What Happened in Canada
by Bheeshmar – Thinakkural – Colombo
The Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day of the Neo Conservative government that came into power on the 6th April banned the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam on the 8th instant on grounds of terrorism.
This new government is based on Neo Conservatism. The new Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, formed this party in 2003. Harper, who opposed the Liberalism that existed in Canada, wanted to bring about a tighter perspective in the administration. It was expected that he would ban the Tiger if he were to come into power. And that has happened.
At a time when the Tamil struggle has just reached an important stage, when international expectations are at its peak, this will bring distress to the Tamils. But it is only at this stage, it is essential that this declaration has to be approached in a balanced manner. Without knowing the cause of the disease, one cannot be talking about the pain. It is important that the Tamils should treat this as part of their liberation struggle and that as part of the present stage of their liberation struggle. It will be wrong to view this as a problem of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). This problem has to be viewed from two angles.
First; the immediate reason or reasons for this problem and the underlying causes behind it.
The Canadian minister, Stockwell Day, has also revealed the causes for it. He was referring to the points raised recently by Jo Becker from Human Right Watch, particularly the raising of funds by the Tigers forcibly from the people.
The effect of this report is important. Those organizations, which talk about the violation of human rights mostly, refer to the violations taking place in the Tamil areas. But this report has dealt with the incidents taking place in Canada, quoting examples. We are aware as to how the GOSL made use of this report to their advantage. The doubt created initially on this report is what is behind the presentation of this report. When inquiries were made to find out the truth behind it; it transpired that Becker organized a meeting on Human Rights and some one disturbed that. Was the meeting actually disturbed? How was it disturbed? Was the meeting disturbed without debating the pros & cons of the views of Becker? These questions become vital. Apart from this, what is the relationship between Becker and the elements in Sri Lanka.
Those who are in possession of these details should come out with it.
Now we come to the second aspect. There are three matters that are important. The first one is, why this matter is important to the Stephen Harpers regime. Being Neo Conservatives, how significant is this to their government? This is a very vital question. Apart from whether they have connections with the Bush administration, we have to focus on how they are viewing “terrorism” within Canada. By saying this, an unbiased report about those who officially represent the Tigers, about their conduct, how they transact with the Tamil people and their relationship with the government becomes essential. The important question is: do they consider themselves as political propagandists or as managing directors? This is because the reason for the government’s decision is based on the information supplied by the Canadian intelligence agencies. This is quite evident from the report of the 8th April. The important factor is whether the charges made in Becker’s report were also reflected in the reports submitted by the intelligence agencies.
The second question of the second phase is next. This is an essential subject. Those who level charges against the Tigers, are they locals and who are they?
According to a rough estimate, there are between 350,000 to 400,000 Sri Lankans living in Canada. Among these, there are only 50,000 who are Sinhalese. Three to three hundred and fifty thousand are Tamils. Among them there must be two to two hundred and fifty thousand who are Canadian citizens. What is the political influence of these 250,000 voters? Do they have a place in the political parties? This is an important question. At this stage, it becomes necessary to compare the fifty thousand Sinhalese and the two hundred and fifty thousand Tamils from a political perspective. By doing this, it reveals some unpalatable truths about these two hundred and fifty thousand Tamils.
A vast majority of these are buried in the Jaffna culture, literature and politics. It becomes evident that they are immersed only in how to transplant Jaffna in Canada and not how to adopt themselves as Canadian Tamils and try to combine both.
More than this, another dangerous fact is that some Tamils (youngsters) living in Toronto are involved in unlawful acts, violence and hooliganism. It may be the number is small, but it is definitely happening. Recently, there were reports in the international media that Tamil university students killed two of their colleagues by knocking down their victims with their car. This was highlighted in the Sinhala media as well. This is according to the saying in Tamil: testing one pot of rice from one grain of rice. The local Canadians say that, while the parents go round carrying the statue of Navalar, it has become common for the children to roam with cycle chains. In this respect the Vietnamese and the Tamil refugees are behaving very badly.
Lobbies and lobbyists on behalf of Tamils:
This is leading us to the third question. This is very important. Are there lobbyists to present the true state of affairs of the Sri Lankan Tamils among the higher strata of the Canadians and the media? Such lobbies are essential. Two truths emerge at this stage. It is important to have lobbyists to propagate the state of the Sri Lanka Tamils, their struggle and their situation among the higher society. Intellectuals comprising of doctors, lawyers and university professors normally constitute these lobbies. Such lobbies are short in other countries and nil in Canada.
When one tries to find out the cause for this situation, it is said that due to the bossy attitude of the official representatives, the intellectuals do not wish to identify themselves with this. As far as Sinhala lobbies are concerned, the situation is entirely different. The Sinhala lobby in Ottawa meets the Canadian intellectuals and holds discussions. Therein they present the struggle by the Tamils as unjustified. Among the Canadian Tamils, such lobbies do not function. One can forget about it if it is not functioning. But it is said that certain influential people do not want such lobbies to function. While finding out the truth in this, it is important for those in charge to account for this. In this matter, the basic truth has to be told.
Except for those who have a personal conflict with the movement, the majority of the Sri Lanka Tamils are of the opinion that the struggle of the Sri Lanka Tamils cannot be separated from the Liberation Tigers. Even though some may disagree with certain aspects with the Tigers, there are no professionals denying their leadership. Under such circumstances, it is important to form such lobbies mentioned above.
These questions and answers are very important. At the same time, the next question becomes the main thing. What is going to be the response by the Canadian Tamils who are Canadian citizens to the recent act of the Neo Conservative minority government? It is different for those Tamils without the citizenship, but what are those who have obtained citizenship going to do? How and who is going to bring about a unified political forum? This is important. It is good that such thoughts have emerged to adopt new tactics when the need for international goodwill has become a necessity. The chaff should not be encouraged to dominate over the paddy. This is the time for the Sri Lanka Tamil lobbies and lobbyist to function effectively. It has to be construed that the multi-faced and complicated political issues we are confronted with is brought to us more by the Sri Lanka Tamils than the Canadian government.
In order to purify the gold, it has to undergo calcinations. It means taking the out of the fire. There cannot be anyone who likes to keep gold as black gold because of the fear for fire.
[Translated by Kandiah Mylvaganam]
Vibhishana said,
April 20, 2006 @ 9:10 pm
This article does well to touch upon the reasons as to why our community has little to no clout in this current Conservative Administration.
One of the main contributing factors to why such a lobby does not exist for us, can be found in the very nature of the power structure the LTTE employs, namely a highly centralized one. Thus, this coupled with the Tamil man’s innate sense of self and pride, has resulted in many talented individuals that genuinely care for the upliftment and representation of our people, unable to positively contribute in manners they see fit. Furthermore, our political “leadership” here is decided not by any sort of democratic election (not to say that is the best form of selection) or by any merits, education, or professionalism, but merely by whether the leadership in Vanni can trust these individuals. This method of selection, needless to say, has resulted in leadership choices and decisions that, however well-intentioned, are not necessarily the “best” for our community here.
Also, those close to the Tamil organizations and persons that are involved very closely to the political work and lobbying that works to represent the Eelam Tamils in Canada, are acquainted with the frustrations that have occured within the last year with regards to volunteers and the failures the aforementioned system bring.
The community has come to a critical juncture, are we content leading such material gratifying lives, many in our community enjoy, reminiscient of Jaffna’s former glory OR do we buckle up, tie our laces, and learn from our past?
It is without a doubt the community has undergone and going through an exorcism of fire, however, what will we have to show for it? More gold around our neck or the priceless pride of our people?
Saba said,
April 20, 2006 @ 9:59 pm
1) Should unite and inform the truth.
2) Basically defeat the Singala propaganda in Canada
3) It is true that Tamils around the world are facing the tough time.
4) Work with the current oposition.
Mani said,
April 20, 2006 @ 11:18 pm
Tamils think they are innocent and great people.
They have fogotten that among other things they killed unarmed senior police officer who came alone to negotiate for peace.
Turn back and think about yourselves hou brutal you all have been.
Mannie
Dharmalingham, England said,
April 20, 2006 @ 11:23 pm
Canadian government took the right decision, that would have been taken long time before. This is a stage that a ban on LTTE should be done world wide to stop the proliferation of terrorisum from Sri Lanka to world world. The LTTE now doesnot have a reason to continue terror in the presence of a clear avenue for a peace. Surely, banning LTTE is not a discremination of our tamil community as they are not the leborators of tamils, but just a group of cannibals trying to pretend as leborators. Hope the best that whole world understand this behalf of the welbeing of tamils, srilankans and all the human kind.
Alex, India said,
April 20, 2006 @ 11:35 pm
All are political game…….poor Tamils caught in the middle
———————–
Faith in Human
Tamilnesan Thayaparan said,
April 21, 2006 @ 12:58 am
Mr.Dharmalingham ……..I don’t think you are Tamilan .If there is no LTTE thus you’re not living in England understand the reality
All Tamil NEED Tamil Elam we’re rally from LTTE
Tamilnesan Thayaparan said,
April 21, 2006 @ 12:59 am
I mean We’re rally behind the LTTE
Sivanesan, Toronto said,
April 21, 2006 @ 1:14 am
Conservatives decision to ban LTTE is the right one, and long overdue. LTTE was growing out of control, threatning and intimidating Tamils in Canada, and trying to impose thier own jungle laws and customs in the land where Tamils came seeking freedom. LTTE has become a mafia-style terrorist gang. I think the right thing to do is to go after the LTTE investments in Canada. LTTE has invested in real estate and businesses in Canada, and these have to be exposed and confiscated.
LTTE is preaching its terrorist ideologies to the younger geneation (maveerar day, glorifying suicide terrorism etc.,) and so is emerging as a serious concern for the Canadian society. The need to put an end for LTTE is a must, and I am sure that majority of law-abiding, peace-loving Tamils would certainly welcome this ban by the new governmnet.
Those who gained Canadian citizenship should be loyal to Canada and abide by the Canadian laws. If thier loyalty is somewhere else, they better go there and settle down.
Thanabalu said,
April 21, 2006 @ 3:05 am
You guys are marrrrvalous. If any one don’t care going back to Jaffna, trinco or elsewhere, don’t bother with the tigers, take care of your business, if you do plan on renting your house to make money, keep your grantpa’s paddy estate, taka a bath in Kerimalai or Casorina beach and eat fresh Jack fruit, don’t loose your sleep.
What happen to the tigers now after Canada banned. Did they tugged their tail and go to Geneva or more and more claymored????
Theepan, Toronto said,
April 21, 2006 @ 3:18 am
The Canadian government came to our rescue at last. Thank you Mr. Prime Minister!!!
It is time we seriously think of democratic Tamil struggle. We lost all most all our tamil intellectuals to the devil “sun god”. Lets stop this hypocrisy of boasting the tigers. At lest now lets think rationally. Do any of you all think the LTTE is genuine? Pirapaharan is dragging a war for his own survival. We are paying for it with all our savings. Our brother and sisters in Sri Lanka are paying with their lives. Children in Wanni are brained washed and don’t see the world. I was shocked and saddened to see their thinking when I visited my old parents there. No one there has freedom. They cant even talk freely.
Day by day the international community is abandoning us. I feel very embarrassed to identified myself as a tamil in Toronto. People here have no respect for us. We don’t have solid intellectuals. But Sinhalese are well educated and hold high positions even in Canada and US. We destroyed our community. All our intellectual prestige was scarified to up keep a cannibal who thinks he is Sun God. Are we going to let the Sinhalese over take us like this shamelessly. We are destroying ourselves because of Prabha. I know many of my relatives and friends silently share this view and I write on behalf of all of them. We want LTTE to have democratic reforms or if not vanish without humiliating us before the Sinhalese. Come on my brother and sisters lets think of the future rationally. Its already late. Please correct me if I am wrong.
Tiger-tail,Toronto said,
April 21, 2006 @ 3:40 am
Everybody else is always wrong……..Tigers are always right! Give me a break!!
Jesuthasan, Norway said,
April 21, 2006 @ 4:13 am
Mr. Tharumalingam! People who are against LTTE are selfish, corruption
and smugglers. I don’t think you are a real tamil speaking man from SL.
After 1983 black july LTTE started to fight against Sri Lanka Govt. for the freedom of tamil people.Think before 1983:- 1956, 1977 and 1979
what ahppened to the tamil people? Still continuing killing tamil people,
damaging and burning their property and so on. Du you think sinhalese
politician setteled our problem? never!
Sivanesan Toronto and Tharumalingam England are living luxary life
in the contries where their living!
cs.k u.k said,
April 21, 2006 @ 4:39 am
i feel sorry for this tamil speaking tamil people.
who ever try to bring justice to the tamils like dr thiruchelvam and other distinguish people end up being caught in the deadly suicide attacks.lets face the reality , ask your self weather would you like to live like abandon comunity around the world for the sake of those governments or stand up as humans who genuinely want to protect the rights of everybody.if so you are the people who have to do something against this culprits . other wise prabakaran will have a lavish life using yo money whn yo brothers and sisters will die for this homicidal animal.
Bryan, USA said,
April 21, 2006 @ 4:51 am
Srilankans’ problem is complecated because of the moslem comunity. The moslems are actually tamil speaking comunity where ever they in srilankan land. Moslem is a religion as Hindu, catholic etc., but the srilankan muslems confuse between religion and language. Srilanka has only 2 major languages that Sinhalese and tamil. The civil war between Tamils and sinhalese over the the language issue only, not religious issue. The sinhala only policy in Srilanka stared by late S.W.R.D. Bandaranayaka, who wanted to gain political power and he use the langauge wepon. Till 1958 there were no langauge probelms in Srilanka and people lived happily in all provinces. This is a human error and the politicians are responsible for this unwanted civil that took more than 200, 000 since 1958. The only solution for this problem is to have fedaral political system as canada, India, and USA. In the democretic political system, minorities are the victioms in every democretic country.
M Ganeshan in UK said,
April 21, 2006 @ 6:06 am
Mr Bryan;
If you think cause of today’s problem in SL is some early language policy, that is only a 1% of truth. For your information, even today in SL, English is the language of dominance.
To get an idea about the root cause of this problem and general idea on current geo politics pls visit-
http://www.lankainsider.com/external%20factors/india%20influence.htm
As far as we look at the problem from only one angle (Discrimination by Sinhalese) we would not be able to find a soulution to the whole problem.
Theva said,
April 21, 2006 @ 6:33 am
Mr. Jesuthasan,
Where were u when LTTE killed the prisoners at kanthankarunai?
where were u when LTTE killed TELO cardes and burnt them at road?
There is not only sinhalese killing tamils but also LTTE . Are u think it is OK that ltte kill tamils?
What kind of life are u living in Norway?
Don’t say other live a luxary life because they r saying the truth.
Rajkumar said,
April 21, 2006 @ 7:29 am
Mr. Tharmalingam- This is 2006. How long are you LTTE bootlickers going to talk about 1983…
All the things the sinhala people did in 1983, the tigers had done too. Killing prisoners (Kanthan karunai massacre), raping thier own cadres in batticalo (by Bhanu), chasing away the long term resident (mslinms from jaffna). So LTTE terrorists arent different from those sinhala thugs who commited crimes against Tamls in 1983.
If you want to support terrorists and go down with them, fine. It is your choice. But dont drag all the Tamils with you. Tamils are smarter than you think and they dont appreciate terrorists and thier water boys telling all Tamils are supporting LTTE. LTTE is simply a terrorist outfit, concerned only about the glorification of its stupid leader.
If you are so proud of your terrorists, what the heck are you doing in Norway. LTTE supporters are really parasites and traitors for the Tamil community, who for thier won sake destroy the tamil community. Dont be traitors for your own race -
Jeyasuriya (R),Maradana said,
April 21, 2006 @ 8:06 am
A Tamil farmer was hacked to death and several houses were set on fire when Sinhala thugs armed with knives and clubs attacked villagers of Menkamam, a traditional Tamil village in the Seruvila division in Trincomalee, Friday, police in the eastern port town said. The mob went on a rampage following a clay more attack in which a home guard was killed and a policeman was injured, Friday morning at 58th colony, Dehiwatte, in Trincomalee.
The victim was identified as Mr.Chandran,35, a cultivator by profession, the police said.
Meanwhile, 12 Tamil civilians from Kanguvely, another traditional Tamil village in the area were taken by the Sri Lanka Army to their camp close by about 11 a.m., sources said.
Patriotic Sri Lankan, Sri Lanka said,
April 21, 2006 @ 8:56 am
Be it Sinhalese, or be it Tamil all are of the same human race and need to live in dignity. Killing and war is not a means to settle differences and discrimination. It takes two wise men/women to sit down and talk and agree to disagree. Having yeilded to all methods of discussion and debate and a concensus reached, it again takes a person with a sincere strong mind and conviction to implement the concensus reached. If the issues discussed and settled were not done sincerely, then the issues discussed and settled would only be a sham on the party violating it. Violation of a serious decision is only a childs game. Retaliation the same. Tit for tat. It takes two strong minds to make a decision and it seems that neither party is strong enough to come with honesty and sincerity to the negotiating table.
Thus, the innocent masses suffer……..live in fear……when will this war end in this beautiful Perl of the Indian Ocean. A paradise that should have been of a developed state IF NOT FOR THE WAR…Oh Sri Lanka we love thee, Oh God hear our plea and touch the hearts of those who rule and reign in power….this war has to end and justice meted out to those who have been living in discrimination…..there should be love and unity amids the Sinhalese and Tamils, there is….but it has to be spread…..we all are born to die, we take nothing….we need to live in peace and harmony…A Tsunami can destroy everything….all people alike…So leaders identify the issues and solve the problem, Sri Lanka is too beautiful to be ruined by war, its people are loving and friendly. DO JUSTICE TO SRI LANKA.
Ramanan - Colombo said,
April 21, 2006 @ 9:20 am
It is Important to understand why a person like K. Sivathamby is writing a such a cheap articles supporting LTTE, and also recent one about the Canada band on the LTTE.
‘prof’ Professor sivathamby has once told to his good frien D. Sivaram that the LTTE is giving Maa Manithar award to all kind of rotters (Kaatththan Poothan) . Leader sholud have appointed a commitee to select people who should be awarded such possitions. Sivaram was telling this to all his tamil friends ‘ Sivathambiyarukkum Maa Manithar Aasai vanthittuthu. (Sivathmby also wanted to be a Maa Manithar) to show how cheap this man is.
Sivathamby has sent his proposal to Pirabakaran through one of his former college Thirunavukkarasu another lecturer from Jaffna campus, who is a storng henchmen of LTTE from the biginning. LTTE has sent a return message that ‘we know Sivthamby Well, and he is a opprtunitist. also we know that he wants Maa Manithar Pattam. let him come and live in Vanni then will consider his Ideas. This message came back to Sivathamby.
From that day Sivathamby just kept quite. All this happened in 1996 after he ran away fro jaffna during thr Riviresa operation. When LTTE ordered all the tamils to move out of jaffna Sivathamby and few High society jaffna people came down to Colombo with their families and seeteled them comfortably.
Sivathamby immidietly got a visiting lecturer post in Maharagama Teachers training school. after he settled him self comfortably in Colombo, he started handling the tamil news papers in colombo. Till Sivanesachelvan was in Veerakesary he was able to handle that. But the veerakesari management was not very happy about that.
After Sivanesa Chelvan left Veerakesari and stared Thinakkural, sivathamby and Thanabalasingha the shadow editor of Thinakkural, both stared handling the entire line of the paper.
Then gradually Sivathamby stated writin articles about the tamil problam in his real name, and switched writng proLTTE articles as ‘Beeshmar’ sending messages to LTTE that he is still loyal to the leader and to LTTE.
So Beeshmar is ‘Prof’ K. Sivathamby.
let the English speking community know this.
Selvan said,
April 21, 2006 @ 9:43 am
One school of thought is that the the LTTE ban is collective punishment by the Conservatives for not getting any Toronto seats etc. Their position (appearance) to Tamils is of ignorance to the Tamil plight in Lanka. Even if a proper argument is given, it not going to be listened to, simply because there are other driving forces.
This is hardly suprising. Stockwell Day and co. come from the far right anti-immigrant, anti-nonwhite Reform party. They have also tried to find ways to find irritation with immigrant communities with extended coverage of crimes by Tamils (with some sort anecdotal to tie in the separatist conflict in Lanka.) in National Post. Canada is too polite to bring this out in the open in black and white issues, therefore its a shadow war of words. They can’t go after Indians, Hong Kong Chinese or Blacks. With Blacks it will look too open in the media. Indians (Sikhs) on the other hand have considerable clout and have the connections with the Liberal party to do counter damage if anything was done and the HK Chinese community is just too wealthy to touch.
Hence Tamils significantly large and visible enough for a picking…
Tamils have made only slight inroads with the Liberals and nothing else hence are politically weak.
What better ways of pushing the irritation button than go after Tigers and satisfy the thurst of the far ring wing supporters. The Tamil community hardly has enough people who can converse in North American style english. In addition our people do have less skill in trying to express themselves.
In my view the ban is meant to demoralize the Tamil community in Canada, to show who is boss here, right now ie the right wing Anglo. elite. Frankly it also appears to be crude effort to try and separate Tamil Canadian from Tamils of Eelam.
At the same LTTE really needs a PR makeover to gain credibility with the Canadian mainstream. Most non-conservative Canadian do see IRA, LTTE, PLO alike and can differentiate them from Hamas,Al Qaeda etc. The IRA which is comparable to LTTE in many respect never got this treatement by the Canadian govt., because of Irish influence. Simillarly, the Palestians state has democratic elections etc which elected Hamas, but that fact is ignored.
It is not about democracy or even some of alleged incidents against the LTTE, it is merely because it is the Tamil community and is somewhat powerless.
Selvan, Canada said,
April 21, 2006 @ 10:08 am
I should also say this:
The ban in Canada is a label and has very little teeth. Canadians lack ideology in general and hence you don’t have passionate conflict simmering in this country. Money and materialistics pleasure is king! Tamil Canadian really have to ask themselves, whether they are going to Canadian white society’s water boys/girls or have pride and place for their own community ? Some of the money that goes back home must be used here to build community centres, literature/cultural organizations and think-tanks here in Canada in addition to language classes.
There must also be serious question asked by people who don’t support the Tigers at present.
Who will protect Tamils if anything happens in Lanka ? The point is the world community JUST DOESNT CARE ABOUT TAMIL LIVES and is PERHAPS NOT PERSONAL. Simply put THEY HARDLY CARE ABOUT LANKA. Its all to do with economics and lack of cultural/racial connections to the power centres of the world.
We don’t have a connection to the WEST other than having been colonized for 300 years.
Letting Sinhala regime rule just can’t be trusted (Trinco incident proves this again). 1983 is not irrelevant, it should reoccured last week in Trinco. Their intentions are just so obvious.
So as Tamils do we divide and collapse through petty struggles or unite and strive maintain a Eelam Tamil identity. If we do collapse, there won’t be a Eelam Tamil future. The future generations in present day Lanka will further scatter and loose all identity or convert to Sinhala.
It really comes down to, are you proud to be Eelam Tamil and do you wish you community to flourish or not ?
If so maybe things are not close to perfect now, but why dont you work from the inside to bring change rather than from the outside, as hard as it seems.
Dodi/Toronto said,
April 21, 2006 @ 10:18 am
I am not a Sri Lankan, but I was in the Diplomatic cirle in Sri Lanka and lived there for a long time to know the truth.
Most of the Tamils living in Canada, US and all over Europe are simply “Economic Refugees” who left SL for a better life. If any Tamil claims that he would pack his bags and go back if everything becomes normal, which I hope very much will eventually happen, then he or she is a liar. Having said that, I simple don’t understand how anyone who wishes to live a peaceful life, would like the LTTE to take control of day to day life in the North, especially with someone like “Pol Pot – Sun God, whatever you may call it, holds the reins.
Wake up people…do you want to live in peace and harmony or under an iron fist holding a Gun?
Theepan, Toronto said,
April 21, 2006 @ 11:34 am
This is a humble request to my dear Tamil Canadian Mr.Selvan. The best part of our life is now gone, at least lets ensure a better place for our less privileged brothers and sisters in the North-East of Sri Lanka and stop uttering rubbish to praise Tigers that have ruined and disintegrated us.
Please don’t even think of comparing the tigers with IRA, ANC or PLO they are very very much different “freedom fighting” outfits. How on earth and based on what plausible rational can you compare tigers with the above. IRA/ANC/PLO never engaged in clod blooded killings of intellectuals of their own community or annihilate its own community as the tigers just for the “mere” survival of its leaders. They never killed their Second in command. They allowed competing organizations to exist. Never went after the lives of the fellow freedom fighting outfits. They tolerated others because they were only engaged in achieving a common objective and it is immaterial who succeeds in achieving it better. See how HAMAS and PLO contested elections and still co-exist. For the tigers it is not a common goal that they are after. So only they should remain and other should be killed and vilified. This is why the tigers cannot be compared with others. And no worthy nation in the world considers it to be so. They are even worse than HAMAS, Al –Qaeeda, etc.. (at least Hamas is humble enough to contest elections inspite of its religious fanaticism)
Mr.Selvan Can you ever have a dissenting view on the tigers? You will be six feet down! You only can praise them no critical and sincere input is permissible. Do you think a real peoples organization can progress like that?
Now lets compare the structures. All IRA, PLO, ANC are organizations with a democratic set up. Decisions are made through a democratic process. Second in commands are not dubiously executed. They have a vast participation of committed membership. Depending on the skill and commitment one can democratically climb up the ladder of hierarchy. What can we say about the tigers? There are no formal structures for democratic decision making. No real Central committee or anything in the tigers its just the mad wish of the self proclaimed Sun God. It only has a divine fanatic Sun God leader. He makes decisions based on divine powers. There is no accountability, responsibility or transparency of any degree. They function like an uncivilized tribal group.
This is why today we are being looked down by the world. Tamils represented the cream of the society in Sri Lanka. Sinhalese and foreigners did not under estimate us. They were scared of us and thought twice before dealing with us. To what have we been reduced today? Isn’t it a shame?
Tigers are the world’s number one killers of Tamils. It is not just innocent people. Can you ever finish counting them? Couldn’t they have been able to strengthen us much better than this school drop-out fanatic Sun God? Just imagine what crime worth to be killed the one’s like Rajini, Amirthalingam, Tambimuttu, Neelan, etc.. did? This is what differentiates tigers from the rest!
They are a bunch of terrorists born because of our caste system and flourishing on Sinhala chauvinism. What real intellectual capacity do the tigers have? Even their so called Doctor Bala and Co. can only give praising advice to the sun god. We know how Doctor Bala was sidelined just two years ago.
Just PR makeovers of the tigers will not solve our problem. The real issues that I described earlier have to be taken head on and addressed rationally and scientifically. See what “Bheeshmar” (K Sivatamby) is lamenting about our community in his article. We don’t have the real intellectual capacity here in Canada! Isn’t it the truth? Now the results are visible. Even the chauvinistic Sinhalese once considered much inferior to us are now far ahead of us. As you rightly said no other community living in Canada can be subjected to the kind of treatment that we are undergoing today. No one can even think of touching the HK Chinese, Indians, Blacks, etc.. This is all because of the tiger (our so called freedom fighter) we petted and pampered has eliminated the cream of our society. We cannot think and advocate anything without going against the tigers. Now we are paying for all this.
At least now we should pressure the Tigers for internal change. We are being humiliated in our townships. We now hide all pictures of Pirapaharan that we hung in our houses and business places after this ban. Aren’t we scared now? What has made us descent to this level?
If Prabha was genuine why did he intentionally get a hawkish Sinhala government in to power by the vote boycott? Why our own people are being made cannon fodder? Just because Sun God is wanted by India and the rest of the world for his barbaric crimes why should we be called to pay the price?
Let’s think rationally and pressure the tigers at least now to undergo democratic reforms in its structures and join hands, co-exist with all tamil forces. Democracy is the only way out for us. I am sure a genuine Federal Solution with real Tamil endorsement can solve our problem. We need to make the strength of our voices felt to make this change happen.
I humbly urge Mr.Selvan, for the sake of the respect of our community, in the eyes of the world, lets stop the tiger hypocrisy and take the issues by its horn and address them. Enough is enough!
Jeyasuriya (R),Maradana said,
April 21, 2006 @ 11:56 am
APE RATA
The Police Special Task Force platoon arrested over the deaths of five youths in Trincomalee on January 2 are likely to be released soon as the Government Analyst’s Department has concluded that none of the bullets found in the bodies of the victims had been fired by the guns issued to them.
According to a Department source, sample bullets fired by the guns issued to the platoon had been examined by the department analysts for similarities with those found in the victims.
The source said that their investigations had revealed that none of the fatal bullets found in the bodies were similar to the bullets fired from the guns inspected by them.
Five youths Shanmugarajah Gajendran, Logitharajah Rohan,Thangathurai Sivanantha, Yogarajah Hemachchandra and Manoharan Rajihar were killed while two others were injured in the incident that took place on Dock Yard Road Trincomalee about 7.30 p.m. on that day.
APE RATA SIGALA RATA
Jeyasuriya (R),Maradana said,
April 21, 2006 @ 12:02 pm
The incidents which took place on April 12, 14 and 15, saw some 60 houses all belonging to Tamils gutted, between 30 to 35 business establishments burnt (one of which belonged to a Muslim and the rest to Tamils) and more than 300 Tamil families displaced. The Trinco incidents also saw some 19 civilians’ dead, including 10 Tamils, seven Sinhalese and two Muslims.
Meanwhile, according to a report sent to the Government Peace Secretariat, the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission, Indian and Canadian High Commissions and the US Embassy by the Akhila Illankai Tamil United Front (AITUF) it has been alleged that on April 12, a Sinhalese gang from outside Trincomalee went about setting fire to business establishments belonging to Tamils both on Central Road and on the North Coast Road. All of these, more than 30 business establishments, were completely gutted.
AITUF is a newly formed political party consisting of top notch Tamil politicos including former parliamentarians from the Tamil United Liberation Front, Eelam Peoples Democratic Party, Eelam People’s Revolutionary Liberation Front, People’s Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam, North East Provincial Council members and several Local Authority Chairmen. Recognition for the party by the Elections Commissioner was granted on February 10, 2006.
On April 14th, at 3.00 p.m. a Sinhalese gang (from outside Trincomalee) began breaking and burning houses belonging to Tamils in Mihindapura where the Technical College is situated. Around 40 Tamil families fled the area in order to save their lives. The number of Tamil houses set on fire in Mihindapura is reportedly 15.
The gang, after slaying one Tamil civilian and damaging property at Mihindupura, moved on to Sivayogapuram armed with swords. This group then systematically set fire to 48 thatched huts in which families affected by the 1983 ethnic conflict were living. The group also set fire to the cadjan thatching around the Nadesar temple with the intention of burning it down. The structure of the temple was charred and the female devotee S. Maheswari who maintained the temple was chopped to death.
However sources noted that these incidents instigated by certain elements may also be a form of expressing their anger against the LTTE’s continuous harassment and killings of Sri Lankan Army, Navy and Air Force personnel in the recent past.
The AITUF General Secretary K. Vigneswaran, a former parliamentarian is also reported to have telephoned President Mahinda Rajapakse on the New Year’s Day requesting him to take necessary steps to arrest the situation.
The report’s concluding remarks stressed that, “the incidents of April 12, 14, and 15, 2006 are being described by the Tamils of Trincomalee as a re-enactment of the July 1983 saga. The state is getting provoked by the LTTE and is playing into the hands of the Tigers. Instead of winning over the Tamils, it is driving them into the bosom of the LTTE. The Tamils of Trincomalee feel betrayed by the Sri Lankan state.”
APE RATA
Bala & Cnada said,
April 21, 2006 @ 12:11 pm
I went to Jaffna after 23 years in 2004. Its very sad to see out brothers and sisters going through in Jaffna. They cant talk word of ther own every one is frighten of LTTE that there sond and daughters would be taken away to LTTE area if they say word of good things about life (not bad about LTTE0). Every ones mouth is shut and all shope owners pay money to LTTE and all that is passed on to the poor famers and people who live there in Jaffna. We tamils live here are not the real refuges, those who are in jaffna are the ones suffering. I am not saying SL Govermnet is right but I am sure we can get out rights and respect back in a better way as thing has changed since 1983 in Sri Lanka and around the world. Now 2006 the governments around the world knows the Sri Lankan and Tamil People problem. The SL Govermnet cant get away with old ticks, they have to do some thing fair for the Tamils who is living in Sri Lanak ( and not for goodie tamils living in Canada,UK,USA othe nice placees with BIG TVS and all the things they can but with Line of Credit and Credid Cards and do 3 jobs per day. Why dont they send there children to join LTTE and fight than sitting here and sending money to LTTE to cathch more little Boys and girls and get them killed. These children have no choise they dont know what is out side Jaffna or othe Tamil area. Poor kid they join these LTTe and die for no reson where Prab send his kid to UK to study and hide in th Bunker. He did not even care to come out of his Cave to see the poor people who die during the flood, so afraid of his life even in his own place. So Tamils in Canda please think what kind of leader he will be for you all. He might just die right in the bunker one day when GOD is ready for him and than you will see SP ZOO smiling at his death. Tamils in Canda please talk to your family back home and get the full truth about the thing happing in there. Dont bother to read the tamil papers here as they all finaniced by LTTE so they have nohing lose. Its the Tamils who are losing there dear ones after SL Govermnet stoped killing us it the LTTE who is doing a good job and people are defensless. Those who support LTTE go Vani and if you can come back alive or end up in a cage like those people form UK went through. Most of the LTTE supoters who go door to door to collect money dont understand a thing about world matters all they doing is what Vani tells them to and they feel like educated DR or somthing when the are member of LTTE. Good luck to those people and let pray the TAMILS IN SRI LANKA GET A GOOD LIFE LIFE US .
Bala Canad
Bala & Cnada said,
April 21, 2006 @ 12:13 pm
Dear Fellow Tamilians and Sinhalese,
Firs of all as a Tamil I have to agree with the comments and suggestion made by
Mr.Bheeshmar. I don’t care who ever it is or what is his intention. But he made the right suggestions.
Excellent neutral analysis. I hope it will reach the LTTLE leadership.
My Sinhala brothers, Please trust me I do have lot of sinhala friends here in Canada and Sri Lanka.
Most of my close friends are Sinhalese when I was in the university engineering faculty.
(Its may be due the unfair cut out marks too).But you all have to agree about the discrimination against the Tamils in Sri Lankan and the systematic Genocide. Please open your mind and think.
Put yourself as a Tamil and think. When you started to think in the right direction most of the problem
Sri Lanka facing now will go away. Actually I strongly believe most of the sinhala names here don’t represent the Real sinhala intellectuals. The guys who wrote the comments here should like guys who participated in the massacre of young detainees in “Bindunuwewa”. Basically Sri Lankan regime don’t have
any justification to talk about the child soldiers since they bombed and killed so many innocent children in North and East and by killing their parents they make them orphans. They better concentre in save guarding poor boys in the south who are destroying their life for homosexuality in the Southern beaches and child labour. Please open your minds again and agree with the true facts Tamils have the right to live and enjoy the freedom in North and East and convince your politicians to make the necessary steps towards it rather than destroying each other community.
My Tamil brothers, Did you all notice that The Sinhala brothers are united in one subject here.
That is ” Speaking against the LTTLE and justify the Tamils genocide and pretend Sinhalese thugs are good people.”, But if you notice that you guys are divided among yourself. This is the sad fate oh Tamil community. They why you guys couldn’t live in peace in your mother land so far. Please focus on our poor people life and be united. I know LTTLE did lot of murders which are unnecessary. I don’t agree with the murder of Tamils by Tamils. But the past is past. Now the time to unite. Forget the past and be united and advice them in the right direction. I firmly believe LTTE officials will read all of our comments here.
They no they did some bad decisions in the past. But Please accept a true fact, they are the ONLY one who is left to safe guard the Tamils interest in Sri Lanka. They are the one and only one organization who has the capability to get a respectable solution to Tamils in Sri Lanka. Be united for the sake of our Poor Tamils who are suffering in Sri Lanka. I know some of you here might be having some personal hatred with LTTE or financed by Sri Lankan government to write comments. But you will realise about your things one day. At that time it will be too late. Please think talking against LTTE here doesn’t solve our problems, it will only affect our community Unity and we look bad in front of the World. Some of my English colleague here asked from me after reading eth comments in tamilweek website “Hi George, I don’t think your community will get the peaceful solution in the near future, because you guys are not united and you have traitors who are willing to sell your community self respect for money.”. I beg you guys. Please be careful what you guys right here. If you guys have any trouble with LTTE lets write to their leadership directly.
I strongly believe they will listen to you. I ask their leadership to provide an e-mail to send the Tamils comments. Please keep your opinion constructive to the Tamil community and for the unity of the community, don’t try to divide the community.
I do respect all of your right of freedom of speech and opinions, but it will be helpful as long as you are not affecting the life of the other people.
Please think and you all will come to a conclusion the Tamils have a reason to fight in Sri Lanka. As Sinhalese we need to advice the Sri Lankan politicians to keep their narrow minded communal politics away and work for a Respectable solution for Tamils.(I personally know most of these Sinhalese politicians trustable friends are Tamils, Including Mahinda and Chandrika).
AS Tamils be united behind LTTLE and forgive them for their past mistake. Because they are the ONLY one organization who can stand for our rights and who have the capability to win the rights for Tamils.
Send your comments to them, I believe they will change.
Whoever Tamils brother who talk against LTTE here by sitting in west, I am telling you are enjoying a Western citizen and luxury life here because of the LTTE and the innocent people suffering back at home.
I know most of you came here as Refugees by saying that you are suffered by Sri Lankan government. Which is a true fact too. But Since the poor people suffering there only gives you a refugee status here. Please be faithful for that. Don’t put these poor Tamil people in trouble by weakening the LTTTE.I hope this e-mail will open your mind. If you guys cannot help just keep yourself away, don’t put troubles.
I clearly know Tamil have a history of Traitors, Don’t make you also one of those.
I don’t think thousands of Tamil Militants scarifies will not go in vain because of some of the traitors.
Regards
George, Canada
George , Canada said,
April 21, 2006 @ 12:15 pm
Dear Fellow Tamilians and Sinhalese,
Firs of all as a Tamil I have to agree with the comments and suggestion made by
Mr.Bheeshmar. I don’t care who ever it is or what is his intention. But he made the right suggestions.
Excellent neutral analysis. I hope it will reach the LTTLE leadership.
My Sinhala brothers, Please trust me I do have lot of sinhala friends here in Canada and Sri Lanka.
Most of my close friends are Sinhalese when I was in the university engineering faculty.
(Its may be due the unfair cut out marks too).But you all have to agree about the discrimination against the Tamils in Sri Lankan and the systematic Genocide. Please open your mind and think.
Put yourself as a Tamil and think. When you started to think in the right direction most of the problem
Sri Lanka facing now will go away. Actually I strongly believe most of the sinhala names here don’t represent the Real sinhala intellectuals. The guys who wrote the comments here should like guys who participated in the massacre of young detainees in “Bindunuwewa”. Basically Sri Lankan regime don’t have
any justification to talk about the child soldiers since they bombed and killed so many innocent children in North and East and by killing their parents they make them orphans. They better concentre in save guarding poor boys in the south who are destroying their life for homosexuality in the Southern beaches and child labour. Please open your minds again and agree with the true facts Tamils have the right to live and enjoy the freedom in North and East and convince your politicians to make the necessary steps towards it rather than destroying each other community.
My Tamil brothers, Did you all notice that The Sinhala brothers are united in one subject here.
That is ” Speaking against the LTTLE and justify the Tamils genocide and pretend Sinhalese thugs are good people.”, But if you notice that you guys are divided among yourself. This is the sad fate oh Tamil community. They why you guys couldn’t live in peace in your mother land so far. Please focus on our poor people life and be united. I know LTTLE did lot of murders which are unnecessary. I don’t agree with the murder of Tamils by Tamils. But the past is past. Now the time to unite. Forget the past and be united and advice them in the right direction. I firmly believe LTTE officials will read all of our comments here.
They no they did some bad decisions in the past. But Please accept a true fact, they are the ONLY one who is left to safe guard the Tamils interest in Sri Lanka. They are the one and only one organization who has the capability to get a respectable solution to Tamils in Sri Lanka. Be united for the sake of our Poor Tamils who are suffering in Sri Lanka. I know some of you here might be having some personal hatred with LTTE or financed by Sri Lankan government to write comments. But you will realise about your things one day. At that time it will be too late. Please think talking against LTTE here doesn’t solve our problems, it will only affect our community Unity and we look bad in front of the World. Some of my English colleague here asked from me after reading eth comments in tamilweek website “Hi George, I don’t think your community will get the peaceful solution in the near future, because you guys are not united and you have traitors who are willing to sell your community self respect for money.”. I beg you guys. Please be careful what you guys right here. If you guys have any trouble with LTTE lets write to their leadership directly.
I strongly believe they will listen to you. I ask their leadership to provide an e-mail to send the Tamils comments. Please keep your opinion constructive to the Tamil community and for the unity of the community, don’t try to divide the community.
I do respect all of your right of freedom of speech and opinions, but it will be helpful as long as you are not affecting the life of the other people.
Please think and you all will come to a conclusion the Tamils have a reason to fight in Sri Lanka. As Sinhalese we need to advice the Sri Lankan politicians to keep their narrow minded communal politics away and work for a Respectable solution for Tamils.(I personally know most of these Sinhalese politicians trustable friends are Tamils, Including Mahinda and Chandrika).
AS Tamils be united behind LTTLE and forgive them for their past mistake. Because they are the ONLY one organization who can stand for our rights and who have the capability to win the rights for Tamils.
Send your comments to them, I believe they will change.
Whoever Tamils brother who talk against LTTE here by sitting in west, I am telling you are enjoying a Western citizen and luxury life here because of the LTTE and the innocent people suffering back at home.
I know most of you came here as Refugees by saying that you are suffered by Sri Lankan government. Which is a true fact too. But Since the poor people suffering there only gives you a refugee status here. Please be faithful for that. Don’t put these poor Tamil people in trouble by weakening the LTTTE.I hope this e-mail will open your mind. If you guys cannot help just keep yourself away, don’t put troubles.
I clearly know Tamil have a history of Traitors, Don’t make you also one of those.
I don’t think thousands of Tamil Militants scarifies will not go in vain because of some of the traitors.
Regards
George
George , Canada said,
April 21, 2006 @ 12:58 pm
Sorry Guys I am George is the owner of the above comments.
Not Bala,Cnada.
George, Canada
Bala Canada said,
April 21, 2006 @ 1:05 pm
Mr George
I agrre with you note. But……… Please note LTTE is still kiling Tamils back. No HUMAN HAS TO TAKE ANOTHER LIFE. I AM sure you know that. They have to stop killing Tamils first. Let the Tamils in Sri Lanak talk freely, they need to speak out there feeling and may be LTTE can get some good way to solve our problem. I dont know if you have been to Jaffna recently not Vani? If you go you will see the fright inthe faces of the old people , they are afraid to talk about LTTE, they are told they will be hung on the light post. What a freedom ??? Tell my brother. Atleast you and me can say what we feel here in Canada. But the poor tamils in tamil land cant open the mouth and say word. My tamil brother I am tamil person and while I live here I am helping 25 children in Sri Lanka with money for there education, these children lost there father or mother in the war. WHAT I AM SAYING THAT SL GOVERMNET DID WRONG BUT NOW THEY HAVE LEARNED THERE LESSON FROM THE WORLD ARM FORCES ARE NOT LIKE BEFORE, BUT OUT TAMIL LTTE HAVE NOT CHANGED. I WAS STUDING IN INDIA WHEN ALL THESE WAR MATTER STARED, I dont know if you were involved at that time, all our tamil brothers were killed with help of indian politsion by LTTE paying cash and run away to Vani. They killed Tello Boys , my mother was there she told me they beged the LTTE to not kill those boys, but they did kill. If Telo did wrong things all they have do is arrest them at that time LTTE had stong prsence in Jaffna, they DID NOT HAVE TO KILL THEM, AND THE HAD NO RIGHT KILL ANY ONE. WAIT and next week MR ZOO Sp will jump on th SL helihopter with tie and Suit and fly to Erupe and see his daughtr and come back with nothing for the Tamils. Please brother dont get brain washed by LTTE. we Tamils have proble but this not the way to solve by killing our own people. Please post email address so I can write to them asking if they can help us by not killing, have meeting in jaffna and talk to people and help them dont kill them and keep them like priosners. Why SP or others are afraid to go to Jaffna and meet the people. That sows they dont have the people support. Come on I think you have good conatct with LTTE talk to them to go peacefully and solve our problem and stop saying they the sole rep of tamils. I acdept lots of LTTE boy die for out probelm BUT BROTHER EVERTHING CALM SINCE THE CF AND ITS THE LTTE WHO IS ON THE KILLING SPRE. Talk and get the people to join you all to solve the proble not by GUNS. YOU WELL KNOW THE TAMIL MP CAME TO POWER BY CHEATING — RIGHT MY BROTHER, I WAS THERE AFTER THE ELECTION AND MY COUSINES TOLD ME LTTE PAID MONEY TO PUT THESE VOTES AND GAVE THEM CHEMICLASTO ERASE THE INK SO THEY COULD GO BACK. ITS SAD THESE MP HAVE COME POWER LIKE THIS WAY LIKE LITTLE KIDS. YOU KNOW I AM SURE YOU MUST BE LAUGHIG WHILE READING THIS PART. IF YOU SEE THESE MP PLEASE TELL THEM PLEOPLE HERE CANADA KWNOWS HOW THEY CAME TO POWER AND DRIVING AROUND THE COUNTY IN Sri Lankan Goverment cars with Cell Phones ont there hand. You know Suresh I know him since I was kid,he has send his family to Canada to clime refuge and in Sri Lanaka. This is the reson those thifes can come to canada, NO VISA for them.Let try and save our tamils in Sri Lanaka
Bala
Jeyasuriya (R),Maradana said,
April 21, 2006 @ 1:06 pm
Fourteen houses, eight shops, one tractor, five two-wheel tractors, three motorbikes belonging to Tamil people in Menkamam and adjacent Tamil villages in Seruvila division were burnt down by Sinhala thugs following the two claymore mine attacks on Sri Lanka government forces Friday morning and afternoon. Sinhala mobs forcibly entered Tamil houses in these villages, ransacked the houses and looted jewellery from Tamil women. Hundreds of Tamil families have started fleeing for safety seeking refuge elsewhere, sources from Killiveddy said.
Mr.K.Thurairatnasingham, Trincomalee district parliamentarian immediately contacted the high level police officers and requested to take immediate steps to prevent further attacks on Tamil villagers, sources said.
Several Tamil families in Menkamam village have sought refuge in schools and public buildings, sources said.
Members of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) rushed to the site on receipt of complains of the attacks, sources said.
Thanks of bunch C****A.
Selvan, Canada said,
April 21, 2006 @ 1:41 pm
Theepan, you have brought out good arguments and I want to do my utmost to give a response.
I agree there are significant difference between LTTE and PLO/ANC/IRA. LTTE has been involved in internal Tamil on Tamil feuds more so than the other organization, I don’t wont to dispute that. Our Tamil intellectuals (both anti-LTTE and pro-LTTE) have died in these internal feuds and the loss is immeasurable.
In the Sri Lankan ethnic conflict, unlike others there was a big entity that organized the militant groups and gave weapons,trainning etc.
This entity is the Indian RAW. I wish to say that we don’t know the extent and complications of these dealings with RAW. Its difficult to answer the big questions intellectually and is debatalbe, ie was India’s sympathy for help us genuine ? Was RAW genuine in its pursuit throughout the 1980s ? Was RAW acting perhaps on its own, rogue path ? This question has been asked particularly now after the Karuna dissension.
Whatever case, wrong or right, LTTE decided to act and consolidate its stand. This has already happened it is history.
But you must give some credit (perhaps minimal) for LTTE attempting to change. This I think is due to the interaction/engagement with the outside world and the diaspora tamils.
I agree LTTE does lack accountability with the organization and it is trepid about democracy (for some this merely reaction to see the failure /lethargy of the Sri Lankan and Indian democratic systems). The experiment with democracy in much of asia is by no means sucessful even now. Where it is democratic, the government has minimal influence (due system based weakness).
My belief is that democracy is like the new religion. It is preached to everybody to be good and all, but it doesn’t address all the specific issues that are relevant to the Tamil struggle. Tamils did try democratic means for 30-40 years and where did it get them with the Sinhalese ? Non-violence and peaceful means failed because the other force just didn’t have the morality to care (unlike the British in India). Riots in 1956,1961,1977,1983.
Now about dissenting view in the Tiger organization. What you said has some truth but is by means not the full picture.
LTTE does allow for dissent, but through different engagement procedure.. It doesn’t tolerate megaphone or open dissent, much like any military organization. Its view is that if your dissenting view is genuine then why not come and talk ? If it is loud and public then its beliefs is that you are trying to score some political points by acting with the SL Govt.
It only accepts dissenting view to be shared/privately disccussed with the organization. I am not even sure if this was always the case. But I know this to be fact since atleast by year 2000. LTTE well knows critical input is necessary to improve itself and is the path to progress. For a long time, I thought along the same lines as you, but did see first hand the rancourous dissenting views aired by the public at some LTTE proposals. LTTE has grown up more than I think you giving credit for.
At the same time, I do agree there is still lot to be desired.
LTTE has learned a lot or shall learned by burning its fingers (after the Karuna separation) that, it cannot give regional leader free reign. Hence there are checks and balance in place, with opposing characters having to share simillar roles. You would argue Bala got demoted two years ago. I would say Bala is a counterweight to TamilSelvan.
Yes PR makeover won’t solve structural problems. However, the Tamils are getting picked on not due to lack of our intellectual capacity. It is due to many different factors, including the fact that we came recently, don’t have roots (unlike Sikhs who have roots going back a 100 years), don’t have a stable base (unlike Chinese in HK), don’t have a strong shouting voice (unlike Blacks) hence the problem. These issues don’t need everyone to be an intellectual to solve.
On the positive, in school comparison have shown that Tamil kids do very well in school, well above the whites here and above the Indians (Sikhs) but less than the HK Chinese.
The lack of base is also because we consider our self too distinct from Tamil Nadu Tamils. Hence on one on one level, there is big connection gap between Eelam Tamils and Tamil Nadu Tamils. Maybe our links as some have suggested is closer to Kerala ?
Pressing for internal changes (accountability/democractic reform) within the LTTE is must and I agree and support. But there also needs to be bounds on this. These call for changes cannot compromise the security of the Tamil civillians and millitary capacity of the LTTE. These changes also cannot attempt to embarass the LTTE in front of it who it considers its non-Tamil enemies. Nevertheless the Tamil Canadian population is not scared of the Canadian authorities, if anything it is defiant.
My wish for the LTTE is to offer a total amnesty (public announcement) on all Tamils force fighting against it. It must also declare a unilateral ceasifire against EPDP,Karuna and others and guarantee that it will not harm these people and also promise not retaliate if attacked by these Tamil forces. But then it does have a right to defend itself if attacked by anyone.
Theepan, I humbly urge you think of other options other than federal model. After Trinco. riots (even today there was Sinhala mobs attacking Tamil civillians), the animosities will never die down. Federal solution works when there is relative trust between parties and confidence in the system. Sri Lanka is no position to be considered a stable system. More than 20 years of conflict has brought it to near collapse (social,cultural,politcall,moral and probably military as well). We tamil and Sinhala never belonged together nor should we continue to try. Just because the big heavy weights of the International community want us to stay together doesn’t mean its well thought out. Most have their own selfish interest at stake.
Only we Tamils can best judge what is in our best self-interest.
We had our own kingdom, Sinhalas had theirs. Sri Lanka as a country was imposed by the British for their self-interest. Tamils and Sinhalese may have simillar roots etc, but out paths have widened and its better part ways than to destroy each others future for generations to come.
Hard as it may seem to part ways, there can be no turning back. At this point it may even be easier to live in some sort of loose association with India rather than the Sinhala nation.
Anura said,
April 21, 2006 @ 1:50 pm
Re: Jayasooriya (R) , Maradana
Sinhala people are not supposed to get angry when them or their loved ones are attacked. they can not have emotions. Let, LTTE play havoc and mayhem. That is the situation of Sinhala people in Sri Lanka.
I think, if we were previlegded tamil, again not the poor incapable ones, would have been luckier. Then, I can enjoy because everything is to satisfy my emotions for a fairytale “homeland”.
Read ISL by Subidchem about how one Senkathir carried out tamil struggle. Prove me that LTTE gang in Kilinochchi is different from him and they are really for you.
Roy, Canada said,
April 21, 2006 @ 1:55 pm
I am surprised why no body is talking about the killings and barbaric acts of EPDP, Karuna Group and other slaves of racist Sri Lankan govt…to have a permanent peace in SL and especially in our tamil mother land, first of all these self fish elements have to be completely rooted out from our soil… note that there is always an ‘eddapan’ group existing to fulfill their immediate self fish needs regardless of the suffering of his neighbour….also this platform of discussion is a clear example why tamils are not getting their fair share in the globe….we are fighting among ourselves….
Selvan, Canada said,
April 21, 2006 @ 2:01 pm
So I do want to clarify and say there is no other solution other than an Indepedent Tamil Eelam. We can’t live in Lanka anymore!
Roy, Canada said,
April 21, 2006 @ 2:04 pm
That’s right Selvan…that is what the govt of SL proves these days…
Selvan, Canada said,
April 21, 2006 @ 2:10 pm
To Roy:
I know what you are feeling as well. In order for LTTE to show its leadership qualities, it needs to be magnamious, more so than other Tamil groups to reaffirm its leadership position. It needs to try to unite the Tamil side as much as possible. If these groups don’t change their ways, then it will be evident to the people that these groups have selfish personal/traitorous agendas hence will be exposed and weakened off. The world can’t then come and say LTTE is purging fellow tamils for differing view etc.
LTTE needs to come to terms with its past as well, throught things like Desmond Tutu’s Truth commission etc.
On the ground LTTE has done this to some extent, but needs to make a greater effort.
Nevertheless, LTTE has credible military right to act in self-defence against anyone.
Kumar, Canada said,
April 21, 2006 @ 2:10 pm
For LTTE, they can forgive the enemy but never ever the traitors. No one need to worry about banning the LTTE in any country since we all know that we can not live happily in those countries, which directly implies that we need to have own country so called ‘Tamil Eelam”. If all Tamils want to achieve that objective then no one in this world can stop by using any means of force. All Tamils from Tamil Eelam and India knows the reality of Indian peace keeping force’s brutal murder and raping in North East of Sri Lanka. These all happened under the direct leadership of former prime minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi. LTTE taught a very good lesson to one of the largest military power country known as India, for invading and destroying Tamil people’s freedom fight. For the sake, if the LTTE did not kill him, then all Tamils will disappointed in LTTE for not fighting for the Tamil cause. It’s obvious when Kathirgamar was shot dead all the Sinhalese cried for him while all Tamils were in happy mood. I think it would be same when EPDP, PLOTE, ENDLF (all paramilitary) killed the same Sinhala regime will cry for him while all Tamils feel relief and happy.
Government of Canada, CSIS, questioned and threat many Tamil people even before banning the LTTE in Canada. This ban has nothing to do or prevent from Tamils supporting their struggle at back home. If it does then Tamils in Canada will feel that there is no different between Canadian government and Sri Lankan government. Tamils will come to conclusion that Canada also not a peaceful country for them anymore. Ultimate truth is Tamil people can only live in peace and prosperous when they get their own country so called Tamil Eelam. We all Tamils must support to our struggle in back home. The challenge placed in front of us is not a serious matter if we think of the great heroes or the carders now fighting at war front in back home. The Tamils who have seen many people including their friends and relatives brutally murdered in front of their naked eyes, or the people who have suffered by Sri Lankan army will know the ground reality at back home, others who were not gone through these various aortic of Sri Lankan army will badly talk on Tamil struggle and the LTTE.
People, who are saying bad about Tamils and LTTE with the name of Tamils are not truly Tamils, they are using Tamil’s name to earn money from Sri Lankan government. We all Tamil people no need to worry, about this mad people. We all Tamils need to give our hands to get our Tamil Eelam.
Roy, Canada said,
April 21, 2006 @ 2:23 pm
To Selvan,
I appreciate your points. On the same token, please note the term ‘no man is perfect’…it applies to LTTE as well. Leading a freedom struggle is not an easy task…we cannot at all the time expect perfectness in what they are doing….there are some flaws and mistakes. But the underlying theme – fighting for a tamil cause, in my opinion, is very important; that is the driving force now and even 30 yrs back in the mind of Praba…..we have to look at it from this point of view.
Selvan, Canada said,
April 21, 2006 @ 2:35 pm
Yes definetely, no one is perfect and LTTE has to make some effort to acknowledge past mistakes with regards to Tamil on Tamil feud publicly. It needs to show that it is striving to being better. It has done that on the ground, NESOHR and child protection units are examples. But even in this there is competition against our enemy namely the Sri Lankan government. There needs to be greater accountability to try show those mistakes won’t be committed again and prevention in place. For all this some transparency is needed. Certainly this can’t occur on the military side for obvious reason dealing with LTTE and Tamil security.
Jeyasuriya (R),Maradana said,
April 21, 2006 @ 2:46 pm
District Secretary says 20365 families are displaced due to HSZ
The Sri Lankan government has been urged to protect human rights of Internally Displaced People (IDP) due to the establishment of High Security Zones (HSZ) in Jaffna.
The chief government administrator in Jaffna has recommended resettling the IDPs after consultations with the security forces.
Jaffna District Secretary K Ganesh has made these recommendations after a court order.
Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court has ordered the official to submit a report on the after considering a petition filed by parliamentarian Mavai Senadhirajah and a farmer seeking permission to resettle in their lands inside HSZ.
20365 families are displaced due to the establishment of Palaly HSZ and 6386 families are still living in social care centres, according to the report.
The District Secretary has informed the courts that estimated RS. 36 million is monthly spent to provide them with dry ratios.
The report has recommended resettling them in the HSZ to protect their human rights.
APE RATA
Pesale Ratnam said,
April 21, 2006 @ 3:08 pm
Maradane Jayasuriya & others:
Recently I had a trip to Jaffna and it was surprised to see that the houses, buildings and other stuff belonged to Sinhala people were well secured there and that all of houses abandoned by Sinhala people were well protected, nobody can even think about entering them. If anybody try to, LTTE would kill them. Most of the people told me that they pleaded the Sinhalese asking to stay, but those Sinhala people left Jaffna without listening to them. Even today, the people in Jaffna waiting for Sinhalese to come back and stay with them.
Pesale Ratnam said,
April 21, 2006 @ 3:24 pm
These stupid guys think that Canada and other counties outlawed LTTE in favour of SL and critize them. That is not the reason poor guys, upon eveluation of security reports, they have made the decision so as to protect thire people from terrorists. That’s what happened. If they really need to be partial and help SL, they would have sent their troops to destroy LTTE.
Jeyasuriya (R),Maradana said,
April 21, 2006 @ 3:31 pm
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers shot and killed five Tamil civilians Tuesday night close to an SLA 51-1 Division camp located at Vatharavathai, 13 km north-east of Jaffna. The soldiers took the five civilians, a Municipal Council official, an electrical mechanic, a farmer and two auto-rikshaw drivers, into their camp and later brought them out to an open terrain and gunned them down, villagers said. A terror-campaign, let loose on the civilians in Puthur in October 2005, when the villagers spoiled a rape attempt by the soldiers, triggered a series of Claymore attacks in Jaffna. Tuesday’s killings come a few hours after Australia commending Colombo for “not retaliating in kind.”
Dead bodies of civilians gunned down near Puthur Vatharavathai SLA camp
Four villagers, on their way in an auto-rikshaw, after transporting an ill relative to his home, were stopped by the soldiers and taken into the SLA camp Tuesday around 8:30 p.m.
Another rikshaw driver, who went searching for the missing persons, was also stopped by the soldiers.
The five civilians were shot and killed by the SLA men in the tharavai area, an open terrain, near the SLA camp.
The civilians killed were identified as Kandasamy Gowribalan, 32, a Municipal Council official, Balasubramaniam Kannathasan, 27, Sellappu Kamalathasan, 25, an electrical mechanic, Mahadevan Kishokumar, 20, a farmer and Thangarajah Raveendran, 27, the other auto-rikshaw driver who went searching for the missing persons.
Three dead bodies were found together and the other two were found 200 meters away by the villagers Wednesday morning.
APE RATA
Jeyasuriya (R),Maradana said,
April 21, 2006 @ 3:38 pm
The UNP yesterday said the lack of consistency among the government allies on the peace process triggered the LTTE’s decision to pull out from next week’s talks in Geneva.Party stalwart Jayalath Jayawardane told the Daily Mirror that diverse opinions were raised at the recent All Party Conference by the JVP and the JHU regarding the previous round of talks in Geneva where the government had also agreed to disarm paramilitary groups and strengthen the Ceasefire Agreement.“At the last APC, the JVP insisted on the need to remove Norway as the facilitator, the JHU wanted to amend the ceasefire agreement while government Minister Tissa Vitharana spoke about amending the ceasefire agreement unilaterally,” Dr. Jayawardana said adding that this situation has resulted in the escalation of violence. The JHU urged the government to withdraw from the ceasefire agreement with the LTTE and ban the terrorist organization within the country
APE RATA.. SIGALA RATA???????????????
Jeyasuriya (R),Maradana said,
April 21, 2006 @ 3:41 pm
State Terrorism In Sri Lanka Jeopardises Geneva Talk 2
Attention of the International Community -IC- to the escalation of State Terror perpetrated against the Tamils in Sri Lanka and plead for instant response and action to prevent state violence against Tamils, state violation of the human rights of the Tamils and the state-terrorist policy of annihilation of the Tamil nation in the island.
The pace of state terrorism lulled during the first three years after Cease Fire Agreement CFA- has gathered momentum again with the assumption of Mahindha Rajapakse as President of Sri Lanka in November, 2005.
The incident at Puththur, Jaffna, in which five Tamil civilians, taken to an army base, tortured and murdered, riddled with bullets on the night of Tuesday, 18 April cannot be ignored as isolated or frivolous. Four of them were ordinary civilians returning home in an auto-rickshaw after helping a sick man to his house when the Sri Lanka army stopped them and took them to 51-1 army Brigade base at Puththur for interrogation. The fifth man was an auto-rickshaw driver who went in search of his friends. He was also apprehended and taken to the same army base. The following morning all five were found dead, their mutilated bodies riddled with bullets and bearing torture marks, thrown across a meadow close to the army base. This is not an isolated incident in the recent past after Mahindha Rajapakse became President.
Between November and January more than 45 cases of Tamil civilian involuntary disappearances were reported by the SLHRC. There were as many cases for which solid proofs could not be submitted. It is not surprising because Sarath Fonseka, the new Commander of the Army, instrumental in the involuntary disappearance of 600 – 700 Tamil civilians in1996 when he was the Commanding Officer of Jaffna, is now overall in charge. The Army Commander took pride in quoting a pinch of his brand of “ruthless handling” exercised on Tamil people during November-December, 2005, when he referred to them in his address to his military audience in Vavuniya in early March, 2006.
The murder of a senior Tamil Parliamentarian, Joseph Pararajasingham during the midnight Christmas service in the regional cathedral was a clear case of state terrorism. Full information on the military assailant and paramilitary accomplices, although submitted, no action was taken to apprehend them. The murder of five teenage Tamil students in Trincomalee where the unarmed civilian victims were pinned to the ground and shot behind their ears at close range on January the second, was also a clear example of state terrorism, shoved under the carpet with no protest from the IC. But the moment the Tamils hit back at state terrorists, the IC hastened to condemn the leaders in the Tamil national struggle.
It was during this period of Sri Lankan State terrorism that the IC – the EU and the Co-Chairs – slapped a strong statement condenming the leadership of the Tamils. Perhaps the IC was finding reason in repeating its earlier action, when the US and UK pinned the “Terrorist Badge” on the leaders in the Tamil national struggle, when they should rightly have branded Sri Lankan State “terrorist” for imposing very strictly a food and medicine embargo on the Tamil areas at the time, any civilised government would be ashamed to commit.
There were two main points on which both sides agreed at Geneva 1 Peace talks to implement, namely, disarming of armed groups and refraining from making attacks on each other. Both were flouted the very next day, when a paramilitary group assisted by the state army crossed over the agreed line, attacked an LTTE checkpoint and killed a cadre. Within a week two more LTTE cadres were killed. In Jaffna and Batticaloa, civilians were arrested arbitrarily and tortured. Involuntary disappearance was rearing its head again. The Tamil community raised the alarm to no avail. The IC turned a blind eye till retaliation commenced from the Tamil end.
The murder of Vigneswaran, the leader of the Tamil People’s Forum, perhaps was an expression of State abhorrence at his continued loud insistence on action on the military and paramilitary culprits in the case of the five students and the journalists murdered in Trincomalee after Rajapakse’s assumption as President. Vigneswaran’s singular contribution to the outstanding success of the Tamil political party at the local government election in Trincomalee was another reason for the Sinhala polity to banish him. He was murdered in broad daylight between two army checkpoints in the high security zone. He was an MP-inwaiting with papers ready to be submitted to Parliament and his murder, naturally provoked violence from his supporters. This gave the IC another chance to pounce on the leaders of the Tamil national struggle. Canada read out its Terrorist List, now.
Every time the IC took its whip against the Tamils, it was a moment for euphoric outburst for the Sinhala polity and this time, a communal riot was unleashed with Sinhala mob transported in military trucks to Trincomalee, where they pounced on unarmed Tamil civilians and their business centres with machetes and torches, perhaps with misplaced inspiration from the Canadian ban order. When the Tamils tried to defend themselves, the US and Japan, the EU and Co-Chairs, and finally Australia rushed to admonish the Tamils and congratulate the Sri Lankan government for its patience and commitment to duty.
IFT wishes to draw the attention of the IC to the fact that the Tamils chose the armed struggle out of necessity to save them from annihilation, when all non-violent democratic means failed. The LTTE, as representatives of the Tamil people, took up arms against State Terrorism. It is unfair to term freedom fighters against State terrorism, Terrorists. Tamils, both at home and abroad, expect the LTTE to fight Sri Lanka state terrorism and provide Tamils protection in their own land. They have placed their trust in them in the hope the LTTE will lead the Tamil struggle, attain their aspirations to self-determination and recognition of their traditional homeland.
The IFT pleads with the IC to help Tamils attain their aspirations so that they could stand as equals in the world arena with full human, humanitarian and democratic rights.
APE RATA
Pesale Ratnam said,
April 21, 2006 @ 3:48 pm
Maradane Jayasuriya, more news for you
A state bus carrying passengers towards KANNIYA, TRINCOMALEE came under an LTTE claymore mine attack near ANURADHAPURA junction at about 4.00 p.m. Friday (21) evening inflicting injuries to the bus driver.
This remote-controlled 3rd claymore mine attack within the first half of Friday (21) however saved the lives of many passengers who were inside since the driver of the bus tactfully managed to divert its course raising its speed, though he was injured in the blast.
Panic-stricken passengers inside the bus began to yell as the explosion ripped over the body of the bus, forcing the troops and the Police to cordon the area immediately.
The injured driver was referred to TRINCOMALEE hospital for treatment.
The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission was to be informed.
Pesale Ratnam said,
April 21, 2006 @ 3:52 pm
News for Maradane Jayasuriya
LTTE CADRES ON FAST FIBERGLASS DINGHIES with heavy weapons in the seas off MULLAITIVU around 2.00 p.m. on Wednesday (19) brazenly violated the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) by firing at a Navy vessel with an SLMM monitor on board.
At about 12.30 p.m. Naval troops observed an LTTE sea movement, in which an LTTE boat was being towed by another LTTE fiberglass dinghy equipped with heavy machine guns in the seas off MULLAITIVU.
Within seconds, the LTTE craft with weapons was surrounded by five other heavily armed LTTE craft and those craft had gone very close to the LTTE fiberglass dinghy under observation, which was towing the LTTE boat.
Four other armed LTTE boats were also seen beached near CHALAY area, most apparently, awaiting the arrival of those LTTE craft at sea, moving northward.
Naval troops immediately alerted the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) and began to sail towards those suspicious boats with heavy weapons at about 2.00 p.m. in the company of an SLMM representative, but LTTE gunmen aboard those LTTE craft suddenly directed a hail of gunfire towards approaching Navy vessel with the SLMM representative.
Gunfire however prevented the SLMM from moving forward.
The SLMM monitor aboard the craft witnessed this broad daylight LTTE shooting and ruled it a gross violation of the Ceasefire Agreement and informed the SLMM Head in TRINCOMALEE.
Pesale Ratnam said,
April 21, 2006 @ 4:09 pm
Maradane Jayasuriya, what a news about discrimination!
Senkathir and Newton were Tiger activists who have served the terror movement for years. Senkathir came from a socially challenged community from Karaveddy in North Sri Lanka. Generations of his people were humiliated by the high caste Vellalas of the area. They were never allowed into the homes of the Tamil supercaste, had to receive whatever refreshments given to them in tin cans and soda bottles kept apart for them for that purpose and there could never be any social mix with them and the Vellalas.
When Senkathir joined the LTTE as an activist and began to bear arms, he saw an outlet for all the pent up feelings and anger against the Vellalas. He began to throw his weight around in the community and would even charge into their homes and demand to be treated with tea or coffee in china. Any semblance of intolerance would be overcome by displaying his pistol and the grenades.
Selvan, Canada said,
April 21, 2006 @ 4:17 pm
Listen Mr. from the last post. You entry is pointless. You are trying to do some divide and conquer by throwing the caste card.
You want to attempt to draw a wedge between castes. Dream on. Atleast get to your point will you or is this humiliate, tar and feather.
Selvan, Canada said,
April 21, 2006 @ 4:19 pm
If anything positive, LTTE stands for complete abolition of castes. Sinhala lanka can live with their castes.
MS Selliayah said,
April 21, 2006 @ 4:58 pm
Dear countrymen,
Let me have my two cents here.
Before 1983, there were communal riots. But in those riots, we were attacked only by few Sinhalese but not by our own blood. There were Siinhalese who helped us to hide in refugee camps. After the riots we were back to the same house and lived there until the next riots.
Since 1983 to April 2006, Sinhaese people did not kill us. But we got killed how?? how?? Our children were taken away from us?? How How?? our money was extorted? How How?? Now if I want to go back to my home town, they say that my property has been confiscated? How? By whom? Had I invested my money in a piece of land in Matara as opposed to Mallakam, I might have lost possession of my land but not the title.
So, now – why do I feel more safe to live and invest among Sinhalese despite all the communla riots we had during the last 100 years as opposed to the last 20 years of experience with this Tamil Hitler and his hooligans!!
So, my friends. there is noting to discuss here. Whatever we have to discuss had been discussed. It is time to militarilty eliminate the LTTE and its leader, of course EPDP etc. . or whatever you call it. We have to gain our moral grounds first. It may take another 20 years for us to wash out our name such as tamil tigers! Somebody mentioned here that we democratically fought for our rights before 1983.
That 2 hr. long satyagraha before the parliament in 1958 was another bull shit by the Federal Party. They spent 2 hrs before the parliament and spent 20 hrs in seeking publicity for their ‘sacrifice’.
No more violence!! if Sinhalese hit us again, turn the other side of our cheek to them. Let us die. But our casuality rate will be much lower than what we have today and what we had since LTTE started this nonsense!!! Until then, all fart! No shit!!!
MS Selliayah, Sudbury, Canada
MS Selliayah said,
April 21, 2006 @ 5:12 pm
Hi Selvan,
Pesale Ratnam was correct. LTTE says so as you think but this is a not war against the SInhala govt. THis is war to become the rulers of Tamils and the LTTE had done that in the name of national struggle.
Personally i do nt see anything wrong in the caste system. WHat is wrong is that one group’s claim that they are superior to the other. You might not remember or might not know of what the so called Vellahs did to the other communities in Jaffna.
MS Selliayah, Canada
Thanabalu said,
April 21, 2006 @ 5:39 pm
Mr. Selliayah, you morans spilling your castism in the forum. Cast, Dowry, Horroscope are the curse on tamils and it is sad to see this has spilled into the western countries too.
BTW Mr. Selliayah, are you making Toddy or cleaning toilets in Sudbury???/
Mark Nathan, INDIA said,
April 21, 2006 @ 6:06 pm
It appears that the international community (Western countries) doesn’t like TAMILS are obeying the ceasefire. LTTE and TAMILS have been treated badly by international community during the peace time, for example, banning Tamil activities in UK and Canada. I presume that international community admire the way LTTE fight with SLArmy rather talking peace, and they want it to be happend again. The human reveluation for thousand years is based on the moto that “STRONG PERSON WIN and SURVIVE”. If LTTE believe that they are strong in fighting than negotiating, they should only fight. Negotiation is damaging their reputation internationally.
Why TAMILS are longing for the recognision of international community? Get Ealam and send some oil or other major project tendors….all international community will forget about the past and will rush for their share in major projects like dogs. Believe me.
Srilankan tamil will struggle for ever but Elam tamils will struggle only few years, say 5 years. After that Elam will be the row model for development.
People (especially Tamils) who opose the Eelam struggle are doing out of fear or out of frustration that they have not been given importance in Eelam struggle. They are enjoying fame by adopting shotcut measures. Don’t worry about those people since they are not smart people (human psycology). Ofcause they are doing some damage to Tamil community in short term. They enjoy this due to the current world climate that created by ignorant leaders. This will change soon.
I can assure that TAMILS will be rewarded soon.
Cheers.
PS: It appears some Sinhalese are writting their comments in Tamil nick names. Why ? Write your feelings genuinely.
Thanabalu said,
April 21, 2006 @ 7:14 pm
Thank you Mr.Mark Nathan. At last some one wrote with sense AND REALITY.
Selvan, Canada said,
April 21, 2006 @ 7:55 pm
At the end of the day, Eelam Tamils must determine their own destiny and not white guys from US, UK, rest of Europe or for that matter Japanese.
Bala Canada said,
April 21, 2006 @ 8:10 pm
Dear Friends
Do you realy think we can get tamil elam?? Are you all still living in Vani, Come on you are in Canada dont you all see CNN. BBC and read world News?? Please do so soon or you all will get mental break down when you find out there is noe way we can get Tamil Elam. Please stop reading these tamil papers as you all know they are paid by LTTE and they do not report both side or the truch what ever SP Zoo say or Prabu say. Do know what happen to Charls Taylor of Liberia, he was given flight to Serlion by the USA and other world leaders. Now after 2 years he been arrested and put in by UN and USA and othe world leaders did this. So please read some wolrd news and see BBC and CNN everday so you can get bright. One day Paba and the Sp Zoo gang will bebehind bars or the will kill them self. So see for your self whats happening in this world. In the same way SL Govermnt cant ran away from the Tamil people problem, they have to do somthing about it and the best way is to talk it out with international help. Do you all know why SP Zoo and the gang is jumping going for talks its because of international pressure and not because they want solve the Tamils problem. So try be real.
Bala
Jon Toronto, Canada said,
April 21, 2006 @ 8:56 pm
Attention: All Sri Lankans
Do not bring the hatred, violence, prejudice, crime, extortion, beliefs of your homeland to Canada!
Canada has welcomed you to our great nation and given you all the opportunity to live a peaceful, safe and prosperous life. Please do not spoil or waste such an opportunity.
Join our comminity, become an active Canadian and help build a great Canada. Please respect our laws, institutions, traditions and moral fabric of our nation as we give you the freedom to practice your religion and beliefs and hold on to worthy traditions.
Please reign in your youth that have joined gangs and commit crime. They give your comminty a very bad reputation.
Please stop supporting, financially and morally, any organization that advocates or actively participates in Sri Lankan violence, terrorism/freedom fighters, or ouright civil war.
You must leave it behind in your homeland. If you are, or are planning to become, a Canadian citizen, your obligation is to Canada not Sri Lanka. You must put Canada first and foremost in your mind. Keep your money here, advocate for a Canadian foreign policy that would pressure both sides, be on the side of all humanity, abandon tribalism and look after your fellow Canadians.
Roger, Canada said,
April 21, 2006 @ 10:31 pm
Jon:
Are you a Sinhalese pretending to be someone else ?
In any event Canada has openly sided with monsters who run the Sri Lankan government through pure ignorance. The International Community and Canada’s actions prove Tamil lives mean jack. International Community pursued the “war for peace” with Chandrika until 2002. This is the only know instance of civil war where there was embargoes placed by country on its own so called people against medicine and food. Afterwards while both sides attend to peace talks, Canada labels one side the filthiest word of the modern era, due to its actions of self-defence for its people.
Yet the world community didn’t care… It watched and reacted in Bosnia perhaps. Missed Rwanda but not even a footnote on Sri Lanka.
In context of all this, you come here to lecture about the humanity or the lack of it in the Canadian Tamil community. Don’t you think we all know this ?
Just today more than three Tamil civillians were killed due to ethnic riots and who scale ethnic cleansing by Sinhalese. Last week more than 30. Shops burned, house wrecked, a lifetimes worth of valuables gone. This is clearly genocide. Yet you divert the subject to talk about gangs and crime here in Toronto. Surely do you have any humanity ?
Would you dare pressure both sides with the two sides being Nazi Germany and the French resistence ?
MS Selliayah said,
April 21, 2006 @ 10:38 pm
Anna Thanabalu,
again; long time no see.
do not have any doubts. Back home i was toddy tapping. after all what else we could do. you guys did nt allow us to do anything else, you know.
Here in Sudbury I work for Canada Atomic Energy Institute as a research officer. But still in my blood you will smell Jaffna toddy !!
M Selliayah, Sudbury.
Dr Mike Adrews M.D said,
April 21, 2006 @ 10:45 pm
I and many srilankans who have been educated in the US have observed the LTTE evolve from a humanitarian and so called struggle for the liberalization of the tamil cause to a ruthless, barbaric and monsterous dictatorial leadersship of Prabakaran. He and his buddies have only created more trouble and suffering to his own people at the expense of massive financial gains with his children insted of joing the so called LTTE are in foreign med schools enjoy the luxuries of DAd’s brutality. I thing it is time the SL govt start an all out Iraq style war that will either capture that monster and his buddies with his pants or frying out of existence with the help of US forces. His so called LTTE terrorist organization is well known around the world for promoting international terrorism, drug traffking, prostitition and harrassing the tamils to pay their dues for the so called worthy cause……..it is time to put an end to this absolute nonsense that has been going on , I am a Tamil myself and I 100% support a fresh democratic struggle for our people in SL…………….
Thanabalu said,
April 21, 2006 @ 10:54 pm
Mr.Selliayah,
Did you get your degree online?
Mr. Jon
You must have just returned from Afganistan.Don’t you know that Harper’s foreign policy is nothing but the carbon copy of his BOSS, GW BUSH. Wake up man, you set the alarm clock at different time zone.
Thanabalu said,
April 21, 2006 @ 11:02 pm
Mr. Mike ILLITERATE Andrew.
First Jon, then Mike and what is next??
Where did you learned to post both Dr and MD at the same time. Are you getting an online doctorate in medicine.
By the way, what is liberalization has to do with liberation, if you are educated in US as you claimed?????????????????????
Jon Toronto, Canada said,
April 21, 2006 @ 11:23 pm
Roger et al:
You are a prime example of what is wrong…
Did I single out Tamils? Frankly, from my perspective, I would be unable to tell the difference between a Tamil and a Sinhalese person uless they told me who they were. I also don’t care who is who, I treat everyone the same…you should be judged on the type of person that you are, not your ethnic make up.
What I can not tolerate is foreign countries’ domestic violence to gain a foothold in Canada and funds being raised in Canad to support it. I don’t care if it is Irish Catholics supporting the IRA or Sri Lankans supporting the Tamil Tigers. It is not acceptable!
I am concerned with all crime in Canada, especially if it perpetrated by immigrant gangs, be they Tamil, Irish, Jamaican, Chinese or American. If you are not concerned, then do you deserve to be here?
From an outside perspective, the quest for an independent Tamil state is not justified based on history. Certainly an armed, violent secessionist movement is not acceptable. No doubt, violence has been carried out by both sides and neither side is an innocent victim. Continued support for a civil war must not happen in Canada or anywhere else.
I am not picking sides…I condemn both. It is clear that the UN needs to step in and separate the two and force a peace. Canada can push for this and help with building institutions and drafting of laws that will protect rights for minorities and ensure equality.
Thanabalu said,
April 21, 2006 @ 11:51 pm
You simply shot your foot by stating “From an outside perspective, the quest for an independent Tamil state is not justified based on history” and “I am not picking sides”.
If you know the real history, you wouldn’t be writng here, instead you will contact your MP to tell him that Canada need to place Srilanka’s State Terrorism on the RADAR.
Have a good night.
Gamaya, Colombo said,
April 21, 2006 @ 11:51 pm
Go to Maradana, Wellawatta and Modara areas and see how Tamilians living peacefully along with Sinhalese and Muslims.
Only the money and blood thirsty LTTE will see sinhalese as descriminative personal whereas all the Tamils living in south know what is the reality.
LTTE is a brutal killing machine trying to collect money (forefully) from all the tamils living all around the people.
Most of the innocent tamils liiving abroad have no option but to contribute to LTTE to survive.
Dear Tamil people : Stop being bullied by LTTE and get a life …
Jon Toronto, Canada said,
April 22, 2006 @ 12:12 am
Thanabalu:
Please, enlighten me. Tell me your side. Try an intellectual way in which to define your position. Why be dismissive? I am tired of people like you using hyperbole, being inflammatory and irrational.
Do you live in Canada? Are you a Canadian citizen?
My concern is that you may bring ethnic hatred to Canada. My concern is that you may raise funds for a violent group. My concern is that the Tamil Tiger organization is operating in Canada and may be extorting funds from Canadians.
I am not a Sri Lankan nor a student of the country’s history, but don’t tell me that I have no right to comment on a situation that involves Canada and those that live here.
In Canada, we strive to grow beyond ethnicity and embrace diversity. We are a model for the world on how different peoples can live and prosper together. There is no place in Canada, however, for people that support ethnic violence.
DAD - UAE said,
April 22, 2006 @ 12:19 am
Until 1983 – the Tamil Voice were not loud enough to draw attention, and then the LTTE’ s “Hit Back” policy put some pressure helped All Tamils to have some sort of Self Respect. You’ll find corruptions everywhere, So as LTTE. But still each and every Sri Lankan Tamilian need to be Grateful for LTTE. Especially the upcountry Tamilians who were tortured and burnt alive and their porperties were taken over. It is time we all Tamilians unite and work for a peaceful end.
Thanabalu said,
April 22, 2006 @ 12:29 am
Hallo Mr. Gamaya,
Good Morning, you must have waked up after a long day.
How many Tamil speaking police officers are working in Wellawatta and Maradana police stations to record a complaint in Tamil. Any guess?
Muslims were living peacefully with Sinhalese in Kandy until Buddhism betrayed them to save its face in 1915.
Tamils were living peacefully with Sinhalese until the Buddhism betrayed them started in 1956. They thought it was one time betrayal but they learned the lesson the hard way again and again and again and even now in 2006 April as we speak.
If I contribute to LTTE, it is my money I will give, why do you care about what I do with my earnings. If I get bullied, I will tell the RCMP and if I think I am doing the right thing, I will keep do the same thing.
If you want to counter the LTTE strength, go and joined the SL army or pay to them.
Just remember, LTTE is NOT our CHOICE, IT IS THE ONLY HOPE, WE DID NOT CREATED IT, WE ARE ONLY NURTURING THEM though, they have outgrown to be independent(the financial need) from US as we speak (or write)
Now you can go back to sleep.
Thanabalu said,
April 22, 2006 @ 12:43 am
Mr. Jon,
You already sided based on your limited information. If you are concerned about your neighborhood, comment on that. But once you step into the territory that you are not aware or have no knowledge, you are on your own.
Could you provide any proof (do not quote any news from National post) or proven evidence that link between LTTE and Gang violence in Greater Toronto.
Do you have any evidence to proof that LTTE was involved in any international drug smuggling, racketeering, credit card fraud etc.
If you do have provide, then I will answer who I am and where I live and what is my citizenship.
Good night.
Jon Toronto, Canada said,
April 22, 2006 @ 1:05 am
Thanabalu:
Wow, you have made quite a leap…
I have not said anything about any type of link between Tamil Tigers and gang violence, drugs, racketeering or credit card fraud. Extorting funds from Canadians or residents? Yes.
Based on Canadian news reports and the report by Human Rights Watch, (Funding the “Final War”
LTTE Intimidation and Extortion in the Tamil Diaspora), it appears that some extortion is going on.
Further, funding an armed separatist group with money earned in Canada is mine, and every other Canadian’s, business. It is Canada and its citizens that provide the environment, infrastructure and society that enables people to earn money here. It is our business if you take that money out of the country and to whom you give it to.
I can comment on anything I please. This world is as much mine as it is yours. What is done in one country can affect others. What is done in Canada directly affects me.
As a Canadian, I will not stand for thuggery, intimidation and the exploitation of any group in Canada. I will not accept that funding any violent group with Canadian dollars is acceptable. I will not accept ethnic hatred and intolerance.
Thanabalu said,
April 22, 2006 @ 1:33 am
So Mr. Jon,
Would you please campaign for a referendum to be held in Northeast (NE) part of Srilanka whether or not the NE still attached to the rest of the Island? I mean the CANADIAN WAY (the non violent way).
Again, HRW 45 page report has stated, no police records of EXTORTION to this date.
Canadian Law state if you take more than $10000.00 only you have to declare to the government, it doesn’t restrict what you do with your hard earned money.
You can comment on anything as we have freedom of speech here, but if you chose to ignore and twist the fact to make your point your comment will be the subject of riddle as what has happened here.
If you have commented only on extortion, intimidation, violence whatever in your vocabulary, only in CANADA, I have no say and no comment. By attaching a sentence “From an outside perspective, the quest for an independent Tamil state is not justified based on history. Certainly an armed, violent secessionist movement is not acceptable” shows how ignorant are you about knowing the history of the Tamil struggle in Srilanka and the BRUTAL OPPRESSION of NON-VIOLENT GANDIAN protest by the SRILANKAN GOVERNMENT since 1956.
May I suggest you to read the web site called Tamilnation.org and it has all the history dated back to pre-independence and may enlighten your knowledge about the Tamil SRUGGLE?
Mark Nathan, INDIA said,
April 22, 2006 @ 1:46 am
It looks to me some of the commentators here are paid by Sri Lankan properganda unit. I can see the similarity of their wrting style, content of their text and often write as a westerner or a DR or PHD to give an impression to others that interlectuals are against Eelam. Don’t worry about these paid workers since they are all outdated properganda tactics. Eelam is an issue beyond all these cheap people and their properganda(also BBC or CNN reports). As you may have noticed from the begining that TAMILS always take first step in either war or negotiation since they are desperate to put stop to Sri Lankan Tamils are being clenced. It is not a time fot TAMILS to waste our precious time worrying about international community. Think about what is next. We determine our destiny unlike SL who always depend on the mecy of the international community. Let them worry about international community. TAMILS should work togather for their future.
Jon Toronto, Canada said,
April 22, 2006 @ 2:34 am
Thanabalu:
You say I am ignorant. Aside from being an insult, you are dismissing me out of hand. I can have nothing but an outside perception. I am not from Sri Lanka, but with 400,000 in Canada, I would like to understand their motivations. Is it wrong to be concerned about who comes to Canada? Is it wrong to be concerned that ethnic violence may migrate to Canada? I am as concerned about Jewish/Muslem, Serbian/Croation, Catholic/Protestant and Sikh/Hindu, etc. tensions in Canada as well.
Canada has offered up our nation for the world to come and live in harmony. We expect that those coming here will do that. That they will leave behind their prejudices, respect our institutions and become good citizens.
Canadians also would like the rest of the world to do the same. We want justice for the victimized and oppressed. We will do what we can to see that done.
From looking at Sri Lanka from my perspective, I see that the majority has oppressed, (perhaps violenty), the minority. The minority has taken up arms and is avenging their poor treatment and this escalated to civil war. I have seen no evidence that Tamils previously had their own country and that it was invaded by the Sinhalese so how is their own country now justified? Rather, it appears that two ethnic groups that share an island have developed a mutual hatred for one another, (for a myriad of reasons that I am sure both feel are valid), and have decided to fight it out to the detriment of all.
It is so very sad. All the destruction, suffering and loss of life. For what?
From pictures, it looks like you have such a beautiful country…why?
Thanabalu said,
April 22, 2006 @ 3:14 am
Jon, I may also suggest you look in the http://en.wikipedia.org for the details about the Srilanka if you don’t have the knowledge about pre-historic origin of all the people of the Island.
What happen to Canada and USA has happen to Srilanka. It is as simple as it is. Again your ignorant or biased towards the Sinhalese rather than reality and truth.
The truth is there were two may me three kingdoms in the Island when Portuguese invaded which was merged to one by the British for administrative convenience and handed over to the Majority.
Sinhalese talk about Democracy because it gives them the majority in the parliament nothing more than that. It is a police state and even judges are elected for the politicians convenient and there is no law and order.
I am surprised that if you have no connection to Srilanka (either your parents were born or you married to a Srilankan) you have not heard about the state terrorism and its iron fist over the Tamils.
It is so very sad that all the destruction and suffering are happening and can becuse the Majority wants to keep the minority under there power rather than let them do their own business.
DO YOU SUPPORT A REFFERENDUM TO SEPERATE THE NORTHEAST FROM THE REST OF THE COUNTRY if you are so concerned about all the unwanted violence after all it is the DEMOCRATIC WAY.
Jayasri-Qatar said,
April 22, 2006 @ 4:25 am
My dear democretic tamil brothers & sisters,
I am as a sinhala man appreciate those who dynamic to speak truth & against terrorism. Those 90% tamils living abroad today not because LTTE, but because 1983 black July back ground created by some sinhala extremists & looters which backed by then JR Govt.
Past is passed & terrorism is not the solution & it will never, ever.
Prabakaran is not an educated man to understand reality but idologist & extremist. He should think of future tamils in sri lanka, change his policy to share power in flexible way. He show a tiger+gun flag in the jungles & some eelam model projects merely to collect money run his comforts by sacrificing poor tamil boys’ girls’ lives.
I will disclose a true story a foriegn NGO who builds tsunami affected houses, purposely so far few completed, while rest display half-built abondoned, putting banners asking for funds to complete. So every visitor who show this willingly donate as a genuine case, but truth behind, hope you all would understand.
So LTTE is nothing different but keep on dragging, talks will ever never success, all eye wash & time marks, Once so healthy Jaffna and north will make another sudan when time to come by Prabakaran, balasingham, chelwam etc. one day all tamils will curse prabakaran as a destroyer of jaffna tamils & re write sri lanka tamil history.
Thanabalu said,
April 22, 2006 @ 5:13 am
Those of who have doubts about the SRILANKAN government and LTTE, please read the following news item
http://in.news.yahoo.com/060422/43/63psa.html
Here is the glimpse, fresh out of press!!!!!!!!
SOUTH ASIAN INTERVENTION IN SRI LANKA SUGGESTED
By Indo Asian News Service
New Delhi, April 22 (IANS) A Singapore-based scholar has suggested an internationally backed South Asian intervention in Sri Lanka to end its unending ethnic conflict. ‘It is time the rest of the world took Sri Lanka seriously,’ Michael Vatikiotis of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore said in an opinion piece in the International Herald Tribune.
He said the ‘threat of force’ was needed to bring the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to the negotiating table ‘and keep them there’. Vatikiotis said India was well positioned to exert pressure on both sides but it preferred to lend quiet support to the Norway-backed peace process that is now under serious strain. He said South Asia’s major donors and strategic allies, ‘using their enhanced access to the region, should persuade South Asian nations to cooperate more closely to bring an end to the war in Sri Lanka’. He added that admission of the US, China and Japan as observers to the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) ‘will make it harder for India to ignore instability on its fringes’.
THE SCHOLAR ADDED THAT THE GROWING CATEGORIZATION OF THE LTTE AS A TERRORIST GROUP HAD NOT HELPED. ‘THE PROGRESSIVE ISOLATION OF THE TIGERS, NOW BANNED AS TERRORISTS IN CANADA AND EUROPE AS WELL AS IN THE US, DOESN’T HELP. ‘INSTEAD OF PUSHING THEM INTO TERRORIST OBLIVION, WHERE THEY COULD PROVE EVEN MORE DANGEROUS, GOVERNMENTS SHOULD BE FINDING WAYS TO ENGAGE WITH THEM THROUGH THE WIDELY DISPERSED AND HUGELY SYMPATHETIC TAMIL DIASPORA.
‘More forceful engagement with both sides could push them to respect the ceasefire agreed to in 2002 and lead to discussions about an acceptable federal solution.’ VATIKIOTIS CREDITED NORWAY, THE PEACE FACILITATOR, WITH ‘VALIANTLY LEADING ATTEMPTS’ TO REVIVE THE STALLED PEACE PROCESS BUT WARNED THAT ‘THERE IS PRECIOUS LITTLE HELP COMING FROM ELSEWHERE.
‘It seems perverse that a world gripped by the scourge of terrorism neglects the bloody conflict in Sri Lanka…’Each side accuses the other of not being serious about the talks, and a full-blown resurgence of this vicious war looms…’A major part of the problem is that both sides in this conflict have proved reluctant to negotiate.
‘THE TIGERS ARE STRONG. THEY CONTROL TERRITORY AND HAVE A RESPECTABLE MILITARY CAPACITY. They aren’t going away. ‘THE GOVERNMENT IN COLOMBO WANTS TO PLAY IT BOTH WAYS – SEEKING TO ISOLATE THE TIGERS AND ENGAGE THEM IN A PEACE PROCESS.’
Greg Farmer, USA, Washington DC said,
April 22, 2006 @ 5:36 am
Hello Tamil people. I thought that Tamils are much smarter than Sinhalese. You people are living in absolute ignorance and sound like living in the 16th century. Now, I understand why this problem has been dragged on for a long time. You people are not united, can not understand each other, jealous at each other, like to sabotage other fellow Tamil’s productive work, sit on your butts and like to criticize others without even contributing or offer anything to the cause of your own Tamil problem, and don’t know how to constructively criticize your own fellow countrymen who are at least doing something for the cause. I am ashamed to see how you, selfish people, leveraged yourself in the western world using the situation in SL to your advantage and criticizing the doers because of your ignorance and selfishness.
I find most of the people who commented here do not even know what exactly caused the Tamil-Sinhala problem, what has been happening, and what is going to happen to the Tamils in the future.
I was in SL during the 1983 riots and learnt about the history of SL, for sure, more than most of you who commented on this site.
Let me tell you something in bulleted form here, which may wake up the minds of those who have brains. Others just sit and watch, criticize and you are worthless for you and for your own Tamil community, and there is no point of you people living in your society.
• Sinhalese government has a master plan to systematically eat you alive, and they are executing it well. They have been eating you alive since 1956. They don’t want to see you alive in the face of the earth. They have committed all the human rights violations on the book and more that no one has ever envisioned. I hate to say that the Sinhalese government rather see the Tamils dead and wiped out. The government, Army, navy, police and most of the monks spread racism and violence against the Tamils. I don’t have time to write the history here. It is up to you to go after them and learn, if you are interested.
• Canada’s ban on LTTE is a huge loss to the Tamil community. This happened because of people like most of you sat on your butts there and criticized the doers, but did not educate the conservative party there. Some of them voted for the party too. You Canadian Tamils are very ignorant.
• LTTE has committed crimes and made mistakes like any others would do, but very minimal compared to any other revolutionary army or freedom fighters. But, no comparison to Sinhalese government. People who think that LTTE is bad and/or Sinhalese government is so good, should not be even part of the Tamil community.
I am sorry that some of you may have had a bad experience with them, but you need to understand why it happened and the root causes. For Eg: it was brought to my attention that a 20 Yr old cadre insulted a Tamil person who spoke in English at the check point. But, what do you expect when a kid who has never seen a Sinhalese in his life nor experienced an anti Tamil riot, had to protect your mother land and your personal properties for you while you had been enjoying the wealth and life style of western world. The complainer is going to go back to the Tamil land and enjoy after all those kids are fought to death and gone. So, this is the mentality of Tamils. Do not waste your time talking about it, but write to them through appropriate channels to not make those mistakes in the future. They are forced to do most of those crimes because some of you fell into the traitors hands for money, fame and other reasons. The superpowers are using some of you and you people are fell into hand of them without knowing to you. The results are many anti LTTE groups, Mahatha and Karuna.
• Just like running an organization, the LTTE has to take disciplinary actions for those who betray them, do not understand the cause and help the enemies of Tamils. It is simple as that.
• Have you people forgot that the LTTE is the most disciplined army or freedom fighters in world?
• India and US had put the LTTE in the terrorist list for geo political reasons, and they are after all the natural resources, harbor and other political reasons.
• Sinhalese had been educated by the Tamils and by Tamils ignorance, and they are winning the propaganda war when they had been committing all the crimes, violence against the innocent Tamils and human rights violations.
• Tamils failed to do anything becaseu of their selfishness and don’t care attitude. You people forgot where you came from and how the other tamils are suffering there.
• Have you done anything in regards to US Red Cross holding the money that they collected for Tsunami victims in the North and East?
• Have you done anything in regards to coordinate the propaganda activities all over the world?
• Do you guys speak the same language all over the world?
• Do you know the literacy of Tamils now? Do you know where it was 25 yrs ago? Why?
• Why can’t you guys learn from Jews or any other communities that are united and doing the same coordinated activities all over the world?
• SL government is lobbying and getting into the important countries and using them to influence others as well.
• Have you guys thought about how to fight and give the truth or express the reality and educate the foreign contacts of SL Government.
• LTTE is your God. There is no any other God for you Tamils people. So, work with what you have and give it all you’ve got, a full support to make them solve the problem sooner than later.
• SL government does not understand the non-violence, peace and human rights. They only understand the LTTE’s power. If the LTTE does not exist, they would walk all over you even in Colombo which some of the Tamils think as it is their haven and safe place.
• You people have no rights in SL. You people are treated as the scums of SL. Don’t you get it in your heads yet you Tamils?
• How many of you have gone and met the Tsunami victims? Do you understand their conditions they are living in?
• Do you know what SL government is doing for them? Do you know what the SL army is doing for those people?
• Do you know your brothers, sisters and the conditions of the babies are living in there?
• Leave everything out and unite soon. If you don’t, you will regret for generations.
I understand what the Tamils have been going through for decades, and have seen with my own eyes too.
That’s all I have for the Tamils who are sitting on their butts and criticizing the doers. And, I don’t want to be the one to educate you Tamils.
I cant waste my time anymore being an outsider for your cause. If you people unite, you will get a lot of support from people like us.
Greg
Ranjith, Australia said,
April 22, 2006 @ 7:30 am
Well done Greg. I am proud that there are some genius people like you here on earth to understand the reality and voice for it. You have pointed out the need of this time – we have to be united.
Great work Greg.
Arun VIncent said,
April 22, 2006 @ 7:40 am
Hi Greg,
you are not an outsider. Do not try to fool us in the typical LTTE style. You are the man and your family that creates lot of troubles to the Tamils now.
If you do not have time, please do no come again. that is the greatest service you could do the mankind.
I will reply to your writing [which i have seen somewhere else also] this afternoon.
Arun VIncent
George, Canada said,
April 22, 2006 @ 8:03 am
Dear Greg,
Excellent piece of analysis.
I totally agree with your point. AS like you I also don’t want to waste my time to reply to the “Traitors” who speak against teh Tamils struggle for freedom. They are simply selfish and not part of our community.
I don’t want to pin point anybody here, AS a Canadian Tamil what I can say very few of you Traitors are busy in Fraud and spying against tamils and proud to be in wearing earings. Basically you guys don’t have any tamil value. You will sell your sibilings to Sinhalese if they provide you money. Simply you gusy are cheap.
George, Canada
sahadevan,Scarborough,Canada said,
April 22, 2006 @ 9:20 am
I have read the Thinakural article and the comments posted its very sad you people are involved in unwanted arguments.Do something to stop the bloodshed, every day people are dying in Srilanka.Srilankan govt and LTTE are involved in gross violations of humanrights.Both will never solve this problem so we, live in western countries,use the influence and bring pressure to both sides and find a political solution.Dont fight for Tamil Elam in a western country ,having comfortable life,three full meal. Even some Eelam activist’s children cant speak tamil.Act now,talk to mps,ministers,mayers etc
Sahadevan
Selvaranjan said,
April 22, 2006 @ 9:31 am
Cheers to Shadevan. Everyone has to contact their Canadian MPs, from whom we dont hear much these days. All those MPs attended Pongu Thamizh etc. where are they? Whats there view on all the current events?
Bala , Canada said,
April 22, 2006 @ 10:44 am
Dear Friends
Whay dont you send your children to fight than to get those poor people children get killed by SL Army or send them with bom tied to on there body by Praba. While Praba has send his two children to Uk for studies with your money , those poor children in Jaffna dont have money or means to get out, on top of that the LTTE is closing the Unervicity in Jaffna and spoiling the life of young tamil boy who want to study. What you all say about. If you so want fight the SL Govermnt why dont you all go and help Prba with some of your ideas. We were all given a place in Canada to come up in life and not to kill our own people. What I am saying we tamils have a problem need to be solved but not with LTTE way. This 2006 not 1983 can you all think there is 23 yrs have pased since july 1983. Sl Govermnet cant do anything like that again to the tamils. Lets try and sove our problem in a diffrent way than by killing our own people.
Bala – Peace in Sri Lanka
Theva said,
April 22, 2006 @ 11:17 am
Please, can anybody give a definition for “Tamil Traitors”?
Are the tamils who speak the truth Traitorsis? Or the tamils who work with SL
are Traitors.?
If the second is true so look back to Premadasa/LTTE honey moon period and decide who ate rhe real traitors.
Thanabalu said,
April 22, 2006 @ 5:00 pm
The best thing any one can do to prevent this blood shed is mobilize your local parlimentarian and campaign towards a REFFERENDUM to seperate the NE from rest of the Island- the democratic and non violent after all a CANADIAN way.
A TRAITOR is a person who commits treason by betraying his or her country, not necessarily work with SL, half baked pundit and moran. Put it this way, work for the SL to commits treason by betraying his or her country in this aspect we can see many of those Paramilitaries, paramilitary political party and people who get only 120 votes from the public are all those category.
Working with the enemy to take advantage is TOTALLY defferent than working for the enemy you half baked pundits.
Still confused, A person working with is different from work for it!!!!!!!!
Thanabalu said,
April 22, 2006 @ 6:22 pm
The day LTTE was banned in Canada, WTM and others know that RCMP will and CSIS will vicit them one day or other. The day, HRW released the report, they know their days are numbered. Does any sensible person think that they will keep their records, books in the show case for display to be INSPECTED by the RCMP. There may be some parking tickets and so on left in the office. Wake up man to the reality!!!!!!!!!
Ravi Canada said,
April 22, 2006 @ 7:32 pm
WHY DID YOU TAKE THE NEWS OUT I put ou earlyer this showes how new blacked out in Toronto !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ARE YOU ALL SHAME
:
WTM was radied today we know they went in to hiding already , please Well Thanabalu DONT THINK THE RCMP AND OTHERS STUPID, They have been following and filming you all guys long time so my friend dont think this Sri Lanka ok, wake up. Babu Catering next in line tell those LTTE men who goes for luch there with black bag to stop as they are been filmed. Tell they go back to Vani — Dont wast Canada’s Good Will Thank God Canada let you stay here or Thanabalu your kids would have taken away LTTE in SL.
Good Luck on you Run And Hide News…….
Ravi Canada said,
April 22, 2006 @ 7:41 pm
1. WHY DID YOU TAKE THE NEWS OUT I put out earlier this shows how news blacked out in Toronto !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ARE YOU ALL SHAME
:
— Don’t wast Canada’s Good Will=== Thank God Canada let you stay here or Thanabalu your kids would have been taken away by LTTE in SL and you want have this comfortable life……
Good Luck on you Run And Hide News
Thanabalu said,
April 22, 2006 @ 7:49 pm
Mr. Ravi, no one need to run as long as they are not committing crime. Tell me is there any one was arrested in AUSTRALIAN RAID, DENMARK RAID, MONTREOL RAID or simply they took documents for inspection.
It looks like your business couldn’t compete with BABU catering and taking personal grudge on them.
RCMP is well organized and they know what they do and they don’t have to go by the politico’s order but the law of the land. You don’t need to spoon feed this by all means, don’t even compare RCMP to SL police.
Good night
Rajen wicramasinge canada toronto said,
April 23, 2006 @ 6:44 am
Dear Friends DO NOT FOR GET ANC WAS BANNED BY WESTERN WORLD.
HON. NELSON MANDELA WAS A TERRIST . AFTER FOURTY YEARS HERE IS THE LEADER OF THE WORLD. TAMILS NATIONA;ISM NEVER DIE. IN 10 YEARS MR .PRABAHARAN IS GOING TO SAME AS NELSON MANDELA.
TA,ILS SHOULD UNITE
Siva Toronto said,
April 23, 2006 @ 10:24 am
WTM was radied saturday night 22nd April in SCARBROUGH – TORONTO —Canada
Kanthan Scarbrough Toronto said,
April 23, 2006 @ 10:50 am
WTM, the Tiger frontal office in Canada has been sealed off!
The Head Office of the Canada World Tamil Movement, the frontal organisation of the Tigers located at 39, Cosentino Drive, Scarborough in Canada has been sealed off by the Canadian Security Officials Saturday 22 April 2006.
This follows the in the wake of the Tiger ban. Last week the WTM office in Montreal was also raided. It can be recalled that the Tigers were banned and added to the terrorist list in Canada on April 10, 2006. Canadian security officials are cracking down on the frontal organisations of the LTTE following this ban
Kanthan Scarbrough Toronto said,
April 23, 2006 @ 8:34 pm
Dear Rajen wicramasinge
Its looks like you dont know the histry of South Africa, you can tell this to the people od Vani my friend – for your information I lived near by all Wetern counties sanction White rgime and put pressure and made the white relase Hon. Nelson Mandela . OK. Remaber Sadam was a millioner he had USSR and France behind him see where he is now ??? So remaber this Want be supurise to see PRABAHARAN In Jail or he kills him self. Dont compare NELSON MANDELA please for God sake he is freedm fighter and did not kill the people he was holding hands for selfish purpase. You Right Tamils should UNITE and solve the problem but not with Praba.
From This you know you dont know what you are talking about.
GOOD LUCK
JEYASURIYA,MARADANA said,
April 23, 2006 @ 9:29 pm
With Sri Lanka’s government refusing to disarm Army-backed paramilitaries whose ‘shadow war’ against the LTTE is spiralling into increasingly cycles of revenge killings, the Ceasefire Agreement is ‘falling apart,’ the LTTE’s Chief Negotiator and Political Strategist, Anton Balasingham, said this week. Colombo’s support for the paramilitaries and the escalated repression against Tamil civilians in government-controlled areas of the Northeast means “we can safely assume that Rajapakse administration has not given up the military option,” he told The Sunday Leader newspaper.
Mr. Anton Balasingham
“The appointment of hard-line, hawkish elements in the defence establishment, the adoption of an acrimonious, irreconcilable attitude at the peace negotiations, the hostility and suspicion shown to the Norwegian facilitators, the malicious propaganda campaign launched internationally against the LTTE, and demonising the organisation as a ‘terrorist outfit,’ demonstrate the fact that the Mahinda Chinthana is entrapped in a military mindset,” he said.
The text of Mr. Balasingham’s comments to The Sunday Leader follow:
“You are certainly aware that the ground situation in the north east is fast becoming grave and dangerous. The escalating violence is gradually assuming the ugly character of a shadow or subversive war, reminiscent of the last December and January turbulence. This time the violence started with the assault on LTTE’s sentry posts in the east by Tamil paramilitaries soon after the Geneva talks.
LTTE cadres have claimed that Karuna’s raiding party was given artillery cover by the Sri Lankan armed forces during these encounters. The situation became worse following the assassination of Mr. Vigneswaran, a well respected Tamil leader of Trincomalee. We have evidence to believe that Tamil paramilitaries in collusion with military intelligence were behind this murder.
These events depict the harsh reality of paramilitary violence in the government-controlled areas of the north east. Nevertheless, the Rajapakse administration continues to make incredulous pronouncements that Tamil paramilitaries do not exist. This shameful denial of truth by the government has made the Geneva agreement meaningless and absurd. How can there be an authentic peace effected by total cessation of hostilities if Tamil armed paramilitaries are protected, encouraged and assisted by the Sri Lankan armed forces in their violent campaign against the Tamil Tigers and their civilian supporters?
In our perception, the violence of the paramilitaries and the reluctance of the government to contain them has become a major threat to peace. Now the violence has taken an ugly turn, in which Tamil civilians are brutally eliminated in the form of revenge killings. The situation in the Tamil areas is very gloomy and the cycle of revenge killings in this dirty subversive war is plunging the country into a horrible ethnic war.
Now the million dollar question is what to discuss at the next round of talks in Geneva. The Cease Fire Agreement (CFA), for which the parties made a solemn pledge to uphold and respect at Geneva I, is falling apart. There is increasing mutual distrust, suspicion and animosity among the protagonists. We have our grave doubts whether this government is sincerely and seriously committed to seeking peace.
The Rajapakse regime is acting in bad faith on the issue of Tamil paramilitaries. In the military calculation of Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapakse, the Karuna group is an asset to launch internecine warfare among the Tamils. We can safely assume that Rajapakse administration has not given up the military option.
The appointment of hard-line, hawkish elements in the defence establishment, the adoption of an acrimonious, irreconcilable attitude at the peace negotiations, the hostility and suspicion shown to the Norwegian facilitators, the malicious propaganda campaign launched internationally against the LTTE, and demonising the organisation as a ‘terrorist outfit,’ demonstrate the fact that the Mahinda Chinthana is entrapped in a military mindset.
Some of the government ministers have suggested that the next round of talks should focus on north east economic development. This is a ridiculous proposition in view of the grave security situation prevailing in Tamil areas. Economic development projects cannot be undertaken in an unstable environment threatened by war.
Furthermore, the Rajapakse government is systematically losing control of governance in the so-called ‘cleared areas’ of the north east. The law and order system there has collapsed and the state can no longer safeguard and protect the ordinary Tamil citizens. The state’s security forces rule the occupied Tamil territories with emergency laws, enforcing brutal force. General [Sarath] Fonseka’s tyrannical administration in Jaffna and other occupied Tamil cities is systematically losing the hearts and minds of the civilian population, creating objective conditions for popular insurrection.
There are also suggestions from the government circles that substantial issues underlying the Tamil national question should be taken up for discussion at Geneva II. We are fully aware that the Mahinda Chinthana is a closed ideological universe where there is no space for imaginative policies or projects.
Upholding a rigid unitary constitution and opposing the concepts of Tamil speaking homeland and regional self government, this government, aligned to chauvinist extremist elements, cannot offer a fair and reasonable solution to the ethnic conflict.
As far as the LTTE is concerned, de-escalation of the conflict situation and normalisation of civilian life in the north east are critical at this conjuncture, which could only be secured by the effective implementation of the CFA.
The talks are unlikely to take place on April 24 due to the current situation and particularly due to the transport dispute. Talks may be rescheduled for a further date if the transport dispute is resolved.”
APE RATA ?? SINGALA RATA……..
Jegan said,
April 24, 2006 @ 3:20 am
LTTE are traitors of Tamil people! LTTE betrayed eastern tamils!
A concern citizen of tamileelam
Thanabalasingam said,
April 24, 2006 @ 3:40 am
Jegan, why karuna was EXPELLED and pleaded with VP as “YOU ARE MY GOD” and asked VP to sack Thamilenthy (the finance controller)?
WAS HE STEALING MONEY FROM LTTE TO INVEST IN MALAYSIA? or ???
By the way where is your “EASTERN NATIONAL LEADER” now? IS he in the Jungle, in a city, inside an army camp or LIVE A LUXARY LIFE OUT THERE IN A AN ASIAN COUNTRY?
Muhammad JINNAH was smart enough to stick with INDIAN leaders until the last minute and asked the seperate state for PAKISTAN and if karuna had atleast the half of his brain, would have stay with LTTE until final solution. He just coldn’t be wait with his hemorrhoid, isn’t he?
Maran, Toronto said,
April 24, 2006 @ 6:34 am
TO: Kanthan Scarbrough, and Jegan
You seem like a person don’t know many things. Mandela and Gandhi are freedome fighters. So is LTTE, but Gandeeyam does not work with SL government who are worse than animals. However, Tamils tried Gandeeyam before they took arms to save them. That is the difference.
LTTE has not done anything anywhere close to Sadam. You dont know what Sadam did for his own peple and others either. Are you happy to live here, eat three times full and not think about what is happening to other Tamils who are living there in hell created by Karuna and SL Army.
Do you think, your Karuna would or could have been a leader for Tamils?
As you say, why dont you come up with the plan to unite the Tamils first especially whe you are distancing youself from Tamils. And, then you can come up with the plan to sove the problem. We want to see both of your palns when you writte next.
——————————————–
Mr Jegan,
You have no clue of anything my dear. Your leader Karuna is kiling innocent peple everyday in east using his people and working with the Army. He thinks he can get close to LTTE. Earlier he wished that he did not make the mistake after he ran for life with Ali, another traitor who spoke Tamil, married to a Tamil and played his typical “nana” game.
Karuna robbed at least half a million US dollars of Eastern people’s money. Pottu Amman was very smart to catch him on time beofore he executed his plans. He could not stand the Pottu Amman’s samartness.
He think he can get to Puttu Amman, but Pottu Amman will find him soon. It is just a matter of time. Or he will go with the Army to ground and the triaitars who he is he lviving with very soon. Your Karuna is a blood sucking mosiquito, but it has drunk some blood already. So, it will fly for a while until it runs out of blood.
You don’t know a didly, and don’t try to diffrenciate the Eastern Tamils from other Tamils. You should be working with Scaborough Kanthan, to unite the Tamils, and then come up with the plan to solve the Tamil problem. Did you go to any school me dear?
Jeyasuriya (R),Maradana said,
April 24, 2006 @ 9:35 am
Fear
Increasing attacks on civilians have sparked inter-communal violence, with Sinhala mobs burning and looting Tamil homes and shops, reports the BBC’s Dumeetha Luthra from the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo.
Thousands of Tamils in the east of Sri Lanka are reported to have fled their homes in fear of reprisal attacks.
Tension in the Trincomalee district has been high since 16 people died in bombings and rioting in Trincomalee town in the middle of April.
APE RATA
Jeyasuriya (R),Maradana said,
April 24, 2006 @ 2:59 pm
‘It is time the rest of the world took Sri Lanka seriously,’ Michael Vatikiotis of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore said in an opinion piece in the International Herald Tribune.
He said the ‘threat of force’ was needed to bring the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to the negotiating table ‘and keep them there’.
Vatikiotis said India was well positioned to exert pressure on both sides but it preferred to lend quiet support to the Norway-backed peace process that is now under serious strain.
He said South Asia’s major donors and strategic allies, ‘using their enhanced access to the region, should persuade South Asian nations to cooperate more closely to bring an end to the war in Sri Lanka’.
He added that admission of the US, China and Japan as observers to the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) ‘will make it harder for India to ignore instability on its fringes’.
The scholar added that the growing categorization of the LTTE as a terrorist group had not helped.
‘The progressive isolation of the Tigers, now banned as terrorists in Canada and Europe as well as in the US, doesn’t help.
‘Instead of pushing them into terrorist oblivion, where they could prove even more dangerous, governments should be finding ways to engage with them through the widely dispersed and hugely sympathetic Tamil diaspora.
‘More forceful engagement with both sides could push them to respect the ceasefire agreed to in 2002 and lead to discussions about an acceptable federal solution.’
Vatikiotis credited Norway, the peace facilitator, with ‘valiantly leading attempts’ to revive the stalled peace process but warned that ‘there is precious little help coming from elsewhere.
‘It seems perverse that a world gripped by the scourge of terrorism neglects the bloody conflict in Sri Lanka…
‘Each side accuses the other of not being serious about the talks, and a full-blown resurgence of this vicious war looms…
‘A major part of the problem is that both sides in this conflict have proved reluctant to negotiate.
‘The Tigers are strong. They control territory and have a respectable military capacity. They aren’t going away.
‘The government in Colombo wants to play it both ways – seeking to isolate the Tigers and engage them in a peace process.’
APE RATA
Seelan said,
April 24, 2006 @ 7:55 pm
Maran: Right on spot man. Karuna is nothing but a common thief. He is a disgrace to the LTTE. He is thief, a womanizer and a traitor. He is lucky that he is still alive. He ran away because guilty of stealing, damn well knew that he was going to get his head cut off. Pottu Amman let one slip away. Prabaharan had the atmost respect for this guy because of his war craft. But greed got the best of him. For those easterrn Tamils crying fowl, please, give it a break.
Thanks
Maran, Toronto said,
April 25, 2006 @ 4:55 am
Hi Jeyasuriya,
I agree with most of what you have quoted here earlier, and I do appreciate the fact that you are writing impartially and the truth more than most of our Tamils who are writing on this site.
To add to your comment on banning the LTTE, SL government thinks that they can succeed in covering up their covert-combined activities with Karuna and other groups and putting a terrorist label on LTTE. But, they are going to fail big time. At the moment, the international communities are not educated and they do not know what SL government is doing behind the scene. It is going to be crystal-clear very soon, once the international communities come to know their game.
I also think that LTTE is shooting on its foot by not addressing the issues properly. They have not figured out how to address in the international community what SL government is doing. They do not even know how to defend themselves from the terrorist label so far, especially even when they are functioning as a government with a structure. Once, they figure this out and start to function in all six cylinders, the SL government will tuck its tail between its legs.
Furthermore, if SL government succeeds in making EU ban LTTE, there is nothing for LTTE to lose afterwards. After that the government will realize its mistakes in a big way. So far the government and most of the people think that the war is in another country because so far the only sufferings are in the East and North; the Sinhalese people don’t know anything about the sufferings of Tamils because they think that the war is somewhere that they can’t see. But, this time the situation will be very different.
SL government has not even implemented the first condition that they agreed to do during the peace talks. Only way to get out of this war mode is by SL government making the first move being genuine and winning the hearts of Tamils and LTTE. It is easy to do as Tamils are passive by nature.
Maran, Toronto said,
April 25, 2006 @ 6:37 am
Re: Dr Mike Adrews M.D ‘s comment on April 21, 2006 @ 10:45 pm
Dear Dr. Mike Andrews M. D,
Sorry, I did not notice your comments earlier on time. I did a physician search on your name through my brother who is a MD, but we could not find you and locate you. Is your real name Mike and Adrews? How did you get these names, and where are you from in Sri Lanka? What is your license number? Just curious.
I don’t mind our fellow Sinhalese being so naïve and ignorant as their government, media and their Buddhist monks lie to them all day long, biased, being racists, undertaken a mission to destroy the Tamils in all different angles systematically. It is understood well the in the international forum.
But, it drew my attention and made me wonder, how a US educated Tamil M.D could be a Moron. Many people are educated in US, but it is an insult to US educational system and the abbreviations Dr. and MD to see a person like you being a Moron. Don’t write in this forum. Many people including the Sinhalese in this forum know about the Tamil struggle way more than you do.
I thought I will do a favor to you by writing this so that you can get re-educated, only if you are willing to learn. Otherwise, you will be a Dr. Moron all your life. Here is my straight comment to you. Go and research on the Tamil struggle: Why it happened, how it is evolved, who created it, what are the root causes, what happened to the Tamils in 1958, 1977, 1983 and then every year after wards. What are the things happened to Tamils in those particular years. Who did it and how they did it. Why our own Tamil people helped the Sinhalese to isolate us from the system.
Then, read about democracy and non-violence struggle, and WHERE WOUD IT WORK. When you understand all those, then, you may want to learn about the Sinhalese people and the government, their mentality, goals, their mission and who is driving them, WHY THEY DO WHAT THEY DO TO TAMILS. Then it is a “straight home run,” for an US educated Tamil MD, if you know what that means.
Then come back and tell us how Tamils can create a “democratic Tamil struggle against SL Government” and how Tamils can get at least one hundredth of human rights that others have in the western world. We would love to hear from you. You can do it in a week. I still believe you are a real MD.
Thank you
Maran
Maran, Toronto said,
April 27, 2006 @ 4:52 pm
A Good Article, gives the brief of what happened for people who dont even know the basics of the problem. Please read this:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060427/wl_sthasia_afp/srilankaunresthistory_060427121559
Here I quote something from the article below, how Sinhalese people were iriginated. We are dealing with these kind of people.
Here is the quote from the article:
“The majority Sinhalese trace their origins back to a North Indian prince, Vijaya, whose father banished him for disobedience. Vijaya is said to have taken a native princess of the yaksha or demon tribe as his wife and together they gave birth to the Sinhalese race.”
It is a good article that gives the basics for ignorant people like Dr. Mike Adrews, M.D and others who are very naïve about the origin of the Tamil problem.
So, it is about Tamils to Unite and bring the Genocide out to the public. Civilians including women and children are being butchered in our Tamil home land. Sinhalese government is executing just what they did in 1983 and doing false propaganda in the international forum. Many Tamils are being butchered everyday even in the south. The government has staged and well executed the Tricomale massacre, similar to what they have done in 1983. I have articles that are written by Sinhalese in the last week about what government has done with their hooligans, Karuna Group in Trinco. Government is solely responsible for the Trinco incident and for the massacre happening everyday. LTTE has reacted to it in frustration but not soundly yet. This government does not understand what it means by the word “peace” or “human rights.” If they really want to talk peace, why would they use Karuna to kill the civilians and not facilitate the LTTE to transport them to Geneva.
So, Karuna lovers, please see the damage your man has been doing to the Tamil community in the east and south as well.
Wake up and smell the coffee people.
Maran
Jeyasurya,Maradana said,
April 28, 2006 @ 6:09 am
details civilian killings by Sri Lankan forces and paramilitaries after Geneva Talks
103 civilians, including six children, have been killed by Sri Lankan forces and its paramilitaries since Geneva Talks on 24 February untill April 27, according to a report issued by the Political Head Quarters of the Liberation Tigers Friday. 12 Tamil civilians were killed on February 27, March 5, 6, 9, 20, 22, 24, 25, and 28, and the first attack on SLA posts after the Geneva Talks in February took place on April 8th after the assasination of Trincomalee district Tamil activist Mr. V. Vigneswaran. “Readers can now make their own conclusion about who is responsible for deteriorating situation following the Geneva talks,” the report issued by the LTTE concluded.
Download the report with details in PDF format
Full text of the reports follows:
Tamil civilians murdered, by and under the supervision of, Sri Lankan Armed Forces since Geneva talks on 24 February until April 27 2006
The Tamil civilians murdered by, and under the supervision of, the SLAFs since the Geneva talks on 24 February are given in a Table in this report. With a brief explanation of the data in this Table. This Table tells the story of the gruesome terrorizing nature of the murderous campaign by the SLAFs. After reading this Table, it is not too hard to imagine the state of terror in which the Tamil people are living in the SLAFs controlled areas of Northeast.
These murders were carried out by two main methods. These are, killing by direct shooting of the SLAFs and killing by direct shooting of the paramilitary while SLAFs stood guard nearby.
In the case of direct shooting by the SLAFs, the victims are first arrested on a false pretext. They are then shot and the bodies just thrown in a public place to be “discovered” by the people. The murder of five young men in Puthur on 18 April is a typical case of this style of SLAFs murder.
The other style of SLAFs murder is carried out using paramilitary. These murders are carried out after the SLAFs prepares the ground for the safety of and escape route for the paramilitary which then carries out the murder. Sometimes the roads are cleared of vehicles by the SLAFs so that the crime can be committed with minimum number of eyewitness. SLAFs has stood at the doors of neighbours preventing the neighbours from going to the aid of the victims. In all such murders people reported the presence of SLAFs nearby. When murders had to be committed too close to a SLAFs presence, people observed that the SLAFs vacated the place just before the murder is carried out; returning only after the paramilitary has safely escaped. The close synchronization of the movement of SLAFs and the paramilitary during these murderous campaigns are clear signal that the two are working closely together. These paramilitary murders are carried out in three distinct styles. These are, balaclava wearing gunmen arriving in white-van at night at the victim’s home; helmeted motorbike riders shooting and escaping in daylight; and missing people surfacing as bodies
In Trincomalee, Sinhala mobs have also been used by the SLAFs to kill Tamil civilians. That the SLAFs stood by as Sinhala mobs continued the mayhem is now well known and reported in the international media.
Following all such face to face killing, police is brought in to remove the bodies, a judge is also usually present at the scene, and the bodies are taken to the hospital for a postmortem report and the bodies are released to the family. The case is brought to the courts. As is now the hallmark of the Sri Lankan justice system it stops here. The Table gives the names of civilians killed grouped according to the styles of murdered described above.
To these styles of murders, two more styles must be added. These are, the killing by SLAFs planted claymore mines targeting civilians and killing by aerial bombing and shelling of civilian settlements.
Some of the claymore attacks and also one incident of face to face attack have been carried by SLAFs that penetrated the Forward Defense Lines of the LTTE. Since these murders are carried out inside LTTE area by the SLAFs these have been grouped separately in the Table.
The styles of murders to look for in the Table
direct shooting by the SLAFs,
direct shooting by the paramilitary while SLAFs stood guard nearby, carried out in three distinct styles
balaclava wearing gunmen arriving in white-van at night at the victim’s home;
helmeted motorbike riders shooting and escaping in daylight; and
missing people surfacing as bodies.
SLAFs assisted Sinhala mobs,
SLAFs planted claymore mines that target civilians,
SLAFs aerial bombing and shelling of civilian settlements and
SLAFs killing inside LTTE area
Other major issues to look for in the table
The number of Tamil children and women killed by the SLAFs since the February 2006 Geneva talks are highlighted in the age and gender columns of the table. Six children under the age of 18 have been killed. Three children were killed in the so called “limited operation” carried out by all three armed forced of GoSL in Trincomalee on 25 April. Among them is a four year old child. The photos of the dead bodies of these children are in page 8. Fifteen women were also killed by this SLAFs murderous campaign.
The murders of the three high profile community leaders, Vigneswaran on 7 April, Vilvarasa on 20 April and Senthilnathan on 26 April must also be highlighted as all the three men had the potential to be parliamentary representatives for Northeast. Their murders represent an attempt to eliminate the development of democratic leadership among the Tamils.
Another very important aspect of these civilian murders that is missed by most international observers is the fact that a total 12 Tamil civilians were killed on February 27, March 5, 6, 9, 20, 22, 24, 25, and 28. Then on April 7 Tamil activist, Vigneswaran, was killed. The first attack on SLA posts after the Geneva talks took place on April 8th. Readers can now make their own conclusion about who is responsible for deteriorating situation following the Geneva talks.
Maran, Toronto said,
April 28, 2006 @ 7:32 am
Hello,
Sri Lankan goverment has just executed another 1983 type of riots very well. This time with the help of Karuna group:
Here is the sequence of planning by SL government:
1. Systematic planned killing of civilians by both Karuna Group and SLA, after promising that they will disarm Karuna group when they were in Geneva.
2. Created a tension by killing prominent Tamils and civilians to make LTTE react.
3. Then they planned a riot and butchered the Tamils and burnt the Tamils’ belongings, just like the way they have done it in 1983 in Colombo.
4. Then they planned an aerial bombing as soon as anything happens. They accused the blast in Colombo for the aerial bombing, but it was already pre-planned by the government.
Please note at this point there is not enough information to accuse the LTTE for the attack in Colombo. Only time will tell us. As it is for now, the SL government has staged it as well with the help of Karuna.
So, anyone who still thinks that we can democratically solve the problem with Sri Lankan government? Can people like Dr Mike Adress, Arun Vincent or any other Karuna lovers tell us more about non-vilolence solution with SL Government please?
Sinhalese people,
Do you think that Tamils can live a peacefully with these monsters? And, can you tell us, if Sinhalese people can kill, rape, butcher innocent women, children and burn our properties, why shouldn’t we kill them for self protection? If they Sinhalese can butcher the children, why are they dropping crocodile tears for LTTE using child soldiers, especially when there is no law that says you cannot use anyone above 15 yrs old? For me, Sinhalese Government’s excuse looks like the saying in Tamil, that the wolf was worried for the goat being wet in the rain.
Karuna lovers, your man is funneling the fuel for the people in the East after he stole half a million US dollars from them. He changed because he liked the prostitutes in Thailand when he came for the peace talk conference meetings. Is he your leader? Does he know that SL government is going to drop a bomb shell on him too later?