transcurrents

30 Comments Add your own

• 1. R.G.Goonetilake  |  July 28th, 2007 at 3:14 am

  For sure, Initially all troops in foreign lands behave well.
  For instance, look at Iraq and the torture done by US Forces on “Suspects” is very well documented and Donald Rumfeld paid the price for the unruly, unacceptable levels of torture and inhumane treatment of suspects in camps of US Troops. Many marines were indicted although G.W>Bush pardoned them.
  So, it’s natural and acceptable for this writer to blame the “INDICIPLINE” of IPKF to blame it on LTTE!!! For God’s Sake, understand that they are troopers and suppose to uphold morals and conviction of their oath. They cannot go wanton raping 7 year old to 72 year old females for the sake of being attacked?????
  If IPKF stayed on, the likes of these writers would have become the “Power-holders” without fighting for it. Just like most of the current Iraqi GOVT officials who ran away to west and now hold the power.
  If you recall J.R’s slogans on IPKF coming to SL; “Two Mangoes in One Stone”, speaks volumes about the sinister move concocted by Rajiv and J.R to CHEAT Tamils to submit them to a meagre District Development Councils as solution to their “Nationhood”. LTTE was shrewd to pick the direction of IPKF mandate early and RIGHTLY evicted them by hook or crook.
  So, the blame should be left at the feet of the Indian and Sri Lankan Govtmnts who thought Tamils are dumb and divided, and can be FOOLED….!!!!

• 2. Mohan  |  July 28th, 2007 at 7:21 am

  Dr.K.Chandradeva, you keep writing about IPKF and giving them good charactor certificate.

  Dont you know how many of our tamil mothers and sisters were raped and killed by IPKF,

  I am also a medical practitioner, I can give you more than 100 stories of raping and killing by IPKF with evidents.

  I can give you a story , a young mother raped by number
  of IPKF solders in front of her husband.

  We are not fool,

  Dr.N.Mohan

• 3. Thanabal  |  July 28th, 2007 at 9:33 am

  Every soldier is a Human first and then the Soldier. Be it an Indian, Srilankan, USA or LTTE. It is there political masters who make the decision take them to the wrong direction (with the exception of some soldiers who doesn’t obey the high command, many execute the orders of their high officers.The IPKF got the name of Innocent People Killing Force by their action and it will stand out and there is no point of blamming LTTE for this because the Indian High Command decided a dictated peace on US.

• 4. Ratna  |  July 28th, 2007 at 9:56 am

  Good story except for the last para.
  There are many good, bad stories against ipkf.
  A friend of mine was kidnapped by ipkf supported para-military (in the presence of ipkf even before the war started) and luckily he was able to get out few weeks later.

• 5. Eelam-Tamil  |  July 28th, 2007 at 11:02 am

  Its a well known fact that the arrival of IPKF(which later changed to innocent people killing force) is for India’s own political agenda. They never had any intentions to help tamils or help build for a Tamil home land – Tamileelam.

  The first attack took place in the North was close to Thellipallai by former LTTE commander Lt.Col. Mathy.
  Also there were some tensions in the east at that time as well.

  The peace accord was signed between India and Srilanka, LTTE was not involved nor consulted. India paid the price for that in the long run.

  If IPKF had the true intention for peace they would have not killed thousands of innocent people, raped many young tamil women, destroyed millions of rupees worth of damage…etc…etc

  On this occasion, I recall those innocent lost tamil souls and pray for their peace.

• 6. Eelam-Tamil  |  July 28th, 2007 at 11:31 am

• 7. Walter Rajaratne  |  July 28th, 2007 at 12:49 pm

  Dear Dr.Chandradeva

  The compassion extended to a fellow human being at a frightening moment in a war zone was exceptionally commendable. Beyond doubt you have stood by the Hippocratic Oath you took when robed to the noblest profession on earth, at that, putting your life on the firing line of ruthless terrorists.

  Nonetheless, it’s sad that you seize this opportunity to take umbrage at SL state that had no recourse but to defend the country, her sovereignty and the people with no respecter of persons. As a member of the so called Tamil community which is purportedly under siege, you have achieved the highly respected position, that of a doctor, thanks to the system which you feel free to blame for all the ills of the Tamils when the exclusive privileges inadvertently enjoyed by them were lost, that reinstated the due place of its sons of the soil. Of course you too are an equal son of the same soil no less but no more.

  Your magnanimity is overshadowed when you have overstepped the cardinal principle of gratitude to the state and the country that made you a man of a dignified profession.

  The place and the situation prevailed at the time when the Jawans from the invading army occupied our country is very familiar to me. During my recent visit to SL I went passing the spot on my way to Trinco that brought quite a few nostalgic memories.

  The piece of event you had written on the magnanimity of Jawans would be incomplete when you pay such tribute to buccaneers who came with a vicious idea of converting a free country, to the 26th state of their hegemonic empire, while in a subtle manner belittled our heroic forces who have laid their lives not only for Sinhala but for the very Tamil woman whose life you saved and the rest of the misguided Tamil people who are subjected to untold miseries under the jackboot of devil incarnate.

  I have no remorse when you took to task Premadasa/Jayawardene/Chandrika and Ranil weirdly forgetting the horde of Tamil leadership who were instrumental in the present predicament of the Tamil community. Nevertheless, what I can’t stomach is the hosanna you have scribbled in praise of the cannibals who killed more innocent Tamils than Prabhakaran himself within a short span of two years of their occupation.

  On the contrary let me take this opportunity to draw your attention to an article published in these columns by Dr.Rajasingham Narendran who spelt out the profound compassion of Sri Lankan forces in no uncertain terms, at a time when they were the prime target of Jawans, who gallantly escorted him to his house in Jaffna to retrieve the mortal remains of his family members, mercilessly massacred by your magnanimous Jawans.

  For your information I too have associated quite a few IPKF officers even after they were unceremoniously driven out of SL. Wasnt it a tragic conincidence that, Dr.Rajiv Francanstine was eventually blown to smitereen by the monster Prabha he created, paying no lesser gratitude.

• 8. ks  |  July 28th, 2007 at 12:51 pm

  thanks to that fine soldier.

• 9. Cholan  |  July 28th, 2007 at 1:46 pm

  I was there in SriLanka during 1987. The fight between IPKF and LTTE was started by IPKF. (Everyone will remember, 2 media offices at Jaffna was attacked by IPKF)

  I am sure, there were many occassions showing the human side of IPKF. And everyone should appreciate those soldiers who helped ordinary humans even when they don’t know the language. I also happened to experience the human side of IPKF soldiers myself.

  In 1989, I was returning home from abroad with injured leg. At every single checkpoint manned by Srilankan soldiers, I was made to get down from the bus with my baggage, walked through the checkpost with injured/plastered leg, with the help of a crutch.

  The very first checkpoint manned by IPKF, I got down from the bus and walked with my baggage on one hand and a crutch on another to the checkpost. At that time, I heard a rough military voice ordering me to STOP. I was afraid and stopped. The soldier ordered the bus to MOVE and when the bus came nearer to me, order to stopped the bus and ordered me to “GO” into the bus. He also helped me to carry my baggage. After words an officer came to me and told me,not to get down any check point, just tell the soldiers that you have an injured leg.

  That incident proved to me that Indian soldiers are not up against Tamils. On the contrary, Srilankan Soldiers are anti-Tamils. Both Indians and Tamils have always had friendly relationship. The very fact that Dr. Chandradeva’s sister warned about “boys” also proves that Tigers have been part of our lives….

  Having seen who started the fight in 1987 and what happened after that, I cannot say with that much confidence as Dr Chandradeva that every IPKF soldier in the North-east behaved like these highly disciplined soldiers and protected the Tamil-speaking people.

  We have to acknowledge and encourage these soldiers’ human acts without taking any political stands.

• 10. R.Maran  |  July 28th, 2007 at 1:52 pm

  agreed 100%.

• 11. R.G.Goonetilake  |  July 28th, 2007 at 3:17 pm

  If the writer wants to blame for IPKF failure, the following can be chosen too:
  India – Even after the sailor assaulted Rajiv Gandhi, should have known then and there,that Sri Lanka will not honour the agreement. Should have divided Sri lanka into two states.

  EPRLF – Who went against the grain of all Tamil Polities to become the Indian stray Dog. Where are they now???

  Sri Lanka – “Two Mangoes in one Stone”, now got two stones and no mangoes. Non Implementation..??? And did everything to flare up frictions between IPKF and LTTE,

  India-Sri Lanka — 19 LTTE’rs arrested and brought to Colombo by Lalith Athulathmudhali and India. Why didn’t India keep them in their camps..?? Again the worked OUT plan of Indo-Lanka agreement is to suppress Tamil Youth Armed Resistance. All took cyanide and perished. Why would anyone blame LTT for this?

• 12. stanley  |  July 28th, 2007 at 7:26 pm

  Morale of the story is, in every group or race, there are good and bad people. End of the day they are carrying out a mission in the interest of the Indian government. They will do anything to achieve their goal. LTTE also have their mission. They will do anything to achieve there goal. I have to say, this same IPKF raped our women so did the SLA.
  Do you ever here LTTE raped a woman? This is why the Tamils always have a respect for LTTE. LTTE is a well disciplined force led by an honorable man. They will die for the cause of the Tamils.

• 13. madurainews.com  |  July 29th, 2007 at 1:45 am

  One or two incidents will not change their gross human right violation on innocent Tamils. By knowing thier brutality even Chief Minister Karunanithi didn’t show up in home coming ceremony of IPKF.

  They did lot of lot damage to Tamils than this Sinhalese Regime.

  My prayer goes to all the deprived souls harassed and killed by IPKF (Innocent People Killing Force).

• 14. Tamil Arasan  |  July 29th, 2007 at 4:04 am

  Its an interesting story of a person who saved a life with help of a good samaritan Indian Captain.

  The so called boys were fooled by the wicked politicians at time and due to their political un-wiseness and lack patience. Look what are the Eelam Tamils are in now?

  From the traditional “mother India to enemy India who is hesitant to come forward to help Tamil’s plea for freedom.

  On the contrary the so called modaya politicians were shrewdly able to divide and continue to widen the bond between Eelam Tamils and Tamil naadu, India in general.
  Question is ” Is the ” mother India” going to stand back and watch its children and their future raped by a systematic ethnic cleansing by a sinhala terror regime?.
  Can India live with this black history of turning its back to its “thoppul kodi uravu” ?

  The Tigers and its Leader Prabakaran had blundered the Mainland – Eelam relationship by Rajiv assasination and turning on against IPKF.

  But shouldn’t India show its generousity to its roots ” Tamil people?.

  If not India, a world democracy, legend of ahimsa, tolerant nation that allows practice of real democracy, who else is going to save Tamils?

• 15. Tamil Arasan  |  July 29th, 2007 at 4:16 am

  Yes, the fact was Indian Military was not against Tamils.
  Rajiv was fooled by the croc JR and corrupt Indian diplomats.

  Tamils & Pirapaharan should have given Raji and India a chance to get its mistakes corrected.

  Pride and ego of Pirapa and Rajiv, Dixit and Bandari was the cause of the ill fate we are facing today.

  Indian military trained LTTE, what ever the purpose was. LTTE should have been united with its fellow groups not destroy PLOTE, EPRLF & TELO.

  On the other hand These Tamil groups should have come to an agreement to take responsibility to different areas with a clear strategy.

  LTTE vs IPKF was a master plan by JR. followed by divide and rule by Delhi of Tamil groups.

  Even today its better than never for Pirapa-India and Tamil groups to form alliance and share power on a India model.

  1987 to 2007, What did LTTE, India and Tamils achieve? Thousands of lives, cave life for tamils, trauma and war…. Eelam race on its verge of collapse by skillful Ethnic cleansing…. modern day Holoucost in the name of fighting terrorism. A key word for destroying peoples and communities since 9/11 by rogue states.

  Will Pirapa, India and Tamil groups realise and swollow their huge ego for the sake of Tamil people?

  Vaanchayudan,
  Tamil Arasan

• 16. kurudan  |  July 29th, 2007 at 9:27 pm

  Dear author,
  Do you know Capt Krishna Menon of IPKF? Lot of ppl from Velvetithurai still remember him. His actions decided the fate of Rajeev. We the tamil people never forget or forgive anyone who touches our women, anyone.

• 17. Seelan  |  July 30th, 2007 at 1:06 am

  Dr. Chandradeva U have wrote the truth. There are a lot of misinformation and dis information about IPKF among the Tamil population both sides of the Palk strait.. because of the LTTE’s propaganda machine.

  I also remember another incident in Jaffna during the middle of the IPKF presence in Jaffna when, once they provided their military helicopter to transport a very sick child to the Palaly military hospital.

  The indophobia among the North Eastern Tamils of Sri lanka is the – THE obstacle- for their redemption.

• 18. GSS  |  July 31st, 2007 at 11:54 pm

  TOMB OF THE UN-KNOWN RAPIST

  I was then a kid who was nine years old. I was playing with my friends near our house in manipay, Jaffna. Suddenly there was a commotion outside the peoples Bank building near the market. There was a women’s body at the back of the bank building.

  She was dead; there were marks of violent struggle all over her body; her private parts were badly damaged.

  The Indian army has just passed through that area after spending nearly two hours in the immediate vicinity of the incident.

  No prize for guessing who the culprits of this heinous offence were.
  Of course it was the Innocent People Killing Force (IPKF)

  If there was ever a monument for the IPKF in SL it should be named
  TOMB OF THE UN-KNOWN RAPIST

• 19. GSS  |  August 1st, 2007 at 12:01 am

  Dr Chandra Deva,

  For every single incident of the “human side of the IPKF” you can put forward we can give you hundreds if not more “inhuman side of the IPKF” stories.

  If in any doubt read Dr Rajani Thiranagama’s Broken Palmyra.

  Can you forget the Pirambaddi Lane Mass Murder of innocent civilians?
  The massacre of Doctors and nurses at Jaffna Hospital?

  Its good to see the nice side of everyone, but honestly Doc, with the IPKF, you are pushing it a bit too far.

• 20. Dr K C  |  August 1st, 2007 at 5:16 pm

  Dear GSS

  I always condemned abuse and murder of civilians by assailants whether it is SLAF, LTTE or IPKF.

  In a war situation, deaths of civilians are inevitable, can you name any war that is devoid of civilian deaths? Even the most disciplined forces of the UK and USA are being accused of carrying out atrocities in Iraq & A’tan. The USA says publicly that they are not even aware of the number of civilians died in Iraq.

  The LTTE went to war with the IPKF as a bunch of trigger-happy soldiers. Not a single civilian or a cadre was killed by the IPKF, there was no abuses on the civilians by the IPKF, the IPKF did not impose siege or any thing like that against the civilians – still the LTTE commenced the war with the IPKF by fatally attacking them in Oct 87. We live in a small piece of land in the NE; tell me the wisdom or vision of fighting with Sri Lanka and India as well. Only psychopaths would formulate such disastrous strategy as did the LTTE. Since 87, what did the LTTE achieve? lost over 25,000 fighters in their tender age, near-international isolation, losing territories after territories, its leader is hunted by the Interpol, LTTE activists are hunted and arrested in the USA, Canada, UK, France and Australia……The conduct of the LTTE has de-legitimised our struggle for freedom from the brutal regime of the GOSL.
  I recently read a very good comment by a gentleman called Sundarum on this forum, see below:

  1. Sundaram :
  July 5, 2007 @ 10:07 am
  Re: Comments of Nathan on 01 July
  1. I mourn the deaths in Jaffna hospital by IPKF.
  2. Also the deaths of about 300 cadres of TELO killed in Jaffna in 1986 within about 5 days gives me a big pain in my heart. It was reported that many of them were begging not to be killed during that incident. But they were mercilessly killed. Why should not we think about that also? There were many similar cases in Wanni and East too.
  3. May be the TELO cadres were undisciplined. But it was a big crime to kill all of them. They all cannot be punished like that because of the mistakes of few of their leaders. Most of them could have been captured alive and rehabilitated.
  4. You have said that Indian armys’ actions have encouraged SL army to do the killings of civilians. Then what about the Valvettithurai carnage and Kumuthuni ferry massacre, which happened before IPKF? Which party did encourage that? The deaths in these two cases were many times more than those in the hospital tragedy?
  5. Considering the number Indian soldiers being killed by the hit & run tactics during those times, even if there is an independent court martial the soldiers actually shot might have been acquitted in hospital case. Because, the attackers of the Indian soldiers were said to be taking cover in the hospital. Only the over all commander could have been found guilty. But he too could have been acquitted because of the unfamiliar situation in a different country and the unforeseen circumstance.
  6. But for the cases like Kumuthini ferry massacre, Muthur Action Farm killings and Bindunuwewa masscre the killers would have faced death penalty if an independent inquiry is carried out.
  7. If Nathan wants to criticize India there are much better reasons he could have posted here.
  Those are:
  A. During the last 6 months of IPKF period, EPRLF & ENDLF forcibly recruited young men, which is a serious human right violation, which Indian army was well aware of, but did not stop.
  B. On couple of times India spread the false news that LTTE leader was killed
  C. When Norway started to involve in SL issue India was not happy at the beginning. Because that would set a precedent for Kashmir issue. Though Pakistan has been trying for a third party mediation in Kashmir, India deadly opposed that. At the beginning India tried to restrict Norway’s role as a facilitator and not as a mediator.
  There are few more things like this someone can write if he/she wants to discredit India

• 21. Thanabal  |  August 2nd, 2007 at 12:44 am

  Dr,KC,

  USA went to war with Iraq with not a single USA soldier was killed. Does it make right for USA or Wrong for Iraq.

  The Indo-LTTE war was created by IPKF/RAW and JRJ.

  So please stop preaching every thing is LTTE to blame and IPKF and Indians are creation of GOD’s children there to help us.

  Have you heard from G.Parthasarathy lattly when TNA met him??

  The whole idea of Indian involvement and their role in the Eelam affair is not because of Humanity but because of their own INTEREST.

• 22. Aruna  |  August 2nd, 2007 at 8:20 am

  Chandra Deva

  LTTE and IPKF conflict start on 1987, Premadasa bacame in power on 1989 so How LTTE & Premadasa alliance fight with IPKF????

• 23. Nam  |  August 2nd, 2007 at 7:52 pm

  Dr.Chandra,

  Indians are hell bend of distroying the Tamil Nationalism and people like you are still pouring fuel in to the fire.

  All what you say and write are counter productive for your own good and for the Tamil community.

• 24. GSS  |  August 2nd, 2007 at 11:41 pm

  I myself, I am not sure of the wisdom behind going to war with the IPKF.

  I am also not trying to defend the killings of TELO guys and others by the LTTE.

  But your argument is baseless when you say that somehow we must sweep all the atrocities of the IPKF under the carpet because UK, USA, SL and Tiger armies have done the same.( please note that all these brutal armies mentioned here did not use rape as an offensive weapon like the IPKF. They Killed and maimed plenty of people but Rape was the Indian’s specialty)

  My point in here is the IPKF in SL was an un-invited, occupation force that was widely hated by majority of Sri Lankans, both Tamil and Sinhala.

  And Rape and violent crime against women was the Indian army’s special weapon against the innocent Tamils.

  Having a monument for the “brave” IPKF soldier in SL is like having a monument for Hitler in Israel!

  PS: if any one wants to discredit India they don’t need to look in to what the IPKF did to SL Tamils, just listen to the horror stories coming out of Nag land and Manipur.
  The Indian army is brutalizing women so much that in the Manipuri capital some 500 odd women went on a public rally stark naked, to pretest about the Indian army’s sexual violence.

  And then there is cashmere……….

• 25. GSS  |  August 2nd, 2007 at 11:48 pm

  Dr KC,
  Just two questions,
  1) Did you reside in the Indian occupied part of SL during the period of 1987-1989?
  2) Have you ever met anyone who did reside in those areas during these periods who also had the same rosy picture of the IPKF that you seem to have?

  Just curious.

  PS: confused if we are talking about the same IPKF here. (Joke)

• 26. Dr K C  |  August 3rd, 2007 at 3:15 am

  It is irrelevant to argue as to who drafted the Indo-Lanka Accord (ILA), one ought to examine the contents of any accord.

  The importance and sanctity of the ILA is a ‘core’ issue often underplayed. It is an Accord between two sovereign States, India and Sri Lanka. It was passed by the parliaments of both signatory countries and a copy placed on record with the UN, while the US Congress passed a resolution welcoming it. Futhermore, this Accord was acceppted by all the Tamil political parties and Tamil militant organisations, including the LTTE. The LTTE received millions of rupees from the Indian govt for accepting the Accord.

  The LTTE followers argue that VP was put under house arrest in Delhi and therefore he had to accept it. What a leadership quality!!

  Nelson Madela was jailed by the apartheid SA regime and on a number of occassions the SA regime offered to release him on conditions that he should cease the armed struggle etc. Nelson Mandela refused to accept any preconditons. He came out of the prison even after 27 years as a free man without accepting any conditions for his release. That ‘s why the whole world is passionately admiring him as a fine statesman. If NM had accepted a conditional release one or two weeks after he was put in the prison, and two months later if he had fatally attacked SA armed forces – do you think the international community would have paid any respect to NM? I wish we had a leader like Nelson Mandela to lead our freedom struggle.

  The LTTE followers also argue that the agreement should have been between the GOSL & Tamils. It is a valid point but we cannot blame India for that. India tried her best to formulate an agreement between Tamils & GOSL by means of Thimu Talks etc. The fact of the matter is that the GOSL and we are wide apart and refused to compromise. Only then India came up with ILA to primarily address the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the NE due to the ongoing war and secondarily to evolve a viable political solution whilst normalcy prevailed in the NE. The presence of IPKF in the NE did bring about a great deal of normalcy. The IPKF commenders had been attending LTTE weddings as guests till a couple weeks before the LTTE expolded a landmine under an IPKF jeep.

  Someone had mentioned about recent meeting with Mr G Parthasarathy and a few TNA MPs. In this meeting according to a Tamil website, GP said to the MPs that if the LTTE had corporated to impliment the ILA and Rajiv Ghandhi had not been killed the situation in the NE would not have descended to the current level of complete anarchy – the very point I have been emhasising since 1987.

  Dear Aruna:
  During the LTTE-Premadasa alliance, during the initial period, P was Prime minister and then he became the President. As PM and President, it is the fact that Premadasa delivered massive cache of weapons to the LTTE to attack the IPKF.

• 27. Suresh M  |  August 3rd, 2007 at 9:49 am

  This author, just like a ‘broken RC record’ has been repeating the same theme over and over again. His two lines are (1) India/RAW/IPKF are God sent (2) LTTE is the menace of Sri Lankan Tamils, banned all over the world, and it’s leader is on the list of Interpol.

  This reminds me a child character in a Arnold Schwarzenegger’s movie Kindergarten Cop he would repeat the same line “boys have ——-, and girls have ——–”, every chance he got to speak.

  Grow up! Doc., try to understand the logic behind all these actions.

  India had intervened back in eighties, because J.R was more than accommodating U.S in Sri Lanka, and India was in the opposite Soviet camp. After IPKF had returned home, India virtually did nothing other than, at times played a ’spoiler’ role when ever other powers try to bring peace to the Island. Now, once again, India pays attention because Rajapakse brothers are busy courting China, and Pakistan.

  India, or any other nation has their permanent interest dictates their foreign policy, and they take appropriate action to safeguard their interest. Likewise, We Tamils should think, and act in the best interest of Sri Lankan Tamils.

• 28. Dr K C  |  August 3rd, 2007 at 6:23 pm

  Dear Nam

  Our people are now suffering and going through hell because of the brutality of the GOSL and the barmy strategy of the LTTE.

  Our homeland is engulfed with deaths, destruction and devastation. I know a family whose four sons martyred in this senseless war. I cannot keep quiet when the lives of our young children are taken away in vain in this way.

  If the LTTE respects the human rights and behaves truly like a liberation organisation I will be first one to embrace the reformed LTTE.

  I do not think you should worry too much about counter productivity.

• 29. Dr K C  |  August 4th, 2007 at 6:43 pm

  Dear Suresh M

  I challenge you; get your masters to come out of the near-international proscription.

  Every international diplomat agrees Tamils have genuine political grievances that need a political solution. Can you then explain as to why the IC goes on banning our “sole representatives”? So far 33 countries have banned the LTTE. How on earth an organisation with the track record such international isolation can ever get the international recognition and create an independent nation?

  Re India you need to understand whether it is a federal state or an independent state in the NE, it ought to get the blessing of India for its survival. Indira Ghandhi stated categorically in mid 80s that any state in the island across the Palk Strait can only prevail as a friendly nation of India. This statement is applicable to the NE as well. Your anti-India rhetoric will never take you any where. It is sad you have not learnt anything during the last two decades.

  Ask your leaders to grasp the hard facts and the difficult situation we are in, and shoulder the responsibilities.

• 30. Dr K C  |  August 5th, 2007 at 12:53 pm

  Dear GSS

  I was in SL in April 1988 for a period of three weeks. I did not witness any ‘atrocities’ of the IPKF at all. Jaffna was tense but Trinco was beautifully peaceful. I was told that Sinhala racist criminals fled Trinco within a few hours after the arrival of the IPKF. Not a single Tamil was killed by Sinhalese or IPKF in Trinco during the IPKF’s stay.

  You need to understand that the IPKF did not come to SL as invaders; they came to the NE with the consent of the LTTE. All I am saying is that the LTTE should not have commenced violent campaign against the IPKF. I became disillusioned with the LTTE only after this.

  In any war situation, bad soldiers do breach military discipline. You should know how the LTTE behaved during the LTTE – TELO conflict.

  India is the major politico-economic-military giant in the region and, above all, for the sake of TN cordial relations with India are vital for the survival of the NE.

  I published a paper on ‘Reconciliation with India’ in Oct 2006 at Sangam.com. I suggest you consider reading it.

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