Need for Increased Alertness Against LTTE
March 13th, 2008
by B. Raman
An official statement issued by the headquarters of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on March 11, 2008 on the high-profile visit of Lt.Gen.Sarath Fonseka, the chief of the Sri Lankan army and the architect of the successful counter-terrorism operations by the Sri Lankan Armed Forces, to India in the first week of March,2008, is an indicator of the desperation of the LTTE and its bitterness against the government of India.
Its desperation arises from its loss of control of the territory administered by it in the Eastern Province during 2006 and 2007, its inability to counter effectively the successful air strikes by the Sri Lankan Air Force (SLAF) against positions held by it in the Northern Province and the steady diminition in its operational capabilities due to the successful disruption of its capability for the replenishment of its stocks of arms and ammunition and explosives by the Sri Lankan Air Force and Navy, with the co-operation of the international community, including India, in the form of timely supply of valuable intelligence.
The LTTE is not yet a failed or a failing non-state actor. It still has considerable biting capacity. It still has a large supply of well-trained and well-motivated cadres. In the Northern Province where the battle lines have shifted, it has much greater local support than it had in the Eastern Province. Its morale, capacity for innovation and determination to continue fighting are intact. But in the absence of material replenishments, its capacity for offensive operations has been eroded and it has been forced to fight a defensive battle to save the territory still under its control. Till now, it has been doing well despite the claims to the contrary by the Sri Lankan defence spokesmen.
India’s policy till now has been one of covert assistance to the Sri Lankan intelligence in improving its collection and assessment capabilities, sharing of intelligence collected by the much-better endowed Indian intelligence agencies, strengthening the defence capabilities of Sri Lanka in the matter of anti-aircraft equipment and facilitating the operations of the Sri Lankan Navy for disrupting the overseas supply channels of the LTTE.
Indian public opinion, including public opinion in Tamil Nadu, could not have objected to these measures for co-operation since they remained covert and not brazenly overt and since there was a well-defined Laxman Rekha (dividing line), which our Armed Forces and intelligence agencies were told not to cross. That Laxman Rekha related to co-operation between the two armies, which could have facilitated the Sri Lankan Army’s ground operations against the LTTE in the Northern Province.
Independent analysts and reliable sources are agreed that the Sri Lankan Army’s successes in the Eastern Province were achieved at a tremendous human cost, with large-scale violation of the human rights of the civilian population. Lt.Gen. Fonseka and Mr. Gothbaya Rajpaksa, the brother of President Mahinda Rajapksa, who is the Defence Secretary, are not models of rectitude in matters concerning respect for the human rights of the Sri Lankan Tamils. Sensing what they see as a historic victory in their fight against the LTTE, these two have been contemptuously dismissing all reports regarding the violation of the human rights of the Sri Lankan Tamils. There are some indications of Western re-thinking on their attitude to the Rajapaksa government because of its brazen dismissal of all concerns regarding the human rights situation in the Tamil areas.
Senior officers of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces have been visiting India from time to time for discussions on Indian assistance and military-military relations.
Even Gothbaya Rajapaksa has been visiting New Delhi periodically. But these visits were low profile and the government of India took care not to create an impression of Indian lack of concern over the human rights situation. The high-profile visit of Fonseka and the kind of honours openly accorded to him indicated that the Laxman Rekha, which has so far characterised the co-operation between the armed forces of the two countries, is ceasing to exist and that there is probably a greater readiness–even eagerness– on the part of the Indian Army to co-operate with the Sri Lankan Army in matters which might facilitate its ground operations against the LTTE in the Northern Province. This perception of a disappearing Laxman Rekha is not confined to the LTTE. It is palpable among large sections of the Tamil population in Sri Lanka and in the Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora.
The desperation and the bitterness caused by this perception have triggered off the official statement of the LTTE. In a language reminiscent of the language which it was using with regard to Indian policies before the shocking assassination of Rajiv Gandhi in May,1991, it has characterised any possible change in the Indian policy as amounting to a new historical blunder and insinuated that the government of India is putting itself in a position, which could be viewed as complicity in what it sees as the Sri Lankan government’s policy of genocide of the Tamils.
The LTTE, like other international terrorist organisations, follows a policy of coming out with comments, not amounting to official statements, which are disseminated by the media controlled by it and coming out with an official statement only in exceptional circumstances. The fact that the LTTE has now come out with an official statement on the co-operation between the two armies indicates that it might be considering the options available to it to counter this.
It is important to re-examine and revamp our intelligence and operational capabilities to neutralise any plan of the LTTE to mount another terrorist strike in Indian territory or against Indian nationals or interests. It would be unwise to dismiss its statement as a desperate outburst of no or only limited consequence.
In recent months, the Police in Tamil Nadu and Kerala have detected attempts by the LTTE to procure supplies and possibly ships also from India through locals. From the published reports, it would seem that many of the locals, who had helped the LTTE, did so for money and not out of sympathy for its cause. But the likely re-emergence of pockets of sympathy for the LTTE’s cause is an ever-present danger.
Both the governments of India and Sri Lanka want to neutralise the LTTE for different objectives. The Indian objective is to punish it for its assassination of Rajiv Gandhi and to render it incapable of terrorism. The Sri Lankan objective is to crush it as a terrorist organisation and re-impose the will and interests of the Sinhalese majority over the Tamil minority. Despite all the sweet talk from President Rajapaksa and his officers and advisers, their policy towards the Tamils continues to be characterised by their desire for a dictated peace and their modus operandi of divide and rule.
India should not give an impression that there is a convergence of objectives between the two countries. The Laxman Rekha has served us well in the past and should serve us well in future. [SAAG]
B. Raman is Additional Secretary (retd), Cabinet Secretariat, Govt. of India, New Delhi, and, presently, Director, Institute For Topical Studies, Chennai.
Entry Filed under: transCurrents Commentary
52 Comments Add your own
1. Subra S.Massey | March 13th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
Mr.Raman,
LTTE will not go away but will transform into LTTE world wide. LIFTING TAMIL TIDE EVERY WHERE. You got it, the acronym. Empires were not born out of bed of roses but out of bed of thorns. When people lack hard experience this is what we get. Mr.Raman does not seem to understand the struggle of the Tamil then,now and later. He seems to be talking from ivory tower. Why don’t you see from our point? I guess till some thing traumatic happens to you or to your family your belligerence will not go away.
We are trying desperately to bring about an end to this struggle and people like you are pouring fuel into fire.
As Viktor Frankl said in the face of an unreasonable enemy all I can do is to separate my body from my mind. Do you mean to say there is no morality and logic within the brain of the universal intelligence?
If it is not the whole universe will just collapse into oblivion. The day injustice prevails over justice that day the world will come to an end. All this struggle will never go in vain. One day we will rescue your children from your irrationality. Ignorance has invaded even the educated and experienced people.
Do you mean to say India is scared of LTTE?
Come on! give me a break. With 1.2 billion people?
You know the whole politics of the Indian subcontinenet has become a joke. I guess some one has put fear in the minds fo the Indian politicians.
I thought we have to rescue only the Sri Lankans, but now it seems like herculean task for us. Rescuing India from fear! Unbeleivable!!
2. S Galpotta | March 13th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
The Sri Lankan objective is to crush it as a terrorist organisation and re-impose the will and interests of the Sinhalese majority over the Tamil minority.
Statement of very poor standard from a high ranking Indian officer.
3. Laxman | March 13th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
It’s time to Grow up India, stand tall on your own too feet. This guy is from the old India the meek and the scared, “we have been hurt by these terrorists in the past they might do it again lets retreat back to New Dehli” .
I dont think New India will bow down to brazen threats by these murderers we owe it to the memory of Rajiv not to.
4. Suresh M | March 13th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
B.Raman,
Despite the heading, your report shows that you are still in touch with the current Tamil affairs.
Thank you.
5. Thamil | March 13th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
India is assisting, The Sri Lankan objective is to crush the Tamil’s genuine request for a peaceful existence in Tamil homeland and re-impose the will and interests of the Singhalese majority over the Tamil minority.
This collective punishment to the whole Tamil race has to be accounted for, not necessarily the means of assassinations or killings. Only the time will tell, what it is.
6. Raj | March 13th, 2008 at 10:55 pm
Raman considers himself the old guard of India and despite the terrorist rhetoric he has no problem with the LTTE minus Prabhakaran and Pottu Amman. He has stated, minus these two, India should fully back the LTTE (put aside the fact we know it won’t). His fight is with the assassins of Rajiv Gandhi.
Unfortunately his hate and desire for revenge is powerful and common among many Indians who considered Rajiv –their Mahatma.
RG ordered Prabhakaran assassinated under the guise of a white flag in a most un-Gandhi like manner but lets forget that for the moment.
If Gandhi was alive today, not Rajiv but MK whom all his political descendants claim to embody, what policy would he adopt towards Sri Lanka? Would it look anything like Mr. Raman’s?
Raman thinks he is honoring Rajiv by not giving up on holding those he believes responsible for his death, accountable.
But really he is destroying Gandhi’s memory and professed values by advocating covert support to the Sri Lankan (Singhalese) goverment and the “Laxman Rekha” policy –all the while knowing the Tamil people in Sri Lanka are being ethnically cleansed.
7. Beema | March 13th, 2008 at 11:58 pm
Mr Raman
INDIA learnt a good lesson from Sri Lanka last time. INDIA is yet to learn some more lessons from Sri Lanka.
8. Eeelam | March 14th, 2008 at 12:47 am
India should pay attention to the mighty peoples of Eeelam and be very afraid, if they keep helping GOSL we will deliver a telling blow to the heart of India that will make the Rajiv incident look like a minor misunderstanding.
9. Canaga | March 14th, 2008 at 1:42 am
Mr. Raman, have some sense - Look at the immense tragedy of the Tamil population. Are you stating tat India should help more to subjugae the tamils?
After all the peaceful efforts to solve this probem - LTTE arose. What else can the Tamils do?
10. KTR | March 14th, 2008 at 1:53 am
Mr. Raman should study why Lebanese Hezbollah is targeting Americans especially in mid-east. If he knows the answer (likely he will refuse to know) he may one day find some clues to the future.
If Hezbollah has the right to attack American interest in Lebanon because Lebanon in for Lebanese and not for Americans and their corporate interest, then LTTE has the right to interfere in Indian Affairs be it in Srilanka or India as long as India keep it nose in the NE affairs.
So far LTTE has not supplied arms to the Tamil Nadu youths who are disgruntled and ready to take on the government. If they pushed to the corner and India wants its way, it is a matter time before they supply arms and training to the TN youths to take on the Indian and TN government.
Except in Malaysia, there is no place on the earth that a rebel/ liberation movement has been defeated.
India should think twice before they start interfere in the EELAM affairs.
11. George | March 14th, 2008 at 2:59 am
Raman,
Please try to understand the ground reality. Don’t fabricate stories.
12. Refugee | March 14th, 2008 at 3:08 am
IPKF have been hurt all of Sri Lankan Tamils, more than the Sri lankan Army. They rampaged through the Jaffna roads, killing and raping etc. Tamils have forgotten the those bad memories.
Please do not bring more sworn enimies to Mother India by killing more innocent Tamils.
13. Murugan | March 14th, 2008 at 4:27 am
1. India’s moral vision on the Sri Lanka Tamil question has been blurred by their desire to take vengeance upon the LTTE for the assassination of Rajiv. And a convenient convergence of interests with Colombo and the self interest of India both play an important role in Delhi’s blind eye towards SL’s human rights violations against Tamils.
2. It is laughable that Raman and many others in the Indian media try to construe the LTTE as a threat to India. Even a fool knows that the LTTE would never attack India. In fact the LTTE used to have a policy to make Tamil Eelam a country friendly towards India. The Thirukural says never to offend a great power. The Tamils know not to attack India. But these Indian analysts attempt to characterize the LTTE as a threat, maybe because their conscience desperately seeks a way to justify India’s overt material support for Rajapakse. The LTTE can barely hold onto the Vanni in Eelam War IV; It is laughable to think they would go attack India.
3. To Mr. Eeelam (comment above) and other SL Tamils. We have to all understand that we are a weak nation facing a grave crisis. This is not a time to be arrogant and spread anti-Indian rhetoric. We need to be humble and beg India to stop funding the SL army and we need to beg external powers like the USA for help. We need to be prepared to make significant concessions to external powers so that helping the SL Tamils becomes in the self-interest of these powers. We need to be humble, because if we are not humble, we will continue to perish. There are movements afoot in the Colombo establishment to make Ceylon a Sinhala Buddhist state and for the SL Tamils to slowly dwindle away over time. SL Tamils are only 3.9% of the pop. today, with I think 4/10 of that 3.9% living in the South. Another 100 years from now SL Tamils may not even exist, or if they do exist then they will definitely be considered as a dwindling minority boat people from Tamilnad. This is a crisis time. And unless we get help from an external power to liberate ourselves today, 100 years from now Sri Lankan Tamils will be like the Red Indians/Native Americans of the US.
4. But actually I change my mind about not spreading anti-Indian rhetoric. I can’t help myself. India has Blatantly betrayed the SL Tamils by giving Fonseka the red carpet. You reap what you sow India. One day I hope the SL Tamils will blatantly betray India by giving the USA a huge base in Trinco to monitor all of India’s activities. When China or US-bloc quietly gives material support to Colombo the SL Tamils realize it is just geo-politics, and we can quickly forgive. But when India, the natural cultural ally of the SL Tamils, goes and overtly gives material and emotional supports for a General who has NO respect for Tamil Lives… we really feel betrayed.
5. I would guess that it was India who gave the SLAF bunker busting bombs to take out Tamilselvan. And now I am pretty sure it was India who gave the SL Navy precise information of the location of Tiger Arms ships off the coast of Indonesia.
6. Unlike Eelam War II, today the LTTE would be crushed by the Indian Army. The Tigers are already losing to the (Indian Assisted) SLA. We need help from our Tamil brothers in Tamil Nadu, to pressure New Delhi to stop strongly supporting Rajapakse. But I feel that even sympathy from Tamil Nadu is not enough to halt Delhi’s eager support of Rajapakse.
7. Again Delhi’s moral vision has been blurred by their burning desire for vengeance. I respect countries like the USA which make Sri Lankan Aid conditional on human rights. I don’t respect India or China which see an opportunity for geo-political gain and eagerly fund Gothabya / Mahinda / Fonseka.
14. Ratna | March 14th, 2008 at 6:25 am
Srimavo took Indira for a ride.
JR took Rajiv for a ride.
Mahinda is taking Sonia (Manmohan?) for a ride.
This is another test match between India and Srilanka.
Srilanka’s objective is very clear:- Srilanka belongs to Sinhalese Buddhists.
India’s objective is not clear:- if their objective is to crush LTTE and then liberate Tamils, then it will be too late with lots of human sufferings. Then they are losing the test match again.
But if their objective is to keep the island fighting until all surrenders to India, there is a better chance for India to win.
North-East Tamils first choice will be to live in Srilanka under a federal setup.
Second choice is to live seperately in Eelam.
Third choice is to be as part of India.
More and more they live under military occupation, their thirst for independence grows.
15. Mandy | March 14th, 2008 at 6:59 am
Tamils in their comments refer to Sinhalese as idiots (Modyas). i have observed it among comments in many Tamil websites. but its funny how the context has been changed. Now all idiots seems to have evolved to fight a winning war. I wonder the where the change came from? its not just arms & equipments but also a common purpose. waiting for next few months to see
16. Mohan | March 14th, 2008 at 9:23 am
Yes, the “Big brother” is afraid. Afraid of what.. A small non-state army trying to liberate their people from state terrorism and oppression
Sorry Raman, our struggle for just peace will continue regardless of your fearmongering
Growup and deal with your real global adversaries
17. Naga UK | March 14th, 2008 at 9:53 am
How come Mr.Raman, you have not analyzed the stand of another terrorist sinhala organization apparently talking tough to the GoSL and basically supporting the cause of the LTTE appearing to talk general against granting any consessions to the Tamils - providing ample evidence to the inteernational community to think that Sinhalese in general have the agenda of only brow-beating the Tamils.
Lots of people have reason to believe that JVP is tactically operating in cahoots with LTTE!
18. Myla | March 14th, 2008 at 11:15 am
Its is very sad to see India is still talkind about one man, Rajive Ghandi. Even all the real storey behind that killing not completely proven. (Beyond Tygers).
If Indians are angry for that, what we have to do as Elam Tamils, for those innocent women raped and killed by IPKF.
19. Theepan | March 14th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
LTTE made mistake in 1987 by killing Rajiv. Now people are suffering. Those who are writing here have not visited Sri-Lanka recently. I visited in January 2008. Every 100 meters, SLA is there. Imagine When I visited Sri-Lanka in 1987, SLA is in the camp. Not in public in Jaffna or Trincomalee. Especially In Trincomalee, There are only handfuls of Sinhalese. Now few Tamils there and now Sinhalese are more than 1987. This is the reality. I am still supporter of LTTE and support of Tamil Ellam. But we should express our stand to LTTE that they made mistakes. Then only they also know there are people still supporting their (Our) cause and critical about some of their mistakes. (Mistakes include Killing Amirthalingam, Sending Muslims out of Jaffna etc)
If LTTE, had accepted the 1987 Amirthalingam brokered Indo-Lanka accord, There would not have EPRLF (Varathar) group. We could have got legitimacy in the world.
We could have developed ourselves to defend for our land and people. Now, we have lost most of the land and people whose lives once go will not come back.
How many of Diaspora people willing to send their kids to Wanni Now. Leader need more man power. Do not support War from abroad. How many kids are without their parents? Yes, you will tell me without sacrifice, you can not get Ellam. What we want is minimum sacrifices. Do not tell me how other countries become independence. Think how we can liberate ourselves from Sinhalese without having too much sacrifice. Who should we have on our side to get our freedom? There is a saying “Urreden pakkaikil verudan kedum”. We should not fight with neighbors’. Of cause we would have issues.
India would have different motives. But we should be able to convince them to stay with our cause. What if Canada decides to fight with USA now? Is it wise to fight? If Canada decides to fight, Canada would become 53rd state of USA? (Do not tell me that they did fight with USA before. Of cause they did). This does not mean Canada did not have issue with USA. They do and Canada is clever. Another would argue, do we have to give in to get something? Yes, everyone does. Start from your family and go up to world. Do not argue for the sake of arguing. You have to be clever to negotiate what is to give in and in return what is to take it back.
If you think of the past, Indra Gandhi does not want to meet Amirthalingam when Amirthalingam try first. Amirthalingam has to prove himself to Indra Gandhi. Then Indra invited Amirthalingam and chat personally. People will tell me that is past. When you know the past then you can rewrite the future properly.
We can have good fighters and loose because of lack of cleverness.
20. Indian Tamil | March 14th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
#10
We wish LTTE start fighting India and TN govt on indian soil forthwith.LTTE will meet their old friend Indian army in indian soil commanded by another vellore tamil Gen.Thamburaj,southern army commander.SARIYANA POTTI.Atleast this long standing issue will come to an end.Telling blow to the heart of India will subjugate Indians and LTTE can form peaceful ,democratic eelam and live happily everafter!!
Arrogant statements by SL Tamils indicates how badly they miss indian support….As rightly pointed out majority of indians hate LTTE and their desire for revenge is overwhelming.Better to quit anti indian rhetoric and be politically wise to engage India.Until then India and LTTE are sworn enemies and arrogant LTTE should not mind indian help to SL.
21. kurikaatuwan | March 14th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
I am also tamil from Jaffna, earlier we supported LTTE because we thought they are genuine and care about our people’s welfare.
But they do not, everyday they are kidnapping young boys and girls putting them in underground bunker to break their spirit and then sending them to front to die like flies.
Imagine at midnight your house getting surrounded by armed men with machine guns and your young sister being dragged away into a pickup and getting beaten if you or she refuses and maybe after 2 moonths you see her body thrown at your door.
LTTE is holding arms against the TAMILS !
The high command is in comfortable life in Mullaithivu and Killinocchi.
Prabhakaran’s daughter is living like princess, getting educated. His son’s are playing video games while we are getting killed for just voicing our objections to LTTE
They don’t tolerate freedom of speech, there is no freedom even to move outside of “tamil eelam” it is just a giant tiger cage.
As eela thamilar, I hope that our problem gets solved but Prabhakaran needs to die and LTTE needs to be finished off not by SLA, but by our own people.
22. 2ndClassTamil | March 14th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
Discussing Indian politics of recent times is a distressing exercise for SL Tamils. The SL Tamils have an historical, umbilical link with India through Tamil Nadu. This is something no one can deny. I know of a person who even a few days back went to India all the way from Jaffna via Colombo, braving the enormous difficulties and expenses merely to perform his religious duties at the temples in TN for his dead parents. This I mention to express the deep cultural links that are taken for granted by the SL Tamils. But, I am aware that such depth of feeling is not reciprocated from the other side, probably because of the lack of dependence in any field such as films, literature or fine arts - on SL Tamils. Take music or dace; and you will see all the SL professionals would have gone to TN for their studies at one time or another, but not the other way around. So, a lukewarm attitude of TN Tamils is understandable. But, this is not my oversees experience with them - where they socially interact as Tamils, without any barriers, merged in the common ethnicity and culture.
Given the above I view that the lack of support for the Tamil struggle in TN as due to lack of factual information and abundance of disinformation fed in TN. When a lay Indian or anyone else for that matter, reads this article, what is s/he supposed to conclude? That the Indian objective is to punish LTTE for its assassination of Rajiv Gandhi and to render it incapable of terrorism is the idea put forth.
Collectively punishing the LTTE is correct in my view if they did the assassination. Blaming the Eelam Tamils is just, but not the individuals. Just as you cannot blame Tony Blair for taking Britain into war in Iraq or President Truman for dropping the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, you cannot blame Prabaharan unless the Tamils concede that he is not their leader. Leaders make the decisions and people carry the can.
But is it believable that nations - especially one with over 1.2 billion people - would formulate their foreign policy based on an isolated contentious incident (that happened 17 years ago involving an ex PM)? What happened to the ‘permanent interests’ they had prior to the incident? Vanished? The nakedness of the current Indian propaganda (not policy) is plain to see. If the Indian policy is purely based on its opposition to secessionist policy of LTTE, then that is acceptable (and contestable too in the SL context).
Punishment of Tamils en bloc, which is how more and more Ealam Tamils view Indias stance, will not ultimately be good for the unity of India; once the mist is cleared and the reality of the struggle and the atrocities in Ealam is realised in TN. The writer rightly warns that “..the likely re-emergence of pockets of sympathy for the LTTE’s cause is an ever-present danger”. Dangerous for whom we may ask? Not to Tamils with blood ties.
The pride and satisfaction they derive from the bravery of LTTE fighters in holding back the SL army is clouding other Tamils from seeing the genocide in SL and the urgent need for sympathy and action. It is aided and abetted by the disinformation and intentional blackout of news. When a major (unreported) war is taking place at their doorstep can someone explain why there is absolute silence in the Indian media? I challenge Mr Raman to publish the daily atrocities in the North-East and see what the Indian reaction will be. We know that for a multitude of reasons he cant do that. He comes from a country where citizens are now barred from talking in support of the LTTE, but ironically allowed and encouraged to talk against them. Other civilised countries that proscribe LTTE, only bar physical and material support. No qualms about that. That is why I am able to write this comment here and Indians probably cant!. What has happened to freedom of expression in India? Are there any liberals out there? Is the Mahatma turning in his grave? The fighter he was for the oppressed and downtrodden, would he have supported the present Indian policy, which runs totally counter to his ideals? No way.
If “neutralising the LTTE” is the objective of Government of India without giving “an impression that there is a convergence of objectives between the two countries”, then good luck to their underhand scheme. The earlier they breach the Laxman Rekha the sooner TN will come to its senses seeing the duplicity at play.
23. Indian Tamil | March 14th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
#20
If ltte was so concerned with the umbilical cord association with the indian tamil,they would not have killed rajiv on TN soil.Basically you donot have any regard or respect for indian tamils.SL tamils arrogance was at display to TN people at sriperumputhur.How they will offer support to ltte?
They will feel for them but will not dramatically extend support.LTTE should stop crying in despair and better fight because they are proud about their fighting abilities.LTTE is india’s no;1 enemy.why noone seem to have realised this….As long as vp,pottu not handed over, India’s support to SL will continue.Till then LTTE should stop blaming India and concentrate on what they are good at…
24. A.Rajasingam | March 14th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
B.Raman has correctly stated the objectives of India and Sri Lanka in relation to the alertness of the LTTE. When the LTTE has been hoodwinked by the CFA and been placed in a precarious situation, there is a need for India to be watchful of the LTTE regarding the destructions (recent explosion of a suicide bomber at Modera and the explosion at Galle Road close to Roxy Gardens are cases in point) that are likely to take place both in India and Colombo and its suburbs in Sri Lanka, having realized that their justifications were not acceptable by the International Community on assassinating Rajiv Gandhi. Instead it brought disgrace to the Tamil community. India should expose the secret links the LTTE has with Al-Aqsa in Tamil Nadu and the terrorist movement in Assam and also with illegal drug traffickers and arm dealers which has been a threat to the democratic countries. Yet some heads of both parties are likely to roll down for which the LTTE would be committing crimes after crimes and it should be brought to books for war crimes. Tamil politicians are reluctant to condemn the LTTE that it is creating a destructive society and instrumental for the destruction of a generation of youth. The monitoring of India on the movements of the LTTE and other international terrorist organizations in the Indian Ocean is a great consolation to all peace loving democratic countries.
When Article 2(7) of the UN Charter discourages the intervention of other countries into the domestic affairs of a country, there will be cries of violations of human rights at a time when the government wages a battle with the LTTE (invisible). Though there are violations of human rights by the Government, it should not be forgotten that the infiltration by the LTTE in the Government Security Forces and Departments also contribute for human rights violations. It is a complex situation. In the circumstances, India should take this opportunity to apply pressure on President Mahinda Rajapakse to prove his sincerity that Tamils are assured of a dignified and honorable solution, though P.Chidambaram and G.Parthasarathy had stated earlier.
25. Rajash | March 14th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
Mr Raman I refer to your quote “The LTTE, like other international terrorist organisations”…
You are trying your best to paint the Sri Lankan Tamil struggle as an international terrorism.
It’s your privilage to suck to the Gandhi dynasty…nut not at the expense of Sri Lankan Tamils
26. Theepan | March 14th, 2008 at 10:49 pm
Who started war with IPKF and WHY? As you know when you say Army, they have characteristic of killing, Raping, etc… Even Canadian peace keeping force went to Kosovo and raped mentally retarded people at the hospital. Of cause we as Tamils hurt by IPKF… Please think twice why. If you are in IPKF position what will you do if LTTE behaved as it did behaved. LTTE does not want to have normalcy in North and East since People will forget the freedom fighting mood. That’s why LTTE started war with IPKF.
Lots of example I came bring to support this statement.
When LTTE signed the agreement with SL not to carry arms and they have to let either IPKF or SLA know why they are traveling A to B. When IPKF was there as peace keeping forces, LTTE should have respected. Why Kumarappa and others did go by boat and get caught by SL Navy? Then do not ask IPKF to release them.
If LTTE want to fight, LTTE should have fought with SLA not with our neighbors and Friends. India came as Friends and LTTE made them as enemy. Lots of people do not know SL Navy is the one caught Kumarappa group. LTTE could have negotiated cleverly. Again LTTE failed. That is why we are suffering now.
Those days, SLA scared about Indian Army That is why SLA did not fight like they are fighting now. Now they know Indian will not come for rescue and instead will help them.
As a Tamil, I do not blame IPKF. Of cause IPKF did atrocities against Tamils. My family also affected by IPKF. That time I was thinking that IPKF doing wrong. Now I realized that who made it to happen. LTTE .LTTE. I do not understand how come this simple reality these educated masters does not understand. When you fight with IPKF, you should have thought about it then not now. And also we have to blame for all others movement like PLOTE,EPRLF,TELO etc. They were with IPKF, and fight against Tamils.
Anyhow, LTTE is the only fighting force for Tamil against Sinhalese Government. LTTE made mistakes. That is why achieving Tamil Eelam is going far away. Regardless their mistakes I support LTTE morally. But I would oppose if they do wrong within and outside.
27. crazy oldman sl | March 15th, 2008 at 3:17 am
The natural inclination of the state to subjugate all like organizations in its neighborhood which refuse to accept and acknowledge its suzerainty and facilitate the advancement of its interests is in no way foreign to the Indian National State. There is no need for any citizen of any state to feel embarrassed by this behavior of the state of which he is a citizen and there is certainly no need to apologize for such behavior or to try and present such behavior as anything other than what it is.
The nature of the state is of course expressed by those human actors who align themselves with its interests and so the contradictory interests of nation states play out through the conflicting behavior of these human actors. The delusion that these contradictions can be resolved by removing the human actors through whose lives they are expressed is one that sweeps through human consciousness from time to time. One such episode encompassed the assassination of Indira Gandhi of India followed by that of President Zia Ul Haq of Pakistan who was expertly taken out along with a cohort of high level players. This was followed by the Assassination of Rajive Gandhi who was just beginning to emerge as a charismatic leader of the Indian People and the next to go was President Premadasa of Sri Lanka. More recently Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan - another charismatic leader - has been killed. Just beyond the horizon but firmly fixed in the minds of many who man the Indian National State is the doctrine of the ‘Decapitation of the LTTE’ which is nothing more than the same doctrine of assassination sought to be legitimized by dressing it up in the garb of a pious vengeance for the assassination of Rajive. Assassination as an attempt to manage relations between states continues despite its doubtful track record as far as success is concerned.
The legitimacy of the Nation State however lies in its service to its citizens and so its success must be measured by the extent to which it is able to defend and advance the interests of those who are its citizens. Similarly the Nation States of the world today are bound by certain minimum standards in their relationship with each other as well as to the people who are their citizens. It is the duty of everey state - if it wishes to find acceptance as a legitimate one - is to ensure that it provides a very high level of service to its citizens, defends and advances their interests and maintains globally agreed minimum standards in its interactions with other states as well as with its citizens.
The LTTE - better knows as ‘The Tigers’ are an outcome of the failure of the Sri Lankan state in all these respects. Unfortunately for the Sri Lankan Tamil people whose interests these ‘Tigers’ seek to defend and advance, this organization has begun to take on the character of an emergent state with a charismatic leader who has led his forces into war against two national armies and who has liberally used the doctrine of assassination as a political method, to wipe out all those who sought to wipe him out first. The conflict within the island has thus grown from a movement for the liberation of the Sri Lankan Tamil people into a full blown emergence of a Tamil National State. States, like human siblings, do not welcome any additions to their ranks and like humans will bitterly fight against the inclusion of any aspiring entity into their ranks especially if that entity insists on its independence from the suzerainty of already prevailing states. The Sri Lankan Tamils can therefore be assured of continuing genocidal attacks by the government of Sri Lanka with the full and active support of all other states as well as sporadic retaliatory attacks by the LTTE until the LTTE capitulates to or overcomes the pressures it is being subjected to in an attempt to subjugate the LTTE.
28. Rajash | March 15th, 2008 at 3:31 am
Sinhalease are known as majority with a minority complex
is B Raman suggesting that mighty India is also developing a minority complex towards the tiny probable Eelam state.
How does Sri Lankan Tamils achieve this
29. V Siva | March 15th, 2008 at 8:56 am
Dear Raman,
Are you an agent of Rajapakse? You must remember the disgraceful exit of IPKF and the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister refused to areceive them.
The young South Indians will realise oneday that the Government of India (GOI) is not in the best interset of Sotuh Indians and DEMAND for CHNAGE and SEPARATION. That will be a late wake up call for the North Indians.
The world is weatching India’s conduct and behaviour that supports the Warloads and GOSL that commits Crimes against Humanity. India under the Sonia and Dr. Singh can no longer boasts that they are champion of democracy, Human Rights and freedom.
North Indian chuvinism will not work in the South for long and Eelam is a reality!
30. ATL | March 15th, 2008 at 10:42 am
A Well written article about the changes that are occurring in the Indian policy towards Srilanka.
Most of the comments are like shooting the messenger. Readers of this article should keep in mind B. Raman in neither a policy maker nor advisor to the policy makers. He is just analyzing the shift in Indian policy as an Indian.
When the author states, ‘But the likely re-emergence of pockets of sympathy for the LTTE’s cause is an ever-present danger.’ It is a warning to the Indian policy makers. Any attempt to directly support one of the Tamil civilian murderers will backfire. (The murderers include GOSL, LTTE, TMVP and EPDP.) With all these killers and no solution in sight what can the Tamils do?
What the LTTE supporters refuse to accept is Tamils in TN consider themselves first as Indians and then Tamils. During the LTTE ‘IPKF war, I was in TN. My Indian Tamil friends who supported each and every fund raisers and demonstrations for the Eelam cause slowly changed their position. One of my friend, after reading about the death of IPKF soldiers, looked at me and said, ‘we should kick you out’. That change in support must be complete after the murder of RG. It is ignorance to state that India tried to kill VP during the IPKF operations. I know for a fact that New Delhi ordered the Indian forces to withdraw three times when Prabaharan was surrounded.
The Indian policy makers supporting the GOSL should keep in mind, not all tamils are LTTE. There are hundreds of tamils (may be thousands) murdered by LTTE. For the LTTE-IPKF war the then GOSL gave monetary and material support to the LTTE. The always oppressed Srilankan Tamil population were also stunned by the Rajiv’s murder. They might have been mum, but did not support the murder of RG. India should not forget, (may be should know) when Indira Gandhi died, 3 tamil civilians in Jaffna were shot dead by the SLA when they tried to hoist black flags. The black flags were flying in only Srilanka’s NE region. The TN tamils might not be supporting the LTTE but always have and will sympathize with the Srilankan tamils. LTTE should be punished for the crime they committed, but not the whole tamil population.
India has the power and an obligation to force GOSL to formulate and implement a just solution for the Srilankan Tamils. Then the tamils will surely help bring the Rajiv’s murderers to justice. Till then the suffering for the tamils will continue. For India the fear of ‘re-emergence of pockets of sympathy for the LTTE’s cause’ will continue. For GOSL the fear of suicide attacks and deaths of political leaders and sinhala civilians will continue. The winner in the present situation is LTTE.
31. kurikaatuwan | March 15th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
LTTE guerillas are a bunch of losers. Most of the hardcore cadres joined because they failed A levels or just wanted to carry arms. Now the can’t leave LTTE because Prabhakaran will kill them or jail them.
If LTTE is so caring about our people, why did they build a three storey jail in Visuvamadu, Mullaitivu district before August 2006.
Prabhakaran thought he would have to imprison 1/3 of Jaffna population because they supported army all this time. What a madman he wants to put our own people in an underground jail.
It is far better to live with Singhalese people than with the bloodthirsty and communist tamil tigers.
Today us tamils have lost our culture, social network and are living in falsehod overseas. After 1 generation they will forget about sri lanka, our language everything.
Time to act against LTTE is NOW !
32. J J | March 15th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
I do not want to go into complicated issuses. Acording to Mr Raman’s view majority of the I ndians cannot forgive the killing of Rajeev Gandhi. Let us analyse what happned before the unfortunate incident .
1) India ( in the early 80’s) feels threathend by Sri Lanka’s open market economy and the alliance with the west. ( mind the cold war)
2) India wants to bring Sri Lanka under it’s control.
3) The Tamil problem simmers.
4) India (Indira) see’s an opotunity.
5) 83 anti Tamil riots takes place.
6) India desides the time is ripe.
7) India trains Tamil militant groups.
8) India fails to control one group which is LTTE to accept theri version of solution. 19th state?
9) Indira gets killed by her personal Gard of sheih origin. Any guess as to who was behind this?
10) Rajeev emerges to power.
11) Rajeev see’s things differently. ( any guess who is behind this)
12) He see’s LTTE as a threat.
1`3) He sanctions the execution of Prabaharan while he meets the IPKF on pease keeping issues.(stabing behind the back)
14) Indian General refuses to carry out orders by the Indian Authority due to issues of ethics.
15) War errupts as LTTE smells rat.
16) Indian Army commits un imaginable attrocities against the same people who regarded them as saviors.
17) War with LTTE ends with the withdrawal oI IPKF
due to heavy casualities and on the request of the Sri Lankan Government.
18)Rajeev Gandhi executed, probably by LTTE.
Now let us have a free and open analysis.
Indra Gandi was killed by a shiek but shiek community is not punnished.
Rajeev Gandi was kiled presumably by LTTE and the entire Sri LankanTamil community is being punnished.
If the Indians can accept or stomach the killing of Indira for the Golden temple affair, why cannot they do the same with Rjeeve Gandi’s killing as the army under his control killed more than 6000 unarmed and inocent ciovilians and raped hundreds including women over 70 years not to metion the teens or raping the lady while the husband and the children were forced to watch.
Here we are talking about two respected leaders.
Rajeev Gandhi, who was respected by most of the the Indians and Prabaharan respected by most of the Eealam Tamils.
33. sri | March 15th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
Mr Raman is actually sending a message to the international powers and to Sri Lankan leaders. Leave Sri Lanka alone it is within the Indian sphere of influence!
India knows best how to solve the Sri Lankan problem.It was the Indira doctrine and also the consistent policy from the days of Indian independence struggle.
During the Indira/Rajiv period, India approached this issue from the Tamil side .Now it is from the side of GOSL. This is the only difference.
The message simply means that India and not, USA, China,EU or Pakistan is the natural ally of Sri Lanka and instill this message in the hearts and mind of all concerned.
The Indian ruling classes believe to bring the Sinhala leadership under the Indian sphere of influence using the Tamil issue.
.This is the geo political reality. The big powers have permanent interests and no conscience.
In this process if there is genocide, let there be.
This is the cold blooded foreign policy!
India is very happy about the uncomfortable situation Sri Lanka presently is with respect to Human Rights issue and the hostile posture of the international community towards the GOSL.
This is a golden opportunity and things are moving according to the script. The LTTE is on one side and the international powers on the other side.
The GOSL is trapped.
The only way out for Sri Lanka is India.
What a pleasant development for India!
Like the Fox in Panchathanthra, India is greedily waiting with anticipation for the inevitable!
In this scheme the Sri Lankan Tamils are an insignificant entity, but have a utility value in order to teach the Sinhala leaders a lesson or two.
They will glorify LTTE’s military prowess to show that only Indian intelligence and the Indian military could destroy LTTE permanently, not Chinese, American, Israli or Pakistani military.
The Indian policy makers should read read again and again and digests the Sinhala history to understand the mindset of the Sinhala Buddhist ideology.
The Indians try to cheat the Tamils both Indian and Sri Lankan by talking about a political solution mirage.
The history of the Sinhala people is the history of war with the Indians/Tamils.
For the last 2500 years Sinhalese are struggling to defend their faith and culture from the invading Indian forces. The Indians are waiting for an opportunity to destroy the language, religion and culture and their unique civilization that exists only in Sri Lanka.
The easiest way to whip up Sinhala emotion is to use Indian Conspiracy. It always worked.
It has worked for Anagarika Dharmapala, S.W.R.D.Bandaranaike and Rohana Wijeweera.
It will work for Mahinda and Somawansa too.
If you are in difficulties, the easiest way is to blame the Indians/Tamils and be a Sinhala Budhist hero.
This is very simple.
The historical temporary alliances of Sinhalese with the Tamil kingdoms-Chera, Chola and Pandiya’s were numerous and the results were always the same!
This time it is not going to be any different!
34. Indian Tamil | March 15th, 2008 at 11:34 pm
Dear Raman,
Please donot write about Rajivgandhi.SL tamils will never understand/realise their follies in the dastardly murder committed by ltte on indian soil.Many of them justify as revenge or strategic killing to safeguard SL tamils.
As an indian tamil ,request you to refrain from writing on or hinting anything regarding Rajiv’s killing.Your strategic analysis also will be ridiculed by our SL tamils.Instead of writing your expert analysis ,request you to provide your expert advice to the indian govt to wipe out ltte decisively.Either India should openly take a stand with SL govt or totally refrain from involving in SL affairs otherthan economic help.This laxman rekha concept shows India in poor light which you seem to have very satisfied with.If you like to uphold the dignity of the office you once held,advice indian govt to take an assertive role either to support SL govt openly militarily,economically while controlling IC to shutup till ltte wiped out or if you are worried about TN people like us,then support SL economically and forget about military help.
TN people ,majority barring vaiko,thiruma donot mind India’s aggressive policies.However your laxman rekha indicates India is still a impotent power despite becoming a economic super power.Indians hold Rajiv in very high esteem whereas SL tamils are not and donot condemn his murder, rather gloat about the successful murder in all forums.Repeatedly bringing Rajiv into the indian analysis willnot help.
Being an ex diplomat you seem to underestimate Indian Army,and fear about Ltte.Even if your worries are justified,will you advice the indian govt tobe more assertive in exercising steps to wipeout ltte .If you cannot advice then pls donot write about indian worries regarding ltte.It is unbecoming of a super power…Shame on you ex diplomats and ex intelligence guys like col.hari.I blame on you guys for misguiding IPKF as well as then indian govt that ended in debacle and costed the life of a charismatic ,futuristic great leader Rajiv.
You diplomats never allowed IPKF to fight authoritatively with full mandate of govt of India.Always interferred and monitored IPKF soass not to catch VP.Also left the island just on one request of premadasa without finishing the issue.Till today SL tamils are suffering because of your stupid laxman rekha policies of moving every step cautiously like a coward.No wonder Indian Army hates bureaucrates and politicians as kurtawallahs.please read karan thapar’s article in hindustan times today,about Army’s view on civilian counterparts
35. Indian Tamil | March 15th, 2008 at 11:54 pm
Dear Raman,
Politicians and diplomats ordered Indian Army to recapture tiger hill and tololing in Kargil without crossing the LC(line of control).This ended in the death of thousands of valiant Indian army officers and men.Another example of cautious laxman rekha type approach our diplomats impose on Army.
Army was never allowed to cross the LC and mount a rear attack,which could have saved many combatants.Instead ordered them to mount frontal attack thro a disasterous mountain climb.India is rightly planning to introduce compulsory military training to all diplomats especially of home,external affairs and defence ministries.
36. crazyoldmansl | March 16th, 2008 at 1:05 am
Simple JJ. Prabhakaran is a tamil not a sikh. The pundits in the north and their brahmin priests like Raman who is one of them HATE the DARK SKINNED southern people specially the TAMILS. They cannot take the fact that Rajive Gandhi one of their white skinned brothers, tried to kill the black skinned prabhakaran and that prabhakaran got wind of his plans and killed him first. Thats all there is to this famous Indian policy on the sri lankan tamils.
37. Zona | March 16th, 2008 at 5:33 am
I dont think people of India think of Rajiv Gandhi in a significant way now a days. The BJP government lost power due to the anti incumbency factor mostly from rural India and in spite of this, Congress did not get a majority on its own.
Recently during the election at Gujarath, Rahul Gandhi talked about Rajiv and Indira rule etc and the Congress got trounced. India is like a country with many powerful regional states who have their own agendas and are able to hold its central government to ransom, at will.
Luckily for the central government, there is no strong government in Tamilnadu that can raise a larger Tamil equation. Karunanidhi, aside from writing poems and letters to the PM, is capable of little else, as his sole focus is on his own family’s welfare and will never do anything to upset their hold on power.
38. Subra S.Massey | March 16th, 2008 at 7:51 am
India must help the Tamils and the singhlese without impartial attitude. The Tamils all over the world are aligning with the US. and then you know what happened at Kosovo. How about if US starts chipping off at India.
India also must bring about some major socio-political changes to treat all people as equal.
39. Indian Tamil | March 16th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
#37
Please note that irrespective of whichever political party comes to power ,the SL policy will continue.You can observe this trend even when BJP ruled for 8 years.
Dont rely on India ,continue your support to LTTE as usual .
40. Expatriate | March 16th, 2008 at 10:31 pm
Indian Tamil,
I am not someone who argues that the assassination of RG on Indian soil was right. But that doesn’t make it moral for India to provide any support to the GOSL, overt or covert.
The failure of many Indians, including the likes of Raman and Hariharan, to see the Rajapakse regime for what it really is– a gangster regime that operates death squads to abduct and murder people, and thinks that by murdering innocent Tamils (and some Sinhalese too) indiscriminately through aerial bombing, claymore mines, etc., it can defeat the LTTE. It is probably the worst regime in Sri Lanka since independence in terms of respecting human rights.
Your failure to see that means either you are ignorant or you willfully disregard the enormity of the crime you are assisting with. If it is the former, it is for you to educate yourself. If it is the latter, you will face the consequences–it is not a threat, just my belief that justice eventually prevails, though it sometimes takes a long time..
Moreover, the assertion that India is a superpower is often made by Indians themselves, with no agreement from others. It is true that in the last two decades, India has made major strides economically…and it has a strong defense force… But India’s internal fissures are too many and the number of people below poverty level still too high that any projections of continued linear growth at the pace of last two decades is not very credible.
Besides, an economy based on outsourcing and call centers is at the mercy of the economies of the West. A global recession is on the way and it will test India.
Anyway, that is besides the point. The main thing is that India needs to make a decision that everybody has to make in their lives: self-interest (to support crime and expediency) vs human rights (truth, justice and morality) in its Sri Lankan policy.
.
41. ATL | March 16th, 2008 at 11:03 pm
Regarding comments of Indian Tamil,
Sir,
Look back to 1983. There were no SL Tamil leaders in TN. The protest and the support were spontaneous. When I said in my previous comment regarding the TN Tamils, I state they are Indians first and Tamils next. I will also tell you one more thing you are a minority if you thing TN Tamils will agree to anything and everything the Central govt. does that will cause death to tamil civilians.
My SL Tamil Leaders never betrayed India even though they were asked by then superpowers. They were murdered by LTTE because they saw the intensions of the then peace accord. The results were bad, but still good politicians and historians look at the intensions and work towards the good of the people they represent.
I hope the central govt. will not try this, but if they do and it causes civilian deaths in NE of Srilanka, you will see mass protests (perhaps violent) in TN. You will also see people like me, who are anti LTTE and supporters of India, go against India. Though I love India and will like to see India as a super power, cannot accept betrayal against my people.
Till now I have argued that the intentions of Indo-Srilanka accord was for the good of SL Tamils, and the results do not justify the intensions.
I look at the intensions and not the results. You can be sure I will do the same in the future.
If the future intension (Policies) of India is acknowledged as revenge rather than just and friendly towards my people, and my people pay for a crime they did not commit, you will see the consequences from people like me. You might ask what an oppressed people can do against a growing super power. Let me tell you, a betrayed, desperate race that has nothing to loose can do a lot of damage. This is not a threat to anyone else, but to people like you.
42. Sri | March 17th, 2008 at 6:09 am
Mr Raman,
We want India to take an enlightened approach to this problem faced by Sri Lanka.. All SARRC countries other than India including Myanmar are still having problems about nation building. When you look at Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Sri Lanka it is self evident.
India has magnificently had carried out this task of nation building. The only problem areas are Kashmir and the North East. But the way India is approaching these issues is praise worthy.
It is clear that the solution is not far off. It is not the Indian army that is keeping India together. It is the free will of the people themselves. They have their grievances and petty quarrels for instance for sharing of river water.
But overall there is unity. If it is possible for India why not for Sri Lanka. Why the differences in Sri Lanka seems to be irreconcilable.
India could help not only the Tamils, but the Sinhalese and Muslims as well.they need not interfere on behalf of any community at the expecs of any other community
.Sri Lanka is part of India, geographically, politically, economically and culturally.
Sri lanka will neutrally fall into the cultural mosaic of India India should not and need not think in terms of revenge and tit for tat in their relationship with any community in Sri Lanka.
It is not RAW but Mother India that should take the upper hand!
Mr Raman could you help in this endeavor!
43. Justin | March 17th, 2008 at 9:17 am
The article by D.Raman reveals the impartiality, indifference and revengeful attitude of India towards the Tamils in the North East.
Refering to the LTTE he says “the Indian objective is to punish it for its assassination of Rajiv Gandhi and to render it incapable of terrorism”
Two conclusions arise from this statement.
Firstly, India is a participant in the war in Sri Lanka. India is not neutral as it pretends to the International Community. India is an accomplice in Human Rights violations in Sri Lanka
Secondly, if the concern of India is terrorism, how come India actively supports the state terror activities of the armed forces of Sri Lanka.
India is making the greatest blunder in history by supporting the criminal government of Sri Lanka; encouraging them to engage in murder, disappearance, torture and rape of civilians.
India is no longer a non violent “Gandhi country” started by Mahatma Gandhi, seeking justice for mankind. It is a country that promotes state terror, murder, disappearance, displacement and torture in other countries.
Will Indian union stand for long or will it crumble like the Soviet Union?
44. Indian Tamil | March 17th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
#41
ATL,
Till today,there is no protest by major political parties of TN against SL policies of Newdelhi except insignificant rallies by thiruma,nedu,kolathur mani and vaiko.I need not emphasis about jaya,karuna….etc who are opposition and ruling parties of TN respectively .PMK shouted to stop military assistance to SL which is non existent otherthan few defensive radars.So iam not in minority .Majority of the people who represents TN tamils support policies of centre.Or else by now, in these last 20 years there would have been scores of agitations launched against Newdelhi.Never happened??
LTTE is a banned terrorist organisation worldwide.India fights against terrorism in north and northeast.India will not allow spread of LTTE in TN.India stands for unity and integrity of SL, demonstrated in letter and spirit since 1987.India for peaceful ,negotiated settlement.Whatelse you need from India?.Intentions are well disposed to everyone.If SL tamils support intransigent LTTE and donot wish to come to negotiation table,whose fault is this?Don’t blame India..why don’t you blame china,pak,US,EU….JAPAN etc.
You talk about intentions several times.What was the intention behind killing Rajiv?.Revenge or Riots against TN tamils by other states so that your thalaivar can fight for bigger territory and rule tamils happily everafter…
We were with SL tamils till IPKF episode.You have easily forgotten the gesture of karuna when IPKF landed.SL tamils could have built a meaningful case with the help of strong support of TN tamils.Remember we maybe art lovers,movie maniacs but our tamil political parties are the king makers in Delhi.
You have concluded your comment with a typical vengeful,arrogant SL tamil style.SL tamils have already done a major damage to India by killing Rajiv.No Indian can put that incident out of one’s mind.Donot threaten people like me, it is not worth it…
45. Indian Tamil | March 17th, 2008 at 10:36 pm
#40
Expatriate
India stands for unity and integrity of SL.Need not emphasis the sincerity of the statement as it was repeatedly demonstrated by India since 1987.India,for political ,peaceful solution within unified SL.Rajapakse offered his political solution under 13th amendment.There is no SL tamil leader who came forward to negotiate or even engage SL govt.All SL tamil leaders worthy of such political status have already been killed by LTTE.I would appreciate if you perform introspective analysis on your shortcomings,instead of blaming India for welcoming Rajapakse’s peace solution as a first step to peace.Intransigent LTTE and their SL tamil supporters are responsible for the plight of innocent SL tamils NOT India.Knowing SL tamils ,I think,India is practising such cautious approach towards ehtnic issue.We Indians, along with the world,will face the consequences.
For being a Super Power,first, the state or the nation concerned should have sizable territorial presence in terms of the size of the population. Secondly, such a state should have high levels of domestic cohesion, clear sense of national identity and stable administration based on strong legal and institutional arrangements. Thirdly, the state concerned should be economically well to do and should be endowed with food security and natural resources, particularly energy resources and infrastructural resources in terms of minerals and metals. Such a state should have a strong industrial base backed by productive capacities and technological knowledge. Then the state concerned should have military capacities, particularly nuclear and missile weapons capabilities at least comparable to, if not of higher levels than other countries which may have similar capacities.India fits in easily.
Newsweek, and the International Herald Tribune join several academics in discussing India’s potential of becoming a superpower. With 9.4% GDP growth in 2007, Goldman Sachs predicts that as 700 million Indians are expected to move to cities by 2050, the Indian economy may surpass the United States’s (in US$) by 2043.
India has moved onto a much faster growth trajectory than the worldbank had previously expected, fueled by strong and steady productivity gains in its legions of new factories, which are producing everything from brassieres to cars.
India’s strength lies in its demographics; More than 50% of India’s population is under 25. IMF, says “India has a great potential to become an economic super power because of its growing young population. A young population coupled with the second largest English-speaking population in the world could give India an advantage over China.Other factors contributing to India’s emergence as a superpower include democracy and its status as a nuclear power.
Factories of China and India’s Knowledge industry such as IT and BPO,call centres are all linked to developed west.Noone can escape if these economies fail.
We are still not yet there.But premiers of UK,France &China acknowledged the need to include India in the security council.We dont mind if SL tamils disagree.
46. N | March 17th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
Indian Tamil you are a disgrace, not because you support India over giving any support to GOSL but because of your willful ignorance. Stop projecting hatred for the LTTE on to SL tamils. You refer to SL tamils as if they deserve the treatment they are receiving from the GOSL. Please remove the Tamil from your name Indian Tamil because you are an ignorant Indian, nothing else.
****Do not bother responding, there is no point arguing with a closed mind and yours is nailed shut.
47. Perumal | March 18th, 2008 at 8:40 am
Mr Raman, Can you please answer me this question?
When Mrs Indira Gandhi was shot dead by a Sikh, India suffered the loss of a great leader. The Sikhs were not collectively punished for such an act because Indira Gandhi was also wong in sending military into the Sikh Temple to kill Sikh militants, including Bindiranwale.
Sikhs were forgiven and forgotten for the murder without any apology or pre conditions.Today a Sikh is even a prime minister of India.
Rajiv Gandhi was killed by a Tamil suicide bomber. India suffered the loss of a leader. Though Rajiv and the IPKF were totally wrong in handling the Tamil Eelam problem in the island of former Ceylon and killed many civilians, Tamils are being collectively punished in India and Tamil Eelam with much veangence by India.
Why is this happening?
48. Indian Tamil | March 18th, 2008 at 8:48 am
#46
N
Please read comment #21 by kurikaatuwan.Truth is bitter and agonizing(Unmai kasakkum).
49. Expatriate | March 18th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Indian Tamil,
I don’t have the time to get into a full debate about these issues here. But you really have a very simplistic view about the nature of the Rajapakse regime and the 13th amendment.
Fortunately there are many fair-minded and well-informed Indians here in the US who see the SL regime for what it is and are committed to human rights.
The irony is that many of them are from other states like Kerala, Andhra, Maharastra, Delhi and West Bengal, while some people from Tamil Nadu who call themselves Tamils think they have to suck it up to whatever policy is hatched in New Delhi and ignore the horrendous human rights abuses in Sri Lanka–to pass all of the blame for the grave abuses onto the intransigence of the LTTE in incredibly na’ve–, or the fact that India’s past involvement can also be held as reason for the current imbroglio in SL.
When someone calls Rajapakse his friend, he has an obligation to explain why he remains friends with a person whose hands are stained with the blood of innocents. India is in such a position and needs to explain why human rights are not important to a country that aspires to be part of the Security Council.
And keep in mind that while we in the Diaspora retain our heritage as SL Tamils, when we comment on Indian claims of being (or becoming) a super power, etc., it reflects our views as citizens of the countries where we live, where we participate in the political process, including in the discourse on whether these countries should admit India into the security council.
50. Indian Tamil | March 18th, 2008 at 10:09 pm
49#
Expatriate
Thanks to heritage conscious SL tamil diaspora,for restraining US from acknowledging the need to include India in security council.
In addition to US Indian tamils,even the majority of the Indian tamils here in India too suck up to the policies of Delhi.Bengalis,telugus…and other state fair minded guys living in US maynot have grasped the barbarity of LTTE.
51. Devinda Fernando | March 24th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
The More I read the less I come here… I thought Facebook was bad, debating the Morons of the Youth Diaspora and having to listen to their Unceasing Relentless Braying of the same old talking points and Rhetoric that they pick up from their local LTTE recruiting station…. I figured here on TransCurrents or Federal Idea I might find a worthy Debate Adversary to actually exchange Points and Counter-Point,….in a Logical methodical fashion, but you people are nothing more than the Deluded Parents of the Indoctrinated Children who say the same BS on Facebook….
Not a single thought of your own, you people speak in Poetic and Rhetoric terms, never going beyond your General, Vague, Broad Brush stroke comments. Pathetic, truly Pathetic.
52. Manori | April 2nd, 2008 at 7:42 am
You don’t rape your own mother at home & say sorry do you?
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