Translation of Heroes’ Day speech at the London Arena on 6 December, 2003
Published by Tamilnet on 7 December, 2003
We want a healthy relationship with India.
We will not act in anyway prejudicial to India’s geo-political, strategic and economic interests. We want to establish friendly relations with the Government of India. As such we are seeking a radical change in India’s attitude.
There cannot be a lasting solution to the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka without the involvement of the LTTE as we are the authentic representatives of the Tamil people.
If India wishes to play a significant role in the current peace process then she should not treat the LTTE as a hostile force. Both sides have made mistakes in the past. Let us put the past behind us and look forward. We urge India to adopt a new, creative approach and initiate friendly relations with our organisation.
The same parties that have been vehemently hostile to India in the past are now calling for (Delhi’s) military intervention in the ethnic conflict. They want to create a conflict between the LTTE and India and co-opt India into persecuting the Tamils.
We welcome the support of the international community in promoting a negotiated political settlement and in alleviating the suffering of our people, but we cannot accept the imposition of limits on the Tamil people’s political aspirations by them.
Our people alone must decide on their political status and destiny, not international actors.