transcurrents

73 Comments Add your own

• 1. Castedeus  |  July 26th, 2007 at 11:53 am

  Dear Dr. Shander,

  The overall manner in which the Government of Sri Lanka has conducted its war is deplorable indeed. It should be the dream of every man, woman or child, regardless of race, class, caste or creed to live in peace and harmony, with the right to life, access to education, health-care, shelter, food and water. This should be the right of the Tamils and the SInghalese alike. As enshrined in the Declaration of 1948, it should be the right of every human being. It is bad enough to take a life. For a government to take the lives of its own innocent citizens, whether intended or collateral, is far worse. There has been little understanding as to the social impact of GOSL defence and security policy, especially under the present regime. There seems very little differentiation between combatants and non-combatants. An all-encompassing policy of capacity-building for northerners is completely lacking from Colombo’s present agenda. The recent ‘repatriation’ of northern Tamils from Colombo is testimony to the fact. Indeed it is regrettable that the island is now compared to Darfur. There is a lot that can be criticised and a lot that can be changed with regard to Colombo’s policies on the Tamil question. Indeed, as has been observed by others before, the LTTE is a creation of Colombo’s chauvinism of the past, not a catalyst for it.

  You capture the human perspective of the situation with feeling and rigour. You fail however, to mention the use of human shields which have often impelled Government forces towards the inflicting of collateral damage. You give little consideration or credit, for instance, to the account of Hoole, Somasundaram, Sritharan and Thiranagama in ‘The Broken Palmyrah.’ The authors have described how soft targets such as the Jaffna hospital, were used as cover by the LTTE when attacking Indian troops. The natural consequence was heavy collateral damage at the hands of the latter. You are perhaps unaware of the circumstances surrounding the death of Thiranagama, a Tamil herself. The same tactics as previously described, are often used by the LTTE against the GOSL. Recent reports have emerged of heavy LTTE artillery fire from the vicinity of the Madu Church. Your speech fails to consider such aspects.

  I have no doubt that your dream also harbours hope for the day when parents can rest assured that their children will not be conscripted and deployed on the battlefields at short notice. I share your dream: Colombo must do everything in its power to show the people that it is capable of safeguarding its own citizens. Time has proven the irrationality of the present unitary structure of the state. A devolved system of power must be adopted without further ado. In its wake, the leaders of the north must show willingness to govern their people in an able and humane manner. The efficiency of northern leaders is now beyond doubt. You may however be unaware of the means adopted. If the tactics of coercion adopted by the LTTE’s representatives abroad, in order to secure funding for their war effort is any indication of what is to come, I regret to note that I see little hope.

  I remain doubtless that it is also your dream that all Tamil people, whether in Sri Lanka or abroad, will see the day when they can live with no fear of threat and intimidation from LTTE agents attempting to extract blood money for the Eelamist campaign. Allow me a reference to a history that you may perhaps be unaware of: the events of the 1980s and how group after rival rebel group of fellow Tamil brethren were systematically eradicated, in what amounted to little less than meaningless, mass sanguinary violence. At such a time, Dr. Shander, I wonder, did the Tamil people ask: What is this madness? I have little doubt.

  International pressure must thus be exerted not only against Colombo, but also against the LTTE to stop holding its respective people to ransom. What is this madness? Let us call a spade a spade!

• 2. N  |  July 26th, 2007 at 12:05 pm

  All the talk about people being killed and not one mention about the LTTE? That’s some pretty impressive spin right there. Maybe Dr. Ellyn should be spending a little time reflecting on what her country did to the Native American’s, where is their country?

• 3. M.S  |  July 26th, 2007 at 12:14 pm

  This is more like a text from Tamilnet and a classic example of being used. Totally one sided and clearly shows her lack of knowledge about the two decade old problem and its complexities.

  This person avoid mentioning the LTTE, but very much point towards it as the saviour of Tamil population. For starters this very saviour has murdered many respected men and women within the Tamil population.

  This is what further complicate this problem. Immigrants of both communities while living in the comforts of foreign countries, just keep spreading hatred towards one another, while poor people from both south and north suffer.

• 4. M.S  |  July 26th, 2007 at 12:18 pm

  Also, I must venture my dissapointment in Mr. Jeyaraj. So far I’ve associated this site to be unbiased and of not taking sides and present intellectually oriented well thought out writings. But this? I could very easily find this sort of readings from the Tamilnet.

• 5. Ranga  |  July 26th, 2007 at 12:30 pm

  I agree. Too much madness is the problem.

  But what is the solution?

• 6. Dr.Jeya  |  July 26th, 2007 at 12:49 pm

  A true picture of the ground situation in the North and East of Sri Lanka. Thank you Dr.Ellyn Shander.

  Personally I am deadly against the war in Sri Lanka. IN my considereed view, the war is absolutely useless and uncalled for.

  Let the world and Sri Lanka open their eyes to see the need of time – PEACE.

  Peace will come only if there is JUSTICE FOR ALL.

  If I am the executive president of Sri Lanka, I will declare TAMIL EELAM on behalf of the Tamils who have right to SELF DETERMINATION. I will go down in the annals of the Island, if I safeguard the country from destruction.

  HUMAN LIFE IS SO PRECIOUS TO BE LOST AT POLITICAL MADNESS.

  I will demand an OPEN BOARDER between the two states. People can go from one state to another freely and do business and live.

  Sri Lanka will become another Malaysia and Singapore.

  Please MAKE ALL EFFORTS TO ENLIGHTEN THE PRACTICAL MINDED RAJAPAKSHA to declare TAMIL EELAM SOON.

  Let the International community help the president.

  Your comments are most welcome!

  Dr. Jeya
  Born to a Sinhala parents

• 7. Suresh M  |  July 26th, 2007 at 1:50 pm

  Today I ask the International Community, and India a question

  If Sinhalese don’t want to treat the Tamils equally, fairly, or humanely

  Then what is wrong with a two state solution? I am for it.

• 8. Greg  |  July 26th, 2007 at 3:26 pm

  I feel really sorry about this Dr., who doesn’t even have a slightest idea about the conflict in SL. It seems like he doesn’t even know the existence of a terrorist organization called LTTE, in SL that kills people (including tamils) directly or indirectly keeping them as human shields, abducts children from parents denying their right to study, positions artillery and mortars in hospital and school premises and so on (a big list can be written). While (day) dreaming, he thinks that the Gov. forces bomb and shell in vain, b’se they don’t have anything to do. But, anyway, he should be happy, b’se most of his dreams has already come true in parts of the country where there is no LTTE, except one that will be a dream forever – a dream of tamil weddings, birthdays, and festivities in a peaceful self governed state called Tamil Elam. But tamil weddings, birthdays, and festivities are taking place in LTTE free parts of the country, in the way this Dr. wants them to be. So it’s better to STOP THE MADNESS.

• 9. shamil  |  July 26th, 2007 at 4:53 pm

  Hey Doc,
  Why is u calling on the Govt of SL to stop violence? Why don’t you ask the LTTE to do the same? You talk about the closure of highways and inability for the fishermen to get to sea; at least they move freely in the north, east and low and behold the whole country. Try and get a Sinhalese to tour the north and east….either he/she will be killed/bombed. Beheaded. Why are you blaming the SL govt of all the violence…..is the LTTE a peaceful group? The LTTE cut off a man’s hand for voting in the 2002 elections (which the LTTE banned), explain that to me please. And you compare Martin Luther king to you and your Atrocious LTTE, you got to be out of you mind. When did he resolve to violence? He is a great man that we all admire…please don’t shame him and the civil rights movement with comparisons to you barbarians. We all want peace, that’s doesn’t mean that we are going to break our country in two. You talk of Tamil Elam in Sri Lanka, many of you descended from India, so why don’t you go and ask India for some Elam. They’ll just kick you ass.

• 10. Raj  |  July 26th, 2007 at 5:09 pm

  I forgive her ignorancy

• 11. roshan  |  July 26th, 2007 at 5:21 pm

  i have some advice for mr shander,
  why don’ t you get the american government to get all the tamils in sri lanka to the USA. then they can have their dream u can have yours and we the sinhales can have peace.
  2) mr shander, why don´t u fight for the native americans and the blacks in the USA .?
  3) mr sadam hussain killed his own people true but the americans helped him wen he was fighting the iranians.
  mr shander u are tring to speak of a problem u think u know after been there for 6 months. i can see your american ignaronce u americans get mixed in thing things which are no concern to u all make a mess and go. starting with vietnam, to present day iraq.

• 12. Wassa  |  July 26th, 2007 at 5:33 pm

  Dear Dr.
  What about USA keeping prisnoers in Guantanamo camp in Cuba more than 6 years without any cases?What about bombing innocent civilians in Afganistan and Iraq?What about cheating UNO and whole world by saying Iraq possesses WMD and found nothing and admitted they did a mistake?What is this madness that they destroyed Iraq for petrolium wells?

  India trained and armed LTTE and let them kill thousands of civilians by using sucide bombers(280 suicide bombers they used and last one killed 64 bus passengers including 14 school children)What is this madness? Why USA fight against terrorism and do not negotiate with them then?Why Dr. you dont ask USA govt to negotiate instead of killing civilians everyday?What is this madness?

• 13. Wassa  |  July 26th, 2007 at 5:36 pm

  Dr.Jeya how can your name Jeya if you were born to Singahalese parents?The newest trend is that many people posed as Singahlese and talk bad about Singahlese!

• 14. dr .wije  |  July 26th, 2007 at 5:43 pm

  Dear Dr Shader,
  Please give your advise to George Bush so that he
  will conduct a humanitarian war in Iraque.If all the tamils in the USA support teaching English to srilankans.
  ,rather than supporting terrorism, sihala people will communicate better with tamils and vice versa.There is no ethnic problem in Srilanka.The problem is not being able to talk to each other in a common language.Economic problems are common to allthe srlankans

• 15. hari  |  July 26th, 2007 at 6:29 pm

  Dear Dr.Ellyn Shander,

  I agree,America is a place of dreams.(the best dreamers are sent to Guantanamo )

  I have a dream that every Tamil can feel the breeze on their cheeks without worrying about being killed ,sure +that every SRI LANKAN regardless of race,can get around their daily lives without worrying about being killed in an LTTE suicide attack.

  The Right to life is the dream of every Sri Lankan,sinhalese,tamil or muslim.

  There is no ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka.Its Terrorism which the Americans didnt know anything about until 9/11.

  TWO STATES IN PEACE IS BETTER THAN ONE STATE IN WAR?

• 16. SANATH DHARMASENA  |  July 26th, 2007 at 6:35 pm

  This is the true picture of the tamils in the north east but it is not the reality. i was from a multi -ethnic region of the country and tamils enjoy satisfactory freedom in the society away from the NE. i would not ruled out the hesitations and suspicions built up in each other. But tamils in the south enjoys a good life and i am really worry about the lives of common people in the north east for the terrible life they had to suffer because of a war. this Doctor was partial not to talk about the common sinhalese and muslims devastated by the Tsunamy. life was critical for the all servivors.

  the socio-economic problems are more or less similar to any community in SL currently. most of them mis a meal or two weather they are in NE or south.

  but the nature of the war is so cruel that the common people are being dragged in the exchange of fire by the LTTE in way of surviving and sympathy. in the same time they are the culprits of depriving the democratic rights of innocent tamils like what JVP did ones.

  LTTE exists because of war and the SL govt exists for the same reason. the people who did not want war include a majority of sinhales close to 45% in the last presidential election. But the LTTE wanted the war and they let the current president ; who is absolutely racial/and so called pseudo-sinhala patriotic to come to power . this was the reality in the present politics and by doing this LTTE extend the suffering of the people and desicively established their resourses from the exile.

  who are the tamils come forward at this moment with this reality and it was few including one or two old politicians who does not worrry of risking their lives.

  lets us make a voice together to the LTTE and to the government of Rajapakshas. stop the war and let the people make their own descions.

  DSD

• 17. Kaysi. S  |  July 26th, 2007 at 6:37 pm

  Tamils need to talk to the GOSL the way sinhala regime understands, like the LTTE military spokesperson mentioned on his interview last week. First of all Sinhala people need to be educated about what is going in Sri Lanka right now. Based on the comments they write toward an article they clearly expres their feelings that Tamils shouldnt derserve a solution. It is so sad and this is why the ethinic civil war is dragging with no end in Sri Lanka.

• 18. Haresh Muthukumaran  |  July 26th, 2007 at 6:39 pm

  Dr. Ellyn Shander M.D, have you ever heard of something called the flip side of the coin?

• 19. Thaya  |  July 26th, 2007 at 6:46 pm

  First of All I should thank Dr.Shander for the very nice speech. I am really happy to see some one born in US who visited North and East of Jaffna has so much feeling for us.

  Dear Castedeus,
  The peace rally was about the suffering of Tamils and their rights. Why are you trying to link it to LTTE? If i don’t ask you now “What is this madness” you will later on say that no body commented on it and justify your statement as truth.

  Dear Sir when was the last time you have been to North and East? Did you really see us suffering here? Even if you are not willing to speak for us please don’t discourage the people are courage enough to speak for us. We will appreciate that. Thank you.

• 20. Ananda Wijepala  |  July 26th, 2007 at 7:04 pm

  This war is absolute madness. But what we need to eliminate is the cause.

  The cause is the unhealthy Tamil & Sinhalese Nationalism ignited by opportunistic politicians.

  The mistrust started with a unreasonable apartheid like 50/50 demand.

• 21. V. Fernando  |  July 26th, 2007 at 9:00 pm

  Separate state! What happened to the sinhalese lived in Jaffna, in the north. LTTE people will treat normal people as dogs.( Example is Karuna). You can see how karuna is going to rule the country. The same thing can be imagined about Prabakaran, Tamil selvam etc etc.

• 22. Saman.J  |  July 26th, 2007 at 11:09 pm

  LTTE fights this war with children by denying them an education. Tamils belong to the land and that is the reason they have invested in property and live outside the North & East.

  The Americans who visited elsewhere & the south during tsunami had the same word as stated by you of the people.

  As long as such cunning people live, it will not assist to achieve any peace on Sri Lanka as these people are using the tamil militant as their vehicle to sustain themselves in an alien country.

  So who cares for the dying, the deaths and the suffering tamils at the hands of their own mafia?

  Shander, you have been just suckered in and it will take a long time realise unless United States of America where you live begin to crack up on ethnic language divide.

• 23. nilanthi  |  July 26th, 2007 at 11:09 pm

  Dr. Ellyn Shander , I have only one question from you

  Would you support minorities in your country to have a seperate state? If you can answere this simple question you have a solution to civil war in Sri Lanka. You don’t have to spend your valuable time addressing rally to support tamils or LTTE.

• 24. his-lu-lu  |  July 26th, 2007 at 11:29 pm

  Terrorists should never be appeased. that’s too dangerous.

  When the LTTE terrorists are gettng exposed for their crimes against Sri Lankans… these musings are sure to surface.

  Intelligent readers, beware.

• 25. rajan  |  July 27th, 2007 at 12:34 am

  It is sad to see that an educated Doctor is not fully aware of what is really going on in the North and East and how both Tamils sinhalese have been draggded on to this war. . .

• 26. baba  |  July 27th, 2007 at 1:00 am

  The true homeland for tamils is in India in the state of TamilNadu. Lets all tamils work for our True Homeland in Tamilnadu and leave beautiful, small, island of sri lanka to the sinhalese who are the true owners of the Land. You dont see millions of beautiful sinhalese sri lankans in the world other then Sri Lanka and you dont see millions of Tamils in the world, other then India

• 27. Dilantha  |  July 27th, 2007 at 1:15 am

  Dear Dr. Ellyn Shander ,

  I’m sure you must be aware how happy Tamil, Muslim & sinhalees living in south where the controle is by GOSL. 1 st of all you have to understand the difference of International terrorism & Ethnic clash. You being so bias will not only understand but will bitray your own people to stavasion & war sheilds of LTTE. Maybe you are a victim of LTTE already who is canvasing to buy wepons & getting commission.
  it is sad to know a person with your caliber cannot understnad & bitraying your own people by twisting the truth. I have seing many bitrayals like this in Tamilnet.

  Why can’t you understand that LTTE is holding your own people as ransom, Killing who ever that will not support terrorism, collecting money from all over the world. This is what is called as madness.

• 28. kodithuwaku.p.g  |  July 27th, 2007 at 1:24 am

  If he talk about tamils y cant he talk about colombo tamils, arent they living in peaceuly in colombo.52% of sri lankan tamils living in government control western province and up country with sinhalies..

• 29. Dr. Chandra  |  July 27th, 2007 at 1:29 am

  Dear Dr. Shander:
  It is amazing how much of an expert on the situation you have become by making just one trip to Sri Lanka. How is it that you ignore all the thousands of civilians killed in Iraq and Afghanisthan by the US govt forces. It is OK to bomb the crap out of civilians there in the name of fighting terrorists but it is not
  OK for SL govt to fight terrorists? What a load of bull hypocrisy? I’d recommend that you read a little about all the gruesome killings carried out by LTTE over the last 20 years. It is well recognized that LTTE is run by a deranged lunatic killer wanted in several countries. LTTE is also proscribed as a terrorist organization. As long as the northeast Tamil community is held ransom by this thug there can be no peaceful solution. Neither does the thug want such a solution. All he wants is speeches by the likes of you so that he could rake in still more money into his coffers in Swiss banks, all in the name of liberating the Tamils.
  The Tamil diaspora will soon realize their folly in backing an international criminal who dare not show up a moment outside his cave in the Vanni.

• 30. Castedeus  |  July 27th, 2007 at 2:17 am

  Dear Thaya,

  Empathy is a powerful emotion. The plight of the Tamils in northeast Sri Lanka is one like few others and I hope that the same fate does not befall anyone else. If you read into my previous comment, I take nothing away from this suffering. An inevitability of involvement in the discourse of Sri Lankan ethnic politics, is being branded one way or another, ie. as a Sinhala chauvinist or a Tiger sympathiser. I have been called both but you maybe surprised to note that it has been the latter more than the former. In fact the first time (and so far the only time) that the former has been insinuated, is by a commenter on my own blog, in response to a reproduction of my previous comment. I have not revealed my ethnic identity and will leave for clarification of my position through my arguments alone.

  As I have mentioned before, while Dr. Shander captures the enormity of the crimes against humanity of the Tamil people – and yes, I reiterate what I have stressed throughout my prior comment for the benefit of those who have selective comprehension: the GOSL has committed gross misdeeds of the past, crimes against its own citizens and has often been driven by a chauvinistic mindset that has long plagued Colombo’s politics against its own Tamil people – she fails to mention the hardships of the Tamils suffered at the hands of its brethren in the LTTE. It is unfortunate that she sees fit to name the GOSL in its misdeeds but stops well short of naming the other protagonist to this war. Why not name them both? Having noted as I have, that the LTTE is a manifestation of Colombo’s reactionary and chauvinistic policies and not the other way round, given the present context, there’s a long list of Tamil people who have suffered at the hands of the LTTE, is it not?

  You question my grounds for linking Dr. Shander’s speech to the LTTE. The only linkage that I make is, to re-phrase for those who have not understood the context of my first comment, that there are two protagonists to this conflict and that each of these have accounted for Tamil lives. Those Tamils that are deceased are no less Tamil than those that now suffer and this has all been a pitiful plight.

  It is unfortunate that human rights should be viewed through the prism of ethnicity. Read the Declaration again… HUMAN RIGHTS FOR ALL!

• 31. kodithuwaku.p.g  |  July 27th, 2007 at 2:18 am

  We can have lengthy debates, speeches, reviews around what he said or what she said. The bottom line is that Tamils are suffering not because of anything else, but mainly because of their terrorism. Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims are suffering due to terrorism. Elam will never be materialized as long as Tamils are working as terrorists. I agree this situation has led to opportunistic Sri Lankan politicians to fish out of the mud. Whose fault is that? It is our fault. The bottom line is that terrorism is not the way to solve the problem. Had their not been this stupid terrorist group, where would be Tamils, Muslims and Sinhalese living today? They will be living in all parts of the country as they used to be. If that is the case no any particular group can say this country belongs to us only. It is belongs to everybody. It has been that until 1983. It would have been c It is terrorists who are trying to divide that peaceful society. Good example is that Tamils living in Colombo District. Can Sinhalese live in Jaffna as the way the Tamils are living in Colombo? No.
  Unfortunately, Tamils are trapped by their own “terrorists” showing them the “Heavenly Elam”. Sinhalese were trapped by JVP for a while in a similar manner. Tamils are being misled by the LTTE saying that they are liberating Tamils from suffering. They themselfes are the main obstacle for Tamils suffering today. Those who are living in western countries can talk about Tamils’ suffering while having luxury lives in the west. Please go and ask an ordinary Tamil in Jaffna or Colombo what do they think about this maniac LTTE?

  Sri Lanka will have peace only when her people (all Tamils, Muslims and Sinhalese) understand who are the “real terrorists” and work together to defeat terrorism.

• 32. Zean  |  July 27th, 2007 at 2:31 am

  It is time for a UNO supervised Referendum like East Timor “Whether or not Tamil speaking people remain and ruled by Sinahala Majority or Seperate from the rest of the country”

  I totally agree with the doctor that it is better to be in two parts without war than remain united and kill each other.

• 33. Ranjith Deegoda  |  July 27th, 2007 at 3:30 am

  What a spin by that medical doctor at the Tamil Rallyin Washington. I do not say the successive Sri Lankan Governmnts are saints: But look at the attrocities commited by the LTTE. Remember the ‘ethnic cleansing’ of Muslims and Sinhalese from the North of Sri Lanka in the 80s. ‘Sinhalese Governments’ never underook that project. In fact, in the Greater Colombo Area the Tamil population is about 40%. Rememer the LTTE masacres of Buddhist monks and Muslim prayers in the North and North Central aras? The list is very long LTTE and its ‘Front Organizations’ are very clever in spinnig the truth. Even US State Department’s Richard Boucher talked about the controversial ‘Tamil Homeland’ when hewas in Colombo last year. This shows the utter failure of Sri Lanka Governent’s overseas pubic dilomacy program. The American doctor’s spin’ is very clever. Keep up the good work doctor.

• 34. LAdd  |  July 27th, 2007 at 4:06 am

  Well the Dr. is seeing suffering of the masses in the hands of the government. What about the suffering in the hands of the LTTE. Well if the Tamils want a homeland then it’s in Tamil Nadu where it’s a sanctuary to Tamil propaganda and for the gun treading terrorist.

• 35. Wassa  |  July 27th, 2007 at 4:07 am

  Dear Castedius! Why Tamil people do fund raising for LTTE then?More than 200 million dollars per year they make.Every tamil in UK pay money to LTTE.Why all the Tamil diaspora give money to LTTE then?Tamils are the ones who fnance LTTE and it is not a secret.Stop sending money and then LTTE will loose its grip and will lay arms down.Why Tamils let them collect money and not inform Police?Why cant they coporate with law enforcement agencies if LTTE force them to give money?this shows that Most Tamils volunteer doing that.
  Who created all these unrest in Sri Lanka?The JVP lost their arms struggle thanks to Singahalese who refused arms struggle by helping Police to find them and stopped killing of innocent people and forced them to come as a political party.Why Tamils cant do that?
  It is all your fault my brother Tamils.Awake and do your duty first!You are like a bunch of sheep and then complain.

• 36. Mr Shirley Siriwardena  |  July 27th, 2007 at 5:32 am

  Martin Luther King was a devout Christian who was inspired by the peace of Christ. I have just finished reading on of his fines books, “Strength to Love.

  After reading the speeach of Dr Shander in a Peace Rally, I was amazed that he had the audacity to improvise the greatest speech by Martin Luther King .

  As a Sinhalese who believe in our common humanity and that all Tigers are Tamils but all Tamils are not Tigers and against all forms of violence, whether it is from the Tigers or from the Armed Forces against innocent Sri Lankans, I too have a dream just like Martin Luther King.

  That is the day will be there soon once again, when Sinhalese and Tamils will live as brothers and sisters in peace and harmony free from Sinhala and Tamil chuvanism. I dream of the day when Sinhala and Tamil Catholics from the South can go to the Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu without threat of violence and intimidation and the Hindu Tamils of the North and the East can go on pigrimage to Kataragama in peace free of violence and intimidation.

  Finally last word belongs to the great man, Marti Luther King: “Either we learn to live in peace as brothers and sisters or die as animals.”

  Peace in a United Sri Lanka free of Communal Chuvanism and hatred. Love and co-operation amongst all communities reigning and teaching vote hungry politicians our hopes and our aspiriations.

• 37. Naga  |  July 27th, 2007 at 5:55 am

  Some of the comments are more than anticipated. The usual questions of why the author has failed to highlight atrocities of Tigers etc. – inadvertently accepting that the govt. has a right to resort to measures tantamount to counter-terrorism and accepting the all obvious fact that they have treated the Tamils as alleged. Are these no enough reasons to concede that the demands of the Tamils are justified?

• 38. Aru M  |  July 26th, 2007 at 11:50 am

  Thank you Dr. Ellyn Shander, for your words from the heart as a voice for suffering in Sri Lanka

• 39. Sinhalese  |  July 27th, 2007 at 6:00 am

  Dr Shander, you can please go now to East and help people. Why don’t you go there? Your dream is a hollow dream. As soon as LTTE violence there we would not give up.

  What we need is Moderate Tamils to run democratic Autonomous State in Norths.We are prepared to give autonomy to multi racial North. Not Mono ethnic racist cast ridden Tamil state.

• 40. Joel  |  July 27th, 2007 at 6:05 am

  Its amazing how the brain dead and heartless talk/write when a humaniatarion volunteer dr speaks from her heart, talks about her experience.

  Those critisising the west should pack up and go live the the Rajapakse bros.

• 41. kanda  |  July 27th, 2007 at 9:06 am

  The coments from the american doctors mouth is 100% correct. Singalese problem is blambing ltte for all the problems and not ready to see the other side of the coin.Lttes problem starts only after 1983.What has happened to tamils before that.Did singhalease treat tamils well?So do not come and bark . From 1945 to date these guys have no soluction for tamils.They went all over the worled to band ltte.Instead of this go all over the world to find a long lasing soluction for tamils then no need to blame llte and also can make ltte nowhere.

• 42. Annavi  |  July 27th, 2007 at 9:16 am

  Dear Dr. Ellyn Shander,
  We Tamils thank you for expressing your concern openly. Since independent, successive Sri Lankan governments have some unwritten policies against the Tamil population. One is “don’t speak out against state atrocities, be silent or will be silenced.” It was why Kumar Ponnambalam, a talented lawyer was killed. Most of the brilliant journalists including Taraki Sivaram, Nimalarajan and G Nadesan were murdered inhumanly. Human right activists and politicians like Joseph Pararajasingham, Chandra Nehru, Nadarajah Raviraj were shot dead brutally.

  Others who spoke out in favour of oppressed Tamil civilians (like you) were accused of LTTE sympathisers. But please be aware that you are not alone in the accused list. Norwegian peace mediator Erick Solheim, the former UN secretary general Boutros Boutros-Ghali, Keith Vaz MP for Leicester East, UK, World Bank’s resident representative for Sri Lanka, Mr. Peter Harrold, some of previous Colombo BBC correspondents and many others were listed as LTTE sympathisers.

  Once again we thank you for telling the truth openly.

• 43. Castedeus  |  July 27th, 2007 at 12:43 pm

  Saman.J: the Tamils you refer to who have ‘invested in property’ are the elite and thus a minority within their own ethnic group. Those referred to in the context of what is being discussed here, I believe, are the numerous others in the north and east who cannot afford such luxuries.

  Ananda Wijeypala: kudos to you! I agree entirely with your views expressed.

  Hari: Its sad that you dismiss the existence of an ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka. It is very much an ethnic conflict. I am now tired of debate on the topic but do encourage you to delve into the root causes of this war…. I assure you that you will find deeply embedded seeds of an unfortunate ethnic divide. I have blogged on this and will go no further.

  Baba: with due respect, that is a simplistic assessment. The Tamil people have as much right to live in Sri Lanka with equal opportunity as do the Singhalese. What we have today is a manifestation of the ethnocentric politics championed by the political elite. It is unfortunate that the Tamil people of the north and east have suffered due to the opportunism of a few. It is more unfortunate that this opportunism has influenced the southern polity to such a large degree. It is however important to recall that those in the south have also suffered immensely due to this war. It is in nobody’s interest to score brownie-points as to who has suffered more. What matters is that this has to end. How do we achieve that? To those who question the merits of devolution, has the past two decades and more produced a better solution? To those who call for the establishment of Eelam, how much do they know of this conflict’s history and what prospects for democracy to they see under the LTTE?

• 44. agni  |  July 27th, 2007 at 1:07 pm

  Dear Dr. Shander,

  I am a citizen of Sri-Lanka. Although I belong to the sinhala ethnic group and have strong feelings against the LTTE, I will try to be as impartial as possible and present you with facts. After reading your speech, I find it hard to comprehend how a seemingly educated person like yourself could be this biased. Therefore I have come to the conclusion that you are either on the payroll of the LTTE and are performing in the capacity of their mouth-piece, or you are brazenly ignorant of the situation in Sri Lanka.

  Permit me to analyze and respond to your questions.

  Dr. Shander, did you not realize that the tsunami equally affected the Sinhala and Muslim people of Sri Lanka as well as the Tamils of Sri Lanka? When you ‘fell in love’ as you say, with the Tamil people, did you not fall in love with the Sinhala and Muslim people as well?

  Did you not visit the tsunami-affected south, or does your sympathetic heart bleed exclusively for the Tamils?

  You speak of the government closing the A-9 highway. Yes that is true. Did you know that it was because LTTE used that highway to carry out attacks against the armed forces, and even heavily ‘taxed’ civilians using parts of that highway? And were you aware that the LTTE refused to let International Red Cross ships (let alone government ships) access the northern peninsular with food, medicine, and other necessities, effectively manipulating the situation to create a humanitarian crisis and thereby bring disrepute to the Sri Lankan government?

  Why do you not see the madness there?

  You say that shelling by government troops continues to rain on civilian areas. Do you know that LTTE uses the same civilians as human shields whilst launching attacks on the Sri Lankan armed forces? How do you expect the armed forces to respond? Do you want them to succumb to these attacks and not respond? How do you think the armed forces can distinguish the LTTE from the civilians when they hide amongst the civilians in plain clothes? Is that not cowardly of the LTTE?

  Why do you not cry against this madness?

  You say that Tamils are being forced to return to areas that have NOT had low mine clearance. Dr. Shander, who put those mines there? Do you have any idea who uses claymore mines? Let me enlighten you, lest you are unaware. It is the LTTE who have total disregard for any kind of life.

  Why do you not cry “Madness”?

  You question which government kills its own civilians? Dr. Shander, stop being so naive. Every government kills its own civilians (including the US by merely practicing the death penalty) The Sri Lankan government does NOT deliberately kill its own civilians. They are at war with a ruthless terrorist group many of whom pose as civilians, or are made to look like civilians after death.

  Why do you not see the madness?

  You compare the government of Sri Lanka to the governments of Dafur and Sadam Hussein. Please stop with your sensationalization. The government of Sri Lanka is democratically elected by its people. Were you aware that during the last presidential election, the LTTE banned voting by the Tamil people in the North and East, and thereby ensured the win of the hawkish President Rajapaksha? Did you know that the current president only won by a thin margin, and had the LTTE allowed Tamil people to vote, they would have voted in the dovish Mr. Wickramasinghe?

  Why do you not cry “Madness”!

  You say “Children cannot go to school, medical students in Jaffna the future pride of the Tamil people cannot finish their studies, and the youth are being kidnapped and torn from their families” Who do you think conscripts child soldiers? On what basis do you think Tamil parents handed over their children to NGOs for ’safe-keeping’? It is fear of conscription by the LTTE, lest you didn’t know. Did you purposely omit references to the LTTE or were you simply not aware who the real culprits are?

  Will you now scream “Madness”?

  Why do you equate the entire Tamil race in Sri Lanka with the LTTE? Please stop this madness now!

  I too have a dream, Dr. Shander. I dream that every citizen of Sri Lanka, be they Tamil, Muslim, or Sinhala, may one day feel the breeze on their cheeks without worrying about impending death. – Would you call that madness?

  Since you care so much about the Tamils of Sri Lanka, I invite you to visit the southern parts of Sri Lanka and see how Tamils live peacefully among other ethnicities, celebrating weddings, birthdays and festivals with them. Please do yourself a favor and don’t fall for LTTE propaganda. If your speech is any indicator, you are no more qualified to ask for a separate state for Sri Lankan Tamils than I am to practice medicine on your patients (Note: I am no medical doctor). You owe it to yourself to research facts and analyze with your god given faculties before jumping into conclusions.

  Please stop YOUR madness!

• 45. thiaga  |  July 27th, 2007 at 1:21 pm

  If the sinhalease can not comprehend the plight of the tamils, then the solution to the decade old problem would not be easily solved.
  the plight came first then came the ltte. simple as that. Solve the tamil problem then LTTE becomes insignificant.

• 46. Dr. Jeya  |  July 27th, 2007 at 3:04 pm

  Comment No 14 by Wassa:

  You seem to doubt my Sinhala heritage. It is my given name.

  The problem in Sri Lanka is not the TIGERS, but the TAMILS who are not treated equally.

  The best way for the President to stop this unnecessary war is to GIVE THE RIGHTS TO THE TAMILS, NOT EXCLUDING A SEPARATE STATE.

  I am so surprised to read some of the comments here. Some have gone to the extent of saying the the TAMILS ARE TOURISTS.

  What a political TRAGEDY?

  Dr.Jeya
  Born to Sinhala parents

• 47. N  |  July 27th, 2007 at 3:05 pm

  Naga – the demands of the Tamils or the LTTE? I’m yet to meet a Tamil in Sri Lanka who wants to live in a Tamil Eelam governed by Prabhakaran as supreme overlord.

  I have no problems exposing the atrocities of the Sri Lankan government but it is considerably two-faced not to talk about the LTTE at the same time.

  Dr. Ellyn should be excused however, its pretty common for Western people to romantically adopt dubious causes (and by this I mean the LTTE’s demand for Eelam and not the Tamil’s demands for autonomy) that really have no effect on themselves. I wonder what her reaction would be if the Native Americans started demanding their ‘traditional homelands’ for an independent country and started bombing her friends and family to achieve their aims. I bet she wouldn’t be talking this talk.

• 48. sam  |  July 27th, 2007 at 3:47 pm

  Uninformed partial babble.

  Not worth the time spend reading it. Just because someone is an expert in a certain field does not qualify her to become an authority of issues she has obviously no clue about.

  Terrorism is terrorism. Period. All other flowery words are just covering the plain truth wheather it comes from a naive white doctor or a peasant farmer…

• 49. punitham  |  July 27th, 2007 at 3:59 pm

  People who stand up for justice can’t thank you enough, Ellyn.
  Some of the commentators don’t seem to know that the structural violence of the successive governments from the time of independence gave birth to the visible violence of the LTTE.

• 50. Jayaweera  |  July 27th, 2007 at 8:55 pm

  Dear Ellyn,

  I am not sure still you exist or not. Be aware of LTTE, because they willl eliminate dum Dr’s as you are to blame Sri-Lankens. If you want to know the real answer for,

  What is this MADNESS ?

  Please come to Canada & Food, Lodging will be provided at my home. Thanks.

  Jayaweera Rankothgedara

• 51. Dr. Chandra  |  July 27th, 2007 at 10:18 pm

  Some writers seem to want the world to think that the problems in Sri Lanka started in 1983 with ethnic riots during which many innocent Tamils were killed. It was a backlash against the killing of 13 soldiers by the Tigers. Sure, some parts of the govt seems to have condoned the pogrom, which was a disgrace to the civilization and history of the people of Sri Lanka. The reasons for Tamil youth uprisings in the north are all minor issues compared to what this monster has become now. I submit that the terrible caste system and the giving of dowry as practiced by the majority of Tamils in the north is the fundamental cause of this crisis. Over the last 30 years the Tigers and their predecessors have created civil unrest and violence in the north to support their claim for an independent state due to discrimination. This is not a fight for liberation but a war by a ruthless thug to create his own kingdom. Sure there are hundreds of innocent civilians dying in the war due to SL govt attacks. It is truly sad that they are caught in the crossfire but it is either that or double or triple that number of innocents killed elsewhere by the Tigers. It would be simply insane for any SL govt to negotiate with the ruthless Tigers. Once the Tigers are well and truly eliminated, possibly with Indian/international help, then steps must be taken to find legitimate leaders for the people of the north and devolution of power to the communities in the north – NOT to a band of thugs!

• 52. venkai mainthan  |  July 27th, 2007 at 11:26 pm

  Thank you Dr. Ellyn Shander for bringing the real situation to the outside world. I was moved to tears when I read the speech.

  Several peoples’ comment is that the Tamils are living in Colombo and other western provinces “happily”. The whole world came to know how “happy” they are when recently Tamils were evicted from their temporary residence and sent to the North and East. Tamils are arrested and kept in detention without any charges for years. Is this what these people are calling “living happily”? Tamils have to have a valid reason to be seen outside their home town. No other country in this world has this rule for its own citizens. Is this what is “living in harmony”?

  Tamils are subjected to abductions by “white van”. Most of the time they end up as corpse. Their business are looted. So far the govt. has not taken any action to find the culprits. Either the Govt. is inefficient or these are being done with the blessing of the Govt.!! This is what you guys are calling “living happily”?

  Tamils are living in Colombo and other towns because they have no choice. Sri Lankan administration is so centralized; there are no job opportunities for them in the Tamil areas. Compared to other regions Tamil areas are neglected since independence from the British. Because of the harassment of the security forces they cannot do fishing, farming etc. In addition to the security forces, there is also harassment by the paramilitary forces, which operates with the Sri Lankan army.

  Most of the comments conveniently omit to mention what lead the Tamils to take up arms or the atrocities committed against the Tamils since the mid 1950. At that time there were no LTTE!! Why did the Singhalese govt. failed to protect the Tamil citizens? Every time there was a pogrom against the Tamil, the Singhalese government sent them in ships to Jaffna. Most of the time even the ships were provided by the Indian Govt. A govt, which cannot protect its own citizen, has NO RIGHT to govern them!! In the whole world Sri Lankan government is the only Government, which bombed and killed its own citizens!!

• 53. Integrity  |  July 28th, 2007 at 12:44 am

  After reading these comments, I see that very few of them were left by people who actually read Dr. Shander’s words. She is not siding with the LTTE and giving them a free pass. She is not saying that she is a Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. incarnate. She is asking for help for those who are being treated in a sub-human regard. She is being a humanitarian: seeing wrong in the world, learning about it, and the going on to try to make a difference. The Tamils are blessed to have Dr. Shander fighting for them, as she appears to be dedicated and determined to end their sufferring. I only wish that some of my fellow readers of the speech could read the words and feel her sense of hope instead of lashing out with insults. The microphone was open and Dr. Shander stood up to the plate. That is probably more than what can be said for most of those who have submitted insulting commentary.

• 54. kodithuwaku.p.g  |  July 28th, 2007 at 2:25 am

  She should go and talk about what is really happening in Iraq or who is partly responsible of suffereing of Iraqis since it more relevant to her home front.

• 55. indi  |  July 28th, 2007 at 2:44 am

  Martin Luther King had a dream for the races of America to live together:

  # “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”
  # “I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood.”

  Ms Shander only talks about one race – the Tamil race. That’s nice, but it’s not Martin Luther King. He was about peace and about justice for everyone, not just one race.

• 56. Vijay  |  July 28th, 2007 at 6:52 am

  Thank you from the bottom of my heart & the hearts of the Tamil people,who at times must feel like their requests for help falls on deaf ears in the West.Please keep up your noble & loving good work for human sufferers.

• 57. Jay  |  July 28th, 2007 at 12:16 pm

  Dr. Shander,
  Thank you for your activism on behalf of the oppressed Tamil people in Sinhala ruled racist Sri Lanka. It is the Americans like you that make the world’s oppressed look up America with hope. The Tamil people are consoled by your comments.

  From the comments you are receiving from our Sinhala brotheren are indicative of the venom the Sinhala people have towards the Tamils who have shared the island with them for the past few thousand years. Just imagine the plight of the civilians living in the army occupied areas of Northeast Sri Lanka.

• 58. Justice  |  July 28th, 2007 at 1:53 pm

  Thank you, Dr. Shander, for providing a voice of justice for the Tamils of Sri Lanka and shedding light on their suffering under the discriminatory and ruthless government.

  Those attacking you for defending simple human rights are the ones who are ignorant and in denial.

  Keep on fighting, sister!

• 59. Integrity  |  July 29th, 2007 at 1:25 am

  This is for the articulate Jayaweera…

  I am not sure if you exist. Are you honestly threatening a woman who has done you no harm? I would be weary of what I know about a doctor before I refer to her as dumb. I have done some research, and she seems to be a highly respected doctor.

  However, so kind of you to offer food and lodging. I wouldn’t hold my breath.

• 60. N2  |  July 29th, 2007 at 7:57 am

  Re above comments of N, sam, Jayaweera, Dr.Chandra etc.

  If not for the GoSL ‘and Sinhala-Buddhist’ extremist attitude there would be no LTTE. If not for the LTTE (whether you approve of them or not) what would have been to fate of the Tamils at the hands of the ‘Sinhala-Buddhist’ extremists and the politicians?

  The matter of the native Americans or Iraq or any other need not stop Dr Shander from voicing her sincere concerns for the Tamils. Who knows if she had been around 200 years ago she may have defended them too; perhaps she is voicing her opinion on Iraq too.

  agni I put your own words to you “You owe it to yourself to research facts and analyze with your god given faculties before jumping into conclusions”

  Its easy to be negative but what are you’ll doing or saying that can have a positive influence in alleviating the suffering?

• 61. JS  |  July 29th, 2007 at 9:28 am

  There is something terribly wrong when SriLanka is one of the ONLY two countries in the world where affirmative action is reversed! Are the Sinhalese that bad in understanding anything… that they need affirmative action on their side to succeed in the country where they are the majority?

  For those who talk about the ethnic issues, look at the root cause. Then talk about why Tamils are asking for what they want.

• 62. shan  |  July 29th, 2007 at 11:14 am

  we dont want to fall from frying pan to the fire ,you will only know when you live under thug praba.he eliminate
  if anybody speak against him.what happend after he achive tamil ealam,are we going to live under IDI AMIN
  (praba).if he is human he will allow the food to be distributed to jaffna for sick old and the poor.its is EGO
  and profit making which dosent allow the good things
  to happen to the innocent tamils.

• 63. Nandasena  |  July 29th, 2007 at 6:13 pm

  Regarding Ananda Wijepala’s comment about GG’s demand of 50/50, his demand was not 50 for the Tamils, but 50 for the entire minorities living in Sri Lanka. I think this is the most mis-understood phrase amongst the Sri Lankans both Sinhalese and Tamils. Someone needs to clear the doubt.
  http://www.sangam.org/ANALYSIS/Paul_8_4_03.htm

  In any case there was no guarantee that the Sri Lankan Govt. would have honoured any agreements. Several agreements, which were torn, to shreds since then, prove that SL Govt. is not trust worthy. I wonder whether the minority rights would be safeguarded in Sri Lanka now even with the fifty as the Members of Parliament has become a “trading commodity’!!

• 64. devestated  |  July 29th, 2007 at 8:39 pm

  What is this madness?
  Fact !!the GOSL is aerial bombing civililans who are hiding under tress…Come on this is evil!! Regualr people like you and I are being killed. If the GOSL goes to the peace table, the LTTE will follow. It happened before.

• 65. Weera  |  July 30th, 2007 at 9:17 am

  HeY Doc,

  We have the symparthy for people who affected by the tsunami. You go to Sri Lanka for two weeks and you make the decision that LTTE is inocent and SL government is bad. Are you stupid. You know that some NGOs provide logistic support for terrorists. If you want see what they have doen to inocnet sihlalese villages I can show pictures. Do not try to medle with Sri Lanka’s internal problems. Mind your dammn bussiness. Ypu nothing more than a terrorist supporter.

• 66. Integrity  |  July 30th, 2007 at 1:14 pm

  Terrorist supporter? Oh, really, Weera. After reading the speech over once more, I did not see anything remotely pro-LTTE. Human sufferring is everyone’s “damn business.” For those of you who think the doctor is pro-LTTE or needs to worry about Bush, I say that you have no idea what other causes she believes in and fights for on a regular basis. Where does she mention supporting Bush’s foreign policy? Don’t go thinking that you know her political beliefs based on one cry of help for sufferring Tamils. Enough of this, “Worry about your own country.” Dr. Shander is a human being of the world. It sounds cliche, but what about mankind worrying about all of mankind? I would hope that American Tamils would agree that all the comments about the doctor worrying about her own country are a way of attacking her on which basis others know nothing about her political views. As far as her visit is concerned, I did not once read a claim of Tamil expertise. She is sharing her personal experience. I need not to defend the doctor’s words anymore. They speak volumes. For those of you who choose to attack and criticize, instead of brainstorming a peaceful solution, I hold pity. You hide behind your insults. Whereas you could be brainstorming solutions, whatever they may be, you instead go on the attack. Not just a pity, but a cop-out as well.

• 67. K.k  |  July 30th, 2007 at 1:44 pm

  Dear Dr. Ellyn Shander,

  What about other people in Sri lanka, Sinhala, Muslim,Burgers. You talking about only Tamil.

  Lady,I can not belive you are American.

  I feel very bad for all the sri lankan & having a very hard time. this not a time to get a one side. if you are real American, talk to with American govermount & try to do somthing for every sri lankan.

• 68. Ellalan  |  July 30th, 2007 at 9:31 pm

  Thank you for your kind words. Its really appreciated.

• 69. tamil priyan  |  July 31st, 2007 at 12:01 am

  நாம் விரும்பினாலும் விரும்பாவிட்டாலும் போராட்டமே எமது வாழ்க்கையாகவும் வாழ்க்கையே எமது போராட்டமாகவும் மாறிவிட்டது

• 70. True Tamil  |  July 31st, 2007 at 1:01 am

  Thank you Dr. Shander! Sooner or later Tamils will achieve a Tamil Eelam .

• 71. Integrity  |  July 31st, 2007 at 9:43 pm

  K.k.,
  How wise you must be! I have lived in America all my life and am not sure of the exact definition of a “real American” Silly me, I should have just asked you. You obviously know what a “real American” is, so please, do tell. I was under that part of being a “real American” were the freedoms of speech and assembly. Silly Dr. Shander, she used the freedoms given to her as a “real American” to speak out for a cause, that of a great people, fading away into the darkness of history. As you stated, Sri Lanka is more than just Tamils, but as I previously wrote, this was her experience…and her experience was with the Tamils! I will leave it at that since I am merely adding kerosene to the fire that is this absurd ridicule of a human being, speaking out for human kind.

• 72. Naga  |  August 3rd, 2007 at 10:12 am

  The fact that lot of fundamentalists are responding to this article reflects the gravity with which it had hit the most sensitive area. congradulations!

• 73. Christopher A. Ryan  |  October 15th, 2007 at 10:22 pm

  I feel compelled to address the detractors to Dr. Shander, since they appear to be prevented from seeing the truth due to an misinformed belief that Dr. Shander only advocated on behalf of the Tamils. Please do take the time to read and contemplate the entirety of her statements on this very sensitive issue. It is no secret that the Tamils have been one of the most extraordinarily oppressed ethnic groups in the world in the second half of the 20th century and, sadly, the first decade of the 21st. As I can say with personal conviction and insight, Dr. Shander is NOT affiliated with any lobby or motivated by the purine interests of any politicized cause. She was personally and emotionally drawn to the Tamils over the course of her experiences as a volunteer relief physician to the Tamils in the wake of the tragedy brought on by the tsunami. The United States needs more leaders emotionally, intellectually and morally compelled to lead on behalf of humanitarian causes such as this one. Those of you who are ignorant enough to demonize her should examine their own lives and the existence of their own selfless contributions on behalf of others before they attempt to criticize someone with the integrity of Dr. Shander.

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