Rajesh Ramachandran 
NDTV Transcript
22 November, 2006
Jaffna/Kilinochchi: In an exclusive interview to NDTV the political wing head of the LTTE, SP Thamilselvan claimed that the LTTE had nothing to do with the Rajiv Gandhi assassination. He demanded that the case should be further investigated. Also, the banned organisation is now seeking Indian support.
Are these signs of weakness or of a growing realisation that without Indian support Tamils in Sri Lanka will never be able to find a lasting solution?
They call themselves the forgotten people, their umbilical cord with Indian Tamils snapped. That was in 1991, after the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. The Tigers' biggest blunder the Tamils of Jaffna say, that led to their being dropped off the Tamil map.
But they stop short of attacking the LTTE, their sole protection in times of ethnic cleansing.
Seek India's intervention
Students ready to take on a larger role in Tamil politics plead for India to forgive and forget. 'It was a tragic incident. I mean the Rajiv Gandhi assassination. India should move ahead. Without Indian intervention there can never be a solution,' said a local.
Even people in authority like the Catholic Bishop of Jaffna ask for India to intervene again. 'Certainly by ourselves we can't achieve peace. We are a very small group of people, a minority. In other countries also peace was achieved by the intervention of international community,' said Bishop Dr Thomas Savundranayagam.
'For us the best country is India. It's our closest neighbour and culturally we are very much linked and lot of our people have taken refuge there. India must not be simply a spectator but must play an active role in bringing a lasting peace,' said Savundranayagam.
Public mood changed
The LTTE says that the public mood in India has changed and that it is in its favour now. The LTTE is seeking Indian support and is disassociating from Rajiv Gandhi's assassination.
"'We need the support of the Indian government and the people. They should recognise our struggle for liberation. We want to know whether we have been rightly accused of the murder of Rajiv Gandhi. The LTTE or the movement has never admitted to the murder. More details of that incident need to be examined," said Thamilselvan, Political Head, LTTE.
The LTTE does not want to appear weak by asking directly for Indian intervention but its also clear that their lost camaraderie with Indian Tamils remains deeply felt.
NDTV Transcript
22 November, 2006
Jaffna/Kilinochchi: In an exclusive interview to NDTV the political wing head of the LTTE, SP Thamilselvan claimed that the LTTE had nothing to do with the Rajiv Gandhi assassination. He demanded that the case should be further investigated. Also, the banned organisation is now seeking Indian support.
Are these signs of weakness or of a growing realisation that without Indian support Tamils in Sri Lanka will never be able to find a lasting solution?
They call themselves the forgotten people, their umbilical cord with Indian Tamils snapped. That was in 1991, after the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. The Tigers' biggest blunder the Tamils of Jaffna say, that led to their being dropped off the Tamil map.
But they stop short of attacking the LTTE, their sole protection in times of ethnic cleansing.
Seek India's intervention
Students ready to take on a larger role in Tamil politics plead for India to forgive and forget. 'It was a tragic incident. I mean the Rajiv Gandhi assassination. India should move ahead. Without Indian intervention there can never be a solution,' said a local.
Even people in authority like the Catholic Bishop of Jaffna ask for India to intervene again. 'Certainly by ourselves we can't achieve peace. We are a very small group of people, a minority. In other countries also peace was achieved by the intervention of international community,' said Bishop Dr Thomas Savundranayagam.
'For us the best country is India. It's our closest neighbour and culturally we are very much linked and lot of our people have taken refuge there. India must not be simply a spectator but must play an active role in bringing a lasting peace,' said Savundranayagam.
Public mood changed
The LTTE says that the public mood in India has changed and that it is in its favour now. The LTTE is seeking Indian support and is disassociating from Rajiv Gandhi's assassination.
"'We need the support of the Indian government and the people. They should recognise our struggle for liberation. We want to know whether we have been rightly accused of the murder of Rajiv Gandhi. The LTTE or the movement has never admitted to the murder. More details of that incident need to be examined," said Thamilselvan, Political Head, LTTE.
The LTTE does not want to appear weak by asking directly for Indian intervention but its also clear that their lost camaraderie with Indian Tamils remains deeply felt.
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