LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran for the first time on behalf of the BBC.
LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran for the first time on behalf of the BBC.
An Indian media has published an interview with senior journalist Anandhi Suriyaprakasath, who met and interviewed LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran for the first time on behalf of the BBC.
As soon as I left London for Colombo, the Sri Lankan government began to harass me. They started questioning me about my travel plans and the purpose of my trip. They also kept me under constant surveillance. At that time, the Sri Lankan army was only in control of the area before Vavuniya. I went up to that point. After that, it was LTTE territory. There were various obstacles before I reached that area. I crossed all that and reached LTTE territory. Then I went to Yarlpanam. That is where Prabhakaran was at that time.
There was only one restaurant in Yarlpanam at that time, Gnanam. I took a room there. After taking a bath, I planned to inform the LTTE. It was right for me to come and take a bath and get a knock on the door.
When I opened it, S. Tamilselvan and some LTTE members were standing there. They were asking about me. I was surprised. The information I had received had already reached them. From this, I was able to understand one thing clearly. The people of Eelam had faith in the LTTE. If someone new came, they would inform the LTTE.
-How was the meeting with Prabhakaran?
I went to meet Prabhakaran at his house. He came to the door and greeted me warmly. He was not always a serious person as many people think. He was easy-going. He even laughed at my jokes a few times. He cooked seafood like crab and prawns for me. He was a very kind man.
-How did he face the questions raised against him?
He welcomed the criticism. During the short-term peace talks between Chandrika and the LTTE, I went to the Vanni to meet Prabhakaran. I also went there to ask him a few questions. But after seeing the “Sencholai Children’s Home” that he had built there, a change occurred within me that I did not even recognize.
With what care Prabhakaran had built that home for children who had lost their parents! Only a man with humidity in his heart could build such a home. As soon as I saw that Sencholai Home, all the scum in my mind was washed away and I felt a new birth. After returning from the Vanni, I produced a program on Sencholai for the BBC and titled it “I stood at the temple where my god lives.”
Prabhakaran is a miraculous being. I did not understand what charm he had. When I met him in person, I thought that this is the national leader of such a big militant organization. He has a baby face.
(Translation by Tamilpriya)
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