Prabakaran Has Done To Tamils What No Dutugemunu Could Do
By S.Rasalingam
The comments by various people show how foolishly we tamils continue to glorify violence, suicide and terror. We began all this in 1939 with G.G. Ponnambalam attacking the Sinhalese in a virulent speech in1939, resulting in the first Sinhala Tamil Riot, fully exploited politically by SWRDBanda and other Sinhala chauvinists.
After the war SJV and others used every chance to gore the government instead of building bridges. They spurned the left leaders who stood for parity and preferred to hob-nob with their Col-7 capitalist leaders.
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 bamboozled 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 East, and provided an honourable framework. But we reengaged the whole thing and started another war. Prabakaran would have been annihilated by the IPKF if not for Premadasa.
3.Further accommodation was possible under Premadasa. But we reengaged him and killed the 600 police who surrendered.
4. Under Chandrika we had the far reaching constitutional proposals by Neelan Thiruchelvan, but we replied by assassinating him.
5.Incredible concessions 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 innumerable 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 destruction 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 Chauvinists. Prabakaran has done what no Dutugemunu could ever do – reduce the Tamil areas to a prison for the Tamils, reduce the reputation of Tamils all over the world, kill our next generation and convert the remainder into war-mongering youngsters unfit for civilian life. The adults have been reduced to displace persons.
School principles and Temple dignitaries have been assassinated.
Only the Tamils living in cozy 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 vision fit for today’s global village.
Editor’s Note: Written By S.Rasalingam, as reader’s comment for the article, In the Aftermath of the A’Pura Attack.
Ajith Hemantha said,
October 30, 2007 @ 10:32 pm
Dear Sir,
I agree with your comments. If Praba can come to main political highway. More sinhalese will vote him. Due to his proper managment skill in his controled area and law in the area is better than sri lankan government area. In sri lanka government controle sinhalese mostly poor are suffering due to power hungry politican work. Hence if praba can show good leadership the people will follow him and the nubers can count on millions.
The friendship with tamils and sinhalese willnever brake . I am sinhalese but i have lots of tamil family friends that we never had any arguement.
Thanks
Ajith
Singapore
John anderton said,
October 30, 2007 @ 10:34 pm
Hello,
Noam Choksy,
VP is not a perfect leader. He’s a better man million times over compared G. G pon. and SJV. VP has united the strongest of tamils. G. G pon is caste chaunist. as far as I am concerned he’s total moron and lacks foresight. VP has Killed of the weakest of the tamils or scared them into submission. He has made us militarily strong. The weak deserve their fate according to natural selection.
Stop ranting. Your probalby one em tamil traiors like plote, epdp or wannabe karuna’s.
Humanity has always been at war. We’ll always be at war fool . There’s no such thing as peace.
War makes us stronger, peace makes us weaker.
Upali de Silva said,
October 30, 2007 @ 10:51 pm
Well said Rasa, I can’t agree with no more.
Parmeswaran said,
October 30, 2007 @ 11:06 pm
Very true what Rasalingham has said.
Prabha is ruining the tamil nation in Sri Lanka. What is the point achieving any tamil land at the cost of their people in big numbers. People dont live for ever.so live a decent and harmonius life. Prabha is brain washing innocent tamil boys and girls and ruin their lives.Come and joing the democratic system. To save at least few reamining tamils in SL.
A.Rajasingam said,
October 30, 2007 @ 11:07 pm
I have to place the opportunities where our Tamil leaders have missed the bus.
Before J.R.Jayawardena, C.P.de Silva started to colonize Sinhala in Minneriya-Kantalai area during the regime of D.S.Senanayake and Dudley Senanayake. At that time some leading Tamil leaders such as Mahadeva had let down the Tamils because of the differences among the Tamil leaders.
J.R.Jayawardena could have easily solved the problem in 1977 when Sinhalese were eagerly listening to him. The third constitution was drafted by them and designed in such a way without the participation of the Tamil parties. The word Sinhala and Tamil are ‘National languages’ are really to hoodwink the masses. After all he too earlier agreed that federalism was the only solution before he assumed power.
It is under J.R.Jayawardena’s regime the North and East Provinces were merged as a result of the Indo-Sri Lanka Peace Accord. The Indo-Sri Lanka Peace Accord was a steping stome towards the march for federalism. This was an opportunity dearly missed by the Tamils on account of the rigorous attitude of the LTTE.
The far reaching constitutional proposals based on the Canadian Constitution by Dr.Neelan Thiruchelvam (which was a master piece) was the second missed opportunity. Instead the LTTE assassinated him giving a deadly blow to the Tamil community. Had that constitutional proposals been passed by now the North-East Province would have developed to an unprecedented level.
Even under Ranil Wickremasinghe the soup was really spoilt by Chandrika though the LTTE began to stock up arms. But mention should be made that the LTTE and other Muslim terrorist movements would have been suppressed by the Western democracies and India.
The blunders of the previous leaders had placed Mahinda in a complicated issue when he was trapped in the LTTE net and now unable lift his head.
In spite of all these burning problems the LTTE is silent on their demands pertaining to this ethnic conflict, but keeps on vibrating the Tamils with such Anuradhapura attacks. Such attacks may be a blessing in disguise but for how long. Similarly the Government too is silent on the proper solution to this ethnic conflict.
There are some questions that every one should have in mind. What status has the LTTE to ask or request that India has a moral obligation to interfere in Sri Lanka, especially after having been involved with the late R.Premadasa to send the IPKF out of Sri Lanka and also after the assassination of the Indian Prime Minister in his own soil ? Thereafter the LTTE leader is seen as the most wanted criminal by the international community. Does the LTTE expects the international community to dance to their tune? Are they really interested in restoring democracy or the Fidel Castro style (or communists) of regime. Can self-proclaimed leaders restore democracy? Where does the concept of authentic representative of the Tamil people fit in? What about the number of faces the LTTE have – namely calculated and systematic decimation of professionals, writers, academics and politicians and other liberation movements through pistol gangs (including following such personnels even in foreign countries with intent to decimate); engaging in credit cards frauds; illegal fund raising by various methods; abductions and kidnapping; transfer of assets (lands, funds, business establishments and even temples) through threats; recruitment of child soldiers while sending their children overseas; labelling of traitors when disagreed with their ideologies; gaining entry in other countries on various pretexts for purposes of illegal missions; human and drug trafficking through unscrupulous agents; secret links and trade with proscribed organisations; bearing false names; etc. Such activities are being carried on the pretext of freedom fighters and the LTTE leadership will not be accepted by the international community. It is a naked fact the LTTE had answered these issues with the bullets because they expect the Tamils to expect their words as the Gospel Truth. One ponders whether LTTE is a Mafia Group. They have only left a legacy of brutality.
Sarath.Jayasiriwardena,Canada said,
October 30, 2007 @ 11:30 pm
I completely agreed with writer Mr. S.Rasalingham and my grate respect for you for understanding the conflict between terrorist Velupullai. Prabakaran and the Sri Lankan Government. It is very clear to the international communities that Sri lankan government cannot come to a peaceful solution with rethless terrorists called LTTE. Hon.President Mahinda.Rajapaksa has no other choice except war. Not just war but completely wipe out terrorists from the Sri lankan soil. No matter we lost couple of air crafts, but unfortunetly we lost dozen of our heroes the air force personals.Our tribute to them for their courages sacrifices.
There is a old proverb in sinhalese says ‘AVI ETTO AVIYENMA NASITHI” . Velupillai.Prabakaran is counting his days. This 27th November may his last birthday celebration and his last speech to his followers. Sri Lankan LION FLAGS with fly high in KILLINOCHCHI and Mullativu very soon. Prabakaran may not get a chance to see that but all the peace loving tamils will be celebrating this wonderful victory.
Peace and justice to all sri lankans. God bless Sri Lanka and God Bless President Mahinda.Rajapaksa and his government.
sumith wanniarachi said,
October 30, 2007 @ 11:43 pm
1st of all I salute to you mr. rasalingem to rasing your positive ideas, wich most of the tamil freinds telling but fears to write.
No dought as you mention the Prabha will take all poor and inocent tamils living in iron sheild So called Wanni or dreaming elam to deth and keeping away from outer world whiled brain washing with tamil chuvanist ideas and breeding them against sinhelease people.
Not a single Sinhelease wanted to seperate the country and live with alone only with singhelease.
as singhelease we know in 1983 incidence is a irreversible damage and tarnish the country image and suffered the tamils emenly and make the oppotunity to the liliput Prabha to become Gualiver.
Past is pass I am sure 100% singhelease are redy to appologise openly from tamils and they have proved after 1983, there is no any organize crime against Tamils in Sri Lanka and from 1983 onward The tamils were migrated to Colombo, Mathale, Kandy and other singhelease areas and they brought the properties and living peacefully.
See the Wellawaththa,Kotahena,Rathmalana,Waththala,hunupitiya, Kandy—, Balagolla, Aruppola,Ambakote, digana,MAthale—, Town, and suberb, raththota etc. the majority is shifting to tamils and they are doing their bussines. successfully,
Prince said,
October 30, 2007 @ 11:43 pm
I appreciate a lot the comments you have made.Perhaps it is high time now(may be a touch late) that the general tamil community realize who real Prabhakaran is and what he is upto
sumith wanniarachi said,
October 30, 2007 @ 11:46 pm
1st of all I salute to you mr. rasalingem to rasing your positive ideas, wich most of the tamil freinds telling but fears to write.
No dought as you mention the Prabha will take all poor and inocent tamils living in iron sheild So called Wanni or dreaming elam to deth and keeping away from outer world whiled brain washing with tamil chuvanist ideas and breeding them against sinhelease people.
Not a single Sinhelease wanted to seperate the country and live with alone only with singhelease.
as singhelease we know in 1983 incidence is a irreversible damage and tarnish the country image and suffered the tamils emenly and make the oppotunity to the liliput Prabha to become Gualiver.
Past is pass I am sure 100% singhelease are redy to appologise openly from tamils and they have proved after 1983, there is no any organize crime against Tamils in Sri Lanka and from 1983 onward The tamils were migrated to Colombo, Mathale, Kandy and other singhelease areas and they brought the properties and living peacefully.
See the Wellawaththa,Kotahena,Rathmalana,Waththala,hunupitiya, Kandy—, Balagolla, Aruppola,Ambakote, digana,MAthale—, Town, and suberb, raththota etc. the majority is shifting to tamils and they are doing their bussines. successfully,
We singhelease love our nabours erespective of the race and religious. I know majority tamils are too. Only prabhas war tool dosent alow it.
Please spred your idea among tamils and let us live peacefully as a one nation.
ranasinghe said,
October 31, 2007 @ 12:11 am
An excellent article offering a very different perspective from the sabre rattling that has become common.
Many in the present Sinhalese government admit that there are legitimate grievances of Tamilians that need to be addressed.
I personally can see a number of mistakes the Sinhalese have made such as some encouraging the 83 riots and administrative decisions that were not fair for Tamilians.
Many are also willing to admit and investigate practices of state terror that especially come into effect to fight the LTTE.
The recent UNP government did a lot to reach a compromise but they were not allowed to win a further election by farmers who were hurt by cut subsidies and VP’s boycott. (something I yet do not understand except to realize that he is not willing to compromise on goals of statehood)
Many moderate Sinhalese become extremist when they are faced by the horrors of LTTE actions such as 64 civilians killed in a Kabethigollawa bus last year, central bank, pettah, train bombings and monk killings, and they do not imagine that the LTTE has stopped targetting civilians.
The state is also responsible for terror, that is my personal opinion, but that is why there is a vicious cycle in play now and it is only getting worse, and not better.
We have to trust that the peaceful Sinhalese will regain control of their government while the peaceful Tamilians get control of the LTTE. That is the only way forward, and these Sinhalese and Tamilians have to do it together.
malin fonsaka said,
October 31, 2007 @ 12:18 am
This story is the real story of the so called ethanic problem . Definitly VP can win the election from sinhalease vote if he in the right path sinhalease dosenot think athers race or creed Mr Cadiragamar should have been the president of this country had he survive all sri lankans love him (as a example)
Tamil Friend said,
October 31, 2007 @ 12:18 am
Tamil people should stand and openly discuss about this. They should apply the presure on Praba to change his vialant path. Further the tamils who can think globaly should educate others who are in kilinochi for the same
peacemaker said,
October 31, 2007 @ 12:22 am
nice article, I am Sinhalese and I agree that Vipuli Prabakaran had so much time to correct things but it is difficult for him.
The next phase after we rid terrorism is to make sure that the Tamil people are happy and create strong links with India including Tamil Nadu. We must raise Tamil Nadu to a standard that will be the envy of many areas and enable the Tamil people in Sri Lanka to want to live happily without problem, we can do this. But this will not happen until you decide to collectively abandon Vipuli Prabakaran. So it’s upto the Tamil people with no excuses.
Really the price that has already being paid by the Sinhalese people interms of stress and strain not to mention economic is something that is beyond a price. So there is really nothing to lose for the Sinhala people, but they continue to try to protect the innocent when they could so easily destroy the whole of the terror outfit in one swoop, This is compassion that I have never seen in this civilised world. The Tamil people are truely lucky to have such people to live with.
It would be nice if the next generation of Tamil people would be able to accept a Sinhalese as their leader, and forget this divide and rule tacktick that has been used agaist and fallen for. If the Tamil peolpe continue to live in the past I fear for them in the future. I just hope the old school does not influence the new school to commit such terror in the future.
Thanks for your article – together we can destroy the terrorists from all over the world
An Observer said,
October 31, 2007 @ 12:25 am
This is a good view point analysis that most tamils may not see (my subjective opinion). Yes what you are saying affects both Sinhala and Tamil population in Sri Lanka. I think you rightly hit the nail on the head that Prabakaran may be the worst enemy of tamils. Unfortunately a person who is used to the War, who had his bread and butter earned from the War, favours War. He knows nothing else than the War because he was unwilling to explore other angles than War.
It is a pity that tamils in Sri Lanka who are fighting Prabakaran\’s War are having their energy concentrated to a wrong cause. Prabakaran\’s networking outside Sri Lanka is a proof how smart some of these tamils who are operating on these networking. If all these people concentrated their efforts on a worthy cause how well all of us would have done and mostly Sri Lanka would have benefitted from it. Well said my friend.
sarath said,
October 31, 2007 @ 12:32 am
Dear Mr. Rasalingam
I am a sinha man. But I feel very sad of opperessed Fellow Tamil citizens in Notrh and east . i do beleive that , Tamils got little bit of currage to presarised sinhala leaders to meet their basic human rights because of LTTE’s armed strugle. Any way I cant understand why all tamils are devided into deferent deferent groups and Pol. parties unless unit to gether to fight with Sinhala Chauvinists to get their freedam and some sort of self administration to live with as self respected citizen whome having 1000 years histroy of this land. Be unite and get to geather all of you.
peacemaker said,
October 31, 2007 @ 12:33 am
EXCELLENT ARTICLE WHICH ADDRESES THE REALITY
An Observer said,
October 31, 2007 @ 12:45 am
Well said Sir. You are a true Tamil.
An Observer said,
October 31, 2007 @ 12:51 am
Reality is that the ltte is just a headless bunch if racist losers who cannot think beyond their impulses. Thousands of innocent tamils have been mislead and brain washed by these bunch of lunatics.
They have no political agenda apart from the dictatorship that they have been practicing in the so-called the “captured” arrears in the NE. (Just in north now)
If you are a tamil civilian parent, beware that your children will be captured and brain washed to be suicide bombers when the leader’s close family and children are enjoying a luxurious life in London UK, with the money robbed from these innocent tamil civilians.
IF you are a ltte supporter, beware that what happened to karuna may happen to you as well. Discrimination. Now the ltte is trying to kill the eastern tamils. Prabhakaran is trying to make his son the leader of ltte. Yes the one in London who hasn’t seen a days fighting among the ltte fighters. So that he can direct and dictate people in the jungles, from a five star hotel where he resides.
IF you are a suicide bomber, beware, you will be blasted into pieces, when prabha and your so called leaders spend nice holidays around the world at the cost of your life and with the money they take as ransom demanded and collected from your parents.
Open your eyes. Try to see beyond the illusion that prabhakaren has created for you.
Written by mediator
mohamed jamal said,
October 31, 2007 @ 1:16 am
After long long time ! a real “TAMILAN”.yes Sir we salute you correct assessment. there are injustice to minority.we all agree. from these Colombo-7 politico even singhalese are too suffering. we all (singhalese,THAMIL and Muslim together have to liberate our country.
Note- take care from pistol gang.
a SL voter said,
October 31, 2007 @ 1:48 am
I disagree with some of the comments:
Tamils were first attacked in 1956/1958. Even though it is called riot, it is not. Only a set of gangsters attacked the (Tamil) civilians. It is hard to believe that this is the result of G.G Ponnonpalam’s speech in 1938 (Does the writer want us the believe that SWRD used a speech made almost 20 years before?)
J.R. Did not give ALL rights. Tamil was considered as a national language but Sinhala remained as the official language. Also this did not happen in 1977 but in 1978. Even though Pirabaharan has started his movement by that time, it was a very small group at that time. They gained power in the early eighties and specially after 1983 violence. (Some call it a riot, but in fact it is ethnic cleansing)
I agree that Indo – Sri Lanka agreement is a starting point towards solving the problem. But Sri Lanka always used the situation and specially the LTTE’s violent activities not to implement the solution. Finally when the provincial councils were created they didn’t have much power. The former, chief minister Mr. Varatharajaperumal once said that he couldn’t even get a telephone for his office. That shows that Even Premadasa was not for solving to problem. Pramadasa too was keen in sending the Indian forces back so that the solution reached will not be implemented. Immediately after that Sri Lankan parliament passed an amendment to the provincial councils act and based on that act, it was dissolved.
Finally about the political solution: When the Tamil parties were ready for a peaceful solution within unitary state (Tami Congress) and later United Sri Lanka (Federal Party) None of the Sinhala leaders were ready for that. Officially, until 1977 all major “national” parties maintained a stand that Tamils have no problem in the country. This is what led to the call for a separate country.
Why Sri Lanka and the so called international community says they are ready for a peaceful solution within “United” or “Unitary” Sri Lanka? Why do you want to put a clause saying that it should be within Sri Lanka? Do you still want to have some hold over the Tamil speaking people?
I do not advocate Separation in Sri Lanka, but want to highlight the fact that some sections within the Tamil community have a fear that whatever solution within Sri Lanka will result Sinhala chauvinists taking control of the destination of the Tamil community. This is the ultimate reason for the call for separatism.
Additionally when SJV Chelvanayagam called for Federal state why all the Sinhala leaders opposed it? Why the same parties who opposed it then are now ready to think about Federal solution? Is it simply because of the violent struggle? I am not for violence, but want to highlight the fact that some of our leaders are so deaf and blind to peaceful calls and will hear and see only when violence starts.
Bandula said,
October 31, 2007 @ 2:06 am
This seems to be the observation of a moderate tamil gent. It is time to think of One Sri Lanka and forget the emphasis on rights of majority and minority communities. Every citizen should have the freedom to live in any part of Sri Lanka with equal rights, dignity and opportunities irrespective of caste, race and religion.
If we forget of being Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims or others and get together as one and work towards developing Sri Lanka so that everybody can reap the benefits socially and economically.
Rasika said,
October 31, 2007 @ 2:14 am
Well said sir,
stupid tamils and Singhalese want to kill each other, without realising that SriLansan tamils are the same people, they are brothers. These people are drunk with hatred. VP is the devil him self this man is an obstacle for peace, why doesn’t he care about Tamils and why don’t Tamils realize this. why are tamils supporting this violent butcher who kills his own people?
Karu said,
October 31, 2007 @ 2:22 am
Do not consider Dutugamunu as a king against Tamils.There were Tamils in his army,as commanders.
The factual history has been slightly diluted by certain stories .Two communities lived in harmony.There had been a fight (not a war).But the fight was not on religion or race.
Readers will know the rest.
ellara (ellalen0 said,
October 31, 2007 @ 2:22 am
Whoa, where were you before Pirabaharan, living under a Rock, I presume, What makes you think the all the Time The Tamils were reneging on their commitments.
What is this, are the Tamils living at the magnainmity of the Sinha people, for them to be satisfied with what is dished out by them after killing a few more Tamils.
It is beneat the dignity of this journal to publish articles of this calibre.
Piyal said,
October 31, 2007 @ 2:30 am
Well said & the rial truth.We are friends from the begening we catholics are same even though sinhala or tamil & buddists worshiping hinu gods Ganapathi,Muruga,Vishnu they are inside our temples.But the Rayappu Joseph & other Revs also JHU are with the American needs.Tamils we are your friends,we love U we dont have culture differance even.
Piyal
Anma John said,
October 31, 2007 @ 2:48 am
Apprecite for showing the reality of the LTTE leadership by Mr. Rasalingam. It is unfotunate that some people encouraging LTTE’s acts witout thinking that the LTTE is a terrorist group which already damaged the future of all young Ceylon Tamils. Most of the youths in north could not study peacefully for the last 3 decads as they were scared that any moment they wold be removed from their families by LTTE to make the battle strong and no teachers available to serve in the schools to teach those youngers due to the situation creared by the LTTE .
Also I met one gentlement from Toronto who was not a Sri Lankan and he disappointly confirmed that already some youth supporting LTTE have spoiled the immage of Tamils doing by criminal activities and thefts. This shows they have opened the real page to the other nationalities.
kumar said,
October 31, 2007 @ 3:49 am
issara ape hitiye original dutugemunula. dan inne fake dutugemunu la. fake dutugemunu inneth gon house eke. e kiyanne parlimenthuwe,
Tilly Nathan said,
October 31, 2007 @ 4:04 am
This article is not worth reading. This is to please his singhala masters, nothing else.
janani said,
October 31, 2007 @ 4:17 am
I don’t think any sinhala leader will agree a federal solution. History has taught us that. The author is being very naive indeed.
Dyan said,
October 31, 2007 @ 4:17 am
I agree with you hypothetically assuming that the words are true and supported with facts.
Tamils can not blame VP who was also brainwashed and experienced the atrocities by Sinhala chauvinists.
He is part of the tamil culture and asset. If you think that you can lead the tamils or show a way to achieve the tamil aspiration, then do it with out causing more destruction to the community.
Tamils will support the good cause and they are not babies to avoid the opportunities to establish themselves. ( appropriate for VP as well).
Whether we like it or not, we ( TAMIL CONGRESS, TULF, LTTE, PLOTE, EPRLF) created the current situation as a whole bunch. We can not accuse an individual for the complex political world. It is very difficult to understand the external factors affecting our community. You are only trying to fish in a shallow waters. You are trying to change the minds of common man ( I mean politically unsophisticated minds).
Did you consider the following factors.
1. Why did TULF declare EELAM and get the mandate for it before 1977 elections? What is the part of VP in this case?
2. Why did Indira Ghandi supported the ceylon tamil cause and provided arms trainning to innocent underage tamils? VP was part of the Child solidiers recruited by India.
3. JR Jeyawardena was a good leader to establish the country economically apart from his opportunistic politics with ethnicity.
4. India was backwards and closed for foreign markets during the time (1970’s) when Sri Lanka was growing at alarming rate.
5. India created the tamil insurgence by providing arms and ammunition to tamils to derailed the economic growth of Sri Lanka.
6. Do ceylon tamils need to know and understand the destructive hand? or We have to hide the achievement of Mother India? Do we have to publish the secret Indian policy towards Sri Lanka?
7. VP and Premadasa clearly understood the destructive hand in Sri Lanka.
8. What is the policy of India towards ceylon tamils now? We will support LTTE without VP and PA? Do you want to feed this idea to educated tamils? Will this work in the future?
9. What we ( Ceylon Tamils ) have to do to change the situation? We have to decide our fate not the Indian goverment or Sri Lankan goverment after all these destruction.
Self respetable tamil said,
October 31, 2007 @ 4:18 am
This can’t be a Tamil, He must be a Sinhalese.
thamilachi21 said,
October 31, 2007 @ 5:01 am
hi
i agree, we are helping ourselves to kill our own.
*what are the choices we have?
*are we able to trust the Sinhalese again ?
*are we so sure the 1983 will not repeat again?
*are we making the same mistake again like we did in 1948 to live side by side with the Sinhalese?
*what is the guarantee the Sinhalese will not change the constitution , promises again to suit them selves once the ltte gave up arms?
who will underwrite such proposals?
your heart is melting because we are helping to kill our own, ,,,so mine,,
*what would make the Sinhalese to feel the pain of Tamils?
*should the ltte kill enough sinhala civilians to match the number of dead Tamils?
*is the ltte capable of doing such thing if they are so ruthless or are they so toothless?
*do the ltte have the intention to kill sinhala civilians to match the number of dead Tamils?
*do the ltte has the resources to carry out such task?
who is stopping the ltte from doing such think?
*if prabhakaran is a convict all ready ,he might as well do such thing? NO? WHAT HAS HE GOT TO LOOSE?
*why the ltte is not doing such thing? would it make the Tamils happy if he do that?
*is he a ruthless terrorist or a toothless tiger?
I’m all for peace but i have a view after learning our history that we cannot live with the Sinhalese in peace. i hope the Sinhalese realize that and agree for a peaceful partition. i do not support killing each other.
A.yogi said,
October 31, 2007 @ 5:38 am
who is the writer,no one didn’t ask eelam in1958,
GG didn’t , SJV and Banda did for their own benefits,
problem started from Language ( Medium ). banda
studied in english but told the country sigalese language
is the wright one. samething did by sjv.
thamilachi21 said,
October 31, 2007 @ 5:40 am
c de world map nad india n srilanka then u kno who shud blong 2 srilanka…thaing shinglish gentlmen thing
Lambert Fernando said,
October 31, 2007 @ 5:42 am
Misundestanding is the problem.
Anything possible except EElam
Both communities expect a win win solution
Tamils are suffering.Prabakaran newer giveup untill his death.
nishy said,
October 31, 2007 @ 7:01 am
my dear rasa linga,
have you heard of the mahawamsa mindset. the sinhalese think that sri lanka is theirs and that tamils are there to serve them.
just think of our estate brotheren . they earn so hard for the country but have you ever been into one of their so called homes-the ‘line rooms” you should first go see this before writing such silly things my boy. if they could treat these people like that then you can imagine what they would do to other tamils.
it is because of people like you who talk non sense and divide us, that we are still under bondage. but thankfully stupid tamils like you are only a minority.
wake up my boy and see clearly /think clearly before you speak or is that asking too much of you???????
EEroppe Sinhaya said,
October 31, 2007 @ 7:34 am
Thank you Sir,
For finally understanding Sinhala people and telling it freely. I have one more thing to add to this. When the time Sinhalese vote for Chandrika as president they didn’t just vote for her they vote her to create federal system in Sri Lanka. As I was in her her inside team I know how badly she wanted to finish this up. Even I remember one of my journalist friends had to ran to KIllinochi with a CBK’s letter in the final moment to avoid war when LTTE decide to attack SLNavy, but Hitler in the Mulative Jungle did’t want to find a alternative to war. Now it is too late!! It is time to finish this mad man. After all it is good for Tamils too.
Let our brave soldiers do it this time. Because we all hate war and we need to have an end to this at least within our generation.
As President Premadasa once said ” We are ready to give EL’LAM (everything) but not EELAM (King Prabakaran’s Kingdom)”
nathan said,
October 31, 2007 @ 8:00 am
I totally agreed mr. Rasalingam,kill the VP kill the war.
also what indra gandi done is moraly wrong thatswhy her
son killed by this VP terrorist in her soil.olso I have to agree one of the comment, india systermatically distroied
srilanka for own shake . The powerhungry selfish politision from both side allowed to happen
CAPitalZ said,
October 31, 2007 @ 8:27 am
Tamils have a leader no other country has. He is a messiah from God. He is the Jesus, who suffered for others. He is the Krishnan, who masterminded the war. He is the Mohammed, who helped th hapless.
As America got freedom from United Kingdom, As India got freedom from United Kingdom, As Taiwan got freedom from America, Tamileelam will get freedom from Sri Lanka. Until that there is no end to the war. We are ready to be patient and wage the war till we get freedom. It is Sri Lankan governments decision of how long?
Eric Nirmalan said,
October 31, 2007 @ 8:46 am
Some very valid points Rasa !
GG and a few Tamil elitists created this misery for us due to their aloofness from reality. His father went a step ahead in 1922 opposing universal franchise for the Sinhalese fearing the Jaffna – Colombo elite axis voting monopoly will be tipped.
However, they were lucky that a Tamil was elected by the Sinhalese to represent the ‘Sinhalese seat’ in the State Council when it was first formed in spite of the 1922 betrayal – so much for racial harmony.
This is not an ethnic conflict needing the distrust of the Sinhalese and taking the harsh position that we cannot live with the Sinhalese. It is the matter of acceptance of the fact that nearly 95% of the resident Ceylon Tamils live peacefully and get about their daily business outside Pirubhaharan’s domain.
We also need to accept the fact that the Sinhalese is the working language of 90% of the population of the land, as it is the language needed to make a living and money.
cedric said,
October 31, 2007 @ 9:08 am
I think the problem is more complex than this, basically they need to build mutual trust as a starting point towards peace, how does one build trust ? thats the key question. If you take for example the Indo Lanka peace accord in 1987, was power genuinely devolved to the north-East ? The answer is no, Varatharaja Perumal was merely a rubber stamp. The government should make a genuine commitment towards devolution not just by words but action as well.
man in Canada said,
October 31, 2007 @ 9:11 am
your article is a piece of crab, you are using Tamil name to undermine the Tamil struggle, Solutions provided by Sinhalese Leaders were just peanuts ,not even tangible for consideration. Solutions proposed by South were just Traps to undermine Liberation struggle by genuine Tamils not by people like you. Sinhalese have not respected Tamils since independence nor will they respect us as equal citizens in the future. You are living in dream world or you must have woken up from amnesia or climbed down from trees.
Someone said,
October 31, 2007 @ 9:45 am
I am not LTTE supporter, but the fact remind me the following
Why not we talk about throwing out then elected Opposition leader from the parliament and encouraged the alms groups to replace Tamil leadership.
We are talking about Kathrigamar but we conveniently forget that depriving the same man to be the Prime minister.
Why asking the terrorist to lay down the arms and come for talk, once upon a time they was no arms group but only Tamil political parties talked about Tamil Rights?
Since 1983 how many riots we come a cross? Tamils feels that because of LTTE and the arms are safe guarding against so call communal riots.
For a change why not Government come out good and acceptable solution without any so call talks?
Sri Lankan Demo-crazy which helps only people in power, should be changed to real democracy
Our Leaders made no other choice to Tamils but to follow and accept VP as their savior.
Are we ready to accept the minority as equal citizen of mother Lanka?
DO WE HAVE THE WILL TO ACCEPT THE REALITY AND READY FOR THE CHANGE
Bandara said,
October 31, 2007 @ 12:05 pm
To add some thing to Mr. Rasalingam’s comments, about 40 years back who was our Family Doctor, Post master, Station Master, IP or Sub inspector at the police station? They were mostly Tamils in most places and we were getting along with them very well. Now most of them had left the country.
90% of that is because of Prabakaran’s madness.
Didn’t we get along with them? We respected them and they respected us it was a give and take thing at that time. Even now in most of the cases.
I can’t think that all the Tamils like his way of doing things
but he with his top leaders don’t care about it also. why would they worry as long as their
children are looked after well in the country or in another country.
Look what he has done to the Tamil children in the north? No mother will want a child to go to war but the parents are made helpless. His sons study abroad and the other children
give their lives for him and his family to have a XXL life.
In short he is eating the Tamil children in his control and eating the grownups in the
other areas.
The grave yards are protected and may be underneath they have all the bunkers. Could be all these leaders are still using the bodies as a shield to protect them and hiding under the grave yards.
Rs said,
October 31, 2007 @ 12:43 pm
i think this is one view that can unite the torn country. VP as well as the blood thirsty followers of him should know by now that a military win is not possible, hence it is time that they think of comming to a peaceful settlement.
it is only a handful of politicians that wants to have power, if you really annalyse the problem all sinhalease as well as tamils have the same basic promlems.
let us concentrate in alliviating them than killing each other. there is no point in fighting. the western countries are controlling both while we become more poorer and moving further away from a solution.
i thank the writer who has taken a tremendous step towards peace.
Siva said,
October 31, 2007 @ 12:59 pm
Words lead to freedom in south africa, Gandhiji: “It is not bad to work as a slave but it is worse when the owner is made to be the slave”. Mr.Rasalingam please read the history of tamils struggle for freedom from dominating (once) minorities.
sandhana said,
October 31, 2007 @ 1:04 pm
who is terrorists:
No.Of civilians (not soldiers) killed by (after 1980)
LTTE :1000 to 2000,
Srilankan Government : 60,000 to 80,000;
USA : 5 million (rates only during korean war in 1955).
decide yourself.
Sellam in UK said,
October 31, 2007 @ 2:33 pm
It is a known fact that Sinhalese are the Majority race and the Tamils in the minoriy representing 17% in Sri Lanka.
The conflict in Sri Lanka was created by the Tamils by demanding 50/50 by G.GPonnambalam. The Sinhalsese enhanced the conflict. The Tamil leaders created the youth movement and sought help from India to train the Tamil youths for war. Indra Gandhi because of her anger towards J.R.Jayawardne gave all facilities for the Tamil youths to be trained in Tamil Nadu.The result was that they paid with their lives.
Now it is one Man’s war against the people and the state. Some Tamils are thriving on it.
I fully agree with Mr.Rasalingam of all what he has said. There are many many Tamils who would agree with him but afraid to talk. Prabaharan will not seek peace because he will be non existant in peace. How can he decommision all the arms he had acquired and what can he do with all those boys and girls who have been brain washed. They have to do and die.
We have no say in North or Est or in Sri Lanka.
Kanthasamy said,
October 31, 2007 @ 4:59 pm
You just have to look at the comments and their names to link their allaiances,Tamils aganist it vs Sinhaleese for it.All of us here have the luxary of the world media to our finger tips yet can not see the failiure of GOSL on all matters Srilankan. GOSL has leaders that would not accept that there is a problem to solve yet a Westerner in their streets knows about Srilankan ethnic problem.Most of the diaspora Tamils have loved ones in Srilanka and have regular contact they are not lying to us about GOSL surely.
Raja said,
October 31, 2007 @ 8:02 pm
If Pirabaharan killed can any Sinhala government ready to give federal solution?
george said,
October 31, 2007 @ 10:10 pm
it is a good article. Sesible
Puwan said,
October 31, 2007 @ 10:43 pm
‘God alone knows the future, but only an historian can alter the past.’ – Ambrose Bierce
WM VIRAJ said,
October 31, 2007 @ 11:07 pm
Prabhakaran & LTTE has killed more Tamil people than any other party in this conflict; He has eliminated all other fighting groups, Tamil parties to get more power in to his hand.
Now recent attack in Air force base is to keep LTTE supporters in his control, loosing 21 Black Tigers.
When Pentagon (CIA head quarters) attacked on 9/11, No body divulge any details of Pentagon attack. What USA Politician and media did, HELP WHO EVER LEADERS to protect country from terrorism?.
What our media & International supporters now doing, after this attack. They are telling LTTE is much better than State Army or Leadership OF SL. Doing exactly what LTTE Needs, so those media, NGO & international supporters, you are worse than LTTE. You are praying 24 hours for LTTE win.
It is up to the people to decide Democracy or Terrorism.
Both will never work together.
USA, UK, Australia..Other countries got WAR on Terror.
Russia, China & India have recently agreed no support directly or indirectly for Terrorism.
So where LTTE or these supporters (Media who is carrying LTTE flag, NGO & Other international supporters) will will end up.
K. Rajaratnam said,
October 31, 2007 @ 11:36 pm
Who is this S Rasalingam? related to Gotabaya Rajapakse? No Tamil I know of, wants a legislative structure with A Sinhalese or Muslim to oversee as the only successfl arrangement for resolving the ethnic problem. The autheri s therefore a Sinhala extremist. The power devolution is an arrangement where the discriminated minority is in charge of its own affairs and not supervised by a colonial master.
. said,
October 31, 2007 @ 11:55 pm
SL is too small to be federal
. said,
November 1, 2007 @ 12:03 am
It’s just a matter of getting rid of all
the racist tamils who are creating vialonce. There are millions of non racist patriotic tamils in Colombo and in other part of southern SL living happily.
. said,
November 1, 2007 @ 12:09 am
Most of the racists tamils are products of ltte. From the young age they have been brain washed with racist ideas. This is why the just a terrorist conflict has turned in to an ethnic conflict.
The terrorism has to be stopped and rehabilitate all the innocent tamil children (thousands of them) who have been raped and destroyed by the ltte.
A.Rajasingam said,
November 1, 2007 @ 1:18 am
Mr.S.Rasalingam has expressed his own view correctly to which he is entitled. There are two sides to a coin. Sinhalese and Tamils must accept that our past leaders both Sinhala and Tamil should be blamed. Though the root cause for the blunders of our leaders have germinated about 50 years back, today it has become a gigantic issue. Neverthless, until the mid-1970s we all had enjoyable life in every field with our Sinhalese people in spite of the standardization created by Badurdeen Mohamed who was instrumental for the division among the races. At that time Badurdeen never thought of establishing open universities which was later established during Athulathmudali‘s period. I know very well how he introduced some meaningful courses in the universities. This was due to short sighted policies of the politicians and never had far sighted thinking. Further, there was a case in the Supreme Court that the Tamils has the right absolute right to file plaints in Tamil language for which the Mr.S.Thiyagalingam Q.C. with S,Mahendran P.C. appeared. But has anyone filed any papers in Tamil after that? However, this is about the use of Tamil language. So Tamils also should be partly blamed. However, only the Sinhalese political leaders (for their own survival) were reluctant to allocate powers and funds to the North-East Provincial Council giving a false picture of federalism, for which the common Sinhalese cannot be blamed. I must state that the Sinhalese is a noble race to move with because I had the experience of moving with them at the University. It must be accepted that during the 1983 riots the Sinhalese cannot be fully blamed for those uncivilized looting and murder. Even my house was burnt and it is the Sinhalese who came to our rescue. No one can deny that there were number of cases where Muslims, Indian Tamils and Sinhalese (labour classes and Nadaamais) from Keselwatte and Maligawatte were brought to books. On the contrary number of Sinhalese were visiting the refugee camps and providing food and clothing. Of course damage is done. But why can’t the average man asks his conscience as to who was behind the riot. Who were the people behind Cyril Mathew with his Jathika Sevaya to master mind this 1983 riot? Why did they set a land mine in which six soldiers died? Did the LTTE had a fear that the TELO might stage a Israeli type of Commando operation at Welikade to release those prisoners, given the facts that TELO had launched two successive attacks (one at Chavakachcheri and other at Murukandy)? Was there any fear that Dr.Neelan Thiruchelvam, Laxman Kadirgamar and Amirthalingam will explain the merits of federalism and will bridge the gap between the Sinhalese and the Tamils? Why should Dr.Neelan Thiruchelvam, Laxman Kadirgamar and Amirthalingam be murdered? Has any one moved with these people? Thereafter the people (both Tamils and the Sinhalese) were silenced with the bullet and that period saw migration of both Sinhalese and the Tamils. Thereafter, the greed for power by politicians has become history to which the JVP‘s stand is a clear evidence.
thamilachi21 said,
November 1, 2007 @ 4:11 am
dear DBS
the post number 34 is not mine. it was addressed to me by someone yesterday. can you please delete my name and place that person’s name.
thank you kindly!!
ranasinghe said,
November 1, 2007 @ 8:35 am
it makes me really sad to see all this hostility and lack of trust written in these comments. No one sinhalese person started this conflict. Everyone was born into this distrust which has existed in a small or large way for centuries. (that is my opinion) Its the same with Tamilians. No one person started this conflict. So no one is to blame. But everyone gets dragged in. Can’t you see that. Everyone is a human being and there is no such person as a Sinhalese or Tamilian. Its just human beings born in this island that get dragged into taking sides and distrusting the other for NO REASON.
Patriot said,
November 1, 2007 @ 8:35 am
Eric Nirmalan,
Yes agreed that the majority language (80%) is sinhalese . This means 20% are speak tamil or are bilingual/trilingual and tamil is also a national language and therefore the government must make sure that tamil is also an equal working language in the country. Why not hire from south india if there isnt enough professionals with tamil language proficiency?
I also believe that the segregation that we find in the school system makes the problems worse since from an early age, tamil and sinhala children go to separate schools. So why cant there be a system where two sinhala schools get twinned as sister or brother schools with a tamil school and make sure that at least three times a year, there is a mixing of students from the tamil and sinhala schools? If the children from the different ethnic groups get segregated from an early age, then the result is that when disputes surface, violence is thought to be a solution. However, if from an early age, the children of the three ethnic groups mix, then lasting bonds of friendships are formed which would hopefully last forever.
The recent attack on the airbase for example, thirty three youth died who should have been friends and who probably in a different age and era would have been playing cricket with each other and yet sadly, in this era, killed each other.
Political solutions aside, the sri-lankan government can implement the above remedies quite easily and should do so now if there is to be benefits in the future.
RajasH said,
November 2, 2007 @ 6:34 pm
you guys have nothing else to do other than Tamils post with Sinhala name and Sinhala post with Tamil name?