TamilWeek_Aug_07

Kadirgamar:

Urbane and articulate,
with a penchant for an
attractive turn of phrase,
Sri Lanka's Former
Foreign Minister,
Lakshman Kadirgamar
(73), had always been a
journalist's delight.
Mediapersons would
throng his press
conferences not just
because he would have
something significant to
say, but because he
had a way with words
which made for excellent
copy. [Contd. By PK
Balachandran]

Mervyn:
The Man who United Up Country Tamil Parties

By D.B.S. Jeyaraj

Helen of Troy succeeded in uniting the warring Greeks in common
cause against Troy to regain her from Paris.

Mervyn Silva the hero of Hambantota has succeeded in uniting Up
Country Tamil political parties in common cause against him.

It was fair Helen's beautiful "face" according to Marlowe "that launched a
thousand ships" [Contd.]

Tigers Murder "King Charlie" Brutally at Inuvil

By D.B.S. Jeyaraj

Thursday August 4th was "Aadi Amavaasai" the day on which departed
parents are remembered. The pattern of violence in Inuvil began at
about 12.45 to 12.50 pm. Inuvil is about four miles from Jaffna town
along the Kankesanthurai road. It was at one time famous for its farms,
musicians, and of course the Mcleod Hospital. Nowadays it limps along
like many a once- bustling village in Jaffna. [Contd]

Expats flock
to Nallur Kovil
festival

by Ananth
Palakidnar

A large number of
expatriate Tamils from
various parts of the
globe have arrived in
Jaffna for the annual
historic Nallur
Kanthaswamy Kovil
festival which begins
on August 10.

The expatriates, most
of whom left the island
soon after the
communal clashes in
1983, have returned
on holiday to the
peninsula as the
ceasefire is now
observed in the region.

"German, French,
Norwegian and
English speaking
offspring of the
expatriates are moving
around Jaffna visiting
their kith and kin and
seeing the places
which carry the scars
of the two decades of
war," a Jaffna resident
said. The Nallur
festival season which
begins on August 10
will continue for 25
days. During the
season, prices of
vegetables increase
and seafood and meat
prices decrease as
most people in the
peninsula remain
vegetarian during the
festival season,
sources said.

Several residents in
the vicinity of the
Nallur temple area
have given rooms to
expatriates for Rs.
2,000 and above per
day, sources said.

There will be special
traffic arrangements
during the festive
season, sources said.
"German, French,
Norwegian and
English speaking
offspring of the
expatriates are moving
around Jaffna visiting
their kith and kin and
seeing the places
which carry the scars
of the two decades of
war," a Jaffna resident
said. The Nallur
festival season which
begins on August 10
will continue for 25
days. During the
season, prices of
vegetables increase
and seafood and meat
prices decrease as
most people in the
peninsula remain
vegetarian during the
festival season,
sources said.

Several residents in
the vicinity of the
Nallur temple area
have given rooms to
expatriates for Rs.
2,000 and above per
day, sources said.
[Daily News]

Why Do They Oppose? What Can You Do?

by Dr. A.R.M. Imtiyaz

Theoretically speaking, in deeply ethnically divided societies, minorities
are generally vulnerable to the state or dominant ethnic groups’
domination and oppression. If the oppressed ethnic minority is
geographically concentrated, it will seek, or violently mobilize, to
establish its own state and institutions against the oppressive state or
ethnic group [Contd.]

Rajapakse Candidacy - Some Thoughts

By Jayadeva Uyangoda

Whatever The SLFP’s decision to nominate Prime Minister Mahinda
Rajapakse as the Presidential candidate has been greeted with
enthusiasm by many.

If Mr. Rajapakse wins the election and becomes the country’s next
President, he is most likely to emerge as the SLFP’s party leader as well.
In an event of becoming the President and with a direct mandate from
the people to be the Head of State, he is unlikely to become Sri Lanka’s
Manmohan Singh, who functions in the shadow of the party leader, Mrs.
Gandhi.

That will also mark a change in the sociology of political leadership of the
SLFP. An SLFP controlled by a family totally outside the party’s founding
family would be an interesting proposition to watch.

Meanwhile, as the SLFP’s Presidential candidate, Mr. Rajapakse will face
two immediate challenges of significant magnitude. The first is the putting
together of a winning coalition of forces. [Contd]

Tiger Supremo Weighing Pros and Cons of War

By D.B.S. Jeyaraj

Whatever his merits and faults may be indecisiveness is certainly not an
attribute of Velupillai Pirapakaran. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
supremo is neither weak nor vacillating like the Shakespearean prince of
Denmark.

In recent times however the feline numero uno seems to be facing a
dilemma like Hamlet. Should the tigers continue "to suffer the slings and
arrows of outrageous fortune" in a no war - no peace scenario or "to take
arms against a sea of troubles and by opposing end them?"

Though warmongers among tiger camp followers and fellow travellers -
most of them safely ensconced in the cooler climes of the west - would
like war the choice is not starkly simple for the Sun God as it was for the
Prince.

For one thing the LTTE is not the sole aggrieved party suffering slings
and arrows. While the tigers complain about the safety of their cadres
LTTE assassination squads continue to kill and maim unarmed people
suspected of subscribing to contrary political opinion.

Philippiah a 56 year old father of three was killed in Atchuvely. He was
formerly of the Peoples Liberation Organization of Tamil Eelam. 22 year
old Nixon was gunned down in Yarlpaanam. He was a distributor of the
Tamil weekly "Thinamurasu" published by the Eelam Peoples Democratic
Party. [Contd.]

Helgesen regrets Jaffna killings [BBC]

Visiting Norwegian deputy foreign minister Vidar Helgesen has
expressed regret on the killings of a senior police officer and a Tamil
civilian in Jaffna.

After meeting LTTE’s political wing leader SP Thamilselvan in
Kilinochchi, the minister told the journalists that the parties should take
steps to prevent such situations in the future.

Courts to decide election date [BBC]

Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court ordered the Commissioner of Elections to
file objections, if any, to a petition calling for the courts to determine that
the forthcoming presidential elections to be held this year.
The Court on Friday granted leave to proceed to the Fundamnetal
Rights petition filed by parliamentarian Omalpe Sobitha thero, on behalf
of Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU).

The Buddhist monk argues that he has a right to know the exact timings
of the elections as a leader of a political party.

Time for donors to provide direct aid to NorthEast-
Thamilchelvan [TamilNet]

"Time has come for the International Community to provide direct aid to
the Tamil homeland without waiting for Colombo," LTTE's Political Head
Mr. Thamilchelvan told reporters in Kilinochchi after a meeting with the
Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Vidar Helgesen and his
delegation at LTTE's Peace Secretariat on Friday. "Joint Mechanism to
deliver tsunami aid has been scuttled, internally displaced people
continue to suffer due to Colombo's denial to let them return to their
homes, and the Cease Fire Agreement is severely threatened by
Colombo's shadow war using paramilitary groups in the East. The
patience of the Tamil people is running out," Mr. Thamilchelvan told the
press..

This god of Love, beauty and knowledge has been
exerting His charm on millions of people..........The word
Muruga is derived from the Tamil word `Murugu' which
means honey, beauty, fragrance and eternal youth. He is
handsome, brilliant, elegant and enchanting. He
symbolises valour, youthfulness, benevolence and
compassion. [Picture By Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai]

Victory, Verve, Vikram [The Hindu]

Meet the man who made it to the top with grit, after years of struggle.

Fiesta for Fans: `Maja,'Vikram's next, will be a shift from `Anniyan.'

The most happening hero in tinseldom who made all heads turn towards
him with his sheer performing prowess in `Sethu' keeps proving with
every film that he's here to stay. And `Anniyan' has just reiterated it.
With the film living up to the hype and hoopla, the actor is on cloud nine.

"But I'm always cheerful and charged," he smiles, sitting in the patio of
Hotel Green Park, Chennai, for a one-to-one chat.

He had been to Hyderabad for the release of `Aparachithudu' —
`Anniyan' in Telugu. It is doing roaring business and he has every
reason to be happy. "Shankar has a market there," he informs. It's not
easy to find a footing in Telugu today, struck as it is by the star son
syndrome.

Portrait of a lensman [The Hindu]

Rajesh Ramachandran has a passion for photographing wildlife and art
forms

The 31-year-old photographer who has a passion for capturing nature,
portraits and different art forms in natural light is preparing to participate
in international photo exhibitions that will be held in France, Australia and
Cambodia in 2006.

Recalling his adventures while out photographing in the reserve forests
of Parambikkulam in Kerala and Bandhav Ghat in Madhya Pradesh,
Rajesh says "taking wildlife shots is really a thrilling experience." The
shots of the tiger taken in Bandhav Ghat have won prizes and accolades
for him at various international photo exhibitions. However, another
assignment to shoot snaps of tigers in Parambikkulam was disappointing,
he says.

A Palmyrah fruit sweet - Recipie:..

....Now add the steamed wheat flour, coconut milk, sugar,
salt with the juice and mix well. The batter should be thick
enough that could fall from the fingers when dropped.
Heat the oil in a deep frying pan, when the oil is boiling,
take some batter in the fingers and drop little by little in the oil.
The dropped batter will blow and get fried......[Picture By Dushiyanthini
Kanagasabapathipillai]

Ginger: Common spice, uncommon value [The Hindu]

Ginger has many health benefits and there are a variety of ways in
which it can be used.

Can you think of making a savoury dish without ginger-and-garlic paste?
Be it kebab, roast, fry, sabzi or a simple dal — nearly every Indian
recipe calls for a dash of ginger. But its importance lies not merely in its
ability to enhance taste. It has medicinal value and plays an important
role in digestion.