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By D.B.S. Jeyaraj
When Sivaram started out as columnist "Taraki" on "The Sunday Island" the LTTE
was having talks with the Sri Lankan government of Ranasinghe Premadasa. Both
parties were united in the common intention of getting the Indian Peace Keeping Force
out. The political climate therefore was not very hostile towards the tigers in the South.
There was even an undercurrent of admiration for the tigers in the South as they were
fighting the Indian army on the battlefront.
The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna and its front organizations on the other hand were
only targeting Sinhala security personnel and civilians while claiming to oppose the
Indian occupation. These anti - Indian activities of the JVP included the removal of
Bombay from Bombay onion and what was thought of as Mysore from Mysore Dhal.
The reality however was that it was not Mysore but Mussore from Turkey from where
that particular lentil was originally imported. But then the JVP was only interested in
reality not perception.
Despite this favourable climate it is highly unlikely that a Colombo based English
newspaper like "The Island" would have allowed a former Tamil guerilla to write a
column on North - Eastern military affairs had that person been an ex - tiger. This was
particularly so because it was Upali Wijeywardenes father in law Dr, Seevali Ratwatte
who was at the helm of affairs at Upali Newspapers then.The anti - Indian feeling had
brought about a convergence but there was really no identity of interests between the
Sinhala mainstream and the LTTE.
There were however four conducive factors helping Sivaram to take root at
Bloemendhal Rd. Firstly Sivaram was an ex - PLOTE militant and not from the LTTE.
The PLOTE with its socialist rhetoric and Southern contacts was considered all right vis
a vis the LTTE.
Secondly the identity of Taraki was a closely guarded secret for nearly three years.
Though Sivarams name was becoming known gradually at aleast among media circles
it was not in the public domain. The man who exposed the identity of Taraki was none
other than DP Sivaram himself. When he began writing for Tamil journals Sivaram
himself publicised the fact that he was indeed Taraki. As the popularity of the column
grew the author also wanted to bask in the limelight.
Thirdly the "Island" was then in stiff competition with the newly begun "Sunday Times".
It was edited by the founder editor of "Island" Vijitha Yapa. The Sunday Times had not
taken its Sinhala majoritarian outlook then. It reflected the Liberal Democratic values of
its editor and publisher Ranjit Wijeyeardene. The Times was slowly attracting Tamils,
Muslims and all those interested in reading about North - Eastern affairs. Under these
circumstances "The Island" too was keen on getting a Tamil affairs columnist to outdo
the competition.
Fourthly there was the quality of writing itself. Sivaram wrote on a variety of themes
easily and interestingly. There was an authoritative knowledgeability about him. For the
first time guerilla affairs were being written from an insiders knowledge and outsider
perspective. His familiarity with military strategy and jargon was an added qualification.
The column caught on within a few months and even boosted sales. Thereafter the
question of dispensing with Tarakis column never arose while Sivaram was at the
Island.
The parameters of Taraki's column were defined at the outset between Gamini
Weerakoon and Sivaram. Weerakoon known as "Gamma" to friends had explained the
situation at "The Island? and in the world of censorship to Sivaram. He was asked to
confine himself to certain limits. Choice and presentation of subjects were entirely up to
the writer.
This then was the approach of the Island editors. In my case too Vijitha Yapa and
Gamini Weerakoon never interfered in the writing or selection of subjects. They never
forced me to write anything that they wanted in a column. There were a few occasions
where both wielded the editors blue pencil prerogative to strike a few lines off here and
there but overall there was much freedom to write.
This was very much the case for Sivaram too. He understood the position and adjusted
accordingly. Later Gamini Weerakoon was to say that none of Sivarams articles while
at "The Island" had given him any problem or cause to worry. Taraki had understood
the Editors predicament and had written appropriately. There was a sense of
moderation in those articles. There was a lot of detail and analysis in those articles. It
is because of these elements that the "Taraki" column became widely read and
respected. In later years Sivaram was to depart from this approach and embroil himself
in controversy.
The LTTE and its minions in the Tamil media regularly chorus about the Sinhala media
and Sinhala owned English media being racist. They try to project a viewpoint that
these media are biassed, intolerant and present only a Sinhala majoritarian
perspective. These media do not tell the truth as it is they charge. They boast that only
the Tamil media tell the truth and are receptive to a wide range of views.
The truth is starkly different. This writer spoke recently at a memorial meeting for
Sivaram held in Toronto. This was not organized by the LTTE or its fronts but by a
small group of Independent Journalists with Sri Lankan working experience. The local
tigers conducted a campaign against it. People were asked to boycott it. Scheduled
speakers were pressured not to participate. Despite these crude attempts the meeting
did take place with all scheduled speakers attending.
One of the points This writer emphasised at the meeting was that Taraki Sivaram
established his reputation as an analytical journalist by writing for Colombo based
English newspapers and not elsewhere. I pointed out that all these papers (Island , Mid
- Week Mirror and Daily Mirror) were owned , managed and edited by Sinhala people.
Whatever the underlying motives or reasons may be the reality was that there was
"Space" in these newspapers for a regular Tamil point of view.People like Sivaram and
myself could write in these "Sinhala owned and Sinhalese edited" English newspapers
and make a name for ourselves.
Speaking from personal experience I have found that the managements and Editors of
Sinhala owned English newspapers were far more liberal and accommodative than
Tamil owned and edited newspapers. Furthermore no Independent , fearless
journalism is possible in these Tamil Journals now. There are different musicians with
separate instruments. The orchestra however plays only one melody - the pro tiger
melody. The pace may differ but the tune is the same. What is most terrible about this
situation is that there is no conductor for this orchestra. The Tamil media has been
conditioned to that extent. The Pavlovian Dogs at least responded to the bell. These
journals respond even when they think they hear the bell.
After pointing out this sad situation this writer stated that a greater atmosphere of
press freedom prevails in the South as opposed to the North - East. The Tamil
journalists in Colombo are far more free than their North - Eastern
counterparts.Though the tiger acolytesmay rant and rave about their freedom of
_expression being curtailed by the Government and the Sinhala racists the truth is that
all freedom of _expression is nil in the Tamil areas. The newspapers function because
they toe the tiger line faithfully. One newspaper even advertises itself by showing
Velupillai Pirapakaran read a copy.
The harsh reality is that no Independent Tamil journalist can criticise the LTTE and get
way with it if he or she was living in the North - East. As far as the tiger controlled areas
are concerned even the very notion of writing something critical would be out of the
question. Sivaram knew this too. This is why despite all his nationalism and Eastern
patriotism he lived in Colombo. With all his fondness for Tamil Eelam it was in
Ratmalana that he bought a house. It was to Colombo schools that he sent his children.
Sivarams perceived pro - tiger tilt happened in 1996. Still he was able to live safely for
nine years in Colombo and write as he pleased. He did not feel threatened here at all.
When an old family friend rang Sivarams wife from abroad and inquired why was
Sivaram so careless in Colombo the wife replied thus " He always felt that he was safe
in Colombo. He told me that nothing would happen to him here. He was only worried
about going to and coming from Batticaloa and also staying in Batticaloa. He was extra
careful about that."
Another irony is the breast - beating and "oppari" wailing of LTTE circles and minions
over Sivaram now.. The situation was entirely different. Sivaram with his PLOTE
antecedents was treated with suspicion. One pro - tiger website would always refer to
him as "Taraki formerly of the PLOTE now writing for the Sinhala - Owned Island
newspaper. Tarakis articles were never reproduced or quoted from in Tiger media
then. He was treated as a dangerous traitor by the tigers. So great was this tiger
propaganda barrage that persons who had never read a line written by Taraki would
describe him as a traitor. Tiger newspapers would use the Tamil spelling of "Taraki"
and the Tamil for traitor "Thuroki" to make cheap puns. The situation is dramatically
reversed now but more of that later.
This rejection and condemnation by the LTTE and its slaves was in a way to Sivarams
advantage. It proved firmly and conclusively that he was no tiger acolyte. The
columnist was seen as independent and well - informed. He was much respected and
valued by diplomatic circles then. It was felt that Sivaram would provide the best
assessment of the situation both from a Tamil perspective as well as an independent
analytical viewpoint. He became a regular attendee of the Colombo cocktail circuit.
Various embassies, High Commissions and their foreign offices began seeking him out
to commission situational assessments. These were very lucrative assignments. This
helped him financially to a very great extent. He once told me that what really sustained
him in Colombo was the income from these assessment reports. The Taraki column
was necessary to maintain his reputation and contacts. It was the "independence" of
Taraki that made all these extra income possible. Sadly he was to lose all credibility
and prestige in later years amidst most diplomatic circles because of his perceived
closeness to the LTTE. Instead of the proud description Independent column Taraki
was seen as a tiger mouthpiece.
These diplomatic connections also helped him get several foreign trips. Sivaram was
able to meet many top foreign ministry officials in these countries. He also got to
interact with members of the foreign intelligence community interested in Sri Lanka. All
these agencies valued Sivarams opinion highly. Sivaram was in contact with the top Sri
Lankan intelligence officials too. They did not see Sivaram as a security threat
because of his PLOTE credentials. As years progressed this intelligence connection
with Colombo waned even as the Wanni link waxed.
The anti - tiger Tamils living abroad also began to lionise Taraki. Many of the top
intellectuals from different groups cultivated and kept in touch with Sivaram. Though
out of the PLOTE officially he was always a close friend of Siddarthan. Paris based
Sabalingam was so enamoured of Taraki that he published a collection of his articles
at his own expense. Taraki was then the toast of the English educated non - tiger
intelligentsia. This was peculiar because a close scrutiny of his earlier articles would
reveal very little "anti - tigerism" in them. They were for the most part clinical and
detached.
Yet the anti - tigers perceived him as one of theirs while the pro - tigers treated him as
the enemy. Sabalingam who published Sivarams articles was gunned down in Paris. He
was one of the original 42 Tamil youths detained under the Sirima Bandaranaike
regime. Sabalingam had given refuge to an injured Pirabakaran during the earlier days
andknew a lot obout Thamby. It was rumoured then that Sabalingam was killed
because he was planning to bring out a book on those lines. An unfettered Sivaram
was furious at Sabalingams killing. He wrote an article extremely critical of the LTTE
supremo about Sabalingams killing.This was in 1993.
Years later in the latter half of the nineties Sivarams attitude and perceptions changed.
Gradually he got drawn into the tiger camp. His detractors accuse him of being bought
over by the LTTE. This is nothing but cheap falsehoods. Sivarams turnabout was due
to conviction. In fact his alignment with the LTTE affected his finances badly. He lost
prestige and credibility yet he continued to support the LTTE. Some tiger leaders and
followers treated him shabbily. Yet Sivaram toiled on faithfully. His loyalty was to the
cause of Tamil nationalism and Velupillai Pirapakaran.
TO BE CONTINUED
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