Tamil Expatriates Have Moral Responsibility To Make Peace Possible
by Col R Hariharan
Recently, there is a perceptible change in New Delhi as far as Sri Lanka is concerned. It is trying to clearly articulate what it can do and what it cannot. And asking Sri Lanka to enforce a ceasefire is one of the things it cannot do as stated in Parliament by Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee on February 18. But that is not enough. With thousands of civilian population trapped in the war zone increasingly falling victims of a shooting war, the first thing India should be doing is to make vigorous efforts to get the trapped population out. As this is a humanitarian effort, the four co-chairs and India along with the UN should evolve a joint strategy to achieve this on a priority. Mere appeals will not do.
However, even if an international methodology is evolved, the warring sides will have to accept it. While the Sri Lanka government can be pressurised because it has legitimate national and international obligations, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) is a loose cannon. It might not be amenable to their effort without garnering some advantage. This is where the Tamil Nadu politicians, who have been agitating for an immediate halt to the war to save the Tamil population, can constructively contribute. All Tamil parties should jointly appeal to the LTTE to accept international effort to extricate the beleaguered population. Parties in touch with the LTTE grapevine should use these links usefully to persuade it for this purpose. That would be a visible testimony of Tamil politicians? real concern for Tamils suffering death and destruction every day as the war closes in.
This is the first thing all the stakeholders must be doing if they really want to save lives of people not fighting the war. Other rhetoric can be hyped up when the election fever heats up.
War, ceasefire and peace
There had been repeated calls for resuming negotiations between the Sri Lanka government and the LTTE ever since the talks were stalled in the peace progress 2002. The international calls for finding peaceful resolution of the conflict is getting louder as the LTTE?s fighting its battle of survival. The callers? ranks include India, UK, Canada, many members of the EU and the U.S. Of course, these countries have an abiding interest in Sri Lanka for their own reasons. Though pillorying them has become a popular pastime in Sri Lanka, it should not be forgotten that these nations generally wish well for the country.
In the corridors of power in Colombo such calls for negotiations are viewed as treason. Though these days the government is speaking in many voices on other issues, it is a unanimous NO on the resumption of talks with the LTTE. Their suspicion is typical of a climate of war that prevails now in Colombo. The armed forces despite the unexpectedly stiff LTTE resistance at Puthukkudiyiruppu are on the brink of neutralising the LTTE?s power base in the country. And any call for peace that would halt the last lap to success is bound to be suspect. But that in no way diminishes the need to examine the question ?what to do after the war??
The drastic pruning of LTTE?s military power is likely to marginalise its influence on Tamil population. So strategically it would be unwise now for the government to announce a ceasefire as a prelude to negotiations with the LTTE, without some strategic gain. That was why President Rajapaksa had repeatedly offered to talk to the LTTE after it lays down the arms. India?s Home Minister P Chidambaram and Foreign Minister Mukherjee have given similar calls a few weeks. The LTTE has also shown its readiness for talks but laying down arms is not acceptable to it. That would be a very big loss of face to Prabhakaran. Such a move would make it a political orphan when it loses the war. The LTTE has not given up its option to pursue its war on the unconventional mode. Of course, it will have to scale down in scope and content of such operations in keeping with its adverse circumstances.
This is the one big reason why the government should start negotiating with the representatives of the Tamil constituency now, when the LTTE is down. With the loss of military power the LTTE automatically loses its ability to call the shots in any peace process as it did in 2002. If the government can initiate and successfully progress such a process, the LTTE will lose its toehold on the Tamil issue. Is President Rajapaksa?s invitation to all Tamil parties, including the pro LTTE Tamil National Alliance TNA) for talks the beginning of such an initiative? There is no harm in hoping for such a positive development, though other indications are not so encouraging.
In Sri Lanka parliament nearly 20 percent of the members speak Tamil. Yet they have never been able to take a united stand on any issue. Of course in a democracy it is not necessary for linguistic groups to do so as they can do it through their parties. But on the devolution issue, lack of unity has weakened the Tamil political clout. It is unlikely that things would be different now much as the Tamils might wish. Take the TNA for instance. Even though the LTTE guns at its back are being silenced, members of the polyglot alliance are unlikely to agree among themselves even on their future course of action, let alone other major issues.
Given this setting, talks with Tamil parties may not go through to produce worthwhile results. And the President probably knows this. To achieve results, he has to use the devolution package Mr Tissa Vitharana is putting together in the all party committee. And it has to be sold to Sinhalas and Tamils. If this is not done, the political impasse is likely to continue as the Tamil and Sinhala divide has widened over the years.
During the 30 years of struggle since Tamils took up the Tamil Eelam option, there are a number of influences and vested interests that have intruded between Tamil and Sinhala communities. These included the issue of separatism, international powers and expatriates, selfish political interests and the LTTE usurping Tamil leadership. Operating on their own at various levels, these influences have turned what was essentially a political dialogue into a military confrontation as shown in the thematic diagram above.
To reverse this process, the three riders (international involvement, militarization of society and the LTTE dominance) will have to be turned into productive channels for peace. For achieving this everyone will have to work hard. Both communities must decide to abandon violence as the means of settling issues between them. To do this, entrenched prejudices on both sides need to be set aside. The idea of separatism must be buried by Tamils just as Sinhalas should show in their deeds readiness to consider Tamils as equal partners in building the fractured nation. A dynamic leadership is required to initiate this process. Who else can provide that other than politicians and civil society? They have to rise up to the occasion. They have no other choice. No external power or agency can do this because the process has to have Sri Lankan ownership to succeed
Internationalisation of the issue had contributed to the continuation of the armed conflict to a certain extent. The failure of the peace process 2002 has shown the limitations of the four co-chairs ? the European Union, Japan, Norway and the U.S. and their well intentioned effort to end the war. It failed because the two warring sides had their own doubts about the credentials of the foreign powers involved. Moreover, they did not believe the process of negotiated peace would succeed.
Unlike others, India is one external power that could have made a difference. It had been on a listening watch after its unsavoury experience in its earlier spell of active intervention in Sri Lanka. But there are changes taking place in India as well. In Tamil Nadu all the three major political parties ? the DMK, the AIADMK, and the Congress ? have made clear that while they support the Tamil struggle for equitable powers, they do not consider the LTTE as their sole representative. India should actively work with the Sri Lanka government to trigger the political process. That will be in India?s interest as much as Sri Lanka?s. And Tamil Nadu politicians can stop sloganeering and make a positive contribution for peace by working on the representatives of Tamil constituency and politicians in the island to use the political opportunity meaningfully to arrive at a win-win situation.
Time is a valuable resource in showing visible results. In the past, many political efforts to resolve the Tamil question had floundered when key decisions were delayed or allowed die by procrastination. One of the reasons for the failure of the peace process 2002 was lack of visible results on a time-bound basis. This has only reinforced the suspicion among the aggrieved parties; it also generated a lot of cynicism about the intentions of such peace exercises. A well structured devolution process with clear bench mark of actions on a pre determined time schedule only can bring back trust and security between the Tamil and Sinhala communities.
The LTTE is likely to tap afresh the nearly million-strong Sri Lankan Tamil expatriates through its overseas network for bouncing back as a reckonable force. In its vocabulary, that means growth of its military power sans political content. Failure of a renewed political process would act as an incentive for LTTE?s military revival. That would be a tragedy for all the other stakeholders trying to move away from a military solution to achieve a political resolution of the problem.
Nations with strong LTTE front organisations and large ethnic Tamil populations in their midst like Canada, the U.S., UK, other EU nations, and India must ensure the resurgence of LTTE is halted in its tracks in their soil. Some of the political constituencies in these countries take up any cause for garnering a few more votes; they have ended up recycling the LTTE cause as the Tamil cause. They will have to do some soul searching if they want to do their bid to build peace. Tamil expatriates have a moral responsibility to rise up to the occasion to make peace possible just as they showed they can progress war. That would be a fitting tribute from them to all the souls of many hues martyred in the seemingly never ending conflict.
(Col. R Hariharan, a retired Military Intelligence specialist on South Asia, served as the head of intelligence of the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka 1987-90.He is associated with the South Asia Analysis Group and the Chennai Centre for China Studies. E-mail:colhari@yahoo.com)
52 Comments
My Dear Col. Hariharan,
It IS THE TAMIL EXPATRIATES (the diaspora) that is the cause of all the ills. They are funding, supporting and organising most of the brutality and carnage in Sri Lanka, since they are safe and comfortable abroad. This will allow the worldwide LTTE commercial empire to thrive and the tamils abroad to keep their refugee status. The poor innocent tamil people living in Sri Lanka are totally disgusted with the LTTE. They DO NOT want separatism. Sixty percent of tamils live happily amongst the Sinhalese.
We do not need solutions from India, UK or elsewhere, since these countries have blood on their hands for having created the conditions for this situation in the first place.
Col. Hariharan, you said “Tamil expatriates have a moral responsibility to rise up to the occasion to make peace possible just as they showed they can progress war”.
Thank you for your advise.
Since the LTTE has been weaken to defend Eelam Tamil’s back-home, it’s our, Tamil expatriates, moral duty is to continue support Tamils’ continued struggle for equal rights. That may be separation, or federal set-up, but not definitely not the current 13nth amendment.
My advise to you Indians is to continue mind your interest in SL, without any more pretence that India cares about Tamil’s well being in SL.
It is dangerous to think that the LTTE can/should be marginalized in the process of finding a solution to the Tamil problem. By 'LTTE' I mean not just the organization but, more importantly, its ideology.
Surprisingly a majority of singhaleese that i met are in for some sort of devolution . They are not over whelmed by military gains but are more rationally wishing for peace and prosperity . Unless the extremist elements use divisive slogans to boast their dwindling vote base, We see a very fertile soil for the government to come up with a comprehensive package, if not with devolution, even with a power sharing arrangement at the center i.e with a vice presidential slot or an upper house with weighted representation to the minorities.Even a system of electoral votes or senate system with weighted advantage for minority dominant districts can focus more light and energy into their needs as well as giving advantage for minority candidate with better credentials to come to power in the center which will be the idle way to heal the scars of this protracted war.
To Col Hariharan and Dr de Silva...could I please remind you how the pro-LTTE diaspora was created?
The diaspora are, for the most part, people who were chased out of Sri Lanka following the riots of 1958, 1979 and most of all 1983.
Had Singhalese thugs not destroyed their homes & killed their kith & kin the diaspora would not exist.
To Dr.Ajith De Silva,
There was no Tamil diaspora in 1950 to disenfrancise the Upcountry Tamils.
There was no Tamil Diaspora in 1956 to kill, burn, loot and rob Tamils.
There was no Tamil diaspora in 1962 to terrorize Jaffna
There was no Tamil diaspora in 1977 for the murder and the mayhem unleashed on the Tamils. The president, the prime minister and the ministers all condoned the riots, except Late Mr. Thondman.
There was no Tamil diaspora in 1983 to encourage ethnic cleansing that took place.
You are willingly burying the truth and you are also willing to bury the Tamil population.
Yes, now we are not in Sri lanka and you are happy about it. However you do not want us to be here too. Please be assured that we are going to be here among the white people, eventhough we are dark, as equal citizen which was denied to us in Sri lanka. We have no doubt about it.
Dear Col R Hariharan
Please ask India to help Tamils to find a peaceful solution. If India cannot help only choice for Tamils to fight till death. After all Tamils dead Srilanka will sell part of the land to China and Pakistan then your children have to run to North India to save thier lives.
Thank you India for sending Tamil people to Lord Siva.
.
Mr. Hariharan,
I am surprised to see that you still believe Sinhala leaders are going to share power with Tamils!
Remember late Tamil leader Mr. SJV Chelvanayagam’s last words, "God Save Tamils".
After 25 years of peaceful and democratic negotiations, he achieved nothing. He knew what’s going to happen. That’s why he said, God Save Tamils.
There are many who thought God means India, and now India has proved otherwise.
:-)
The GOI should not have permitted this magnitude of the massacre of civilians by the GOSL. It is a very, very sad day for SL Tamils who looked to, and adored India as a great nation.
There should have been a credible political package on the table to solve this conflict and if the LTTE has refused to accept it then the significant portion of Tamil Diaspora would have supported military action against the LTTE.
The statements of the Indian President, Foreign Minister and the Home Minister are completely contradicting. The GOI does not speak with one voice.
Also, I urge India to look beyond Prabaharan to reach out extremely brutalised and traumatised civilian population in Vanni. India has every right to deal with Prabaharan at the appropriate forum.
Indian FM cannot say they cannot bring about a ceasefire in SL. Under the Indo-Lanka accord every Tamil militant group except the LTTE handed over the weapons to the GOI in good faith and therefore India has the responsibility defending the people whom these militant groups represented.
I am very hurt and disappointed by the attitude of the GOI towards the human misery in Vanni.
Dear COl,
In which calculation do you think that 20% of the representation will achieve any deal with any government ( that is 5:1) ratio. Sinhalese love this arythmatic majority so thta they can make any law into effect and when it come to the Tamil issue, they will never vote.
You need to study the Srilankan History more before make any comments
Thanks
Nam
peace in terrorist country, where more than 80000 with corps burried, or burnt?
lots and lots named as tigers and gets arrested, murdered, woman and including underaged gals in mass amount getting rapped and murdered, in out of prisons.
more than 80000 dead, continuing to die, of these bomb,
churches/temples, schools , hospitals, in no fire zone area. jurnalists , and humanatarian aid personals, politican murdered,
these ruthless, barbarines of the government forces continue to murder in mass amount, children with amputed legs, hands, with shattered body parts all over the place. blocking all medical aids, food, to the affected area.
These forces trying to solicit underaged gals in haiti and got caught by the media. they thought they could get away like the do in there homeland. these evil forces even dont mind killing their own kids to hide the truth. lots of their own people , jurnalist murdered who were exposing the truth.
Mr. Hariharan,
You have given your advice that tamil disapora should have moral responsibility. What advice have you given the government of Sri Lanka? Do you have any adive to Sri Lankan genocidal military when the defence secretary says to his troops that tamil women are for their enjoyment after the victory and the sea should become red by the tamil men's blood?
Tamil diaspora will always be ready to have a moral responsibility if tamils are treated with dignity and given their due rights. It appears that you are advocoting that the government has all the rights to do what they want including eliinating most of the innocent civilians and decide what to give but tamil disapora should behave responsibly.
Who are you actually? Not even a little concern for the tamilians dying under the genocidal regime?
Jude
No one who is capable of rational thinking has any faith in GOSL anymore. The 13th Amendment will not work for the sole reason that when attempts were made to use it before, it failed. So why should it work now? Any Government that was interested in a real solution would examine the failures of the past 13th Amendment, and come up with a different solution. So if this Government (GOSL) continues to pursue avenues which are historically doomed, the Tamils should have the right to pursue alternative avenues... in this case, the only alternative avenue worth pursuing is armed struggle. There is no democratic/Constitutional process in SL; there is no pathway for diplomacy to take root. It is an unfortunate situation, but this is the blunt reality.
The best thing India can do is completely stay out of SL affairs; sending arms and soldiers to aid GOSL in its genocide is bad for India's reputation. True, LTTE may have knocked off Rajiv, but Rajiv's IPFK forces murdered and massacred thousands of innocent Tamils in cold blood. There is a karma for everyone! Accept and move on, please. That is the lesson for India.
Thanks Col. you always write as if the fault always on tamils, have a close look at your hand you will see Tamil blood in your and India's hand. Since we have a very good respect over you, don’t portray that india want give us good solution. what India want is a nothing solution. Like east. I know you will not post this article as usual.
You said "They will have to do some soul searching if they want to do their bid to build peace. Tamil expatriates have a moral responsibility to rise up to the occasion to make peace possible just as they showed they can progress war. That would be a fitting tribute from them to all the souls of many hues martyred in the seemingly never ending conflict".
If India stopped supporting a regime which has reached a failed state many Tamil's life would have been saved. Soul searching is necessary for those who lack thinking. If successive Sinhalese government gave self determination for the Tamils in their Homeland of North and East Sri-lanka in 1983 Sri-Lanka would have avoided all these disasters. You know where the faults is. Look what a Sinhala profesor have to say.Sirimal Abeyratne, a professor of economics at the University of Colombo, says the north and eastern regions are several decades behind the southern areas in terms of wealth and development. "They lost their investor class, they lost their physical assets, their infrastructure," Abeyratne said. "People lost their skills."
There are brainy people in the Diaspora do not blame them for the failure of the Sinhala Politicians.Tamils overseas are doing the right thing.Congress will not last long as North Indians will give up dynasty rule in the next election. Any how Nehru dynasty is no more.
Col Hariharan, I tis interesting that now you are shifting your focus to educate and teach expatriate Tamils of moral responsibility.
Let me remind you about your moral responsibility now, as a person who led Indian army intelligence group, why not report the atrocities caused by your army on Tamil civilians which resulted in the death of more than 6,000 Tamil civilians, rape, murder and looting. There are many expatriate Tamils who will support your truth along with their own or their immediate families sufrerings in the hand of your army.
This should be the first step on everyones's moral responsibility before we write something on the web to preach others.
Dear Colonel Hariharan,
India could - with the full support of the International Community - have intervened actively in order to force the LTTE to enter into negotiations with the government of Sri Lanka. As a military man you know very well how easily that could have been done. If you do not I can tell you how.
Had that been done the gruesome killing of civilians could have been prevented and the democratic process within Sri Lanka could have been strengthened.
Please do not try to sell me this rubbish about what India can and cannot do.
Hello Col.
This is not Sri Lanka's war... it is Indaia's war. Because India's fullest support Sri Lankan government is able to kill hundreds of civilians of all ages each day through shell and air attack. Both India and Sri Lanka are actively preventing this genocide killings getting to the international media. But they do not realise that there is a GOD watching all these sins committed on innocent Tamils by both India and Sri Lanka; eventually they will pay for their sins.
For the expatriate LTTE supporters ther is no where to spend their money and energy after LTTE's defeat. They are now pouring their money into Tamilnadu politicians coffers. They faithfully oblige their masters command and create enough trouble in Tamilnadu. The LTTE buisiness empires abroad are controlling the Tamilmovie industry. They will keep LTTE alive even if it is extinguished in Sri Lanka. Indian government must co ordinate with co-chairs US, Japan and EU and evolve a common strategy to contain this influence. Money transfers must be closely monitored and intelligence must be shared. Before that India must keep a close watch on the flow of foreign money into Indian political establishment.
The Sri Lankan Government has not come up with a reasonable proposal that Tamils can accept or even consider. The co chairs and the international community have always called for peace and a political solution. But nothing happened. The government dismiss those calls as interference. How can the Diaspora work towards Peace when the Government itself is not for peace? All Sri Lankans want peace.
The moral obligation of the Diaspora now is to carry on a campaign to protect those civilians trapped in the war zone and canvas for an independent international monitoring in the war zone. There are several reports about those civilians who moved from the war zone to the Government controlled areas. They are supervised by the army and not treated in a humane manner. Some reports say they may be detained as long as 3 years or more. These are the immediate problems the Diaspora shall work on now.
Dear Col!
Tamil Expatriates have good understanding on what is going on back in their homeland, and they do not need your advices.
Thanks, but no thanks.
Chooty
Let me remind the "Col" - Tamils are not going to sit back and wait for GOSL to throw some handouts. If there is no adequate political solution, Tamils will fight back. The Tamil diaspora have a MORAL RESPONSIBILITY to protect their HOMELAND, TAMIL EELAM. They have done it since 1983 and will continue doing so, even until 2250. Tamils will have to be WIPED out for us to STOP taking up arms to protect ourselves. This is the ONLY responsibility we have, and we, and generations to come, will NOT HESITATE.
Col Hariharan is right on many accounts. Tamil Diaspora is morally defunct as much as the LTTE, the GoSL, and the Sinhala extremists. Each of these participants is totally blind to their contribution to the death and destruction in SL and can only see the fault of their nemesis. They all have the blood of thousands of innocent civilians (both Sinhalese and Tamils) in their hands.
The allied nations and their enemies (Germany, Japan, Italy), after having fought a war that killed millions, were able to not only reconcile and rebuild the vanquished, but became the strongest allies - all happening within a space of two decades. They were able to do this because they appreciated the death and destruction of war not only on their own population but also on their enemies.
The Sinhalese extremists think that whole of Sri Lanka is theirs and that Tamils are squatters, myths actively perpetuated by Sinhala Buddhist clergy. Unless this is addressed once and for all through UN or other international forums the Tamils will always feel that the Sinhalese are existential threat to them.
On the other hand, most Tamils fail to see the disproportional advantages bestowed upon them by the British (eg. disproportionate number of elite schools in Jaffna leading to disproportionate numbers in universities and public and private sector employment). And the Tamils' demands/ efforts from about 1930s to not only maintain that status-quo but gain more (eg. 50% parliamentary representation for 10% population) were seen as outrageously unreasonable by Sinhalese. Even the Federalism proposal of SJV, while appeared reasonable for Tamils, appeared unreasonable for Sinhalese who saw the Tamils living everywhere in their midst, holding top positions, and running big businesses but still wanting to preserve their own fiefdom untouched by Sinhalese.
Claims of provocations and retaliations are a vicious cycle. Many Tamils (eg. post by K Easwaran on this article) hark back to the violence perpetrated by the Sinhalese. They were abhorrent. But LTTE was no different when it ordered every Muslim to leave Jaffna overnight, when they exploded bombs on crowded buses and trains, when they massacred every Tamil politician and militant group that was not aligned to them, and when they went to Sinhalese villages and hacked to death women and children.
In reality, Tamils were not an innocent party to the current crisis. The international community knows this, and hence when the expatriate Tamils protest and howl about GoSL atrocities without a whimper about LTTE, the expatriate Tamils are legitimately seen as LTTE sympathisers without any moral currency.
Another big blunder is done in anaysing Tamils' reaction to the crisis.Mr.Hariharan seems to have devised a set of theories and expect everything around will happen as per his calculations. One such assumption is that 'drastic pruning of LTTE's military strength will margininalize its influence among Tamils...' One has just to keep his eyes open and look around to understand the reality.
For the past one and half year or so, the LTTE is continously at the receiving end and facing military setbacks. Srilankan defence ministry says that their domain of control has shrinked from 15,000 square kilometres to just around 100 square kilometers.
But look at the reaction of the Tamils. All over the world, they are rallying behind them like never before. In Tamilnadu, where LTTE is a banned outfit, LTTE flags are fluttering around, Prabhakaran's portraits are openly displayed; magazines are continously publishing articles supporting Eelam cause and LTTE and One popular magazine has started a serial of Prabhakaran's biography; People are self immolating to support their cause.
Prabhakaran from being called as a terrorist leader, has emerged as a freedom fighter and now being evolving as a true and only Tamil leader for the entire Tamil community all over the world. LTTE is geting more sympathy and support at this time of distress than what they were having when they were at their peak, controlling entire north and east.
Probably at this critical juncture, Tamils are realizing that only Tigers are their real hope to protect them and deliver things they want to achieve. Expecing Tamils to desert LTTE could at best be only a wishful thinking of Mr.Hariharan.
I believe that the Tamil Community will keep supporting the LTTE as long as they live in the foreign soil. They will not see the harrows that the Tamil people face in the ground by not able to move to safer arrears as per their wish.
It is better to ask the Tamil community that is around 500,000 strong who lives in Colombo, why they took their decision to live in Colombo rather than live in the LTTE area. They might be able to enlighten the Tamil diasporas their myth of a Tamil homeland. The leader who promised to make a dream of capturing Killinochi, is now hiding behind a civilian screen. As rightly told by the Australian Prime Minister a few days back, if you want to live in the country Sri Lanka, embrace the values of this country and follow it. If you believe in something else, please find a country who has these values and be there.
May the Tamil Diaspora live in the values of their country of choice to live and let the Tamil people who have chosen to live in Sri Lanka, live with their values? Do not create misery by arming and finding a terrorist organization like the LTTE. Look at how many Tamil Intellectual Political leaders have been gunned down by the LTTE.
Hariharan,
Do you believe in democracy? Even if you don't the west does.
The Tamils of NE gave democratic mandate, in the last general elections, only to LTTE to talk to the GOSL. Honour it.
Most comments are appropriately written - particularly by arati and dinesh.
Col Hari - you did not provide a comment space for your article on the IPKF period in Jaffna! I was caught to it - went for five days to see my mother and got stuck for five weeks. I saw what your IPKF did to the Tamils.
Even aerial bombing was denied, until the Indian Telegrah paper published pictures. I get sad listenig to the wrong news reports totally different to the actual happenings I see.
Even your 'Storey' about the boys going to India to collect their materials, after telling the Indian army was wrongly worded. The AGA who was present when boys discussed, told me his knowledge of it.
Do you remember the massive shooting and killings in the Jaffna hospital? The IPKF marched in with the guns opened on shooting!What a sad story for the Indians. I can go on and on - but that is not the purpose of this.
The purpose is primarily to comment on reasons to somehow get the civilians out so the LTTE can be decimated - what a hope.
Some comments above do not realise the state terrorism by the SL governments for twenty years when the Tamils pecefully sought a political means of living together. But the Tamils were killed / burnt / properties damaged and so on.
This is how the LTTE was created when ALL PEACEFUL means failed. Since the SL politicians were not interested in peace but only to kill and decimate the Tamils - as is happening now.
What did JR comment as Tamils were burnt out in 1983 - while burning in progress?
This is how the Tamil diaspora arose - including myself. My house got damaged and then burnt - in Havelock Town.
How does anyone expect the Tamils to hope to lead peaceful life and dignity with these barbrious actions by the SL governments? Can any one justify the state terrorism faced by Tamils in the fifties onwards?
The state terrorism was far worse what little the LTTE had done.
New Delhi seems to have been deceived by the sweet talk of the GOSL. This is not the first time. Earlier they fell for JRJ’s invitation to do the dirty work and in the process lost many thousand Jawans and the life of Sri Rajiv Gandhi. This time MR played the Pakistan card and India fell for it by providing military, technical assistance and intelligence to the Sri Lankan military, this time at the expense of the Tamil people. Mind you this has not prevented GOSL from also maintaining strong ties with Pakistan.
When will New Delhi ever learn the devious mentality of our people? The only language GOSL will ever understand is that of sanctions, not business as usual.
Dr.CP Thiagarajah,
Well before Professor Srimal Abeyratne,Prof Brian Senivaratne nephew of Edmund Samarkoddy ( who stood by his principles as a real LSSP er ) is on record with regard to the delibrate non development of NE by the Sinhalese lead governments. Brian has visited NE as a young boy with his uncle and witnessed himself.
Colonel Hariharan,
the struggle by the Tamils is not just 30 years old. In the early 1960s as a student I participated in Sathyagrha lead by Ghandhian leader SJV Chelvanayagam with whom the LSSP agreed on many issues concerning the Tamil issues. State terror and Oppression is still alive and the struggle will go on in different forms. Majority of the Tamils know the history of Red Indians and Aboroginies. In my view India has failed in its moral responsibility. Under Singh / Pranab / Rahul leadership India will fail the Tamils in SA.
Dr.Ajith de Silva,
I too have lived among the Sinhalese. Individually they were okay but when it comes to the collective political issues concerning the minorities they were cunning and instigated violence and made the Tamils to leave the country because of the Sinhalese political parties and their leaders. Even recently in Colombo Gothabaya's men rounded up Tamils and sent them back to NE. Now in NE disturbance and destruction to their habitats and made as refugees in their own land by the GOSL. Sinhalese leadership will never settle the political problems of the minorities unless it is forced up on them by UN or the IC plus India , China and Pakistan.
The GOSL is waiting to get more aids and loans at the expense of the Tamils of NE to look after the whole economy including the maintnenace of occupied armed forces.
Dear Col Hariharan,
Do you remember Diwali day MASSACRE on 21 October 1987?
A total of 68 innocent Tamils were killed during this particular barbaric offensive of the IPKF. This number included three Doctors, three nurses, seventeen coworkers at the Jaffna hospital and others were the patients admitted to the hospital.
Don't you think this was a warcrime?
How can we expect you to condemn/critisise Sri Lankan military when they bomb clearly marked hospitals, targeting civilians with cluster bombs and napalm bombs in Vanni ?
But you will still advise Tamil expatriates how to put up with oppressor.
In 1987, IPKF underestimated Tamils' will to freedom and I think you have not changed your mindset yet.
Col Hariharan describes LTTE as a "Loose Cannon ball" But in the subsequent paragraph the way he describes SL government shows who the real Cannon ball is!! ("In the corridors of power in Colombo such calls for negotiations are viewed as treason.......") If SL is a democracy as it calls itself has a duty towards its citizens irespective of the language spoken by them!!
Why don't the Colonel say that India cannot ask for a ceasefire as they are the one who is waging the war!! International Community including the UN knows the tragic situation of the civilian Tamils in Sri Lanka.
These people who are trapped in the Vanni are not paupers. They own paddy fields, coconut estate, fishing equipment, houses in their own villages. Why do they have to be housed in detention camps? Why do the pregnant mothers forced to undergo abortion in the so called "welfare centres" This is pure and simple GENOCIDE!! Indian Government is aiding and abetting this GENOCIDE!!
Colonel should be bringing the GENOCIDE of the Tamils to the outside world instead of asking the diaspora Tamils to abandon the Tamil civilians!! If the Sl Govt. is not guilty of GENOCIDE why is it not allowing the International bodies or journalists to go freely into the war zone or the so called "welfare centres"?(not on guided tours surrounded by gun trotting soldiers) Atleast India can demand that. But India will not ask because they are aiding and abetting this GENOCIDE!!
Yes LTTE chased away the Muslims from Jaffna, but it was not the collective decision of the Tamils. Tamils were never consulted. The LTTE and the Sri Lankan Government was having honemoon just only a few months prior to this eviction. Sri Lankan Government heavily armed the LTTE, not the Tamils. The dominant Tamil politicians were murdered during this honeymoon too. Yes the Sri lanaka Government is part of the forced eviction of Muslims, not the Tamils, as ususal they never had a say. We are not proud of What Pirabaharan did to Muslims, we hang our head in shame. That was all we could do then and we do now.
However, the Sinhalese population was over and again consulted about the policies adopted by the Governments. Every election and every agreement will vouch for it, Sinhalese endorsed all the anti Tamil provisions. Majority never forced the Government to do good to the Tamils. It has always been the otherway. The issue is the Mahavmsa mind set of the Sinhalese.
Pirabaharan had done a great service to India by murdering Rajiv Gandhi and did a monumental damage to the Tamils in India in general and to the Sri lanka Tamils in particular. India progressed tremendously in the era of post Neru family prime minister ship.Pirabaharan did not have the intellectual capacity to understand both. He only wanted to settle a personal grudge and the Tamils suffered in the process. He is also the political creation of India and Sri lanka. It is disheartening to see the Indians lament for Rajiv Gandhi, but never care at all about 5000 Tamils who were murdered by the IPKF. 75% of this 5000 is civilians. Yes Col Hariharan is part of the IPKF. The present Chief Minister of Tamil naadu refused to meet the IPKF when they returned home, saying they murdered Tamils, whom they were supposed to protect. That is the track record of Col Hariharan.
Tamils used to have well informed and mild mannered politicians. Sinhalese never wanted to negotiate with them. Sinhalese politicians wanted to eliminate them. Lalith Athulath Mudali openly said that he wanted to eliminate Tulf and he did the foundation strongly.
It was the Sinhala thugs and the armed forces who participated in all the atrocities with the connivance of the sinhala polity. The army and the navy outsmarted and preceeded LTTE in attricities.
Majority of the Tamil diaspora will not be convinced by Col Hariharan. He was and still he is part of the present despicable situation. His articles used to hint military tactics that need to be adopted by the military, irrespective of the accompanying human tragedy.
Meaningful solution will keep the mouths of tamil diaspora shut. Tamil diaspora will become foreigners then. Till that time, we will not forget.
New tamil leadership will ponder why arch enemies India, Pakistan and China are helping the Sri Lanka.
Then they will realize that undivided Sri lnaka is important to India only, but not to Pakistan and China. In fact divided Sri Lanka will be a boon to the interests of both Pakistan and China. Pirabaharan did not think about it but future leadership will think on this line.
Poor expatriate LTTE supporters are in denial mode. They can't accept the defeat of LTTE in Sri Lanka. They lead a comfortable life in the west but being treated as a second class citizen in this racially divided society. They do not want to join the local anti-racial forces with other disadvantaged nationalities for their fight for equality. They are not going to send their children to join the LTTE to the battle front for fighting the Sri Lankan army. They don't value the life of the poor conscripted kids abducted by LTTE fighting the Sri Lankan army with no training. But they belive in their destructive money power. But they are brave in their words. If there is no opportunity to pour money into LTTE coffers, they are ready to pour it into the pockets of Tamilnadu politicians like Thol. TRhiruma, Pa. Neduma, Vaiko, Veeramani, and host of trouble makers in Tamilnadu. This is how LTTE instigated the Sri Lankan army by killing 13 soldiers in Jaffna during early 80. What happened afterwards is a history. They are skillful to replicate that model in India too. Col. please advise your Government to be wary of these evil forces who are blood thirsty and loves to see Tamilnadu in trouble. A taste of it you are seeing in the Chennai High court premises in the last two days. Simillar events are going to be regular events, if your government do not act now decisively. They don't hide their plans, if you see their web sites. They twist the fact now to say that Ïndia is condicting its proxy fight in Sri Lanka" Ofcourse, they can not do much with the great giant like India in the longrun. Eventhough they are just ants, it can cause some temporary nuisance and irritation. It can act as a source to ventilate their frustrations over LTTE's defeat.Col. please ask your government to prepare a list of all prominent pro LTTE leaders in the western countries and instruct the Indian embassies not to issue visa to them to enter India. The GOI must co-operate with all the Co-Char countries Japan, US Canada and EU in sharing intelligence and identifying the moneymaking buisiess empires in the west and purswade them to freeze their assets. In two years, I promise you that all the pro-LTTE supporters in the west will change their shirts and will become chemilions, may be even pro-Indians. Afterall they are the cream of the highly selfish self seeking layer of the Sri Lankan Tamil society. They not only did great harm to the Sri Lankan tamils but also effectively killed the genuine Tamil cause. Because of their sin , the entire Sri Lankan Tamil community is paying a heavey price now. Because of this senseless misguided elements,it will take years for the rest of the world to see the genuine tamil cause in favourable light. Ask your Government to closely watch the Tamilnadu film industry for possible hawalla trade and incometax evasions. Without expatriate tamils , tamilnadu film industry will collapse. India has to make a choice between the collapse of film industry or India security. Col. your Government has to do a lot to prevent the spill over effect of this evil influence.
Canaga | February 20, 2009 04:02 AM
The fact of the matter is that the LTTE hijacked our freedom struggle and completely destroyed it.
Indo Lanka Pact gave us the best opportunity to induce normalcy in the NE and set off political process to devolve powers to the NE.
If a sensible leader had led the LTTE we would not have come to the dead end.
12 yrs ago LTTE men walked into a prize giving in girls’ school and assassinated Thangathurai MP in this attack two local school principals got killed and many school girls badly wounded. Would you condemn this?
In 85/85 hundreds of TELO cadres were - even surrendered cadres - massacred by the LTTE, would you condemn this?
In Kattankudy over 100 Muslims were massacred by the LTTE, would you condemn this?
Go to Wikipedia and see the list of political assassination of the LTTE, would you condemn this
?
Before the LTTE fatally attacked the IPKF not a single LTTE cadre or a civilian killed or a single Tamil woman was raped by the IPKF men. Tell what the LTTE gained by killing 1200 IPKF men and assassinating Rajiv Gandhi? Brought nothing but endless misery to our people.
Mr. Janaka,
500000 Tamil people choose to live in Colombo not beacuse they love Colombo, but they were forced out by their Native land, their livihood, business and fertile land. They are now depend on their relatives live abroad who are helping them with feriegn exchange.
DO YOU THINK TAMILS ARE SAFE IN COLOMBO. Certainly not. Regsitration, white vans etc and they are infact live in hell but buying their time hoping one day thay can return to their HOME.
This is one of the Concocted facts that has been around that More Tamils are living outside the Tamil Homeland.
In fact More Jews are living out side the Isreal does this means Isreal doesn't exist? Thought for the day.
Dr.CP Thiagarajah,
Well before Professor Srimal Abeyratne,Prof Brian Senivaratne nephew of Edmund Samarkoddy ( who stood by his principles as a real LSSP er ) is on record with regard to the delibrate non development of NE by the Sinhalese lead governments. Brian has visited NE as a young boy with his uncle and witnessed himself.
Colonel Hariharan,
the struggle by the Tamils is not just 30 years old. In the early 1960s as a student I participated in Sathyagrha lead by Ghandhian leader SJV Chelvanayagam with whom the LSSP agreed on many issues concerning the Tamil issues. State terror and Oppression is still alive and the struggle will go on in different forms. Majority of the Tamils know the history of Red Indians and Aboroginies. In my view India has failed in its moral responsibility. Under Singh / Pranab / Rahul leadership India will fail the Tamils in SA.
Dr.Ajith de Silva,
I too have lived among the Sinhalese. Individually they were okay but when it comes to the collective political issues concerning the minorities they were cunning and instigated violence and made the Tamils to leave the country because of the Sinhalese political parties and their leaders. Even recently in Colombo Gothabaya's men rounded up Tamils and sent them back to NE. Now in NE disturbance and destruction to their habitats and made as refugees in their own land by the GOSL. Sinhalese leadership will never settle the political problems of the minorities unless it is forced up on them by UN or the IC plus India , China and Pakistan.
The GOSL is waiting to get more aids and loans at the expense of the Tamils of NE to look after the whole economy including the maintnenace of occupied armed forces
Can someone answer the following questions. What has LTTE achieved in the last twenty five years? Yes , they focused attention of the world community on failed policies and discrimination by government against Tamils. Yes, they carved out a quasi state which is fast disappearing. At what cost to the Tamil people of north and east have these been realised. Was it worthwhile?
What are the genuine grievences of Tamils in north and east. Yes, there was discrimination on language, education and employment over last fifty years. Are the grievences that existed fifty years ago still valid? Do we still need education in Tamil? Do we need to depend on government jobs as in colonial times when large majority of educated Tamils were employed in the Public Service? Do people know about the benifits of globalization and industrialization which are key to prosperity in the south of the country, together with tourism for which there is immense potential in the east?
I believe these are the key issues that need to be addressed by Tamil leaders.
I do not wish to discredit LTTE which played an important role in focusing on attitude of government towards minorities and the need for self determination in that part of the country which has sadly been devastated. However, time has come for a paradime shift in approach these problems by the Tamil leadership including the LTTE.
To Dr Ajith De Silva
Your comments are absolutely correct. I would like to add some more. These Tamil Diaspora are the main cause for the continuation of the war in Srilanka. These people had a comfortable life while they were in Srilanka. These people had their free university education thanks to Srilanka taxpayers and held good positions while they were in Srilanka and were never affected by the war unlike the poor Tamil Srilankans. Yes Srilanka had some unfortunate incidents like 1983. That is past. Now, these Diaspora should leave their hands out of this conflict. These Tamil Diaspora are telling the government standardization policy in the higher education sector is one of the problems for this ethnic war. I would like point out one thing, I am a Tamil from Vavunia. Thanks to the standardization I was able to get an Engineering degree. Standardization although disadvantages some students (Jaffna and Colombo), it provides opportunity for many poor Tamils living in Vavunia, Kilinochchi, Mullaitive, Batticola etc.
I want to remind What Late gampaha MP SD Bandaranayake told in Parliament.He said, Even if Sinhalease had been prepared to solve the Tamils problem India won't allow this. It is the truth. Now it is cleare Sinhalease are not our enemy. India, leaving Tamilnadu state, is our enemy.
Col Hari haran must know what has happened to sydney Tamil Manram(STM) consisting of Tamilnadu Tamils. recently they wanted to meet their high commissioner(HC) In Canbera Re Eelam Tamils.. Appointment was given. Even though they wanted to go in big number they were asked to come in five. When they went Not only the HC, even Deputy didn't see them. Only a junior officer received them. THEY FELT A STEP MOTHER TREATMENT.
I listened to an interview with this President of STM By DR Victor Rajakulendran on ATBC Radio on Friday At 9.30 PM on 20/02/09. He seemed to be very unhappy. Hariharan understad what has happened to his Tamilnadu Tamil civilians-Indians.
Let us take a look at two basic matters. Firstly, what has the LTTE achieved over the last twenty five years? No doubt they have focused attention of the world community on attitude of Sri Lankan governments towards minorities, especially Tamils and failed policies in language and education, resulting in war and conflict, after a period of futile negotiation by Tamil politicians.
There have also been atrocities and abuses comitted by government forces on civilians, that may be described as war crimes. LTTE was also able carve out a quasi state in the Wanni for nearly two decades, which did not have legitimacy either locally or internationally, resulting in risk of elimination and defeat which seems to be near to realisation. However, were these achievements worthwhile for the Tamils in the north and east who have made a huge sacrifice, bordering on genocide.
Secondly, what are the genuine grievences of the Tamil people. No doubt there has been widespread discrimination by government on language, education and employment inflicted on minorities since independence. However, are the grivences that prevailed fifty years ago still valid? At time of independence, majority of educated Tamils were dependent on a Permanent Pensionable Public Service. Since then the attraction of public service has progressively declined, due to salaries not increasing with inflation. Coversely the private sector has progressed with globalisation and industrialisation.
There is also considerable potential for tourism in the east. Is Tamil education a priority for the youth, or as what is happening in the south, a need for revival of English education? There are now facilities for tertiary education in Jaffna and Batticaloa, which can minimise or eliminate discrimination in this sector.
It is time for Tamil leadership to take stock of the situation and look for a new approach to solve problems of the community, giving much greater emphasis to dialoge, negotiations and cooperation with government which can result in greater progress as achieved by other minorities such as Indian Tamils and Muslims.
There is a need to minimise dependence on government to solve problems of minorities, while at the same time increasing level of influence to be asserted by them. At this stage, the priority has to be social and economic development rather than politics relating to constitutional reform and devolution which is not an urgent need.These can and need to be addressed at an appropriate time in the future when the dust has settled over the conflict and polarisation of north and south has been diffused.
Finding a slution for Tamils have long lapsed since Velu undertook the task some 30 years ago.
It has now come to the point that Tamils will have to accept or accept what the GOSL genuinely has to offer.
As it appear now, GOSL is saddled with Velu's failed follies with devil's dollars provided by the diaspora.
Under difficult circumstances, having to cope with pro ltte Western INGOs with vested interest & tongue in cheek Catholic & Christian agenda, GOSL have performed well upto now receiving and attending to the IDPs wh are running away from the tyranny & the clutches of the Tigers......
Inspite of the revelations by these IDPs who have fled to safe areas and uncontrollably narating their harrowing experiences at the hand of yheir sole representative Velu & the Tigers, yet certain or majority of the Local & Foreign media reports further from the truth like the suppresion of the authencity of the Donation of Constantine Document by the Catholic Church.
One can not fool all the people all the time Nor the Roman Seat of Power or the Devil's dollars conceal the truth being revealed.
The ground situation and the GOSL attention towards the IDPs speak for itself............
We don't need Ostrich hiding type of reporting or anyone shedding Crocodile tears with tongue in cheek.
Mr. Hariharan,
You should unerstand that the diaspora Tamils have a diffrent type of approch than you on the question. We have an other point of view relative to the Tamil National question.
Most of us have been éducated in western universities.
Please do not take us for the stupid people. We know what do you have in your mind.
Col Hariharan,
I am sorry but even some Tamils in India don't feel like you do. You cant tell a whole community on how to act. Communities decide on how they will act based on their beliefs and experience. Neither mahinda's regim nor the congress understand the SL Tamil mind. They both think that they can be beaten or submitted in to a belief that they carry. Its a mistake. This mistake has been repeated by various regimes throughout history. The consequence is more people die till the logical conclusion is achieved (read IRA, Irish peace process). How long did they fight with the British? If you compare the Tamils mind with the people of east timor or the Irish you will find the logical conclusion of history. The current situation is only temporary.
Dear Colonel,
Tamils clearly understand as an ex RAW officer, how much you are disapointed and sadened by the resolve shown by Tamils in SL and abroad in sticking with their objective that is backed by the universally accepted principle of self-determination.
Your statement "they have ended up recycling the LTTE cause as the Tamil cause", referring to some of the political constituencies outside SL, shows how NOT qualified you are to write about SL Tamil struggle. The LTTE is simply spearheading the 1977 democractic Tamil mandate, provided by the SL Tamils in no uncertain terms that they need to separate from the Sinhalese, after proplonged failed democratic struggle headed by SJV.
So characterizing the Tamil Eelam project as an LTTE project in not correct. Well, it suites the propaganda of the SL / Indian States, but it is far from the truth. If you are confident that the Tamils may have second thoughts after LTTE is now pushed into the jungles of North SL, why do not ask your friends in SL to have a referendum arranged for SL to speak their mind, you will be surprised.
The Tamils truly believe that separation is the only solution as the sinhalese are unable to treat Tamils as equals. They also know that they are backed up by the universally accepted principle of self-determination. But they are also aware that the SL State and the Indian State, for their own twisted reasons, do not want to allow that right for the Tamils and taking all possible actions against the Tamil struggle. Is your articles in this web site and others are part of those actions? I hope not.
Lets allow the Tamil nation to exercise the universally accepted principle of self-determination, shall we? And you are right and as Suresh M commnented above the "Tamil expatriates have a moral responsibility to rise up to the occasion to make peace possible just as they showed they can progress war”. I bet they will. The Tamils are going to come together all over the world to advance the SL Tamil struggle, while EXPOSING the SL and Indian States for their actions / non actions against the SL Tamil struggle.
I forsee such a huge transformation in the future. The SL Tamil struggle will be largely political (70-90%) driven from outside SL (as the whilte van squad is due to be the future of SL) and the military struggle will be limited to gurilla warfare (10-30%)in SL. I also hope the likes of the current human rights chief Ms.Pillay gets involved in such a political effort after her term with UN ends.
My dear Colonel Hari,
You were the Head of Military Intelligence in the Indian Peace Keeping Force in 1987-90. You know very well what happened to the Indian military personnel when they walked in to the Tigers' den. Let me remind you, over 1000 of your warriors were massacred by the Tigers and then you had to cease all your presence and retreat to India. Now you are suggesting that another Indian Peace Keeping Force together with a UN peacekeeping force enter the Tigers den again. Unlike in 1987, the Tigers are at theire most vicious and devious mode at present because it is now a do or die battle for them. Their last tactic is to (ab)use about 100000 innocent Tamil men, women and children whom they have been driving like cattle to wherever the LTTE supremo wanted [Jaffna to Vavunia and then to Kilinochchi. From Kilinochchi they have been herded at gun point to the jungles in Puththukkudiruppu just to be a human shield or in simple terms "lambs to slaughter" because, if the government forces commit any "collateral damage" [military parlance for humans dying either in crossfire or in a missed target of aerial bombing of enemy camps] then the LTTE expects the world to give them the oxygen of publicity, sympathy and international outrage. The LTTE is not worried about the Tamil people they are driving around at their whims and fancies for their own(LTTE) survival. The LTTE is killing those IDPs intent on leaving their herd and then tell the world that the SL Army is killing the Tamil civilians. We must be living in a world full of people with sub-normal intelligence if they can not understand this truth. The bottom line is, it is in India's best interests in the short and long terms not to get involved in anything to do with the LTTE. They are not the Tamil people the world appreciates as those with human values. You try to feed the Puligal with your hands and very soon your arm will be eaten. That is what happened to Indian forces in 1987-90. Now you try to feed the Tiger with the other arm and the result will be that India will not only lose its functional arm but also lose the bottom part of its physical body too as the Tiger will then break the whole of South India for self rule as its next "traditional homeland" den.
We Sri Lankans have a healthy regard for our big brother India. That does not mean we would want to sacrifice the life and limb of our big brother in interfering into our own battles in our own historical homeland.
Asitha Gamage
I left Sri Lanka 24 years ago and never returned. I have been living in western countries since I left. Presently I am living in Canada and I like multiculturalism. It does not mean I can accept racism. Sri Lanka is a country which is one of the racist countries in the world. Though I am from Sri Lanka, my soul believe as if I were from India and not from Sri Lanka because of its racism. I strongly believe the sending U.N peace keeping forces is necessary to find and implement any solution. Otherwise, Sri Lankan government will use armed Tamil groups to which it feeds to against LTTE. In that scenario, it will lead to armed conflicts between Tamil armed groups. Instead, whoever called themselves as Tamil leaders, should provide their solutions along with government solution, and let the Tamil people to choose the best solution in a referendum. Whatever outcome from the referendum, all should accept and implement it. How is my solution?
I completely agree with aratai's comments: "There are many who thought God means India, and now India has proved otherwise."
Indian politicians are Gandhis or Nehrus no longer. They are as unfit and impotent as our Sri Lankan mob.Their sloe aim is to win elections and promote there kith and kin. As long as the people remain ignorant, democracy will not work.
The problem is that each one of us (including Col R Hariharan) see things through our narrow windows.
Vinayagam
in summary, all this means we support it. but have no control over it. if we had, we would have never co-ordinated the march to UN with sky-LTTE attack on colombo. so we do the next best thing. we show the dog is on our leash and bites on our command.
Dr. Asitha Gamage,
Every one know India is helping/staging the war on Tamils!!
Your saying as "We Sri Lankans have a healthy regard for our big brother India. That does not mean we would want to sacrifice the life and limb of our big brother in interfering into our own battles in our own historical homeland"
rings hollow!!
The whole world knows that Sri Lanka was helping Pakistan during the Indo/Pakistan war when India was liberating Bangaladesh. Premadasa armed and Helped LTTE tp fight with the IPKF.
If Sri Lankan government is not guilty of GENOCIDE of the Tamils, why does it not allow nuetral bodies like UN to be present in the conflict zone? Why did it expelled the NGOs? The answer is simply to carry on its GENOCIDE without witness!! No amount of white washing like the "mouth pieces" like you will help Sri Lankas image!!
We all know that Sri Lanka will use Indians when necessary and throw them out when they need it!! India has to learn a lot about the Sri Lankan Gvernment!!
Dr. Ajith De Silva does not know the political history of SL. LTTE began after TULF and other moderate tamil parties gave up the hope for polical solution for tamils. LTTE or the diaspora are the cause of the current situation. These two are the resultants of the polical ignorances of the SL majority governments.
Mr. De Silva is not a suitable person who decides the fate or wishes of the tamils. Unless you have free referendum about the Tamils political wishes within the Tamils, how you can say Tamils do not want separatism.
How do you know 60% of tamil people live happily outside the north and east? If they live happily, why the security forces arrest them and kill them outside the north and east?
Here is my sugestion..
Have a referrandum among the entire population on who wants to live where. Tamil North, Tamil East, Moslem East or Sinhala South. Once the numbers are determined carve up the country into 4 states so that the landmass is proportionate to to the number of people who wish to live in it. If two or more states opt to unite later they can do so.
Of course this will never wash with either the Tamil or the Sinhalese extremists because..
1. The Sinhalese supremacists believe that 100% of Lankan land belong exclusively to the 72% Sinhalese.
2. The Tamil supremacists believe that 35% of Lankan land belong exclusively to 12% of Sri Lankan Tamils.