We tamils know the pros and cons of supporting LTTE. Honestly tell me which ‘maanamulla thamilan’ would sit and smile listening to JHU’s recent statement, “We’ll send all 4lacks of tamils in coffin to Kilinochi”?? Wouldn’t you feel the ‘tamilness’ within you which automatically make you support LTTE which is the one and only mouth piece we tamils can speak with?? If there’s a tamil (may be you) is not able to feel the ‘thamil unarvu’ then there’s something wrong with that person or his/her generation. Everyone of the tamils live in Srilanka and outside the Srilanka has somehow been effected by the crisis.

Dr., “patient oraal punnukku marunthu kettal, punn’ukku marunthu podaamal, punn ulla kaalaiye vetta solli solringale, patient viduvaana?”

“ullathaiyum keduthan kollikannan” yaar theriumaa? Karuna, matrum thamil unarvai alikka sathaa paadupadum kooli kulukkal, etc.

Nanri
Shan

Sellam

Sellam.

It is not wrong for liberation movements to raise money among its constituents. However, if the approach is threat and intimidation, the whole premise of ‘fighting and sacrificing for the people’ goes down the drain.

Historically, LTTE had two fatal weaknesses that have been crippling the LTTE.

The first one is tactics used to raise money. Once the bank robbery phase (done by all militant groups in the ’80s) was over, other militants started depending on governments or agencies of India (ENDLF, EPRLF, TELO, PLOTE and may be Karuna now) and Sri Lanka (almost all ‘democratic militant groups who are unable to drop the name Eelam on their title -ENDLF, EPRLF, TELO, PLOTE, TMVP (Tamileela Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal- Karuna Group) etc. As a price, they have been handicapped by strategic and tactical interests of these countries and their agencies.

LTTE saw Tamil Diaspora as a revenue stream in perpetuity. This provided them an opportunity to distance themselves from geopolitical intersts of other countries. But, some local actors among the diaspora thought-just as they did in Northeast- threat and extortion paid quick dividends. The risk in this approach is the possibility of killing the goose (diaspora) that lays golden eggs.

Now, all stars are aligning for the Government of Canada to come hard on LTTE – without a political price to pay. And the LTTE is on the cusp of crippling its largest Diaspora,therby creating an unnecessary complication in their broader goal to get legitimacy.

The second weakness is child soldiers. Ever since the LTTE ran into human resource challenges, it is unable to shake off its dependency on children to fight the war. The most notorious warlord Karuna who did the most of these conscription is on the GoSL side now and criticizing LTTE for its child soldiers. (Surprisingly he realized the immorality of child soldiers only after he crossed swords with his former boss due to his allerged financial misappropriations)

Until and unless the LTTE rethinks its whole approach to fundraising and make the Diaspora develop a sense of ownership of the homeland, LTTE will not win their heart and wallets of this unlimited resource. (One does not develop a sense of ownership when the ‘protectors’ threaten them with “we will not allow you to go to Northeast”). And it will risk a ban in the countries where tamil diaspora lives.

Many Tamils forgot what Jaffana was, or could have become. They only see the defactro state, and point to its possibilities. I feel it is being built upon shaky foundations. It lacks democracy, freedom of speech, expression and press, and a genuine concern for human rights.

But, politics, life and history is never clean. In Canada, I have never met a diehard LTTE supporter, everyone has doubts and reservations. I still believe there is room within LTTE, and momentum within Tamils to infuse reform. How? First by articulating as you did a more balanced nature of the current situation. Then by trying to built an open dialogue, where alternative paths can be explored and if possible achieved.