Annual Heroes’ Day statement on 27 November 2007
November 27th, 2007
Leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), V PirapaharanToday called upon the international community to stop supporting Sri Lanka and ‘take a new approach in relation to our freedom struggle’.
‘Our people firmly expect that at least from now on the international community will take a new approach in relation to our freedom struggle,’ Prabhakaran said in his speech.
‘On this sacred day, it is the hope of our people that the international community will cease giving military and economic aid to the Sinhala regime and accept the right of self determination and the sovereignty of the Tamil nation.’
Full Text of Annual Heroes’ Day statement on 27 November 2007 by The leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), V Pirapaharan:
Propping up the genocidal Sinhala State is counterproductive-International community should change its approach:
The 21st century began as the ‘Asian century’ and the world is looking towards Asia. Many countries in our region have grown in leaps and bounds in social, economical and scientific fields. They are researching space, moon and atom. The whole human race is taking up new challenges and has embarked on a united path, seeking answers to many of nature’s mysteries and looking for remedies to incurable diseases. It is seeking to protect the entire globe and its plant and animal lives. Sadly, the Sinhala nation is moving in exactly the opposite direction, on a path of destruction. It is trying to destroy the Tamil nation and, in the process, it is destroying itself. This beautiful island continues to soak in blood.
Buddhism is a profound spiritual duty. Its philosophy emphasizes a life without desires, a life of love and justice. The Sinhala nation, claiming that it has followed this path for more than two thousand years, has in fact remained immersed in the poison of racism. It is unleashing unthinkable violence against another people. During the long history of the Tamil struggle, first through non-violence and later through armed struggle, the Sinhala mindset has remained unchanged. The Sinhala nation did not change even after so much destruction and lost lives. It continues on the path of violence. It only desires to find a solution to the Tamil question through military might and oppression. It cunningly evaded efforts to seek peace and is boldly taking forward its military plan. The international community’s economic and military aid, its moral and political support, its diplomatic efforts, and its one-sided involvement directly aided this turn of events.
We know very well that the military, economic and geo-political interests of the world’s powers are embedded in our region. We understand their concern to take forward their interests. We also recognize the concerns of the international community to bring about stability and good governance to this island for these reasons. At the same time the chauvinistic Sinhala State is attempting to exploit this interest in our region of the international powers. It is trapping the international community in its chauvinistic project and turning the international community against the Tamil freedom struggle. Our people are dismayed and disappointed that these countries, trapped in the deceptive net of the Sinhala State, are being unhelpful in their involvement to resolve our problem.
These one-sided involvements of foreign powers are not new in our prolonged struggle. India intervened in our national question then as part of its regional expansion. India signed an accord with the Sinhala State without the consent of the Tamils. The Indo-Lanka Accord was not signed to meet the aspirations of the people of Tamil Eelam. In fact, India then attempted to force an ineffectual solution on our people – a solution which did not even devolve powers to the extent of the Banda-Chelva pact signed in the 1950’s. India tried to enforce that accord with the strength of more than 100,000 Indian forces, with the power of the agreement between two countries and with the assistance of treacherous Tamil paramilitary groups. However, even this ill-considered solution, which did not even address the basic national aspirations of the Tamils, was blocked by the chauvinistic Sinhala State.
We are intimately familiar with the Sinhala State and its deceptive politics. Our people have a long history of bitter experiences. That is why we explained to India on many occasions, at many locations and at many levels about the implacability of Sinhala chauvinism. We explained to India then that the aim of the Sinhala State was not to find a solution to the Tamil question and bring peace; but to occupy the Tamil homeland, destroy its resources, and enslave the Tamil nation. India refused to accept this reality. As a result our land witnessed great sorrow and destruction.
Today, the international community is making the same mistake that India made many years ago. Even the countries that are the guardians of the peace efforts succumbed to the deception of the Sinhala State and listed our freedom movement as a terrorist organization. What we find most incomprehensible is the fact that these same nations, which labeled us terrorists, not so long ago fought in defence of their own freedom.
The Sinhala nation is unable to stomach the support of our Diaspora for the Tamil freedom struggle; it is unable to accept the humanitarian help and the political lobbying by the Diaspora to end the misery heaped on our people. That is why the Sinhala nation is trying hard to shatter the bond between our people in our homeland and our Diaspora. Some countries are also assisting this amoral effort of Sinhala chauvinism. These countries are denouncing, as illegal activities, the humanitarian actions and political protests of our people abroad-actions that are carried out according to the laws of those countries. These countries have imprisoned and humiliated Tamil campaigners and representatives. These countries have ridiculed their protests and their efforts to seek justice.
This partisan and unjust conduct of the international community has severely undermined the confidence our people had in them. And it has paved the way for the breakdown of the ceasefire and the peace efforts. Furthermore, the generous military and economic aid they have given to the Sinhala State and their diplomatic efforts to prop up the chauvinistic Sinhala State has encouraged the Sinhala nation further and further along its militaristic path. This is the background to the confidence of the Rajapake regime in continuing with its unjust, inhuman war of occupation of our land.
Overconfident of its military victory over the Tamil freedom movement, the Rajapakse regime has shut fast the door for peace. The desire to oppress the Tamils has intensified as never before. With the entire world giving support, the Sinhala State, using the ceasefire as cover, and exploiting the peace environment, prepared its war of occupation. The SLMM that was monitoring the peace covered its eyes, tied its hands behind back, and went to sleep in Colombo. The exhausted Norwegian facilitators remained silent. The countries that preached peace to us also went silent and refused to speak out. The Sinhala State started its war and justified it with slogans like ‘War for Peace’, ‘War against terrorism’ and ‘War for the liberation of the Tamils’.
The Rajapakse regime assembled its military might and let loose a massive war on the eastern region of our homeland. This part of our homeland became a wasteland after incessant bombing and shelling. Trincomalee, the famous Tamil capital, was destroyed. Batticaloa, an ancient cultural city of the Tamils, became a land of refugees. Jaffna, the cultural centre of the Tamils, was cut off from the rest of the world and turned into an open prison.
The Sinhala State’s war of genocide destroyed the peaceful life of the Tamils. It turned the Tamils into refugees in their own homeland, ruined their nation’s social and economical infrastructure and plunged them into unprecedented hardships. While our motherland, caught within gruesome Sinhala military rule, is destroyed, Sinhalisation of our historic territory is going on under the pretexts of High Security Zones and Free Trade Zones. This naked Sinhalisation proceeds by the hoisting of Lion flags, the erection of Sidharthan statues, the renaming of Tamil streets with Sinhala names, the building of Buddhist temples. Sinhala settlements are mushrooming in the Tamil homeland.
The unjust war, the economic blockade, the restrictions on our people’s freedom of movement, the killing of thousands, the displacement of hundreds of thousands, have all deeply wounded the Tamil psyche. The Sinhala nation is celebrating this tragedy as a victory. It is lighting firecrackers believing it has defeated the Tamils. The Sinhala military leadership believes that its occupation of the east has been completed and the barbed wire noose around the neck of Jaffna has been tightened. The Sinhala nation arrogantly believes it has manacled the eastern coast from Pothuvil to Pulmoddai. The Sinhala leadership thus believes it has won great victories against our struggle.
The Sinhala nation has always misunderstood our freedom struggle. It consistently underestimates us. Only after carefully scrutinising the global situation and external conditions; only after accurately estimating the strengths and weaknesses of the adversary; only after gauging the enemy’s goals and strategies; only after ensuring that we remain focused on our own strategy; only then did we implement our plans to take our liberation struggle forward. We have strategically withdrawn from the east while launching defensive attacks. The Sinhala nation could have learnt the dangers of putting its feet too wide apart in our land as it did during past battles. But the Sinhala military has fallen yet again into the net we spread and it is now forced to commit large numbers of troops to rule land without people. Caught in a territorial trap, it will soon be forced to face the serious consequences of its misguided ambitions.
Operation ‘Ellalan’, the very first combined Black Tiger and Tamil Eelam Air Force attack was a massive blow to the Sinhala military. It has disrupted the daydreams of the Sinhala nation. The Sinhala nation has not emerged from this massive shock delivered by our beloved fighters. The immeasurable dedication and sacrifice of our Heroes is delivering a message to the Sinhala nation. Those who plan to destroy the Tamil nation will in the end be forced to face their own destruction.
The Rajapakse regime is never going to realize that the Tamil national question cannot be resolved by military oppression. The Sinhala leadership is not going to shed its desire for military supremacy or the Sinhalisation of the Tamil homeland. The Rajapakse regime is working hard to import more and more destructive weapons from all over the world without care for the cost. Therefore, it is not going to give up its war of genocide.
The All Party Representative Committee was appointed by the Rajapakse regime to spread a smokescreen over the misery that its military adventures are creating in the Tamil homeland and to deceive other governments to get their aid and support. We clearly predicted this would happen one year ago. We have been proved right. After dragging on without putting forward any solution, the committee has gone on holiday.
The past sixty years have proven beyond any doubt that no political party in the South has the political honesty or firmness in policy to find a just solution to the Tamil national question. It has been also proved beyond any doubt that none of the Southern parties are ready to accept the core principles for a lasting peace: the Tamil homeland, the Tamil nation and the Tamil Right to self determination. The ruling party is adamant on unitary rule; the red and yellow parties are calling for no solution at all; and the main opposition party, somersaulting from its earlier position, is, on the one hand, saying nothing concrete and using evasive language to support the military actions of the government and, on the other hand, saying it supports peace efforts. All this clearly clarifies our point and proves beyond doubt that all the Sinhala political parties are essentially chauvinistic and anti-Tamil. To expect a political solution from any of these southern parties is political naivety.
The Sinhala nation showed eagerness in the peace talks only when we shattered their ‘Operation Fireball’ military action and made them realize that the Tigers cannot be defeated. It was only when we proved our military prowess and only when we were militarily in a position of strength that the Sinhala nation signed the ceasefire agreement. Now, with abundant monetary and military aid from several countries, it has rehabilitated its destroyed military and has prepared itself for war again. It is yet again walking the military path having abandoned the peace path.
The Rajapakse regime, after unilaterally abrogating the ceasefire agreement, is ruthlessly implementing its military plan to remove the contiguity of the Tamil homeland. It has killed and disappeared thousands of our people. It reprimands and controls the Norwegian facilitators. It vehemently criticizes the SLMM. It even dares to brand senior UN officials as terrorists in order to hide its own terrorism. It is obscuring the ground reality in the Tamil homeland by striking fear among journalists and NGO workers.
The world’s powers, even while taking forward their own geo-political interests, respect human rights and democratic institutions. Be it this universe, human affairs or international relationships, they all revolve on the wheel of justice. That is why nations like East Timor and Montenegro broke free of their subjugation and gained their freedom with the help and support of the international community. Even now, the international community continues to work for the freedom of nations like Kosovo.
Yet the actions of the international community with respect to our own national question are unjust. The confidence our people placed in the international community has been eroded. By only paying lip-service to peace the international community has contributed to the killing of an extraordinary son of our nation, Tamilselvan. It has stopped the heartbeat of a light that walked the path of peace. I will be lighting the lamp for my dear brother, Tamilselvan, who until last year was with me every time we, with a burning desire to reach our goal, lit the lamps for our fallen Heroes. The international community has made the entire Tamil world drown in its tears. Had the international community firmly and unambiguously condemned the anti-peace activities and the war mongering of the Sinhala regime, Tamilselvan would be alive today. A huge blow would not have fallen on peace efforts.
The Co-chairs, acting as the guardians of the peace process, have failed in their responsibility. If the Co-chairs do not have a moral obligation to protect peace efforts, what exactly is the purpose of their meeting from time to time in different places? Is it their intent to assist the Sinhala regime to wipe out the Tamils? Questions like these have arisen in the minds of our people. Our people firmly expect that at least from now on the international community will take a new approach in relation to our freedom struggle. On this sacred day it is the hope of our people that the international community will cease giving military and economic aid to the Sinhala regime and accept the right to self determination and the sovereignty of the Tamil nation.
My beloved people,
We are an ancient people with special qualities. We have a unique national identity and national foundation. We have been struggling non-violently and by armed struggle for a very long time against national oppression. We are not terrorists, committing blind acts of violence impelled by racist or religious fanaticism. Our struggle has a concrete, legitimate, political objective. We are struggling only to regain our sovereignty in our own historical land where we have lived for centuries, the sovereignty which we lost to colonial occupiers. We are struggling only to reestablish that sovereignty and rebuild our nation. The Sinhala nation is continuing to reject our just and civilized demands for freedom. Instead, it has declared a genocidal war on our land and our people. Behind the smokescreen of fighting terrorism, it is creating immense human misery.
Despite our people enduring injustice and oppression, facing death, destruction and massive displacement, no country, no nation, no international organization has raised its voice on our behalf. We face this situation alone because, although 80 million Tamils live all around the globe, the Tamils do not have a country of their own.
On this day, when we remember our Heroes, I ask the entire Tamil speaking world to rise up for the liberation of Tamil Eelam. I wish to express my love and gratitude to you for your past participation in the building of our nation, bringing together your abundant intellectual, material, monetary and many other resources in the service of our nation and ask that you stand with us in the coming years of our freedom struggle .
Thousands of our fighters are standing ready to fight with determination for our just goal of freedom and we will overcome the hurdles before us and liberate our motherland. On this day when we remember our Heroes who sacrificed themselves for this sacred goal, let each one of us carry their dream in our hearts and struggle until it is achieved
Entry Filed under: Full Text of Speech
30 Comments Add your own
1. j.muthu | November 27th, 2007 at 1:33 pm
Expected and I agree with all the concept in his speech. International community unfairly treating our struggle, We should not give up our hopes. Sinhala nation never going to wake up until we achieve our goal. Sinhalease are misleaded by their leadership, they will never ever going to give us any meaningful solution. Only way we must convinse international community, TAMIL EALAM is the only way for TAMILS live peacefully in their beloved land.
2. Suresh M | November 27th, 2007 at 2:24 pm
He has my support!
3. minora | November 27th, 2007 at 2:45 pm
same bull.. its just another year.. as long as he gets money to live and send his kids to overseas uni’s its fine.. Pls send me more money my wife needs a face lift is what he wanted to say!!
4. Thilee | November 27th, 2007 at 3:59 pm
We can see a clear difference from a “Southern leader’s” speech. He never mentioned that LTTE is going to retaliate. Never mentioned names. Not focused on personal arguments.
Almost covered everythiong in this policy speech which a Tamil has in their mind. Usually the previous speeches targets the tamils. But in this speech (Not from Mr. Anton Balasingham) it is targetted the International community, explaining about Sinhalese politics, IC’s ignorent and waht not.
West world let the problem down as ‘take care of yourself’. But they still support militerily as to weaken LTTE. It fire them back as SL kils people. It is the center point of this speech and hence asking IC for the support.
West world analyst definitely take a look of this speech as a greater policy shift (or knowing what SL is up to) of SL after MR’s govt’s statement on Iran’s nuclear program, support of Pakistan and Malasia.
Who knows Robert O Blake might be a terrorist in SL’s view one day.
5. Taraki-Kumar | November 27th, 2007 at 6:47 pm
Many would say that the LTTE leader is silent on what the LTTE itself has contributed to the current state and that is a valid criticism. But if one leaves that issue aside, many points highlighted in the speech are right on target and cannot be contested by any neutral observer.
The fact that the Sinhala polity has shown no willingness to put forward a solution acceptable to the majority of the Tamil people has remained valid. So is the fact that the international community—countries including the U.S., India, UK and Japan, have tacitly if not underhandedly, agreed with the approach of the GoSL even as they mouth some criticism about human rights, which has only led to the daily slaughter of innocent Tamils.
The speech reiterates the position that the LTTE cannot be lumped with the likes of Al Qaeda as terrorists. This is valid because the former has clearly defined and localized political goals based on history and the right to self-determination while the latter has an ideology that seeks to thrust its Islamic religious (Jihadist) ideology on the world at large.
Perhaps the international community will have the conscience to act even at this stage and get tough with the GoSL–as the Boston Globe has editorially argued over the last few years and as a few people at the US-based CSIS and the State Dept have suggested, the international community (including and especially India) should jointly act fast to bring about a confederation with security guarantees to the Tamil people and then seek to transform the LTTE. Even if India has reservations in dealing with the LTTE, they should work with the TNA.
6. Jack Ranasinghe | November 27th, 2007 at 9:47 pm
All that posturing is fine Mr Pirapaharan but isn’t it true that whilst the Sri Lankan government energetically digs the country into a cess pit, you’ are desperately seeking the security of the very same ‘peace trap” that you derided just a few speeches ago.
Lets for a moment ignore the self-delusional bravado of the Sri Lankan government and its racist and opportunistic chorus. Instead, let us briefly evaluate your results over the last twenty years or so.
Isn’t it true that Tamils in Sri Lanka are worse off today than they were three decades ago?
Consider the plight of the average Tamil from the perspective of:
1) Access to Education
2) Job opportunities
3) Personal Safety & Security
4) Land/Homelands
5) Status as an equal Citizen
What then have you achieved?
State terrorism (direct and sponsored) is at an all time high – the latest being the butchering of a van load of school girls by the Sri Lankan Army’s DPU.
Elsewhere in Sri Lanka, any Tamil who comes into contact with the police/armed forces is at risk of being held as a potential terrorist (check with Arthur Wamanan).
As for access to education, jobs, status as equals, homelands, etc. all you have to do is ask any Tamil parent in the Vanni, in Jaffna, in Batti or in Colombo.
Yes, its true that Sri Lanka is a failed state and a terrorist state. No doubt abour that! Isn’t that why you started your struggle? You’ve been the sole representatives of the Tamils for some time. What have you done for them? What have you achieved?
7. thiaga | November 27th, 2007 at 11:33 pm
Why go that far as IC, even India which knows more about SL politics keeps sending arms.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has agreed to be the Chief Guest at Sri Lanka’s 60th Anniversary of Independence.
which essentially ignoring the Tamil aspirations for political recognition. The fellow is a fox in sheep’s clothing.
Not long ago the so called trusted Sikh body guards murdered Indira Gandhi. but overseas Sikhs do not have any restrictions travelling back. Rajiv Gandhi’s murder, I do not condone yet I have to wait 2 months to get a visa to travel to India. At Katunayake we are harassed.
UN is toothless they could not do stop US invading Iraq; excused. ( US has the say )
What about Darfur. Tamils in Sri Lanka, they care less.
But we should not give up, keep the pressure on.
Totalitarian regimes like in SL seems to sustain long but they face their demise within no time.
8. g dhivi | November 28th, 2007 at 12:39 am
Hi Jack Ranasinghe (Post 6):
You have asked a valid Question. There are 5 valid points;
1) Access to Education – 2) Job opportunities – 3) Personal Safety & Security – 4) Land/Homelands –
5) Status as an equal Citizen
In the first place thanks for accepting that SL is a failed state.
1. Indians were better off in 1930’s compare to the near 1948 freedon days. It was very bad days for them. But Mahatma Gandhi never thought to let the strugle down.
2. East Timor was made a terrible place in the world before the freedom of the country.
By saying so are you trying to say that when you get beaten you should accept waht the beater says?
This is what VP says you never going to realise the reality or understand the Tamils request. Thank you for proving us.
9. rodney | November 28th, 2007 at 1:52 am
the same rubish is repeated again. He cowardly slips admitting the eastern defeat with utter bullshit. he talks one thing and does another. how can you call this man the leader of the tamils who murders people in thousands not only the sinhalayas but his own people. look at the latest example of attempt on minister devanandas life. they are using poor disabled people, pregnant women etc etc. for their killing game. does AI, HRW or what ever raise any voice against this?. they have killed so many democratically elected politicians including a primeminister of india. where are those human rights people?. IC must support the GOSL to put a fullstop to this mass murderer. then the killing will automatically cease. and the tamils will get a just solution to live in one nation a homeland to all sri lankans. like the way tamils live in colombo and other sourthern parts. cheers to one nation for all communities. a land like no other !!!
10. Kandiah | November 28th, 2007 at 2:06 am
Jack Ranasinghe,
You missed a very important point. There are one million Tamils that are living abroad in developed countries. They are well beyond any upper average Sinhalese in terms of
1) Access to Education
2) Job opportunities
3) Personal Safety & Security
4) Land/Homelands
5) Status as an equal Citizen
They are called the Tamil Diaspora, the live line of Eelam struggle.
The tamil diaspora is eagerly awaiting the dawn of Tamil eelam so that they can come back and re-build this country. If you have time, read about how Germans, Jews and Japanese re-built their country after great destructions.
Thanks for your concerns anyway.
11. p | November 28th, 2007 at 5:53 am
Tamils in ceylon are no different to tamils in India, Malaya, fiji, south Africa and other places. these people who had a frre ride to these place on the back of the Britsh raj are claiming their dues. They should go back to India and first claim their rights. But when they did that about fifty years ago more than one lakh of them were butchered. Now they want to establish their own country in Ceylon where they are very poverfull.
india knows what is waiting for it and….
12. p | November 28th, 2007 at 6:02 am
Well India will never allow them to establish a separate state for the NRIs and POIs near the Idian sub continent. Remember what happened to the Sikhs demands.
I agree thAt the Tamils and other Indians out side India wo went to these places should demand their rights from the British. But then there are no British any more. British are back to Pommies,Irish. Scots and Welsh. they all wamnt separate states. Natives like Ceylonese, Fijians, Zulus, Malays, Uganda, Kenyans, West iIndies etc should demand freedom from these Hindian colonsts andImperialists. The tweny first century should be the century of liberation for these victims.
13. Dingiri | November 28th, 2007 at 6:20 am
***We can see a clear difference from a “Southern leader’s” speech. He never mentioned that LTTE is going to retaliate. Never mentioned names. Not focused on personal arguments. ***
Did he not threaten massive retalliation “A bloodbath in the South” only a few monts ago?
The whole trouble with Sri Lanka is people are judged by their words and not their actions.
Prabhakaran may not have verbally threatened individuals but we all know his record with Gandhi, Kadirgamar, Premadasa, Athulathmudali etc. etc.
The government crows about what it will do to Prabhakaran but we all know it is not capable of it.
one needs to tease out the unsaid and the implied meanings beneath the veil of a carefully crafted speech which does not really say anything new.
14. Duminda | November 28th, 2007 at 6:46 am
He directed his speech at international world because only international world can save him now.
He is helpless, fellow tamils are helpless, and he knows his days are numbered and GOSL is going to destroy his empire at any cost very soon. So he changed his approch, of talking to fellow tamils, instead talk to IC and save his life.
15. Duminda | November 28th, 2007 at 6:50 am
He is seeking international support to destroy sri lanka more. While talking to IC of peace he sends a disable suicide woman to kill Douglas.
can he con IC further??
16. A.Rajasingam | November 28th, 2007 at 10:21 am
I appreciate that those fighters had sacrificed their lives. It is true that State terrorism has been unleashed. These are occurrences a Liberation Movement should have expected. The question is about the wisdom that should have been applied when opportunities come in. In his speech, it is possible to see a bag of contradictions in his call for the liberation of Tamil Eelam which seems to ridiculous. It also leads the Tamils to an unknown dangerous destination. It should be analyzed one by one.
First he was referring to the freedom struggle and accept the right of self-determination. It should be observed there were a number of missed opportunities for which LTTE is responsible. He was not answering properly as to the solution that were put forward. The Indo-Sri Lanka Peace Accord was the first missed opportunity. Merely stating that the Indo-Lanka Accord was not designed to meet the aspirations of the Tamils. As India and Sri Lanka are members of the SAARC, an Accord can only be signed by between two countries and not with terrorists., but the terrorists can be observers. India took extra precaution in drafting the Accord in a neutral way addressing to the aspirations of the Tamils. By virtue of the Accord the 13th Amendment was passed and the North East Provinces were merged and there was a Provincial government in force functioning from Trincomalee. When the Vadamaradchy Operation began, the LTTE left the people in the lurch and people did not know where to run. If not for Rajiv Gandhi’s timely action in allowing the Indian Air Force Planes to transgress the Sri Lankan air space and dropped the food parcels, the Jaffna people would have been massacred. Further, as a warning to Sri Lanka, G.Parthasarathy drew the Indo-Sri Lanka Peace Accord which was signed by India and Sri Lanka. Later it was placed before the UN where it was commended and India’s assertion of Tamil’s claim was recognized. Mention should be made that India did wonderful task for the liberation of Bangaladesh. The same could have happened in Sri Lanka for an independent Provincial administration for North East Province leading to federalism.
The first missed opportunity allayed all fears of implacability of Sinhala chauvinism and their colonization tactics. After the IPKF’s arrival Sinhalese began to move out from Trincomalee. It is at this stage Anton Balasingam stated that Tamils do not want Eelam. Now the hypocritical acts of the LTTE spokesmen are exposed when they said that India has a moral obligation to interefere. I like to ask one question are they trying to justify the murder of Rajiv Gandhi and also breaking their laws. The contention that India has refused to accept the reality is baseless. It only refused their leadership. Sending a Peace-keeping Force is not an easy task.
Thereafter, normalcy was restored except for the rift between the rival groups and EPRLF. In the meantime the LTTE shot and killed number of intellectuals and moderate politicians with the view to threaten the Tamils not to have any communications with the IPKF to deviate the thinking of the Tamils in their own way. Mention should be made that with one stroke of the pen Jayawardena saved his soldiers, whereas the LTTE spoilt the best opportunity that was provided with one stroke of the pen by Rajiv Gandhi to the Tamils. The dirtiest thing that the LTTE did was to embrace Premadasa to drive the IPKF and also to assassinate Rajiv Gandhi in their own soil in a cowardly manner. The LTTE brought utter disgrace to the Tamils all over the world by this dastardly act.
The LTTE missed a second opportunity when the proposed Draft constitution was placed for consensus. Dr.Neelan Thiruchelvam and Dr.G.L.Peiris worked tirelessly on this matter to bring a peaceful solution. But Dr.Neelan Thiruchelvam was assassinated by a stupid LTTE suicide bomber causing another great loss to the Tamils as well as to the entire Sri Lanka.
Finally when things were going smooth after signing the CFA they LTTE re-armed itself and ill-advised the Tamils not to vote for Ranil. Leave alone the dissolution of Parliament but spoilt the chances of Ranil’s victory with the Tamil’s support. In addition, there was an allegation that the LTTE received Rs.20 million from Rajapakse which also raised doubts as to the ulterior motive of the LTTE.
All these incidents point out that the LTTE was not interested in peace.
Finally the call for 80 million Tamils around the world again appears to be ridiculous. If the LTTE cannot satisfy Thondaman and his company who are at the door step of the LTTE to defeat Mahinda without using a bullet, what is the big idea of calling Tamil Nadu as its major supporters. In Tamil Nadu it is a fact if any one stands before the Rajiv Gandhi’s monument at Sri Perumpudur, I have my doubt whether Tamil Nadu supports LTTE’s call for recognition of its leadership. At home itself Thondaman has not accepted his leadership by supporting Mahinda.
Tamils do not have a country of their own also calls for clarification. Though we say Sinhalese have a country of their own, it is Sri Lankans who have a country of their own. It is true the attitude among some Sinhalese leaders implies that Sri Lanka is their country. This is where the LTTE failed to get around the Sinhalese. There are Sinhalese who want to embrace the Tamils with them. In India, all those people in all the States call themselves as Indians. Singapore and Canada are another clear examples. Almost in every multi-racial country they never call them by their separate Identity.
After decimating the intellectuals, again it appears to be a hypocrisy when the LTTE leader expresses its gratitude for rendering resources by intellectuals. One should think how the LTTE acted in obtaining forged certificates on reading the speeches of Prof.Ratnajeevan Hoole and any refusal to comply with their demands will only result in anarchism. He had only left a legacy of brutality again with the suicide bomber after his speech.
The allegation that countries that preached peace also went silent was because they have not accepted the LTTE leadership. The LTTE must demonstrate their sincerity towards democracy and not with bullets. If the LTTE continues with its tactics of relying on terrorist approach, then it cannot be ruled out that they are destroying a generation of Tamils. Leave alone the politicians. The LTTE should remember that there are Sinhalese wishing to mend good relations with the Tamils and must create an atmosphere of confident building measure. If the LTTE can demonstrate that Buddhism should be preserved in action, then is a possibility that Sinhalese too would desire for federalism for good governance. If these can occur to mend the bitterness among the races, there is a chance for a change of heart and that would be the beginning for a glorious revolution in the country.
17. Naga UK | November 28th, 2007 at 11:15 am
It takes two terrorists to make one failed state. VP and MR! there are of course DD, WW, CR to catalyze the process. Long live Buddhism!
18. Raj | November 28th, 2007 at 4:14 pm
Hi p (on Comment 11 and 12):
You are little bit confused.
Tamils in Sri Lanka native Sri Lankans. They live in north east of Sri Lanka. They are their throughout the history of SL. Not just 300 years ago.
There are Indian tamils also in Sri Lanka who brought by British some 300 yrars age. They live in central hill country area. They also have a lot of problems in SL (may be verse than SL Tamils in North-east).
Some says Sri Lankan tamils are the first developed in SL then sinhalese came from India etc. But Sri Lankan tamils are there atleast 10 centuries. Ruled themselves before the British rule. The last king in South fighted (for Sinhalese) against british was a Tamil – Rajasinghan- and he was jailed in Tamil nadu by British.
19. r.veera | November 28th, 2007 at 6:12 pm
All,
Sinhala contributors this web ayubowen, Dont think tamils are fools. One very important you should remember look all the history of liberation struggle, end they all won their goal. You must change your attitude or separation inevitable.
GOD BLESS TAMILS AND TAMILEALAM.
20. sitha | November 28th, 2007 at 7:11 pm
Hi Duminda!
You are the real sample for Sinhalese chauvinist because you misunderstand the whole facts raised by Pirapaharan. Soon you will realize everything.
We are about to win our freedom struggle now. So we need to formally request the help of IC, it is a diplomacy. Whether they are helping or not we will achieve our Tamil nation.
21. Ranjit | November 28th, 2007 at 10:36 pm
Dear Mr P
You are getting enough money from the Tamil community for your family. Please spend it on the Tamils who are suffering.
If you are so great why are you delaying in attacking the Sinhala Govt or the Sinhala People.
Well youn will not attack as you may die and your wife and children can not enjoy.
22. V. Stanislaus | November 29th, 2007 at 1:20 am
I also read the thamil version of the address of the state of affairs of Thamil Eelam to the Thamil people and to the others . The English translation did not lose a lot.
The message in both versions are succinctly clear to the Tamils, Sinhalese, to the Sinhala Government and to the International community. The last call to make the wrong right.
Justice to the Tamils must prevail. Justice and right to the Thamils cannot be denied anymore. If the IC pretends to be blind let them open up their eyes and deliver justice and do what is right by the Tamils. There is Sinhala Government that protects and preserves the Sinhala race. If Thamil race is to be protected and be preserved in Sri Lanka and if IC do not take steps like the strictures they take in case of other countries, then only the fellow Thamils wherever they live should come forward. Pirapaharan’s message is very clear. Can the Thamils rely or depend anymore on the Sinhala Goverment which is bent to have the Thamils kneel down before it and beg for mercy. It is our right to live in our corner with dignity and peace. I do not think Pirabaharan in his message is urging the Thamils to agitate against the Sinhalese to rob from them their rights.
He is rightly asking the Thamil speaking people help the Sri Lankan Thamils to secure their traditional rights and land for them in the Island called Sri Lanka. The Thamils should act before it is too late.
I see an urgency in his call to all people.
Stanislaus
23. 2ndClassTamil | November 29th, 2007 at 11:47 am
Now that the speech has been delivered, it is time to analyse it. Basically it is a good and measured speech. The think tanks/speech writers have not missed ABsingam or SPTselvan. It conveys a mood of self-confidence and self-reliance in bucket-loads. No individual has been verbally attacked.
I thought he would blame the IC, but wisely, he has stopped short of doing that. He has only chided. Now the IC and stands naked, exposed of its hypocrisy, even without the HR cloak to cover, for the whole world to see. He says the world rotates about an axis of justice; but I take issue with this. In the long run it may be true that it will precess about that axis, but it is firmly dictated to spin on imperial econo-centric axis. He indirectly acknowledges this when he says he understands the geo-political interests of the world’s powers. Methinks, his policies too should be guided by the art of the possible in this geo-political gyroscope, and not just by plain idealism or dogma.
That he will mention India was expected; and he has done it cleverly. He was addressing New Delhi when he was talking about Indo-Lanka Accord. He was addressing Tamil Nadu when he mentioned 80M Tamils. He could have attacked India for the military support given to GoSL, or Tamil Nadu for not rising up. But he did neither. This speaks volumes in his favour, reinforcing the view that he is ready to go it alone, however dangerous/foolhardy it may be. Basically he seems to want some softening in New Delhi and more active participation in Tamil Nadu. That Tamil have no state of their own despite their 80M strength, is, I believe directed at Tamil Nadu, because, that can only be a by-product of the goal – Eelam – set by LTTE and not the goal itself. I personally regret this statement for muddying and restricting the political avenues. Thus, without spelling out in words, he has conveyed very strongly that a negotiated settlement is off. The reaction of IC is what we await with interest – not that it matters according to VP.
Whatever his shortcomings according to his foes, they have to grant that he has not tried to fool or scare his people into following his line – which he has candidly placed in front of them.
As an aside, the demolition of VOT by SLAF one hour before the event and the sad killing of people who worked there together with civilians only exposes the immature thinking of those in charge of the offensive. Surely no civilised nation would want to attack or mar a commemoration of the dead, even if they were their enemies. Does it not confirm that the exposing of the dead bodies of Black Tigers in A’pura and the desecration of the tiger cemeteries in the east etc. is in keeping with this lowly thinking? There is nothing to rejoice here as bravery but sheer dastardliness and cowardice. The Sinhala nation is yet to understand the sacredness of those who die in combat; irrespective of everything else. (Perhaps someone should translate Puranaanuru).
24. Jack Ranasinghe | November 29th, 2007 at 4:16 pm
Dear Kandiah et. al.,
The LTTE supposedly fights for the rights and wellbeing of the Tamils in Sri Lanka. If a million Tamils have fled to other countries, then that dubious export credit goes to the Sri Lankan Government. Sri Lanka’s loss is another country’s gain. The LTTE has not contributed to the success enjoyed by most the Tamil diaspora. Nothing but hardwork and focus on goals has helped them to a better life than what they had in Sri Lanka.
I will repeat the question to Pirabhaharan, in the hope that he, or one of his supporters, will give us all a coherent, rational and intelligent answer:
What has the LTTE achieved for the Tamils in Sri Lanka?
In my opinion, the Tamils are worse off now. It is also my opinion that the time for the LTTE to cash in their dividend, was in 2002/2003.
In the immortal words of The Gambler: “you have to know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em…”
xoxo
Jack
25. Thamilan | November 30th, 2007 at 2:14 pm
Jack (comment 24),
What has Prabahran achieved? He has achieved the goal in which the LTTE was created. LTTE was created to stop the military and violent path of the Sinhalese racist to crush the Tamils. In your opinion Tamils are worst off, but in the opinion of Tamils all around the world, if Prabahran did not create LTTE there would be no Tamils left in Sri Lanka to even say that they are worst off then anyone in Sri Lanka.
Here is the things Prabahran has to achieve:
Get IC to recognize Tamil Elam.
Build a Civilian Governement.
What has the Sinhalese achieved by choosing a military solution to the ethnic problem?
Sinhalese stands to lose everything, if LTTE is defeated or not. If LTTE is to be defeated it will take every penny that the governement can get hold (destroying the economy) of and will earn the wrath of Tamil nationlist in Tamil Nadu. If LTTE is not defeated, the Sinhalese will drown in a economic blood bath. If LTTE wins, you will be left with debt, black mark in the history and a competitive neighbour.
This is a problem that should have been solved long ago and it has come to a point where the Sinhalese will suffer no matter how this problem is to be solved.
26. Thilee | November 30th, 2007 at 3:41 pm
Dear Jack Ranasinghe !!
Many people are asking this kind of questions with ease.
Similar kind of Qs are like Tamils living in South peacefully etc..
Many countries have so many minority problems. History shows that countries which solved those successfully they betteroff. For the minority issues major problem is to get together to make the voice. It is the political power they needed.
Only in the last election Tamils got more than 20 seats in Parliament (even though the parliament is not useful, it showed Tamils united). When the minorities get stronger in political countries try to solve there problems. But here in SL we needed to get stronger militerely to raise the voice. Because that is the only language GoSL can understand.
In many countries you can see movements which came against governments with people support went to surrender for personal gains. e.g: Muhammad Abbas in Palastine. EPDP/EPRLF in Sri Lanka etc. LTTE fighting for 25 years with people support and never gone for smaller satisfaction. Everyone in the world know that they cannot be bribed. You cannot buy them for any price other than a permenant solution.
What do expect from them to achieve. e.g: Better jobs? As I asked how do you expect a liberation movement can create jobs? They need political power to do that. Like Tamil Nadu, they can create their own jobs by dealing directly with Microsoft. Do you want LTTE to create more jobs and pay them salary? LTTE is not fighting for Tamils job improvement. It will be an ultimate goal to lead people to freedom and get things done. You can ask few years after the freedom.
What Gandhi achieved during the freedom strugle other than uniting people and lead tjem?
I can ask you a counter question ‘what has MR acieved for Sri Lankans / for Tamils / Sinhalese’?
OR what Sri Lanka achieved after the indipendent? in 1950’s SL was a self sufficent country and now it was living only on loans and $ value slipping more than what Afghan had before US sent their forces.
I humbly request you to take a lok at some previous liberation strugles to get to know..
27. j.bindu | November 30th, 2007 at 7:06 pm
dear jack,
my self as sinhala feel sorry for you, before you asking tamil people a question, ask yoursef a question what we sinhala people achieved after independence. We ruined our lifes as well as tamils. All they asked rule themself in north and east within united srilanka, is it wrong? What we used all the time brutal force against them when they demonstrate peacefully, are you going to deny this?
Now country is complete mess since separatist war started. We have not got clear leadership, think about futuer of our country.
What we achieved upto now
1:- srilanka is the worst human rights abusers
2:- Best pheophile paradise on earth.
3:- exporting prostitutes to barbaric countries on earth.
Do you want more i can go on on on…
28. kotiya | December 1st, 2007 at 10:02 am
in reponse to Jack
Prabakaran has made the singhalese call the thamil people kotiya and not para demala which seems to be the term of endearment favoured by the rajapakses.
29. Selvanayagam | December 3rd, 2007 at 12:07 am
Hi All
I’m a Tamil living in Sri Lanka.
What Prbha is stating from hs heroes day is not what he is actually showing. He can nt be accepted as our leader as he has killed innocent lives so much to gain his personal intention to cretae a power. There is no requirement of tamil eelam as we used to live happily in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka was never owned by Tamils unless we invaded it for our economical gains. But we never lasted long as they protected thier country. So as they say, theese people are genouroes. THat’s why we stil live in Highy sinhala populated cities. They all are not racisits But as you find in any country, there can be people who has mis understood the patrionism. Pirbharan is making our loife riskier by not negotiating for peace but recruiting our nexty generation . in to the war. My neighbour whose cousin child in Jaffna recently kidnapped to be trained in to war. Why we need an eelam.. Our eelam is Thamil nadu. North Indians are never originated from India unless they migrated from Europe. But Tamils they are the natives. So we should cliam it from there, unless we try to threaten the soverignity of a other country as they are not powerfull as India. Are we affraid of that? Or are we creating an unnecessary matter? Putting all our live son threat.
Recent war situation in Sri Lanka, 80% of the Sri Lanka army has advanced in to LTTE aras confirming 70 % defeat so far for Prbhakaran. He is stillnot ready to stand up and say that we will give up terrorism and would appreciate a all party agreement for peace. He lies. Lies to his own nation. Only few who got theier brains would not listen to him.
He has been defeated by his own supporters as they know what he is up to. If we want an eelam, we take it by negotiatins. Now the area prbha claimed saying his controled eelam has been reduced to 5% by SL army through recent wars. There is no way to look up. We should throw away our weaopons and listen to the government as they have not shot any tamil civillian during war.
I would say Prabha do not depraise us! You’re a shame for our nation. We would like you to leave this country. And let usto live in harmony with the multinational nation of Sri Lanka.
30. Thamilan | December 4th, 2007 at 12:38 pm
Comment # 29,
You wish you were Tamil.
Leave a Comment
Subscribe to the comments via RSS Feed