Time Has Come For Fresh Indian Initiative in Sri Lanka?
April 29th, 2008
by Col R Hariharan (retd.)
The Tamil Nadu state assembly resolution calling upon the Centre to take steps to bring peace in Sri Lanka last Wednesday, April 24, merits follow up action by all those who aspire for resolving the Sri Lanka Tamil issue peacefully. The resolution perhaps for the first time reflects the desire of Tamils everywhere for India to take a more proactive role in Sri Lanka in the interest of all stakeholders-people of India and Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka Tamil Diaspora and the international community. Its constructive tone for finding a peaceful resolution of the problem, rather than the polemical Tamil political rhetoric adopted in the past, is too good to be trivialised.
[Col. R. Hariharan]
Coincidentally, the resolution was passed when the Eelam War-4 hit the hottest point of combat at Muhamalai causing heavy casualties on both sides. With over 7000 lives already lost since December 2005 in the endless conflict, civil society in India and Sri Lanka jaded by failure to be effective in the past should now renew their efforts to use the small opening provided by the TN assembly resolution to turn it into a productive opportunity.
The resolution, briefly worded perhaps for political reasons, by itself does not indicate possible outcome. However, Chief Minister Karunanidhi’s eloquent speech on the occasion gives sufficient indications for all stakeholders on the subtle changes taking place in Tamil Nadu political perceptions on the subject.
It is significant that in his speech Karunanidhi had defended India’s (Centre’s) policy on Sri Lanka. This sends a message to the Tamil protagonists of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) who had been counting on his support to the LTTE war. His pointed reference to the lack of unity among Tamils and criticism of the killing of Tamil leaders like A Amirthalingam without naming the LTTE makes it clear that he does not equate the LTTE war with the struggle of Tamils for autonomy. And as a corollary it raises a big question mark on the LTTE claims as the sole representative of Tamils.
At the same time his lament for the failure of Tamils to unite and achieve success as the Maoists in Nepal have done indicates that his heart supports the Tamil Eelam. But his head seems to have dictated that it was not pragmatic. His pragmatism in approach is relevant because he is perhaps one Tamil leader who is widely respected by Tamils (including politicians and Tamil Diaspora) everywhere and he has the potential to evolve a Tamil consensus on the subject. His speech has given adequate indications for them to take positive follow up action in three directions-persuade India for active involvement, persuade Sri Lanka and the LTTE to cease their quest for a military solution, and take measures for initiating a holistic and structured approach to find a peaceful resolution of the Tamil quest for autonomy without threatening Sri Lanka’s sovereignty.
Stakeholders’ response
Speculating on the stakeholders’ response to the resolution is risky. Many observers of the scene would be tempted to dismiss it as a political ploy of the Chief Minister to prevent the Patali Makka Katchi (PMK) leader Dr Ramadoss and Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazagham (MDMK) leader Vaiko from cashing in on the Sri Lanka Tamil issue in the local political scene. However, this issue has ceased to be a hot ‘vote catcher’ issue in Tamil Nadu for sometime now. Moreover, the war in Sri Lanka is going on too long to be ignored and any opportunity to resolve it should not be dismissed on cynical considerations. And the resolution offers one such opportunity.
Perhaps, Delhi has got its own internal dissonance on Sri Lanka within the government and the ruling coalition. At present, Tamil Nadu has a disproportionately large clout at the Centre and within the ruling and opposition coalitions. It is time for Tamil lawmakers in Delhi to close their ranks on this issue and demand a fresh Indian initiative in Sri Lanka. Otherwise Tamil public at large are unlikely to forgive them.
As far as Sri Lanka is considered, its adroit President Rajapaksa by now must have understood that the end of the tunnel was still not visible despite the huge cost of lives resources paid in the war so far. It should be equally clear that a fresh political initiative with India at the helm (rather than Norway) could possibly be a better way of resolving the issue. If nothing else, it would save a few billion dollars down the drain and a few thousand lives, while presenting a possibility of success, than pursuing a purely military option.
The international community (a.k.a. four co-chairs in Sri Lanka context) is perhaps wiser now of the limitations of Norwegian mediation and their own actions, long on rhetoric and short on results. Perhaps they should consider asking India to don the mantle for a change to give a lease of life to their well meaning efforts in Sri Lanka.
It is too tempting to dismiss the LTTE as irrelevant in any peace process. However, it will continue to be an important denominator in the issue. At the risk of being branded as the LTTE’s ‘military guru’ as some wise Sri Lanka columnist had done, I can say the LTTE has enough brains to know that the current war is reaching a point of no return. Inflicting more body counts or carrying out more suicide bombings-as the Tanil Nadu resolution was greeted, is not going to resolve the misery of millions of Tamils. It is time for the LTTE to show “Vivekam” (wisdom with discretion) in addition to its much touted “Veeram” (valour) because the war is going beyond the military domain.
The LTTE is not known to listen to external advice. I can only hope that it reads this and makes a pragmatic reassessment of the situation as the Kalaignar (Karunanidhi) has done. And that has only added to his stature. Will the LTTE do it? That is an answer its supporters and admirers should demand. There is no time to be lost anymore.
(Col. R Hariharan, a retired Military Intelligence specialist on South Asia, served as the head of intelligence of the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka 1987-90.He is associated with the South Asia Analysis Group and the Chennai Centre for China Studies. E-mail: colhari@yahoo.com)
Entry Filed under: Federalidea
53 Comments Add your own
1. Anonymous | April 29th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Col R H
Tamils need fair solution, not a negotiated solution.
Negotiated solution will not last ,specially when the balance of power changes after negotition….
Why CFA came into effect …..
because Both parties were tired…
SLG draged the peace talks and planned to weaken the tigers by spillting them….of cause LTTE start retaliating unclaimed killing… Rajapakasa went after war as it seemed SriLanka can affort another militry operation. SL ecomomy did well during the peace time….
Who can gurantee any solution that SLG agree now will not be reverted later ? SL has 80% singalese
Simple example, India could not do anything when North & East were split ,
If India comes with its own iterest first….solution will not last
Any solution will possible only after UN forces are in SriLanka…….not after india’s intervention….
LTTE’s appeal to India support, is really targetting Tamil Nadu people support …..to prevent India helping SriLanka militrily….
SLG will continue to try to wipe out LTTE and its leadrship…..
LTTE will continue to terroise the South….mess up SriLankan economy …….luring SLA into booby trapped feilds…
Unfortunately and inevitably Thousands are going to die and economy is going to crumble…..all people are going to suffer by sky-roketting food prices,…….some extreme singalese forces may cooperate with LTTE too…
UN will eventually come …….
2. Murugan | April 29th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Economic Times reports India has given $100 million in soft loans for arms to Sri Lanka. $100 million to fund Sri Lanka’s fight against the Tamil Tigers.
Tamil Nadu legislature can pass resolutions. Those words cost $0.
3. Jay Pee | April 29th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Do some one realize at this juncture that
1) India cannot win this proxy war
2) India cannot rein Mahinda the way they want
3) All the dogs who were waiting to bite Inida are camping in its neighbourhood in a deadly proportion.
4) Srilanka Cannot continue this expensive and destructive war
5) The High morale of the Srilankan army in the beginig of the war is slowly vanishing and desertions are increasing and at this rate all they need is one swift and dissive strike by LTTE to have the sand castle build by the Mahinda Inc. to crumble
Well at least some one is looking out side from the dark room.
4. Nalan, Trincomalee | April 29th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
Dear Harry,
Sorry to disappoint you, only few Tamils would trust the Indian government now. They had a golden opportunity to solve the SL-Ethnic issue but blew it due to a few selfish and arrogant Indian bureaucrats.
India has been covertly assisting the GOSL for quite a number of years and has designated LTTE as a terror group. How can it function as a neutral mediator?
LTTE wouldn’t trust it either. They had learned their lessons by dealing with the Indian government during the IPKF time and again when they tried to overrun the Jaffna military bases right after the “Elephant Base” success, in the early 1990’s.
We all know how India deceived the LTTE with their promise to send their ships to evacuate the SLA from Jaffna peninsula and provided ample oxygen for GOSL to buy much needed arms and the deadly MBRL from Pakistan and tilted the war in GOSL favour.
If it wasn’t for this back stabbing manouvre who knows?
the outcome might have been different and so many lives could have been saved.
Trusting any one else, including the GOSL? definitely.
Trusting the Government of India? not a chance!
5. punjab da puttar | April 29th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
Colonel saab,
Jai hind.Request you to stop writing on India’s intervention on SL affair.You lost thousands of your valiant jawans fighting the thankless lot of LTTE for another thankless lot of singhalese.
Now for India, both SL tamils and singhalese are enemies.Infact LTTE beats Pak and China to be our no-1 enemy.Why do you bother about peace….let them fight and continue for another 100 years.It helps VP and his son to dominate the SL tamils for ever.It helps the tamil diaspora to have get together ,social evenings in western countries.Gives them some pride and identity besides strengthening their case for citizenship in respective countries.It helps Mahinda to cover his inefficient governance and divert singhla mass attention.It helps us too.Don’t you want to pay back for the humiliation of sending back IPKF and killing Rajiv.If they kill Rajiv for IPKF atrocities,then it is now India’s turn to seek revenge,by not involving in this affair for ever.
Being a retired army man,request you to take reemployment with the Army again to refrain from writing silly articles.Indian Army salaries are four times more now than what you were getting then.SL tamils and singhalese have gone beyond any reconciliation and how innocent you are to suggest india’s initiative to cool them down.
Any way singhalese are better eemies when you compare with LTTE(they didnot kill a single Indian till date.Infact they are erecting a memorial for IPKF jawans).So stand firmly behind singhalese to divert UN attention to Iraq,afghan etc…
6. selva | April 29th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
Few months after LTTE annihilated the other militant groupes they got defeated very badly in Vadamaradchy. Soosai and others ran away to Kodikamam even before the people evacuated. Only at this weak situation Mr.Amirthalingham requested Prime Minister Rajiv Gandi ‘’Even if you don’t intervene at this situation, nobody can help Tamils'’. This is what made Pirabaharan angery at Amirthalingham. Also he wanted to make Premadasa happy by Killing Amirthalingham. If all the movement would have been in the field they would have fought compititively and with the help of India we would have achived our goal as Kalaignar told. After LTTE became the only fighters most of the years they were sleeping and again it has come to the Vadamaradchi situation. Even at this situation Pirabaharan wouldn’t accept India intervene and helping the Tamils to get the rights.
7. S Galpotta | April 29th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
FRESH INITIATIVE….
India was very much initiative in creating and developing terrorists groups in Sri Lanka.
There is room always for fresh initiative with a genuine and fair motive but to interfere with affairs in the next door as done before.
When some one or a group is vialating the law of the land there is a solution in the system it self, in any country. Sri Lanka too is appling the same principle without any deviation.
What ever the origin, they all are Srilankans and not Indians. Problem is among Srilankans and not between Srilankans and Indians.
Please let them look after their affairs.
8. Murugan | April 29th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
punjab da puttar,
Don’t call the Sri Lankan Tamils thankless. Take a step back and look what India did to us. We have nothing to thank you for.
India manipulated the Sri Lankan Tamil struggle for their self interest. Indira trained and armed Tamil militant groups post 1983 to weaken Jayawardena’s pro US government. Sri Lanka embraced pro-US neo-liberal economic policies in the late 70s and 80s, and moved towards allying with the United States. Just think how great Sri Lanka would be today?
But NOoo India didn’t want Sri Lanka to be a successful pro-US country.
If India had not gotten involved, then Colombo would have been like Singapore and the Tamil extremists would never have had the wherewithal to launch a war.
But India put a stop to this pro-US alignment by funding the and training the Tamil extremists.
Then India weakened Jayawadena and got him to sign the Indo-Lankan accord, which in effect gave up much of Sri Lanka’s external sovereignty to India.
India used the Tamil militants as a tool to get Sri Lanka to tow the Indian line.
And then after manipulating the Sri Lankan Tamil struggle, India in all its arrogance tried to wipe out the Sri Lankan Tamil struggle overnight. And look what happened to the PLOTE, EPRLF, and other Tamil groups that gave up their arms! India promised to look after the Tamils if they gave up arms. What happened to that promise? India never gave a damn about the Sri Lankan Tamils. Indian Tamils care. But the center in India could care less.
And India in its arrogance thought it could extinguish the Sri Lankan Tamils, overnight.
But India never accomplished that goal with all your artillery and airplanes and 50,000+ troops did you? We all know the result of the Indo-LTTE conflict. India gave up. Just like America gave up in Vietnam. India gave up against the LTTE.
Ofcourse India brought the LTTE to its knees, but Tigers prevailed thanks to Premadasa.
And didn’t an Indian general admit that India tried to assassinate Prabhakaran under a white flag?
And Rajiv’s assassination amounts to nothing when compared with the suffering the Indian army caused to the Sri Lankan Tamils during the Indo-LTTE conflict.
So please don’t call the Sri Lankan Tamils thankless. Ingratitude is not in our culture.
India sits back and watches as Sri Lanka burns.
We have nothing to thank you for.
9. Swamy Nathan | April 29th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
Well Said Murugan.
India is a ecostic contrunty. they don’t give a damn about SL Tamils or even their own Tamil Nadu. Take a look at the relationships they have among their own states. They have problem with drinking water and the central is quitly sitting there. Are these people going to solve our problem. India is complelty lacking leadership skills, long term political views, etc. It will not do any justic to anyone. It is not respected at the world statge as they clime to be. only India is known for better code writers, That’s it. SL Tamil has to solve this problem themselves in support of international community and that’s what we have to work hard.
10. punjab da puttar | April 29th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
Murugan,
I appreciate your squeaky clean image narration of SL tamils/ltte.But mud sticks…
There are those who see the anti indian military assistance given by SL to Pak in ‘71 and VOA episode as the thin end of the wedge between the relationship between these two countries.So Indira was looking for an opportunity .VP killed few SL army men and incited anti tamil riots and promptly ran towards MGR,Indira.Blaming India for training you is a bit like closing the stable door after the horse has bolted.Because situation couldnot be changed.Indira never promised a repeat of Bangladesh..India ,then maintained this episode as an act of help towards self protection only.
Our Indian tamils pressurised to intervene by signing an accord to get the basic rights for SL tamils.But LTTE ’s mask slipped ,because accord means end of LTTE.So the murder of every other tamil groups to remain sole reps.India didnot giveup.LTTE on its last legs begged premadasa to sendback IPKF.If SL tamils gloat about this success,nobody can take away that pleasure from them.Finally the man who brought peace accord was brutally murdered,that put the kibosh on all goodwill India had on SL tamils.Indian tamils few of them care for you and that too for votes.Why they are not pressurising the centre.They too have understood the ingratitude SL tamils.You play russian roulette with LTTE,good enough,but donot blame India for your sufferings.
We know you donot care for Rajiv.sadder but wiser.
11. A.Rajasingam | April 29th, 2008 at 10:42 pm
Col.Hariharan has raised an issue as to whether the LTTE will demonstrate its wisdom in the present situation. This is very much in doubt. Past records of the LTTE shows that they are an unreliable group. The Tamil Nadu State Assembly Resolution calling upon the Centre to take steps to bring peace in Sri Lanka or even the mere call by the LTTE that India has a moral obligation to interfere is insufficient. It is important to consider the following factors whether the LTTE will respond.
First, Priyanka’s visit to Nalini has not yielded any change from the LTTE. Nalini was adamant or avoiding to divulge the name of the culprit who had master-minded the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. Surely she could have come out who this Sivarasan and Dhanu were. Further, everyone in the Group comprising Sivarasan, Dhanu, Nalini, Murugan, etc., would have at least the knowledge of the huge price paid for Rajiv’s head. Further, from the day Rajiv Gandhi was assaulted by a Naval Rating, there was a communication between the late Premadasa and the LTTE (one instance was allowing arms to be supplied to the LTTE from the Colombo harbour) until the departure of the IPKF. In addition, the Judgment of the Jain Commission indicates the involvement of some Indian politician with this LTTE group. Karunanidhi should not forget that the Sri Lanka Tamils had welcome the IPKF at the beginning and later fallen prey to the provocation initiated by the LTTE.
Second, till to date the LTTE Parliamentarians keep on saying that the LTTE had been victorious over the IPKF, a fact which keeps on irritating the Indian Government and also indirectly indicates that the LTTE is not interested in peace. What is Karunanidhi’s stand on the LTTE on this issue?
Third, Patali Makka Katchi (PMK) led by Dr Ramadas and Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazagham (MDMK) led by Vaiko are mush room political parties which have no say in Tamil Nadu and are only trying to gain importance at the expense of the plight of the Sri Lanka Tamils. There is suspicion whether the DMK will be victorious in the coming election in Tamil Nadu given the fact that majority of the Tamils in Tamil Nadu support DMK, AIDMK and the Congress equally and they have the sympathy for the Sri Lankan Tamils and not for the LTTE. Since the LTTE would not listen to external advice, Karunanidhi is only playing for time until the election in Tamil Nadu. What is Karunanidhi’s stand on the LTTE - should it be banned or not. Karunanidhi has to answer the Indian people.
Fourth, since the LTTE has been proscribed by Europe, USA, Canada, India, Malaysia, India will be reluctant to interfere unless the LTTE makes an unequivocal declaration that it is giving up terrorism and no connection with other international terrorist organizations and also surrender itself to India for the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi.
Fifthly, the LTTE had murdered a number of politicians, educationalists, professionals, government officers in order to claim that they are the sole representative of the Tamils. As such what is Karunanidhi’s stand on the LTTE for committing war crimes and how is he going to answer the Indian people. Apparently the LTTE should demonstrate their willingness to commit themselves to democracy and accept the Indo-Sri Lanka Peace Accord which has still not been abrogated by both India and Sri Lanka. The 13th Amendment came in as a result of the Accord and was a stepping stone towards the path of Federalism. Will Karunanidhi accept a Fidel Castro regime close to India.
The aforementioned five factors clearly points out that India will be reluctant to interfere unless the Tamils as a whole in Sri Lanka rise against the LTTE and stand by India to find a meaningful solution and justifies its intervention. My view is that the present struggle will continue for another one year or little more given the fact that there is a fear for the Tamils to rise against the LTTE, though there are violations of human rights by both the Government and the LTTE.
12. Taraki-Kumar | April 29th, 2008 at 11:21 pm
I think “punjab da puttar ” is a Sinhalese guy pretending to be an Indian.
For any Indian intervention to succeed, India will have to make the case for Tamils at the UN and advocate an R2P type intervention. India will have the support of Canada and many other Western nations in this.
13. N | April 29th, 2008 at 11:55 pm
punjab da puttar, you talk of a glories India which has been hurt helping its neighboring countries. I advise to look in the mirror again, for you and every simple-minded Indian are a reflection of your society. How dare you categorize tamils as ingrates, you Indians are one of the main reasons why this war continues. Instead of shouting that India should not get involved, maybe you should ask your government to stop its disgraceful aid to the Sri Lankan government. You and every other Indian constantly bring up this Rajiv tragedy, but you blind yourself to the sufferings that SL tamils had to experience during the rampage of your undisciplined and disgraceful IPKF. You constantly talk about one man’s life but can you imagine the thousands that were killed in an even degrading manner during the IPKF period.? So I’m sorry you did not get a thank you note for the murder and rape of the SL Tamils. God forbid we tamils receive any Indian help. Since you despise Tamils so much I wonder why Tamil Nadu should be apart of India can you also ask your Indian government to grant them independence so that tamils will never need the help of Indians again? Please take your Indian propaganda garbage to people who have no historical understanding of this conflict, for India has blood on its hands and it will not wash away.
14. punjab da puttar | April 30th, 2008 at 12:06 am
well said swaminathan!!
India is unable to solve their own water ,kashmir ,arunachal ,assam,mao,OBC reservation issues.How can they solve your petty issues with singhalese.
Ask VP to fight singhalese for next 30 years.Meanwhile,look for some respectful nation with extraordinary leadership skills and long political views….who has not banned you as terrorists
15. True Thamizhan | April 30th, 2008 at 1:42 am
Its obvious that “punjab puttar” is another singala man pretending to be Indian !
MURUGAN is absolutly right. I love your comments and i appriciate your time.
I think we NEVER ever shud trust these indian Gov ( i mean the Norh Indian rulling elite esp congress)
Both sides in the war regulaly call for inidian Intervention. But that is just for politics !
When IPKF(Indian People killing force) came i was 13 and i still carry so much of bad memories. Indian forces were 1000 time worse than anything i seen by SLA. they were just uncivilised animals. I witnessed the Massacre at Kokuvil hindu college, and then they sloughtered four people in the Nanthavill Aman Kovil…including the Aiyar and a JP. I can write a big Book about those IPKF atrrocities. I was so happy when Rajiv was executed. Even that means extinction of our race, i still would have voted for his execution. His life is worth more than any inocent Tamil life?
Sikhs executed Indira just for entering the Golden Temple and doing relatively small attrocity(comapred with that of IPKF). For Killing Indira, congress party unleashed terror on Sikhs. Thousands of Sikhs were died becos of that holacoast.
I know now there are so many countries helping SLA, but news about the countries helping the tigers never come out. Some beleive we Tamils are without any friends….well i can only say…thats not the case..
16. Sam | April 30th, 2008 at 9:22 am
Dear Mr. Hari,
Since successive Sri lankan Governements has failed to fulfill the promise, how can the SLG be trusted at this time.
That is why LTTE is rigid and not flexible.
17. Sudalaimadan. | April 30th, 2008 at 9:42 am
To all those Jaffna Thamils who have submitted their comments.
This writer is purely a Thottakkaatan as per your version…
Who has worked in the North East….and is proud of his ability to speak and write farely well in Sinhala could understand reasonable Hindi etc…
Well bashing at India is not going to bring any results my dears.India is ruled by the North Indians.ThamilNadu is only a state within the union territory of India.
I do not think Thamilnadu has much of a say among new Delhi unlike the Gujarathis,Shiks etc.
Almost most of the corporate world in India is ruled by North Indians.
Present India is very much different from that of when the I.P.K.F.arrived in Srilanka.The face of India suddenly changed in 1990 When Rajev Gandhi liberalised the Economy and Late Narasimma Rao carried thro.
India now has a fast growing economy.India is slowly creeping into almost everything in Srilnaka.
It has a large chunk of the Motor Vehicle market here.
So naturally India will upset its Business interests by interfiering into the Thamil affairs here.
So let us stop India bashing and think of the ways of mending the fence with the Sinhalese.
I think we all should work in this direction.But the L.T.T.E. is adamond.It still retains considerable amount of its fighting capacity.
And there are those Jaffna Thamil diaspora who still believe that Eaalam will be achieved and could land on Palaly straight from London!
By the by if any Astrologer could construct VP’S birth chart we could get to know how long this fighting will continue.
The Thamils are begining to loose large chunks of Trincomalee and parts of Digamadulla.
We cannot simply put aside these by saying the L.T.T.E. will reclaim!
So I think time is running out.Blaming India will do not good.Its high time the Jaffna Thamil diaspora think of negotiating with the Sinhalese directly.They are totally not a bad people.
18. Chennai_Analyst | April 30th, 2008 at 10:46 am
Yes, time for a new H(Indian) Initiative!
I was under the impression, Manmohan was sincere when he told Vaiko, 2 weeks back that India was not providing arms and aid to the Sinhalas. But yesterday’s Economic Times( a Times of India) Publication, revealed how Hindians are giving a second Loan of $100 Million to the Sinhalas to buy arms and ammo from the Terrorist Pakis and Iranians! What Hindia is doing is total ‘Porikkithanam’ also called Scoundrelism! Hindia has turned itself into a Rogue Nation! Pure and simple!
Hindians are complaining about the arrivals of more and more Tamil Refugees to TN! And what the hell is Hindia doing?…pouring more fuel to an already huge problem on the island! The crooked Hindian Navy cannot even protect TN Fishermen from Marauding SLN Vessels who kill our fishermen with impunity! We Tamils are not second-class citizens or orphans!
Well, the Hindians must know that if you do crap, it will come and bite you back someday! It is hightime for Tamil politicos led by Vaiko, Nedumaran et al, to seriously consider if it worthwhile for TN to continue to be a part of the H(indian) Union, if Hindia continues on the present track? You cannot have one rule of law and protection for Hindi speaking people and keep the non-Hindi people servile under you, can you?
19. punjab da puttar | April 30th, 2008 at 10:50 am
Colonel saab,
Please look at the ungrateful SL tamils and singhalese comments.Singhalese ask India to mind our own business.They blame us for their present imbroglio.Is it true?.They say it is due to our jealousy on their economy ,we germinated LTTE to check their progress,or else they would have become another singapore.Too bad.Then it is your moral responsibility to help SL .
What we Indians ,irrespective of party offiliations,language,state etc… see as national tragedy ,barring ofcourse few pro ltters in TN,these ungrateful SL tamils gloat as revenge for IPKF atrocities.I think our hatred for each other is impregnable.why you think of India’s help.
Infact few of them feel India is fit to produce world class code writers and does not deserve to come in between.It is their sole right to fight and kill each other.Infact these ingrates even justifies Rajiv ’s death and seek independence for TN.Is your tamil friend Gen.Thamburaj listening ?Infact they may even declare wanni holiday celebrating Rajiv’s death.You seem tobe a tamil but being an ex army man ,Idonot suspect your integrity.Please set your priority right.I know you are a typical officer and a gentleman,but see where we indians stand as for as the SL tamils are concerned.They too aren’t interested in your help.infact call your gesture as propaganda garbage.Do we really need to listen from these ingratitude SL tamils.Leave it to singhalese.
Their ultimate revenge is to create greater tamilnadu ruled by VP dynasty.please stay away.why don’t you volunteer to train Indian army on what not to do on future CI operations ,instead of thinking to help SL tamils .It wouldbe a great service to the organisation you served for so long.
True thamizhan-We regret the killing of Indira by her own boyguards whom she trusted and refused to remove from inner security ring.we also regret the kiliing that followed.But unlike you we chose to be wise to safeguard our young.But you seem tobe happy even at the cost of extinction of your race.You must be a tamil refugee diaspora enjoying western hospitality draining their social benefits.we infact rule India,be it political,business or armed forces,we are the true spirit behind India’s success.
N-we donot hate Indian tamils.we adore them without whom none of our software companies would have secured the status they now enjoy.They are true success behind our space and nuclear accomplishments.Despite their rich culture and language,they always think India before petty issues.Our nuclear scientist,ex president was a tamil.Our Gen.Thamburaj ,head of southern army who will fight you if you decide to implement your nefarious greater TN plan is a tamil.Thanks…..
20. Mahan | April 30th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
First of all to get the talks ahead, ltte`s band should be reviled. Don`t tell LTTE to go for talks; ask GOSL; GOSL who got away from CAF. I don`t think brother Mahinder is ready to talk. He will start talks only after more deth of poor singhale guys. I feel sorry for them.
21. aratai | April 30th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
What Tamilnadu politicians can do is ’slow’ the elimination of Eelam Tamils by Lankan Sinhalese. They cannot stop it, because they have no power other than releasing statements to media.
22. surya | April 30th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
Well written by A.Rajasingam at comment #11. The worst thing happened to Tamil in SL is the LTTE. If things work out in 1987 as planned by India there wouldn’t be a so tragic situation to Tamils as now. Stil there are some expatriate Tamils especially in the West think that the West is the best ally and rescuers to Tamils of SL than India. What a joke!
The West never come to rescue us unless they have much to win. Beside today’s geo-political situation fast changing in Asia, we Tamils must put our weight on the countries would shape the world tomorrow. I hope from my heart that India make their involvment in Sri lanka again. For that happen the current LTTE leadership must be eliminated. They just keep making the grave yards for entire Tamil race in Sri Lanka.
It’s also very important that Singhalese south also be reminded by India that Tamils will live in Sri Lanka with dignity. This time every peace loving people of Sri Lanka should keep a vigil on the LTTE and elements of Singhalese south for once more spoil as they did last time on Indian involvment.
23. selva | April 30th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
Punjab da puttar
You are right calling us Thankless. When Indian army came here it was a dream true to all the Tamils except Pirabaharan. See how stubborn he is, even he has brain washed interlectuals like Murugan, and like sheep all the LTTE supporters are following Pirabaharan like Murugan. Even when he was having the Training in Tamilnadu he had in his mind to attack India one day. He has confessed this to Kittu ( The person who massacred 68 Tamils boys of other Militant groups who were in detention) when he was in India. Most probably since he came to India, he had been backed by someone who is against indian interest. Rajiv Gandi even in the 70s he was speaking about the suffering of the Tamils in an election meeting in North India. It was always in his mind to help the Tamils and that is why he sent the troups immediately as soon as our Tamil leader A. Amirthalingham requested,but not with any self interest as some LTTE supporters say.
24. Suresh M | April 30th, 2008 at 9:52 pm
Colonel,
Unlike your privious writing, for a change you’ve given a good advise.
Thanks.
25. N | April 30th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
punjab da puttar,
There is no greater TN plan, I admit my reaction to your somewhat racist remarks regarding SL tamils was emotionally driven but calling tamils ingrates does not help the situation, for we are not ungrateful, we feel betrayed by a country that was perceived as a symbol of hope, yet India actually fought with Tamil militants by refusing a separate state, which was the goal they armed militants to achieve by India. There is no doubt India will eventually become a superpower but its current actions of covert support to the Sri Lankan government is unwarranted and only serves to destabilize the region further. Of course the LTTE is no different from the government, both shamelessly committing human rights violations and arousing violence through preaching hate among Sinhalese and Tamil communities. Both parties should be isolated and forced to negotiate. Eelam may have been possible in the past but in today’s world it is highly unlikely due to the isolation of the LTTE which is spearheading the insurgency.
26. Ramesh Sinniah | May 1st, 2008 at 12:58 am
Comment # 15,
Punjab da Puttar means son of Punjab. Puttar is equal to Puthiran in Tamil , putra in Sanskrit and Puthroyo in Sinhalese .
He is not Sinhalese, rather north indian and based on his commentary name he is Punjabi.
It’s good for him to comment on this website but he had used quite a harsh words on Srilanka da puttars.
He is quite fond of late Rajiv Gandhi and that’s fine since he was their Prime Minister but for us Rajiv was nothing , except he initiated and signed the Indo-Sri-Lanka peace accord.
Colonel Harry Sahib;
Please respond to Punjab da Puttar reasons behind for the IPKF to confront the LTTE and why most Sri-Lankan Tamils (There are numerous Sri-Lankan Tamils who are ardent supporters of India and until now expect LTTE to surrender their leaders to the Indian Authorities) despised the IPKF.
He seems like only will listen to you.
I’m quite sure you are aware the reasons behind the IPKF’s decision to battlethe LTTE since you were the IPKF Military Intelligence Chief.
Punjab da puttar; The Indians’ perception of Greater Tamil Nadu is a myth!
FYI; It was the Jaffna Tamils who observed complete bandh to mourn the death of late Mrs. Indra Gandhi.
27. Lester | May 1st, 2008 at 3:11 am
The days of Sri Lanka bowing down to terror are long gone, The Indians should now join the united world force to crush this dangerous terrorist group that they initially cultivated but turned around and also attacked them in the most savage way.
No surreneder to terror = No surrender to LTTE, wipe them out now.
28. True Thamizhan | May 1st, 2008 at 3:20 am
So lets see. SO India bets on Singalas: so you want Tamils to be wiped out ( No power and so absorbed into singala community by supression and assimilation). Then what? You really think SIngalas will stay PRO INDIA for long? If you say yes you are one of THE most stupidest in the world.
You think IPKF memorial in Colombo is becos Singalas genuine thanks note to Indians?
The moment Tigers are wiped out, SIngalas will turn against India( just like how it was before the Tamil rebellion) and Chininese will be looking at your shores from Kachathivu. they will soon replace the IPKF “memorial” with Mao zee dung memorial.
But lets face the reality: even if Indian miliatray gives everything to the SLA terror army Tamils know how to fight. At the end of the day it is singala village “comandos” who have to fight.
Chechniya is a fine example. Just a hundred rebels managed to hold onto Groznee for months even though
Russians used everything they had except the nuclear weapons. They even used Radioactive Uranium tipped weapons. Couldn’t do a thing. But eventually rebels went into the country side. Do the SLA got anything like that of Russian stock pile thats designed for world war iii ?
No Eela Tamil shud be affraid of Indians: India has over 300 miliion “Dalits” and other “low caste” Even yesterday a 6 yr “untouchable” was pushed into fire by a “high caste” in uttar pradesh. India is more Unstable than we beleive. As people become more aware about the outside world, the Dalits going to put India upside down, and no “high caste” Jawan can stop that. India likes to think it is a rival to China, but Chinese don’t bother with that. China can manage India just using the Pakis. India will implode sooner or later not from south india but from the North India. How long can these modern day slavery of Dalits going to go on?
IPKF were the most uncivilized terror army ever created on this planet earth. Tigers were the fiirst to deafeat this Indian terror army. Some say they just withdrew becos of political pressure. But that was not the case. It was 99% similar to what happened in Vietnam to America - Political Military pressure = Defeat. I don’t think Indian military will ever even think about coming to our Homeland. They know why.
Eelam ppl are only interested in liberating of our homeland. Pro singalas say that we have a “greater Tamil nadu” plan for obvious reasons. Eelam ppl struggle so hard and then give up our independence to 70 milion ppl? whata ridiculous idea.
Tamil nadu composed of over 70 mil people. They know what they want and can decide for themselves.
Hypothetical situation: Imagine Kerala and Tamil nadu were put into one sovereign country by British. Right now Malayalis and Tamils will be fighting each other. Thats what happened in the island. If the island was part of India, North east would have joined with Tamil nadu and the singalas will be having their own state called Lanka within the Indian counntry. But histrory wasn’t worked that way. Eelam region was always part of Chera, Chola and pandian Empires. Only Instance where a SIngala king captured Jaffna kingdom was when Sapumal Kumara brifly invaded us.
India with its evil plan trained whole variety of Militant groups clearly knowing these groups will fight each other at one point so to keep them under control. But off course it back fired. Tamils were presented with all these militant groups to choose from, and they chose the Tigers becos of their effective attacks against the singala terror army. Is that wrong?
India only did all these “caring about tamils” stuff only becos Singalas pro-America policy. When Indian leader went to Soviet Union, Soviets were asking about Sri Lanka and then India promised to “take care of it”. This is the care that they gave to us by bloody militant groups.
Right now Indian Mediation will NEVER work becos No one trust the Indians. Its like asking Iran to mediate in the Iraqi civil war. EVen a former “chief justice” Baghwathi appointed as a eminent person to oversee justice in Lanka was bending over backward to Singalas. how can Indian can ever mediate like this.
and some guy wrote “Even when he(prabakaran) was having the Training in Tamilnadu he had in his mind to attack India one day. ” He only said this becos He is not stupid to think India will ever allow the formation of Eelam that easy. So he was expecting to fight the Indian Military sooner or later to fullfill the Eelam decaration In vattukkottai. Not for greater tamil nadu and all that non sense!
God Bless Eelam
Thank you
29. Murugan | May 1st, 2008 at 4:02 am
Selva,
For the record, I am not an LTTE supporter. I only want good for the Sri Lankan Tamils, and prosperity for the whole island.
The LTTE murdered Amirthalingham who was a true leader of the SL Tamils. Why? The LTTE says because Amirthalingham betrayed Eelam.
This shows that the LTTE is actually a crazy group that will do anything for Eelam. Every decision the Tigers have ever done in the history of the conflict can be understood from the perspective of ‘in order to achieve Tamil Eelam’. This is quite different than doing whatever is in the best interest of SL Tamils.
LTTE–> Eelam Only
Amirthalingham–> a true leader of SL Tamils.
Of course, the LTTE justifies their narrow minded approach because the LTTE thinks that Eelam is the ONLY way to ensure the freedom for the SL Tamils. But many criticize their ‘Eelam only’ attitude simply as politically uncreative.
The crazy Eelam only attitude of the LTTE is why collective punishment of SL Tamils does not work on the LTTE. Nothing works on the LTTE. They are crazy. They will just fight until the end for Eelam. They will do anything for Eelam. The only way to stop them (other than defeating them) is by giving Eelam. The only issue you can negotiate with them is where to place borders. For example, their claim to Puttalam and maybe even their claim to Ampara, might be impractical given today’s demographics.
Anyways, the point is that due to LTTE’s belief that Eelam is the only way, the LTTE has committed a lot of mistakes in the name of achieving Tamil Eelam.
Burning Bridges with India is just one of these mistakes. Others mistakes include internecine warfare against other Tamil militant groups. But here again the LTTE rationalized their war against other Tamil militants with the logic that, the Eelam movement will be strongest if all factions are united under a centralized command structure.
Despite these past mistakes and LTTE’s single mindedness, we must look at the current situation of Eelam War IV in 2008, and ask ourselves: if you had to choose between the LTTE or Rajapaksa, who would you choose? If you don’t like the LTTE, then at least ask yourself: Which one(Rajapaksa or LTTE) is the lesser of the two nightmares?
Who do we trust to determine the future of Jaffna and Batticaloa?
For the majority of SL Tamils the answer to this question is very simple.
The LTTE survives to this day, not because Tamils follow the LTTE like sheep, but because Tamils are united in grievance against ‘Sinhala Only’ Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka has still not addressed the legitimate aspirations of the SL Tamils and it is safe to say that Rajapaksa will never offer a credible power sharing solution.
Let us all focus on finding fault with the authoritarian and narrow-minded ways of the Tigers only after Colombo first shows that it sincerely seeks to address our grievances.
30. Malayaga Thamilan... | May 1st, 2008 at 5:40 am
Oh Muruga Muruga….punjab da puttar.
We Thamils cannot expect a Shik to understand our sentiments.This includes the present prime Minister of India.Also cannot be expected from the Thamil Diaspora from Jaffna now firmly settled in the west.
The plight of the Thamils here in Srilanka is confined to discussions during social evenings among the Thamil diaspora I think.
Well India has a vested interest in Srilanka No doubt.They may be having an agenda.I think they expect the L.T.T.E. to be weakened,and then move in.
I mean not direct intervention…
Well i think China and Pakistan will supply Arms.But Srilanka is economically much dependent on India.The situation compells to do so.
How long the L.T.T.E. can go on fighting?Can they go from strength to strength?
Look at the Eastern Province.The hold on by the Thamils are slipping.
Incase the ruling party wins the Eastern provincial by hook or crook what will be the outcome?
If the fighting continues through the year 2010 then we can only see a much weakened Thamil society in th wanni and in the East like that of the Upcountry plantation Thamils.
So the situation will be a rich Thamil diaspora abroad and a poor weakened Thamil society here.What a difference?
Do we want such a situation.
It is better to negotiate with the Sinhala hardliners than soliciting India’s help.
31. R.G | May 1st, 2008 at 1:09 pm
It isn’t ColHari speaking. It’s his loyalty to Sinhalese speaking. He came on the side of the sinhalese to annihilate LTTE.
All this while, when SL Forces were winning, it cross his mind that this cancerous ethnic conflict been going on for well over 30 years.
India cannot be an independeant arbitrator while providing Sri Lanka govt 100 Million Dollar loan for the third time as well as arms and training.
Is Hari so naive that he’s taken Tamils for fools?
ColHari wants India to intervene only when SL Forces get a beating. Tamils ain’t fools to jump into the Indian band wagon and sign up another Indo-Lanka Accord which in itself not fulfilled 100%.
If SL govt can abrogate pacts, CFA and go for the kill, SL Forces have to take the good with the bad.
India cannot hold GOSL to fulfill its part in the Indo-Lanka Accord. What else the Indians can do but SAVE the SL Forces from defeat by getting involved again…????
32. R.G | May 1st, 2008 at 1:12 pm
Well said Nalan from Trinco.
India calling itself the Supa powa, has evey neighbour with insurgency.
33. Expatriate | May 1st, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Myth 1. The LTTE is out to form a separate country out of Tamil Nadu and the North-East of Lanka.
There is no shred of evidence of any such intentions by the SL Tamils or the LTTE. SL Tamils want to zealously guard their identity as Eelam Tamils and have never evinced any desire for such ‘Greater’ Tamil country . Tamil Nadu’s 60–70 million people are fully capable or speaking for themselves and neither Indian Tamils nor SL Tamils have any desire for such an outcome.
Myth 2. India intervened in SL out of the goodness of its heart; that Rajiv Gandhi went out of his way to help SL Tamils and therefore, the LTTE’s fighting with the IPKF and RG’s assassination make Tamils ‘ingrates.’
What most Indians fail to realize is that if India was going to say that Quasi-Federalism was the maximum they would support, there was no need to arm, train and encourage militants. People don’t sacrifice their lives for something as measly and uncertain security-wise as a Federal system. That is a double game–promoting militancy and sacrifice for an independent homeland on the one hand, while privately having a policy that India would never go beyond the Indian model of Federalism, because in the view of South Block’s mandarins, allowing an independent Tamil Eelam would add impetus to separatist tendencies in India.
Well, if that was the Indian policy, they should have openly and consistently said so from the beginning and sent militants home. It was this contradiction that led to all the unpleasant experiences with IPKF. It is outrageously wishful thinking on the part of Indians to expect gratitude for committing atrocities like rape and mass murder in the North-East.
The reality was that India and Indira/RG sought to advance their own perceived interests (in India/TN as well as in Sri Lanka) while ostensibly trying to assuage the TN Tamils about the SL Tamil issue and bungled it.
Of course, TN took in refugees and Indians in general did render considerable help to SL Tamils.
SL Tamils remain grateful for all genuine support to refugees by TN as well as by the larger Indian public. So, the claim that SL Tamils are ingrates is a theory advanced by people ignorant of the history behind Indian involvement in the Tamil issue. But can some Jawans trained ‘not to reason why, but to follow orders’ and ‘do or die’ grasp this?
34. surya | May 1st, 2008 at 4:27 pm
Dear ‘True Thamizhan ‘ comment #28 about India. First India is the only true democracy in the World. The fact is no country has so much diversity of cultures but still cemented as one country such as India. You talk about 300 million dalits. But never consider the enormous development taking place in a country account for evey fifth human on Earth.
Secondly India and China don’t look at each other as enemies anymore. Do you know the world fastest growing trade just between these two countries? Please read facts before write anything stupid. You give an example of Chechniya and Russians. But you forget to look at the fact the situation of Chechnians situation. They are nothing but pathetic state even without basic rights.
I understand that you are one of LTTE hardcore thinks the whole world just waiting to embrace Tamil Eelam. I can assure you we Sri Lankans agree or not without India’s intervetion there is no solution for our ethnic problem. Why you people can’t see that the LTTE just brought misery and destruction to Tamil in SL? If they continue like this within 5 years there would’s be enough Tamils to even enter the SL parliment.
35. selva | May 1st, 2008 at 7:48 pm
Sorry for calling you LTTE supporter but you are blaming India like the other LTTE meniacs. You must remember India went to the extent of helping us militarily without worrying about anything. Would’t India be angery with pirabaharan for annihilating the other movements whom India spent so much money and effort to train. So they had enough reason to deal with LTTE toughly. Like the LTTE meniacs please don’t say India came for their self interest. Even Srimavo Bandaranayake opposed the presence of American army in Diago Garcia. Will you let your enemy to get boardered in your brothers house. It is the same they did. They came to help us thinking we are like relative to them . More over JR was running to America for help when Indira Gandi intervened. India didn’t ask to give a Navy base in Trinco. What they asked is don’t let the others to come in. The storage tanks in Trinco was built to reserve the oil and to use it during any world war. Sri Lanka can complain that they are losing revenue by not allowing to give those tanks to lease. That is why even though they don’t need those tanks just to give business they are using few of those tanks and they have lost billians because of that oil business. Trinco harbour cannot be used for cargo handling because there is no pier for a ship to birth. The reason is you cannot build a pier because it is so streep from the shore. The prema mills built a pier breaking an adjoining mountain and filling the sea. That is why they are using the harbour for other purposes like Floating cement factory and coal powered power plant, flour mill etc.. Colombo is one of the best harbour in Asia and Hambanthotta is four times larger than Colombo. If there is no India there won’t be any Tamils liveing is Sri Lanka by this time. After LTTE had been driven out of trinco Mahinda as a joke wanted to give only Panjayath. Only India’s pressure made them to innitiate at least with 13th ammendment. Karuna helped them to win the East and Pirabaharn helped them to win Vadamaradchi. What is the different between both.
36. punjab da puttar | May 1st, 2008 at 8:48 pm
#31
Giving arms worth $100 million to Mahinda is not a new phenomenon.India learned these tricks from premadasa - VP alliance during 1989…
If SL is winning,LTTE may approach India for weapons.India will be more than willing to provide costly sophisticated armoury,to keep double-crossers busy.
37. selva | May 1st, 2008 at 9:15 pm
Murugan.
Please read 33 I wrote it for you but didn’t mention your name. What I like in Mahinda is he doesn’t let Pirabaharan to relax like the other presidents did. Because of that Pirabaharan wasted so many years without fighting. Mankulam fall 17 years ago. What did they do so many years. Somaliland,Erithiya,Timor,Tuisis of Ruwanda started fighted fighting after us. Pirabaharn wanted to fight for generations he don’t worry about the suffering of the people or day by day we are becoming a very small society. The war is already spoiled in 1986, this 22 years is just waste. Keeping 90% of the camps inside LTTE was telling the people they keeping 80% of northeast is under their control. Without removing the camps how can we achive Tamil eelam. They can negotiate only about the area they control. Are they going to accept Kilinochi and Mullaithivu (minus Welioya) as Tamil Eelam. In this 22 years they couldn’t even remove Mannar or Welioya. So do you think they will ever remove all the camps in the Northeast. India knew they can’t do it. They went for negotiations with three presidents but they never talked about federal system. They were just passing time talking somethig else. That is why India is helping Sri Lanka to speed up to wipe out LTTE. LTTE will never get anything to Tamils by fighting or by negotiating. India is the only hope we have. We must be ready even to become a part of India.
38. dias | May 2nd, 2008 at 1:54 am
Any eventual solution to the Lankan problem can emerge only from one and only one place - through the resolve of the Lankans themselves.
The positive influences outsiders can provide are limited to encouraging the Lankans to seek peaceful solutions, promote the locals effort, help finance these efforts and act as facilitators and negotiators, and at the request of Lankans, they may also uderwrite any agreements.
Other than their preapredness to help as per the above, the biggest help outsiders, including India can provide, is - to bud out from this bedroom quarrel.
39. Murugan | May 2nd, 2008 at 2:25 am
Probably most SL Tamils agree that we should have joined with India in a leap of faith in 1987.
Unfortunately, the LTTE ruined this. Why? Probably because it was part of VP’s ‘masterplan’ to reach Eelam. History is still yet to see if LTTE will achieve Eelam.
Now the LTTE has fought war since 1987 and brought us to this present situation. Remember the LTTE did this all to achieve Eelam. LTTE believes itself to be a freedom fighter group where Tamil Eelam is the only way to freedom. Remember that they have always fought with the intent to liberate SL Tamils. Unfortunately, we all look around today after all these years of war and we can all see the writing on the wall. It seems that the LTTE could not win Eelam, and that the LTTE basically cannabalized our nation by betting everything on achieving Eelam.
Even though we all realize this, there is nothing we can do. The LTTE has a monopoly over our nation and will continue to fight for Eelam, even if it means the destruction of our people.
If LTTE loses, history will remember VP as a leader who made the irrational decision to fight a protracted war without the necessary wherewithal to win a war.
If LTTE wins, then history will remember them as ingenious freedom fighters and saviors of the SL Tamils.
It is however becoming increasingly clear that the LTTE does not have the resources to win physical control of Eelam, and therefore fighting Eelam War instead of bowing down to India (in 1987) was a completely irrational decision.
But you never know… it is still not impossible to win Tamil Eelam, or a lesser Tamil Eelam. The Sinhalese may get tired of fighting and decide to just give us some land instead of continuing to fight this endless war. Because this endless war will sink the whole ship, including the South.
40. N2 | May 2nd, 2008 at 7:09 am
Maybe India is waiting to intervene/occupy after the SLA has defeated the LTTE?
Maybe that day will never come?
Maybe China has plans for India?
So maybe India should rethink its plans for the Tamils of Lanka?
41. Indian Tamil | May 2nd, 2008 at 11:01 am
#28,True Thamizhan
“Eelam ppl struggle so hard and then give up our independence to 70 milion ppl? “.we want our Eelam tamil identity tobe maintained.”
We thought ,we can piggyback on your successful struggle and dreamt greater tamil eelam.You seem tobe not interested.why?
Why do you want an exclusive identity of eelam tamil.I thought we tamils are one and the same/blood brothers.That is why we still cry for you,SL tamils.Are we inferior to you,that you donot want us in your fold….Can you elaborate so that,we get a very clear picture of where Indian tamils stand in your opinion.your expression point your pride and pointout that SL tamils are haughty and conceited lot.we wouldnot be happy under SL tamils…
Please get your facts correct on dalits.India’s largest and populous state UP is ruled by Mayawati,a dalit leader.She is even dreaming to become PM .They are given free access in jobs ,education everywhere including elite IITs and IIMs.
42. Nimal Jayanetti | May 2nd, 2008 at 11:22 am
Oh no, not again, please, please don’t even contemplate of interfering again in Sri-Lanka’s affairs.
We trusted you once to mediate or forced to give in, but your regional super power ego didn’t allow you to accomplish your goal peacefully. Came as “Peace Keepers” with certain intention , got lost in your motive, became ” Innocent People Killing Force”, killed hundreds of innocents and ruined numerous peoples lives and still want to return? please don’t and We beg you not to.
We, Sri-Lankans in very near future, will re-concile and live together as a one family again and do not need outsiders to muddy our waters. Please don’t take it personally, I suggest the same to our fellow goodwill freinds too.
Thanks to Pakistan, China, Ukraine, Israel et tu Slovakia and Iran, our government officials and top defense leaders became “Super Nouveau Rich” overnight at the expense of lives of poor peasants sons.
We had enough BLOODSHED and we don’t want it anymore,
Therefore,
Thank you very much in advace!
43. Indian Tamil | May 2nd, 2008 at 11:47 am
#42
Mr.Murugan,
Why Rajiv was killed?.Is it part of master plan.Did VP fear of IPKF-2??some say it was a strategical killing.Do you think Indian tamils would have allowed IPKF-2.refer karunas reaction to returning IPKF.Do you feel elimination of rajiv needed for tamils survival.?/
Do you feel punishing rajiv for army’s mistake was correct.No army in the world can escape the human rights complaint in a foreign/local country dealing with insurgency.Indian generals promised a swift ops and finish off LTTE in a short time.Rajiv believed them and the nation paid a heavy price.
From above comments of many SL tamils feel Rajiv’s killing was justified.Then ,majority of Indians still hold anti LTTE feelings.Is this revengeful attitude good for your struggle??..Many feel SL tamils cannot win their rights without India’s support.you seem tobe having a mature head with intellectual flow in your writing.can you throw some light into my doubts….
44. Surya | May 2nd, 2008 at 12:02 pm
Many of you writing for and against India’s involvment of our ethnic problem but some of you writing just rubbish. For instance comment # 39 by Murugan justify that this war as a fate of Tamils and we just be obey whatever the LTTE and it’s leader do for Tamils. Otherside comment # 37 Selva writing the true picture of Tamils situation in Sri Lanka. As a person experienced and following the ethnic crisis in Sri Lanka for the last 35 years I don’t see many choices for Tamils.
We must and should invite India to do whatever necessary to achive the long lasting peace here. There is no alternative for Tamils in SL at this point. Beside I am really sad to see that som expatriate ‘die hard’ LTTE supporters belief that we can still achive Eelam against the will of India. This kind of attitude just bring more misery to helpless Tamil socity of SL.
45. Naren | May 2nd, 2008 at 1:22 pm
Col. R Hariharan, Military Intelligence specialist , the Head of intelligence of the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka is
is a Bigtime LOOSER. The Innocent People Killing Force were nothing but a bunch of Mercenary Thugs and Rapists, who were defeated by Lungi clad Tamil Boys wearing Bathroom Chappals and they were sent packing out of Sri Lanka!
‘Looser’ Hari, with what freakn face do you even write i say? If you have any Shame, you should not even be showing your face on world forums! Looser!
46. Devinda Fernando | May 2nd, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Indira Gandhi tried to play Emperor of India. The LTTE were nothing (Common criminals who rode bicycles to bank robberies) before India trained them to create unrest in Sri Lanka. With the unrest she thought India could just jump right in, and station Troops in Sri Lanka and thus establish another Colony. Gandhi wanted to turn Sri Lanka into another state, one where Indians could go to vacation in the South. Obviously this backfired as Sri Lankans were not as stupid and backwards as she assumed. Then her Empire Aspirations were cut short when she was unfortunately gunned down by her own bodyguards,….boo hoo.
India paid further for their stupidity when the very people they trained and Armed took out Rajiv…. boo hoo again…
So do you think India is going to jump right in to do the same? I think not. With the exception of the Lunatic Fringe of Tamil Nadu, India sees the Tigers as the problem. Just like the Sri Lankan public who have had to deal with 2 decades of Prabhakaran’s Lies and fasle promises, India is not going to jump in and save the Tigers. Prabhakaran is finally reaping the bitter harvest of his Single Minded Stupidity toward the very country that made him the man he is.
He would be rotting in a Sri Lankan jail or dead by now if it was not for India.
47. Murugan | May 3rd, 2008 at 5:33 am
I appreciate all the criticism of my comments. It all helps me further my understanding of the conflict. I have already communicated most of what i want to say, so i will just summarize previous posts to respond to some rebuttals.
1.It is obvious that New Delhi supports Sri Lanka and funds the war to defeat the Tigers.
2. India’s involvement in Sri Lanka can entirely be understood from the perspective that India acts in India’s self interest to protect India’s permanent interests. One permanent interest of India is to make sure that the United States does not get a naval base in Trincomalee.
3. Everything the LTTE has ever done can entirely be understood from the perspective of achieving Tamil Eelam. Fighting for Tamil Eelam is not the same as doing what is in the best interest of SL Tamils.
4. Tigers are not running a democracy. Although many SL Tamils look to India as saviors, this is immaterial to our future because the LTTE controls our future. I am not saying that the LTTE is right in everything it does, but simply that the LTTE controls SL Tamil’s destiny for better or worse.
I am just pointing out the reality of the situation. I am NOT defending the LTTE or justifying their actions. I am just trying to explain what has happened in the past so that everybody can understand the present.
But, I will take a hiatus from writing these posts because I need to learn about how Eritrea defeated Ethiopia (a David vs. Goliath story). Eritrea’s war of independence seems remarkably similar to the Eelam struggle. SL Tamils can learn from Eritrea.
48. Murugan | May 3rd, 2008 at 5:54 am
Indian Tamil,
I personally think it is a sin that the LTTE assassinated Rajiv. And I personally think that SL Tamils must forget the past IPKF ordeal, because as wise Surya points out, the Eelam Tamils need India’s support.
But here again, I don’t think my personal opinion matters at all.
Because the LTTE has a monopoly over the Sri Lankan Tamils. All that matters is what the LTTE thinks. And the LTTE will continue to do whatever they think will help them attain Eelam.
49. N2 | May 3rd, 2008 at 6:10 am
Col R Hariharan: “Time Has Come For Fresh Indian Initiative in Sri Lanka?”
I think what Hariharan is getting at is that India cannot afford to allow the problems of Sri Lanke to go its own way such that SL falls out of its sphere of influence and control.
The way things are now with crafty Mahinda drawing in China, Pakistan and Iran, India stands to loose both strategic influence as well as face since it wants to be the regional super-power.
So India must come up with an initiative of some sort that is for now not seen as an intervention by force. (But of course India could set up a pretext for such an intervention if the time and political climate is suitable - the Indians are certainly not concerned with SL or the Tamils out of altruistic motives! India has its interests which is why India intervened with the IPKF.)
Also India means the interests of the power circle that runs India: it is their own interests and ambitions that they have in mind. (It is also in this context that the demise of Rajiv G must be seen.)
Imagine a possible future scenario that India fears: Pakistan on one side, China on the other and SL (as proxy to Pakistan and/or China) on the third side.
There is also another scenario: it is possible that Iran will set up its own Jihadistan in SL. AND India cannot be seen to hold hands with Iran because of the interests and fears of the USA/West.
And here is the most intriguing paragraph of Col H’s article: “It is too tempting to dismiss the LTTE as irrelevant in any peace process. However, it will continue to be an important denominator in the issue. At the risk of being branded as the LTTE’s ‘military guru’ as some wise Sri Lanka columnist had done, I can say the LTTE has enough brains to know that the current war is reaching a point of no return. … It is time for the LTTE to show “Vivekam” (wisdom with discretion) in addition to its much touted “Veeram” (valour) because the war is going beyond the military domain.”
The war is going beyond the military domain and as Col H’s points out the LTTE is also a powerful political and strategic denominator. And India knows this.
50. Kumar | May 3rd, 2008 at 7:33 am
To comment No.#46 Devinda Fernando. You got it right man. Praba and his Gang were only 30 in number in 1983, till the nose-poking, crazy Indians took these guys to Tamilnadu and trained them. India trained some 40,000 militants from 1983 to 1987. But for India, Praba would’ve been nothing and you would not be having the mess as is current in Sri Lanka. Indira and Rajiv, reaped the harvest for their stupidity. The Gandhis are a Gangster family simply put. In any case, they should’ve been tried for all the murders they did!
While there are problems on both sides, it is better for Sri Lankans to solve it amongst themselves. Please don’t involve the Indians. You want to have the crazy dirty corrupt Indian way of life and government, on your Island. You should be glad to have some 20 miles of Ocean between the countries to keep these guys out!
As for Indians, you guys should learn to mind your own bloody business and not be a Regional Bully! You have numerous problems as is. You first need to have some 20 million Toilets built ASAP as most Indians do it in the open, it Stinks! And stop bothering Sri Lanka with your Bribes and Corruption and Corrupt way of life! Do you know India is breeding so much that they are adding 22 Million every year! God Almighty, even the Disciplined Chinese are better off!
51. Kumar | May 3rd, 2008 at 7:37 am
To add to my earlier comment:
I made a Typo in my second para:
It should read: You Don’t want to have the Indian……
52. A.Rajasingam | May 3rd, 2008 at 10:12 am
Comments # 41 & 44 by Indian Tamil & Surya,
We always appreciate the support rendered by India. Our Eelam Tamils have not considered the fact whether the Tamils consisting of about 20 % can manage to maintain two-third coast of Sri Lanka as against 70 % of Sinhalese. For a moment one should think about this impossibility. Now the Eastern Province which accounts for one-third coastal area is gone. This is one of the reasons why Rajiv Gandhi was worried about the fate of Sri Lanka Tamils. It is only a group of terrorists (fanatics) misleading the Tamils at gun point to act against India. I am sure the Tamils in Tamil Nadu remember that people associated in the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi are one class of people, with whom others do not associate and are been threatened. We are also mindful of the great services rendered by prominent Tamil Nadu citizens for the development of India. It is the same prominent citizens who came forward to help us in 1987. Unfortunately the LTTE and their cohorts had the practice of casting labels on the IPKF such as Innocent People Killing Force in order to mislead the people. Actually the IPKF came in as a disciplined army and not as a Fighting Force. Persons (Principals & officers) mending good relations between the IPKF and the Tamil people were shot at point blank. When they were provoked unjustifiably, naturally it would turn out to be a disaster. Similarly before the arrival of the IPKF, the LTTE spread a false message that the LTTE had heard messages via FM to the effect that the Minister of National Security Affairs on the Helicopter ordered to drop bombs in the Northern Province. The LTTE used the word FM to deceive the people. Where in the world that Ministers and Generals had been on Helicopters and Planes giving directions to drop bombs. The LTTE always adopt such tactics to deceive the world which accounts for the missed opportunities to solve this issue. One reason for the failure to realize the value of independence is that Sri Lanka has never obtained independence after a bloody war like India and USA. While speaki