Credibility of Batticaloa Local Authority Polls Amidst Culture of Fear
March 22nd, 2008
by D.B.S.Jeyaraj
A proud claim by President Mahinda Rajapakse’s government during its military offensive in the Eastern province was that the armed forces were liberating Tamil civilians from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
The Rajapakse regime also boasted that no civilian was harmed when the security forces moved into the regions dominated by the tigers.
Foreign affairs minister Rohitha Bogollagama stressed this point when addressing members of the diplomatic community to explain the military successes of the east.
This columnist then wrote a series of articles in another newspaper exposing the blatant falsehoods and hollow propaganda of these claims.
[Walking past an office of the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal Party Pic: Pablo Bartholomew NYTimes.com]
Technically the Rajapakse regime was correct in claiming that no civilian was harmed when the armed forces were physically moving into former LTTE controlled areas like Sampoor, Verugal, Vaakarai and the Western hinterland of Paduvaankarai (shore of the setting sun).
This was due to the fact that most civilians had vacated or been forced to evacuate from their homes prior to the armed forces moving in. Thus most of these places were virtually deserted when the military juggernaut rolled in.
In such a situation there were no civilian casualties simply because there were no people there. So there were no incidents during the physical occupation of areas controlled by the LTTE.
The government was therefore telling the “truth” partially in making these claims.
But the whole truth was starkly different.
The security forces had engaged in aerial bombardment and artillery shelling of the LTTE regions for weeks and months before the actual act of moving in took place. Hundreds of civilians were killed or injured. Their dwellings were destroyed or damaged.
Moreover these tiger controlled regions were in a state of siege for a long period during which the supply of food, medicine and essential items was restricted.Transport was curtailed. The chief means of livelihood , Agriculture , fisheries and dairy - livestock were affected.
All these were part of a cruel but effective strategy to compel the civilians into moving out from their traditional homelands.
So the people for no fault of their own were made “internally displaced persons”. At one stage the number of the IDP’s topped 350,000 in Batticaloa and Trincomalee. B’caloa in particular became a district of the displaced.
It was Mao Ze Dong who compared guerillas amidst the people to fish in an ocean.
The idea was to deny the “guerilla fish” the “ocean of people” to swim about
This strategy did succeed in the East. It is now being followed to a certain extent in the Vavuniya - Mannar districts of the North.
Despite the government boasting that no civilian was harmed when the armed forces seized tiger territory the reality was different.
The civilians had indeed been affected severely but not during the time when the armed forces were actually moving in.What the government did then was to obscure and distort the reality for propaganda purposes.
The recently concluded polls to local authorities in the Batticaloa district of the Eastern Province evokes a sense of Deja Vu.
Once again the Rajapakse regime is boasting about restoring democracy to the East. It is also citing the very low level of violence on election day and during the election campaign as proof of the polls being free and fair.
Much is being made of the low level of violence and government propagandists are pouring scorn on those who expressed pessimism about the polls being free or fair.
The situation is reminiscent of the times of eastern military offensives.
Yes it is true that the level of violence was very low if not altogether absent during election day. The “campaign” too was significantly devoid of major violence in the Tamil areas.
Comparatively the violence in Muslim areas was more than what happened in the Tamil areas.
The overall argument of the Government is that the Batticaloa local authority elections were free and fair.
If one were to look at what happened on polling day in a superficial manner without any understanding of the complexities involved it is possible to arrive at such a conclusion.
But the devil as they say is in the details.
In this instance it was not actual election day and the polls campaign that mattered but what went on before those developments in the East in general and Batticaloa in particular.
There was a time when the people of Batticaloa were caught between tiger terror and state terror.
With the conquest of tiger territory by the armed forces and large - scale re-location of LTTE cadres from the east , the threat of one terror has diminished.
The elections witnessed the tigers being conspicuous by their absence.
This has not been the case in the other type of terror.
The LTTE may not be there but the mantle of terror is now worn by its off - shoot the Tamil Makkkal Viduthalai Puligal (TMVP)
In plain English the TMVP means Tamil People Liberation Tigers.
The TMVP is nominally headed by “Col” Karuna now languishing in a British jail.
[Pillaiyaan casts his vote at a polling station in Pettalai, Pic: Eranga Jayawardena, via Yahoo! News]
In practice , the TMVP is led by his deputy leader Pillaiyaan who is now the most” powerful” Tamil in the East.
The TMVP functions as a para - military force in association with the security forces. It practises terror as a matter of routine.
The state and sections of the media who complained loudly against LTTE terror are deafeningly silent about TMVP terror simply because these guys are our guys or “Apey Kollo”.
In a bid to gain respectability the TMVP contested the recent elections. In the B’caloa municipality the TMVP contested under the aegis of the government adopting the betel symbol of the UPFA.
The TMVP has made a clean sweep of the B’caloa municipality and eight Pradeshia Sabhas it contested.
What is important in this so called victory is the fact that these polls occurred in a climate of calculated terror. Thus there is a serious crisis of credibility about elections amidst a culture of fear.
An important aspect of these elections is that apart from the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, all other contesting parties and independent groupings were connected to the Governmen in some way.
The chief opposition party the United National Party (UNP) and the premier Tamil party the Tamil National Alliance did not participate.
Thus the SLMC was the only credible “opposition” party to participate in these elections.
The absence of the UNP and TNA practically eliminated the necessity for a hard - fought election in the Tamil majority areas. This was a major contributory factor to the low level of violence in the Tamil areas.
Because of SLMC participation and the on going feud between Kattankudi’s Hizbullah and Oddamavaddy’s Ameer Ali the level of violence was considerably higher in the Muslim majority areas.
If the SLMC did not contest then the violence would have been much reduced in Muslim areas also.
If there is one political party deserving boquets for democratic performance that party is the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress.
Apart from the risk it ran of encountering violence during the elections the SLMC also withstood great pressures while campaigning.
The only signs of genuine electioneering were only in areas where the SLMC campaigned.
The Police and Government officials were heavily “biased ” against the SLMC. Many of its complaints were not taken note of by the authorities.
Despite the odds being against it, the SLMC performed creditably. It appears that around 75% - 80 % of the Muslim votes cast were in favour of the SLMC.The SLMC got the most number of Muslim local representatives.
The SLMC has demonstrated that it is the premier political party representing the Muslims in general and of the East in particular.
During earlier local authority polls the SLMC won 11 of the 13 Muslim majority local authorities in the East. The only two it failed in were Oddamavaddy and Akkaraipatru where Ameer Ali and Athaullah exercised considerable influence.
The current elections were for local authorities dominated by Tamils. There is a sizable Muslim population in some of these local authority areas but the Muslim are only a minority here.
Besides these mixed areas are only in the littoral “Eluvankarai” or shore of the rising sun. The hinterland is homogenously Tamil.
Theoretically , keenly contested elections may have been possible in the Tamil areas if the UNP and TNA had contested.
This did not happen and that is the main reason for the comparative absence of election related violence in the Tamil areas of the district.
The reason for the UNP and TNA keeping away from elections was due to terror and fear.
If these parties had dared to contest the candidates would have been snuffed out or made to disappear. Close relatives and active supporters would also have suffered.
Moreover free and fair campaigning would not have been possible. Vote rigging and ballot box stuffing would have been rampant.
Since the UNP and TNA did not contest there was no necessity for large - scale violence or fraud. Thus the polls have a thin veneer of being free and fair.
A culture of fear caused by a climate of terror has been spreading in the district. It was this that deterred the TNA and UNP from contesting.
The TNA has been at the receiving end of anti - tiger violence in the east for quite a while now.
TNA national list MP Joseph Pararajasingham was shot dead by the TMVP in a Catholic Church. Former TNA Amparai district MP Chandranehru Ariyanayagam was shot dead at Welikande by the TMVP. Several elected TNA members of eastern local authorities in Trincomalee and Amparai districts have been killed.
There was also the spectacle of close relatives and aides of TNA Parliamentarians being abducted by the TMVP during budget voting days. The son in law of Kanagasabhai , brother of Ariyanendran, son in law of Jeyanandamoorthy’s sister and the secretary of Ms. Thangeswary were all abducted to intimidate the MP’s into refraining from voting against the budget.
It was obvious therefore that the TNA would have been subject to terrible violence if they had dared to contest.
Thus by restricting participation the violence succeeded in preventing a free and fair election from taking place from the time that nominations closed.
Moreover violence and intimidation was prevalent to some degree at least. Some incidents were reported but many went unreported.
The TMVP forced many persons to “contest” on their lists. Some who refused like the teacher trade unionist Nandakumar were killed.
The “opposition” to the TMVP came from the EPDP - PLOTE - EPRLF independent groups and the EDF group. These are also linked to the government. By participating some semblance of a contest was afforded to the polls.
Even here the close relative of EROS local leader Prabakharan was abducted and killed by the TMVP.Also local supporters were warned that if any posters came up they would be killed. So the few non - TMVP posters came up only near army camps and police stations.
But in the grand scheme of things envisaged by the Rajapakse regime Jaffna is for the EPDP and Wanni for PLOTE but Batticaloa is for TMVP.
So the EPDP and PLOTE may be given a place but certainly not pride of place in Batticaloa.
The lions share in Batticaloa is for the renegade tiger faction .
The TMVP also terrified many Tamils into voting for them as they were now holding the “gun” just as the LTTE did sometime ago.The people were told that if they did not vote in large numbers their children would be conscripted by the TMVP.
Suspected supporters of non - TMVP parties were threatened with death if the others fared better than the TMVP at polls.
More importantly many Grama Niladhari’s were warned of dire consequences if the TMVP fared poorly. Also most government servants were terrorised into submission while the Police and army were patently partisan.
Voting cards were seized in many cases. No supporters or agents of non - TMVP were allowed in the rural voting booths. Few neutral observers or election monitors were seen outside the urban areas.
There were instances of ballot box stuffing and vote - rigging. Another big mystery was the sudden “black - out” during the counting of votes.
Still this does not necessarily mean that all voting was enforced. Also, not all the votes for the TMVP were cast unwillingly.
The Tamil - Muslim divide played a role in increasing voter turn - out just as in the 1988 North - East provincial council polls. Fear of the “other” community getting more representation by default was exploited to encourage voting.
There was also a sense of pragmatism. It was obvious to the average Tamil voter that the power equation had changed in the district. The new “power” was Pillaiyan and his henchmen.
There was also no real contest in the elections as the UNP or TNA were not in the fray.
Even if the non - TMVP groups won they would not be allowed to function by Pillaiyan and his cohorts. So in pragmatic terms the only choice available was the TMVP. It was Hobson’s choice.
During earlier times the Tamil people were conditioned through terror into submission by the LTTE. Now the Tamil people are submitting to TMVP terror. Masters may change but slavery contiues.
[President Rajapakse swearing in Sivageetha Prabakharan of TMVP-pic: Puthinam.com]
In Batticaloa there was a limited sympathy factor also in the case of Sivageetha Prabakharan alias Padmini who got the most number of preferential votes and is now the mayor.
She is the only daughter of Rajan Sathiyamoorthy the pro-Karuna TNA candidate brutally murdered by the tigers who later dug up and defiled his body.
The TMVP boys who concealed their weapons for a short period and were on their best behaviour for some time during elections are now back to the old ways. Armed cadres are visible once again. Taxation continues and conscription goes on.
Some TMVP goons are keen on using their new power in procuring spouses. Some girls have been abducted while others are being forced into marriage.
Most of the lists of elected TMVP representatives are likely to be re- constituted. Lackeys and loyalists of Pillaiyan are likely to be nominated.
[At the swearing in event-pic: Puthinam.com]
A group of nine civil society organizations undertook a three day fact - finding mission to Batticaloa in Fenruary and issued a report titled “Afraid to even say the word:Elections in Batticaloa” The group urged that elections in the East should not be held as they wont be free and fair.
An observation made by the grroup about the political environment in Batticaloa summed up the scenario precisely.The pre - polls assessment has been proven right in a post - polls situation.
Here is the relevant excerpt:
“If one uses a ‘toolkit for democracy’ and simply checks the presumed indicators without an understanding of the complexities and the instilled culture of fear, then the Batticaloa election process approximates freedom and fairness. But an examination of the whole structure of elections in Batticaloa reveals serious issues that undermine any such possibility: from the Election Commissioner, appointed in breach of the 17th Amendment; to the electoral lists, which do not include all eligible voters; to the decision by the UNP and TNA not to contest out of fear for their prospective candidates, thereby shrinking the choices available to voters; to the nomination process which has involved violence against unwilling candidates; to threats against voters and candidates alike. Even a few of these elements would undermine the credibility of an election; seen altogether, that credibility collapses utterly.”
Meanwhile provincial council elections for the Eastern Province are scheduled for May 10th this year. According to gazette notification on March 13th, nominations for Eastern provincial polls will be accepted from March 23rd to April 3rd. It appears that the eastern provincial stakes would attract more political parties than the recently concluded local authority polls for Batticaloa district.
It was President Mahinda Rajapakse who decided to go ahead with plans to hold Provincial council elections for the Eastern Province. He imposed his will on the All Party Representatice Committee (APRC) and made that entity “resolve and recommend” that elections be held to the Eastern Provincial council (EPC).
The Rajapakse regime’s undue haste in going through with EPC elections is rationalised on the basis that the long - suffering people of the province must have democratically elected representatives.
There is nothing wrong in this “noble” intention. But there is also a hidden agenda with an “ignoble” objective.
The merger of the Northern and Eastern Provinces was rendered invalid on procedural grounds by the Supreme Court (SC)in its path - breaking judgement of Oct 16th 2006.
Thereafter the option of re- merging both provinces through appropriate procedure was always available to President Rajapakse.
Rajapakse who had been against the N- E merger right from the beginning utilised the opportunity provided by the SC judgement to de- merge and dismantle the Indo - Lanka accord legacy.
The joint N- E administration gave way for separate provincial administrations. The N- E governor Mohan Wijewickrema was re- appointed as governor of East and acting governor of North.
Once the EPC elections are held an “elected” administration for the Eastern province will be in place. Thereafter the de - merger would be concretised.
The Indo - Lanka accord provided for a “merger” first and subsequent ratification through a separate referendum for the Eastern province.
But once the eastern provincial council becomes operational after polls the EPC would acquire permanency.
Thereafter a referendum may be decreed necessary for re - merger. Given the current politico - military configuration in the East such a possibility via referendum is extremely unlikely.
Moreover the “de- merger” of both provinces could be made permanent after EPC elections.
The newly “elected” council with a “Tamil” chief minister may pass a resolution calling for de - merger and request a referendum to decide upon it.
Thereafter President Rajapakse may hold an eastern referendum and settle the merger issue once and for all.
The setting up of an “elected” Eastern provincial administration is also essential for the Rajapakse regime’s “re- awakening of East” project. India has promised massive assistance to the EPC once it is set in motion.
The official name for the renewal of east project is “nagenahira Navodhaya” though the province is 74% Tamil - speaking.
The Eastern project supervised and co-ordinated by the President’s sibling Basil Rajapakse has grandiose plans for reconstruction and development.
Though some development schemes are on the cards for Tamil and Muslim areas the overall thrust of the project will be demographic engineering.
The groundwork is now being laid for the gradual settlement of outsiders in the province. Within the province traditional Tamil and Muslim areas will be appropriated in the name of security, development and archaeology.
What is being envisaged is demographic alteration that would ultimately result in “Sinhalaisation” of the East.
For this a “puppet” provincial administration imposed upon the people through a questionable electoral process would be of great use.
The fact that the new administration could be headed by a Tamil is immaterial in this if the new CM is going to be a Government stooge.
The recent local authority polls was only a dress rehearsal of what is in store for the east in the name of democracy.
A puppet provincial council would also be of use in preserving supremacy of the security forces in several spheres of control in the east.
All these could go on in the name of democratising the east.
The local authority polls in Batticaloa was not a litmus test for democracy but a limited experiment to see how LTTE terror tactics can be replicated into winnig an election as done in April 2004.
The modus operandi will be duplicated in the eastern provincial polls and later extended to the north also.
The tried and tested methods can be adopted for Parliamentary and Presidential elections also.
If unchecked and unfettered this means an extra 20 - 25 seats for the Rajapakse regime in the next Parliamentary polls and a minimum of 600, 000 extra votes at the Presidential stakes for Apey Mahinda !.
Whew!!
Related articles by D.B.S. Jeyaraj:
- Endless Agony of Eastern Tamils Must be Ended
- Col. Balraj leads Tiger SF attack on three TEMVP - ENDLF camps
- Muslim-Tamil friction due to Karuna faction
- Karuna-Pillaiyan Factions of TMVP Clash in East
- Hidden Agenda for Demographic Change in Trincomalee
- “Will Tamil Kudumbimalai be Turned into Sinhala Thoppigala Soon”?
- Peace Moves Within TMVP as Karuna and Pillaiyan Bury Hatchet
DBS Jeyaraj can be contacted on: djeyaraj@federalidea.com
Entry Filed under: transCurrents NewsFeatures
30 Comments Add your own
1. raj | March 22nd, 2008 at 9:47 pm
Jeyaraj, when they say no civilian was hurt it means everyone who was hurt or killed was branded as a member of LTTE. You should know this better. You know well there were instances when you want to have funeral for a dead person you have to sign an affidavit saying that the killed was a terrorist.
I did speak to a friend from East. He told me that TVMP visited houses where the people did not participate in the voting and assaulted them for not participating in the democracy !
2. M.thiru | March 23rd, 2008 at 2:55 am
A very good analysis reflecting the realities in NE and how divide and rule by the Sinhalese leaders is at work.
From CFA to Mahinda Chinthana to continuation of annihilation of Tamil youths in their homelands or become stooges and continue to be second class. It is “ape rate”, “ape anduwa’. “Duwapala demelo duwapala your homeland is in Hindia ” go and say Jay Hind there “.
3. Thamil | March 23rd, 2008 at 5:27 am
What an excellent coalition made, between upfa and tvmp thugs. This should be made in the hell.
Pictures reveal their intimation and their unique identical characters.
A Marvin for the Colombo, Pillian for the Batti and Douglas/Sangaree for the Jaffna.
4. 2ndClassTamil | March 23rd, 2008 at 8:19 am
They go where they are told to go. They camp where they are told to camp. They do what they are told to do. That’s the plight of our terrorised eastern people. No wonder they do as they are told to do. And so they have voted without being free.
Thanks DBS for elucidating conundrum:
how to effectively disenfranchise a people and yet make their votes count.
5. Ratna | March 23rd, 2008 at 9:09 am
Mahinda is planning for additional 600,000 votes and 25 seats.
I just feel sorry for JVP and JHU.
They are going to get the same ‘alwa’ as Karuna and Devananda.
6. Mano Rajah | March 23rd, 2008 at 9:48 am
Eastern Tamils should be applauded for the way they conducted themselves during this election drama. They were forced to vote and of the 60% or so of turnout, 10% spoiled their vote. It’s a matter of time; they will be liberated from these goons and puppet regime. They will support the Tamil cause with more vigorous.
7. sri | March 23rd, 2008 at 11:57 am
DBSJ I fully endorse what you say, but what is the alternative?
Be realistic.
It is true that the racist agenda that is being envisaged is that no area in Sri Lanka that includes Jaffna should be ethnically homogenous Tamil or Muslim enclave.
The North because it is overwhelmly Tamil should can wait for its turn after the east.
Hence immediate racist attention is given to the East
Sinhalisation of the East including administrative machinery is going on at a terrific speed spearheaded by the military.
Are we going to patiently wait for the inevitable to happen and then go on complaining to all and sundry about the great injustice done to us by the scheming racist as if the outside world will come to our rescue?
This is what we were doing for the last hundred years!
Our destiny is in our hands and we have to take the correct decision1.
It is true that a puppet Tamil civilian administration will facilitate this process of sinhalalisation. But why allow this to happen?
This should be prevented at any cost and it is possible.
Let us be optimistic!
Let us be honest! The re-merger is not possible in the short run!
The history of the Eastern Province tells us that one day the Tamils and Muslims in the Eastern Province should come together for their own benefit.
That day has come and this will justify the case for merger more than anything else.
But the enemies will continue to do everything in their command to prevent this happening.
They will definitely try to divide and rule.
The present demographic pattern in the Eastern Province is still favorable to the minorities.
Why not exploit it?
A grand alliance of Tamils and Muslims with a minimum common programme for the elections will dramatically shift the results of an election.
The TNA,SLMC and UNP must jointly contest the election.
If for any reason the TNA is unable to put forward candidates, let them call their supporters to vote for the Muslim candidates.
This will dramatically answer all the injustices supposed to be perpetuated to the Muslims by the Tamils from the time of Sir P.Ramanathan up to the present time.
The violence during the election could be minimized to a great extent.
It is time for action! Have faith in the people and act with the foresight!
8. Nam | March 23rd, 2008 at 1:29 pm
This Municipal elections in the past (in the East of Northeast province) was a copy cat election of what happen in Russia in its presidential election.
Every potential candidate or possible successor was disqualified (including the former Chess master Kasparov).
This is almost thesame as what has happen in Pakistan, Egypt and so on where only one contenstant and others are in the list for the sake of “DEMOCRAZY”
We not only need to re-write the meaning of Democrasy but also want to re-write the whole dictionary of political terminology.
9. david | March 23rd, 2008 at 5:48 pm
The S.L opposition is so spineless to allow eastern elections to be contrlloed by gun trotting Govt proxies(TMVP).Writers like DBS must continue to highlight the atrocities of the Rajapakse brothers.
10. Surya | March 23rd, 2008 at 6:06 pm
Dear DBSJ
I agree a great deal about your analysis on East elections and current situation there. But do you think Tamils in East have any better choice?
Look at the picture of Eastern Tamils situation today! They have to choose between devil and deep blue sea.
Look at the Tamils in Vanni! They are dying for one man who wants to be the ultimate leader for them. How many of them of lost their loved ones? Under LTTE do you think they have any free life? So I don’t think East Tamils will get any better under the LTTE.
Do you think Tamils in Jaffna really cared about the poor brothers in Vanni, East or in Upcountry? Why can’t we let them to choose their own destiny? East is one of the most poorest part of Sri Lanka. Therefore they have been used as cannon folder for many decades. LTTE is the worst of those misused Easterm Tamils. If you see the amount of LTTE caders killed in the battle Eastern Tamils were over represented Jaffna Tamils even though the latter has much higher population.
As I always believed that only India can save the Tamils from extiction in Sri Lanka. But under current LTTE leadership it would be a distant dream.
11. Karupiah | March 23rd, 2008 at 6:58 pm
Democracy is what the the tiger terrorists and their supporters fear most, we need to roll out into the other areas also to free our bretheren from child conscription and forced ‘volunteering’ in suicide squads.
12. Amirthakaliyan | March 23rd, 2008 at 10:03 pm
Hi DBS
Is there a way to get all the names of the councillors who were ‘elected’ to this council.
Can the readers post names if they know at least some of them. I am trying to find out the name of the councillor of my division- Amirthakali.
13. naasamarupaan | March 23rd, 2008 at 11:17 pm
Dear DBS:
It’s a very important article you wrote this time. TMVP B’caloa Mayer’s swearing event photos remind me of one thing; a poem by vairamuthu, “paddu veddi kanavil itunthapothu kaddiyituntha komanamum kaanaamal poividathu”. All TMVP members at this event are seemed in a pleasant mood.
Resettling the east after the military operation by gouv, the east people said that they were resettled in a Cemetery ground and they were living in a tent with fear in a warm climate. They weren’t taken back to their homes according to the interview given by these people to BBC Tamil Oosai. I think that these people’s lands were taken by gouv to settle sinhala families probably the army’s family after refusing the Tamils by saying that these lands will be taken for archeological search as you mentioned. I don’t think TMVP does not give a damn about this issue.
EPRLF Naapa party’s secretary Sritharan once told that his party will be part of the East Provincial Election to BBC Tamil Oosai since this Election will bring referendum to east Tamils and we will not miss this opportunity that give the east people the right to be part of political rights. They are using the people to get what they want and they don’t seem truly care about the east people. I believe those east people still live in the cemetery ground and other parties such as PLOTE and EPDP don’t care about those people either.
According to your opinion about the 600 000 votes and 25 seats for Mahintha by his tactics and these parties I mentioned will only be Mahintha’s representatives not the Tamil people by elections. I don’t know if these parties’ members truly understand this situation.
My friend who visited B’coloa 6 months ago told me that the young members of TMVP are given lots of luxuries such as Cell phones and new Motorbikes which give them false premises that they are in control. It seems that these youths believe they are the cinematic heroes and they don’t understand the reality. They follow new arrivals to B’coloa and inform those seem doubtful to them to the check point at Velikanda Polanaruva.
Mahintha has given the rural gouv elected new members about 100 000rs to buy Motorbikes and he wants to keep them as puppets by given them luxuries so they will remain loyal during upcoming Eastern provincial gouv.
In 1998 the Jaffna rural gouv election the Pirathesa shabas presidents (who won) received double cup pick up vehicles for use. After their ruling time EPDP took over and taken away those vehicles and still using those for their own use now. There is a case that’s pending in the court now. This is an example of how gouv properties are used for political parties use not for public and it’s misused. If this continues how can there be a referendum to Tamil people (public).
14. Vel | March 24th, 2008 at 9:34 am
Dear Mr.Jeyaraj,
I always admire your impartial analysis of the problems affecting the country in general and the minorities in particular,I write to urge you to do what is needed to prevent the North-East demerger throgh an official referendum ,conducted in the Eastern province with the active support of the now all powerful TVMP.In this connection I call on you to read the comments of ‘Sri’ to to your article on this page.
I am convinced that concrete action should be taken now before the nominations to the Eastern provincial council elections are concluded.
I wholeheartedly endorse Sri’s views that this is the time that the Tamils in general should take a firm decision to arrive at an understanding with the SLMC .Even if the TNA is unable to field candidates on their own due to security reasons,they can exhort to their followers to support the Muslim candidates.As long as muslims support the cause of merger,no force on earth can prevent it.
Muslims too have now realised the futility of joining hands with the ultra-nationalist sinhalese to vote for a de-merger.
We must keep the kettle boiling until an opportunity arises for a referendum
The time is quite opportune as the LTTE itself has recenly signalled the appointment of Imam as a National list M.P of the TNA.
I wish and urge you to use your writing skills and personal contacts with those who matter and bring about an understaning betwwen the SLMC and the TNA.
15. samuel | March 24th, 2008 at 10:20 am
All this is very sad and distressing to hear.
But can you bring this to the attention of foreign news providers and governments ?
If so, will they beleive all this ?
Same is going to happen in the proposed PR election and later in the nothern elections.
16. Malathi | March 24th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
It is interesting that LTTE supporters want to separate from Sri Lanka to run their own affairs in the Northern Province, but they don’t let Easterners to run their own business alone! Hypocrisy!
Eastern Province represents a small sample of Sri Lanka with all three groups living next to each other. If Eastern people can demonstrate that they can live peacefully, it will be a great reminder for all of us that we Sri Lankans (S, T & M) can live together.
Hope they will succeed.
17. JPDP | March 24th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
What is happening in SL is a shame. We had terror in the form of LTTE. Some of you will not agree to this and say LTTE is a natural consequence of state terror. And if you buy that argument what will be the natural consequence for LTTE terror ? I think what we are beginning to see is that. Terror has begun to multiply ? We have LTTE, TVMP and GOSL the day the army itself will be an independent operative may not be that far. This happened in Pakistan and Iran and that can happen in SL too. And you may soon have JVP back in their old business fishing in troubled waters. And we might even see more radical offshoots of SLMC taking up terror in certain areas as consequence of Muslims being used by Singhalese and Tamils as they pleases.
What we have is a culture of violence ! Tamils can hide under the banner of ethnic cleansing/strife or Sinhalese chauvinism. And these days it has become a style for all major newsprint and agencies to put a footer in their articles saying that from 1983 to to date the Sri Lankan Ethnic war has caused the death of 70,000 persons. Well what happened to the 50,000 plus who died in the south due to GOSL+JVP terror in the late 80s early 90s ? Where do we account those souls. Well they cannot claim to have been at the receiving end of a brutal chauvinistic majority; so it is not even worth mentioning ? Where were most of the HR guys and some of the Tamil HR champions ? And it is ironic that Mahinda who is now a major player in the HR violations accusation list was the guy who went to Geneva with lists of missing peoples names at that time. What does it show ?… the HR cause or Anti Terror cause are just tools in the hands of manipulative people of likes of Mahinda and Prabakaran….. and many others too.
What we have is culture of violence where the people have divided themselves in ethnic lines and easily justify the violence against each other. And forget the violence done within communities to your own people as if Singhalese killing Singhalese is fine and also Tamil killing Tamil is also fine. How many people were killed during the suppression of the JVP insurrection and how many people did LTTE kill after the IPKF left when they hunted down other Tamil militant organization members ?
Who made Mahinda the president of SL ? He is a president selected by a minority who actually even didn’t vote. To be fare with the vast Tamil population who did not vote at the last presidential elections, they did not vote because the LTTE prevented them from doing so. So who made TVMP this powerful ? And who made the whole of SL a Mahinda Chintana nation or in other words a Banana republic ? It is LTTE !!!
Newtons Law – All actions have a reaction. This is a basic truth. And that is one of the reasons why always Terror creates more Terror. But what does all the main religions teach us ? Love and kindness regenerate Love and kindness. Why are we not talking about these things ? Why do we no longer see any Buddist monk, Hindu priest, Christian Priest or a Muslim Mullah teach and preach love ? What we see is these so called religious leaders too add fuel to fire buy taking up social causes and liberation theology.
At the end of the day, we all came from same place in Africa, just migrated at different times and different routes. And in the Singhalese and Tamils case we may be more related to each other than a Sindi to a Tamil in India. The biggest problems we have in this world is poverty and violence and so much so for democracy we are ruled and manipulated by a set of rulers who are a minority and practice divide and rule.
18. Seelan | March 25th, 2008 at 2:10 am
If anyone has forgotten how TNA came to parliament, they are invited to re-read the EU election monitor’s report. No use of trying to prop up one puppet against another. At least TMVP is Eastern based.
No point blaming GOSL or TMVP for the gutless approach of UNP (or TNA). UNP (and TNA) were not thinking of Eastern people when they decided not to contest. They wouldn’t have faced large scale violence because GOSL wanted to showcase this election to the world. Even without any intimidation, UNP would have lost under the leadership of the perennial loser Ranil. It is doubtful whether TNA also would have fared any better. SLMC has done the right thing by it’s constituency by taking up the challenge and not deserting their folk.
Suddenly every Tamil writer here start loving the Muslims. What happened to this love when…….happened during the past (I don’t want to list). You will forget about Muslims if you get a merged North East and you get the opportunity again to dominate.
Keeping the East seperate would be in the interest of the Easterners.
19. Deshmana | March 25th, 2008 at 8:39 am
Why was the Northeast separated when SLK is against any form of separation in the island?.. Why not separate low country southern Sinhalese from up country kandian Sinhalese along the lines before the British independence?.. why do the Sinhalese decide what is good for the tamils?
20. Pungudu Theevaan | March 25th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Ape Kollo from Batticaloa
The defenders of the Tamil national liberation struggle became the very extension of the state apparatus as designed by JHU, nourished by JVP and sugar coated through elections by Rajapakse.
Every action of the government, now directed by Israel or Indian ill-advisors to sex up the military solution that is an absolute necessity as a required efforts of war for peace for the consumption of the international community and donors.
SL assault on LTTE made the Batticaloa the land of IDPs. No one knows how many lives were lost in the blind attack on LTTE controlled areas. Even many lost lives at the hands of the forces when they filtered fleeing refugees. Not a single protest was allowed. The desperation was so much – any dissention was simply subdued by threats of govt forces and paramilitary forces.
Nowadays everything is well thought out. It is carried out with “surgical precision”. How well the election local was organized with pre-election terror, everyone knows well. TMVP is even used to get the voting MPs massaged in voting in parliament in Colombo. Just imagine how smoothly Batticaloa operations will be run.
We are neglected people of all kotiyas or kollos! Our political aspirations are not at all represented and will not be represented. If the govt minister can exist in this political atmosphere, at least we assume an iota of democratic space left!
Thank you DBS for speaking on behalf of us. Every election seems that we are loosing our right to choose our destiny.
Militants are no lesser offenders than the govt.! Govt simply makes everyone to loose any dependancy on democracy!!
21. surya | March 25th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
Just curious! If India merged North-East can be de-merged into North and East, why the British merged Eelam & Lanka cannot be de-merged into Elam and Lanka? May be need to be file a case in UN Supreme Court? Will UN SC be quick & fair as Sri Lankan SC?
22. Subra S.Massey | March 25th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
Ladies and gentleman,
We have tried vainly with the sucessive governments from 1958 till even last week in March 2008. They are not interested in talking peace.Why are you people wasting you time? Finally we have decided that building a strong Tamil economy is the key to getting what we need and deserve. Please go, make money invest and become finacially powerful.
23. Thangesh | March 25th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
Thousands of easterners shed blood looking for a’ morning star’. TVMP is trying to satisfy them with a ‘minminippoochy’Âť. People of Baticalo never gonna accept it.
24. Seelan | March 25th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
Deshmana,
The purpose of demarcating geographic localities should be for devolution of powers to the people living in those localities to manage their activities. It should not be done on racial lines.
The demand for race based demarcation is the source of continued conflict.
Whole of Sri Lanka belongs to all people who consider them as Sri Lankan.
25. Deshamanya | March 26th, 2008 at 5:27 am
Seelan,
Who decides that Srilanka should not be demarcated upon race like the rest of the countries in the world ?.. Mexico -USA, Pakistan- India, Italy-france (even though most of them a common religion or language. The tamils and the sinhalese have a very different language and religion and culture.. The 99% in sinhalese in tamil areas or serial state sponsored ethnic riots since the British left are more than ample reasons to separate.. Also how can you a sinhaese (southern majority) rule a another majority in the northeast - the tamils ??
Srilanka never excisted 50 years ago and it was formed on pure Mhavamsa hate filled myths against the tamils…
26. Deshamanya | March 26th, 2008 at 5:37 am
I meant ” 99% Sinhalese army in Tamil majority traditional areas”…are the because cause of friction because of the deep ethinic polarization between the 2 communities from the time of Elaran & Dutugenu…
27. Gayan | March 27th, 2008 at 3:46 am
Democracy is often painful and slow. Specially when 25 years of bloodshed not achived anything otherthan for VP’s familiy to enjoy peaceful life in UK while the comman tamil suffer in SL .
28. Gayan | March 27th, 2008 at 4:03 am
P.S
Remember JVP in 1971 and 1989 uprising ? remember the bloodshed? over 60000 southern youth slaughted and JVP down for the count.
Where is JVP now? they are the most powerful southen political party interms of its ability to dictate the path of the country headed good or bad .
Thats the power of the ballot .Others should take a que.Terrorism is not going to solve anyone’s problems
29. JPDP | March 27th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Let us say SL was divided and two countries are created.
Would everything be peaceful after that ? Would the killings stop ? Possibly a UN Peace Keeping force will be guarding the so called border areas and no mans lands. Intermittent clashes,,, sometimes UN forces will be accused of various cultural insensitive activates from both the new countries,,, sometimes people will agitate too,,,,, and when Ealam does something to upset the rest of the Sri Lanka, maybe the GOSL will close a slice gate stopping water flowing to some of the cultivation areas in Ealam,,,, (Mavil Aru flavour)…. Complaints to UN,,,, whatever remaining minorities ie Singhlaese in Ealam and Tamils in the rest of the Sri Lanka will be at the receiving end,,,,,, so the cycle will continue,,,,, !!!
Do we want a separate country ? Do we need a totally united country ? do we want to put and end to the killings ? What good is it if you have a separate country but your own in Ealam or in rest of the SL is dying because of various confrontations or are at the receiving end ? What good is it if you have a United SL but your people are dying in the war ? Everyday of continuation of these killings takes us away from what we want to treasure our culture and people. Instead we are increasingly shunning each of our cultures and embracing a gun culture a culture of terror.
We need to think fresh. Look at the current situation not at the history, Tamils and Singhalese can look at the history and be proud of it but should not make that a tombstone tied to our necks.
And do not be too harsh on Mahavamsa it is not 100% accurate and also it is not 100% wrong. If we think Mahawamsa is all fiction, then you need to be fairly harsh on lot of chronicles from the past including some of the religious text. And in Mahavamsa, it also states
“In the city he caused the drum to be beaten, and when he had summoned the people from a yojana around he celebrated the funeral rites for king Elara. On the spot where his body had fallen he burned it with the catafalque, and there did he build a monument and ordain worship. And even to this day the princes of Lanka, when they draw near to this place, are wont to silence their music because of this worship.”
Here “he” means Dutugamunu. This extract from Mahavamsa, shows that DutuGamunu honored King Elara as fellow warrior and most probably it was just a battle for him which he fought and won to capture the areas which were under Elara but respected Elara for what he was. He did not win the war and disrespect King Elara.
30. Jack Ranasinghe | March 27th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
DBS - Perhaps its time your readers learn something about PLOTE. The PLOTE of the 80s is well known but the current mob are a different bunch and whilst Douglas, Karuna and Pillaiyan have earned more than their share of column inches, the PLOTE involvement in the war is understated.
Leave a Comment
Subscribe to the comments via RSS Feed