Fresh Influx of LTTE “Human Bombs” Rattle Forces in Jaffna
April 24th, 2007
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj
The early hours of Monday April 23rd saw the Sri Lankan security forces conduct a well – coordinated cordon and search operation in various parts of Jaffna peninsula. In a simultaneous pre – dawn swoop security forces encircled four target zones and conducted house to house searches of residences in the vicinity. Some people were detained for further interrogation.
The cordon and search operations were conducted in different parts of the Jaffna municipality ranging from Ariyalai to Naavaanthurai: Chavakachcheri town and areas like Nunavil, Sangathanai and Meesalai in the Thenmaratchy sector: Udupiddy, Valvettithurai and Thondamanaaru areas in the Vadamaratchy sector: Chulipuram and adjacent areas in Valigamam West.
Around eight to ten thousand personnel were deployed in the massive operation which according to Jaffna residents was the biggest of its kind in recent times. It began shortly after 4 am and went on till about 2 pm. Troops who positioned themselves at interior lanes and by – lanes prevented young people from travelling about. Hundreds of soldiers fanned out and conducted an intensive house to house search.
Many elderly people were herded into schools in some places and given food and refreshment. Soldiers entreated the senior citizens to supply them with details about Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)members living undercover in the areas. The elders were also showered with gifts like food items and clothing. They were promised more benefits if they cooperated. They were also threatened with dire consequences if found harbouring “Terrorists”.
Though some persons all of them youths were taken in for further questioning Jaffna residents were of the opinion that they were merely tiger suspects and not actual LTTE members. It was crystal clear from the elaborate scale of the cordon and search operation that the security forces were aiming to flush out hard – core LTTE members who had allegedly infiltrated various parts of Jaffna in recent times. Despite the element of surprise the Monday operation apparently failed to yield successful results as expected.
The massive cordon and search operation came in the wake of recent military intelligence reports of large scale infiltration by the LTTE into Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) controlled areas in Jaffna peninsula. Trained LTTE cadres were moving into Jaffna by boat across the lagoon and landing in various points along the Thenmaratchy coast and also Ariyalai east. Tigers were also suspected of moving by foot in Vadamaratchy east along lagoon shores and penerating the Varani – Mulli areas of Thenmaratchy.
The influx apparently began in the last week of March but escalated dramatically after the dawn of “Sarvasith” new year on April 14th. It is estimated that around 175 to 200 “new” tiger cadres are in Jaffna now. Since the influx is on going the figures are said to be increasing regularly. It is also said that some of the LTTE operatives already stationed clandestinely in Jaffna are being recalled to the Northern mainland of Wanni.
The tigers brought in via the recent influx have not engaged in any spectacular operations so far. A few landmine explosions and pistol group assassinations have occurred. But these are seen as routine events now. The fresh crop of tiger infiltrators seem to be engaged in laying the groundwork for major developments in the future rather than confront security personnel immediately.
LTTE cadres are allegedly setting up safe houses and clandestine camps in the peninsula; the existing LTTE intelligence network in the peninsula is being revamped and enhanced; undercover supply routes between mainland and peninsula are being revised and refined. Arms are being smuggled in and concealed at various points; the dormant “fifth columnists” are being re- activated. It appears that the LTTE is getting ready for a full – fledged assault on the peninsula and the infiltrators are fore – runners of that objective.
What is disturbing from the Govt point of view is that the proclaimed raison d’etre for closure of A – 8 highway at Muhamalai checkpoint is now invalid. The closure resulting in great hardship for Jaffna civilians was justified on the grounds that it was to prevent LTTE incursions into the peninsula.
The closure of A – 9 along with the ruthless abduction and assassination campaign conducted against people suspected of supporting the LTTE was declared successful as the Peninsula was now virtually cleared of a tiger presence it was claimed. With recent infiltration in large numbers the situation is changing drastically and the boast rings hollow.
Rattling the security forces further is recent knowledge about the qualitative difference in LTTE cadres infiltrating Jaffna now. The tigers coming in are drawn from many different units ranging from the intelligence division to the elite leopard commandoes. despite different duties and tasks being assigned to them a common factor binds them together. It is the fact that most of them – if not all – are mobile “human bombs”.
In a noteworthy departure from earlier norms the LTTE cadres being sent to Jaffna are all human bombs wearing explosive – laden belt – vests as deadly undergarments. They form a loose ensemble called “That Kaappu Vedigundangip Porani” (Defensive explosive garment corps ). These cadres wear a belt – vest strapped around between their chests and waists. The explosive is triggered if and when two concealed levers are joined together and yanked.
There have been two related incidents in the past weeks. In Aanaikottai , close to Jaffna town , soldiers on motor cycles stumbled on two tigers trying to affix a clatmore mine on a tree. One ran away but the other was trapped. The LTTE cadre ran towards the soldiers while his fingers fumbled with the concealed levers. He was shot dead by the soldiers .
It was discovered later that Capt. Priyadharshan of the LTTE was trying to trigger off the explosive belt.If successful a few soldiers would have been killed or seriously injured.
Another incident took place along Naavalar road i the heart of Jaffna town. Tipped off by an informant a group of soldiers was lying in wait for a tiger operative near the railway gate on Naavalar road. The LTTE cadre Lt. Arivumagan was taken by surprise. But instead of trying to run away he ran towards the soldiers and managed to trigger off the strapped explosive. An army corporal of military intelligence was killed. Another member of military intelligence, a soldier and the informant were injured.
Both incidents have brought home to the security forces the “transformation” in the new LTTE infiltrators of Jaffna. Earlier LTTE members if cornered would consume cynaide to avoid capture. But the new approach seems to be that of blowing themselves up by triggering off body – strapped explosives. The idea is not merely to avoid capture but like the biblical Samson taking as many of the enemy as possible along with you.
The black tigers phenomenon of the LTTE is well – known. The black tigers have a specific target. They blow themselves up at the correct time to take down the target. In some instances black tigers apprehended by authorities have either by design or accident blown themselves up.
The new breed of explosive laden tigers are slightly different from the black tigers. They do not blow themselves up to target a particular person or place. They are engaged in other tasks but blow themselves up if capture is imminent instead of taking cynaide. For this they are in a constant state of prepardedness wearing the explosive belt – vest all the time. Even the black rigers wore their explosives only when embarking on a mission. But these cadres are almost always strapped with explosives.
They are in practice mobile human bombs ready to explode if about to be captured. Apart from avoiding capture the idea is to wreak as much destruction as possible on the enemy. There is “no going gently into the good night” for these devotees of Velupillai Pirapakaran.
A ceremony was held on April 21st at the Kilinochchi cultural centre to honour the memory of Capt. Priyadharshan and Lt. Arivumagan. LTTE mass communications unit head Thamilanban delivered the eulogy. In that Thamilanban “officially” revealed for the first time that LTTE cadres wearing explosive laden garments (Vedigundu angi) had infiltrated Jaffna in large numbers.
Thamilanban rationalised the self – destruction of LTTE cadres as being necessary to avoid capture. He said that anyone captured alive could be made to reveal details about the LTTE presence and plans in Jaffna. At the same time instead of simply taking one’s own life the tigers would take the enemy with them too. Such steely determination was essential to survive in hostile territory. Besides the enemy would be intimidated severely.
Thamilanban also chided Jaffna residents for not joining the LTTE in large numbers and fight for liberation. Now they were being exterminated ruthlessly by a terrible enemy. He called upon people to join the LTTE and fight with self – respect as tigers instead of being shor dead like street dogs.
The LTTE was incapable of stopping this carnage until Jaffna was retaken. The tigers will definitely reclaim their cultural heritage of Jaffna regarded as the Apex of knowledge among Tamils. The presence of large numbers of tiger cadres like Pritadharshan and Arivumagan wearing explosive – laden garments was only a harbinger of the future he warned.
Against this backdrop the reasons for Monday’s cordon and search operation are not hard to fathom. The security forces long complacent that the tiger threat in Jaffna has been eliminated are being brutally reminded of the threat within. The LTTE build – up within Jaffna has ominous forebodings for the future. The question however is whether the state and its Tamil minions can effectively curtail a tiger presence determined to die, kill and kill even while taking one’s own life.
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Entry Filed under: MinorMatters
36 Comments Add your own
1. Gloria Abraham | April 24th, 2007 at 1:21 am
This is a dangerous development indeed. My heart goes out to all those cadres dting for a cause that seems so distant to some of us
2. Gloria Abraham | April 24th, 2007 at 1:24 am
All Tamils respect and honour Tamil militants dting for a cause they believe in. This is regardless of political opinion divisions among us
3. Guna.N. Gunaratnam | April 24th, 2007 at 1:33 am
Writer is writing about ground happenings in Jaffna. All media full of air happenings in Palaly. Government says one thing Tigers say another thing. LTTE claims but Govt denies. Will writer who is investigating writer investigate and tell us what really happened?
4. K.K.Nathan | April 24th, 2007 at 1:38 am
Only recently life started getting normal for Jaffna. Now tiger human bombs will cause problems again. Life will be miserable. Allready 125, 000 people apply to go out of Jaffna. Soon 250, 000 people will apply to go. Jaffna will not have people. For whom Eelam then?
5. Soosai Philips | April 24th, 2007 at 1:43 am
Sister Gloria
There is no glory in suicide. We cannot glorify death whatever the cause or sacrifice. Time to stop killing and dying for Tamil cause. Let us all live for God and love our fellow humans
6. A. Thevarajah | April 24th, 2007 at 1:50 am
I listened to Canada Tamil radio.Tamil Spokesman telling Palali base destroyed and mylitty harbor burning. Everybody saying Eelam going to be born. How happy I am if this is true. Is this really true?
7. raj rajendra | April 24th, 2007 at 4:21 am
So, the norm in Jaffna is that If you are a Tamil living in Jaffna, eventually you will be killed by the Sinhala Army. Then the choice is either you become a informer to them and have a good life or kill your self by killing your killer before he kills you.
8. Anton Mayer | April 24th, 2007 at 8:13 am
This war development in Sri Lanka is not good for both people there. ( Tamil and Singala) So the only way to build up this country to divide to be 2 or send UN trops to help them. Most of these news comes from both side are probaganda and difficult to beleive. I am former Srilankan tamil and living in Norway.
9. K.K.Harindran | April 24th, 2007 at 10:00 am
If an Elam is born, does all my relatives in Wellawatta and Bambalapitiya would have to move to Elam to avoid getting massacred by angry Sinhala or as a part of agreement with GOSL? Our complaint is discrimination. Why not work to resolve that?
10. Raj | April 25th, 2007 at 2:19 am
This story is sad. Sad because Tamils have descended to the level of animals. People blowing themselves up like popcorn for the LTTE’s “cause” is ugly and a testiment to how low the community has gone. As a Tamil I am deeply disgusted to see the LTTE glorify things like this. It is abominable, maybe thalaivar can send his children to become human bombs? Of course not, they are happy and safe in England.
11. David Blacker | April 25th, 2007 at 2:30 am
I’m happy to see these articles by DBS Jeyaraj now open to comment, unlike before. Interesting piece.
Thevarajah, you should mix your sources of info so that you get a balanced input. It is still unclear if the Tigers managed to get close to the Palaly base. At the moment reports seem to indicate that they dropped four bombs at Myliddy because they couldn’t get any further, killing 6 soldiers in the FDLs.
Thing is, we’ll never be sure. It’s too easy for the LTTE to shell a target, have an aircraft fly about, and claim it was an airstrike. Similarly, the GoSL can just as easily deny it. Without independent verification, we’ll never really know.
Raj, the majority of the Jaffna population is neither helping the Tigers nor the GoSL, and they are suffering no greater hardship for it. Obviously the lack of adequate resupply to the Peninsula due to the fighting, makes life very hard, but I don’t think anyone’s being especially targeted in order to make them help the GoSL.
I have long wanted to ask if the SL Tamils really wish a separate state, but never had a proper online forum to ask it, so I’m asking now. What do you think? Don’t you think a federal state (like Quebec) would be better? I would like some honest answers, and if you could indicate whether you live in SL or outside, it would help me understand your response better. I live in Colombo, but visit the NE frequently. Thanks.
12. Dr K Chandradeva | April 25th, 2007 at 6:14 am
See the following link. The future of Tamils in Sri Lanka shall depend on how Co-chairs and India are going to respond to this ‘M chinthana’.
http://www.dailymirror.lk/2007/04/25/front/04.asp
13. aswini | April 25th, 2007 at 3:21 pm
hats off to sri lankans who wants to live peacefully, before the war started tamils had problems but definitely they were one that could have been solved by both sides through negotiations, there was value for human lives then, now the whole scenario is changed and one wonders whethe we would have had so much problems if a peace ful protest was waged. the only thing we have gained by this war is a sense of mistrust and hate. what is the point of obedience which is generated by fear rather that understanding?
14. aswini | April 25th, 2007 at 3:29 pm
answer to david blacker,
definitely a federal state would be much better that a separate state, i cannot see the point in separation as there are a large number of tamils living in south and the central part of sri lanka. what will happen to them?
i live out side sl but lived most of my life there.
15. Sachi | April 25th, 2007 at 5:30 pm
Hi all!
We all are missing a point here, even the writer. Every one can write any thing and you could write so many stuff without actual truth. If Sri Lankan government ready to say to Tamil “there is a referendum to say what you want and who you behind then all the people in and out Sri Lanka will know the answer. BUT Never Ever Sri Lankan will do a referendum, because they know what out come will be. I am 100% SURE that around 90% of the Tamil will support LTTE and they want to go separate. Why! Because the division between Sinhela and Tamil gone too far and too long. There is no integration between these two communities for so many years, and is to late now. ever family in Tamil community some how suffered by SLA and around 80% Tamil family lost son or daughter buy SLA through LTTE , do you honestly think this people will support Sri Lankan government……Never….
16. Ran Che | April 25th, 2007 at 10:01 pm
Where are we headding.
Will there be peace or more war?
I see several young tamil youth dying for Prabaharan. However how are Prabaharans children keeping. How is Tamil selvans family keeping. I wish them GOOD HEALTH AND HAPPINESS.
Are the others the children of poor mothers to die. Please give your comments.
Why cant Prabaharan go for a solution or fight harder and finish matters quickly.
17. Sunil | April 25th, 2007 at 10:13 pm
Cowards, Cowards and bigger cowards.
So you heros look after their families and children but send others children to fight and satisfy their egos.
Give up fighting before your people change their names and destiny to a noble sinhalese.
The only solution is to become a sinhalese budist and no harm will happen
18. zulu | April 25th, 2007 at 11:04 pm
GoSL will never hold a referendum on the issue of seperation, when the answer was clear for the past 40 years.
GoSL will never allow the island to be divided because the government is elected to keep the unity of the country.
As for the intergration of the two ethnic groups?
The law and order will keep everybody’s rights guranteed.
There is no need for the two ethnics to get any closer than what is needed.
Colombo is a good example.
Lets live peacefully and see what we can accomplish.
19. Nedunchezhiyan | April 26th, 2007 at 1:05 am
David Blacker: Three points I wish to make:
1.In 1977, the moderate TULF under Amirthalingam contested the general elections with the main campaign pledge of working towards a separate state through political means.
The TULF won resoundingly in every Tamil District and for the first time in SL history a Tamil party became the main opposition party.
The Tamil militant groups were vitually non existant at that time.
That in itself should answer the general feelings of the majority of the Tamil people.
2. Since independance in 1948 Tamil poiltical parties had interacted with the majoritarian parties in power towards peaceful devolution os some form. There lie a long list of pacts and deals which wer subsequently abrogated due to pressure from the opposition parties. Sadly the opposition to any deal with Tamil parties lay not in the intrinsic philosophy of the majoritatrian parties but simply in the fact that they were in opposition and it was a good way to brow beat the government of the time. This is the role taken on by both major Sinhales parties.
3. Violence is not the answer to long lasting solution. But, after more than fifty years of political manoeuvering and diplomacy, it seems that the Tamil youth felt the need to strengthen their diplomacy with military strength.
20. Gloria Abraham | April 26th, 2007 at 9:05 am
Dear Brother Philip
I am not glorifying death or suicide but I am honouring the memory of those children who are sacrificing their lives for a cause they believe in. It is for history to judge whether these sacrifices were worth it. But we can only think of them as our sons and daughters now and mourn. Are we not allowed to even shed a tear for them or light a candle.
You are advising me to love all humanity. Of couse we do. But may I remind you what LTTE leader Prabakharan told Anitha Pratap in a press interview many years ago. He said “If Jayawarthana was a true Buddhist I wont be carrrying a gun”
Please tell that to our present rulers who take flower trays to temples and send bombing planes to Tamil villages.
Finally about death may I remind you of what St. Paul wrote “Death whre is thy sting??
21. Ruwan | April 26th, 2007 at 9:09 am
Dear David Blacker,
Thanks for your interest. However now it is passed. As others said, Tamils have been asking / begging for reasonable / reliable solution for their discriminations. However, each and every Sinhala Governments have not beed listened.
It is not a year or two. It has been decades (>40 years).
So I believe that the only possible and reliable solution available is two seperate states.
This is good for Tamils, Sinhalease and over all to the world
22. David Blacker | April 26th, 2007 at 10:05 am
Aswini, you are wrong to say that peaceful protests might have given the Tamils their rights. From the ’50s to the ’70s the Tamils used the law, democracy, and peaceful protest. Nothing happened.
And you’re also wrong to say that the only result of the war is mistrust and hate. It was because of the mistrust and hate that war broke out. And the militancy has managed to wrest some rights from the majority Sinhalese. There would have been no declaring of Tamil an official language, nor any discussion of a federal state without the military action.
Sachi, your stats are a bit off I think on that 80%. As for the referendum on whether to separate or not, the NE Tamils do not have that right. Every part of SL belongs to every single citizen, regardless of ethnicity. So any referendum on separation would require the whole of SL to vote. If the NE Tamils alone voted, it would be unfair on the NE Muslims, who then would have to be given their own referendum on whether to separate further. There is no historical precedent for it, and no international body would attempt to impose such a referendum.
Nedunchezhiyan, I agree with you that the diplomatic efforts prior to the ’80s didn’t work (that period lasted 30 years, not 50), and the Tamils felt compelled to revolt. However, after almost another 30 years of war, the LTTE (after killing its fellow separatists) have failed to capture the promised land. So what now? Will you blindly follow Prabha & Co in an endless and obviously unwinnable war that is destroying the NE and starving its children? Isn’t it time to look for a new option? And isn’t it time for the Tamil diaspora to start the change by telling the Tigers “Enough!”?
Gloria, why is the sacrifice only by the common Tamil child? Where’s the sacrifice by Prabhakaran’s kids? By the children of the other Tiger top brass? Are the Tamils of the NE expected to sacrifice until there are no more children, while the diaspora grows fat in Europe and Canada, paying for the bullets and explosives with which to sacrifice the children of the NE?
Is there no plan?
23. Sachi | April 26th, 2007 at 11:58 am
This message for Zulu!
My dear brother! You are right, the Sri Lankan Government never make a referendum and u know the answer well too, because u said so. Government doesn’t want country to go separate. That mean the Tamil want to go separate. For integration your example is Colombo. My view, Colombo is a time bomb. Every time and any time government sponsored riot will start and destroys Tamils and their belonging like 1983 and before. My idea is this calls it Sri Lanka and makes two stats one for Sinhsla state and other on for Tamil speaking state. Put two representatives from all the community for central government and between them make an election for a precedent every for year. In that way could all the community in Sri Lanka will be satisfied. But before all this, the constitution has to change in Sri Lanka. This is my only idea that can make peace in Sri Lanka. And we can be example for the world community how can achieve peace by own people, we never want any outside selfish idea from any other country.
24. Sachi | April 26th, 2007 at 6:01 pm
For Mr. David!
You guys still missing the point. Who have been suffering such a long time? Tamils. So you should ask the suffering people only. Do they want referendum, not the people who make other party sulfur? If you do that then you will come to ground zero. I am pretty sure two state solutions is the only way to our problem. Like Sri Lankan government LTTE is not angel too, but if you look recent picture from LTTE air wing, you could clearly see Prabhakaran’s son. So now we know they ware also ready for confrontation. , so we better stop this bloody war otherwise Mahida &co and Prabha&co will go on for ever until sri lanka on her knee. If you follow all the land record from the Dutch time, then you will know where to begin. Check the last Kandy king’s surrender statement to the British emperor, he and his ministers (Sinhela Ministers) signed in Tamil. Make two states and be helping each other state.
25. MATHU | April 27th, 2007 at 9:02 am
I THINK LTTE IS JUST MAKING SCARE FOR SRI LANKAN ARMY BUT THEY NOT GOING TO DO LIKE THIS, THEY KNOW ABOUT HUMAN LIFE
26. kanthan | April 27th, 2007 at 9:11 am
http://www.dailymotion.com/watchtamil/video/x1elk9_sri-lankan-tamil/1
27. aswini | April 27th, 2007 at 11:57 am
reply to david blacker
my father didnt get his promotions on time because he didnt pass the sinhala test. yes there was discrimination and there is no denying that.
and people might argue about the killings in 58 and 83. but everyone knows that it was not done by the majority of sinhalese and that race hate is there in every country. an interval of about 20 odd years before such horrible things happenning, againg is to be considered. and by organized criminals and not ordinary people. but who are the people who are getting killed in the south? ordinary people who could have been the ones who saved u and me in 58 or 83 .They are killed by human bombs and bus bombs. an army fighting an army, an army fighting a government, there is some justice in that. do you see any justice in indiscriminate bombing by either side?
28. paul fernandopulle | April 27th, 2007 at 9:27 pm
I feel we Sri Lankans are on a suicide mission.Very soon we will realize that we have come too far turn back achieving nothing but loosing a lot.Just another strong reminder of impermanance in Buddhist philosophy.
29. David Blacker | April 28th, 2007 at 12:49 am
Sachi, as I’ve already pointed out, a plebiscite regarding the separation of the NE would be both illegal and undemocratic. I have already given you the reasons for this. No GoSL will do it, and no international body would force them to do something that has never been done before. So that will never happen. The LTTE is unable to take the NE by force. So what now?
There isn’t much point in talking about ancient history because the records will always be disputed, and even if it were clear it doesn’t mean that just because a situation was so two hundred years ago, we must go back to that without regard to the current realities.
Aswini, it’s a convenient excuse of the Sinhalese that the ‘83 riots were carried out by thugs and politicians. Just like the Germans blamed everything on the SS at the end of WW2. In both situations, raciaal violence of that scale cannot happen without popular support. The German population may not haave wished the Jews dead, but no one complained when they were taken away. The average Sinhalese may not have wanted Tamil homes burned and occupants killed, but there was a general feeling that they deserved it. This is now quietly being forgotten as the years tick by.
So yes, ‘83 was done by the ordinary Sinhalese to the ordinary Tamil.
The Sinhalese (and the rest of us outside the NE) are not suffering in this war. The NE Tamils are suffering. For the Sinhalese the war isn’t even a big issue. Life is better for the average SL citizen (health, quality of life, education, nutrition, etc) than anywhere else in South Asia. So what do the Tamils want to do about it? The LTTE can’t give you what they promised. After 25+ years they are still fighting, and there’s no light at the end of the tunnel.
Is there no movement for change amongs the SL Tamils? Has the LTTE smashed all hope in you? What are you going to do now?
30. J. Kumaren | April 28th, 2007 at 8:15 am
It is normal that silent protests get violent if the demanded matters in the protests are not responded in the way they should be. What happend in SL. The Sinhalese believing in the Vijaya fairy tale thought the island only belongs to them and started to reduce the rights of the Tamils. We Tamils started to protest (Ghandian style) but the Sinhalese only new a vilolent answer and supressed the peaceful Tamil movement. Tamil youth knowing that the Sinhalese will never treat their Tamil counterparts as equals started to fight for Tamil Eelam, which was approved by the Tamil people in earlier elections. The majority of Tamils in the past and now are supporting this struggle (see one of Mr Jeyarajs articles comparing the Quebec movement for independence and with the situation in SL). The Tamil people support the struggle for independence, the TNA got the majority votes in North-East and the LTTE is carrying on the freedom struggle with military means. If the Tamils would not have supported a militant freedom struggle the LTTE would not have emerged in the way as it is know. Dying for a cause is nothing bad, especially if it is for your freedom. It happened in the past in several countries. Fight against the Nazis, against Saddam, Vietnam, the Americans against the British to gain their independence….. . Unfortunatly, innocent civilans get caught. In this case both the LTTE and SL needs to be blamed. I do not know what is more evil, bombing a bus or bombing an orphanage by a MIG.
One writer wrote that Tamils and Singhalese are living in peace together in the South. After the Galle attack many Tamils living in Galle had to be protected because Singhalese mobs started to attack them. Luckily the protection happened this time but we know that it did not happen several times in the past and is not happening in other areas such as in the east.
The solution to the conflict cannot be a federal state. It has to be two separate states. And after splitting up the country further guidence is needed by the Western countries to establish democratic rights. If SL is going the way it is going now, we will have another Iraq in Asia.
31. David Blacker | May 1st, 2007 at 4:21 am
Kumaren, there’s no point going on about the past. I don’t need history lessons, ‘cos I know how the war came about.
And the reason the TNA won in the NE waas because the LTTE did not allow other candidates (like Anandasangaree and Devananda) to campaign. Same thing happened in the last elections. The NE Tamils weren’t allowed to vote for the UNP. Are you then saying that the Tmils wanted Mahinda?
My question isn’t about the past or about past injuries. Both sides will point fingers. My point is what now? You will not get a separate state as long as the LTTE cannot gain it through military means, because the GoSL will not give in to force. The LTTE has failed to give what it has promised. What will the Tamils do now?
32. Rajendra | May 2nd, 2007 at 12:44 am
“No GoSL will do it, and no international body would force them to do something that has never been done before.”
David in Quebec the French populace can choose whether or not they want to separate from Canada, the rest of Canada has no right to decide that for them. This is democracy my friend. Same goes for Montenegro.
33. David Blacker | May 3rd, 2007 at 12:14 am
Rajendra, that is because the rest of Canada is in agreement to grant such a plebiscite, and therefore have haanded the decision to the Quebecois population. In SL the majority prefer a solution within a unitary state. As long as the majority prefer that, then that is democracy — majority choice across the whole nation. For a NE plebiscite to take place it has to be first established that the NE population has the right to exclusively decide on its future. That right hasn’t been (and is unlikely to be) established. Even in the likelihood of such an establishment, the Eastern Province will then have to be allowed to have its own plebiscite (on the same grounds) as to whether it wishes to remain part of the North or not.
If you look at examples elsewhere (like Montenegro and East Timor) you will see why an SL plebiscite isn’t democratic or constitutional.
34. Rajendra | May 5th, 2007 at 11:35 pm
“If you look at examples elsewhere (like Montenegro and East Timor) you will see why an SL plebiscite isn’t democratic or constitutional. ”
Regardless an SL prebiscite is the solution that does the most justice especially in light of the horrible treatment the Tamils of SL have received at the hands of GoSL following independence.
35. David Blacker | May 6th, 2007 at 9:35 am
Rajendra, it is true that the Tamils were treated badly by the GoSL and therefore were justified in taking up arms. However, a plebiscite will be unjust because it disenfranchises the everyone outside the NE. So another injustice will not solve the situation. And a democratic government cannot go against the wishes of the majority of its population, unless the majority wish is illegal.
36. Rajendra | July 22nd, 2007 at 2:39 pm
The majority’s wish is illegal in the eyes of the Tamil community. As far as the Tamils are concerned even the most moderate of Sinhalese politicians struggle to concede simple devolution let alone a confederal solution.
Its quite funny everyone’s eyes are on the east or southern Wanni even though Jaffna is most likely where the MOAB will occur.
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