By M Rama Rao - Reporting for Asian Tribune from New Delhi
New Delhi, 28 June (Asiantribune.com): 
Finally, LTTE has admitted to killing Rajiv Gandhi. The Tamil militant guerrilla's ideologue Anton Balasingham apologized to India. And he wants India to be magnanimous to put the past behind.
As the LTTE finds itself at cross roads once again, isolated and wounded, Balasingham says in so many words that they are looking towards India though he doesn't specify what type of help they are looking for. He claims that the relationship between India and LTTE is 'crucial' at the present juncture.
Talking to the NDTV, the LTTE's top ranking leader next to its chief Pirabhakaran, tried to bend backwards to seek India's forgiveness for the dastardly killing the Tigers had executed with the help of a suicide bomber at Sriperumbudur near Chennai in May 1991 as Rajiv Gandhi was on his come back trail as Prime Minister of India.
Said Balasingham, who is also the LTTE's chief negotiator, "
Anton Balasingham: I would say it (the assassination) was a great tragedy, a monumental historical tragedy.
He claimed that even Velupillai Pirabhakaran (Tigers' supremo) had termed the assassination a 'thunbiyal' (sorrowful event) in April 2002.
Asked if the LTTE could promise that it would not commit such acts again, Balasingham said, "We have made pledges to the Government of India that under no circumstances we will act against their interest."
Noting that India had 'played a detached role' in Sri Lankan affairs since the assassination, Balasingham said, "What we feel is India should be actively involved in the peace process. India has been silent for the last 15 years and has adopted a detached role. Now that there is possibility of war emerging, India has to face challenges and adopt a new foreign policy towards Sri Lanka for which the relationship between the LTTE and India is crucial."
Conceding in so many words that the LTTE would find the going tough to convince India of its bonafides, he said "I think we are prepared to build a new understanding, a new relationship with the Government of India provided India makes a positive gesture. Everything is now up to India because we have already pledged that we will never to do anything against the geo-political interest of India. If the past is put aside and a new approach sought, then there is the possibility of India playing a positive active role in bringing a resolution to this conflict".
Mr. Prabakaran at a press conference held on 10 April 2002, described the assassination of the late Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, as a ``tragic'' incident but refused to answer any more questions on it.
However, Balasingham made it clear that India cannot play the mediator's role as long as it keeps the LTTE outlawed. India had banned the LTTE as a terrorist organization in 1992 and Pirabhakaran is wanted in India for Rajiv Gandhi's assassination.
-Asian Tribune-
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