It is no secret that military regimes are heavy handed in crushing any uprising. The despots everywhere don't tolerate dissent as if the power is their birthright. These 'electile' dysfunctional despots use oppression as viagra to prolong their stay in power. Even the fact that some of these uncrowned tyrants had to run for their lives at the end, even facing prison sentences and at times cruel death, doesn't deter the current ones from exercising the absolute power. Torture camps and mass graves are the byproducts of the corruption of this absolute power. Marxist and Maoist states have their gulag labor camps to re-educate the 'counterrevolutionaries'. Then in the emerging theocracies, where the concept of democracy is alien, mullahfication of politics, based on following the letter of the law from ancient texts, purportedly given by the Almighty, lead to primitive ways of punishments like flogging and beheading, making the Almighty a creator of criminal as well as constitutional law. But, the sad truth is even the democratically elected governments resort to bullets and blood in defeating rebellions and dissent. Even a peaceful demonstration can be broken up by the state, showing what a state can do to the very people who put it in power. It is no secret that military regimes are heavy handed in crushing any uprising. The despots everywhere don't tolerate dissent as if the power is their birthright. These 'electile' dysfunctional despots use oppression as viagra to prolong their stay in power. Even the fact that some of these uncrowned tyrants had to run for their lives at the end, even facing prison sentences and at times cruel death, doesn't deter the current ones from exercising the absolute power. Torture camps and mass graves are the byproducts of the corruption of this absolute power. Marxist and Maoist states have their gulag labor camps to re-educate the 'counterrevolutionaries'. Then in the emerging theocracies, where the concept of democracy is alien, mullahfication of politics, based on following the letter of the law from ancient texts, purportedly given by the Almighty, lead to primitive ways of punishments like flogging and beheading, making the Almighty a creator of criminal as well as constitutional law. But, the sad truth is even the democratically elected governments resort to bullets and blood in defeating rebellions and dissent. Even a peaceful demonstration can be broken up by the state, showing what a state can do to the very people who put it in power. As these are happening more commonly in the developing world, the western democracies selectively condemn or overlook these violations as they see fit. Now under the guise of fighting terrorism, they too are denying their own citizens the same human rights they proclaim to safeguard. Cracking down on terrorism may not be as brutal as quashing a rebellion. But in west, where individual rights are cherished, the powerful media and civil rights groups, and the eventual punishing at the polls keep the politicians from declaring an all out war on terror by taking away the civil rights. It is not simple as legislating an emergency declaration in the third world. They wish they could stuff the ballots and rig the polls or make the results 'null and void'. Luckily, in these places where public policy is often shaped by opinion polls, human rights violations don't happen in mass scale. Even revolutions and rebellions have their own way of dealing with dissent. They too have their own skeletons in the closet. In that world, branding somebody a traitor is a simple licence to kill. Pretending to be looking at the big picture, their apologists consider it as the collateral damage and try to sweep it under the carpet, or in the closet! At the end, it all comes down to the power. When the absolute power is questioned, in the name of order, individual human rights are violated. It isn't much about the safeguarding democracy or law and order. It is just a game for the powers that be to cling to their power. The scale in which these power setups deal with dissent may vary. But the intention is all same. The purported violators of order can be branded from separatists to terrorists, from criminals to traitors. This will make them punishable in the public's eye. When the 'terrorists' can't be apprehended or eliminated, there begins the collective punishment. In the era of aerial bombardment and explosive laden vehicles, collective punishment of the innocent civilians causes death and destruction in mass scale. Most of the times, number of innocent people caught in the crossfire exceeds the intended targets. This doesn't prevent the power to claim of 'inflicting heavy casualties on enemy'. Sadly, those who suffer most are the society's vulnerable... children, women and elderly.

Peter Tosh

2008-09-07 09:09:57

observed "Living next to you is like sleeping with an elephant; no matter how friendly and even-tempered is the beast, one is affected by every twitch and grunt." The man who'd been a pain in the rear to the US with his leanings towards Russia and Cuba should know a thing or two about being a neighbour to the real beast. Like Canada, we Sri Lankans are geographically thrown in the backyard of our one and only neighbour. But, unlike Canada, we have to be careful not to be a pain in the rear and disturb the sleeping giant. Thank god, India may be a beast, not a bully. History, along with myths, talks about the link between both. Sri Lankans often raise (and bury!) the historic link with India as they see fit. Sinhalese may beam about the birthplace of Buddha or their ancestors when the relationship is warm, but with the slightest signal of leaning towards Tamils, become ready to fight the invaders till death. Tamils, mainly the vocal minority, upon cue from LTTE, would talk about the motherly love of India, but with any suggestion of marginalizing tigers, would thunder about defeating the fourth largest army in the world. Nobody is enthusiastic about military intervention except chauvinist comrades and venerables in Sri Lanka and Tiger apologists in Tamil Nadu. Reds and saffrons, who fear a UN intervention will divide the nation along the ethnic lines as in Cyprus, wouldn't mind India 'neutering the cat' and, of course, get out right after that, without insisting on a political solution. Blackshawl brigade in Tamilnadu wants India to 'declaw the lion' and crown the tiger as the King of the Jungle and, of course, get out right after that without dictating any changes in Law of the Jungle. But the Gentle Giant seems to be sleeping. But for some, as the cliche goes, silence is deafening. Make no mistake about it. It is just pretending by refusing to engage openly. But the engagement is not as much as some want it to be. India may have reasons behind its reluctance. Having disturbed the hive and stung by the bees, the elephant doesn't want to bother again. Then there are those southern sentiments towards their brethren in Ealam have to be addressed and the pragmatic reasons for the minority governement that is kept alive with the support of regional special interest groups. Above all, with the new SL government aligning itself with Sinhalese extremist elements, India doesn't want to be found guilty by association. In one hand, making India to think twice is, for LTTE, a victory in itself. And on the other, being held hostage and blackmailed by regional parties is a shame for the government of a regional superpower. But this reluctance paved way for a new player in the field and the giant is disturbed now. Growing Pakistani influence in military affairs has India thinking loud. India cannot blame Sri Lanka or LTTE alone for the debacle. Having flexed the muscles for a long time, it entered the arena without assessing the pitfalls and feasibility. Military might of the regional superpower alone is not enough to find a solution for a conflict that passed its original cause long time ago. Initial blessings to the rebel groups may have more to do with west getting a foothold in west-leaning JR's regime than the suffering in 83 riots and aspirations of Tamils. Ethnic riots may have elicited sympathy, but it is the VOA and Trincomalee that are the real reasons behind arming anybody who wanted to setup shop in Tamilnadu. If India was there for altruistic reasons, it should have pushed for joint front like PLO. As Americans learnt their lessons in backing Mujahideen to fight Russians, India paid a big price by arming them. Despite repeated Sri Lankan accusations of arming rebels, India tried to gain political leverage using rebels. By twisting JR's arms, it pushed the Indo-Lanka accord against the wishes of everyone involved. Apart from JVP and chauvinists, even the JR government's Premadasa and Lalith Athulathmuthali were against the accord. LTTE Supremo was holed up in Delhi against his will and swore revenge on Rajiv. Realizing that it is no more considered the sole representative, LTTE tried to torpedo the accord by declaring war on IPKF, blaming India for the suicide deaths of their commanders despite the fact that it is the JR regime that insisted on flying them to Colombo. Dealing with untrustworthy partners, who viewed India's entry as to promote its own interests, and playing well into the hands of JR and LTTE, Referee India finally donned the gloves and entered the ring to fight the LTTE. On-the-job-training prime minister was outfoxed by JR.Jeyawardena as JR reportedly boasted later. Regime change in Sri Lanka turned the tables. Touted ad nauseam as a diplomatic move by LTTE, the warring parties have become strange bedfellows and declared, to quote Trudeau again partially, India 'has no place in their bedroom.' The country that was trying to force a shotgun wedding was hit on the head with the butt of a gun. Apart from the paradigm shift in Sri Lankan politics, changing political landscape in India itself worsened the matters. Emergence of regional parties eroded the majority rule and paved way for the minority governements that lack mandate and muscle. Due to the political meddling, IPKF had to fight the war with one hand tied behind. With the ultimate insult of fighting LTTE that is fully armed by the Sri Lankan governent, India bowed out bloodied and humiliated. It is the price India paid for not having a dignified exit strategy and a time frame. In this war, India forgot the very reason it got into this mess in the first place. A Political solution for Sri Lankan Tamils. Blinded by the military might, India failed to win the hearts and minds of Tamils. LTTE provoked IPKF in a typical guerilla fashion to do atrocities on Tamils. LTTE played its cards very well in portraying India as a bully trying to impose its will on Tamils and destroy the dream of Tamil homeland. India was outgunned in propaganda war with LTTE as well. Tamils, with inflated expectations, had their dreams shattered about India repeating another Bangaladesh in Ealam. Fighting Colombo's war, India alienated Tamils who felt betrayed when Indian army turned it rage on the innocent civilians. But, India could have tried to heal the wounds. Even after the departure, India never gave any formal apology, nor ever regretted the 'excesses' of the army. ('Tragedy or aberration', some may prefer calling) Then came the Rajiv's killing and that destroyed whatever left and made everything irreversible and irreparable. Above all, India hesitates to deal with a regime with extremist tendencies. With its militaristic approach to ethnic question, Rajapakse's government tried to get India on board for tiger hunting. As soon as the governent took over, Sri Lanka went to India with all the enthusiasm, carrying a shopping list for military hardware. But it was politely informed to come up with a political solution and look elsewhere for arms. Believing that 'Tiger terrorist problem' can be conatined by military means, Sri Lanka looked elsewhere, which happened to be the regional rivals, China and Pakistan. These intertwined factors make India look before it leaps. Is that fear justified? In the question of southern sentiments, despite all the rhetoric of firebrands, sympathy for Sri Lankan Tamil people in Tamilnadu is dried up thanks to the killings of LTTE. Now it has become more of a nuisance. Not to be left out, from time to time, both main parties in Tamil Nadu call for Indian intervention while carefully distancing themselves from LTTE. Main parties are not ready to risk thier political future by aligning with tigers. The leaders with mixed loyalties, who enjoy tiger sponsored world tours and reported finanancial backings, are just showing obedience to their masters offshore. These leaders, for all their rhetoric, can't even mobilise enough people for a Pro-Tiger conference, let alone for a protest to make the state standstill. If it is not for the shameless last minute dealmaking with either of those poltical parties, they will bite the dust in elections. With its 'People's decision is Almighty's decision' changing to 'Centre's decision is Almighty's decision', DMK is distancing itself from LTTE, which one time had a free ride during DMK regime and killed its opponents in indian soil. Karunanithi toeing the centre's line, with jayalitha being vocal anti-LTTE as ever, India can simply ignore the firebrands tiger sympathizers in the centre coaltion, centre has to listen and act accordingly. India's recent refusal to sign Defence Pact was widely credited to those tiger sympathizers in Tiger media. With their rhetoric about transforming Tamilnadu into another Punjab is dead along with separatism in Punjab, fire breathing panthers and other 'mewtant' felines are now threatening that 'Tamilnadu will erupt'. These Firebrands only want to drum up support for the LTTE by exploiting the suffering of Tamil refugees. Not to be outdone, main parties are not left with any choice, but to stage a show of sympathy. The whole drama makes it look like Tamilnadu is about to explode. On the question of Pakistani involvement, India could have handled differently. Looking for an opportunity to get a back door access to India, Pakistan gladly offered to help when India refused. With sales, come the after-sales guarantees, warrantees, in-house technical support etc. Of course, India was right when refusing to give lethal arms that could be used against Tamils. It does't want to be a part of it. But, refusing to sell lethal weapons didn't stop Tamils from dying of Sri Lankan firepower. In the military front, India could have played its cards well. India could have signed the military pact like US and sent a message to LTTE that 'sheriff is in town'. Like all those superpowers acquiring nuclear power for 'Peace', India could have provided military assistance for 'peaceful purposes' with attaching some strings. One has to remeber that after the peace talks, most of the killings could be attributed to LTTE's provocation, be it 'claymore attacks by Tamil resurgence force' or mortar attacks on camps. The latest surge in violence itself was triggered by LTTE's closure of a sluice gate in Maavilaru. In LTTE's web media, anyone can find pictures of its much lauded citizen force training exercises similar to the tragic 'First aid training'. LTTE's tactics of attacking from populated areas, using humanshields and exploiting the resulting civilian deaths for propaganda shouldn't be new to India. A military pact could have been a deterrent to LTTE attacks and its grand military ambitions, like retaking Jaffna. And it would give the right to question any military killing without LTTE provocation and, above all, the need for military soltution. It could have thwarted any attempt by Pakistan to get a toehold to use Sri Lanka as a springboard. But now, by having them look anywhere else, India doesn't have the same clout it would have had to influence or pressure Sri Lankan governent. By not offering the carrot, India is unable to use the stick. territory of Sri Lankadesh. But it might change the Sri Lankan political landscape forever. With the newfound air superiority, thanks to the unlikely combination of Kfirs and Khans, Sri Lanka is pushing militarily to defeat LTTE. Emboldened by the recent military gains, despite some stunning reversals, Colombo may try to dictate tems for the solution and impose it on Tamils. As usual, LTTE is trying to exploit the Pakistani involvement. Political pundits in LTTE media, with their sudden-found sympathy for India, are worried about the Chinese and Pakistan involvement in Sri Lanka. LTTE media is littered with analyses on how these involvements will affect India's domination in the region. Recent assassination attempt in Colombo on a Pakistani diplomat and Chinese involvement in oil exploration were highlighted by these doomsayers. Fortunately, these pundits haven't yet come up with the threat of china's territorial claims on China Bay where Indian oil storage is located. In its wildest dreams, LTTE is drooling at the prospect of India being left with no choice but to deal with them in their own terms. You can't blame them. Having seen Afghanistan, Sind and Baloch, LTTE believes it can exploit regional rivalry. On a different note, according to those close with the leadership, LTTE believes that India eventually has to deal with them in the same way it dealt with Musharaff who overthrew the elected government. chairmanship with co-chairs for obvious reasons, India was right in every aspect. When it comes to the commitment to Sri Lanka's territorial integrity, offering defence against the much hyped air threat, tipping SL navy about arms smuggling, stance on North-East merger, offering to send food to Jaffna and, above all, on diffrentiating LTTE and Tamils, India is sticking to its guns. Though, from time to time, LTTE stalwarts bragged about the channels it keeps with India, India refuses to accept LTTE's sole representative claim. By not facilitating the audition to TNA and repudiating the political advisor's suggestion of forgetting the past, India effectively denied the bragging rights to the LTTE propagandists of India accepting its claims of sole representaion. always look up India as a mother protecting its children. Tamils may be angry at India for the betrayal of turning its rage on them. But they never condone such a horrendous crime of killing of Rajiv Gandhi. It was the LTTE and its bunch of minions that celebrated in this heinous crime and ordinary tamils, the silenced majority, want no part of it. Bear in mind that, despite repeated LTTE's calls to come to their territory, tamils in Trincomalee, cross the tiger heartland of Wanni to go to India, risking their lives on the way. If they believed LTTE would protect them, they would have sought refuge in Wanni. Ironically, it is the LTTE that is struggling to keep tamils from leaving their area to government controlled areas. LTTE media might suggest otherwise, but Tamils in general know that without India's involvement, they are politically at the mercy of Sinhalese. Tamils view LTTE as their defenders, not as their rulers. They believe that only LTTE can protect them from the SL military onslaught. But they don't envision LTTE as their rulers. They have enough experience to know how LTTE, as rulers, will deny their basic rights. India owes it to the tamils for the unfinished business of its failed mission. What is the other best way to win the broken hearts and minds of tamil people? In the era of political decisions being made on national interests than 'doing the right thing', it is also in the interests of India to have a stable Sri Lanka. India has national as well as economical interests in Sri Lanka at stake. Its interests range from Oil storage to exploration, from business ventures to Sedhu Samudhram and it has much more to gain in peaceful and stable Sri Lanka. Its involvement will thwart the others' attempts to use Sri Lanka to disturb the regional stability and keep extremist elements in Tamilnadu in check. While Tamils want peace with dignity, Sinhalese want peace with guarantees against secession. Political solution to Sri Lankan ethnic question is not an easy task, given the number of parties involved and their varying political interests. Besides satisfying them, to implement any solution, the Constitution has to be amended, which in turn, needs two third majority. With the divided electorate and Proportional Representation, having a majority government is a thing of past. Governments that are blackmailed by minority parties don't have the guts to do the right thing, fearing collapse. Above all, the main parties, depending their time in power, change stances not to give credit to the other for solving the crisis and, competing with extremists to deny them any political mileage, portray any kind of solution as a sellout.

Peter Tosh

2008-09-07 09:09:28

To begin with, LTTE doesn\'t even have any politics to speak of. In a civilised world, politics is built upon the basic human rights and democratic principles. While it is respecting the human rights within reason, it gives the people the freedom to choose their own leaders. Democracy might have its own shortcomings and those who manipulate it. But it exists there at least for the sake of the name. But, Such politics doesn\'t exist in Tigerland. Simply put, politics of LTTE is politics of murder. It is an organization which views murder as a necessary modus operandi, not an inevitable byproduct of third world politics. LTTE has got to where it is at now simply by killing the tamil politicians, moderate and militant, depriving the tamils of talented leadership and multi party democracy. If tamils are left with a handful of independent politicians now, it doesn\'t simply mean that LTTE stopped killing them. It is only because LTTE couldn\'t get their hands on them yet. Or at least it couldn\'t get them into total submission like those in Tamil Naitonal Alliance. Above all, it is that fear of murder that silenced the majority of tamils and it is propagated as support for LTTE. Any difference of opinion, internally and externally, is dealt with the gun. LTTE mastered all forms of killings, be they murders, assassinations or massacres. It never believed in the politics of dialogs or democracy. LTTE has such a contempt for democratic politics that it is hellbent on distrupting any elections and eliminate those who had the courage to contest in them. It doesn\'t even leave those who want to vote. It will intimidate, even chop the hands of those who vote. LTTE\'s electoral abuses and violations in the last election were well documented in a report done by the EU commission. Though it claims to be the sole representative of the tamils, it doesn\'t have the courage to contest in elections under its name, like Sinn Fein. Such is the politics LTTE had sofar. had political leaders, it only had spokespersons. There were Lawrence Thilagar of Paris and Anton Raja of London, who were much sought after by media for their comments that usually ranging from \'categorical denials\' to \'ball is in their court\'. These spokepersons fell from their grace and sank into obscurity. Always, they had Balasingam as a \'political advisor\', but he was never called a \'political leader\'. of dissension is not tolerated and only dealt with death. Cadres are expected to be loyal and ready to kill themselves (and others) in the name of the National Leader. Whoever exceeds these expectations, and lucky to be alive, rises in rank. A few who had leadership aspirations dared to have their own loyalists, but were eliminated, as traitors like Mahathaya or martyrs like Kittu, in purges. Learning from that, those who are careful not to have their own clique will be rewarded with commander roles and anyone who could show some strength in talking (even if it lacks sense and logic), was thrust upon with the greatness of political leadership. These obedient servants would recite, like parrots, whatever they are told to. Nothing more for the fear of being seen smarter, nothing less for the fear of being seen incompetent. Above all, they are not supposed to make decisions. They will \'get back to you on that\' after \'consultations with\' the National Leader. Valued as much as disposable diapers, they can be elevated, sidelined or disposed by the National leader at will. But they are free to say anything whenever they attend gatherings to hoist flags. They are not expected to say things in unison. These political leaders had the luxury to improvise as they go. In east, someone will say \'India shouldn\'t ignore the reality\' and recognize LTTE. Then another in Jaffna will warn that \'India shouldn\'t forget the past\' and shouldn\'t sign the defence agreement. Then another, in Zurich, would growl at India and promise \'we will teach a lesson again\' amid applause from cheering \'revived tamils\'. Unaware of all these developments, another at Peace secretariat will say \'we welcome india\'s role\'. Being an official organ, Tamilnet will report these speeches dutifully, which will eventually make it to international media where pundits would analyse the paradigm shift in LTTE\'s fundamental thinking. Nobody will be disciplined for these contradictions as they don\'t mean anything at all, as far as LTTE is concerned. This is the kind of political leadership LTTE has. from the international community with their political leadership, while the military wing holding the ground. Even the tiny East Timor was successful in this regard. Generally, the military and political leadership are so intertwined that it\'s hard to differentiate them. But those political leaders, who are themselves leaders on their own right, rub shoulders with statesmen everywhere, many of them cultivating personal friendships and using it to their advantage to convince them to put pressure on the aggressors. It is the political leadership\'s role, being the face of the struggle, to elicit sympathy by propagating the aggressor\'s atrocities, though at times it ends up defending the atrocities committed in the name of liberation. As it is the one facing the international pressure to \'get back to table\', political leadership has to convince the military leadership to cease fire and talk, cashing on the military advantages to find a political solution with the support of international community. Politics is not a simple matter of getting military advantage. It can only be used to advance the cause politically. It should always be a political head and a military tail, not the other way around. In this regard, \'political leadership\' of LTTE is more like Sinn Fein of IRA. Though it was an open secret and nobody wanted to talk about it in order not to damage the peace process, now it is acknowledged that Gerry Adams et al are integral part of the IRA\'s military command. For their atrocities and refusal to lay down arms, they are no more welcome in many host countries and shunned even by their own people. its murderous mindset and to give an impression that it is interested in a political solution. Just like the emperor\'s clothing. As they say \'If you look hard enough, you will see whatever you want to see\'. This is how international community seems to see LTTE\'s \'Political Leadership\'. If international community really wants to find a solution, it should talk to the leader himself, instead of wasting its time with this political leadership. Like all the explorers, and aliens, international community has to demand \'Take me to your leader\'. Any political solution agreed by this political leadershp can be made null and void by a single bullet by the leader, as it was demonstrated in Oslo and in Mahathaya-Premadasa talks. Unless international community make him personally accountable for his actions, it can\'t bring LTTE to accept any solution.

Patriotic Srilankan

2008-09-07 09:09:01

It will help you in improving your understanding of the conflicts all over the world

to fawad

2008-09-06 06:09:46

To say that there is no scope for political scope within the LTTE is to ignore totally the causes of their origin and sustenance due to serious systemic governance failures by the state over decades from long before they were even born! The ethnic and religious evolution of the state into a Sinhala Buddhist one using unilateralist approaches in its constituion making in 1972 and later and its abysmal failure to implement even its own constittuional provisions with regard to use of the Tamil language, even in the north and east, to this day defies reason. What is far objectionable is the impunity with which the state has denied the physical security of Tamil citizens, their rights, their freedoms and opportunities which are very symptomatic of an Apartheid totalitarian state rife with racism and religionanism in combination with ethnic cleansing under an ethnic Sinhala occupation force. All this has been made possible under the draconian law called Prevention of Terrorism Act under distorted policies borrowed from former South Africa.It failed there totally and the state itself became defucnt because it used this evil legislation and its methods to practise open racial discrimination and the killing of 70 black people in Sharpeville. The open bloodletting, the undisguised dicrimination and gross crimes against humanity and war crimes unleashed by the (Sinhala Buddhist) Sri lanka state against Tamil people makes what obtained in former S.Africa pale in significance. The initial history of the events oulined in the article wriiten by a so-called anonymous "Tamil democrat activist" is correct in many respects. In what was a rebellion fomented by in teh mide 1970s by a few grew in stature ansd support because of the policies and brutal methods adopted by the anhilist policies and actions of the state resulting in mass graves starting with Chemmani. What he should also consider is the way democracy in what was a plural society in 1948 been distorted and bastardised to serve the majoritarian race and religious group people only resulting in divided people from top to bottom along ethnic and religious lines. What is good for the Sinhala Buddhists should be also good for the Tamils and the Muslims. That is why each group should be entitled to the "right of self determination in their respective areas of long standing habitation under a UN supported free and fair referendum, as is their right under international law, to stem the governance rot and more open bloodshed, a shame to all those involved.

Saravan

2008-09-05 04:09:19

"What goes around comes around" is the simple way of explaining the above.

Ros

2008-09-01 07:09:25

Main thing, we wipe them totally out. Tamils try sell the the world that sinhalese discriminated tamils. But under British Tamil enjoyed lot of privilages. But sinhalese were denied. Why did'nt they talk about discrimination those days. So jeloucy came up. This is very normal. Take a look at south africa. Thanks to India, LTTE could survive. But they (LTTE) are and were fools. Indian used them. They kill sinhalese, sinhalese kill Tamils. But indians do not get killed. We have to kill and eliminate them this time once for all. We sinhalese, have to tell them. By force LTTE can not get any thing. They can be great warriors fighters, but sinhalese too can fight. Tamils are a monrity in Sri Lanka. They must understand that they are a minority.

Jagath

2008-08-31 07:08:18

Seen through rose-colored glasses, everything will look rosy for sure. Tigerland, the land of milk and honey behind the pearly gates of Omanthai, is no exception. It is a paradise where people live in peace and harmony. So claim the LTTE supporters living in foreign countries, even though none of them are ready to go to heaven, from their supposed hellish western life! So obviously, those who see no evil of LTTE, will speak no evil of it. They have nothing but praise! Like the AK-47 clad school children parading through pre-invasion Baghdad and the admirers dancing in the streets of Pyongyang to mark the 65th birthday of 'invincible brilliant commander', we have 'Up-surged' Citizens Forces brandishing 2 by 4s to liberate our land, under the 'guidance' of our own version of 'invincible brilliant commander'. (To create an illusion of an armed-to-the-teeth force and to get its followers excited, LTTE decorates only those on the front line with real McCoy at the photo ops). Excited by this show of strength, political analysts in Tiger controlled media claim creation of independent Tamil Ealam is around the corner, though the corner seems to be somewhere in a 'galaxy far far away'. The propaganda machinery of LTTE is in full force bombarding the diaspora with news and views of how their National Leader will lead Tamils to 'lie down in green pastures and lead them beside still waters' in the promised land. When a tiger becomes a shepherd, of course, 'thou shall not want' anything! We have no shortage of the blessed ones who 'believe without seeing'. The enlightened, comfortably living in the West, always believe in their Saviour's miraculous powers to lead them to salvation. Non-believers, or infidels, who dispute these rosy claims are accused of heresy or treason and deserve to be tied to the post and burnt at the stake... or at least tied to the Lamp post and shot. Anyone who foolishly chooses another path to salvation is self-sentencing himself to death by assassins. Presidents, Prime Ministers, politicians, rival militants, journalists and human rights watchdogs are not immune to the wrath of 'War'Lord of Wanni. When LTTE can't get its hands on any of them, assassination takes another form... character assassination. Political analysts who can't differentiate CIA from MIA will accuse them of being agents of some evil empire hell-bent on destroying their dream. 'Kanthas and Kadambas' who are making a political living out of their 'Letters to the Editors', along with the notorious websites run by those who possibly sharpened their political teeth on Jaffna walls as graffiti writers, will 'cow-dung-sling' (a traditional Tamil form of mudslinging) their way to Ealam, while hiding behind anonymity and enjoying immunity from defamation suits. The blessed ones who can't distinguish between RAW and POW will sing 'Hallelujah' for 'delivering us from Evil!'. For them, any Tamil killed by LTTE is a traitor and any Tamil civilian killed in crossfire is a collateral damage. Simply put, no one is safe from Tigers, if they happened to disagree, even 'respectfully', with them. Either you praise the lord in chorus... or else! Human Rights violations by LTTE are documented by watchdogs, local and international, from time to time. UTHR (University Teachers for Human Rights), which was nominated for Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders (MEA) by Amnesty International for its tireless work of documenting atrocities by all parties involved, was demonized by LTTE and its mouthpieces in every imaginable way. LTTE hooligans disrupted the meetings organized by Human Rights Watch, in Toronto and London, to release its report on LTTE's child soldiers. (Then LTTE shamelessly went on to quote HRW to accuse Karuna faction of abduction of children.) Amnesty International, UNICEF, UNHCR and any other organization dared to accuse LTTE of rights violations are vilified in Tiger media. Even Norway and Eric Solheim are not exempted when they fall short of LTTE's expectations. They, every now and then, get royal mud treatment in Tamil media. Unlike the monks and comrades who make fools of themselves by parading in front of Norwegian missions with their antics, LTTE does it cunningly and tells the Tamils through its media not to trust Norway as it is there to promote only US interests. Yes, Only "In 'Sun'God we trust!" Unaware of the malicious campaign in LTTE-controlled Tamil media and enjoying the royal treatment by LTTE in Wanni, Solheim and Brattskar toast to their hosts. If prominent people suffer this fate, what protection does an ordinary tamil have? Reports coming out of Wanni tell tales of 'Big Brother' watching (in this case, Little Brother, Thamby!) every move with the help of LTTE-issued ID cards, monitored phone calls, prohibition of Cell phone and internet usage and, above all, the omnipresent tiger intelligence. We've even heard of a story of a man's hand being chopped in public for voting in the last election. Though people living in Jaffna learnt to co-exist with the armed forces, LTTE tried every trick to disrupt the normal life. From claymore mines to 'killing by unknown persons', it tries to provoke military to kill innocent Tamils, so it could use it for propaganda purposes. After the closure of A9 highway, LTTE tried to draw a picture of a huge humanitarian disaster, saying people are about to die of hunger. But, in Jaffna there are more people died in the hands of LTTE than of hunger. Even people living abroad are not beyond the reach of long arm of the tiger. Taking the Diaspora for a goose that lays golden eggs, LTTE use fear and intimidation to get it toe the line. Hapless victims of 'Stockholm Syndrome', they are left with no choice with the threats of harming their relatives back home and denial of 'Right of Return'. Regardless of where they live, Tamils are under the iron grip of LTTE. Things changed drastically with the recent outbreak of war. Losing territories one after another and losing battle-hardened warriors along, LTTE accelerated its forced conscription of children. Like the God of Abraham asking him to sacrifice his first-born to Him, our Sungod is asking each family to sacrifice one child for him. Well... for the Nation. No one is spared from this, with the exception of the families of Great Heroes and current LTTE members. Of course, immediate families and relatives of top commanders and the families which could bribe their way to spare their children are out of the current recruitment drive. Unlike the same god who sent his son to earth to die for the sins of the world, our Sungod sent his first-born abroad, away from the war he thrust on his own people, and is asking 'One per household for the Nation(al leader)'. Time and again, International community and organizations accused LTTE of recruiting children and demanded it to stop. Despite the threats of 'targeted measures', LTTE continues to conscript underage children with impunity. Thinking it can fool the international community, once in a while LTTE ceremonially 'hands over' a few under aged children, who allegedly joined them 'willingly'. A catholic priest who sought asylum in Heaven is always in hand to bless the ceremony. When there are no volunteers enlisting for the current war, tigers, like ogres, are snatching children from their houses. The forced conscription has its social implications. It is forcing parents to get their children married at earlier ages to avoid conscription. Sensing a pattern, LTTE annulled all the marriages from July 2006, making them null and void. Now brides and grooms are dragged from their homes against their will to undergo military training. So much for the matches made in heaven! Democracies may have laws forcing 'mandatory military training'. It is the society's willingness to defend itself from possible threats. Even the countries that enact the draft, have various exceptions and legal safeguards to challenge the laws all the way to Supreme Courts. When the public opinion goes against the draft, they always have ambiguous slogans "Conscription if necessary, but not necessarily conscription" (as war time canadian prime minister William Lyon Mackenzie King said). When worse comes to worst, draft dodgers can flee to other countries. None of them are dragging children from their homes. Having found a loophole, LTTE came up with an explanation that could leave the UN legal experts covering their faces in shame. As LTTE is 'no longer an “armed group” but is indeed a defacto-state', 'LTTE takes the position that it is not covered by Article 4 of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Child on “Children Affected by Armed Conflict”, which states, “Armed groups that are distinct from the armed forces of a State should not, under any circumstances, recruit or use in hostilities persons under the age of 18 years.”. As 'Convention on the Rights of Child permits the armed forces of the State to recruit those over the age of 15' LTTE is 'entitled as a "functioning defacto-state" to recruit those above the age of 17.' Bravo! Now, show us a state, de facto or de jure, that drags newly-weds and children from their mothers' clutches, to mandatory military training? Tamils in Diaspora, who have been praising Great Heroes as long as they are somebody else's children, find it shocking to hear their loved ones are being dragged from their homes. It is very hard to digest when tiger terror is beginning to hit home. News is reaching the expats, one by one, how the children, of their own and extended families, are taken from home. But it is too late for them. The Frankenstein they created has turned on them. Many of them are afraid to come forward with their stories, due to the fear that their loved ones would be hurt by LTTE. LTTE is warning the families not to talk to anyone about the abductions. Besides, it would be a futile battle against a monstrous Goliath, simply exposing the whole family to LTTE wrath, jeopardizing their safety. Nowhere to turn, many choose to cry in silence. For others, who are yet to be affected or have managed to be out of it, this is simply a collateral damage. Yes, you can't make an omelette without 'sacrificing' some eggs! They may say. Even if they can't digest it, they sweep it under the carpet, not to damage the 'greater cause'. Time is running out. It is time Tamils act before LTTE 'paved paradise and put up a' gigantic Great Heroes cemetery. Or even worse... a mass grave!

Peter Tosh

2008-08-31 06:08:30

Patriotic SriLankan, I dont know if you are Tamil or Sinhalese, but I learnt more about Tigers by reading your comment. I never understood why Tamil people here in London gave their hard earned money to the LTTE. I think, now I know.

James D

2008-08-31 05:08:48

The Tamil Tigers of Sri Lanka invented the modern suicide bomber and deployed it against political, military and civilian targets. Now Islamic groups including Al-Qaeda copy the Tamil Tigers with suicide attacks. The Tamil Tigers attacked shipping off the coast of Sri Lanka blowing ships or piracy. Then USS Cole off Yemen was attacked and piracy off the coast of Somalia - a strong hold for Al-Qaeda followers. Tamil Tigers attacked the World Trade Centre in Sri Lanka then Al-Qaeda attacked on the World Trade Centre in New York, USA. Tamil Tigers have a women's section deployed into their ranks. Then Al-Qaeda and Chechen terrorist's who took over the Russian theatre used black widow women suicide bombers. Tamil Tigers attacked on civilians in bus and trains in Sri Lanka where innocent passengers were killed, then Al-Qaeda in England bombed public transit in the 7/7 attack's on London Transport. How long the world will tolerate the Masters and the Followers of terrorism?

Wierakaththi Vijenthira

2008-08-31 04:08:26

This article is just a choronology of what was happening in Sri Lanka. Anybody who follows the situation will com to this conclusion. For the first time reader it is a good smmary.

Karan

2008-08-31 02:08:42

Minister Jayaraj Fernandopulle was killed recently, after Kadiragarmar. However, it is true that LTTE has failed to take on high profile targets recently and has been taking on soft targets showing their cowardness.

Aruna Ranaweera

2008-08-31 01:08:27

I would concur that this is one of the best summaries of the LTTE's problems. While not having the detail and depth of a much larger article, the point is crystal clear: the total focus on militarism has left no room for political development and therefore no means to achieve anything other than eventual death by the very same sword.

Poltical Observer

2008-08-30 10:08:34

One of the best articles I have read on the subject. For most people Tamil political struggle = LTTE. This article clearly demonstrates that LTTE in fact has done a disservice to the Sri Lankan Tamils in general.

Chris

2008-08-30 09:08:08

More than the writer [Saar, is that you] the commentator Sri Lankan patriot seems to know a lot of LTTE. Good and an inspiring article. LTTE\'s land, air and sea capabilities would not survive because it\'s base is landlocked by its enemy territory. All I wish is that India would not make the same mstake it did in 1987 and the SLA would not make a deal with the LTTE and let the Tamil people to suffer continuously. There is going to be a severe loss on the ground to some Tamils but let that be the last one and we, the Tamils shall rise again in a democratic Gandhian style. Let that war continue for the next 300 years, it does not matter.

Arun Vincent

2008-08-30 08:08:52

It is not a deep one . Even though it is fairly good in general ideas.

thavapalan

2008-08-30 07:08:57

What we have to look at is the 2,000 year history. There were many kings and rulers who controlled parts of the island. LTTE (and VP) is going to become part of this history. 100 years later historians will say that Vanni was under LTTE for long time. What I see from history is that the only way Tamils (like Jews) can survive is to keep fighting enemies.

aratai

2008-08-30 07:08:17

The Tigers have carried out more suicide bombings than Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Al Qaeda combined. The actions of Velupillai Pirabaharan, the leader of Tamil Tigers prove he is real tiger. The only business he knows is killing. He killed Kalvian Kaadu Chetty, the person who named the group "Tigers" and the original leader of the Tiger group Then Pirabaharan tried to kill the next leader of Tigers, Uma Maheswaran in a shoot out in India . He killed the founding members of the Tigers, Michael and Pat Kunam. Pirabaharan himself tipped off the Police about the then leaders of Tigers, Kuttimani and Thangathurai and their whereabouts. This incident led to Kuttimani and Thangathurai’s incarceration until their terrible deaths in the Welikade jail. Pirabaharan killed all the persons he worked with before he became the leader of the Tigers. He even killed the last surviving Tiger group founding member Sabalingam who was residing in France , because Sabalingam started writing about Pirabaharan's power hungry killings After Pirabaharan became the leader of the Tigers, he started killing all Tamil political leaders, elected mayors, university professors and many innocent Tamils who had criticized Tigers. Pirabaharan banned all Tamil political organizations for the last twenty years and finally the international community including USA, Canada, European Union, India and Australia has banned the Tigers, mainly due to Tigers' continuous use of child soldiers and their terror activities. Pirabaharan also killed hundreds of people who were members and supporters of Tamil political organizations. The Tamil Tigers have twice attacked Colombo's only skyscrapers, the twin-towered World Trade Center. They've also killed Sri Lankan president Premadasa who had provided helicopter loads of weapons and money to Tigers, blinded another Sri Lankan President, and assassinated a former leader of the world's largest democracy India's Rajiv Gandhi. Pirabaharan clearly knows that under any circumstances except at gunpoint, majority of Tamils won't accept his leadership. That's why he killed all other Tamil Political leaders, to become as the so-called "Sole Leader of Tamils". Ramachandran a.k.a MGR, former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu gave Pirabaharan more than 1.25 billion rupees in 1985. Tamils provided their support to Tigers at gunpoint only and never helped Tigers to grow to this extent. Without MGR massive financial support and Premadasa's supply of weapons and money, Tigers won't exist today. Tigers are terror loving trigger-happy killers, created by MGR and Premadasa. Tigers' killings are severely affecting the future of Tamils since the killings created a huge political vacuum. In 1990 Pirabaharan wanted 100,000 Muslims in the North of Sri Lanka to get out within 24 hours, leaving their belongings and treasured valuables - that was a text book example of ‘ethnic cleansing’. Prabhakaran made Idi Amin look like an angel as Idi Amin had a heart to give the Asians in Uganda three months to leave the country and not 24 hours. Most of the young people who are younger than 35 years, do not know the history of Tigers. They believe that, Tigers became so powerful, because of continuous outpouring support from majority of the Tamils, If Tamils like Tigers, why is Greater Colombo flooded with Tamils from Tiger controlled areas? If majority of Tamils like Tigers, Tiger controlled areas should be flooded with Tamils from other areas. Why are Tamils trying to escape Tiger controlled areas, rather than migrating to Tiger controlled area? If Tigers lift the exit pass system and allow free movement in the Tiger controlled areas, except the people on Tigers' payroll, every body else will leave Tiger controlled area. The only supporters of Tigers are that they either do not know anything about Tigers or gain benefits from Tigers. Why are none of the Tamil business people investing in Tiger controlled areas? Why are even farmers leaving Tiger controlled areas? Why are Tamils living abroad trying to help their relatives to leave Tiger controlled areas? In Tiger controlled areas nobody can express any political opinions or different ideas. Only things allowed to say are those that support Tigers. No way can anyone criticize Tigers and live the next day in a Tiger controlled area. Tigers that do not care about human lives will never understand even the basics of human rights. Even the hardcore Tiger supporters are not willing to relocate to Tiger controlled areas. Majority of the Tamil refugees, who claimed asylum in western countries, told the authorities that they were running away from Tigers. If majority of Tamils who live abroad support Tigers, why do they have to be threatened to collect money for Tigers as reported by the Human Rights Watch? If majority of the Tamils who live abroad support Tigers, those Tamils would line up in front of the Tiger branch offices to drop off money. The major serious problem Tamils are facing right now is there are hundreds of very young terror loving trigger happy Tigers who know only one thing, which is killing another human. Last thirty years, Tigers killed more Tamils than any body else. Also more Tigers were killed by Pirabaharan than any body else. Majority of Sri Lankan Tamils are patiently hoping, praying and waiting for a new young democratic political visionary as a leader. Until then, gunpoint Tiger culture and never ending killing spree by Tigers will grow and continue.

Patriotic Srilankan

2008-08-30 05:08:19

A main point the article misses is that the LTTE is a facist/totalitarian organisation built along the lines of typical Sri Lanlan smuggler-thug type bahavior. Unfortunately, Ltte had become the eliminator of the SL Tamil people.

Lankatamil

2008-08-30 03:08:13