Sengodan.M (6 Sep. 2009)

A very sensible article. There is no point trying to single out one country or even a group of countries for the total encirclement of the Tamil liberation forces and the compulsion for the latter to face a military debacle. It was just like the case of Abhimanyu in the Kurukshetra battles of Mahabharatha.

The Western powers are in no way less responsible for the present day plight of Eelam Tamils including their incarceration in concentration camps. After all, they were all winging that the Tigers would not 'let them' (the civilians) go- knowing pretty well that they(the civilians) had nowhere to go except behind the barbed wire fences! Let us hope that at least as a penance, these mighty powers will wield all their powers put together to see that the incarcerated civilians are set free before the monsoon rains set in. Is that too much to expect?

Ram Mohan (6 Sep. 2009)

It is indeed a thought provoking article from Peter Ratnadurai probably after much research. The contribution is of immense value when we are looking at reasons for failure in order to plan the next and final phase of our struggle. As the title suggests, we must always have the correct understanding of our friends and our enemies to achieve success. This needs a clear understanding of geopolitics which unfortunately is not stagnant but always changing and hence needs continuous analysis and review with an open mind. 450 years of colonial rule made us to look to the West and India at a terrible cost to us. We trusted them when they brokered the CFA when we were very strong and in return they banned us and armed the enemy to the teeth while their propaganda machimery durected us towards false enemies. Even in the UN, they threatened us with Chinese Veto but did not even give a chance for China to use the Veto. From Obama to Stephen Smith, they demanded that the civilians should leave the LTTE area ( blami ng the LTTE as preventing and asking the Diaspora to ask the LTTE to comply and even offered evacuation) but when the people are behind the barbed wires, what are they doing? No demand to free the prisoners but offering assistance to GOSL maintain the detention camps! Sheepishly some in the Diaspora also think of doing the same thing of charity WITHOUT EXPOSING THE CRIMINALS LOCAL AND FOREIGN. If we spend these efforts in educating the peoples of the world, by now the detained people would have been freed. One wonders whether TNG and GTF are playing into the hands of our sophistigated enemies whose sole aim is to crush the Tamils as an example so that others will not venture for liberation. 3 months have gone but where is the cry for freeing the detained people, for self determination for withdrawal of the occupation forces. As Sachchi pointed out in his article in Sangam two years ago, we missed the opportunity given by Stalin and the way the world is heading towards economical and ennvironmental crises, there will be new opportunities and we should be prepared to grasp the opportunities to achieve our objectives but without waiting for the opportunities, let us build up our unity BASED ON OUR OBJECTIVES and educate the peoples of the world particularly the oppressed peoples and the oppressed Nations watching carefully how the geopolitics develops forgetting old friends and old enemies. FOR THAT WE MUST HAVE A UNITED WORLD ORGANISATION THAT CAN DO BUSINESS WITH ANYONE BUT STICKING TO OUR OBJECTIVES.

kc (6 Sep. 2009)

The author completely ignores the fact that if the LTTE had conducted its (armed) campaign within the legitimate scope of armed resistance the vast majority of countries that gave weapons to the GOSL would not have done so.

Would you say the following acts lie within the legitimate scope of armed resistance?

** Execution of TELO cadres by the LTTE, including those who surrendered

Sengodan.M (6 Sep. 2009)

kc,

O.K. Now there is no LTTE leadership to blame. What is happening to peace with dignity for the Tamils? Very little or NOTHING is being done by India in the interests of Tamils. Will they keep blaming the past events for ever and ever and keep harvesting the benefits for their capitalist investors in the country?

Ram Mohan (6 Sep. 2009)

We know what kc stands for and he does not have to repeat it unless he has changed. ... he does not want to stop making the same old criticism which is groundless. Even making the criticism can be tolerated if he has any concrete suggestions for the future except asking us to surrender to India unconditionally when India is likely to fragment.

[This post was modified by the Editor]

Sengodan.M (6 Sep. 2009)

kc,

India will realise as to who its real friends and who the enemies to its South are when China moves in full force to its North in Arunachal Pradesh and to its South in Hambantota. I wonder whether it would still be blaming Prabakaran, then? Please read this enlightening article:

http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?article=Is+China+itching+to+wage+war+on+India%3F&id=25461&t=1&c=4

kc (7 Sep. 2009)

Sengodan.M & Ram Mohan are finding fault with me for writing about the past.

The author has written about the past and so have I.

Peter Ratnadurai (7 Sep. 2009)

Kc,

I was not making a moral case agaisnt countries that armed Sri Lanka.

The article merely informs the reader of new weapons and systems accuired by the Sri Lankan military during the "ceasefire" period.

I felt compelled to write this, because, as Ram Mohan has said, many Tamils were biting every bait floated in the Western media. Blaming China has become a favourite past time, without asking what China sold, let alone donate, to Sri Lanka.

I was in Jaffna during the internal rivalries. Typing 400 on Wikipedia does not make it 400. And there were significant casualties on the LTTE side owing to action of TELO cadres, who, during the late '80s, had the upper-hand, thanks to the IPKF. For more than a decade after that, LTTE had its International HQ in London.

Sonarl Puriyum (7 Sep. 2009)

KC,

LTTE had to ensure only one armed forces for Tamils just as Sinhala army eliminated the JVP during the 1970s and 1980s. You have mentioned a few other killings which may or not be interpreted as excesses of the LTTE. But, compare that with the violence, crimes and terrorism of GoSL. You will realise, if you are objective, LTTE's excesses were nothing. Other Governments led by India wanted to crush the LTTE partly to satisfy their ego and partly in the interests of the members of a club called the UN. Never blame the LTTE for that.

The Indo-Lanka Accord that you keep mentioning was signed between Alien GoI and Alien GoSL, it preserved the unitary status and failed to satisfy the legitimate aspirations of an Ancient Nation of People. LTTE was always prepared to accept a viable alternative or a substantial alternative, in their words, but nothing of that sort was ever offered to Tamils.

Let us Tamils be united in not betraying the Tamil Cause.

kc (7 Sep. 2009)

PR

There was no IPKF when the LTTE attacked the TELO in 86. The IPKF arrived in the NE in July/Aug 87.

SP

I wonder if you have actually read the Indo-Lanka agreement.

http://www.nitharsanam.com/?art=20872

ILA consisted of two components: ceasefire & a political process to devolve powers.

The beauty if the ILA cease-fire is that it confined the SLAF to the barracks and deployed Indian armed peace keeping force in the NE. In return to this the LTTE should have decommissioned & entered the political process. 13 A was enacted as devolving of police and land powers to the NE is not consistent with the unitary constitution. In other words unitary constitution was half dead. Despite this VP sent Thileepan on fasting unto death merely 6 weeks after the introduction of the pact. I have no doubt the ILA would have transformed the NE into a self-governing unit if VP had not killed 1200 IPKF soldiers and maimed another 2000. He even displayed the half/full naked bodies of the IPKF to the international media on the 2nd day of the war in Thinnavely, provoking reprisal by some bad soldiers in the IPKF.

Destroying the ILA is the greatest crime committed by VP; innocent children, women and elderly - the whole community - are paying a huge price now.

Sonarl Puriyum (8 Sep. 2009)

KC,

ILA temporarily confined the SLA to barracks and deployed IA who came as peace keeping forces and left as peace killing forces. In the longer term, Sinhala army would have taken over when the Indian army left and continued Sinhalaisation, if LTTE had foolishly surrendered all its arms to IA. LTTE should never have decommissioned. It's something for Tamils and Tamils alone to decide in Tamil areas and not for either alien Sinhalese or alien Indians to decide and impose on Tamils. This is the point you are missing. This point explains the difference in thinking.

Anything half-dead in law would never have helped. The de-merger of north-east by the Sinhala court proves that beyond any doubt. ILA was a shoddy pact. In roads, for example, only C class and D class roads came under the regional government, with A class and B class roads under the centre. Furthermore, the Sinhalese retained the powers to usurp powers given to Tamils and that means, Tamils effectively had no powers they owned under ILA. The present ground reality including Sinhala colonisation proves that.

Thileepan started his fast unto death after several Tamil Tigers who were arrested by India committed suicide when they were about to be handed over to the Sinhala army. Thousands of Tamils (including me) participated in the hunger-strike but, India did not listen. Even then, as now, India expected Tamils to be slaves and to accept the dealings done between Governments.

India later invaded Tamil areas against the will of Tamils and killed Tamils with impunity. Even doctors on duty in Jaffna hospital were killed. A retired survery general of Sri Lanka, Dr. T. Somasekaram has documented some of the atrocities of the IPKF in Tamil areas. I lived in Jaffna the whole period and I know how much Tamils hated the IPKF who did not respect even senior public servants in Jaffna.

With all this consider India's involvement in War Crimes against Tamils in Vanni including all assistance and its support for GoSL in the UN. Politically, now India wants, if at all, ILA minus the merger for Tamils while objecting to any independent international investigation into War Crimes charges.

Tamils have their sacred goal of Self-Rule in their traditional homelands. India does not want Tamils to reach that goal. So, reconciliation with India cannot be done unless and until India changes its policies.

Sengodan.M (8 Sep. 2009)

kc,

Did the LTTE sign the ILA at any time? It was purported to be an agreement to resolve (?) the National Question in Sri Lanka that involved a conflict between two nations, one the Sinhala Sri Lanka and the other Tamil Eelam. But India signed an agreement over the heads of all Tamils purely to safeguard its own interests and pursue its own agenda. This was very clearly declared by our National Leader at the famous Suthumalai meeting. The fact that the ILA was flawed from the beginning was made more obvious with the unilateral de-merger of the North East even without consulting India, a party to the agreement and there was not even a whimper from India!Even without the LTTE in the picture now it is extremely doubtful whether the land and police powers will be devolved to the de-merged provincial councils! India may not bother so long as the interests of its capitalist class are met by GoSL.

kc (9 Sep. 2009)

SP

You stated:

"Thileepan started his fast unto death after several Tamil Tigers who were arrested by India committed suicide when they were about to be handed over to the Sinhala army."

The above statement is a complete lie. Over 10 LTTE cadres were arrested by the SL navy (NOT BY THE IPKF ON LAND) at sea. This arrest took place AFTER the death of Thileepan.

On 26 September 1987, Thileepan died. On 5 October, the LTTE cadres committed suicide.

Please check your facts carefully.

Sengodan M:

If the LTTE had nothing to do with the ILA, why did VP get millions of Rupees from the Indian govt after assuring the LTTE

kc (9 Sep. 2009)

SP

You stated:

"Thileepan started his fast unto death after several Tamil Tigers who were arrested by India committed suicide when they were about to be handed over to the Sinhala army."

The above statement is a complete lie. Over 10 LTTE cadres were arrested by the SL navy (NOT BY THE IPKF ON LAND) at sea. This arrest took place AFTER the death of Thileepan.

On 26 September 1987, Thileepan died. On 5 October, the LTTE cadres committed suicide.

Please check your facts carefully.

Sengodan M:

If the LTTE had nothing to do with the ILA, why did VP get millions of Rupees from the Indian govt after assuring the LTTE

Peter Ratnadurai (9 Sep. 2009)

KC is leading us on a tangent.

He writes of TELO deaths in '86, without any mention of number killed in TELO-TELO infighting in '86 and how that group then joined IPKF and hunted down hundreds of LTTE cadres and supporters during the brief occupation.

On another note, ILA failed because it was Indian imposed. The creation of artificial provinces within the Sinhala region to make-up the "political solution" to be a replica of that of India was futile.

Indian ethnic politics in multi-polar, whereas Eelam one is bipolar. Since numerical distribution is not 50-50, in Eelam, central government should not have been vested with as many powers as in India.

Most Tamils foresaw a Sinhala imposed splitting of NE, for example. Some decided to pull the wool, 'cause they were being offered Ministerial posts.

Problem started when those who started by begging for justice wanted to wear the crown, even if it be in the kingdom of servitude.

Meikandan (9 Sep. 2009)

KC, it would be worthwhile and beneficial to tamil cause, if you can collect current statistics on (1)how many people from internment camps have been murdered so far by the SLA and its mercenaries, (2) How many girls were raped and killed (3) What is the food distribution situation (4) How are the medical facilities instead of publishing the lie statistics of LTTE or GOSL committed more ceasefire violations. That is history now, since the LTTE has silenced its guns.

Can you give us the requested information? Because, such information is the utmost priority for tamils to raise more international awareness of the internment camps and save the remainder of the people.

Don't make a laughing stock out of yourself by talking about LTTE actions after LTTE is gone.

kc (9 Sep. 2009)

Meikandan

I believe Tamils have to pursue dual objectives:

1. Exposing the horrendous brutality of the GOSL against the Tamils and mobilizing the international support for the Tamils' right to self-rule in their homeland

2. Denouncing forces such as VP's LTTE

In relation to (1), if you contact me via the Editor I can elaborate.

maham (9 Sep. 2009)

a painstaking and well researched article. My grateful thanks and hearty congratulation to PR.Talented Tamils should come forward and make such valuable contribution.May I request entities like 'kc' not to cause unnecessary distraction.

Ram Mohan (9 Sep. 2009)

Why are we wasting time on 2 letters KC? We have more important things to do. Let us not be diverted.

Sengodan.M (10 Sep. 2009)

kc,

If India really,really cares for our people the Eelam Tamils let it at least see that GoSL sets free all the incarcerated people in the Vanni camps within the deadline of 180 days which ends on 30th November.This is not declaring or recognising Eelam-a simple humanitarian gesture and nothing more! If it doesn't do that, will you stop singing hallelujahs for India? Let us see what happens!

Meikandan (11 Sep. 2009)

KC,

I agree with your first point. But I don't agree with your second point as it is no different from the half baked policies from Hindu 'Ramanayanas' or his cohorts.

It is not VP's LTTE. LTTE is a peoples' movement. So, don't try to portray it as one man army as some ill advised Indian policy makers do.

- India will realize the folly of ganging up with GOSL to weaken LTTE when China moves full force with its policy of mounting challenge to India from the south.

- Prabhakaran's mistake was to overestimate the integrity of India as he thought India would not go to the extent of supporting the mass killings of Tamils in Wanni. Also, if LTTE knew this Indian attitude better they would have made overtures to China or other countries during the CFA period.

- So, since the LTTE is out of the picture, can we have discussions moving forward rather than repeating the old savoured attitude of bashing 'VP's LTTE' ?

kc (11 Sep. 2009)

In order to advance our struggle we need to have the right people to represent us. If we fail to do this we will be wiped out from SL. We need to bring the IC and India to our side ONLY THEN WE CAN EXPECT ANY SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM.

Your empty anti Indian rhetoric is not helpful. When Vadamarachchi was attacked by the Sinhala army in 86 India angrily sent its fighter jets into the sri lankan air space but when Vanni was attacked, why did India behave differently? We need to think. OK even if India is your enemy this is the time we have got to make peace with our giant neighbor for the sake of our children. The lesson we learnt recently is that if India doesn\'t move IC will never do anything in Sri Lanka.

The LTTE is liberation cum terrorist organization and I have been urging for donkeys years that the LTTE must get rid off its terrorist label. Only if the LTTE accepts its past mistakes and expresses its sincere apology it can become a progressive people\'s force. As things stand at present I have nothing to do with the LTTE but if the LTTE reforms and transforms itself as a true liberation force I\'ll be the first one to embrace it.

Ram Mohan (11 Sep. 2009)

Meikandan, I am not sure whether LTTE made overtures to China or not but certainly they must have done business with China. It is the TNA and the Diaspora that refused to do business with China, particularly Sampanthan and cohorts could have visited the Chinese Embassy in Colombo instead of making fruitless trips to Delhi. Anyway we should learn from experience. At the same time, I fully understand that China is still hanging Mao's picture in the square but not following all his policies. Yet that should not prevent us from understanding geopolitics as it develops and make use of contradictions to our advantage. That is why, while the Eelam Liberation develops for the next phase, we should have a WORLD ORGANISATION that is prepared to do business with anybody who will support us, an also we have to canvass and induce such support.

kc (13 Sep. 2009)

Sonarl Puriyum (8 Sep. 2009)

I missed a point in my last posting to you

You stated:

"Thileepan started his fast unto death after several Tamil Tigers who were arrested by India committed suicide when they were about to be handed over to the Sinhala army."

This statement is not correct as Thileepan died On 26 September 1987 whereas the LTTE cadres committed suicide on 5 October. It is also not true that the IPKF arrested these cadres. LTTE cadres were arrested by the SL navy at sea. Please note Indo Lanka pact was not applicable to the sea, only applicable to land operations.

IT IS ALSO THE FACT THAT BEFORE THILEEPAN'S FASTING COMMENCED NOT A SINGLE LTTE CADRE WAS KILLED, NOT A SINGLE CIVILIAN WAS KILLED, NOT A SINGLE TAMIL WOMAN WAS RAPED OR NOT A SINGLE PROPERTY OF TAMIL DESTROYED BY THE IPKF.

Then the big question is, why did VP send Thileepan on fasting unto death? No-one gave me a right answer to this question. I feel this is where the LTTE leader failed to give the leadership and triggered a chain events that led to nothing but self destruction in unimaginable scale. Sinhala racists exploited this development ruthlessly.

kc (13 Sep. 2009)

Ram Mohan

Ram Mohan complaints that the TNA leaders should have visited the Chinese embassy but on the hand he does not utter or have uttered anything about his masters' acts that infuriated the Chinese govt.

Martin Frost alleges that the LTTE killed 5 Chinese crew members of MV Cordiality at sea off Trincomalee.

Marin Frost reports that:

"When the LTTE captured the MV Cordiality near the port of Trincomalee, they killed all five Chinese crew members on board."

Its link is as follows:

http://www.martinfrost.ws/htmlfiles/may2008/tamil_tigers.html#Sea_piracy

This is how the LTTE fell out with the (entire) international community.

Meikandan (13 Sep. 2009)

KC, no offence. But you need to realize that the method of the struggle depends on the nature of the oppressor. We don't need to be 'apologists' if our enemies are cruel and we retaliate to it in a certain manner. History never shows sympathy to 'apologists'.

Neither you nor myself did not make the supreme sacrifices to free our people. With their rights and wrongs (any organization or government has its own mistakes and goods), LTTE lead by Prabhakaran never wavered from the goal of self-rule for Tamils.

- Prabhakaran did not order on a systematic and daily basis to his caders to go around and kill sinhalese or officials of Indian administration. But, Sri Lanka and some Indian policy makers were hell bent on destroying the Tamils' desire for their political rights every day. I hear from reliable sources even after the loss of key commanders in that Ananthapuram battle, and only a 10% chance of salvation, Prabhakaran had strict orders to his caders " No one attacks sinhala civilians". It takes not only 'cool head' but also great character for a freedom leader to adhere to his principles even in the face of a defeat.

It also takes good integrity to keep one's son (Charles Anthony) in the final battlefield just as other ordinary people to make a point that everyone is equal in a struggle. I don't think, Prabhakaran and LTTE needs to apologise or prove anything more about their credibility and intentions. So, as a mark of respect to these qualities, and since LTTE is low profile now, let us move forward rather than fight among ourselves and continue to be laughing stocks of Sinhalese!!

May be you should define for us what exactly is terrorism. According to your thinking, GOSL and Indian central government are 100 times terrorists because they have killed more Tamil people combined (150000 -200000) than LTTE's sinhala civilian victims (less than 5000). So, cut to the chase and tell us what is your definition of terrorism???

- I agree with you, that we need to find ways to harmonise our interests with Delhi, but it should be with dignity but not as a 'slave'. Another thing, we need to stop being apologists.

Sonarl Puriyum (14 Sep. 2009)

KC,

The vast majority of Tamils do NOT consider the LTTE a terrorist organisation, they consider LTTE only as a national liberation movement.

It would have been better for Tamils if India had been on their side but Indian expectations and Tamils' refusal made India to aid and abet GoSL AND commit War Crimes which Tamils with self-respect cannot easily forgive or forget. You try to change India first as most of us Eellam Tamils are fully convinced that there is no fault with the LTTE and it's Big Bully India that should completely change its attitude and policies. Please stop your pro-Indian rhetoric when India or rather the Indian Establishment remains dangerously anti-Tamil.

Sengodan.M (14 Sep. 2009)

When India does not care for the lives of its own fishermen in the South partly or mainly because they are all Tamils how can we expect any sort of genuine support from that country for our freedom struggle? Has India raised even a little finger in protest over the CONTINUED incarceration of Tamil civilians in the Vanni camps? Has India stopped the full scale establishment of military camps in the Vanni AFTER the end of the war? Has India stopped the continued Sinhala colonisation of the North and East? So how on Earth can we expect ANY sort of genuine help to promote the Tamil Cause? It will always be nothing more than lip service which the likes of kc are there to keep glorifying!

Ram Mohan (14 Sep. 2009)

KC, When I clicked your URL, there was response but killing the 5 Chinese may be like killing the policemen in the East. These are insignificant events in the course of a liberation struggle and such are not criticised as such criticisms may be diversions. Even the Chinese did not make an issue and start a revenge. That shows how you want to pick on the LTTE. Why you are not picking on GOSL or India like this? My support for the LTTE and even Tamil Liberation is not only because I am a Tamil but because I am for the liberation struggles of all the Nations in the World and because such struggles are the intermediate and critical Destination in the course of History, Civilisation and Evolution. That is why, unlike your love of the present Indian government, I love the Indian people and wish all the Nations in India will succeed in their liberation struggles fragmenting India first along the red corridor. That stage will definitely help Eelam Liberation if it is not achieved earlier. As an apologist for India you would have noted that after the May debacle, large areas of West Bengal (and not Tamil nadu) observed a very effective Hartal. When India fragments, the geopolitical interests of Eelam and China may be on the same side. We should learn to make hay while the siun shines and not make mistakes as we did in the past. I am replying this not with the idea of convincing you but to avoid uncritical readers being misled by you.

ttpian (15 Sep. 2009)

Mr.Sengodan,still there are people who give "IDEAS" to beg infront of Delhi priests,who are branded anti tamils: we have lost everything-what is there to loose in future? Delhi will realise the "side effects "of supporting srilanka soon: India will eat new pills to overcome the side effects!

Meikandan (15 Sep. 2009)

According to KC, China was angry about LTTE killing 5 chinese sailors in the commercial ship and that is why it helped Sri Lanka. Geopolitics of a big power like China does not depend on "whether LTTE killed 5 chinese or not". I am surprised at the kind of 'naivete' comments from KC.

Let me remind KC here about the Tianenmen Square massacre. The Chinese did not bother to kill 10000 - 20000 of their own by their own Tanks only for the crime of "protesting to bring democracy to China". That should answer your argument.

A North Indian colleague of mine (Hindi speaking) told me recently after watching the Channel 4 shooting video -- "Man I am ashamed of my country helping these brutal Rajapakse brothers to kill Tamils".

Humane Indians know how devious and crooked their policy makers are.

I hope this empathy from Indians themselves 'open' the eyes of some of us who receive sermons from Delhi policy makers.

Meikandan (15 Sep. 2009)

KC, you said Prabhakaran did not give leadership to Tamils by his action of \'sending\' Thileepan to fast unto death. Let me refresh your memory.

Thileepan started his fast because:

(1) Jayawardena was starting to play his fox games and on the course of demolishing the Interim arrangement ILA proposed, and J.N. Dixit and Rajiv were playing in to his hands.

(2) IPKF was grooming TELO and other mercenary groups with secretly supplied weapons while keeping a tight watch on LTTE and its leaders (to eventually decimate them after the mercenaries gain full force). LTTE had to expose it.

(3) India was only focusing on securing its own national interests and not necessarily the interests of Tamil people.

-- What are you trying to say here?? Anyone can accuse anyone. But without explaining proper reason, the accusation is merely an accusation and it fades away.

In my opinion, you are running around the same bush with the same arguments.

-- You never answered my question. Your nemesis VP and his LTTE have gone out of the picture voluntirily. Lets cut to the chase.

\" There is no more room for lame excuses and musings from Delhi or their friends now\". What do you think the Delhi can deliver?? No more VP bashing. Just come to the point. If you still want to bash VP, everyone knows who is the laughing stock.

Anbarasan (16 Sep. 2009)

Dear commentators,

Long time ago, the RAW started a secret program called something similar to "Operation brainwash" in India and as well as in Tamil diaspora. The purpose was to identify 'bone crumb collectors' or 'suckers' with bloated egos, brainwash them with Delhi centric ideas and use them as mouthpieces among Tamil community to loosen their patriotism to win tamil rights and self rule.

Some prominent academics were targeted (especially the ones having a 'mayakkam' towards Delhi) and spread anti LTTE and anti tamil nationalistic propaganda while portraying themselves as sympathetic to Tamil cause. Some of these souls who fell prey were true sympathizers of Tamil cause initially, but fell for the 'bullying' of uncle 'Delhi'. Some others (born ettappans) fell gleefully for it. Some others had a 'fall out' with LTTE and fell to the opposite side.

I have credible info that a certain anesthesiologist from U.K also fell prey to the agenda and has been actively propping up Delhi's interests even at the cost of sacrificing his own peoples' interests. This person used to be a tamil cause sympathizer, but nationalism in him has been eroded by continuous 'teachings' from Delhi and its cohorts.

There are many more operating in other countries selling their peoples' dignity in the internet and public forums.

It is about time, after losing 50000 people in Wanni, these folks realize the importance of unity, cut their 'bad' Delhi connections (not the good ones), and join the effort to creating more awareness about Tamil plight.

kc (18 Sep. 2009)

Anbarasan

I am not an agent for anyone. I do not belong to any political or militant organization. I thought I should speak up as I realized that VP was leading us into major disaster and I wrote my first paper ~4 yrs. If you have any free time please read this:

http://transcurrents.com/tc/2008/08/post_21.html

Anbarasan (21 Sep. 2009)

kc,

If Prabha was leading us in to the disaster, then the only reason for that, he held the international community in high regard (a serious miscalculation) and entered in to peace talks. That would be the right reason.

I read your article already, and in my opinion, you go around criticizing VP, but do not show your merit by presenting a strong alternative approach. Your ideas of putting away LTTE's weapons under international purview is bogus. We have never had historical example where they ask a huge military organization to hand over weapons under international monitoring, and let that organization live.

By the way, I see here people asking you that VP and LTTE are out of the scene now, what can Delhi do, or for that matter, what is your approach.

I think, it is more relevant now not to talk about a weakened organization and keep on doing 'post mortems' on VP's past actions, right or wrong.

It is more important to focus on the present and future approach. Your argument of plainly saying ' no resorting to violence' at any cost is not viable if the sinhala regime continues to be thug regime and there is no way out.

I see it fit that the people of Tamil Eelam are capable enough to make the call of continuing on the democratic path or resorting to force depending on Mahinda gang's activities. We, in the diaspora can help them with international awareness and exposing Sri Lankan leaders.

Let us (in the diaspora) not dictate anything like " No violence at any cost, no organization like VP's LTTE'. Because, arm chair criticism is easier than just doing something.

Sengodan.M (22 Sep. 2009)

The oppressed resort to violence only in response to the oppressive measures of the oppressor. So long as the oppression does not cease, there is absolutely no point in talking of " No violence at ANY cost". That will simply be the attitude of the servile who always thrive on servility! This does not mean that violence is resorted to blindly. It will be resorted to in a revolutionary manner which manner the Tigers were beginning to adapt in the later years even though they may have initially misused violence at the beginning due to political immaturity. One should always look at the larger picture.

kc (22 Sep. 2009)

My proposal spoke about PUTTING AWAY the weapons, not HANDING OVER. The meaning of these words different - you can refer to any English dictionary.

Tamil national question could never be resolved by bombs and bullets. This can be resolved only at the negotioting table unless a powerful foreign nation is prepared step in to defend the Tamils militarily.

Of course I criticised the barmy strategy of VP but I did put forward a proposal to take the peace process forward.

The IRA unilaterally put away the weapons. The Nepalese put away the weapons. The strategy of putting away weapons is nothing new in the process of searching peace.

Wherever are atrocities and oppression by occupying forces there will be legitimate armed resistance. But this resistance must stay within the legitimate scope of armed resistance. Executing surrendered cadres, slaughtering surrendered policemen, assassinating mainstream Tamil politicians, recruiting or conscription of children, forcefully keeping civilians in war zones or shooting them dead when they tried to flee ARE NOT legitimate armed resistance.

VP had been building a sand castle in a world of fantasy and there is no harm in telling our children again and again not to follow that self destructive path.

Sengodan.M (23 Sep. 2009)

kc,

Prabhakaran's 'ghost' is haunting India and will continue to haunt India--I mean the present day India that is under the reign of the elitist brahmins. You can just look at this view-point of a Sinhala journalist though I may not agree with him fully:

http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=62336

I agree with you that India will one day help the Eelam Tamils but it is not the India of today but one of tomorrow. We can already see the pangs of birth of new nations in that subcontinent with Marathis demanding a greater official use of their Marathi language. This will spread to other States such as Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka etc. It is purely a matter of time. The Maoists are all out to liberate most of Central India. The Pakistanis are continuing to knock at the doors of Kashmir and the Chinese are eagerly awaiting to annex a greater part of Arunachal Pradesh as part of Southern Tibet. The Nagas and the Assamese of course will find many friends to help them in their assertion of their right to self determination. You will agree with me that most Indians believe in karma. They will know for sure that all the sins they commited in aiding and abetting the barbaric forces of Sri Lanka in the atrocities commited on Eelam soil will never fail to visit them one way or other sooner than later. We the Eelam Tamils and members of the diaspora for our part should do all we can to expedite that dharmic process!

Meikandan (23 Sep. 2009)

KC,

I think, you are indeed on a 'tangent' course here. You keep repeating 'child soldiers', slaughtering surrendered combatants, and etc. as LTTE crimes.

You never answered my question. Do you have an alternative other than VP's method that could have succeeded? Right now what I see, with VP and LTTE out of the picture, the Sinhala government is treating Tamil people like slaves in the camps (Even animals have better rights these days). No country is bothered about tamils (including the UN staff who cried and bellowed about LTTE child soldiers).

Don't you get it?? They all criticize and vicitimize the non state actor.

Do not compare IRA putting away weapon and LTTE putting away weapon. These are like apples and oranges. No catholic is held in barbed wire camps in Ireland, and certainly the catholics are not under the type of barbaric chauvinism there. Also, there are news reports that Nepalese Maoists are getting warmed up and careful about their 'peace trap' after LTTE's defeat.

Just because there is an example don't try to present it as a solution to our case without researching the context and realities. All I see in your comments is: You have an unending grouse born out of disagreement and egotism towards VP, and you will find anything and everything (even if that means the death of 5 chineses sailors) to badmouth VP.

Get real and speak for your people, don't speak for yourself.

Ram Mohan (24 Sep. 2009)

\"If Prabha was leading us in to the disaster, then the only reason for that, he held the international community in high regard (a serious miscalculation) and entered in to peace talks. That would be the right reason.\" I agree with the above words of Anbarasan with respect to what happened to Eelam Tamils but though Praba was the undisputed leader of Eelam Tamils, he should not be blamed in the entirety and further left alone, he may have not gone along this path. In my opinion his advisors in whom he had so much trust and affection, TNA and the Diaspora should take most of the blame since many in the TNA and the Diaspora still believe that India and the West will deliver and that means we are still miscalculating about our friends and enemies. If we persist in such miscalculations to that extent we cannot win liberation. In spite of our greatest efforts we lost in convincing IMF. US, UK and France abstained so that the loan to Sri Lanka could be approved. With little effort from the Diaspora (compared to IMF) the GSP+ also is likely to be in favour of GOSL. Without the noise from the west, some countries would have supported us. It is the same story in the UN also. They make lot of noise which scares other countries away from us and finally they also drop us and we are friendless. In the same way they sponsored the ceasefire when we were strong and made the enemy very much more stronger by banning us and arming the enemy to the teeth as Peter has pointed out in the article and when we became weak, they dropped us as terrorists. On the other hand GOSL has handled very well the question of friends and enemies as shown in the video below: http://video.dailymirror.lk/videos/109/dr.-dayan-jayatilleka-on-%E2%80%98hot-seat%E2%80%99

Though it takes about 40 minutes it is worth seeing in order we can handle the question of friends and enemies in a careful manner in the future. The GOSL has convinced the West that the GOSL is waging a \"Just war against terrorism\" and convinced the others that they are fighting the friends of the West and we ended up without any friends. The others may not be as principled as before but even then if we are not sponsored by the West, we would not have ended friendless. If we understood history and that West will always be against genuine National liberation (and that is the perception of the majority of countries and the peoples), then we would never have gone for a ceasefire sponsored by the co-chairs. We cannot relive the past and there is no point in blaming anyone BUT we should not repeat the mistakes. As time goes the west will diminish due to the environmental and economic problems. We need to cultivate correct friends with the newly emerging powers. I often wonder how we lost a friend like South Africa and what our relationship with other Nations sreuggling for National Liberation. Solidarity is always mutual.

kc (24 Sep. 2009)

Meikandan:

My proposal included: on the LTTE\'s side, putting away the weapons; on the GOSL\'s side, confining the armed forces to their barracks; on the international side, underwriting this agreement and coming up an armed peace keeping force. All three components should have been implemented simultaneously. You are only obsessed with the LTTE

Sengodan.M (24 Sep. 2009)

kc,

If you still do not agree that the ruling elites in India are heavily biased against Eelam Tamils and are very barbaric in their attitudes towards human rights for refugees in general, please read this:

http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=79&artid=30312

Meikandan (25 Sep. 2009)

KC,

Either you are too naive to understand the treacherous ways of international politics or you pretend you don't get it.

Honestly, I see no point in your arguments then and now. Your style is solely based on unconditionally believing in the goodwill of the Delhi folks. As we all know, the Delhi folks, by their treacherous ways have made enemy states all around them (Pakistan, Nepal Maoists, Burma, Bangladesh and now Sri Lanka's Tamils as well as sinhalese). No one trusts the current Indian administration.

As I earlier said, you don't back up your arguments with relative historical examples whereas all your counter commentators here have given point by point argument with backing examples why your suggestions and opinions are either naive or out of context with history.

I am yet to see an argument from you with solid backing of similar historical examples where your style of methods have succeeded.

Many sinhalese also keep repeating the tiger bashing without really backing up the context or relativity of the arguments. That is what happens when someone bases his/her arguments to advance some big power's interest instead of standing up for justice and equality.

I will leave it to your misery of "VP bashing". This suggests you more or less have a personal grouse against VP and you let loose your egotism to take pot shots at VP and LTTE even if that means that will undermine Tamil Cause.

We have too many folks who speak for themselves and their grouse, but not for their people. That is the curse.

Ram Mohan (25 Sep. 2009)

KC, Your three pillar approach is wonderful but unfortunately you (as I have seen your comments for a long time) have been standing on the one pillar of disarming the LTTE! What have you said or done about the GOSL forces not going to the barracks? What have you said or done about the international forces not underwritting the agreements? More recently what have you said or done about the unilateral abrogation of the CFA or the cochairs keeping quiet about the abrogation. Please, please KC, do not preach about the three pillars when you are standing only on one pillar!

kc (27 Sep. 2009)

The CFA broke down due to three reasons: the presence of 100% Sinhala army on the streets of NE; absence of neutral armed peace keeping force; unhindered access to weapons by the Tamil militants including the LTTE.

My proposal or any proposal should have dealt with these drawbacks in the CFA in order to take the peace process forward. Alternative is an all out war and I categorically stated in my paper as to why an all out war could not be sustained by the Tamils.

Every death of a civilian or cadre hurts me. That's why I thought I should do something to stop the unfolding carnage, humiliation and annihilation in the NE. I have no personal grudge against VP but I hold him responsible for bringing misery to our people by virtue of his barmy blunders and strategies.

Also, on this very forum, I again and again displayed the human rights violations committed by VP. The response from people such as Meikandan, Sonnal Puriyum, Ram Mohan et al is evasive or complete silence. The GOSL has also committed horrendous war crimes on our people and to these allegations the leaders of the GOSL respond in the same way as the LTTE followers do. On this issue, what a convergence of mindsets of LTTE followers and the leaders of the GOSL prevail!!!

Whenever our people are abused I will raise my voice; I do not care whether it is VP or Mahinda.

Meikandan: Your argument of

Sengodan.M (28 Sep. 2009)

kc and the likes of him will realise before long that the only way out for Tamils whether of Eelam or Tamilnadu is the eventual balkanisation of India. It will be best for kc also to put his head along with other Tamils to work towards this goal expeditiously. This possiblity is foreseen by the writer of the following article:

http://www.groundreport.com/Opinion/The-Tamil-Nadu-fishermen-issue-Delhi-and-Colombo-m_8/2908335

We should explore every way of encouraging the growth of nationalism among the various nations inhabiting the sub-continent. We should extend co-operation to all peoples such as the Nagas, Assamese, Sikhs etc. who seek their right to self determination. We should even seriously think of extending a hand of friendship to the Maoists who are struggling to liberate the oppressed poorer classes from the clutches of the oppressive brahminical elites. There is no other way!

Meikandan (29 Sep. 2009)

KC, No one evaded your arguments about LTTE's violations. They provided counter arguments against it saying the violations were mainly retaliatory and not purposeful. This is part and parcel of a conflict as long as the common sense prevails from leadership. Don't try to spin the story everyone here either evaded your arguments or kept silent. It is you who has not given a viable alternative. In my opinion, your proposals are good on books. Remember, whatever you wrote in your proposals were also the eventual aim of the peace efforts by Norway. So, it was nothing new. But, everyone can provide his/her suggestions, but the implementation is the tough part. Even on the implementation side, you seem to love to blame mainly the LTTE rather than the GOSL or the scheming role played by the Delhi folks in destabilizing the ceasefire.

In my opinion, I restate what I said before. You expect LTTE to behave like saints while you don't complain about Delhi's pawn games with Tamils or GOSL atrocities. Only when people in this forum started questioning you, you uttered one line or two line criticism of the countless atrocities of Colombo, but not Delhi.

I see from your comments that you are a fan of Amirthalingam. Now, I see what this VP grouse is about. Even Amirthalingam's contemporaries despised him for getting all the boys worked up about Tamil Eelam, and then try to slow them when the position of "Opposition Leader" was on him following 1977 elections.

Amirthalingam also had a habit of running to India for advice rather than thinking from his brain when troubles came. I see, that you like people who depend on Delhi Brahmins for everything.

Also, know one thing. We don't blame Delhi policy makers because they are from Delhi. We criticize them because of their short-sighted decisions and these decisions have strengthened China's hands.

As I said before, I will leave you to the misery of "VP bashing" and worshipping selfish souls like Amirthalingam. May be you can add Karunanithy to the friends list as well.

Sonarl Puriyum (2 Oct. 2009)

KC,

Please don't try to dodge. Most of us repeatedly said that LTTE's excesses were nothing when compared to the crimes, violence and terrorism of GoSL AND GoI.

Furthermore, LTTE was fighting for a noble cause whereas GoI backed GoSL was aiming to beat the Tamils into submission.

There's no point in indulging in LTTE-bashing when the huge majority of Tamils supported it knowing well that LTTE was countering state terrorism and fighting for a noble cause.

Tamils were never offered any alternative. Even now, Tamils are not being offered any alternative. A historian and lawyer turned politician who became the MP for Kayts said that with his experience over decades he understood one thing and it's that GoSL would never recognise the legitimate rights of Tamils. Please remember the biggest force backing GoSL is GoI.

Can your thinking still remain clouded? None are so blind than those who refuse to see.