Tamil national struggle
population came together recently in Scarborough to condemn the killing of Balanadarajah
Aiyer on August 16 in Colombo and pay tribute to "Sinna Bala" as he was popularly known.
Representatives of the TULF, PLOTE, TELO, EPRLF, EROS, EPDP along with human rights
activists, academics, journalists, lawyers, Brahmin priests and other members of civil society
assembled on a Saturday evening to commemorate Sinna Bala who was gunned down
brutally at Wellawatte by assassins on motorcycles.
By D. B. S. Jeyaraj
The event was rather significant as far as the Canadian Tamil diaspora was concerned
because of three reasons.
Firstly, it was a rare occasion where the hopelessly divided non-LTTE sections in Toronto
united for a common purpose. Secondly, it was after 15 years that a public meeting was
being held in Toronto to condemn the killing of a Tamil political activist and pay homage to
his memory. The last such meeting was in 1989 for TULF Leader Appapillai Amirthalingam.
Thirdly, the content of many speeches dealt with issues and concepts that have never been
discussed at a Tamil public meeting before.
Though the attendance was hardly in the league of gatherings organised by the LTTE most
participants at this meeting were qualitatively of a different level in political consciousness.
The panel of speakers while speaking of the life and times of Sinna Bala and his murder most
foul, also ventured to address the larger issues behind the killing. Within the short period of
available time the speakers approached the current crisis of killings from different
perspectives.
Political assassinations
The history of political assassinations in the Tamil community, the phenomenon of labelling
those with diverse political opinion as "Thurogigal" (traitors) and justifying their elimination as
"Kalai eduppu" (weeding out), the rise of Tamil fascism, the brutal nature of the on going
killing spree, the bleak future of the Tamil people, the fraudulent results in the north-east
during the last general elections, the question of "sole representative status" etc. were some
of the hitherto 'forbidden' issues (Pesapporul) and concepts delved into deeply by the
speakers. In a double cliche no punches were pulled or words minced.
The politically aware members of the audience - many accompanied by their spouses - were
extremely appreciative of most views expressed and indicated their endorsement through
intermittent outbursts of spontaneous and sustained applause. The atmosphere and mood of
the meeting though highly emotive did not descend into vulgarity but retained a tone of
refinement for most of the time.
There was also quite a lot of interaction and exchange of views among participants at the
fellowship dinner held after the meeting at the same venue. The 'star' attraction of the
gathering was septuagenarian President, Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF),
Veerasingham Anandasangaree whose pithy observations about contemporary Tamil politics
went down well with the audience.
A poignant note was struck when Mrs. Thambirajah, mother of the EPRLF's Subathiran alias
Robert placed a garland around Sinna Bala's portrait in homage (Malar anjali) as the meeting
commenced. There was hardly a dry eye when she began sobbing loudly, presumably
thinking of her own son who was gunned down in Jaffna by the LTTE on June 15th last year.
Her husband and brother too had been killed earlier.
The meeting was organised by the Coalition for Human Rights, Equality, Peace and
Democracy in Sri Lanka (CHEPADS). At the meeting's conclusion a resolution was presented
and approved unanimously. The resolution condemned the killing of Balanadarajah and
expressed sympathies to his family. It also demanded that the culture of killing those with
differing political views in Sri Lanka should end immediately. It also called upon Canada and
rest of the international community to exert pressure and bring about an end to these killings.
Though several weeks have passed since his killing, the life and death of Sinna Bala and his
role in the Tamil national struggle for equal rights is worthy of recalling even now.
Nadarajah Aiyer Balanadarajah Aiyer known popularly as Sinna Bala was brutally gunned
down at Wellawatte in Colombo on August 16th. The killers riding motorcycles wearing
helmets are presumed to be members of a Tiger assassination team operating in Colombo.
Though attempts have been made to deflect the blame for the killing elsewhere it is indeed
widely known that the LTTE is the guilty party. In a telling indictment the Tigers have been
conspicuously absent in expressing sorrow or condemnation for the killing of Sinna Bala.
Tamil politics
Sinna Bala was born on June 6, 1957. He belonged to the tiny Brahmin community in Jaffna.
Hailing originally from Pungudutheevu, Bala's father Nadarajah was a school teacher in
Oorelu in Jaffna. Bala's paternal uncle was the well known music composer, singer and poet
"Inuvil" Veeramani Iyer. It was Veeramani Aiyer who wrote and composed music for the
popular devotional song rendered by T. M. Soundararajan "Katpagavalli Nin Potpathangal
Pidithen."
It was Bala who observed the last rites for Veeramany Aiyer when he passed away last year
in Jaffna. Though under life threat Bala braved all odds and went to Jaffna last year without
any protection to do his filial duty. It was the same sense of duty and family obligation that led
to his tragic demise this time.
With LTTE killer squads roaming the streets of Colombo in search of leading members of the
Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP), most EPDP stalwarts have been taking extra
safety precautions. Sinna Bala too had been staying with other EPDP members at the party
office in 121 Park Road, Havelock Town. He had however gone home to 171/6, W. A. de
Silva Mawatha on the 15th to discharge religious duties to his departed father and uncles on
account of "Aadi Amavasai."
After sending off his daughters to school Bala was waiting outside his house for the EPDP
vehicle when the assailants struck. Incidently, Bala was scheduled to go to the Swiss
embassy later that day for a visa. His latest book - a critique of the LTTE in relation to the
Indo-Lanka accord - was to be released shortly there. Apart from his innumerable journalistic
writings Bala has also penned three books. The most famous of these was Kaani Uruthi
(Land Deed), a book of short stories.
Sinna Bala was closely involved in Tamil national politics for more than three decades.
Influenced initially by the pioneering Tamil militant from neighbouring Urumpirai - Pon
Sivakumaran, Bala began actively involving himself in Tamil student politics from the age of
15. He became a member of the Tamil Maanavar Peravai in 1972. Many old timers of the
Tamil militant struggle fondly recall the contribution of "Iyer" Bala as he was called then. It is
said that Bala helped provide refuge, protection, shelter and food to many a young Tamil
militant fleeing the clutches of policemen in Jaffna.
Later on, Bala participated in the activities centered around the progressive Tamil journal
Manitham edited by Vimalathasan. Becoming increasingly left-leaning after Sivakumaran's
death Bala moved away from the pro-TULF student and youth organisations. His politics
became progressively revolutionary and soon Bala became one of the founding members of
the Eelam Revolutionary Organisation of Students (EROS).
The student EROS later metamorphosed into the political front EROS (Eelam Revolutionary
Organisation). Once again Balanadarajah Aiyer was a pioneering member. He was widely
known then as "Eros" Bala. Later on, when Velupillai Balakumar came into EROS he became
known as EROS Bala on account of his seniority. The junior Bala was now being called
"Sinna (Little) Bala" and the name struck.
Journalist
Sinna Bala was deeply involved with the publishing of Tharkeegam, a tabloid articulating the
EROS point of view in the early '80s. He used the pseudonym "Ilaiyavan." He was also a
political activist mobilising public opinion and interacted closely with the public instead of
confining himself to the editorial office alone.
Though a Brahmin he moved closely with people from all walks of life and displayed no caste
consciousness. He even rejected vegetarianism, but reverted back after marriage. Sinna
Bala has lived for long periods in the east, Mannar and India doing political work in addition
to Jaffna and Colombo.
After July 1983, EROS too obtained arms training in India. Sinna Bala belonged to the
original batch of trainees. Though trained in arms Sinna Bala abhorred the use of violence.
He never carried a gun and close friends say that after his military training days Bala seldom
touched a firearm. It was more a case of penmanship than gunmanship for him.
Though Sinna Bala was no professional journalist he was for practical purposes a full time
writer. His journalism was only an extension of his politics. He was no cheap propagandist,
but a man with deep convictions and unafraid to articulate those. Many would regard Sinna
Bala as a genuine journalist in comparison with several other pseudo and self-styled
journalists parading as free members of the fourth estate. I have the greatest respect for his
writing from the days of Tharkeegam.
The withdrawal of the Indian army and the ascendancy of the LTTE saw EROS taking a
momentous decision in 1990. The bulk of the EROS led by Balakumar and Para opted to
throw in their lot with the LTTE. EROS was dissolved and many members joined the LTTE.
Sinna Bala too followed this course of action.
Remaining in Jaffna, Bala became assistant and later deputy editor of the Tiger controlled
Eelanatham newspaper. This provided him an avenue of employment. The paper however
was under severe controls after the Mahattaya episode. Editorial freedom was severely
curtailed. Moreover the LTTE 'rule' in Jaffna provided Sinna Bala with an insight of things to
come. He realised that the Tigers were only leading the Tamil people on the road to disaster
and wanted no part of it. Escaping Tiger hegemony however was no easy task.
Bala's opportunity came in 1995 when the Sri Lankan army regained Jaffna through
operation Riviresa. Bala sent most of his books and papers to the Wanni to allay suspicion
and delayed his own departure. He then remained in Jaffna with his family rather than moving
to the Wanni. He tried to set up a Tamil paper Kaalai Kathir in Jaffna during this time. The
attempt ended in failure.
Always a political animal, Bala then joined the EPRLF and later contested the Valigamam
East Pradeshiya Council elections in 1998. He was elected on the EPRLF ticket. The party
however split into the Suresh and Varathan factions later. A disillusioned Bala avoided both
factions and virtually quit politics.
Realising Bala's 'worth' the EPDP's Douglas Devananda extended an invitation to Sinna Bala
that he join his party. After some persuasion Bala accepted. He contested the parliamentary
elections of October 10, 2000, December 5, 2001 and April 2, 2004 on the EPDP ticket in
Jaffna District. Though he did not win Bala plunged into the polls campaign with zestful
enthusiasm. He also courageously faced the violence, threats and intimidation of the LTTE.
Functioning as propaganda secretary of the EPDP, Sinna Bala also found ample scope to
exercise his journalistic skills. After Ramesh Atputharajah's death Bala got involved with
editorial affairs of the weekly Thinamurasu. He used the pseudonym "Ambimahan." Bala also
edited the EPDP organ Makkal Kural. He was also responsible for the EPDP website in Tamil.
Some weeks before Sinna Bala's death, his erstwhile colleague Balakumar now a senior
LTTE leader telephoned him in Colombo. Balakumar "advised" his old friend to drop out of
EPDP politics and go abroad if possible. Otherwise, Sinna Bala's life too could be
endangered he cautioned. Sinna Bala refused firmly and politely.
Right to life
His fate was perhaps sealed then and there. It was only a matter of time before the Kingarar
minions of Deathgod Yaman ensnared Sinna Bala's life with the Pasakkayiru lasso. That
fateful day came on August 16. Sinna Bala's life was snuffed out brutally and cruelly. He
leaves behind his wife Jegatheeswari and three daughters.
Sinna Bala has been interlinked with the evolution and growth of the Tamil militant nationalist
movement from its pioneering days. He has a history that is equal if not more to that of LTTE
Leader Velupillai Pirapaharan. Sinna Bala has to a very great extent personified the various
stages and phases of the course of Tamil political struggle.
His murder is a horrible violation of his inherent right to free expression, political opinion and
above all, the right to life. It is the right to life that is the most important of all because all
other rights are derived from that basic right. Without life there can be no other rights.
Sadly, the Tamil community at large does not seem to realise the importance of the sanctity
of life. An ecology of death prevails and is being glorified. Eminent and sincere people like
Sinna Bala are being labelled "traitors" and exterminated with ease. The community is silent
even as the macabre death dance goes on and on. Unless and until the right to life is upheld
and honoured the future of the Tamil people is bleak indeed. [Sunday Leader, Oct 17, 2004]
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