroach on Tamil Homeland. It is the armed forces who must drop their guns and retreat to their barracks. Then only LTTE can stop firing and agree to a ceasefire.
The suggestion of LTTE stops firing and disarming themselves before the government stops their actions and aggression, is no way acceptable to the Sinhala working class, the NSSP and the Left Front. We demand that the oppressor should stop their attacks and aggression before the Tamil people could disarm themselves.
In the present crucial moment we appeal to all the left and progressive organizations, trade unions, intellectuals and the progressive media all over the world to give their support to immediate stoppage of war with a solution based on recognition of Tamil Nationhood, their Homeland, Autonomy and the right to self-determination