Anonymous (4 Aug. 2009)

Hello,

what "current nominal head of the LTTE". LTTE announcement is here: http://ltteir.org/?p=132

Arul (5 Aug. 2009)

Jeyaraj's description of Great Heroes Day as a fetish is deeply offensive to any Tamilian irrespective of political or religious affiliations. He is a disgrace to the Tamil race. He regularly writes in Hindu group of publications which are sworn enemies of Tamil Eelam. He survives by the remuneration he gets from Hindu group and other sources which are bent upon destruction of Tamil Eelam.

Living in a western nation, there are many decent ways to earn money. Even janitorial work is more respectable than earning a living by disrespecting the supreme sacrifice of selfless warriors.

K. Thirukumaran (5 Aug. 2009)

Arul,

None of you say qualify a Tamilian or DBSJ for that matter to be a 'disgrace to the Tamil race.' With yours and SSK and the Sangam Editor's take on this matter, we are seeing the last gasp of this year's events and consequences in my opinion....and will not be able to rise again if this view of events and people amongst us prevailing.

Anonymous (6 Aug. 2009)

I dont understand the context of this Article, Whether Sachi Sri Kantha finds the words used by DBS Jeyaraj offensive or the fact that an organisation which celebrated Death in supreme irony closed its eyes and had an ostrich apporach to the death of its leader. I personally believe that DBS does not offend LTTE but instead the way the dead martyrs have been treated, I think they dont deserve such a shabby treatment as one given to them by the tamils abroad, who dont even have a courtesy of honouring the leader. Sachi Sri Kantha would be better off by writing an Euology to the Dead Martyrs than criticizing other writings and pasting religous colors over them.

mithrar (6 Aug. 2009)

Long after all of us are dead and gone, Prabakaran, and his army will be remembered as the greatest contemporary Eelam thamils. No amount of tarring by the minions and acolytes of the lion race can erase the gratitude the Thamil people have for the heroes

Peter Ratnadurai (6 Aug. 2009)

I think Dr SriKantha is wasting keystrokes with replies to the likes of David 'BS' Jeyaraj, who does his job perfectly. Not everyone who was (or allegedly) born to Tamil mother and/or father can not be expected support the cause. Let's please stop expecting others; let's ask and do what we can.

For the record, those of us who fought or lived in Jaffna during the late '80s know D'BS'J very well.

Here, if I may, I'll recall an incident that happened between Tigers and DBSJ.

During IPKF time, DBSJ approached a lot of middle ranking Tiger cadres, seeking interviews with senior leaders. He was told by Thumpan, from Mathagal, that, because he works for The Hindu group, senior leaders were weary of meeting him.

So, The Hindu promptly fired DBSJ on grounds of writing against IPKF. Incidentally, the article in question was approved by the editor and published in the newspaper.

Anyway, once again, it seemed the puppeteers had underestimated the boys.

Tigers arranged for DBSJ to meet senior leaders at a secret location in Thiruvadinilai. The actual plan had, however, leaked via a man named Appiya from Pannaham (believed to be a TULF supporter - he often supplied food and biscuits to the cadres). DBSJ escaped.

Later, he was appointed Chief Correspondent on Tamil affairs by The Hindu's flagship Front Line magazine.

Anonymous (6 Aug. 2009)

No one is talking about the main article. Why ?

Sengodan.M (6 Aug. 2009)

It should be very clear to any true Tamil nationalist anywhere in the world as to whose interests DBSJ represents. What we all should always have in mind is that the Tamils are an oppressed nation and we can hope for genuine support only from those who are in a similar plight. Capitalist India feels that it is not in its 'nationalist' interest to permit the development of Tamil nationalism anywhere in the world. It feels so weak today that it will descend to any level to keep Mahinda Rajapakse pampered to make sure that he does not fall fully into China's lap. Mahinda having studued this weakness of India is exploiting such weakness to further his goals. Has anybody read any article of DBSJ being critical of India's stand even when it shamelessly defended the Sri Lankan Government at the UNHRC forum and wondered why he did so?

Peter Ratnadurai (6 Aug. 2009)

Two points about மாவீரர் நாள் and மாவீரர் துயிலும் இல்லம்

மாவீரர் நாள் -Heroes' Day- was started in 1989 as a direct response to requests by parents of Great Heroes. Particularly, Hindu parents who wanted to know the death dates of their children to do திதி, திவசம். Back then, it was very difficult to ascertain, keep proper record and communicate exact date of death of each cadre. So, influenced by remembrance days in other communities, and in remembering all the fallen from Shankar onwards, and faced with a practical need, தலைவர் introduce Great Heroes Day. All the parents were asked to do திவசம் on 27 November at 6:05pm. Anyone who has been to a துயிலும் இல்லம் on மாவீரர் நாள் would have seen these Hindu rites being performed.

மாவீரர் துயிலும் இல்லம் (Heroes' Resting Home) came in 1990, as number of war dead began to increase. This idea was first floated by Col Kiddu, a man submerged in Sangam era literature. As Kiddu noted, it wasn't just the Christians and Muslims that buried their dead. Tamil Hindus, where not influenced by Brahmins, also buried their dead. This practice still takes place in TN. A lot of the cadres who joined from Batti-Amaparai also recalled stories of their grandparents' era when Tamil Hindus had buried their dead.

It is wrong to attach religion to the LTTE. It was a strictly a secular organisation. However, it did have to accommodate cultro-religious wishes of the parents and loved ones of our Heroes. As Dr Sri Kantha noted, LTTE was the first Tamil group to develop மாவீரர் பணிமனை.

Ram Mohan (7 Aug. 2009)

It is nothing to do with religion. Communist Vietnam has one every few kilometers.

Arul (9 Aug. 2009)

I consider all the Great Heroes my own brothers and sisters. I have a question for everyone who defends DBS Jeyaraj…what would you think of a person who says mourning the death of your brother or sister is an act of fetish? I reiterate that I would consider such a person as a disgrace not only to Tamil race but a disgrace to entire humanity.