Peter Ratnadurai (10 Aug. 2009)

Spot on with the observation: "The truth is we were cheated by the CFA because of our ignorance of geopolitics and we aligned unconditionally with one set of powers (ignoring the others) and they took us for granted. Now to understand geopolitics and to act to our advantage is one major hurdle."

While we had landmass under control, we could have "shopped around". Now that we have nothing, it will be even more difficult.

But, back then, shifting between powers was considered too risky. Now we have nothing to lose. Already, 300, 000 are locked-up; 1, 400 of them are getting killed each week.

I think two pronged strategy will be good. An anti-apartheid style campaign targeting Sri Lanka's economy (all Western powers were backing SA then) and shifting international relations strategy to include China as a potential ally.

Sengodan.M (10 Aug. 2009)

Very positive ideas and valuable suggestions. But I am sure the author will agree with me that those in diaspora will have to act with circumspection. What applies to the homeland will not necessarily always apply to the diaspora. We have to think of pragmatic measures that will prove to be fruitful, rather than resort to mere rhetoric.

Sengodan.M (16 Aug. 2009)

It may not be correct to say that the world did not know what happened to us prior to 1983. They may not have known it then but at least during the last few years they would have come to know the whole story thanks to the presence of Tamil diaspora worldwide.

The real tragedy today is the result of Tamil Eelam having got caught to the vortex of a triangular contest for the control of the Indian Ocean between India, China, the US and other Western powers.

The Western powers and India would have known about and also studied carefully China's development of the 'string of pearls'. But they would have been somewhat jolted by the sudden intensity and commitment with which China helped Sri Lanka in its conduct of the war against Eelam especially at the late stages. Even the (present) Indian Home Minister openly expressed his annoyance. During the very late stages of the war and towards its end both India and the Western powers seem to have become 'concerned' of the possiblity of Sri Lanka falling fully into China's lap and that being a distinct possiblity with a man like MR at the helm. Their greater concern seems to be to arrest this trend rather than help the estranged Tamils.

India perhaps thinks that it could still 'handle' Sri Lanka opting to pamper the MR regime more than care for the Tamils and hoping to gradually gain an economic strangle hold of the island through gaining full control of its energy supplies. Whether this will happen remains to be seen.

We can also observe a small change in the attitude of the Western powers towards the Tamils. This change of attitude could have been caused by one or more of three reasons. One, a sense of guilt of having let down the Tamils though fully forewarned of the impending catastrophes, another a genuine concern for humanitarian values and far more probably the third which is their being skeptical of India's ability to wean Sri Lanka away from China's grip. So they may want to look for another possible option at a later date. This may be how they permit within certain parameters (non-violence etc.) the concepts of a provisional trans national government etc. in their ground.

We the Tamil diaspora should very carefully study all options and play our cards very, very carefully.

Ram Mohan (19 Aug. 2009)

Understanding the environment of our struggle (past, present and future) is not mere retoric but helps to plan future pragmatic actions. It is agreed that some now ungerstand the pre 1983 struggles just as future historians certainly would. Even now, there are many journalists and even politicians (not to mention ordinary people) who will not discuss what happened before 1983 and perhaps that suits them to dicscuss our National Liberation as a terrorist LTTE problem. While the armed resistance (though militarily defeated now) has internationalised the problem and even drawn the map of Eelam, it also has failed to deliver the goods but that does not mean we have to resort to the days of Satyagraha although that may please some of the powers. It is not suggested that we resort to violence unless it is thrust on us as happened before and likely to happen in the future (since GOSL or the world powers as they are, are unlikely to offer a solution with justice) and we should at least ideologically be prepared for it. Certainly the Diaspora\'s problems are different from those in Eelam but we who managed to escape the problems, should be prepared to sacrifice our problems to some extent to assist those suffering in Eelam and it need not be material assistance. If one has to briefly give a reason for the failure of the armed resistance, it is due to the failure or lack of externally favourable and matching environment. While 20 governments participated in Sri Lanka\'s war and other governments ignored, we did not have any support, not even by the CFA proponents except of course the Diaspora in the last few months. Those old enough to be familiar with the Liberation of Vietnam will realise that it was not the support of the socialist governments BUT THE UNCEASING SUPPORT OF THE PEOPLES OF THE WORLD, from poor countries like India and Sri Lanka to rich countries like Europe, UK and even USA that led to the Liberation. We in the Diaspora need to create such a climate and the allies will be other oppressed Nations and World Tamils. Boucott of Sri Lankan goods, Boycott of Sri Lankan cricket, Boycott o f Sri Lankan Tourism and the like are pragmatic measures to be used to educate and inform the general masses of our plight like the civilians in the camps, more than the economic harm to Sri Lanka. When the peoples are aware, the governments will take note. We have to organise ourselves to do this (more than forming internet governments) before the next phase of the struggle in Eelam(whether it is peaceful or armed resistace will be determined by GOSL and not even by the people of Eelam, not to mention the Diaspora). The struggles in the sub continent and possibly the fragmentation of India will assist us but we need not depend on them. Of course in such circumstances, the geo politics will be entirely different.