In the Aftermath of the A’Pura Attack
by D.B.S. Jeyaraj
Velupillai Prabakharan the numero uno of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) is a man with a keen sense of history. When he was a youth dabbling with explosives there was an accident and his legs were charred. Acutely conscious of having blackened legs Prabakharan referred to himself as Karikalan which literally means man with black legs. But the name was chosen due to the LTTE leader’s sense of history too.
[View of Mihintale, from Nuwarawewa Anuradhapura - Photo: Emile Bremmer]
There was a great Chola King who was also called Karikalan. His original name was Thirumavalavan but it was as Karikalan or Karikal Peruvalathan that he was famously known. The Chola King too had had an accident during childhood as a result of which his legs were charred and blackened. That’s why he was called Karikalan. So when Prabakharan’s legs too got burnt he tapped into his historic consciousness and emulated the Chola king in renaming himself.
The organizations he helped found like the Tamil New Tigers or Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam revolved around the tiger name . One reason for Prabakharan’s preference for the “puli” or tiger may have been because the “Pulikkodi” or tiger flag was the Chola flag. Technically the Chola emblem was not that of the striped tiger because that feline species was not native to the Tamil realm. The “puli” of the Cholas was the “venkai” or cheetah. Later Prabakharan’s followers were to refer to their leader’s Chola charisma in adulatory discourse.
For all his history, the LTTE leader was quite modern when it came to the existential reality of warfare. He did not seek to revive by gone history but focussed more on the creation of a modern nation state called Tamil Eelam. Instead of harking back to Tamil Kings and chieftains of the Island like Ellalan (Elara) , Sankiliyan, Segarajasegaram, Pararajasegaram, Kulakottan or Pandaravanniyan and naming things after them the LTTE leader opted to honour his fallen comrades.
When it came to naming it was a case of Charles Anthony infantry division, Kittu artillery division, Victor anti – tank division etc and not Ellalan or Sankiliyan. When it came to codenaming military operations the choice was names like Operation Thavalai or frog for an amphibean operation or a operation Ithayabhoomi (heartland) for Weli Oya/ Manal aaru or the series known as “Oyatha Alaigal” (Unceasing waves) .
In that context it was but a remarkable deviation for the LTTE leader to codename his latest operation Ellalan Por nadavadikkai” (Operation Ellalan). Why did he do so? It may have been due to the theatre of combat being Anuradhapura or Anuradhapuram where the “dharmarajah” King Ellalan or Elara reigned for 44 years. Ultimately he was defeated by the Prince from Ruhunu ,Gamini Abhaya known as Dutugemunu.
If the tiger flag was the Eelam counterpoint to the lion in the Sri Lankan flag then the choice of Ellalan is to revive memories of the Elara – Dutugemunu conflict. Though it was a case of a young Sinhala prince trying to oust an old Tamil king and gain power it is often depicted as a Sinhala – Tamil conflict. The fact that Tamils fought on Dutugemunu’s side and Sinhalese fought alongside Elara is ignored or not taken into account.
[King Dutugemunu - Pic: DKC Dedigamuwa]
The historic memory of Dutugemunu lingers powerfully in the Sinhala psyche. Numerous Sinhala males are named Gamini, Gamani, Gemunu and Abhaya. Since he was a son of the Ruhunu the name Rohana is also widely prevalent with even the pseudo – marxist Wijeweera adopting that name.
In recent times another son of the Ruhunu region has become nominal ruler of Sri Lanka. Yet there is a Tamil pocket of resistance in the North. Just as Dutugemunu conquered the east before marching to the North this latter – day Rohana too has taken the east and is setting sights on the North.
In this “Dutugemunu” climate it seems inevitable that the LTTE too should resurrect Ellalan and codename the Anuradhapura operation after the wise and just ruler who was ousted not because he was unjust but due to him being an outsider obstructing the ambition of an indigenous contender.After all Elara was perhaps the only king in our history who comes closest to the concept of “dharmaraja” as envisioned by the Jathika Hela Urumaya.
Code naming the operation after Ellalan strikes a responsive chord in the Tamil psyche. I was interviewed a few days ago by the BBC Tamil service on the Anuradhapura attack and I referred to the Ellalan – Dutugemunu episode in that. The feedback I received suggests that Prabakharan has shrewdly tapped into the historic memory of Sri Lankan Tamils. I do not know what response this will evoke among certain sections of Sinhala society but currently many Tamils are elated.
Historically Elara may have been defeated by Gamani Abhaya but to many Tamils , Ellalan lost in an unfair fight. They perceive single combat between a 78 year old king and 32 year old Prince as being “asymmetric”. Nationalist fervour will not accept historic defeat but will always refuse admittance of reality. The spirit of revolt will always prevail among people unbowed in spirit.
This is why any guerilla movement fighting for the goal of national liberation remains hard to defeat permanently through military means. As RAND corporation expert Brian Jenkins once put it ” A man may outgrow his ideology but cannot disown his race”.It is because of this phenomenon that many advocate a political solution over and above a military solution to nationalist conflicts.
It is perhaps due to this rankling in Tamil collective memory that Prabakharan’s codename “Ellalan” evokes positive response among many Tamils. Anuradhapura being the arena of conflict gives this feeling some relevance. The fact that the LTTE “won” this round gratifies Tamil pride.
Adding to this heady historical mix is the fact that the Airforce base is situated in Saliyapura named after Gamini Abhaya’s son Saliya who was estranged from his father due to his love for Asokamala.
Jumping into this historical fray is the UNP which fast forwards a few centuries and talks of Anuradhapura being militarily attacked for the first time in many years after the Chola invasion.. Hmmm! and it’s not exactly a coincidence that the Sinhala monarch of the day was Mahinda the fifth. Perhaps the President will drop Mahinda and revert to his original name Mahendra. Better still will be his other name Percival.
But this history cannot be confined to the battlefield alone. Gamani Abhaya may have defeated and killed Elara but he was magnanimous in victory to his fallen foe. History records that the victorious king built a tomb in Elara’s honour and decreed that everyone must dismount from horse, elephant, chariot or palanquin and walk when passing that tomb.
This practice soon became a custom and centuries later a Sinhala king fleeing for his life got down from his vehicle and walked in front of Elara’s tomb although his pursuers were close and every minute counted in that race against certain death.
The July 1983 anti – Tamil pogrom was a dark chapter in contemporary history. During those dark days my departed friend and colleague Ajit Samaranayake wrote a brilliantly moving editorial referring to the Elara tomb decree and how it was honoured for generations by the Sinhala people. Two people who were touched by that leader were Maithripala Senanayake and KB Ratnayake.
Maithripala spoke to Ajit directly while KB called him on the phone. They were full of praise. It was not a coincidence that both were great sons of Rajarata. Both were educated in Jaffna . Senanayake at St. Johns and Ratnayake at Hartley. But what really moved them I think was that they were heirs to the Anuradhapura heritage and inherited the Rajarata ethos. Ajit’s references to those sentiments struch a responsive chord in them.
Why do I refer to this? Simply because an incident occurred in the cradle of Sinhala civilisation that was revolting.. The bodies of 20 Black tigers were stripped of clothes during the inquest which is understandable. But what happened later was disgusting. The naked bodies including that of three women were thrown into two tractor-trailers and paraded around the streets of Anuradhapura. Some elements took photos and video filmed it.
That such a travesty of basic decency should occur in the sacred city assaults the mind. Feeble attempts to deny the incident and also apportion blame to the courts are being made. It is indeed sad that some people could not display basic decency towards dead bodies of their foes in a land where a conqueror showed great respect and honour to his fallen rival many years ago.
The souls of Maithiripala and Kiribanda must truly be troubled at this happening in Anuradhapura. Even though some powerful elements got this done the ordinary people were disgusted and repulsed. The pseudo – patriots who did this were clueless about Sinhala society. This is a country where even the “worst” of human beings are not slandered after death.
However much this war has brutalised people society at large has not lost all its values yet. Some people ran and complained to Anuradhapura Catholic Bishop Norbert Andradi who went public condemning the act.The leftist front has also criticised it strongly. The people of Anuradhapura were aghast at this act. I know of people who refused to “view” this spectacle on principle.
All decent human beings regardless of ethnicity were appalled by this incident. But the LTTE and its propagandists exploited the incident crudely at an “ethnic” level . From the English “Tamilnet” to the Tamil “Nitharsanam” the incident was highlighted as an example of the depths of depravity to which Sinhala society had sunk into.
But LTTE supporters conveniently forget what the tigers did to former Tamil National Alliance election candidate Rajan Sathiyamoorthy in Batticaloa. Sathiyamoorthy was linked to Karuna. He and his brother in law were shot dead by the mainstream LTTE while they were worshipping at the shrine in their home. Later Karuna conducted an elaborate funeral ceremony for Sathiyamoorthy and buried him with honours. The tigers dig up the body and threw it elsewhere after setting fire. It was in a half-burnt state.
There is however a point in the LTTE claim that they cremate bodies of soldiers with full military honours. The LTTE also returns bodies of soldiers through the Red Cross in a respectful manner. The LTTE bodies could have been covered in non-transparent body bags at least. Displaying the bodies was a violation of Geneva conventions as well as basic humanitarian norms.
While criticising those who exhibited the naked bodies some of the pro-tiger websites shamelessly flaunted pictures of the very same bodies under the guise of condemnation.Some Tamils egged on by the tiger and pro-tiger elements are rushing to accuse the Anuradhapura Sinhalese in particular and the Sinhala people in general. Two things must be noted here. One is that this was not an act of the people . This was done by some persons wielding power and authority. Sinhala society at large is revolted by this act.
The other is that self – righteous Tamils cannot forget what the tigers did in Anuradhapura on May 14th 1985. The sanctity of the sacred city was shattered when the LTTE went on the rampage then. It was a despicable act but there was a prominent Tamil editor who called it an assault on the Sinhala psyche.
But most Tamils were horrified. The poet Ilavalai Vijayendran spoke up for conscience stricken Tamils when he wrote “Intha kaigalai Entha Gangaiyil kaluvuvathu” (In which Ganges shall we wash these hands?)
It is certainly true that this “exhibition” incident has to be condemned but at the same time one cannot subscribe to this “holier than thou” trend of condemning a whole people for the action of some members of its society. If a people are to be condemned wholesale for the acts of some of its members then the Tamils too have to be condemned for incidents like the Dalada Maligawa attack, Kattankudi and Eravoor mosque massacres or the eviction of Muslims from the North.
The Anuradhapura air base attack victory is being utilised by the LTTE to whip up a jingoistic mood among Tamils particularly the Diaspora. The Rajapakse regime was doing this among Sinhala people for a long time. Now it is the turn of Velupillai Prabakharan. Two wrongs do not make a right.
All visions of a military victory are illusions. Be it either side military success can only be ephemeral. War will beget only more war. Violence will bring about more violence. The problems faced by ordinary Tamils cannot be resolved by notching up sucessful guerilla strikes alone. The Tamil national question can be solved only through a political settlement. Such a settlement cannot be enforced through war.
Right-thinking Sinhala people found themselves marginalised when Rajapakse’s military juggernaut was rolling on successfully. Those who spoke of a political solution were viciously attacked and vilified as traitors and tiger agents. Sinhala supremacist ideology ruled the roost.
The wheel is slowly turning now. It is true that the war-mongering Rajapakse regime has been given a hard knock but it would be futile to think war by itself is a solution or that war can provide a solution.
Unwarranted euphoria is being whipped up among the Tamils now.This is widely prevalent among the Tamil Diaspora. Martial songs of the LTTE are being regularly heard on Tamil radios. Also emotion rousing Tamil film songs are being requested by many listeners.
[Leopard in Yala National Park - Pic: by Ranil Amarasuriya]
In “Tamil Canada” the current favourite is from the film “Anbutholi”. Its sung by Manikkavinayagam and the opening lines are “Siruthaiyai Seendathedaa, Sirunarigal Thaangathada” (Dont taunt the leopard, you small jackals cant withstand ).
In such an atmosphere any condemnation of the war and a call for peaceful resolution must necessarily jar on war mongering ears. However the dismissal of the idea of war as a solution must be accepted whole heartedly and sincerely.
There must be a principled approach. One cannot call for peace when the other side is seen as winning and praise war when one’s own side is perceived as succeeding.War cannot be an answer to the problems facing Tamils in particular and Sri Lanka in general.
A photograph of Prabakharan with the 21 black tigers who died in Anuradhapura is being widely circulated. It is being widely hailed as the high watermark of the LTTE’s military prowess.
As for me I feel very sorry for those young men and women though I commend their courage, dedication and self – sacrifice.
But the sight of a plump Prabakharan posing for the camera with those sacrificial lambs is for me the low watermark of Sri Lankan Tamil society.
Related: Anatomy of Tiger Assault on Anuradhapura Air Force Base
DBS Jeyaraj appreciates your responses on the federal idea.
DBS Jeyaraj can be contacted on: djeyaraj@federalidea.com
2ndClassTamil said,
October 27, 2007 @ 5:18 pm
Agree 100% with everything said, except the last sentence. An exhibition of unadultrated valor is a high watermark of humankind irrespective of other considerations. To me those unblemished 21 fighters represent the Sri Lankan Tamil Society more than Mr Prabakharan.
But are we not all getting very tired talking about a political settlement and not getting anywhere – incrementally even?
A.Rajasingam said,
October 27, 2007 @ 5:48 pm
DBS is perfectly correct in assessing the aftermath of the Anuradhapura attack. What is vital is the LTTE has launched four successive attacks in the sense they have not lost any of their Airmen or aircrafts. On an examination of these attacks the assumption is that there is some development in their tactics. Leave alone the fact that they are a terrorist group. Development of technical trouble in the aircraft has been common in Sri Lanka.
At this juncture, the cause for the success of the LTTE’s strength is demonstrated by their determination and courage. The government had all the necessary equipments and facilities, Yet mention should be made that the servicemen are paid up employees. As I said earlier no one knows what is happening behind the iron curtain of the LTTE and re-grouping in the East cannot be ruled out. Both sides have master plans, but this time the LTTE were earlier in point of time in order to demoralize the spirit of the Sri Lankan Forces, while in the same breath it should be mentioned it had boosted the morale of the LTTE cadres. It is not a question of who is victorious. At this hour of distress, the political leaders must send a message of meaningful solution of sharing powers signaling their sincerity, instead of taking revenge on the innocent Tamil civilians.
Lord Buddha taught that every dispute should be viewed with love and compassion. On the contrary it seems that the parading of those dead bodies in an uncivilized manner is not promising which raises suspicion in the minds of the people whether the President is interesred in finding a peaceful solution despite the fact the Army had disgraced Sri Lanka by this conduct for which some decent Sinhalese had raised some concern for this shameful act. This is further qualified by the President’s staement to find a home drawn constitution. I think he is bargaining for time to take revenge. One thing is certain VP is not going to surrender. Like Hitler he will commit suicide or some reasonable solution within the federal framework should come probably after a coup through some Mediator which is a possibility.
KJ said,
October 27, 2007 @ 5:49 pm
If i was in jaffina i would be the 22nd person to join.. big heart goes out for my brothers.
Segarajasingham said,
October 27, 2007 @ 9:37 pm
Reliable details of the combined air and land attack launched by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on the Anuradhapura air base of the Sri Lankan Air Force early in the morning of October 22, 2007, indicate that it was neither an act of desperation as projected by the embarrassed Sri Lankan military spokesmen nor an act of needless dramatics as suggested by others. It was an act of unbelievable determination, bravery and precision successfully carried out by a 21-member suicide commando group of the Black Tigers—significantly led by a Tamil from the Eastern Province— with the back-up support of two planes of the so-called Tamil Eelam Air Force
Payal said,
October 27, 2007 @ 10:34 pm
DBS, This is one of your best analysis.
Suresh M said,
October 28, 2007 @ 12:17 am
There is no other way Tigers can go on defensive. As Rasiah Ilanthirayan said, offence is the best defense. Tigers are forced to act against Rajapakse brother’s terror campain, otherwise your next cry on this page will be ‘how the North is being Sinhalized’. We need action to be taken on the ground, not preaching from a far away land.
This is an unbelievable event that makes every Tamil, regardless of their locality, religion proud.
I salute the fallen heroes.
sheriff said,
October 28, 2007 @ 1:00 am
any man or woman must not kept naked even dead or live
may be he or she is a is your sis or bro.
even he or she is an LTTE the body is without life why you keep them naked. it’s not good work as srilankans to do.
Chennai Analyst said,
October 28, 2007 @ 1:33 am
It is a pity that Mahinda never realised the value of Piraba! What a fine General he would have made for Sri Lanka! But all the water has flon from the river! As the ex-President and Father of Singapore Lee Kwan Yue rightly put it…Singalas have monkeyed their country through their corrupt practices of Buddhism. Tamils should have their own destiny and freedom, whether the Hindians or Singalas like it or not! To hell with them. When 8 lakh people of East Timor can be the UN’s newest nation so can the Tamils of Lanka, who have been through so much more than the Timorese!
Kris SARAVANAN said,
October 28, 2007 @ 3:53 am
Without A Tamil Army, Tamils Have Nothing!
o There is widespread racism and state terror that has been directed at the Tamil people since Ceylon gained independence from Britain in 1948.
o The Sinhalese came to Sri Lanka about 2500 years back and claim to be Aryan race, which is a bunch of crap
o Tamils have been living in Sri Lanka for more than 30,000 years and called it Ellam.
o In 1769 the British arrived and absorber the Island of Ceylon into its huge empire.
o Before Portugese, Dutch & British came, there were three Kingdoms in Ceylon, Tamil kingdoms in North and East, one Sinhalese kingdom in Hill Country and one in Costal areas of Ceylon.
o British centralised all powers in Capital Colombo for administrative purpose , unified the whole country by amalgamating three Kingdoms into one Country and brought large amount of Tamil Labours from India to Build Tea estates and these Tamils built the national economy and earn highest amount Foreign exchange today ( US $ 900 Millon per year )
o When British left in 1947, they handed over centralised power in Colombo to Sinhalese and the first Sinhalese majority parliament stripped, (which consisted of Racist like DS Senanayaka, SWRD Bandaranayaka & JR Jeyawardena,) one million tea estate Tamils in the central hill country of their citizenship and right to vote, because they voted against the ruling party and happened to be Tamils.
o The third parliament of Ceylon in 1n 1956, under the leadership of SWRD Bandaranayaka and with the support of UNP, made Sinhalese the only official language and as a consequence large number of Tamils lost their job opportunities. LSSP leader Colvin R De Silva warned one language, two countries, two languages, one country.
o During nineteen seventies the Government of Srimao Bandaranayaka, with the support of Badudeen Mohammed, NM Perera, Peter Kennaman & Colvin R De Silva implemented the standardisation policy where Tamil student have to get much more marks to enter university, irrespective of their merit, and abolished the Constitution Drafted by Last British Governor and deleted the protection given to Tamils under that Constitution and these act angered moderate Tamil Politicians and young Tamil students and provided a strong motivation to start armed struggle, another foolish act of Sindhalese
o Major Sinhalese political parties and Majority of the Buddhist Monks are totally racist and anti Tamil.
o In July 1983 the Sinhalese thugs aided, supported and encouraged by Sinhalese politicians, Buddhist monks and Sinhalese army and police killed thousands of Innocent Tamils, burned down their houses, business premises, medical clinics and lawyers offices and ganged raped Tamils girls and this is known as ‘July Holocaust’ or ‘Black July’.
o The Tamil armed struggle gathered momentum after this foolish act of Sinhalese and resulted in the development of present day Tamil Army known as ‘Tamils Tigers’
o Some feel that creation of a Tamil Federal state or a Scottish style Tamil Parliament will bring peace; this solution will not work, because this type of political system to work, the central government should be trust worthy and Tamils have no trust in Sinhalese central government or Sinhalese politicians. They cannot be trusted, because Sri Lankan army, police and state machinery is one hundred percent Sinhalese.
o The only option for Tamils to fight Sinhalese state terrorism is to create their own state which existed before Portugese, Dutch and British came to Colonise Ceylon-Sri Lanka.
o WITH OUT A TAMIL ARMY TAMILS HAVE NOTHING-POLITICAL POWER GROWS OUT OF BARREL OF GUN-ARMY IS HE CHIFE COMPONENT OF STATE POWER-
o The ‘Tigers’ control their own territory and run it like a totalitarian dictatorship now, after winning an independent state for Tamils, they have to grant democracy to all people, otherwise Tamil people will revolt
o Tamil Army is a militant army with a cause, to disarm them is impossible and no army can fight them forever.
o The ‘war on terror after 9/11′ has been used by Sri Lankan States (past & present) to suppress Tamils and opposition descendants and get plenty of foreign aid from US, Canada, Australia, Pakistan, China and Israel. Tamils and their Tamil Army are not terrorist, but freedom fighters. The Sinhalese and International media describes the entire Tamil people as terrorist and remain silent about Sri Lanka state terrorism for the benefit of their Geopolitical agendas.
o Regardless of whether the war in Sri Lanka is recognized as a war of national liberation in the exercise of the right to self-determination or a civil war, support for the LTTE from the Tamil people cannot be criminalise. The Tamil people, whether in Sri Lanka or elsewhere, have the right to freedom of opinion and belief, the right to freedom of expression and the right to support political parties or groups of their own choosing.
o FIGHTING FOR SURVIVAL IS A FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHT.
Pulithevan said,
October 28, 2007 @ 5:29 am
This article is full of insight except for the last sentence which tries to impose the thinking of the author.
Giving once life is not some thing every one can do.So they are no lambs. They lived like tigers & died like tigers.
I do agree Wrong is a wrong no matter who is the perpetrator. I truely agree sinhalese as a community is so great in their heart. Many of us would not have survived 1983 masacre if not for the good hearts of very many sinhalese. At that time government used their thugs to do the mayhem and painted it as a deed by the sinhala masses. The curse for this Tiny country is neither sinhalese or tamils. It is the petty politicians who ruled the country since independance.
Each person who dies on either side is a proud son of mother lanka. In a war no one wins every one looses. It is a mockery to fight for a land which does not belong to any one. Land belongs to land & we too belong to land one day.
Dr KC said,
October 28, 2007 @ 5:53 am
Unbelievable display of military capability, might and discipline. Please note that not a single Sinhala civilian had been killed by act of commission or omission by the LTTE in this operation. I still feel only in your dreams you can see such military actions.
I again urge the LTTE to do everything at its disposal to improve its political image. If the LTTE takes the right step I have no doubt it can come out of the ban in India & other countries.
I sincerely hope the Maveerar speech will have concrete message that is appealing to India and the rest of the IC.
Kethees said,
October 28, 2007 @ 6:02 am
By the way, DBS and the readers, did you notice that Mr. Sangaree condemned the LTTE attack. But his comdemnation against the military decision to parade the naked bodies and the attempt by the government to cover-up saying that it was a fake picture with touch-up?
tv said,
October 28, 2007 @ 6:12 am
Very good analysis. I commend your article.
I read Tissaranee’s article in the AT, typical sinhala thinking.
Your article is much more balanced and interesting.
I share the same view of other Tamils about the sacred sacrifice of the men and women in the Black Tigers!!!!
I salute them!!!
At least for their sake Tamils should find a lasting solution and work together for it!!!!
Lets not diminish their efforts to nothing!!!! Its up to us!!!
sam said,
October 28, 2007 @ 6:44 am
DBS analysis balanced.
People like KJ (comment # 3) are cold blooded , nonsense ” if ” clause
TK said,
October 28, 2007 @ 8:19 am
This was summation in a recent “Letter to the Editor” on the war in Iraq, in the New York Times:
“Count me, too, among those who do not want the sacrifice of our soldiers. I want instead for our people-indeed for all people everywhere-to remain whole, at home, following as closely as possible their dreams of living rather than measuring the value of their dying.
Laura Costas
Silver Spring, Md., Oct. 20, 2007″
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/23/opinion/l23iraq.html
Yalawan said,
October 28, 2007 @ 8:20 am
I wonder, that people still want to go to early stone age…….
then what is the meaning of modest????
VP did a great job in the history… no doubt but the question is
IS THIS THE RIGHT WAY AND THE TIME??? whenever we got a victory we beat our drums… but our people still in the low level life nobody want to make them up, in the name of ealam and war they never gain anything this is my strong believe; please let the people survive …..
ratna said,
October 28, 2007 @ 10:51 am
I think writer wanted apply a speed break to tamils’ mind not to over joy on this attack.
But for ordinary tamils, they have not forgotten how many thousands were killed by lankan airforce bombs.
Again, we talk, write, argue, and fight over the symptoms and ignores the cause.
Sri said,
October 28, 2007 @ 11:45 am
Dear writer Every one knows very well that the national question cannot be solved by war. It has taken over 50years for the south to realize there is a problem and it must be solved . The only reason the south was not able to sweep the problem under the carpet any longer was due to the tamils taking up arms. Today the only reason tamils are able to survive the ethnic Extinction is because of our military strength.
East is a very good example in 2007, how a liberated area is being colonized by the south.
Please note VP is only a leader, the strength, the force, the army is us the tamil people.
My point is two wrongs dont make one right but on the other hand we the tamils cannot take it lying down either.
90% of Tamils are for peace by political federal solution, but peace has not been servered yet and itis not visible in the horizon either.
So it time we stand behind our leader put our differences behind and let the South know we are knocking the doors for nothing but for peace
Ruwan Ranasinghe said,
October 28, 2007 @ 11:46 am
This recent attack just goes to show that GOSL is not capable of handling the intracicies involved in a protracted guerilla conflict. The US could not do it in Vietnam, the Russians failed in Chechnya, the US & NATO are struggling in Afghanistan, and Iraq is on the brink of chaos… and these are nations with responsible governments and first-class militaries. Corruption-riddled Sri Lanka and its third-class military should not expect to succeed where others have failed. There are exceptions to every rule, but usually the exceptions are so remarkable you can identify them early on.
Bala said,
October 28, 2007 @ 11:47 am
At issue is the “Parading of Naked Bodies of the Black Tigers”. Which should be condemned without prejudice. I don’t understand the reason to bring what happened in 1985.
Seelan said,
October 28, 2007 @ 3:06 pm
Dear DBSJ,
The single fight between Elara and Gemunu cannot be considered as a historical truth. Legends, myths or folk tales cannot be considered as historical evidence. Two other similar versions of ” Single elephant fight ” of a south Indian Chola ruler and a famous eighth centhury French king Charlemagne are available claims K. Indrapala in his latest book ‘ The evolution of an ethnic identity’ ( Pages 157- 161)
Roger Francis Gunasekera said,
October 28, 2007 @ 4:05 pm
This attack was a brilliant military plot. Tigers use suicide cadre willing to die more effectively than anyone of the Jihadis. While letting people die is despicable, we cannot call this a terrorist attack. It simply was a well planned, well laid out and well laid out attack on a legitimate military target. As a Sinhalese Buddhist living in Mirigama, I agree with DBS as usual.
There will be no victory by either side by military means. But both sides are using these attacks to further their brand of mayhem. All these actions are pyrhhic in nature. I for one cannot condemn the LTTE for this attack. I will rather see the traitors who easily sell out information to the enemy and who build houses overseas at our tax payer money jailed or exposed. Many of these arrogant officers think they are untouchable and do not have to perform because they are political sycophants. How many people will lose their jobs now? Not one. But if they fail in the LTTE, they will be executed. It is that simple. Hang the sinhala corrupt traitors first. This was expected and this was done. It leveled the battle field a bit from the tiger perspective.
This is an asymmetrical war and the Tigers do their job better than any other terrorist group. in the world. The sinhala racists adn the tamil racists all living in Canada and elsewhere are fools to think they can keep supporting this fratricidal war when tamils live and prosper everywhere in Sri Lanka now and only Sinhala and moors cannot live in Eelam areas. DBS WAS RIGHT to raise the horrible tiger planned TERRORIST attacks of 1985, our own horrible attack of 1983 by some tamils and some sinhalese respectively. Please do not attack all Sinhala or Tamils for the acts of madmen and fasicsts like VP.
Ranjan said,
October 28, 2007 @ 5:39 pm
I surprise to see people say they dont like last sentence in article.
I like that best of all
DBSJ praise and sympathyse with young boys and girls who fight and sacrifice by dieng.
What he says is that Prabakaran posing for camera with them is bad. This is like man who cuts lambs for sacrifice posing for camera
I endorse what DBSJ says
Metha said,
October 28, 2007 @ 5:56 pm
Hi Bala,
Re yeaer 1985 (Anuradapuram massacre) whether it was carried out by LTTE, according to TIME magazine it was done on the request of India RAW. RAW had asked all the Tamil movements, then, to carry a such massacre to make pressure on JR. So India should be blamed for this action.
2ndClassTamil said,
October 28, 2007 @ 7:08 pm
I hope no one will refute my assertion that unless the whole Sri Lankn Defence Forces goes to sleep, Eelam may never happen, given the current geopolitical scene (especially as we have murdered our God Father). The unquestionable intransigence of GoSL stems from this fact. Prabaharan, of all people – who knows how to win battles – would know this. Winning the war is a pipe dream. But denying freedom to those who deny it to the Tamils is clearly his strategy. (I suppose this is what is meant by taking up arms. Once upon a time it was known as freedom fighting, but is replaced nowadays by a better sounding term, terrorism). GoSL too should know it has no answer to this. So, here we have a cat and mouse game!
Talking impressively, arguing eloquently, even agreeing to be beaten on the head by batons had not opened the sensibilities of our Sinhala brethren. Mild forms of terrorism (such as the A’pura attack) too have not been successful in focussing the attention towards a political solution. Look what has happened to the APRC process. This was very much predicted, given the lack of stature of our SL politicians. My fear is whether we going to see an escalation of violence (Iraqi style for example, or worse) if political processes do not produce an accommodation.
He who wants peace badly will have to make the long overdue move. The country has suffered unduly.
Roger Francis Gunasekera said,
October 28, 2007 @ 4:08 pm
Facts and data will show that most tamils live in the Sinhala homeland and they SHOULD have every god given right to do so. But what about the 95,000 sinhalese and moors DBSJ? will they ever have their god given right to go back to Jaffna? And what about the Tamils? Will they all go live in Eelam and leave and renounce their free education in SRI LANKA?
What about all those doctors, engineers, scientists who got their education in Peradeniya in Sinhala campuses? Are they not all Sri Lankan citizens benefiting from free education? Why do they keep funding Tigers from New Jersey? perhaps the man known as Warren can answer that?
Siva said,
October 28, 2007 @ 9:53 pm
Thanks for the detailed analysis DBS. A job well done.
I salute those 21 freedom fighters who gave their lives
for the supreme cause. May their souls rest in peace. My hearfelt gratitude to their families.
The tamils need to need to find a peaceful solution.
I hope we achieve our goal as soon as possible.
Siva.S.
Eelam Tamil said,
October 28, 2007 @ 10:05 pm
Wrt to the last comment from the article, There is nothing wrong or abnormal in that.
Takng pictures with Black Tigers and having a last meal became a routine event…There is nothing wrong with that, Infact, this practice become after Black Tigers requesting to meet with Mr. Prabakaran before they go on any mission kind of like a last wish for them. Praba can’t do much with this, He does it for every Black Tiger Cadre to full fill their last request..
I salut for the 21 member Black Tiger Team for their Courage, dedication and self-determination.
I also bow for Mr.Prabaharan for co-ordinating and masterminding this Operation Ellalan.
Tiger’s Thrist is TamilEelam.
AMARA said,
October 29, 2007 @ 2:38 am
Its sad to see somany young tamil lives getting killed every day. If this war goes on for another 10 years the tamil population in Sri Lanka will be decrease considerebly. It is important if the leaders of LTTE and Tamil Political Parties to think about the danger and come to talks with the Sri Lankan Government to prevent Tamils becoming a dieing race .
Dyan said,
October 29, 2007 @ 4:59 am
It is easy to be happy when the time is in our side. We should not feel down and moody when the time is not our side.
Always keep the dream of Freedom alive.
Eelam Tamil said,
October 29, 2007 @ 9:52 am
About to the last comment made in the article,
There is nothing wrong with taking pictures.
Each Black Tiger Cadre is given an opportunity to meet with their leader, have a nice meal and take photos.
Infact, this routine become a practice after the Black Tiger Cadres made this request as their last request for their Leader. So Praba got no choice but to full fill the Black Tiger Cadre’s last wishes.
I salut the 21 Black Tiger Cadres for their courage, self-determination and passion for the Eelam Cause.
I bow to our leader Mr. V. Prabaharan for masterminding and executing the plan and taking the right path towards the Eelam Nation.
Sellam in UK said,
October 29, 2007 @ 3:04 pm
Nicely narrated article. I was expecting the full episode of the attack from start to finish.
There are many Tamils who support and praise the bravery of the LTTE cadres on the attack and destruction on the Anuradhapura airbase. There are also many Tamils who condemn the attack. I do not wish to argue on the destruction and deaths as it is easy to destroy and kill rather than to create and bring forth. The destruction is not in any way going to benefit the Tamils except to enhance the conflict.
The repurcussions will be serious for the Tamil people. Then the LTTE’s repraisals will cause more damage. It will go on vice versa and the war will go on. Prabaharan has done more damge to the Tamils than the Sinhalese governments. Some may not agree.
If Prabahran wants to stop this war and go for peace with sincerrity, , he can do it this minute. But he would not do it because if he does, he cannot survive long.
dias said,
October 29, 2007 @ 7:14 pm
The conflict is between two intransigent parties – the LTTE on one hand and GoSL on the other, each focused only on destroying one-another.
That is why a solution will never emerge from either extreme – but most probably through the moderate center. What is needed is to built a strong center – possibly an initiative for a brave Sri Lankan, Tamil, Sinhalese, Muslim or whatever.
S Rasalingam said,
October 29, 2007 @ 8:23 pm
The comments by various people show how foolishly we tamils continue to glorify violance, suicide and terror. We began all this in 1939 with GGPonnambalam attacking the Sinhalese in a virulent speech in1939, resulting in the first sinhala-tamil Riot, fully exploited politically by SWRDBanda and other sinhala chauvanists.
After the war SJV and others used every chance to gore the government instead of building bridgers. They spurned the left leaders who stood for parity and preferered to hob-nob with their Col-7 capitalist leadres.
Our Colombo-Tamil leaders arrogantly started the ball rolling, and even claimed that they are “ready for state terror. The local militants realized that they were being bamboozeled by the colombo set, and they captured control, killed those leaders, our best men and women, and made cannon fodder out of our children.
Look at this partial list:
1. The JR government in 1977 granted ALL the demands on language etc., that the previous tamil organizations had asked for. But we could not profit from it, because by then we were under the gun of Prabakaran.
2. India came in and merged North and Esst, and provided an honourable framework. But we renaged the whole thing and strated another war. Prabakaran would have been annihilated by the IPKF if not for Premadasa.
3.Further accomodation was possible under Premadasa. But we renaged him and killed the 600 police who surrenderd.
4. Under Chandrika we had the far reaching constitutional propsals by Neelan Thiruchelvan, but we replied by assasinating him.
5.Incredible consessions were made by the Ranil Wickremasinghe government with the Cease Fire agreement. But we used it to stock up arms, get ready for another war and made sure of such a war by preventing Ranil’s Victory.
This list of 5 does not include the innumarable other chances that had been offered. Why would any
politician think that a political solution is possible with VP?
So, why are were talking of a political solution?
LTTE has always worked for a military solution. This Anuradhapura attack is the same old Killinochchi wine that Bishop Chikera is now peddling and desecrating even the Eucharist. The LTTE does NOT want a political solution. IT WANTS a military solution from the barrel of a gun. In the process it will destroy the Ceylon tamils by destroying the future generation. How many tamils are now left in the Vanni? What is the percentage of Tamils in Sri Lanka today? The CIA world fact book says that there is now only about 5% tamils in SL !!!!!!
Instead of executing this attack on the Anuradhapura military camp, if Prabakaran had declared that HE IS FOR A FEDERAL SOLUTION and that HE WILL PEACEFULLY CONTEST ELECTIONS EVERYWHERE IN SRI LANKA, do you think ANY SINHALA POLITICIAN of any worth could OPPOSE IT? Even the most extreme “unitary man” would have to take up the historic chance.
Even many Sinhala might vote for Prabakaran if he had the capacity to the right thing. But a “Venkai” does not change its spots.
Instead, for 30 years, he has led the Tamils on the path of distruction and suicide. Foolish Tamils, drunk with the venom of hate sing in his praise.
I LAY THE WHOLE BLAME ON PRABAKARAN
for destroying the Ceylon tamils. He is the biggest friend of Sinhala Chuvanists. Prabakaran has done what no Dutugamunu could ever do – reduce the tamil areas to a prison for the tamils, reduce the reputaion of Tamils all over the world, kill our next generation and convert the remainder into war-mongering youngesters unfit for civilian life. The
adults have been reduced to displace persons.
School principles and Temple dignitaries have been assasinated.
Only the Tamils living in cosy comfort in the foreign lands can continue to rattle their swords, mesmerized by Prabakaran’s war games which have destroyed the tamil people, and impoverished the Sinhala as well.
Nothing is possible for the Ceylon tamils until Prabakaran is a factor in the balance of power.
Tamils need educated leaders with a vison fit for
todays global village.
Sebastian Rasa
Ramesh said,
October 30, 2007 @ 1:12 am
There is nothing to be sad or be happy on this: War will go on!
theeran tamilakam said,
October 30, 2007 @ 1:53 am
எல்லாப் புகழும் சோழப் புதல்வன் ‘கரிகாலன்’ அவர்களுக்கே
Surya said,
October 30, 2007 @ 4:49 pm
Dear DBS
thank you for giving us a well balanced article to highlight the horrible war going on in Sri Lanka together with historical facts. As I know the history of Sri Lanka it has never been divided as Tamils and Singalese as now.
What we are doing today is havesting what sawn by the West on us. I am very sad to see that this problem doesn’t show any kind of end in sight. The cruelty of showing naked bodies of dead in public became norm of our Sri Lankan culture. The sad part is we Sri Lankan never beed uncultured at this low level in most of our known history.
War monger of Singalese nationalists and Tamils extremists never been enjoying life as now! This is done by distroying the country in their respective part. War mongering Singhalese extremists sending their sisters as modern day slaves to Arab countries feel no shame. Tamils represented by a group do their best to distroy the whole future of Tamils by saving their ‘uncritiziable and short sighted leader’.
By the way ‘KJ’ it’s no late to join them as 22 person. One way ticket to your ultimate destiny doesn’t cost much for your savings. People like you is shame for humanity as encouraging poor young children to die!
Patriot said,
October 30, 2007 @ 7:38 pm
Prabhakaran wouldn’t know what a real struggle is if it hit him in the eye! A real leader would never ever put his people in harms way as this guy has done or send thousands of youth to certain death and destruction.
A real leader will, first and foremost, lead by example and a struggle for greater empowerment isn’t just political, it is in all spheres social and economic as well. Above all, it is about ‘fighting’ in a political sense of course! with the best interests of the people who you represent at heart and most especially having a positive and strong dialogue with the rest of the country and other communities within the country and with whichever Sri-Lankan government is in power.
It is about creating and building as strong a position as possible for your community within the country through consensus and dialogue and in harmony with others!
All VP has done so far is kill all other democratic tamil opponents and stifled whatever debate there was by unleashing pointless violence and converting the north of the country into a war zone.
De Lacour said,
October 31, 2007 @ 12:09 am
It was fun to read the 30+ comments to glorify violance, suicide and terror, until the 34th comment by Sebastian Rasa’s comment.
I hope all the tamils will open their eyes to the facts he had put forward.
Not just the tamils stand to benefit from them, sinhalas and muslims as well.
Malaysian said,
October 31, 2007 @ 12:09 am
People do have short memories of the past, nothing will change in Sinhala policies. The rule of Sinhala law will forced upon Tamils eventually if LTTE looses his battle. Observation even from latet APC itself has showed there will never no change as the moderates claim. All the little happening itself is contributed due to the existence of LTTE . Wake Up my brothers and sisters!
Rasika said,
October 31, 2007 @ 2:54 am
those 21 poeole are terrorist, even thought didn’t deserv to be paraded naked. any fool who think that this was a victory is living in Alice’s woderland. thses terrosrit who sacrifised their life to destroy a few aircrafts have acheved nothing. they can be bought back, what about the 21fools who died, can fat Praba bring them back, all who try to gloryfy this are idiots, take a reality check, get
Rasika said,
October 31, 2007 @ 3:00 am
those 21 poeole are terrorist, even thought didn’t deserv to be paraded naked. any fool who think that this was a victory is living in Alice’s woderland. thses terrosrit who sacrifised their life to destroy a few aircrafts have acheved nothing in real terms, air-carfts can be bought back, what about the 21fools who blew them selves up, can fat Praba bring them back, all who try to gloryfy this are idiots, take a reality check, get a life. ealam will never hapend it never existed, never should. Learn to live with all citizens peacefully. violence will only worsen u r pliegt. wise people should practise Gandhi’s philosopy.
eesan said,
October 31, 2007 @ 3:28 am
Maithripala Senanayake and KB Ratnayake are not ur typical sinhalese, nor is gamini abhaya.
And ellalan is not the typical Tamil.
Both ellaalan and “dutugemunu”, by all accounts, had, in their armies, both sinhalese and tamils fighting on their behalf. In terms of ethnic harmony, we are not, apparently, where our ancestors were 23 centuries ago. That this historical battle was between the Sinhalese and the Tamils was concocted some centuries later, it went unchallenged because the literacy rate was too low at that time, they believed whatever was told to them. More and more tamils wanted to be on the winning side and called themselves “Sinhalese”.
DBSJ is NOT the typical Tamil either, the average Tamil in the present day NE hasn’t rubbed shoulders with tolerant sinhalese like DBSJ has. The typical Tamil wants the LTTE to beat the cr_p out of the SL military.
Ms Kalaichelvi said,
October 31, 2007 @ 4:19 am
Comment 34,
You know nothing about Sri Lankan history. For example, – 1. The JR government in 1977 granted ALL the demands on language etc., that the previous Tamil organizations had asked for. You mean – District Councils. District Councils not have the power even to build a village library.
Malaysian said,
October 31, 2007 @ 5:49 am
People do have short memories of the past, nothing will change in Sinhala policies. The rule of Sinhala law will be forced upon Tamils eventually if LTTE looses the battle. Even IC realised that the progress of the APC itself reflects the Sinhala Supremacy and not otherwise as claimed by the Sri Lankan moderates. Not to mention Anandasangaree and Devananda s’ Federal concept was thrown to dustbin. The war is not fueled only by Sri Lankan state alone but India and America for their own geo-political interest. I see nobody condemns these foreign powers for ;the death of so many innocents. For colleborating “Crime against Humanity” against the Tamils.
If this war was left alone to Tamils and Sinhalese….by now there would have been amicable settlement.Peace and prosperity would have flourished. Educating the IC will bring this war to end. That would be the task at hand now.
B Sunil said,
October 31, 2007 @ 10:08 am
We had all forgotten that the Tigers were on the prowl, waiting for an opportunity to hit where it hurts most. We had been made to believe by our government and hawks who see the call for peace as a treacherous act that the Tigers were a spent force and, therefore, could be defeated militarily. We were told that the Tigers had been well and truly defeated in the east. We were fed stories of military successes in the north almost on daily basis. We were assured that the military had wiped out the entire fleet of the Tigers’ arms-transporting ships. The government’s information campaign was so aggressive that the task of finding a needle in a haystack has become much easier than spotting a peace activist in southern Sri Lanka.
For the government, the attack was certainly a shameful and shocking setback. But the bigger setback was the absence of any condemnation from the international community. It may because the Tigers targeted a military facility. But the silence is also tantamount to a tacit approval of the Tigers’ military action against a state which has miserably failed in presenting a meaningful and effective political solution to the Tamil problem.
The silence of the international community is certainly a sign of its disappointment
with the government’s lack of progress on the political front.
De La Cour said,
October 31, 2007 @ 12:00 pm
It is fasinating to read the comments encouraging for more sacrifises, as long as it is not their kith and kin that die.
Thses people must be thinking from the rear ends.
What Sabestian Rasa in comment #34 wrote makes sense.
Tamils in SriLanka had reduced to 5%. There are a very few or no tamil intellects in SL. All the tamil youth is trained to violance, there are no tamil youngsters that can lead a normal life to maturity. When they land in Canada,UK,Norway,Australia they regroup and kill each other. What a curse had befallen on tamils.
All this is thanks to Prabakaran.
Destroy the aircrafts and pay for it with your lives.
If 5% of tamils in SriLanka kills 5% of sinhalas and muslims, who is ahaed of this killing game?
S Rasa is right. Prabakaran is doing what no Dhutugamunu was able to do.
Tamils in SriLanka are in self imposed extinction!!!
Think harder my friends.
Dr KC said,
October 31, 2007 @ 5:00 pm
Dear Patriot
Your comments @38 equated Prabhaharan to a ‘blood sucking vulture’ but the fact of the matter is, again and again you pretend to not to understand, that the leaders of the GOSL have committed the VERY crimes.
How many Sinhala soldiers have perished in this conflict so far? 25,000? Knowing the risk of sending these soldiers to the frontline, why are Sinhala leaders still send their soldiers to perish. How can you blame only VP?
Everyone knows the Joseph Pararajasingham was massacred by the paramilitary with the active participation of the SLA. Then how on earth you can curse only the LTTE for killing the political leaders.
I suggest that you undergo intensive training on ‘rational thinking’.
TULF President V. Anandasangaree's letter said,
November 1, 2007 @ 3:45 am
Please stop your killings and go for talks-Anandasangaree tells Prabhakaran
Suresh M said,
November 1, 2007 @ 9:06 am
Ref # 41, 42
Rasika, I think you are really in Alice’s wonderland.
You want Tamils who are faced with Sinhala regime’s terror campaign on a daily life, to practice non-violence. Before, you make any silly comments like this do a little bit of research of the history, and the nature of the conflict.
Even Sinhala terror regime was speechless of the heroic act of these twenty-one young man and women. You call them terrorist!
Dr KC said,
November 1, 2007 @ 10:41 am
Dear S Rasalingam @34
I do not disagree with your comments about the LTTE but you cannot and should not ignore the atrocities and brutality committed by the successive GOSL.
Since independence the govts of SL never attempted sincerely to resolve the conflict. They always looked for and found an excuse to delay things again & again. You know the majority report of the Expert Panel to solve the political solution. I sincerely believed that should lay down a strong foundation to behind the process of reconciliation and nation building. But it has been chucked in the bin by Mahinda & Co Ltd.
Young men & women of Tamils took up arms purely due to the brutal military occupation of the NE.
Both the GOSL and LTTE have done blunders. By attacking only the LTTE, I do not think you are making a sensible contribution to end this conflict.
ernest macintyre said,
November 1, 2007 @ 10:38 pm
How was it possible that the LTTE people were able to use the recently supplied Indian anti air craft guns with so great a familiarity ?
Does it mean they possess the identical guns? Were they provided the manuals by……..at the same time the guns were sold to Sri Lanka ?
The ramifications on this matter will provide a wider vista , not on the Anuradhapura attack, but on the whole military conflict.
Malaysian said,
November 2, 2007 @ 12:14 am
In an arm struggle as always had been in history of mankind that every bodies hands are in blood. However, today the Terrorism card been utilised by Sri Lanka on a legitimate struggle. “But the sight of a plump Prabakharan ” totally uncalled for. Prabakharan is not one individual but expression of millions of Tamils around the world.
Usha said,
November 2, 2007 @ 8:04 am
Something to share from the past……….
“We are not lovers of violence nor victims of mental disorders. We are honest fighters belonging to an organization that is struggling to liberate a people. To those noble souls who keep on prating “terrorism, terrorism” we have something to say. Did you not get frightened of terrorism when hundreds of Tamils were massacred in cold blood, when racist hate spread like fire in this country of yours? Did terrorism mean nothing to you when Tamil women were raped? When cultural treasures were set on fire? When hundreds and hundreds of Tamil homes were looted? Why in 1977 alone 400 Tamils lost their lives reddening the sky above with their splattered blood – did you not see any terrorism then? Did your thoughts and feelings become deadened when it concerned Tamil lives and Tamil property or are your minds unable to conceive the very idea of Tamil suffering?… There is nothing that prevents two neighbouring nations living in co-operation. Even nations with differing policies get together for common economic good and for the purpose of common security. Does that mean that those nations give up their distinctive characteristics or sovereignty?.. ” Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation Leader, Nadarajah Thangathurai’s Dock Statement, 1983
Kann said,
November 2, 2007 @ 12:00 pm
Congrats DBS, very well said about our Greate hero, warrior, liberator and leader of all the tamils.
Devinda Fernando said,
November 2, 2007 @ 1:43 pm
LOL! Look at all the Veiled Goating going on here. What we basically come to know about the LTTE and their Rabid Supporters abroad! Well I have news for you people. Anuradhapura was Bad for the GOSL – no Question, but I’m please to annouce today that the GOSL has successfully executed a DEVATATING DECAPTIATION STRIKE in Killinochichi – Permanently silencing the LTTE’s Political Wing S.P. Thamilchelvan.
Good Riddence! and about Time too!
One Less Terrorist to deal with.
Ravana said,
November 2, 2007 @ 2:15 pm
You are all dumb stupid goats. Finish this war one way or another. Which ever way Sri lanka wins. Why?
War – SL is a more powerful and capable war machine than the tigers.
Negotiations – Just give a few bucks to Uncle P, poor bugger has been stuck in a bunker his whole life, he might even like to go n see the world. Disny land anyone?
Cheers
Sundaram said,
November 2, 2007 @ 9:06 pm
Thanks to DBS for a very good article.
Since many Tamils and Sinhalese used to read your web site it would be very interesting if the editorial from Ajit Samaranayake could be reproduced in TamilWeek. Because Elara- Dutugemunu fight is being often quoted by the leaders these days.
Comment # 34 by S. Rasalingam,
I appreciate your comments .
In my opinion LTTE should do whatever possible to get the support of India which only would save the SL Tamils now.
Rajith said,
November 3, 2007 @ 5:15 am
DBS. Congradulations on yor article. This is the most unbiased, factful analysis i read on teh aftrmath of Anuradapura attack.
Fr. Terence Fernando said,
November 3, 2007 @ 10:08 am
A visit to “Liberated People” of Arippu, Silawaturai, Maruthamadu, Kokkupadayan, Potkerny, and Mullikulam.
After about two weeks of “humanitarian operation” by the SL armed forces, it was announced that the above mentioned villages (within the parish of Arippu), were liberated. On the 14th of September I visited these so called “Liberated People” and returned to Negombo on the 16th. In solidarity with the suffering masses I would like to share with you my observations of the plight of the civilian people in the ‘liberated areas’.
As I entered the Church premises of Murunkan, I could see two long lines of tents built by a UNO refugee service. But, surprisingly I could not see a single person in any of those tents. I thought to myself it could be perhaps that the liberated people cannot be living in temporary refugee huts. Passing through the tents I walked towards the Don Bosco’s Technical School and then I could see hundreds of men, women, young and old, and infants with sad and sorrowful faces, sitting on the floor of Don Bosco’s Technical School as its roof at least protected them from the scorching sun.
As usual children were running here and there as if nothing has happened. Rev. Fr. Xavier of Don Bosco told me that those are the people ‘liberated’ from their homes and land through the so called humanitarian operations of SL armed forces.
Here is the true story of the exiled brothers and sisters of parish of Arippu in Mannar. The militants who were living in these areas had withdrawn to some other area as they had received prior information that the army has plans to move towards Silawaturai from Murunkan. After about two weeks, the army began shelling the area which fell in the sea but gradually fell closer and closer to the land. People thinking that next Kaffir bomber may begin its mission, ran for their life leaving behind everything. Subsequently, the army moved towards the area and ordered all the people to vacate their homes within ten minutes. People not knowing what is going to happen ran for refuge. Narrating their story of agony, they said that it took many long hours to cross the Arivi Aru river with the help of two boats and then came to Nanattan and Murunkan areas. From that time onwards their villages were occupied by the army.
According to the govt. information, it was after a massive operation and heavy battle that Silawaturai was rescued from the militants. Contrary to government information, the people and Parish Priest said that not a single bullet had to be fired at the militants; no battle was fought against the militants, as they had already left from the area well ahead of the arrival of the armed forces.
Unfortunately, not all priests were there as some had gone to the National Seminary in Kandy, for a retreat. On their arrival on the following day the Parish Priest of Murunkan Rev. Fr. Stephen and some Holy Family nuns with the permission from army officials have gone to Arippu. They found that the mission house has been forcibly opened; the house in an utter mess and the 50ltr container of petrol missing. After two days, the officer in charge of the area asked the Father, Sisters and three elderly persons to vacate the place saying that at any time there can be a battle with the militants.
But, Fr. has said that he does not want to leave but rather stay and die among his people. But the army has brought a vehicle and transported them to Murunkan by force. Though no militants were present no battle was fought more than sixteen innocent persons, including children were killed while some have disappeared.
Fathers have said that the army officials have assured them that within 72 hours that they would allow people to go back to their villages. It was after ten days that I went there, but still that 72 hour period has not passed.
When two families were traveling in a van on that day, they including two children were killed by a claymore attack. The tragedy was that not a single person was allowed to go to that spot. After three days when permission was given, the priests accompanied by some others brought those decomposed bodies to Mannar hospital and buried them around 11.00 O’clock at night in the presence of Bishop Rayappu Joseph of Mannar.
The people of Mullikulam were not allowed to come out of their village and all communication with them was cut off. No permission was given to priests or NGOs or anybody else to enter in to that area. After a week, those starving people were ordered to walk about 20km up to Silawaturai and then transport was provided only to Murunkan by the army.
A co-op manager sending his wife and children in a vehicle with other people came by his motor cycle with money and jewellery in a bag. But, he has not still reached Murunkan. People are certain that he would never meet him again because he has been seen by others in an army vehicle. The husband of the niece of Fr. Jeyabalan, Parsih Priest of Arippu was another among the many killed.
A missionary nun working in Bangaladesh who had come for her holidays was also displaced with her relations. After two days she went back to bring her documents and found that all those were thrown away and the lap top she brought missing.
On Saturday evening, I noticed that people at Don Bosco’s were not to be seen. The army has decided to send them to other places. Twenty six families with their infants, children, old and sick people were given tents and settled within the premises of the Church under hot sun. Some were asked to find refuge in the houses of their relatives, while the others taken to various camps around. I saw some taken in tractors.
Frs. Jeyabalan, the Parsih Priest of Arippu and Beno accompanied me to the other camps at Nanattan parish. The church compound, school buildings, and paddy stores had given shelter to hundreds of families again. All those people had only one plea to make before the authorities; ‘allow us to go back to our homes’.
There I listened also to a cry of a young mother. “When I was a child I was displaced, chased away from our home, went to India, lived in refugee camps, came back to begin life again, but what a tragedy! Now I am married, have children, now we are in the same plight. How long can we bear this suffering? It is better to die rather than living.”
It is important that we in the south ask ourselves, ‘Do we hear that cry’.
Again I had the opportunity to listen to some priests who had visited Artkattiveli, Adampan, Kannatti, Sampan, Vidathaltivu, Pallamadu, Kovilkulam, Karukkakulam areas and read the report they had written about the same. Daily shelling by the army had forced people to abandon these areas and settle down in the thick jungles without water but with snakes and poisonous serpents.
This is another story narrated by Fr. Jeyaseelan the Parsih Priest of Nanattan. “Recently, we dug the earth in the Church compound to lay a foundation to erect a statue. We couldn’t dig more than three feet, three human skeletons appeared. Thinking more skeletons would appear we closed the place” I have heard from a previous parish priest that he also found skeletons when they were constructing the mission house. How did this happen? This church had been an army camp before…….
This is a little bit of news about the liberated people of Silawaturai area. I am only narrating what I experienced during the two days of my stay there. This is the kind of liberation the leaders of the South going to bring to the Tamil people of this country.
Having observed all these happenings there are some questions pricking my conscience which I would like to place before you. Who has the authority over these people? Who in fact takes decisions on their behalf? What right have they got to do so? Who ordered these innocent people out from their homes?
Don’t those people have a right to live in freedom with human dignity in this country? Don’t we hear the cry of the victims of violence? Can they, as human beings bear this suffering and pain any more?
Aren’t you too disturbed by these questions? Can we just keep silent believing only what the leaders of the South present to us as the TRUTH? Are we to continue to believe the slogans of war mongers that we are winning the battle, war is coming to an end and there will be perfect peace in the country soon?
Certainly, we have come to a decisive moment in the history of our country. God is constantly asking each one of us, ‘Where is your brother? Are we to answer back, am I the keeper of my brother’. In response to the call of God of history, let us join our hands with our suffering brethren.
Fr. Terence Fernando
Convener
Human Rights Action Forum
Arvinth, Trichy said,
November 3, 2007 @ 10:10 am
“Ellalan” ” Dutugemunu” all are in old time, now “Pottu Amman” “Rajapakse regime” time.
All are deals.
Dr KC said,
November 3, 2007 @ 1:03 pm
I, 100% agree with Sundaram’s comments @58. Unless the LTTE gets the support of India – not just TN – the Tamils of SL will not have a future. I have been saying this for years.
In the name of our children, I urge the LTTE leadership to grasp this hard fact even at this 11th hour.
The GOSL (whether UNP or SLFP) will never offer an honourable solution to our legitimate grievances. The LTTE’s military campaign shall not enable us to live in peace and harmony and our future generation to lead a normal life. Only an association with India can give a secure future.
Ravi said,
November 3, 2007 @ 2:50 pm
It is very unfortunate that after creating such A GREAT BALANCED (until end) ANALYSIS , the author DBS goes low for the “sake of balancing” at the very end by using “plump Prabakaran posing…..” terminology ! This man VP who fought, established, developed, designed, planned is million times greater than any Sri Lankan presidents and Comm-in-Chf s. If he cannot pose who else can, Mr. DBS ? Please kindly understand that ‘balancing’ is not standing between right and wrong.
Ranjan said,
November 4, 2007 @ 3:48 pm
Why are some people getting annoyed over VP being plump?
Is he not plump?
What is wrong in being plump?
Why are you all thinking that being plump is bad?
Suresh M said,
November 4, 2007 @ 6:49 pm
# 56,
Hey Fernando,
Are you still here! I thought you have gone back to Portugal, and was relived we may have to deal with one less lunatic.
Raj said,
November 5, 2007 @ 10:16 pm
Let me sum up the attitude of the Tamil doctors abroad and the brainwashed low cadres battling on the ground.
‘We couldnt get 50:50 rule with a 20:80 poulation now we will get 100% rule with bullets and suicide vests’
Dilani said,
November 12, 2007 @ 3:10 am
The water is simmering and the crab is still dancing to the Norwegian tune. Good Days are over and the count down begins. RIP VP.