TNA leader asks government for clean, candid and honest proposal
by Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai
“Government of Sri Lanka is wrong in thinking that, it can solve the issue by flushing out the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam from Vanni. The Tamil question remains unresolved. Peace would only come if the Tamil question is resolved in a way, which is acceptable to all” said R. Sampanthan MP, the leader of Tamil National Alliance.
He addressed a gathering of foreign correspondents in Colombo on December 10th at Galle Face Hotel.
He further stated:
Commitment for Peace
The Government should come with clean, candid and honest proposal with regard to Tamil speaking people’s issue. There should be positive movement towards resolution. Sri Lanka is 2,500 year-old. There were self-rules within a united Sri Lanka. Tamil people have been demanding for their rights since 1956. The Sri Lanka state says that the leader of the LTTE Velupillai Prabhakaran is committed for separate state. Has the Government of Sri Lanka given any proposal to challenge him? Never; ever! Sri Lanka is the most militarized sate in the whole world. I do not see any hope of fulfillment.
Mahinda Rajapakse became the President, partly because of the LTTE, because they did not allow the Tamils in North and East to vote. I think that the Tamils in North and East should have been allowed to exercise their franchise.
1983 July riots was the turning point for the ethnic conflict. Indo-Lanka Peace Accord accommodated within the existing 1972 constitution. There is an endorsement under the Indo-Lanka Peace Accord, which says that, Sri Lanka is a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic country, and people can nurture their identity.
[R. Sampanthan MP, at the Galle face Hotel on Dec 10th, 2007]
Sinhala colonisation
There had been extensive Sinhala colonisation in the North and East of the country. These were violations under Banda-Chelva pact and Dudley-Chelva pact, but the colonisations kept increasing. Natural increase in the Sinhala population island wide was 238% from 1947 to 1981, according to statistics. But it multiplied in the Eastern province of the country due to extended Sinhala population. According to the statistics the percentage of the Sinhala population in the East from 1947 to 1981 was 880%. We have nothing against the Sinhala people, but Sinhala people were settled in Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Amapara districts.
The President of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapakse said recently in Los Angles that, 54% of the Tamil people do not live in North and East. There is no doubt about it, because people are bombed; people are killed;; people flee for their lives in North and East. There is 2.5% of Sinhala population still living in North and East.
Political solution
There were opportunities for political solution for the ethnic conflict when Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga was in power in 1995. She had a set of proposals. I told her to consider the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam seriously, when she summoned the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) was summoned to talk further about the proposals. But unfortunately the hostilities began in April-May of 1995. The United National Party did not extend their support to her. Gradually the hostilities became tensed; Jaffna peninsula fell into the hands of the Government; and Elephantpass feel into the hands of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam declared a unilateral ceasefire in late 2000, which was not accepted by the President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. But the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam kept extending the ceasefire till 26th of April 2001. Operation “Agni Keela” (Anvil of Fire) was launched to capture Palai by the Sri Lankan security forces, but they could not capture it.
Norwegians came to Sri Lanka to negotiate peace for the first time in 2000. Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe became the Prime Minister in the general election held in December 2001. Ceasefire Agreement was signed between the Ranil Wickremasighe government and the LTTE in 2001.His mandate was to set up an interim council for the North and East. But unfortunately he was unable to make it a reality. He would have thought the President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunaga and Foreign Minister Late Lakshman Kadirgamar were looking over his shoulders. He would have moved in a positive and constructive way.
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam was not invited to attend the pre-Tokyo conference, which was held in Washington DC in April 2003. Principle of parity needed to be maintained. People were not allowed to resettle in Jaffna, especially Valikaamam area.
The Prime Minister Ranil Wickeremasinghe gave the third proposal, whilst the Liberation tigers of Tamil Eelam came up with their own proposal. President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga agreed to discuss the LTTE’s proposal in June 2004, but it never became a reality.
General elections were held in February 2004. I wrote to the President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and cautioned her about the alliance with Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP). I mentioned in my letter that, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and United National Party (UNP) are old political parties of the country, and they should not come with an alliance.
When Mahinda Rajapakse became the President he signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU). The Supreme Court gave a convenient order to de-merge North and East. The beneficiaries of the North and East merger went to courts. The Supreme Courts upheld the order, and the rights of the real beneficiaries were denied.
Accept democracy
I know the leader of the Liberation tigers of Tamil Eelam Velupillai Prabhakaran for 30 years, ever since I became a Member of Parliament. I told him that, he needs to transform his military strength to political strength of the Tamil people, and accept democracy when I met him in April 2002 in Vanni.
Lost its life
He further speaking about the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) said it lost its life. I do not think that, the APRC will ever be able to come up with any solution.
The role of international community
Every effort is being made by the international community. Even the United Nations is attacked; high ranking officials have been severely criticized; some been physically attacked. Nevertheless the international community should continue its commitment in achieving sustainable peace in Sri Lanka, especially India.
The human rights situation is deplorable and appalling; it’s worse in Jaffna; 300 civilians were killed in the recent violence.
Sovereignty of State
Once I told the Foreign Minister Late Lakshman Kadirgamar that, the sovereignty is not a crystal to keep it in the cupboard and admire. Sovereignty of the state is not so sacred. Human rights of the people, right to life and liberty cannot be sacrificed for the state.
Ethnic cleansing
The Government kept saying that, the operation was underway to liberate the Tamils form the clutches of the LTTE. If so why are people of 28 villages in Trincomalee district not allowed to resettle? There is not LTTE cadre in these villages, there are only soldiers. Lands of East have been taken over for various purposes. There were attempts to make Trincomalee and Mullaithivu under one district, and make it a Sinhala colony.
R. Sampanthan, the leader of Tamil National Alliance is a Member of Parliament for Trincomalee district. He made these remarks at a meeting organized by the Foreign Correspondents’ Association of Sri Lanka.
G Gunaratne said,
December 12, 2007 @ 8:59 am
This is sad. but above all the key here is Tamils thinking they have a God given right to 45% of the land mass and 60% of the coastline for a small minority of 14%odd. Why? Which western nation will give into that sort of mono-ethnic state within a state? So the key is Tamils have lived for centuries in Sinhala areas. They too have slowly come to Colombo, Kandy, Galle, Matara, KEgalle etc BEFORE The war and have thrived there. They attend Peradeniya campus on Free education. So why should we not protect their rights as well as anyone else’s right to settle anywhere? WE are an overpopulated nation of poor people. So why should one area be exclusively for a small group but the rest of the nation be open to all? You cannot have the cake and eat it too.
dingiri said,
December 12, 2007 @ 9:19 am
On India’s role in the SL conflict.
India’s role in the SL conflict as of recent times seems to be to disrupt the LTTE’s clandestine operations within it’s own shores while exhorting the SL govt to offer some meaningful devolution to the Tamils. The Colombo govt. appears quite happy with this situation as it is obviously more advantageous to Colombo than to the LTTE. Colombo benefits from the action against the LTTE but can quite easily turn a deaf ear New Delhi’s gentle urgings on devolution. However this is very short sighted strategy. Colombo should realise that it needs to take the Indians seriously even if it is only out of pure self interest and that positions and alliances are not static in International politics. So far we have had every single permutation as far as alliances go between these 3 parties. In the 80s we had India and LTTE allied against SL. Then we had SL and LTTE allied against India when the IPKF were here and now we have India and SL allied against the LTTE. It wont take much to tip the balance against the SLG in the current alliance. For example, its not inconceivable for a central government in New Delhi beholden to a strongly sympathetic Tamil Nadu at some future point to change the picture completely. India does not even have to take overt action against SL. All it has to do is while maintaining cordial relations with the SLG to turn a blind eye to LTTE activities in India and instead of vigorously patrolling the Palk Streight do it half heartedly. They could demand the right to install an Indian HR observer in Jaffna and if the relationship breaks down even further they can unilaterally impose a no-fly zone over the Vanni or a naval blockade. In fact they can change the balance of power between the SLF and LTTE without sending a single soldier across the water.
The Sri Lankan Govt is fast running out of time in its ambition to recapture the Vanni in a “Short and Sarp” putsch. To retake the initiative it has to therefore propose a fair and workable proposal for devolution without any further delay. This should not be too difficult if we have the capacity to recognise that the other’s needs and entitlements should be equal to our own. So time for a symmetric and reciprocal settlement where both communities get equal entitlements and choices. If a decent proposal is made and is still rejected by LTTE, the IC including India will have no option but to cut the govt some more slack in its efforts to end it militarily.
dingiri said,
December 12, 2007 @ 10:32 am
At the same time the Govt should make every effort to safeguard the rights and entitlements of the Sinhalese, Eastern Tamils and Moslems. I think the de-merger of the North and East was good. The Northern Tamils expect the East to be delivered to them on a plate without consulting the people who live in the East. This only exposes vividly the LTTE and TNA’s own innate colonising mentality where they feel the resources of the East should be put at the North’s disposal regardless of demographics, history, geography or opinions of its inhabitants.
Contrary to the claims of many pro Eelam websites the East has never been part of a pre-colonial Northern state. The Eastern Tamils have a very different and far more recent history in Sri Lanka. This is not to say their entitlements should be any less but demarcating all the land in this largeest but relatively empty province as exclusively Tamil is anathema to even a moderate Sinhalese. We are prepared for and actively campaign for equality for Tamils but at the same time are not prepared to accept an inferior entitlement land wise.
Rohan said,
December 12, 2007 @ 11:46 am
The use of force alone is but temporary. It may subdue for a moment; but it does not remove the necessity of subduing again: and a nation is not governed which is perpetually to be conquered.
What the warring factions should seek is not peace keeping, but peace building. They have to move from partial fragmenting solutions to a comprehensive solution that will make it possible to lay the foundations for institutionalizing peace.
ilaya seran senguttuvan said,
December 12, 2007 @ 12:09 pm
Mr Sambanthan, one of our most senior Parliamentarians – brilliant
Speaker in English/Tamil, Lawyer, democrat and thoroughly familiar with Erskine May and Parliamentary procedure – has been offering wisdom and guidance to all Cbo Govts how the National Question can be solved. In the nature of our politics, these have been ignored or rejected. Are you surprised the country is bathed in blood and tears for so long?
A.Rajasingam said,
December 12, 2007 @ 1:08 pm
Promises of liberating the Tamils by both the President and Prabaharan will only show that they are handling the matter with blood stained hands and no solution for peaceful settlement can be seen. First let both of them wash the sins in their hands. Having failed in the negotiations, the government failed to realize other proper approach to the Tamil question. Sampandan’s speech also contradicts with Prabaharan’s speech when he said “Indo-Lanka Peace Accord accommodated within the existing 1972 constitution. There is an endorsement under the Indo-Lanka Peace Accord, which says that, Sri Lanka is a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic country, and people can nurture their identity”. How are they going to explain to Prabaharan? It seems they are frightened to act against the LTTE. Atleast Mano Ganeshan did something at the crucial hour and deserves merit to prevent to raise the alert on the international community though I was mistaken about his genuineness. But as DBS said even after releasing, the fate of the released arrested youths is going to be fateful. The issue of flushing out the terrorists seems to be a time borrowing tactics when there are avenues to get around the Tamil moderates. The problem can be gradually be solved by holding talks with the Tamil moderates in India or elsewhere taking into account that people are tired of the Tamil politicians. Even foreign countries may like this idea to combat terrorism. It is not only Mahinda’s government that faults, but even the previous governments making the same error by hanging on to the rival groups also with blood-stained hands which are not acceptable to the Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims. It is time the government demonstrates its sincerity. Considering the fact that the Sinhalese wanted to live with the Tamils and Muslims and to avoid further destruction to lives and also to strengthened the commitment for PEACE, first there should be a start and this experiment will prove fruitful. Later it can be transformed into a political solution. Let there be a change at the bottom of the heart of the rulers in the best interests of the country and its people.
Veera said,
December 12, 2007 @ 2:22 pm
Without A Tamil Army, Tamils Have Nothing!
o There is widespread racism and state terror that has been directed at the Tamil people since Ceylon gained independence from Britain in 1948.
o The Sinhalese came to Sri Lanka about 2500 years back and claim to be Aryan race, which is a bunch of crap
o Tamils have been living in Sri Lanka for more than 30,000 years and called it Ellam.
o In 1769 the British arrived and absorber the Island of Ceylon into its huge empire.
o Before Portugese, Dutch & British came, there were three Kingdoms in Ceylon, Tamil kingdoms in North and East, one Sinhalese kingdom in Hill Country and one in Costal areas of Ceylon.
o British centralised all powers in Capital Colombo for administrative purpose , unified the whole country by amalgamating three Kingdoms into one Country and brought large amount of Tamil Labours from India to Build Tea estates and these Tamils built the national economy and earn highest amount Foreign exchange today ( US $ 900 Millon per year )
o When British left in 1947, they handed over centralised power in Colombo to Sinhalese and the first Sinhalese majority parliament stripped, (which consisted of Racist like DS Senanayaka, SWRD Bandaranayaka & JR Jeyawardena,) one million tea estate Tamils in the central hill country of their citizenship and right to vote, because they voted against the ruling party and happened to be Tamils.
o The third parliament of Ceylon in 1n 1956, under the leadership of SWRD Bandaranayaka and with the support of UNP, made Sinhalese the only official language and as a consequence large number of Tamils lost their job opportunities. LSSP leader Colvin R De Silva warned one language, two countries, two languages, one country.
o During nineteen seventies the Government of Srimao Bandaranayaka, with the support of Badudeen Mohammed, NM Perera, Peter Kennaman & Colvin R De Silva implemented the standardisation policy where Tamil student have to get much more marks to enter university, irrespective of their merit, and abolished the Constitution Drafted by Last British Governor and deleted the protection given to Tamils under that Constitution and these act angered moderate Tamil Politicians and young Tamil students and provided a strong motivation to start armed struggle, another foolish act of Sindhalese
o Major Sinhalese political parties and Majority of the Buddhist Monks are totally racist and anti Tamil.
o In July 1983 the Sinhalese thugs aided, supported and encouraged by Sinhalese politicians, Buddhist monks and Sinhalese army and police killed thousands of Innocent Tamils, burned down their houses, business premises, medical clinics and lawyers offices and ganged raped Tamils girls and this is known as ‘ July Holocaust’ or ‘ Black July’ .
o The Tamil armed struggle gathered momentum after this foolish act of Sinhalese and resulted in the development of present day Tamil Army known as ‘Tamils Tigers’
o Some feel that creation of a Tamil Federal state or a Scottish style Tamil Parliament will bring peace; this solution will not work, because this type of political system to work, the central government should be trust worthy and Tamils have no trust in Sinhalese central government or Sinhalese politicians. They cannot be trusted, because Sri Lankan army, police and state machinery is one hundred percent Sinhalese.
o The only option for Tamils to fight Sinhalese state terrorism is to create their own state which existed before Portugese, Dutch and British came to Colonise Ceylon – Sri Lanka.
o WITH OUT A TAMIL ARMY TAMILS HAVE NOTHING – POLITICAL POWER GROWS OUT OF BARREL OF GUN – ARMY IS HE CHIFE COMPONENT OF STATE POWER –
o The ‘Tigers’ control their own territory and run it like a totalitarian dictatorship now, after winning an independent state for Tamils, they have to grant democracy to all people, otherwise Tamil people will revolt
o Tamil Army is a militant army with a cause, to disarm them is impossible and no army can fight them forever.
o The ‘war on terror after 9/11’ has been used by Sri Lankan States (past & present) to suppress Tamils and opposition descendants and get plenty of foreign aid from US, Canada, Australia, Pakistan, China and Israel. Tamils and their Tamil Army are not terrorist, but freedom fighters. The Sinhalese and International media describes the entire Tamil people as terrorist and remain silent about Sri Lanka state terrorism for the benefit of their Geopolitical agendas.
o Regardless of whether the war in Sri Lanka is recognized as a war of national liberation in the exercise of the right to self-determination or a civil war, support for the LTTE from the Tamil people cannot be criminalise. The Tamil people, whether in Sri Lanka or elsewhere, have the right to freedom of opinion and belief, the right to freedom of expression and the right to support political parties or groups of their own choosing.
o FIGHTING FOR SURVIVAL IS A FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHT.
NB:
I have few things to improve your statement
1. In 1970 not only racial merit system started but also Tamils students already selected were sent back.
2. In 1972 traitor Colvin in addition removed secular nature of the constitution and made it Singhala Buddhist Constitution.
3. Before 83 since 57 there were several pogroms against Tamils
4, In the chauvinist singhala state not only the armed forces even the civil administration is singhala dominated. Tamil usage is only when fight is made.
lanka,Ellam all refer to sinhala. hence pre-aryan Dravidian name must be something else. may be a word starting from ‘am’ or’ ka’
5. Do not give up your rights in the south.
Wickrama bahu KARUNARATNA
Nava Sama Samaja Party
TULF – Declaration 14/05/1976
The first National Convention of the Tamil United Liberation Front meeting at Pannakam (Vaddukoddai Constituency) on the 14th day of May, 1976, hereby declares that the Tamils of Ceylon by virtue of their great language, their religions, their separate culture and heritage, their history of independent existence as a separate state over a distinct territory for several centuries till they were conquered by the armed might of the European invaders and above all by their will to exist as a separate entity ruling themselves in their own territory, are a nation distinct and apart from Sinhalese and this Convention announces to the world that the Republican Constitution of 1972 has made the Tamils a slave nation ruled by the new colonial masters, the Sinhalese ,who are using the power they have wrongly usurped to deprive the Tamil Nation of its territory, language citizenship, economic life, opportunities of employment and education, thereby destroying all the attributes of nationhood of the Tamil people.
And, while taking note of the reservations in relation to its commitment to the setting up of a separated state of Tamil Eelam expressed by the Ceylon Workers Congress as a Trade Union of the Plantation Workers, the majority of whom live and work outside the Northern and Eastern areas,
This convention resolves that restoration and reconstitution of the Free, Sovereign, Secular, Socialist State of Tamil Eelam, based on the right of self determination inherent to every nation, has become inevitable in order to safeguard the very existence of the Tamil Nation in this Country.
This Convention further declares:
That the State of Tamil Eelam shall consist of the people of the Northern and Eastern provinces and shall also ensure full and equal rights of citizenship of the State of Tamil Eelam to all Tamil speaking people living in any part of Ceylon and to Tamils of Eelam origin living in any part of the world who may opt for citizenship of Tamil Eelam.
That the constitution of Tamil Eelam shall be based on the principle of democratic decentralization so as to ensure the non-domination of any religious or territorial community of Tamil Eelam by any other section.
That in the state of Tamil Eelam caste shall be abolished and the observance of the pernicious practice of untouchability or inequality of any type based on birth shall be totally eradicated and its observance in any form punished by law.
That Tamil Eelam shall be a secular state giving equal protection and assistance to all religions to which the people of the state may belong.
That Tamil shall be the language of the State, but the rights of Sinhalese speaking minorities in Tamil Eelam to education and transaction of business in their language shall be protected on a reciprocal basis with the Tamil speaking minorities in the Sinhala State.
That Tamil Eelam shall be a Socialist State wherein the exploitation of man by man shall be forbidden, the dignity of labor shall be recognized, the means of production and distribution shall be subject to public ownership and control while permitting private enterprise in these branches within limit prescribed by law, economic development shall be on the basis of socialist planning and there shall be a ceiling on the total wealth that any individual of family may acquire.
This Convention directs the Action Committee of the Tamil United Liberation Front to formulate a plan of action and launch without undue delay the struggle for winning the sovereignty and freedom of the Tamil Nation;
And this Convention calls upon the Tamil Nation in general and the Tamil youth in particular to come forward to throw themselves fully into the sacred fight for freedom and to flinch not till the goal of a sovereign state of Tamil Eelam is reached.
Karunapala said,
December 12, 2007 @ 6:22 pm
I think Tamils in both the North and East must give an opportunity to chose their path within one country. The established parties did not address their grievances, unless there is a political capital to be made. I mean the state of the poor peasants, farmers and those who chose to stay despite the risks they are facing on day-to-day basis.
My hunch is there there will be heightened political activities, in the event of Vanni being freed from the cluthces of the LTTE; there will be a multitude of political parties, outclassing one another. The established parties will have to brace themselves for the inevitable challenge.
All in all, politicians in the North and East are not very different from their counter-parts from the south – they are collectively motivated by their own self-interests and the issue of race or religion provides them with a very firm platform to keep dancing to a tune, that the sentiments of masses choose from time to time.
Athos said,
December 12, 2007 @ 10:32 pm
/*
There were opportunities for political solution for the ethnic conflict when Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga was in power in 1995. She had a set of proposals. I told her to consider the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam seriously, when she summoned the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) was summoned to talk further about the proposals. But unfortunately the hostilities began in April-May of 1995.
*/
/*
Ceasefire Agreement was signed between the Ranil Wickremasighe government and the LTTE in 2001.His mandate was to set up an interim council for the North and East. But unfortunately he was unable to make it a reality.
*/
Focus on both instances where the sentence ends with “Unfortunately..”. The government offers another candid and honest proposal, he again later have to repeat the sentence that ends with “Unfortunately..”
Before asking for any proposal, get your national leaders consent. Wihout his acceptance, nothing will work. Either you do this or help the military to take him out with a bullet or a bunker bomb. when he is out of the way then perhaps you can discuss candid proposals.
thiru said,
December 13, 2007 @ 4:23 am
prabakaran is not ask separate state he asked separate country.
Concerned Ceylonese residing in Sydney said,
December 13, 2007 @ 6:42 am
Mr Sampanthan as a matured politician and leader of TNA has reviewed the prevailing situation in NE and the rest of Ceylon very appropriately put it in perspective.
I have deliberately chosen the word Ceylon over Sri Lanka as the name Sri Lanka which came into being after the introduction of the 1972 Republican Constitution was the consolidation of the process of institutionalisation of the exclusion and marginalisation of the Tamils of the NE of Ceylon by the Sinhalese political leadership. Hence, I do not want to contribute to process further by using the name Sri Lanka.
Mr Sampanthan should be admired for for stating with courage and conviction the current reality and the possible way out of the impasse.And Dushi should be congratulated for capturing the essence of his speech in terms of mood and content.Well done Dushi.
The important fact fthat should be taken into account by the international communty and the sinhalese is the impact of the standardisation scheme (1970)on the Tamils of the NE of Ceylon, which was unilaterally introduced by the then government against the long term interests of the multiethnic Ceylonese Society, that gave rise to militancy .
The genesis of the liberation movements in Ceylon was the standardisation and the accumulated denial of the rights of the Tamils of Ceylon since 1956 till 1972.The subsequent, political developments upto 1983 and the consequent evolution of the peace processes,including the current one(although it is paralysed) if looked under a microscope in an impartial manner (if one really cares for the country ), will demonstrate to what extent the sinhalese leadership was/is willing even now to accept and accomadate the Tamils of the NE of Ceylon with dignity and respect to live as equal citizens within a united Ceylon.
Unfortunately, most of the analysts do take a limited view of the ethnic conflict by analysing the period post 1983 and the global context after 9/11, which is woe fully inadequate and provides a jaundice view of the origins and evolution of the Ceylonese ethnic conflict.The contemprory analysis and predictions by experts bordering on bias and partiality will not contribute to the resolution of the ethnic conflict,instead will aggravate.
The case of the Cease Fire Agreement and the fate of peace talks especially the lack of honouring the commitments made at the end of the initial 6 rounds of talks and the next 2 rounds are indeed an excellent barometer of the sincerity and will of the parties to the agreement .If one takes the trouble to analyse and understand the issues, context and the dynamics, it would be crystal clear as to who is for peace and who is against it.
It is not a justification but , I wish to cite the Newton’s 3rd law (in physics)that is every action has an equal and opposite reaction. I am sure the transformation of the non violent struggle to violent /militant one could perhaps be better understood in this context.
The southern leadership should act now to restore the righful place of the Tamils of NE of Ceylon without further delay in keeping with it’s obligations as a member of the UN and by complying with conventions and covenents to which it has become a signitory.
I do hope that there will be a paradigm shift atleast now on the part of the Sinhalese leadership which I am sure if attempted in earnest will be welcomed accepted by the TNA , LTTE and the majority of the Tamils of NE of Ceylon.In my opinion, this was the gist of Mr Sampanthan’s speech.
CakeBoy said,
December 14, 2007 @ 5:09 am
The following is excerpts of Mr Sampanthans statements are quite revealing
‘Sri Lanka is 2,500 year-old. There were self-rules within a united Sri Lanka. Tamil people have been demanding for their rights since 1956. The Sri Lanka state says that the leader of the LTTE Velupillai Prabhakaran is committed for separate state. Has the Government of Sri Lanka given any proposal to challenge him? ‘
Reading between the lines he seems to have accepted that a separate Eelam is not viable, and that a solution within a unified Sri Lanka would be acceptable. That is a direct contradiction of Velu’s stated goal.
‘Mahinda Rajapakse became the President, partly because of the LTTE, because they did not allow the Tamils in North and East to vote. I think that the Tamils in North and East should have been allowed to exercise their franchise.’
This is a direct criticism of VP/LTTE in that they allowed Mahinda R to come to power and also that the tamils were not allowed to vote
‘There were opportunities for political solution for the ethnic conflict when Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga was in power in 1995. She had a set of proposals. I told her to consider the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam seriously, when she summoned the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) was summoned to talk further about the proposals. But unfortunately the hostilities began in April-May of 1995.’
Mr Sampanathan has a short memory or he he has conveniently chosed to side-step why and who was the reason for hostilities resuming in 1995. Navy vessel, trincomalee, blown up…. ring a bell?
;I know the leader of the Liberation tigers of Tamil Eelam Velupillai Prabhakaran for 30 years, ever since I became a Member of Parliament. I told him that, he needs to transform his military strength to political strength of the Tamil people, and accept democracy when I met him in April 2002 in Vanni.’
More criticism of Velu. Are you actually saying that his military approach is not productive?
I admire that you are displaying traces of courage and self respect that you sacrificed when you sold your soul to the devil. But please be reminded what happened to those that criticised Velu….. remember your former guru Amirthalingam…….?
A.Rajasingam said,
December 14, 2007 @ 3:09 pm
Comment # 12
‘I agree after the Peace Accord, the next opportunity came when Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga was in power in 1995. The proposals were reasonable but the LTTE spoilt it by assassinating Dr.Neelan Thiruchelvam. Otherwise with Luxman Kadirgamar, Dr.Neelan Thiruchelvam a number of Tamil moderates would have emerged for a peaceful solution. After all terrorists are terrorists. It is very difficult to pursuade them. She had a set of proposals. This is another missed opportunity by the LTTE. LTTE will never allow any intellectuals to come into the scene. The distance is not far for the Tamils to rise up against facist LTTE if the people from the South completely ignores the JVP and the JHU. History will repeat itself.
James said,
December 14, 2007 @ 11:24 pm
I think Mr.Sampathan trying to jump the ship. The tone is changing. Never change your policy for survival. What goes around comes around. The man in upstairs is watching every thing.
ilaya seran senguttuvan said,
December 15, 2007 @ 11:49 am
Re. A.Rajasingham’s #13 comments. Pls do not club Kadirgamar with Neelan. I certainly have no intention to speak ill of the dead but Kadirgamar, as commented by many in different fora, did little to raise his voice publicly for the Tamil cause. He hardly bothered to learn to read, write or speak Tamil.
He was more concerned with building his nest with the PA administrations he was in and for his own upward mobility. Without any question his ability, his credentials as a political leader and a potential Prime Minister – were immaculate. And raising his voice for the Tamil cause would have caused, in his own reckoning, grievous injury to his political mobility and therefore he chose the latter. I have no quarrel with his going after the LTTE locally and in the international arena – but to him, like to many Sinhala extremists, LTTE and the large mass of the Tamil people were the same. Show me one speech in Parliament he made in sympathy with the Tamil people who have suffered for so long. No wonder the JVP and the JHU considered him their pin-up boy. But the way he was done in – by whoever – was beastly and barbaric.
Ganesh said,
December 16, 2007 @ 12:02 am
We have been adressing what happended in the past and it very clearly shows that there is a clear violation of the rights of the tamils in Sri Lanka from the time of independance. This has has been established not only by the conferences, meetings, writings,declarations but also by active practical steps. Therefore it is clear that there should be a concrete proposal to solve the dispute with the tamils though certain parties claim there is no problem for tamils in Sri Lanka and what is in existence is terrorism. But now the issue is how it can be resolved. In view of the present situation is there any chance for that. If so whats going to be happended to the tamils in Sri lanka as far as their rights, culture and heritage, indentity, history of independent are concerned. It this travels in this manner can’t we gues that most of the tamils will leave the country and also they are being compelled to do so by direct and indirect acts throwing towards them.
Even if we assume the government will be able solve the issue, with the all the present alliance is it posible to have a kind of a solution to satisfy the tamils in Sri Lanka. No. because the fundamentalists never allow that because of their own political survival. Thats what happened in the past and we also repeatedly adressing to that and justify our cause. But now the issue is how we are going to solve this issue. Is is with our own findings and sacrificies with the international pressure. It has been reported international community have been giving pressure but what has happened fruitfully ? They also sick of this issue sometime as they have own prolems and otehr problems. Otherwise as Sri Lanka is is one of the smallest country and depend on international community for most of the thinks. How could the international community failed in pressurising the parties to solve the issue.
THEREFORE TIME HAS COME TO THINK SERIOUSLY BECUASE WHATEVER TAMILS LOST IN THE NAME OF ESTABLISHING OUR OWN RIGHTS SHOULD NOT GO WASTE.