Great Heroes Day Speech: Rhetoric and reality-I
by D.B.S. Jeyaraj
Robert Browning’s My Last Duchess was a poem I read decades ago as a schoolboy. In the self-righteous narrative about his wife’s beautiful portrait, the Duke recites a litany of woes against her. Complaining loudly, he paints himself as the aggrieved party and places his dead wife in the dock.
At one point we realise that he had ordered her execution. Though the Duke tries to justify his action, it is he who stands condemned as the guilty one in the eyes of the reader.
The memory of My Last Duchess came back to me after I saw on TV, heard on radio and read in print the Great Heroes Day (GHD) address by Velupillai Prabakharan this year.
[The leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), V Prabakharan, on his annual Heroes' Day Speech - Nov 27, 2007]
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Leader, in his speech, was sharply critical of the Sinhala nation, state, political parties, India, the international community, etc., for the present predicament of the Sri Lankan Tamil people. The only unsullied entity in all this-according to Prabhakaran-is the LTTE.
Dead wrong
In this ‘us against the world’ kind of speech delivered in ‘a holier than thou’ style, Prabhakaran depicted the Tamil people as suffering underdogs. In that, he was spot on. But Prabhakaran was dead wrong when he heaped all the blame for this situation on others. The chief culprits are Prabhakaran himself and the LTTE.
Like Browning’s Duke trying to absolve himself for the crime he committed by accusing his wife, Prabhakaran too tries to absolve himself by condemning others. The Duke depicted himself as the victim and then blamed the real victim, the Duchess, for her fate; Prabhakaran points out that Tamils are being victimised but blames all others except the Tigers for this tragic situation.
Prabhakaran was not delivering an impartial and objective analysis of the current political situation. He was speaking in his capacity as LTTE Leader. His speech, therefore, was predictably lopsided. The partisan rhetoric was understandable from that perspective. It would however be a grave error to accept that GHD address as gospel truth. The revisionist rhetoric needs to be effectively challenged.
There are, however, some fundamental observations to be made before that. This year’s GHD address was the 19th of its kind. LTTE ideologue and political strategist Anton Balasingham authored 17 (1990-2006) of those. The first GHD speech in 1989 was an extempore one by Prabhakaran. Thereafter, all other speeches were written by Balasingham who passed away last year.
This year a team of LTTE ‘think tank’ members both within the Wanni and abroad collaborated in what was essentially a team effort. The speech was a virtual rehash of sentiments expressed in previous GHD speeches. When the BBC Tamil service radio interviewed me on November 27, I observed that “there was nothing new” in the speech.
Dreary and dull
Balasingham may have introduced a key element into the speech or presented it in such a way that would have enabled the address being perceived in a different, exciting light. In his absence, the new speech writers were apparently unprepared to try anything ‘new.’ So it was dreary and dull. Prabhakaran’s deadpan delivery did not help either.
Two further dampeners were Prabhakaran’s sorrow over Political Commissar Suppiah Paramu Thamilselvan’s death. The LTTE Leader had cried when news of the death was conveyed to him by Pottu Amman and Pappa. Prabhakaran was accompanied by his son Charles Anthony when he paid his respects.
In a conspicuous departure from the past, Prabhakaran issued a special statement about Thamilselvan. The GHD speech too made special mention of him. None of the 20,000 LTTE ‘Great Heroes’ or ‘Maaveerar’ ever received such treatment.
If Thamilselvan was not killed, Prabhakaran may have stridently gone to town about the Anuradhapura attack. But the loss of his “loving younger brother” changed the situation.
The other dampener was the security situation. The Sri Lankan Air Force had conducted a series of aerial attacks throughout the week. In several instances, civilians were the victims. This prevented large-scale, public functions. Prabhakaran himself was a prize target.
So the usual public ceremony was scrapped and Prabhakaran participated in a low-key, clandestine one. His GHD address itself was pre-recorded. Thus, when the Air Force bombed the Voice of Tigers broadcasting station at H-hour thinking Prabhakaran was there, the Tiger Supremo was absent. Only a few cadres, civilians and civilian employees were killed or injured.
Ceasefire Agreement
There were other reasons too for the restrained tone and content of the GHD speech. Though a full-scale war is raging, neither the Government of Sri Lanka nor the LTTE have formally discarded the ceasefire. It remains like a ‘moth-eaten loin cloth.’
Despite all the bravura, neither side is willing to formally abandon the ceasefire. There is an inability or unwillingness to state certain matters. This was reflected in the GHD speech.
Another reason was the attempt to address different target audiences through one speech. LTTE cadres and supporters, the Sri Lankan Tamil people, Lankan Tamil diaspora, the larger worldwide Tamil community including those of Tamil Nadu, the Sinhala people and government, India and the international community, etc., were all addressed, in different degrees.
These constituencies were varied and the discourse required to address such constituencies were to some extent contradictory, constraining and countervailing factors. This resulted in an insipid ’sambaar.’
The ‘official English version’ provided by the LTTE may suggest a lack of direction or low morale on the part of the Tigers. But they say that the Devil is often in the details. In the case of Prabhakaran’s GHD speech, the crucial sentiments of the address are not translated into English. One has to go to the Tamil source to note those.
In this year’s speech, in the beginning, Prabhakaran waxes eloquently and poetically about the sacrifices and glories of the ‘Maaveerar’ or great hero martyrs. He describes them as the “wheels of history taking us speedily on the road to liberation.” Prabhakaran ends his speech with specific assertions.
No ambiguity
Prabhakaran vows that “we will continue to struggle on the path to liberation despite any amount of adversity or calamity as long as thousands of fighters are ready to fight with iron resolve.”
Prabhakaran also calls upon everyone to resolve on this GHD “to enshrine in their hearts the ideals for which the great heroes sacrificed themselves and pledge to struggle on until that ideal is achieved.”
What then is this ideal? Prabhakaran makes it clear at the end of his speech with the familiar refrain, “thirst of Tigers is the Tamil Eelam homeland.” No ambiguity here! No absence of aim here! No sense of frustrated desperation or desperate frustration either. Now, to the speech itself.
A glaring misconception or blatant error on the part of Prabhakaran is his inability to clearly distinguish between the Sinhala people, nation, state and regime. In this speech too he constantly refers to the Sinhala “nation” as an all-encompassing entity. He says the “Sinhala nation is moving on a path of destruction” and that “It is trying to destroy the Tamil nation and, in the process, it is destroying itself.”
Prabhakaran is wrong when he says the Sinhala nation is trying to destroy the Tamil nation as a whole. It is true that there is a lunatic fringe among Sinhalese which would like to destroy the Tamil people. Some of these elements are in positions of power under this government but it is unfair and incorrect to blame the Sinhala people in their entirety.
Also what about those Sinhalese who have consistently stood up for Tamil rights in spite of the risks involved?
Sinhala hostility
Sinhala hostility is mainly directed towards the LTTE and not the Tamil people. Many resent the break up of the country but accept that power has to be shared among all ethnicities. The Sinhala hawks equating devolution with division and unitary with unity are a different breed that has to be tackled separately.
The Rajapaksa regime wants to destroy the LTTE and many Sinhalese would like that too, but very few want to see the Tamil people destroyed. At the same time the Rajapaksa regime would like to undermine and dis-empower the Tamil people and for this it is likely to receive support from some Sinhala hardliners. But total destruction of the Tamil people is not on, as Prabhakaran says.
In addition, the Sinhalese are not the only ones who want to see the LTTE destroyed. Sections of the Tamil and Muslim people would also like it to happen for different reasons. So too would many Tamils in India and around the globe. Many segments of Indian and international society would like that to happen too. This too is about the LTTE and not the Tamil people.
But the LTTE for obvious reasons would like to hide behind the “Tamil nation” cover. Prabhakaran says the Sinhala nation, by trying to destroy the Tamil nation, is destroying itself in the process. There is no denying the fact that the Sri Lankan nation on the whole is destroying itself by this fratricidal conflict.
But what Prabhakaran ignores is the fact that the LTTE, by seeking to demolish the Sri Lankan state through war, is steadily diminishing and gradually destroying the Tamil people.
Then Prabhakaran speaks glowingly of Buddhism and laments that the Sinhala nation, despite following this philosophy for 2,000 years, remains “immersed in the poison of racism.”
Racism
In the first place, Sinhala cannot be equated with Buddhism alone just as much as Tamil cannot be done so with Hinduism alone. There are Christians on either side of the ethnic divide.
Hinduism too preaches tolerance and non-violence like Buddhism. Followers of Hinduism too are engaging in violence like their Buddhist counterparts. Likewise, there are Christians in both the Sri Lankan armed forces as well as the LTTE. There have been armed Muslim groups too.
Therefore, violence in this country is not the sole monopoly of one religion alone and violent elements among Buddhists are not the only ones violating core beliefs and tenets of their religion.
If the Sinhala people are to be blamed collectively for the poison of racism, then what excuse is there for the poison of racism among Tamils? How does one explain, let alone justify, the mass expulsion of Muslims, massacres at mosques, misappropriation of Muslim owned property, massacres of young Buddhist monks, attacks on the Dalada Maligawa and sacred Bo tree, among others?
The LTTE Leader also observes thus: “During the long history of the Tamil struggle, first through non-violence and later through armed struggle, the Sinhala mindset has remained unchanged. The Sinhala nation did not change even after so much destruction and lost lives. It continues on the path of violence. It only desires to find a solution to the Tamil question through military might and oppression. It cunningly evaded efforts to seek peace and is boldly taking forward its military plan.”
Selective view
This is a selective view of recent history by Prabhakaran. It is certainly true that Sinhala dominated governments were intransigent and unwilling to concede Tamil rights when non-violent protests were made. The few agreements reached were observed mainly in the breach.
The violent political struggle of the Tamils spearheaded by the LTTE succeeded in bringing about a change of heart in the power corridors of Colombo.
The last days of J.R. Jayewardene, the earlier phases of Premadasa and Kumaratunga rule, and Ranil Wickremesinghe’s prime ministerial tenure were all periods where the Sinhala leadership tried to make amends for past mistakes. Efforts were taken to achieve a political settlement.
The present Rajapaksa government is a war-mongering regime. But in fairness to Mahinda Rajapaksa, was he ever given ‘time’ to resolve the crisis peacefully?
It is grossly misleading for Prabhakaran to say the “Sinhala mindset remains unchanged.” No! It displayed many instances of flexibility and a desire to change. The silent majority among both the Sinhala and Tamil people is not for war but peace and justice through political negotiations.
The spoiler on the Tamil side has been the LTTE. It is the Tiger mindset which remains unchanged. It is the LTTE that did not change its mind despite Tamil destruction and loss of lives; it was the LTTE that continued on the path of violence instead of the path of peaceful settlement; it was the LTTE that relied on its so-called military might to resolve the Tamil question; and it was the LTTE that cunningly evaded efforts to seek peace and boldly pursued its military plan.
Indian dimension
The Tiger Supremo also chides the international community for letting itself be deceived by the Sinhala state. He refers to both India as well as the international community in this respect. Let me focus on the India dimension first.
This is what the Tiger Supremo says about Indian involvement:
“These one-sided involvements of foreign powers are not new in our prolonged struggle. India intervened in our national question then as part of its regional expansion. India signed an accord with the Sinhala state without the consent of the Tamils. The Indo-Lanka Accord was not signed to meet the aspirations of the people of Tamil Eelam. In fact, India then attempted to force an ineffectual solution on our people-a solution which did not even devolve powers to the extent of the Banda-Chelva pact signed in the 1950s.
“India tried to enforce that accord with the strength of more than 100,000 Indian forces, with the power of the agreement between two countries and with the assistance of treacherous Tamil paramilitary groups. However, even this ill-considered solution, which did not even address the basic national aspirations of the Tamils, was blocked by the chauvinistic Sinhala State.”
Prabhakaran’s utterance about the Indian role in Sri Lanka is like the proverbial saying about trying to hide a whole pumpkin in a plate of rice. We have heard of history being revised.
But it is grotesquely absurd for Prabakharan to distort events that took place only two decades ago. Many of us who witnessed what happened then are still around.
Indian intervention
Prabhakaran is partially correct when he says India intervened as part of its regional expansion. It was not, however, the only reason. Furthermore, the complicated factors involved cannot be explained so simplistically.
Indian intervention in Sri Lanka was primarily due to its enlightened self-interest. All states act in terms of their self-interest. But there are instances where there is a congruence of interests with different entities.
If the overall purpose is a good cause, then such interventions are benign. National sovereignty can be overridden.
Tanzania’s role in disposing of the tyrant Idi Amin in Uganda, Vietnam’s role in undermining the brutal Pol Potist regime in Kampuchea and India’s help in mid-wifing the birth of Bangladesh, etc., are some instances of benign intervention.
In the case of Bangladesh, it is no secret that New Delhi’s strategic interest was the dismembering of Pakistan.
Nevertheless, the oppression of East Pakistan by West Pakistan made humane intervention inevitable and justifiable.
Sri Lanka too was beset by problems in the ’80s. India’s intention here was to unite and not divide, as in Bangladesh. A rare combination of factors influenced India vis-a-vis Sri Lanka then.
Contributing factors
Firstly, there was the paranoia about the Jayewardene regime being in the US camp. New Delhi was suspicious about a Washington-Tel Aviv-Islamabad axis. India wanted external influences out of its backyard. So India wanted to clean up the mess here.
Secondly, there was the Tamil Nadu factor. The state, which once had a flourishing separatist movement, was now firmly integrated into the Indian fabric. Continuing anti-Tamil violence in the island was likely to cause unrest there. The presence of thousands of Tamil refugees on Indian soil provided the locus standi for Indian involvement.
Thirdly, there was the personality factor. There was pronounced antipathy between Indira Gandhi and Jayewardene. The TULF had been sympathetic towards her during the years Indira was in opposition. The UNP regime had cosied up to Indira’s bete noir Morarji Desai.
In such a situation, India wanted to resolve the situation here. In a bid to pressure Colombo and also prop up the weaker Tamil side, New Delhi trained and armed Tamil militants. This, however, was a device to exert pressure and nothing more. India’s policy in this was cruelly Kautilyan. Both Sinhalese and Tamils were victims.
But if handled properly, there would have been light at the end of the tunnel. Jayewardene displayed commendable statesmanship and revised his policy towards New Delhi. By stooping slightly, he salvaged the country from chaos and ultimately snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.
But the LTTE, on the other hand, went about it the wrong way. After agreeing initially, though with reluctance, the LTTE then went back on its word.
Indo-Lanka Accord
Though a separate state was out, it was in the best interests of the Tamil people to go in for an India-guaranteed political settlement. But the LTTE revolted and ultimately snatched political defeat from the jaws of victory for the Tamils.
Prabhakaran is not being truthful when he says that the Indo-Lanka Accord did not have the consent of the Tamils. There was consent-grudgingly or reluctantly-but there was consent. The TULF, PLOTE, EPRLF, TELO and EROS signed a document enabling New Delhi to sign on their behalf. They also submitted some reservations.
The LTTE too consented overtly. As a result, the LTTE was given a monthly grant of Indian Rupees 50 million. The Tigers were also given pride of place in the interim administrative council. In a touching expression of India guaranteeing Tamil security, Rajiv Gandhi personally presented Prabhakaran with a bullet-proof vest.
If Prabhakaran were to read his famous Sudumalai speech after his return from India, he would find that he has implicitly stated his acceptance of the accord. He also predicted in the speech that Sinhala racism would devour the agreement. Ultimately, it was the LTTE that stymied the accord from being implemented properly.
Prabhakaran also observes that India tried to impose a solution that did not even have the powers proposed through the Banda-Chelva pact of the ’50s. The LTTE Leader is either an ignoramus or charlatan to make such a comment. I do not think the self-styled national leader of the Tamils is an ignoramus.
B-C pact
In the first place, the B-C pact of 1957 did not outline specific powers to be devolved to the periphery. The pact was only an embodiment of agreed principles in the spheres of decentralised administration, language, land alienation, etc. There was much work to be done in terms of administration and legislation on the basis of principles enunciated in the B-C pact.
This was not done and the pact was unilaterally abrogated by S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike. One cannot therefore compare the B-C pact of 1957 to the Indo-Lanka Accord of 1987.
His dismissal of the Indo-Lanka pact as worthless deserves strong criticism. The Indo-Lanka pact was not without its flaws. It was not perfect either, but it did go a long way in accommodating Tamil aspirations and redressing grievances.
The accord acknowledged for the first time that Sri Lanka was a multi-ethnic, multi-lingual nation; it recognised the Northern and Eastern Provinces as areas of historic habitation of the Tamil and Muslim people; it merged temporarily the Northern and Eastern Provinces into a single Tamil linguistic province with the proviso of a referendum to determine its final status; it brought about the establishment of devolutionary units of power in the form of provincial powers; and it also elevated Tamil as an official language of Sri Lanka
The Indo-Lanka Accord was not perfect, but it did go a long way by way of helping to resolve Tamil problems. A responsible Tamil organisation would have cooperated with India to help implement it. Instead, the LTTE began sabotaging and then opposing the accord.
LTTE at fault
Prabhakaran also accuses the chauvinist Sinhala state of blocking the agreement. Once again, he has omitted reference to the LTTE’s own role in this exercise. It was the LTTE that began targeting north east provincial councillors and bureaucrats in a bid to disrupt its smooth functioning.
The Tigers aligned with Ranasinghe Premadasa, the head of this so called “chauvinist Sinhala state,” and fought the Indian Army that was stationed in Sri Lanka to ensure, among other things, the smooth functioning of the North East Provincial Council.
After getting aid from Premadasa to fight the IPKF, the LTTE got him to send the Indian Army away. The Tigers then exterminated the civilian volunteer force set up by the Indians. Then it exerted pressure on Premadasa to dissolve the North East Provincial Council. [To be continued next week]
[D.B.S. Jeyaraj can be reached at djeyaraj@federalidea.com]
Related:Great Heroes Day Speech 2007: Rhetoric and Reality-2
R.G.Goonetilake said,
December 8, 2007 @ 2:42 pm
Well said. DBS.
paul said,
December 8, 2007 @ 2:45 pm
you just go to the hell.
Thamizhan said,
December 8, 2007 @ 4:09 pm
In the past I thought you had something in your head, but now I realized that you are a fool. Your observations are wrong Jeyaraj.
Madan said,
December 8, 2007 @ 4:39 pm
So Mr.Jeyaraj the voice of tamils and their elected 90% representation is for a tamil state. If tamils cannot live with the sinhalese what is wrong with separation to live freely.
Mylvaganam said,
December 8, 2007 @ 5:17 pm
Sadly, your comments are at odds with many other analysts and commentators alike.
Dead wrong DBS it is not ‘us against the world’ kind of speech. In what sense? Please clarify.
We cant simply blame our leader for the perceived short-comings of the Tamil struggle. Had the international community and the GOSL been accommodating and not isolating the LTTE, the problem would have been long resolved. Your criticism seems to be based on misconceptions and/or prejudice against The Tamil Leader – not on the content of his speech.
karapothaan said,
December 8, 2007 @ 5:25 pm
writer seems to be satisfied with anything that indians give. even if indians were for punchayathoo solutions writer will be hoping on.
Thamarai Kumaran said,
December 8, 2007 @ 8:34 pm
On the VP speech let me quote this. First Hitler wanted the Saarland, and he grabbed it. Next he wanted the Sudetenland, and Chamberlain gave it to him. Then he sent to Luftwaffe and Panzers into Poland. What VP wants now is the full support Tamil Diaspora and of the international community. So, shall we simply go along with his unlawful exercise of authority or stand up and do something?
What I heard on November 27th was a crap. But what I saw was beautiful. The new podium the Granite Podium. It looks great. But at what cost! It seems to me from the color of the granite this granite is known as ‘Madura Gold’ probably granite stone slabs coming from Madurai. I wish the international Tamils donors be aware now that to what extent of luxury their money is spent in Vanni. They asked money for children, food, shelter and for refugees. There are good fools who even sacrifice their coffee in this cold weather to make donations to the LTTE. What we see in Vanni is living in style. Even Hitler or Osama did not have this type of luxury.
In Canada Tamils love granite. Especially all the LTTE money collectors have upgraded their kitchen tops and foyer with expensive granite finish. So the leader also had followed the wish of his men and had upgraded his palace!!! Heil Praba!
Anban said,
December 8, 2007 @ 11:34 pm
DBJ.
I think you should better understand the fact before write these kind of analysis.
KITH said,
December 9, 2007 @ 12:23 am
Excelent and realy good analysis
Nick said,
December 9, 2007 @ 3:06 am
Thank you DBS for this wonderful article. An excellent analysis! However, what impressed me the most was the following:
—-
Prabhakaran speaks glowingly of Buddhism and laments that the Sinhala nation, despite following this philosophy for 2,000 years, remains ‘immersed in the poison of racism.’
In the first place, Sinhala cannot be equated with Buddhism alone just as much as Tamil cannot be done so with Hinduism alone. There are Christians on either side of the ethnic divide.
Hinduism too preaches tolerance and non-violence like Buddhism. Followers of Hinduism too are engaging in violence like their Buddhist counterparts. Likewise, there are Christians in both the Sri Lankan armed forces as well as the LTTE. There have been armed Muslim groups too.
Therefore, violence in this country is not the sole monopoly of one religion alone and violent elements among Buddhists are not the only ones violating core beliefs and tenets of their religion.
If the Sinhala people are to be blamed collectively for the poison of racism, then what excuse is there for the poison of racism among Tamils? How does one explain, let alone justify, the mass expulsion of Muslims, massacres at mosques, misappropriation of Muslim owned property, massacres of young Buddhist monks, attacks on the Dalada Maligawa and sacred Bo tree, among others?
—-
This has got to be the best few paragraphs I have read from a Tamil writer in a while. For so long, extremist Tamils have slammed the Sinhalese for supposedly not following Buddhism. Their concerns may have some validity. But they never stop for a moment to think whether they themselves are following Hinduism to the dot.
Tamil Hindus are not any less devoted to Hinduism as Sinhala Buddhists are to Buddhism. Surely pregnant suicide bombers, child soldiers, bombs on buses, claymore attacks, gang crime, fatricidal killings are the very antithesis of Hinduism? Hinduism preaches ahimsa and love for all creatures on the planet, including plant life.
I am reminded of Matthew 7:5 here:
“You hypocrite! First remove the beam out of your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother’s eye.”
Mattakkalappaan said,
December 9, 2007 @ 4:15 am
In deed it’s a “Great Heroes Day Speach”
Life’s goes on without Anton Balasingam. And now without Thamilselvan.
Good will return to the Tamils.
Parathamilan said,
December 9, 2007 @ 4:32 am
I have attended the heroes day in London. Over 25,000 Tamils attended.
We have to thank the LTTE and our Tamil National Leader for this event. It was also interesting to see how involved the second generation Tamils are. Tamil Eelam is sure.
Dear Chinglas, USA and North-India: Unitary State of Sri Lanka. Never.
You can kill us, but the idea of independence is born and is getting more support from day to day. How are you going to stop this. Are you going to kill us all Tamils?
Anban said,
December 9, 2007 @ 6:43 am
Congratulations DBJ
For correctly analyzing the destructive path that LTTE has followed which has resulted the Sri Lankan Tamils a nation of destitute and refugees. Prabhakaran is solely responsible for this as he has routinely refused to compromise on his day dream of Tamil Eelam. No separatist movement or liberation movement has succeeded in pure terrorism and LTTE’s inability to transform from terrorism to a political path is the route cause for its international iso9lation. The Tamil Daispora has to recognize LTTE is a dead end and it will lead the Tamil community in Sri Lanka to further self destruction. They have to support moderate leadership of the calibre of Annadasangarie
s.k.sundaram said,
December 9, 2007 @ 11:03 am
Dear DBS
I really appreciate your excellent skills of presentation. You are doing in a extraordinary manner. I am a regular reader of your articles just to further fining up my skills.
.
regds
s.k.sundaram,Jaipur
kurudan said,
December 9, 2007 @ 11:10 am
1. I agree VP’s speech does not have any new policy statements.
2. That is the whole game plan from the beginning. The onus is on Srilanka and IC to put a acceptable solution to tamils. Until then VP wll play this game even he loses the whole thing in the end. VP started this war long time ago with this mindset, he will not change that position. He could have become Chief minister of North and East easily. Indo-Lanka Accord, Premadasa Talks, Chandrika talks, beginning of this peace talks.
He choose his people’s long term future than his short term political ambitions. If he smells something bad from the otherside, he will climb the tree again. It is his responsibility to make sure TAMILs are sold for nothing. I say it again.
3. Your description of Indo – Lanka accord is very troubling. VP agreed to the agreement in Delhi only for tactical reasons. I refer to the “Inside an Elusive Mind”, book. VP never agreed to the agreement whole heartedly. He has his own game plan. So did the Indians, EPRLF, PLOTE, TULF, Premadasa and Jeyawardana. Indians played the nasty game so does the jeyawardana.
a) India could not stop the sinhala settlements.
b) India thought VP is one of those sidekicks
c) India could not even handle the ‘ Palaly incident’
recently read the Gen harhirat sing’s book. It clearly shows the indian intentions.
We the tamils cannot trust India, Look what happened to the other groups relied on INDIA. where are those loyal inidan tamil boys. Varathar in India, Paranthan Rajan in India. I feel very sorry for them they all left their homes to find TAMIL EELAM, their place in this struggle may be pictured as sidekicks who sucked india to get even with VP and lost everything.
Indo agreement is for Indian interests. Tamils struggle was used as stick to play with Jeyawardana. India had no problem making compromise on the tamil issue.
Using India for our logistical needs without compromising tamil struggle was what VP did in the late eighties.
STILL onus is on the IC and Srilanka to provide the package.
NOTE:
Open challenge IC/ Srilanka remove the status of Budhism from the SL Constitution and declare TAMIL and SINHALA are the official languages in the SL Constitution.
VP will change his mind.
ANYONE UP TO THE CHALLENGE.
ratna said,
December 9, 2007 @ 11:24 am
Commenting on GHD speeches are personal opinion. In my opinion, last 5 years of speeches are ‘nothing new’ type.
You are correct in saying that there are some fault with Ltte as well.
I would say 30% fault with Ltte, 30% with GOSL, 30% with IC and 10% with Almighty.
P.Nathan said,
December 9, 2007 @ 12:07 pm
This is all very well.
.BUT why are tamil civilians being ‘disappeared’ , shot dead by gunmen on motorcycles who escape through checkpoints at which tamils are detained and harassed, why police stations force tamils to sign complaints in sinhala which they do not understand, why are relatives of tamils not given receipts for custody of those arrested, why those arrested are never given reasons for the arrests, why hundreds of tamils are still incarcerated for months without trial, why more than 2000 tamils were arrested at random though majority of them had proof of identity and residence, why are tamil journalists arrested,
harassed and their IDs taken away, why tamil newspaper offices are attacked and torched, why tamils’ livelihood is not allowed, why their lands and homes are forcibly confiscated and given to others, why no compensation paid to tamils who are killed and injured though sinhalese are granted same, why tamil has not yet been implemeted as an official language even after two decades etc, etc,
Ram said,
December 9, 2007 @ 12:24 pm
I can predict, many will not like this well balanced analysis of DBS.
It is a well known fact the LTTE leader has a forked tongue.
Perhaps he is suffering from one of those dieseases related to memory lapses
OR
he continues to think the tamils are still sacrificial lambs for his dreams.
Like DBS has correctly pointed out there are elements sinhala hawks among sinhalas just as they do exist among tamils.
The bottom line is LTTE leader has done more damage to the tamils than those sinhala hawks had done by reducing the SL tamils to many proportions, no sinhala hawks could have done!!!
asa said,
December 9, 2007 @ 1:01 pm
Razor sharp mind of DBS has let him down. ‘Prabhakaran is wrong when he says the Sinhala nation is trying to destroy the Tamil nation as a whole’ DBS writes, then he says ‘it is true that there is a lunatic fringe among Sinhalese which would like to destroy the Tamil people. Some of these elements are in positions of power under this government but it is unfair and incorrect to blame the Sinhala people in their entirety.’
The idea of ‘Tamil Nation’ is an anathema to the ‘Sinhala Nation’, party politics notwithstanding. Distinction in idea between SJV and Prabhakaran is nebulous.
It is a fact now and is self-evident that after sixty years of neo-colonial struggle Sinhala nation did default on its covenants upon independence from Britain thus nullifying the effect of independence of the Tamil people.
Sinhala nation ought to accept the existence of Tamil Nation just as India, in the wisdom of its leaders like Nehru, had created a large number of nation units in 1957, thus making India strong.
Ceylon could have exceeded.
However, only aspect that now has to be resolved between the two nations in Ceylon is the nature of the union of those two entities-should it be federal, confederal or sovereign.
DBS, you do bring challenging ideas that befit a good journalist, and differing interpretations notwithstanding, everyone must unwaveringly defend the right to express under any circumstance; otherwise that richness will be sorely missing and will be monotonous.
Thank you for your good work.
Reggie said,
December 9, 2007 @ 2:50 pm
The best chance for peace recently was when Ranil Wickremasinghe was in power. Why oh why did the LTTE walk away from the negotiating table? The Tamils had so much to gain. A united north-eastern province, a federal state. No restrictions on movement, fishing, building. A breath of fresh air. But all that was ruined by the actions of the LTTE. The LTTE represents the extremist, ugly face of Tamil racism. It is the dark soul of Tamil society and must be expunged if the Tamils are to dig themselves out of the deep dark hole they find themselves in.
Just take a moment to think about how peaceful the country was back then after the ceasefire was signed and peace talks were talking place. WHY DID THE LTTE WALK AWAY YET AGAIN from the table and bring it all to ruin? What insanity.
Dr KC said,
December 9, 2007 @ 3:31 pm
DBS has again discussed the Indo-Lanka Pact in detail even 20 years after it was signed. The fact of the matter is that the ILP is here to stay.
The architects of the ILP-Amirthalingam & Rajiv Ghandhi-made a supreme sacrifice defending their beliefs. Though they have been taken away from us, their beliefs and vision still live on with us.
One day, hopefully in the near future, this cruel conflict is likely to be resolved along the principles of the ILP. But that day we will have to answer very painful questions: why did we permit the sacrifice of over 25,000 men and women in their tender age? Why did we permit the death over 60,000 civilians? Why did we permit over 100,000 people to suffer debilitating trauma? Why did we permit thousands of people to become orphans, widows and widowers? Why did we permit thousands of fathers and mothers to mourn for their beloved children for the rest of their lives? Why did we remain inactive when our homeland was brutalised and ransacked by this horrible war?
All this could have been averted if only common sense had prevailed 20 years ago. What a painful tragedy we are witnessing now!
Gamini said,
December 9, 2007 @ 8:41 pm
Well done on de-constructing the facts, half-truths and the outright lies espouced by our self styled gun toting, fatigue wearing ’supreme leader’.
No doubt the hate mongers are calling you unprintable names, but keep up the good work. Truth will set them free !
To many observers in the West and in indeed Sri Lanka the similarity with the other great self styled leader of our time Osama Bin Laden can not be ignored. Instead of issuing hatefull taped voice messages from the caves in Pakistan, VP is issuing taped video messages from deep bunkers in the Vanni.
Dutugemunu said,
December 9, 2007 @ 10:01 pm
Mr. Jeyaraj,
You sir are one of the few… May God Bless and Keep You Safe in his arms.
Heil Prabakaran.
ravir said,
December 9, 2007 @ 11:37 pm
Dear DBS;
This article proves again your analytical skill on looking at a issue with wide scope. Your mind is deeply in paradigm.
Ravi
ravir said,
December 9, 2007 @ 11:47 pm
I agree with some of the mistakes made on his speech like ‘Sinhala nation’ etc.
De Silva said,
December 10, 2007 @ 2:54 am
After reading this article you have converted me, a Sinhala nationalist into someone who sympathises with the plight of the innocnet Tamils. The reason? Introspection. This is one thing that the Tamil community doesn’t have much of and this article is one the few that courageously explores the failings from the Tamil side. In my opinion, the Tamil people should take a leaf from the civil rights movement in the USA. They never engaged in violence, and what started out as a movement for black rights by black people became a nationwide movement with the support of people from all races and religious backgrounds.
“If you succumb to the temptation of using violence in the struggle, unborn generations will be the recipients of a long and desolate night of bitterness, and your chief legacy to the future will be an endless reign of meaningless chaos.”
– Martin Luther King, Jr.
kandan said,
December 10, 2007 @ 3:07 am
Your article is a balanced one. It appears that your article is written without prejudice mind.
siri said,
December 10, 2007 @ 7:31 am
Regarding above 15. kurudan comments:
Surely if VP wins, the world would look at it that way;else the world would look at it as rhetorics of a failed Nazi attempt or whatever.
Whatever it would be, am not sure of your challenge on the SL constitution. What does taking off religion has to do with it? Isnt it like challenging someone to walk naked, instead askng for what you want, in this case your rights?
Surely, taking religion off the constituion should not be a issue with any multi ethinic society, but again you see that religion has a lot to do with these so called democracies and their constitutions around the world too. I.e, the evangelical-Lutheran religion remains the public religion of the State, in Noway, just one example.
gna said,
December 10, 2007 @ 7:49 am
First of all everybody should understand there is a problem for Srilankan tamils. From this article what DBS wants to tell?
Estate boy said,
December 10, 2007 @ 8:14 am
“The last days of J.R. Jayewardene, the earlier phases of Premadasa and Kumaratunga rule, and Ranil Wickremesinghe’s prime ministerial tenure were all periods where the Sinhala leadership tried to make amends for past mistakes. Efforts were taken to achieve a political settlement ”
Well said DBS, many independt mind tamils agree with you,
CakeBoy said,
December 10, 2007 @ 11:17 am
Excellent analysis DBS. It takes courage to say what you have said, and for this alone you deserve respect.
Well done for not letting justifiable anger or bitterness blind you, but for telling the truth as it is and stating the history of the conflict from 1987 onwards as it really was-not some distortion as per those who were blinded by hate.
This is your best work yet. My sincere compliments Sir!
Vishvajith said,
December 10, 2007 @ 1:41 pm
As expected DBS has got some flak from some of the readers. The LTTE fought a good fight and their time has now come to change their way of doing things, for if they continue, the suffering most will be the Tamils in Srilanka. It’s easy for the Diaspora to egg them on with funding from safety, it’s another thing to get our brothers and sisters killed in SL. Don’t forget, a vast number, a near majority of our political leaders were killed by the LTTE.
The IC is squeezing both sides of the divide. The GOSL and the LTTE and their supporters continue to be in the receiving end.
Sachi said,
December 10, 2007 @ 3:55 pm
Well said, DBS. I always like to read your well balanced articles. I wish we have more DBSs among Tamails and Sinhalese.
surya said,
December 10, 2007 @ 5:04 pm
Dear DBS
thank you for a well analyzed written about our ’self imposed and worsipped’ leader’s Mavirar speech. I feel really shame to be under a man who even need other people’s help to prepare his own speech of the year.
First of all I apologize on behalf of those who criticize you personally without giving a reasonable arquments. Secondly I see a grave concern about the Tamils can be wiped out or reduced to rumbles in Sri Lanka by this a person who continue his militaristic and cult like style. Once Tamils of Sri Lanka had many well educated and capable leaders today left out by a group with low knowlege of everything.
He like to put blame on everything on the whole world and India except him self for today’s griverences of Tamils. How it is possible for a person who even got money and weapon from the Singalese ‘chavunists’ to fight against Indian military and now blame them for not protecting Tamils? Is there any other country in the whole world ever able to give the protection given by Indian military to Tamils in Sri Lanka? We spoil the soup by these ‘this person’ want to be the center point of everything. Today we pay the price.
I am very critical to every Sri Lankan Tamil who blame India for our sufferings. Even in the future there would no justifiable solution to us without India’s involvment. India would be the guarantist for our safety but it would hardy happend with the current LTTE leadership in power.
Anton said,
December 10, 2007 @ 7:27 pm
Time has come for all Tamils to unite and fight against Sri Lankan State Terrorism. It is not wise or prudent for DBS to stay on the wrong side at this critical stage. Utilize your brain and write articles and reports like our Taraki Sivaram for the liberation of our people. In your analysis above, you mentioned that LTTE joined with Premadasa to oust IPKF. It is true. “If he is alone and the enemies are two, a wise king will make the weaker enemy his friend” is the saying of our ‘Tirukural. The LTTE supremo adopted nothing but the same policy.
One person above mentioned about Indo-SriLanka Pact. He would have realized by now that India couldn’t do anything when the merged NorthEast as a result of the Pact was demerged by Sri Lankan Government. How could any Tamil trust the Indians?
ravir said,
December 11, 2007 @ 7:41 am
It shows that you are very sharp mind person. You make totally correct analysis here just with an obective of winning hearts of even Dutagamunu type singalse in SriLanka.
you are real professional writer who reflects only true and fair view and on interest of tamil society than your personal interest.
Eswaran said,
December 11, 2007 @ 9:05 am
I do not wish to waste time with these arm chair crtics who would want to rubbish LTTE . These so called moderate Tamils who want to speak for the Tamil cause are none other than Tamil Traitors. There are few likes of DSBJ who think they are intellectuals who know all about the politics in Ceylon(Srilanka). Sir PArun in 1918 was a rebel, but Sir P R was a moderate, like wise Chelva was a rebel.1949. readers dont be fooled by these fools. there was no nation building process in the island but distruction from the time of Anakarica Dharmapala. DS, SWRD, JR all in the line of distroying the unity built by British. Asoka was distroyed by the buddhism he wanted for his inner peace. If DSBJ’s inner peace is rubbishing LTTE let him do it.
dingiri said,
December 11, 2007 @ 10:29 am
I am reminded of the story from the Nagasena Vastu. Two women appeared before King Minander with an infant, both claiming to be its real mother and the other its abductor. The King ordered a tug of war with the baby as the rope. The winner will be the real mother. Of course the real mother couldnt bear the thought of her baby being pulled apart so let go as soon as the baby started screeming. The king then handed the baby over to the loser saying only a true mother will let go instinctively to prevent her baby from being hurt.
One can draw the same parallel with MR and VP on either side and the hapless citizens of Jaffna and Vanni in the middle. However in this case neither seems to care about the well being of the baby. All they care about is victory and glory on the battle field and their personal reputations as great warriors. They will only succeed in tearing the baby apart.
Ram said,
December 11, 2007 @ 2:14 pm
My predition was correct in comment #18.
So many tamil hawks are spilling the venom of hatred, even have the audacity to ask an unbiased writer to twist the facts.
Comment #35 is a prime example for that.
No wonder why these tamil hawks are eradicating the srilankan tamils from the srilankan soil in away no other sinhala hawks can do.
Raj said,
December 11, 2007 @ 6:02 pm
comment 35, is symptamatic of the tiger mindset, either support us fully or face the consequences, heil Prahbha !
It is sad state of affairs when you have standover thugs like #35, trying to intimidate people who try to speak the truth or hold different opinions.
Eelam Tamil said,
December 11, 2007 @ 11:19 pm
I don’t understand what DBSJ is trying to say
Let’s think for a moment.
DBSJ, if I see you now, I will punch you in the Face!
T Mano said,
December 12, 2007 @ 2:40 am
I think your view (I mean not all the part of this article) is one sided. Law is common for all citizens in Sri Lanka but the implementation vary from place to place.
N said,
December 12, 2007 @ 3:27 am
DBSJ has written
In this us against the world kind of speech delivered in a holier than thou style, Prabhakaran depicted the Tamil people as suffering underdogs. In that, he was spot on.
Blaming Prabaharan/LTTE for everything won’t solve any problems.
kurudan (#15) has made some interesting points.
RanBonzy said,
December 12, 2007 @ 3:02 pm
Well said. Unfirtunately comments show how biased readers are. You have done a very good job in analyzing the GHD speach in an unbiased point of view. You have brought forward all teh aspects realed to the war and provided critics on a neutral ground.
Excellent!
Ugeesh said,
December 12, 2007 @ 3:09 pm
In teh recent past LTTE has been the enemy of the all Sri Lankans. Specially SL Tamils in Vanni, who are people suffering the most in SL soil, live lives like this today because of LTTE terrorism. Tamils living with sinhalese are living very good lives but with a double mind becuase of the war situation maintained by LTTE; Tamils are observed as suspicious in the southern SL because LTTE hide behind tamil civilians when attacking sinhalese. LTTE does only one thing for tamils, making lives miserable.
Naren Chelliah said,
December 13, 2007 @ 12:40 am
#41 seems to epitomize our community in the eyes of the world. Either you agree with us or we will smash your face!!
It’s quite brave to utter nonsense like this safely ensconced in foreign countries but our brethren have to face the onslaught of the Sri Lankan Army..
And here we have a fool threatening a journalist..
Our great leader ably assisted by the diaspora have eliminated any chance for a prosperous future for our people. Shame on all of us.
For those who saw that young woman blowing herself up did you ever pause to ask.. FOR WHAT???
N said,
December 13, 2007 @ 5:38 am
N did not write te above. It was heaviliy edited. So much for honest debate!!
N said,
December 13, 2007 @ 5:49 am
To the moderator:
If you do not wish to publish a comment that is your prerogative.
However when you edit a comment to mean something quite other than what was said, that is not right.
You may as well then write your own comments if you are afraid of criticism.
Please try not to place journalistic vanity above debating and solving the suffering of people of Lanka.
Naren Chelliah said,
December 13, 2007 @ 10:44 pm
The only thing thats more obscene more than the active support the diaspora is providing the LTTE is the glorification of martyrdom using their kids in Toronto,Melbourne and all these other hero’s days nonsense.
It is nice and dandy to dress up our kids in yellow and red and have them prostate in front of fake tombstones on Hero’s day. Of course the next day they will be able to go to school.. learn … and make use of all that the liberal democracies offer us. But do we ever pause to think of the kids stuck in Eelam who have no option but to participate in our leaders dream?? Do they have the same choices that our own kids have over here??
Aren’t we worse than the singalese for what we are subjecting our kith and kin back in Eelam?? What moral right do we have to condemn the singalese when we on our own are condemning our children in the alter of this madness?
Has our own hatred to Singalese blinded us to the crimes that we are committing to our own?? Is that the Iyakkam??
Reggie said,
December 14, 2007 @ 7:23 am
Prabhakaran is a curse. A curse that has caused the Tamil people much misery and pain. On the one hand is the militarism and extremism of the Sri Lankan government and on the other hand is the farcical LTTE that claims to fight for Tamils. The LTTE is destroying the Tamil community from within, but the blind continue to support this organisation. I left Sri Lanka many years ago, I can only wonder now what its like living under the LTTE. The sooner Prabhakaran is gotten rid off, the better. Hopefully at least a more moderate LTTE can see sanity rather than taking Tamils down to annihilation.
Mohanasundaram said,
December 14, 2007 @ 8:53 pm
It is a utter waste of time analysing Pirapakaran’s speech for Pirapa himself doesn’t seem to understand the contents of the speech he reads annually. Anyone with average intelligence knows pretty well that even after another 50 years there won’t be any constitutional amendment that would go beyond the 13th amendment to devolve power to provinces or any other unit. LTTE had delibarately sabotaged the best opporunity for the Tamils.
God bless the Tamils of Sri Lanka
A.Rajasingam said,
December 14, 2007 @ 10:13 pm
DBS, you have done a good analysis.
Devinda Fernando said,
December 19, 2007 @ 9:43 am
ITs quite unfortunate that the LTTE Made an ENEMY out of DBS,…. (they burned down his offices in Canada and Caused severe Bodily harm to the man)… He was and still is a Very Intelligent Eloquent Tamil Nationalist, only now he is Vehemently Anti-LTTE… But then again the LTTE are only good at befriending the IDIOTS of the Tamil Diaspora as anyone with Half a brain can figure out that the LTTE are BOGUS organization that have brought more Harm to Tamils than helping them…