End of the road for Rajapakse incorporated also?
by Ilaya Seran Senguttuvan
While it is generally believed it is the end of the road for Prabakaran and the Tigers, many Lankan watchers believe equally the days of the Rajapakse regime appears to be numbered as well – economically and politically. Sarath Fonseka is "almost there" in his once-more delayed endeavour in presenting a "final military victory" to his political Buddhist-Sinhala boss. But the more important "winning the hearts and minds of the Tamil people" - must necessarily wait for another occasion – if at all.
The pyrrhic victory army's Fonseka – joined by his colleagues in the Air-force and Navy - is likely to deliver has, on the other hand, resulted in the more undesirable feature in bringing to its knees the economic health of the 20 million nation – now in the throes of a rocketing Cost of Living now in the stratosphere; mass unemployment by the closure of garment, manufacturing factories and trading companies; an imminent flow-back of thousands of Lankan workers in the Gulf that brought in an appreciable portion of our annual foreign-exchange earnings; collapse of the stock-market; confusion in the tea, rubber and cinnamon market - just to name a few. In fairness to him it may be added here Rajapakse did not begin the down-slide with the armed adventure Vs the LTTE. The unenviable credit to this must go to his predecessor CBK, now in splendid retirement with spoils all hither, thither and yon. Even fresh fish, caught locally for as long as one can remember, has to be imported to keep spiralling prices down in an island surrounded by marine-rich oceans “ but for how long?
The culprit for the economic collapse is widely believed to be Mahinda's "Economic Czar" and his personal choice as Central Bank Governor - Ajith Nivaard Cabraal, whom the Colombo business community did not accept any more than as an average Accountant with hardly any achievement of significant note to write home about. His only qualification appears to be he is more than willing to be an 'yes' man to the President and the more vocal in the ruling clique – a PhD equivalent that seems to impress many political heads in many developing countries than the hard-headed stuff of learned economists from Harvard, Wharton and the OxCam league. Even senior economists and administrators the government consulted prior to Cabraal's appointment were either vocally against the appointment or, being polite to the President, remained lukewarm. Rajapakse failed to take notice of the advise and the hint – and now finds himself feeling the full heat of the baptism of fire.
Of Cabraal's celebrated guffaws the more serious ones are his brushing aside the inevitable dire affects to the country of the burgeoning global recession – "this will not have much of an affect on uusâ" quoth this economic giant contemptuously. And more recently, his arrogant dismissal of the IMF betrays the lack of academic depth. He has now made Rajapakse eat humble pie with the high priests of the IMF - forcing the latter to seek an embarrassing bail-out close to US$2 billion - the only oxygen in the horizon to the collapsing economy. Cabraal's assurance to Rajapakse the Sinhala diaspora will instantly come out with US$500 million lies in shatters – and predictably so. Even the now nondescript UNP annd its lacklustre leader Ranil Wickramasinghe are in stitches laughing uncontrolably at the government's imposed vulnerability.
The Shylockish IMF is unlikely to open her purse strings easily and without laying bitter conditions. Cabraal may not tell his boss that the "caning" from the IMF for (Cabraal's) "perali" will have much to do with "ill-advised excessive and un-necessary purchase of arms and costly equipment" to all three forces in the overkill pursuit of an enemy numbering less than a few thousands - Fonseka's figures. IMF will naturally expect economic advisors of the government to preach wisdom, discipline and caution to weak governments in the clutches of uniformed men and clerics. But then was it not that unforgettable Irishman Oscar Wilde who remarked "those who cannot learn now take to teaching"?
But this is only the beginning of Rajapakse's litany of woes. Closer at hand, India has called out a General Election for mid-April where the two major political entities – the Coalitions around the Congress under Sonia and that under the Hindu-rightist BJP – are going all-out to win. Tamilnadu with 39 Lok Sabha seats will be a prized ally of both the Congress and the BJP. The far-right Narendra Modi sweeping Gujarat in the recent State Elections there – against a hostile Press and electronic as the partissan "NDTV" – could well mean the Indian electorate will oscillate this time towards the BJP.
It is only but an imbecile who will claim ignorance as to what this can mean to a Sinhala government arguably imposing injustice on their Tamils for decades. Knowing all too well which side of the bread is buttered that fiery "Amma" Jeyaram Jayalalitha is not going to be too far away from the Lankan Tamil question, from which she kept herself aloof all these years.
She has caused a tremendous shift in the balance of power of Tamilnadu politics by openly coming out in favour of "Separate State" for the Lankan Tamils. It shall not be long before Kalaignar joins in the fray - possibly with a wilder pronouncement. It will be only the political naive within the government and its coterie of "advisors" who will fail to take note of this significant change in TN politics. Jayalalitha" message to both the Congress and the BJP is "I am available" (no pun intended here) though concubine she was when the debonair MGR was around. Out there in the big wide world things do not particularly bring in glad tidings to massage the ego of the Rajapakse's.
This is probably why Dayan Jayatilake, the controversial trouble-shooter of the regime in Geneva, now down-sized, titled his latest peace "Are we being encircled globally just as we have encircled the Tigers locally." Despite his faults Jayatilake, son of an illustrious journalist giant, knows what's going on in the world though compulsions of necessity result in some twists and turns. It is easy to dupe the Lankans by claiming Hillary Clinton only called President Rajapakse "to express her condolences to the Matara carnage" That was only "starters" although the local media was "instructed by Temple Trees to twist it so. International Herald Tribune was one of the major dailies to report "Hillary Clinton called Rajapakse to warn him to make sure his Army keeps Wanni civilian casualties to the minimum from now on" Spokesmen of the UK, Germany, E/U governments had similar messages consistent with the report of the IHT. Some are yet to learn Goebellism died in Germany with the man during WW2.
More importantly and from close proximity, New Delhi used similar language in her communiqu. An unusually larger number of US Senators both Democrat and Republican (38 to be exact), MP's from both sides of the British House of Commons, the EU Parliament, UN's High Commissioner of Human Rights the South African Ms Navanitham Pillai proceeded to do what was expected of them. While some held hearings others sent in their own messages "expressing grave concern" in the increasing number of civilian casualties by the army. The world remembers the massacre of the 5 youth in Trincomalee and the execution of over a dozen relief-workers under the flag of a French NGO - where the role of the army was clearly visible.
Although Sri Lanka treats them lightly now, the International Group of Eminent Persons are held in high esteem everywhere - if one only cares to look at the list of these experienced academics. They certainly carry much punch with several governments. The damage-control efforts of the Lankan variety of a Goebellesian reincarnation - Dr Rajiva Wijesinghe of the Lankan Peace Secretariat – too failed although, he duly, as expected of him, fired salvo after salvo on anyone criticizing his "boss" and the charmed regime. The undue delay in the army mopping off the few remaining LTTE cadres within the 35+ sq. kilo meters a minor job for any army worth its salt – is being commented upon by our Donors.
After all, they ask, "how come 40,000 of your well-armed troops are unable to cage in a rag-tag group of a few thousand LTTE?". Shankar Menon's most recent visit to Washington and his meeting with Secretary Clinton and other high ranking officials where the "Sri Lankan issue" took centre stage caused much consternation in Colombo. The subsequent report that the US Naval Fleet anchored in the Gulf is considering a sea-borne mission (invasion is too sensitive a word for the regime and the patriots) "to save the trapped Wanni civilians" sent shivers down the spine of Temple Trees and the Sinhala supremacist-chauvinist fringe admitted by the regime as "holding the Rajapakse government as prisoners".
The worst fear must be the haunting spectre of some of the leaders in the Rajapakse government - notably Gothabaya, Basil Rajapakse and Sarath Fonseka - with US Citizenship credentials –“ being tainted with abominable "War crime" and genocide charges. The safe thought China, a member of the UN Security Council, will use her Vetoe powers to strike downany move to have any of China" friends or allies getting into hot waters has to be reviewed in the light of the fate of President Bashir of Sudan, whose resources and friendship is far more important to energy-hungry China than Sri Lanka. Bashir could not be saved from indictment before the International Court of Criminal Justice.
If one read through the BBC interview in which Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe was confronted with by Hard Talk" (BBC) Stephen Sachur and the statement of Chairman of the Foreign Relations Sub-Committee on Near and Far Eastern Affairs Senator Bob Casey the similarity in approach by both came out. Both usedin their addresses the immature and prejudicial quotes of Defence Secretary Rajapakse "Who is Lasantha?" ""Anyone not agreeing with us is committing treason" "Civilian Hospitals in the Wanni are legitimate targets of the armed forces" Too bad this un-diplomatic man with little culture or knowledge of the ways of the world is allowed to create further trouble to his brother. Clearly there appears to be some form of convergence of thoughts in the approach to the Lankan issue by several influential countries in different parts of the world.
They seem convinced the current Rajpakse government is either unwilling or unable to "protect civilians in the Wanni from further human rights horrors - not excluding massacres" That the LTTE well may be holding them as hostages for their (LTTEs) own safety is something the numerically superior Lankan army and armed forces should move to neutralize. Failing to act, delaying to act to protect and defend "Tamils " "our own people" (language used by the President, Foreign Minister, Foreign Secretary and others. Note Defence Secretary Rajapakse is hardly heard to use these accommodative terms).
And to make matters worse, the latest threat of that political parvenu and wind-bag Wimal Weerawansa two days ago "he will get his goons from his Front to surround the UN Office" in Colombo can only bring further trouble to Mahinda Rajapakse as further evidence of his being unable to leash extremist and dangerous forces within his fold. This kind of "mariakade" language appears to be the stock-in-trade of many of President Rajapakse's "friends" within his fold such as the likes of his attack animal Dr. Mervyn who is behind many incredible acts of violence – Sri Lanka's own version of Slumdog millioanaire.
Though it might have results within Sri Lanka and particularly in intimidating innocent Tamils in the wider, such ghastly behaviour is treated with utter contempt in civilized countries. As another columnist recently concluded "Rajapakse appears to be in the process of ending what SWRD Banda started in 1956 and which Prabakaran effectively carried out in the post-1983 period. That is to say, dividing the country into two Sinhala-Tamil geographical and linguistic units"
43 Comments
"Who is Lasantha?" ""Anyone not agreeing with us is committing treason" "Civilian Hospitals in the Wanni are legitimate targets of the armed forces"
Those are their favourite quotes, obviously! And they always put themselves to shame when they give interviews to the international media (such as: BBC, CNN, etc) and STILL no one seems to do something about it, I mean isn't it clear what's going on there by just hearing what those "officials" say?
ISS, finally you have put forward all your thoughts in one paper.
Well said.
In Vanni, it was just a battle, the war is fought elsewhere and we are more closer to Winning the war than ever before.
Just fasten your seatbelt, more bumpy journey has just began.
Well said from a wise man.
"pyrrhic" it may be to you, but the victory over the murderous LTTE that writers like you try to glorify will be a Sweet and wonderful one for all the peace loving Sri Lankans. I can't see why people like you can't understand that the economic woes face by Sri Lankans are directly related to the war in the north. That Billions of Rupees which could've been used for the betterment of the lives of all Sri Lankans have gone waste for arms and ammunitions. And that's only the GOSL. The money that Tamil diaspora has been pumping to arm the LTTE too could've been used at least to improve the north.
You have to be totally out of your mind if you think Sri Lankan people are that ungrateful to vote out the Rajapaksha regime once he managed to win he war. -Oh by the way, it's NOT A SINHALA Government, it's SRI LANKAN government, voted in by Sinhalese, muslims and over half a million Tamils...
Nivard Cabral was the achitect of Gold Quest a ponzi scheme which defrauded hundreds of innocent Sri Lankans. Inspite of this he was appointed by Rajapakse to head the Central bank. Now he is running a gigantic ponzi scheme with the Sri Lankan economy living on foreign investement. Taking loans to pay loans.
Basically Rajapakse sees himself as the saviour of the Sinhala Buddhist race and is stopping at nothing to achieve what he sees as the final solution. Buying up the opposition by having 100+ ministers, waste, corruption, 36+ advisers, Mihin Air, meals to voters etc killing media persons, attacking NGO's, attacking the UN, attacking the EU, attacking the British Government. All points to an unstable and mentally unsound character. 'Those whom the Gods wish to destroy, first drive them Mad.'
Can you tell me when there ever was an effort made by any government of Sri Lanka to "Win the hearts and minds" of anyone other than the Sinhala Buddhist People? Do you think that this is now going to suddenly change just because Piraphakaran and his gang are taken out? What other occassion is likely to bring out this effort to win the hearts and minds of the Tamils? The only thing on the mind of the Sinhala Buddhist People is "How to kill all the Tamils in Sri Lanka".
I have reliable information from the heart of Colombo that the Sri Lankan Governments military intelligence operatives are urging lumpen elements to prepare to kill the Tamils in the South as soon as the army finishes off the Tamils in the North. Karuna - now a good patron of the very same Hameedias whose owner he kidnapped and from whom he extorted a hundred million rupees, Mano Ganesan - now heavily into making movies in these dire straights with the blessing of the Rajapaksas and Douglas Devananda - perhaps the only Tamil who really believes that he is acting in the interests of the Tamils are all aware of this and yet have not raised their voices, warned their constituencies or alerted the International community as to the gruesome genocide that hangs over the heads of the Tamils in Colombo and in the central hill country regions of the island. ( Dont expect much from Thondi. He is far too high.)
If you think that this qualifies as a way to win the hearts and minds of the Tamils then I do not know what naivety is.
I am an American citizen and I have been following what has been going on in your country. A long time ago when the British were ruling Ceylon your people were separated by religion. Tamils in the north Sinhalese in the south. That was the beginning of the current situation. Also religion played a part in Sri Lankin politics. The Tamil rights should not have been surpressed in the first place.Wake up! The solution is simple respect for every individual rights needs to happen regardless of race, religion, caste, social status ect. Violence only breeds more violence. Hatred breeds more hatred. Your military will never defeat a surpressed Tamil people. They will find a way to get even and so will you and so on and so on......... I hope that a new leader comes forth in your country with this concept in mind and finally developes a lasting peace so that foreigners like myself can come and visit your beautifull country. Enjoying our stay with the wonderfull people of Sri Lanka without fear of violence and hardships.
ISS, you touched all recent developments. Latest news bulletin from SBS: “Hunting the Tigers" is great enough to show about Sri Lankan Military Government.
Whether the Rajapakse government survives another term is Irrelavanet. But in all reality he will certainly win the next Election. Mr. Senguttavan is basically pontificating conjecture based on opinion (Namely his own). Despite his seemingly ‘Dire Warnings’ and Usual SCARE TACTICS to try and halt the Military Offensive the country is just not going to collapse overnight. IMF will put restrictions on the spending but will not impose how to run the country, especially on matters of National Security. Bet me if you think I'm wrong Senguttavan...I'll take your money any day.
Also, India will not want to lose Sri Lankan ties over that of the LTTE... Those Tamil Nadu Jokers will no doubtedly run to the Party that wins no doubt, after all they are nothing more than Political hacks who will do anything to stay in power. BJP or Congress no one will go against the Rest of India to Support the LTTE for Tamil Nadu, and the Lok Sabha seat may be influential but after they are courted and the election is won, the reality of India's need to stop agitation in other countries will take hold once again. Only Delusional Eelamists think that India will invade Sri lanka or Agitate for More than what they have in their own country. Eelam will mean Tamil Nadu split too. Simply put India will not go down that route.
And as for all the civilian Deaths, every one knows this is the Fault of the LTTE and the Tamils Eelamists who support this and look the other way, the blood of those people is on your hands too.
Well analysed article summarising the Sri Lankan situation. Tamils and Sinahalese together could have Sri Lanka prosperous and peaceful country if not for jealousy, enmity etc, etc.Rulers have depleted the wealth of the country.
This is another piece of conspiracy theory, Dream on guys, If you really want to live in piece, learn to win the heart and minds of the majority, winning hearts and minds is not the sole responsibilty of the minority.
Unless you can learn to intergrate you can always go west and live like second class citizens, Sri Lanka is one country for all of us. When LTTE stops terrorism, there wiil be no arrests, no registrations, no restrictions, But those who plan to divide SL, be carefull. that doctrine is not tolerated at all,
one country one nation, TAMILS AND SINHALESE ARE BROTHERS,
Every body who is writing those kind of artle should go to wanni & see what is really happening there.
Crazyoldmans said
"....I have reliable information from the heart of Colombo that the Sri Lankan Governments military intelligence operatives are urging lumpen elements to prepare to kill the Tamils in the South as soon as the army finishes off the Tamils in the North. Karuna - now a good patron of the very same Hameedias whose owner he kidnapped and from whom he extorted a hundred million rupees, Mano Ganesan - now heavily into making movies in these dire straights with the blessing of the Rajapaksas and Douglas Devananda - perhaps the only Tamil who really believes that he is acting in the interests of the Tamils are all aware of this and yet have not raised their voices, warned their constituencies or alerted the International community as to the gruesome genocide that hangs over the heads of the Tamils in Colombo and in the central hill country regions of the island. ( Dont expect much from Thondi. He is far too high.).."
Don't you think it is your duty to let everyone (including the IC) know of this pending genocide of the Tamils in the south (if your source is so reliable)? Anybody with any sense of duty or decency would do it. IF however it is just a pigment of your imagination, all we have to say it that "you are just delusional"!!
Its a one sided article and living in hope that the SL Economy will fall, BJP will win and press for Seperate state.....ect..... Come to reality and accept the fact that LTTE will not be able to demand Eelam and the only hope is the 13th Amendment for all Sri Lankans to live together. Why the Tamil Diaspora is fighting tooth and nail for the LTTE is to safegaurd thier refugee status in Foreign lands and not for anything else.
According to Janaka the Sinhalese brothers can beat up, rob, burn, torture, and the Tamil brothers have to keep quite. Sinhala brothers' way of winning the hearts and minds of the Tamil brothers and sisters is to imprison them, withholding food and medicine, bombing,abducting in the dreaded "white van" never to be seen again etc. Integrating means that Tamils have to carry their identity cards at all times, visitors have to be dragged to the police station and registered for their stay with their own families even for a day!!! Tamils have to tell the reason to be in Colombo or wherever they travel which is not their usual domain. The reason has to be satisfactory to the un-educated soldier who mans the check points!!
No wonder the Tamils are tired of co-existing with the Sinhalese!!
Fortunately Rajapakse & Co have helped tamils to unite all over the world and raise our legitimate concerns internationally. Sri Lankan government might capture the remaining land in the near term but they will never be able to stop our struggle for independent homeland. Tamils and Sinhalese can never live together and we tamils will never forgive the sinhalese for killing innocent tamils over the past 30 years.
Ha Ha Janaka, Real Brotherhood exists in Sri Lanka between Sinhala and Tamils ..........where the hell r u living man........Tamils are considered as enemies and looked down as 3rd grade citizens ans suspects by almost every Sinhalese- they encounter (with few exceptions)..by the bus conductor, by the three wheel driver, by the clerk at the post office, by the grama niladhari, by the police.........by virtually everyone that includes you since I know the last statement in your comment is just a lip service and you do not mean it at all Janaka........I know some who mean it they do not blow their trumpets but live their lives as examples
Sri Lanka is one country for all of us- Joke. Your dream or so u say what u r made to believe by the Goebbels of the neo Nazi state.......""When LTTE stops terrorism, there will be no arrests, no registrations, no restrictions""--another joke..wait wait for the day when the last Tamil will be chased out of Sri Lanka ..then talk about brotherhood.
Think about this .....the great Italian economic maestro, Ponzi Cabraal is playing Russian Roulette with the beleaugered Sri Lankan economy, getting it to shoot itself in the head...... oh Rajapakse, art thou mad yet???????????
TAMILS AND SINHALESE ARE BROTHERS..... Janaka, how do the Muslims,Burgers and Malays fit into this relationship? Are they only kissing cousins? Let me warn you.... this blind pandering to distorted Sinhala Buddhist self-egoistic notions of who the real citizens of Sri Lanka are has been the root cause of all problems since kicking the white man out of the country.
Beautifully written. One of the best I have read.
Thanks editor.
Anandan
Is this person writing this article real? Very convenient to use such a would be authentic name.Article contents a whole lot of poppycock.Do not drive a wedge between the SLA government and the SL Army.They will not be hoodwinked for sure.
Dear Nandasena
You always forget the fact that there is an reaction to every action. when JVP mounted a terror campaign, Government answered with terror and what happened the terror stopped. Not a single western country agitated that time. 60,000 sinhala youth died. I do not agree with that too. My point is when violence become too extreme, the only way to fight it is become violent. The normal law and order cannot survive.
Look at everywhere, I will give you examples.
# After 9/11 how many muslims were murdered by american bombing ? 600,000 in Iraq itself. where was bloody UN ?
# Look at the new terror laws implemented in UK, We are loosing our basic human rights,
# Look at the Guanatanamo bay,
# American torture camps around the world
These are the upholders of human rights? This is the reality, Nande, What you need to be is realistic, When I was in Moratuwa University, After the central bank bomb, my tamil friends partied. that was the freedom they had inside. Well you have to ask is, is that the right freedom.
When the cause for terror subside, the reactive terror will also subside.
You will not need registrations, spot checking. Tamils are subjected to more violence because simply LTTE is tamil. Not all LTTE carry cyanide capsules to distinguish them.
Tamil people can live among sinhalese at least with a registration, Could a single sinhalese live in Jaffna with LTTE ?
We need to look forward to an honest approach where we can embrace each other with trust. Only way we can achieve this is by learning to tolerate and intergrate with each other, My uncles are married to tamil ladies, I leave my son in care of a tamil lady, The situation of SL and the world has changed drastically from 50s 60s. If we start discriminate tamil people, There will be lot of sinhalese who will stand up to it. If you say sinhalese are that racist, How can lot of tamil people live among sinhalese. We both need to learn from our mistakes.
Dear Romeo
Well it seems you know my heart and mind better than my self, Well it is this suspicion that we all have to address, It is true everybody suspects tamil people living in south. Because suicide bomber come in all tamil forms, Pregnent women, Children, Old people you name it. SO what do you expect not to suspect? People are scared of their life. LTTE explode bombs in buses, trains planes buildings. But do you hear TAMIL people are attacked by common people now?
You need to ask the level LTTE has dragged us down. It does not matter tamil or sinhalese they all see us as equal, that is terrorists. we can not get visa to a decent country. White people ask me are you a tamil terrorist because I look more tamil than sinhalese.
Individually everyone has to address their hatred. I do not mind my kids getting married to tamils, I do not mind living with tamils, I do not mind voting for tamil politicians. I think that is where the brotherhood lies. question is Romeo, are you ready to do that?
Individualy when we are in that position, Lot of our problems will be solved.
You may call me a dreamer, but I am not the only one
Sinhala-Tamil brotherhood and peace is a pipe dream.Not after all the evils that the Sinhalese have perpetuated on the Tamils over 50 years.This war will never end.LTTE under VP will not accept defeat stoically,not without causing monumental destruction to SL.I shudder to even imagine.Whatever is the judgement of history on VP,it can never deny the fact that he will be considered the greatest of the Tamil heros.
Janaka,
Just because 60,000 sinhala youths were killed during the JVP time does not justify the killings of Tamil civilians in Wanni. It does not justify aerial bombardment (in the so called safe sones)and witholding food and medicine. It does not justify uprooting them from their farms and houses and putting them in "concentration camps". Even animals are treated better than this. Why do they have to live in camps when they have their own houses in their own villages? One thing for sure BIG PEOPLE are MINTING MONEY in erecting those shabby structures called welfare centres from the money donated by UN agencies!! Every body has their own agendas, while poor people suffer for no fault of theirs!!
What ever US does or did in Irag does not absolve Sri Lanka's WAR CRIMES and HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS!!
Do you honestly think that people who have seen their loved ones killed maimed infront of them will forgive and forget the killers?
The LTTE was the creation of the many pogroms against the un armed innocent Tamils civilians from the mid 1950's. LTTE came into existence only in the late 1970s. Before that the elected Tamil politicians had only peaceful agitations and discussions, which the Sinhalese govt. replied with violence against them. The govt. is recruting more members for the LTTE by treating the Tamils the way it does now!!
Tamils are not "living" in the South, they are existing in the south. They have no way of expressing their displeasure!! If they do, they know where they will end!! What is happening in Sri Lanka is SUBJUGATION of the Tamils and not co-existing with the Tamils!!
They have no where to go. In Jaffna you have the thugs of Douglas, in the East you have the Karuna/Pillaiyan thugs, where will they go?
Thanks for the great article ISS. Only a few of the things you mention need to happen for things to start unravelling in Sri Lanka (if they are not doing so already). I believe Rajapaksas downfall will come about not through electoral defeat but through civil uprising brought on by starvation. The JVP vultures are stoking the flames and waiting in the wings. They have always believed that the country needs to be destroyed completely before their agrarian utopia can be built from its ashes. This is why they oppose any compromises with the the Tamils. Not even the Provincial Councils they say. Not for any idealogical reasons but they know the worst threat to their party is a Sinhala-Tamil consensus, remote as it sounds.
You omitted another ingredient in the witches brew that is bubbling in the cauldron. That is the thousands of young men who are not fit for any work but killing. All human feelings drilled out of them by their very training. Thousands of guns grenades and explosives unaccounted for. Let us hope and pray that unlike in Bangladesh and the DCR the government will have enough money to keep paying these young men's salaries.
Dear Nanadasena.
Looks to me You have not been to SL for a very long time and you do not have any idea of what is going on there apart from the news articles you read from the western media, As you say it is the poor tamil people who suffer from this war at the end, Influential lot managed to get away from the country. Let me answer few of your points.
First of all understand there is a war going in SL. When there is a war, do not expect the normal rules of law. The problem is we have a terror outfit that do not follow normal rules of a war, When you have a artillary guns mounted in hospitals and when those guns start killing SL soldiers, What do you want the SL army to do ? Get killed, So they have to bomb these positions, So this is your arial bombardment of civilions, You may not know but I personnely know governement make a lot of affort to avoid civilian casualties, May be not because they love them may be lot of media report them to discredit them. Lot of people say thousands of people died, But nobody see the bodies, LTTE can easily hand over thousands of these bodies to Red cross which is still operating in those areas.
Do you think it is only Sinhala that killed tamils, What about the thousands of people including infants died in bus bombs train bombs hacking to death. They brought in the terror now they cry the terror bites them.
As you say nothing can compensate killing of a human life, As a Buddhist I do not condone killing of any living being.
Do you know how many tamil papers are published in colombo?, Please do not say they exist, They can write and do anything as long as it does not condone LTTE violence. So if you say they should be given freedom to write whatever they want to a destroy our country, I am sorry that cannot be allowed. There are limits to freedom, And those who want more than that they have to find it elsewhere. Tamils own half of Sri Lankan businesses and there are judges lwayers doctors you name it, They have the same human rights I had as a sinhalese, free educations etc, All sinhalese ask is let them have the same rights for them in their so called eelam lands. Do you know there are laws that prevent sinhalese buying tamil owned properties.
What ever the name you say they required initially for the following reasons,
There are terrorists hiding among civilions you need to find them and rehabilitate. There are land mines everywhere, they need to be cleared. There are houses to be built.
People said the same thing when this thing happened in east. Now look at it, All the civilions have gone home. They do not a separate country, But they have the freedom of an ordinary citizen of SL. They are happy.
I agree with you lot of Sinhala politicians did bad things and so did tamil politicians. But that does not mean you can use terror to achieve your objectives.
My whole point is terror breed terror, It is up to Sinhalese and Tamils not to forgive each other and keep killing, But look at the tamil population it has been depleted so much, Second generation migrants will never come and settle in dry zone SL. Very soon tamils will be a very negligent poulation in SL. The problem will be solved by darwin's rules. This is not what I like to hear.
Let the war finish and see what happens, I beleive there is a bright future for the poor tamils living in north. Their kids can go to schools, can get a decent education, do a proper job, Have their own houses.
Sam,
You take exception to the word "pyrrhic" but If you have access to comments from analysts and reporters in the wider global scene you will notice the word being used in abundance re. the Lankan issue – and those writers know what they are talking about...…As to the boost to the economy if the war was not there, that is the point our Sinhala friends must remember. From the time of CBK and now MR, continuing the war has been a superb business for those in the saddle. So why not continue it? Look at the Mansions in California bought at $2 to 4 million bought by Lankans who only three years ago could not afford $200 rent per month. If it is of any interest to you the story was no different in Vietnam, in Cambodia and many African and Latin American countries...…By the way, where did you get the figure “half a million Tamil votes” to
MR? Even if that “vote machine” (his own boastful claim) SBD was operating on MR’s side this was hardly possible.
Citizen and Mazin,
On your comments on Cabraal. Remember it was the Central Bank under the earlier Governor DS Jayawardena, an able and respected professional, who caused paid advertisements in the main dailies in all three languages rightly warning the public against the Pyramid/Ponzi scam. Where is Sri Lanka’s financial integrity when the chief architect of the same scheme - severely attacked in the Press for his role before he was appointed - was to warm the highest seat in the bank that warned the entire country against an established fraud? Remember the old yarn of “the fox being placed in charge of the chicken farm”?
Crazyoldmans,
Your comments in these columns are well constructed, informative and based on a good appreciation of the Lankan story. Its always a pleasure to read your contributions. You need no learning from me. As to “winning the hearts and minds of the Tamils” I was not saying a honest effort was made. What I suggested was an endeavour is ideal to reach that elusive goal. Howard Debenham said it well recently when he remarked no Sinhala Govt from 1948 ever intended to place a formulae for serious solution. He was much more privy to the inside workings of SL Govts than you and I, although I have had the privilege of working with several leaders in many parties - that includes my friend MR....
I don’t know how correct you are on Mano G’s investments in films. Although both brothers keep in touch with me I am not aware of this. Mano, by the way, is a strong and forceful voice for all Tamils in the Western Province. I note he is making increasing in-roads into the Plantations – the focus of his father VPG….As to Thondi, you read in these columns of what Jayadeva had written noting leaders of some of the Tamil parties in the
South are readily prepared to face the indignity of being 2nd class citizens with pleasure – so long as they get their perks. That is the level to which the Tamils in the Cabinet have sunk.
Burton Peters,
Little Sri Lanka is pleased concerned citizens of the world such as yourself take interest in our affairs. A peaceful Sri Lanka, Sir, will not be far from Paradise on Earth - for within a small area and in a matter of a few hours we have all those features that makes a tourist’s dream.
Devinda,
As to “winning my money” its all gone, boy. I certainly was a millionaire businessman
until July 83 when those patriotic hordes descecrated for 4 consecutive days my lovely home in Cbo 7, my work
Place and all my assets. My wife and 2 children were lucky to escape with our lives –
Thanks to the personal intervention of perhaps the most influential Civil servant (Sinhalese) of that time
and a Tamil high and respected Police official who went to adorn the International Police in Europe. I am not bitter about that because I think we must all – Sinhalese, Tamils must accept shared blame for what happened to the country. As a matter of interest to you, REPPIA - a limb of GoSL - was good enough to allow me a large loan to rehabilitate my business since it had brought in foreign-exchange by the millions since 1973. But officials in a
State Bank sabotaged the move and I am battling this for the past 5 years.
I have felt a tinge of ethnic prejudice in this case and will establish this in due course. A clear case what one hand of the State gives another denies. That is the justice available to Tamils in SL - although I have friends in high places.
Dingiri,
You raise an important point that was raised personally by a friend when JRJ was alive.
This friend in the course of talks warned JR, who argued the Tamil rebellion will be
brought down by his nephew Bull Weeratunga by 1980. My friend asked JR what he is going to do with over 50,000 young men given weapons training after they are de-mobilised since the Job market could not accommodate them. JRJ gave that morbid smile of his as the answer. And these boys went to work in 1988/8 and virtually brought the country to its knees while killing thousands and destroying State assets valued at several billions. You and I ask the same question today when the number will be near 200,000. Have you heard of the expression “Hell on Earth” that is probably what Lankans are fated to face in the coming years.
ISS
ISS: "End of the road for Rajapakse incorporated also?"
Yes, IF the road ends for the LTTE.
Perhaps Rajapakse & co are so drunk with power that they do not realise that all the assistence (intelligence as well as arms) was not given for free.
The US and its local proxy Congress-India did so and are continuing to do so only to serve their own strategic interests.
The LTTE was seen as being too indpendent and not purchaseable (unlike the Rajapakses): so that is why they all turned so completely against the LTTE and gave full support to the Rajapakses.
And the reason for canvassing the possibility of direct US involvement about 'evacuating the civilians' - read between the lines! - was due to worry that the SL forces were not getting anywhere in a hurry!
So IF the LTTE is gone, then just as Crazyoldmansl says "Sri Lankan Governments military intelligence operatives are urging lumpen elements to prepare to kill the Tamils in the South as soon as the army finishes off the Tamils in the North", there are also such plans by other intelligence operatives to finish off the Rajapakses.
The many thousands of armed Sinhala ex-military youth will be put to that use - and then the 'world' will have to intervene to save Lanka [strategically crucial Lanka] from anarchy won't they?
Who will be installed in power then? And of course there will be a massive 'EXTERNAL' military presence to ensure that whoever that is is safe, or to keep certain strategic interests safe!
Only through its columns I have come to know ISS and benefited reading and re-reading his comments on most of the articles published in this site. This time it is an article by himself. It is more informative and thought provoking. Long live ISS!
A good article that attempts an open and honest analysis of the current political situation in Sri Lanka. Open and honest analysis does not mean everything should be accurate or to the readers’ liking. There are aspects to this article I wouldn’t readily agree with. Notwithstanding that, I would like to encourage an honest attempt wherever it comes from. Poor little island’s greatest malaise is its dishonest politicians – who are only power hungry and money hungry. It is unfortunate that the political culture has deteriorated to such an extent the civil society nor the public at large could do nothing to hold the politicians accountable. This state of affairs has led to blatant abuse of power and rampant corruption. Angry, arrogant politicians have been repeatedly elected to office, resulting in even the intelligent ones resorting ego gratification as opposed to political thinking at every opportunity. The upshot of such a political culture is murder, mayhem, corruption, breakdown of law and order, political and development programmes conspicuously absent, and the people of the island left high and dry without a hope in hell for their future. Even today’s The Island editorial puts the poverty level at – in what should have been a serendipitous island – over fifty percent. One can go on enumerating endless woes the island is possessed by, but this should give an inkling of hardship faced by the people.
It is in these circumstances it has become fashionable for the educated class to castigate the Tamil Tigers over and over again, when they should have been promoting better class of politicians and a better tradition in politics. The intellectual class would not admit to their failure – and indeed, many still don’t know and wouldn’t agree that it is their failure to stand up the successive governments that brought the country to such a sorry pass. It is certainly not the LTTE that is responsible for the political debacle that Sri Lanka finds itself in. Even today, the educated class keeps their mouth shut and tries to please the government. There is also the minor difficulty that if people don’t fall in line they would of course be hacked to death. But, this has nothing to do with the LTTE. The LTTE is only a product of such deterioration in politics. This is essentially a southern phenomenon however much they try to pin blame on the LTTE. It is the south that has the political power – the LTTE does not have political power.
Then there is our own intellectual class, who would readily pin blame on the LTTE for everything that went wrong in Tamil politics. They would draw their scrolls of B.Sc, M.Sc, and when push comes to shove even draw their Ph.D certificates, as though drawing a rapier sword out of it scabbard, and happily hammer the poor LTTE into the ground. Vast majority of this educated class probably entered seats of higher education as bright young students. But, by the time they finished their education they appear to have lost their faculty for imagination, which has been replaced by education induced arrogance.
“Imagination is more powerful than knowledge!”
- Albert Einstein
I suppose there is merit in imagining one travels on a beam of light around the solar system!
P. Shantihkumar:
Communal-religion based visceral politics produced two of several evils that has much to do that destroyed unity, the cultural ethos and integrity in the country – namely the dishonest politician and corruption - both of which you refer to. Today’s politician goes about with the belief his role is to milk the state’s meagre resources. The continuation of the war is merely to steal massive amounts – that characterizes this and that of CBK’s administration to a large extent. The previous UNP and Mrs B’s Govts ran the country generally through established procedure. The sections in the Sinhala polity that would have protested this – the politically-conscious youth lead by the JVP and the Trade Unions for instance – are now vassals of the government. The State is in the brink of collapse.
It will be difficult to pay salaries, run education, Hospitals etc soon – and mayhem will result. A clueless Govt depending on outside “experts” within its fold – who are nothing but less than 2nd XI players in their chosen fields – now realizes its weakness to manage the ship of state. Abandoning its arrogant stand GoSL now goes begging to the IMF for survival. The reason given, once again “is to rehabilitate
Tamil civilians displaced by the war; to build the conflict areas etc” all of which come within the laid down criteria of the IMF to assist member States. All such fundsd received from donors earlier hardly went to the Tamil areas - is something well hidden by the system. So the “War” is absolutely vital for the Govt’s survival - something which the Sinhala people must realise. But the State’s resources have been plundered otherwise – the massive and illegal investments on an highly inflated army and forces whose monthly salaries and expensive equipment purchases are well outside the State’s resources; failing MihinAir (while there is a State airline already. If you want a Budget airline
there is nothing stopping you from starting a programme under Sri Lankan airlines)Using State bank's to finance failing enterprises;
White eleplhants like the Weerawila airport, several harbours in Colombo and elsewhere (Almost every Minister comes out with a Cabinet Paper for a multi-million $ “new project” regularly) The jumbo cabinet and the massive “santhosam” to Cabinet Ministers and MPs (Cars/Petrol/Maintenance, Security details, Rent etc., Each Minister has about
25 cars including those for wife, children’s schooling and night-clubbing etc) It was reported one woman from the slums – wife of a former VVIP - had not returned over 30 cars even several years after the husband was gone)
Stupendous losses in the CEB, CPC etc all run by men totally unsuited and without any professional experiences. This has continued for sometime
and will until like the one-rich Cricket Board GoSL goes to India with the begging bowl. So what do we do? One way is for the Opposition (is there one, you might ask) to publicly declare the head of the Govt and all its constituent members will be held responsible for all acts of wastage and corruption under them. If found guilty, they will make good the losses including the forfeiture of ill-gotten assets in their or the names or of others - under the pain of gaol. Such a step might prove a deterrent to future plundering of the State’s assets. The 17th amendment must be brought back without squabble....…As to “educated classes” you refer to that includes upright
men in State service little can be done here unless the system is re-vamped.
All of these good men and women, in one way or another, are dependent on various limbs of the government for their survival – salaries to run the family, schools and
University to children, houssing, jobs to them etc., Going against the Govt in the circumstances is suicidal. – The ruling politician knows this vulnerability
and holds them to ransom. None of them can afford to be “dead” heroes, in the circumstances. So the problem is bigger than what is subscribed to the LTTE only. We need to re-invent much of society again. That cannot be done in a matter of years. As some academics described “to build the decent country and nation we knew we have lost this generation
ISS
Ilaya brings the most scaring analysis of the current situation for the MR's regime. The over jubilant supporters of the war has a short lived spring, no doubt. Once the MR regime exists from the scene the whole nation will be in a crisis which gives ample opportunity for the regional and global powers to further exert their influence on us. This govt must stop the war at least now and go for a solution other than killing more and more people; and it is the only way out to stop the global ambush.
In other words, even if we loose our nose it does not matter as far as something goes wrong with the enemy!
Ajith:
More Sinhalese like you must fearlessly speak out to save the counry. As I have written in these columns, there are a large number of decent Sinhalese - mostly the "English-educated" more in the urban areas, including many good Buddhist priests, who share your thoughts. Tamils in these columns write of their warm friendship with
Sinhalese. The Tamil anger is neveer against our Sinhala brothers but against the Govt's that use the Buddhist Sinhala platform to come to and recklessly remain in power - totally oblivious to the Tamil needs and presence.
Equally, you have read many strong Tamil critics, including me, against the LTTE and opposed to the
Separate State demand. We failed to build a Sri Lankan nation in 1948. India succeeded in building a single family of Indians in that vast land of sometimes
irreconciliable differences, diverse languages, culture and religions. We have it in us to build a strong, plural, united Sri Lankan family. Our poliicians have divided us and they are stll there. Here I must say, Tamil politicians were less culpable because they simply responded to injustice. It was upto the larger number of Sinhala politicians to take the lead. They failed and all of us failed. What we see now the LTTE, murderers and kidnappers like Karuna/Pillaiyan,
an entire set of rogues parading as political leaders in the government, a wimpish opposition, an oversized and arrogant Army command et al have all contributed to the country becoming bankrupt - believe me that is what we are today. Its not too late to start now. You might not agree with me but let's put someone like Sarath Silva at the head - like the Bangladeshis tried for a while - with a group of eminent and acceptable civilians. Because at the top we need men with learning and guts. They might have their weaknesses and faults but they will be better than the lot we have had so far. There migh be a chance there before most of us becoming refugees running from a completely and irrecoverable failed state run by way lords and crooks.
ISS
ISS, I do not agree with your views that 'Tamil politicians were less culpable because they simply responded to injustice.'
They did nt simply respond. they emotionally charged the Tamils and set them up against the State for them to get and hold power. what power? just to become an MP.
FP and Tamil Congress politicians by accusing each other on the short comings of the sinhala state built an anti SInhala mentality among the Tamils. SJV and his followers were doing a good job in this emotional charge.
In any event, we have to look for what next instead of waiting to see when Sri Lanka is going to fall. If that fails, it would be a failure to the Tamils also.
Amirtham,
Along the lines of your thinking – that seems to be the way many Tamils in the South, in the diaspora and even in the NEP - I believe, hope and have expressed my thoughts despite all the sufferings of the Tamils – whether imposed from outside or self-imposed, we must look for a future within Sri Lanka. The views of India and the international community finds accord here. After all, NEP is within this post-British political union. To presume SJV and colleagues may have placed political ambitions before the interest of the electorate will be unfair and historically inaccurate. Here was a very successful lawyer - unable to accept the large amount of work coming his way as a brilliant QC. He was well endowed financially and otherwise and a well known national leader. By mid-1970s events during those turbulent times moved so fast he possibly could not entirely control the restless politically-conscious youth like Kuttimany, Uma, Prabakaran, Padmanabha et all swayed by the injustice to Tamils here. The winds of nationalism fanned in Tamil South India; the cries of Sinhala Nationalism threatening minorities here; the beastly killings of Tamils in Panadura, Inginiyagala, Gal Oya (where men and women were set alight alive – see Tarzie Vittachi’s “Emergency 58”)) the first country-wide attacks on Tamils, their homes and their livelihood in 1958 - would have had a cumulative effect on the more radical forces within Tamil nationalism - influencing SJV’s thoughts later. Remember, he campaigned against Navaratnam in the 1960s on the Separate State issue and humbled him. Later on SJV was in the vanguard of the Vaddukottai Resoultion in 1976 for a Separate State (subject to a viable alternative, I must add) Finally, let us remember, despite the Portugese invasion and eviction, the post-British Tamils welcomed the idea of living peacefully, in dignity and with respect with all other communities in Ceylon/Sri Lanka and did not rake the pre-Portugese reality. Let us also recall many Sinhala leaders and people now sigh agreeing to the Federal option by a wiser Sinhala political leadership would have served the cause of unity
and nation-building. The call to secede came only the Federal option (1956-1976) was undly denigrated, distorted and finally denied with much contempt. The TNA, speaking for most Tamils in the NEP, even as late as a few months ago in Parliament - called for “internal self-determination of the Tamil-speaking areas” - within the present Sri Lankan State. So, it always remained clear to minds free from prejudice Tamils worked towards making a Ceylonese/Sri Lankan nation – then and now – and had little to do with those blindly going about breaking this ideal driven by delusion, bigotry and prejudice mistaken for patriotism.
Ilaya Seran Senguttuvan
More wishful thinkg by our esrtwhile Tamil friend who has been harping on about the demise of Rajapkse for nearly 18 months now and the impossibility of defeating the tigers.
Why most of you talk about a sinhala governmnet, There is no sinhala goverment, but a captialist Government.
The majority sinhala people in the village face more problems that the minority tamils in the North and east.
Ther is only 3% Sri-Lanka tamils according to thr CIA profile and out of that over 2% live in the south peacefully with the sinhalese.
Which majority race will agree to give half the country to just 1% of people. Its only if the Tamils join the sinhalases to fight the captialist Goverment that all can get equal treatment. The racisit leaders are misguiding them, as the divide and rule policy of the capalist that is been praticied. Now lest forget the pass leave you'll racist leader as the are agent of the west and USA who is not bothered about you'll only want the natural resources of the country which is in the NOrth and east.
Ever ones talf about killings, this conflift has taken over 25 years, but only about 70000 has died on both sides,but who speaks about the killings of 1987-1989 whare over 60,000 were killed, mostly sinhalaese. whare even boys were chopped and forcebly cooked and fed to their parents, no world court for those who commited such inhuman acts, villages burnt alive.
This is proof these are not sinhala Governments, these are governments only for thesuper rich and their goons.
Tamil brothers and sisters identfy your oppressor and join hand to live in one country eaqually as SRi-Lankans not on marked biundries.
Ranjith,
With due respect to you - on both counts you are in error. I have at no stage held it impossible to beat the Tigers – a grouping I have openly written as one that caused the near destruction of the present Lankan Tamil race. Anyone with some sense of fundamental arithmetics will concede 200,000 is bound to overcome 5,000 sooner than later. That the larger number is far better equipped should have brought in the desired results long, long ago. If one accepts the Tigers are a symbol of Tamil resistance then taking in VP and friends and beating in the battle-field the present representation of what we called Tigers is not going to solve the problem. The resistance will continue for long, in different theatres and under different leaderships – a fact the army and that part of the Cabinet with some thinking capacity - have admitted in public. Also, please remember nearly 3 million Lankan Tamils are all not Tigers – although men like SLG, Nalin de Silva, Gunadasa Ameraserakera, Champika Ranawake and others insist this is so. As to my “wish” of the demise of the MR regime, please note by many counts this illegal regime died long ago. Illegal because of the two main factors that belied the validity of their electoral “victory” viz: (1) “buying” the LTTE who, in turn, used their guns and intimidation on the captive Tamils from voting. Tiran Alles, Mangala Samaraweera, the late Siripathi Suriyaratchi and LTTE’s Emil Kanthan will give you the details of the amounts, who gave, who received etc (2) the dangerous JVP, using their surreptitious network of cells among their Grama Sevakas in the WP notably as well as the more urban Provinces, to sabotage the electoral cards from being delivered to those voters they suspect would vote with the UNP. This is invariably estimated from 500,000 to 800,000. Sri Kotha has some data on this - although I personally warned UNP Secretary Weragoda about a week ago of this conspiracy. The man did not accept this and more so a day before the elections when I told him the LTTE will do their own sabotage job, he laughed. On the morning of the elections he told me, in the company of mutual friends in our daily constitutional, that his information is that the Tamil people in the areas “outside the control of the Govt” were already voting. No wonder he is no more the UNP Secretary. What you now see is not a Govt but zombies pretending to be one. Every aspect of democracy has been destroyed and Parliament is a farce. The name of the country is muddied everywhere. The IMF/WB and other respected institutions consider us a Failed State. For the 1st time in our history, the sovereign GoSL is taken before international Courts for non-payment of dues and solemn financial obligations. People know not who is the government and who the opposition is because of the musical chairs game Gunmen lead by known criminals and killers run the show. See what is happening in the Colombo District with the WPC elections on. John Amaratunga, under whom the Police and the forces came when he was Minister of Internal Security, intimidated and threatened while campaigning by masked gunmen in motor-bikes and jeeps – all believed to be from the army. Friend, MR’s “Govt” you speak of died many moons ago. What more! Mangala Samaraweera, who has been in the spotlight as a senior Minister from 1993 (save the brief 2002-mid 2004 period) a favourite of CBK; whose profile was so high, he was offered the post of PM under a future Ranil W Govt over and above all other UNP seniors. And, he has escaped to save his own skin. The writing on the wall was all too clear to him when his side-kick Siripathi died in “an accident” and when Tiran Alles, his right-hand man, was harassed for days and then sent to remand prison. Gangsters masquerading as political leaders violently raid the homes of judges, sacrosanct in any decent society, at midnight to intimidate them to change their judicial pronouncements; homes of judges are bombed and shot at. Idi Amin’s Uganda, one would think, eh? My friend, when in the history of recent Sri Lanka did you see such unfortunate features in our democratic society where some of our senior political leaders had to flee for their lives – and this is just the beginning? Sonali Samarasinghe-Wickrematunga, Keith Noyar, Iqbal Athas, Chevan Daniel are only the better known of the journalists who had unannounced chosen nocturnal flight- in some cases not even noticing their families. There will be many more – politicians, media persons, administrators who will flee – like in those rogue regimes of Mugabe, Myanmar and Kampuchea. I know many Lankans still are not aware what society they are in – even those calling themselves informed political leaders. This is nothing personal against Mahinda Rajapakse – the individual,a personable man and a sold defender of HR not long ago. Circumstances, misplaced ambition, greed and ego change even good men, they say. This is the Resplendent Isle sanctified by three holy visits – and now classed in the league of those failed governments in Afghanistan and Pakistan as “one of the most dangerous countries in the world” to visit. Are you happy with this reputation?
Ilaya Seran Senguttuvan
This article has no base what so ever. Well when there is a war you cannot talk about prospority. You have to look at priorities. What is the priority in Sri Lanka. T ouproot the ruthless terrorists. Tamils have to understand every minority has certain issues with Majority. You have to live with that or become a majority in some other community like Tamilnadu State.
Rajapaksa may not bring prospority to Sri Lanka but he will certainly root out the pain in the ass for the Sri Lanka. People in Sri Lanka is ready to suffer a bit to get rid of the major suffering. Tamil Disopara may have the money but not enough to mess with a government and 15 million people. We are suffering because of tamils in Sri Lanka wanitng a upper hand. We cant let you have it.
Ralph Zimmermann,
Are you real? I believe I speak for a large number of bloggers here when I say we certainly welcome the views of those non-Lankans living amongst us – either briefly or for long – to provide solutions to our estrangement. But, man you seem to be a congenital natural in getting the wrong end of the stick. The CIA is not as dumb as you think. They get their facts right – and from the people on the ground. You have a serious numerics problem as well, as one notices. Where did you learn Tamils are only 3% of the population of Sri Lanka? Or did you get your "statistics" on the Tamil population from those who have worked out the Final Solution for the present generation of Tamils? And, who told you Sinhalese parents were given cooked meat of their children in 1988/89? You seem to be a newer breed of a zombie from - the good Lord only knows - where? Are you confusing Sri Lanka with Uganda or Rwanda-Burundi or is it something you were smoking when you hit the computer? It certainly is good to be able to teach others – but first you should learn the subject you want to pontificate on. Or else, you end up making a laughing stock of yourself. The complex Lankan problem with deep roots in antiquity, history, geography and socio-economics has baffled many local and international academics and experts and is well beyond your well, it appears all so clearly. By the way, if you call this govt a Capitalist Govt you may end up in the White Van.
Ilaya Seran Senguttuvan
Sri Lanka is a failed state.
Good! These racist Sinhalese supporting a genocidal govt can sink with the entire Island. They are not going to succeed in trying to destroy Tamils in Lanka. They can try all they like. But they will drag the entire nation down. Try to remove Tamils and you will end up ruining the entire nation. Sooner you acknowledge Tamils as part of the country, you might save the nation. Otherwise it is Niet niet.
Anyone with common sense, get out of that dump while you still can. SL is going to become worse that Zimbabwe very soon.
to ISS of April 14, 2009 05:59 AM
SJV, personally was a good and a sincere man. No doubt about that. But was he a good leader? Or was he surrounded [like JR] by some emotionaly charged politically ambitious men and womem like Mr. Mrs. Amir & Co [like Cyril Mathew & CO with JR] who did not allow their leader to do what he really wanted to do. This is where I wonder whether the formation of FP [in fact a Karuna style defection ] was a correct move in Tamil politics. Before the formation of FP, Tamils were united to certain extent to keep the Sinhala majority on check. Since the formation of FP, the mud slinging between the FP and Tamil Congress was the politics of the Tamils and thereby the Tamils force on Sinhala govt dimmed and deflected, I think.
SJV could not control his emotionally charged army who were fiery speakers. As young kid I enjoyed those speeeches in those days and now I think all those were 'only uselss farts and no shit'. This army hated GG who also 'was was a very successful lawyer - unable to accept the large amount of work coming his way as a brilliant QC. He was well endowed financially and otherwise and a well known national leader.'
GG did not allow the emotional donkeys come closer to him.
Then why FP weakened the TC. GG had done more upliftment to the Tamil areas than any other Tamils in the history. But party stalwarts like Amir & Co could go not closer to him because he was a real no-nonsense leader [like VP].
Tamils had a hero worship to SJV then [as they have to our Sun God now] and thereby he was not questioned on his inefficiency in politics. I consider this as a total failure. He was a good lawyer but does that mean he was good in politics. GG was the best criminal lawyer in South East Asia then but due to FP politcs he was known as a 'thuroki'.I still do not understand where he let down Tamils for his own benefit!
Similarly I do not agree with you that Kuttimany, Prabakaran et all swayed by the injustice to Tamils here. [I do not include Padmanaba and others here] I know and I have met Kuttimany and his friends many times since he came to Panagoda camp. In my view he and Praba are a bunch of criminals who were trying to justify their criminal actions in the name of Tamil nationalism and they were trying to live on that. Amir also had the same view of these criminals and that was the reason they thought they could exploit them. But 83 riots gave a boost to Praba and he was smart to outwit everyone and he had lived his life on this matter. Lately Praba might have thought that Eelam could be achieved and his thinking could have changed.
In any event, I still strongly feel that had SJV not defected in 1949 and stayed loyal to the man who brought SJV to SL from Malaysia and strengthened TC there will not a genocide at this moment in Chaalai now.