Is Military Conquest Enough to “Win” Over The Eastern Province People?
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj
Decades ago as a school boy I remember seeing a movie at the Majestic called “How the West was Won”. There was a lot of media hype then about that classic western which narrated the story of how the American pioneers settled in the West.
[Sunset in Maha Oya - Ampara District - Picture: HumanityAshore]
Nowadays also there is much media frenzy. It’s on “How the East was won”. It’s all about how our security forces wrested back the Eastern province from the deadly grasp of that organization known as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
There is much excitement over the eastern victory. Some of it is real. Most of it is contrived and engineered. It would not be an exaggeration to say that an exaggerated notion of a magnificient victory is being projected by the government of Mahendra Percival Rajapakse known now as Mahinda.
Even as I am regaled with all this stuff of how the East was won I am reminded of something I read in “The Indian Express” a few days ago. It was about the Atom bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki during August 1945. There were two accounts of that deadly mushroom cloud by two different people.
One was by Shuntaro Hida, a young doctor – Japanese – attached to the Hiroshima Military Hospital: “My whole heart trembled at what I saw. There was a great fire ring floating over the city. Within a moment, a massive deep white cloud grew out of the centre of the ring. The delay of several seconds after the monumental flash and the heat-rays permitted me to observe, in its entirety the black tidal wave as it approached me.”
The other was by William T. Laurence, a young air force officer – American – on the mission that dropped the atom bomb over Nagasaki, three days later: “Awe-struck we watched it shoot upward like a meteor coming from the earth instead of from outer space, becoming ever more alive as it climbed skyward through the white clouds. It was no longer smoke, or dust, or even a cloud of fire. It was a living thing, a new species was being born right before our incredulous eyes.”
“The Indian Express” went on to observe thus –
” Two ways of seeing the same phenomenon. The first account holds the subjective terror of the victim, the second, the cool detachment of the aggressor. Somewhere in his narrative, Laurence poses an important question: “Does one feel any pity or compassion for the poor devils about to die? Not when one thinks of Pearl Harbour and of the Death March on Bataan.”
“Hida did not have the luxury of dispassionate distance, because the “poor devils” stared him in the face: ” The strange figure came up to me, little by little, unsteady on its feet. It surely seemed like the form of a man but it was completely naked, bloody and covered with mud. The body was completely swollen. Rags hung from its bare breast and waist. water dripped from the tips of the rags. Indeed, what I took to be rags were in fact pieces of human skin and water drops were human blood.”Hida observes.
The bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki was made possible because of a way of seeing the Other as faceless, nameless beings, completely devoid of human qualities.” -
These comments recur -over and over again – as I read all about the battle for the Eastern Province and its aftermath. Mercifully there are no nuclear bombs in Sri Lanka. If there were, I would not put it past the battle hawks on either side to clamour that they be used against the enemy.
But what troubles me now is this. All accounts of the current war are from a military perspective alone. It is from that of the protagonists . Very little is said about the real victims of the war. The war was for conquest of territory alone it seems. It is as if there were no people in the east and it was a territory devoid of humanity!
[The Internally Displaced People are living in cramped cadjan huts - Picture by: Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai]
What is glossed over or ignored completely is the fate of the people in the Eastern province. Since the recent battles were all to regain real estate in the hands of the LTTE the people who suffered most were those living in those places. Almost all of them were Tamils.
The media are replete with details of how the LTTE was routed in stages. First at Maavilaaru; then at Sampoor; next at Vaakarai;thereafter at Paduvvankarai; again at Karadiyanaaru: finally at Thoppigala/Kudumbimalai/Barons cap. The military juggernaut simply moved forward crushing all opposition.”A historic victory” it’s being said.
The LTTE media have a different spin. “This was no defeat but a phased – out tactical withdrawal” its being projected. The tigers have managed to retreat with most of their military assets intact. The nature of warfare is going to change. The LTTE will transform positional warfare to gueriilla attacks.
“We have cleared the Eastern province of the LTTE. We have reclaimed the land.” is the triumphal cry of the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL). “That’s not correct. We are down but not out. Let’s see whether you can retain your hold” is the defiant challenge thrown by the LTTE.
In this clash of militarisms one crucial factor is forgotten. The People!What happened to them? Remember them anyone?
Yes! of course!!. The security forces say that they fought this war to save the Eastern Tamil people from the bondage of the LTTE. The LTTE says they fought to protect the Eastern Tamil people from getting into the clutches of the security forces.
What really happened was that the ordinary people – Tamil civilians – were victimised in a war they never wanted. Sadly they suffered most and are the real victims of this war of Eastern liberation.
When Vaakarai was taken the Government announced that there were no civilian casualties. Now as Barons cap falls the Govt again says there were no civilian casualties. Bovine excreta!
What are the facts?
The battle for LTTE controlled Eastern province did not start with Mavillaru as propagated by sections of the media. It began militarily on April 25th 2006 when Army chief Sarath Fonseka was targeted by a suicide killer. Sampoor and Moothoor East were bombed and shelled. Thereafter aerial attacks and artillery shelling continued intermittently. All supply of food and medicine and essential items were restricted. Movement was curtailed.
The people were forced to flee through blatant use of force. The people fled from place to place to escape the bombs and shells. They vacated their homes and joined the ranks of internally displaced persons. (IDP’s).The LTTE fought for a while and withdrew from those places.
The civilians of Moothoor East and Eechilampattru divisions of Trincomalee district sought refuge in the Vaakarai region of Batticaloa North. The vicious pattern of attacks continued.Finally the LTTE withdrew from that region. The persecuted civilians fled to GOSL areas for food and shelter.
It was now the turn of Tamil civilians living in the hinterland region to the west of the lagoon known as Paduvaankarai (shore of the setting sun) to suffer next. The usual pattern emerged. Deprivation of essentials and restriction of movement along with sporadic shelling and bombing.This was practised in the Tharavai – Kudumbimalai – Vadamunai region too.
Once the LTTE removed itself from the area after fighting a while the people began fleeing en masse to GOSL controlled littoral region known as “Eluvaankarai” (shore of the setting sun). At one stage nearly 40 % pf Batticaloa Tamils were displaced. With the Trincomalee refugees the district was saturated with IDP’s. B’caloa was becoming a district of the displaced.
Thereafter the forces targeted the stretch of A – 5 highway between Koduvaamadhu and Aayithiyamalai. The people had already fled. Then came the final assault on Kudumbimalai /Thoppigala region. By the time offensives were started in earnest the people living in this sparsely populated region had also fled. The LTTE kept to its usual modus operandi. First offering stiff resistance and then withdrawing.
The GOSL and security forces are being economic with the truth when they say there were no civilian casualties. Yes, there were practically no civilian casualties when the actual offensives on ground began.This was because all the civilians had fled from those areas. So technically there were no casualties during the military offensives but there were certainly civilian casualties before that. There was much suffering.
Cumulatively from Sampoor to Kudumbimalai hundreds of civilians have been killed and injured; Thousands of dwellings have been destroyed or damaged. Hundreds of thousands have undergone displacement. Agriculture is ruined; fisheries are shattered, dairy farming is in shambles; economy has crumbled; education is affected; health situation has deteriorated; furniture and valuables have been looted; livestock has been rustled; livelihoods are lost; People are psychologically depressed; social fabric is torn; culture has eroded: A whole way of life is transformed.
If exact statistics are given about the quantum of suffering the figures could be mind boggling. But mere statistics alone cannot convey that enormous amount of suffering. A statistic is only a statistic! what can it say about individual agony? Every person has his or her own particular experience. Each has a story of suffering. Each experience may be different but they are all linked together by their common suffering.
In such a situation one would have expected the GOSL to reach out to these innocent victims of war. They were simply living in the lands of their forefathers when the army left in large numbers to fight the war in the north. Filling that vacuum were the tigers. The ceasefire helped LTTE to consolidate their hold further. Then came a regime change and new approach. Fighting begins. The LTTE resists thereby inviting greater ferocity to be unleashed on the civilians. The people disperse. Then the tigers move out (strategic withdrawal is the name of the game).Now the army comes in. What can the people do in these circumstances ?
On a personal note the plight of the Eastern Tamil civilians has caused me immense sorrow. As I have stated in these columns earlier I am not an easterner but have a special relationship with the province and her people. The Easterners are a wonderful, friendly hospitable people. I have been writing a series of articles on their never ending saga of suffering. I have tracked in print their troubled journey from Sampoor as IDP’s.I hope and pray that these innocents are relieved of their suffering soon. For this greater compassion from the state is essential.
The GOSL was cruelly indifferent to the fate of these civilians when the fighting was on. Practically no arrangements were made to cater to the large – scale influx of IDP’s. Now there is an opportunity for the GOSL to redeem itself. A genuine attempt can be made by the GOSL to make amends for the past and reconcile. Only sincere and systematic efforts to offer relief, rehabilitation and re- construction can win the hearts and minds of the people. Even the counter – insurgency manuals say so.
This Govt makes some noises in this regard. There is talk of bettering the life of the people. there is talk of many development projects. there is talk of the East being made new; there is talk of an Eastern renaissance. But I have my doubts about how this will take place and what the position of suffering Tamil civilians will be.
First and foremost there is this attitudinal problem. This regime talks the language of conquest not of reconciliation. The state derives much of its its legitimacy to prosecute the war on the basis of safeguarding unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty. This war it is being fought to unite the Counntry. Every inch of the Island belongs to all of her citizens is the credo. But there is a hiatus between precept and practice.
The war was not fought as one on home territory. It was fought as if on alien , hostile territory against an external enemy. The callous disregard displayed for civilian suffering is usually reserved for “foreigners” not one’s own people. Yet that is what happened. Even now that mindset prevails. The way this regime goes on “crowing”does not appear like a victory of the armed forces over militants but that of a Sinhala victory over Tamils.
The East is part of this Island from time immemorial. The war was fought to liberate “our” people from an indigenous “terrorist” organization. The so – called expulsion of the LTTE from the East can only mean that territory integral to Sri Lanka has now been cleared. People who were always citizens of Sri Lanka are now supposedly ‘ free ‘; The east has been restored to its rightful residents the people of that region.
But what is happening? The regime is planning a “victory” celebration in a conquisitadorial spirit. Just as Chandrila Kumaratunga had Anuruddha Ratwatte ceremonially deliver “Yapa Patuna” to her, Mahinda Rajapakse wants “naginahira” to be handed over symbolically amid pomp and pageantry. such types of ceremonies were reserved for extraneous conquests during medieval times. In modern , enlightened times, such exhbitions are abhorred. But the Rajapakse regime is acting as if an external territory has been captured.
An elaborate “show” of this kind seems to be vulgar and obscene when one thinks of the affected people in the East. The first priority of any responsible and decent government should be to address their needs urgently. Instead this regime ignores the people and focusses on an extravagant celebration . Such moves appear reprehensible when one thinks of the scant regard shown civilians when the offensives were in progress. What is not realised is that several offences amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity were committed in pursuit of military objectives. The command and control structure should be ashamed not jubilant.
Whatever the mode of operations the armed forces are entitled to some victory celebration particularly the simple soldier who toiled hard and shed blood and sweat. But what is happening now is a politically motivated gigantic tamasha. This kind of ceremony will not bring about rapprochement. It adds insult to injury. The Tamil people should be made to feel they are part and parcel of this country. They should not be made to feel that they are a conquered people. But that is exactly the implicit meaning of this ceremonial “victory” function.
Besides the Eastern province is predominantly Tamil speaking if the Muslims and Tamils are taken together. One would expect therefore that special messages and programs for the East will be in the Tamil language too. But what do we see? The GOSL boasts of a special development project to renew the East. But what’s it called officially? “Naginahira Navodhaya” in Sinhala only. No Tamil description of “Naginahira Navodhaya” for the 75% Tamil speakers of the Province. “Kizhakku” is becoming “Naginahira”.
Against this backdrop there is much suspicion that the so called eastern development is not for the affected Tamil civilians. It appears that the bulk of those projects will be for the majority community residents of the Province only. Worse still, some of the projects could encourage an influx of new Sinhala persons into the province. The demographic pattern of the province has been drastically altered through state sponsored colonisation and settlement policies in the past. That past is likely to be repeated with “military” vigour in the future.
The areas re – gained from LTTE control are now coming under a new security structure. New army camps, STF camps, Police stations and Police posts are being opened in a number of places. Moreover the motley groups of para – military personnel bearing the nomenclature – Karuna faction – will be deployed also. The intention is to keep the LTTE out and prevent “hostility” among the population.
But what the GOSL forgets is that there is a limit to force. A people cannot be kept in subjucation through military force eternally. Security personnel cannot protect themselves by erecting high – security zones perpetually. A nation cannot be held together through sheer force. A nation’s unity is based on the people’s will. The people have to be won over. One has to go for their hearts and minds and not their b—-s!
The Eastern province with its multi – ethnic social composition is a microcosm of all Sri Lanka. If the East can achieve unity and stability then there is a very good chance that all of Sri Lanka can achieve that. This can only be done through redressing genuine grievances and accommodating legitimate aspirations of her people. It cannot be imposed through military force or majoritarian hegemony.
Let there be no mistake about it! Today the Sri Lankan Tamils in general and the Eastern Tamils in particular are bitterly estranged . The Eastern Tamils have undergone much suffering. There is a crying need for reconciliation. Every dark cloud has a silver lining! In the eastern dark cloud of suffering the silver lining is the fresh opportunity provided for rapprochement and renaissance.
When Kumaratunga “gained” Jaffna physically the US advised her strongly to make a “showcase” of it. The Yankees wanted her to focus on developing Jaffna and making it the standard to measure quality of life in LTTE controlled areas. She did not pay heed and went in for further military expeditions. We all know the consequences of that ill – advised adventurism.
Now Rajapakse has a fresh opportunity. If he initiates genuine projects to address the needs of the people and emancipate them without ethnic bias then the province can be made a showcase. If the Tamils are not discrimnated against and allowed to achieve equitable development and growth along with other communities then a sea change in perceptions could occur. There is also an urgent need to rehabilitate war affected civilians on a priority basis.
If all this is to be achieved then Rajapakse must climb down from his “gung ho” mount and adopt a humanitarian approach. For this he must shed the “conquest” baggage. The ultimate victory is not what is achieved in the military sphere but in the thoughts and feelings of the people. All military victories are ephemeral. The fate of the east at the hands of various entities at different times should demonstrate that.
Let me return to the two perspectives of the Atom bomb as related by the Japanese doctor and American pilot. The different perspectives of the victim and aggressor. In this instance of Eastern Sri Lanka, I would say the aggressors are the GOSL security forces and LTTE who fought for territorial control. They raped the landscape and ravaged the land. The victims are the people consisting mainly of innocent civilians from all communities inhabiting the region.
Land does not belong to people. It is people who belong to land. The east belongs to her inhabitants not the security forces or the tigers. But the East is not being looked at from a people’s perspective. The people were perceived as de – humanised statistics. Even now the analysts are concerned more about whether the armed forces can retain control of territory and how the LTTE is going to strike back. What is really important is to see what befalls the people and whether their problems will be resolved
It is time for things to be approached from the perspective of the victims and not the aggressors. It is time to look at the east from the viewpoint of its inhabitants and not from that of military strategy alone. It is time for military imperatives to play a subordinate role to that of the paramountcy of the people.
[Sunrise in Kallady- Batticaloa district - Picture: HumanityAshore]
When the time comes for a fresh tale of “How the East was Won” to be written let it be chronicled in tolerance and understanding and not in violence and destruction. Amity and concord, not enmity and discord , should be the new sunrise brightening the Eastern skies.
Dr KC said,
July 14, 2007 @ 3:20 am
Since 1987, the LTTE has brought nothing but pain and misery to our people.
As events unfold in the East, we witness the catastrophe and calamity in despair.
Wikipedia has recently updated its chapter on, ‘Assassinations and murders attributed to the LTTE’. I must say I felt sick when I went through it.
On one hand the racist and brutal regime of the GOSL and on the other hand blunders of the LTTE are causing irreparable damages to our people in the East. Which way can these people turn to?
Ratna said,
July 14, 2007 @ 10:31 am
Let’s see how GOSL won east:
1) The main reason for their victory is the split in LTTE, especially when Karuna left with over 5,000 of it’s cadres LTTE lost 90% of it’s fighting capability.
2) During peace talks GOSL built up it’s army with more arsenel (using foreign aids and Tsunami funds).
3) They made the people suffer as much as possible so people have to move from place to place.
In short, what GOSL did was captured a areas from it’s neighbouring country.
So they have the rights to celebrate their victory.
***
Aru Murugesan said,
July 14, 2007 @ 11:53 am
DR KC, LTTE may have killed many. But please do not quote ‘Wikipedia’ as a credible source. Many US Universities dont allow students to quote/ ref Wiki.
ilaya seran senguttuvan said,
July 14, 2007 @ 1:13 pm
The victory at Kudumbimalai may be to some Sinhala people and the entire Sinhala army the ” the end” of Tamil resistance.
It could well turn out to the “beginning of the end” of highly disproportionate military offensive against Tamil resistance that began in earnest in 1962 when Mrs B, ill advised by her fellow-Kandyan Army Chief Richard Udugama, set up Concentration Camps of the Army in the North-east, which theTamil people appropriately described as an “Army of Occupation” Young police officer Sundaralingam advised his friends in the higher-up of the Army, the Govt and everyone who cared to listen this is a job that the multi-racial Police can satisfactorily handle. The visionary Policeman said then this ill-conceived plan will backfire and bring in terrible results. He was not wrong. A Govt that has gained notoriety locally and in international eyes for corrupt, racially-biased and bad governance is trying to blow a small battle victory to disproportionate levels to satisfy the battered ego of a Sinhala electorate noted for its gullibility.
The Govt having lost and blundered everywhere is trying to regain some form of credibility in the eyes of the Sinhala majority by misleading them. Others have travelled this path before as well. Remember Paddy Field Marshall Ratwatta, CBK, Ranjan Wijeratne and others who got their own Goebellisian strategists to “blow the story sky-high”?
As the old saying goes the more you go forward the more you are in the same place – but in this case, it appears to me, it is nothing but “the great leap backwards”
Rajiv said,
July 14, 2007 @ 2:19 pm
It is good news that the army has taken over the east. Never did I hear a peep when the LTTE was in control, now that it has been wrested from the LTTE, we hear these voices claiming to speak for the “people.”
R.G said,
July 14, 2007 @ 2:38 pm
Yes, The sufferings of the ordinary Tamil Civilians is the point not taken into consideration by both LTTE and GOSL.
But, where does “Col”.Karuna stand on this issue is important as he played a MAJOR part in SL Forces’ Victory??
Will Karuna stand up and gift a “Scroll – Eastern Province DEED” to Mahinda Rajapakshe at the Independence Square Celebrations??
What do Karuna-EPDP-Pillayaan offer to the suffering Tamils of East as they are the pretenders to “Safeguarding Tamils Interests”??
As you and everyone know that it was these motely Paramilitaries that gave the SLA the all important guide to the eviction of LTTE from East. So, will they deliver the much needed reprieve to Tamils.??
Or is it the same old Devananda trick where Paramilitaries at the mercy of crumbs falling from Mahinda’s table for their own survival?
The longer Karuna-Pillayaan-Devananda fail to deliver, the Eastern Tamils would turn back to LTTE for redemption, as your article raises this question in disguise.!!!!
You and many others know that Eastern Development wouldn’t take place as low ranking Sinhala Admins swindle the resources at will as it happens all through post independence times.
Those Eastern Tamils who perished with Tigers or Karuna or simply by wholesale massacres by SL Forces from times immemorial will turn in their graves to see that their own sons are the “Brutuses”. Eastern Tamils no doubt will just be statistics as IDP’s for another 20 years as with the Muslims from North since 1991 till today.
How will the cash strapped GOSL will deliver rebuilding and rehab to East while Military Expenditure and another 7.2b ruppees to cater additional 50000 troopers needed.???
Can Karuna force Mahinda to keep his promises..?? Karuna will learn the hard way and would soon find out his demise was due to his own selfishness.!!!
Raj said,
July 14, 2007 @ 2:44 pm
DBS, the internal turmoil you faced when writing this article really came through. Your hatred for both the LTTE and the GOSL is justifiable as the conflict has brought only misery to the Tamil population.
Theepan said,
July 14, 2007 @ 2:52 pm
I tatally agree that SL Government should win hearts and mind of the people of East. And also should make East as a model for prosperity.
Sadhatissa said,
July 14, 2007 @ 7:03 pm
it is irrelevant whether the victory in the East was the result of Karuna switching sides or not. The LTTE’s grip on the East was vicarious at best. The Army have every reason to celebrate their victory over a racist murderers. But that will not be enough to defeat the forces of Tamil ethnic cleansing in the area indefinitely.
True peace can only arrive when a broader solution is found. Winning over all the communities to the idea of a multi-ethnic society is not just the task of the government it is also going to require the support of people across ethnic divide. Ordinary people want to go back to a time when they could plant their seed and harvest a crop their could sell for a reasonable price. Others want to find employment in factories and other industries to enable their families to live comfortable lives. The laws and institutions of the country need to be seen as independent of the self-interest of a particular ethnic community. That will take educating the young to see Sri Lanka as a modern multi-cultural entity. To do that the government will have to introduce “citizenship classes” in schools.
It is only then that the country can move away from the sad medieval mindset presented by the other commentators.
rk said,
July 15, 2007 @ 1:39 am
Time to look at the Island differently.
One of the unnoticed benefits of so-called Federalism in
a Country like Canada for example is that differences are a barrier
to Outsiders seeking to take advantage – economically
of the country. For example entrenched Bilingualism.
French and English. ALL products sold had to have English and French. These types of Barriers prevent or slowdown
catastrophic exploitation.
In LKA the ongoing war has prevented the Entire Eastern region
from being made into an Economic Zone. Should the Tamils
of which the Ltte are a part decide to stop making of
Agreements similar to ones made by the Majority group and
the Dutch in the 17th Century – (is it possible to get a copy of
that agreement for public distribution?) And opt for the
Peninsula and environs ending just north of Kiliinochchi
It is likely to achieve a ‘Sikkim’ or “Nepal” like independence.
The easterner Tamils can wait and be wasted or cut their losses and move. At the same time depriving so called leaders
from using them to justify the ongoing conflict.
A recent news
report which was subsequently buried showed how a
desperate employer had hired the wrong Lankans to
work in the fishing industry. If folks from the East who
know the Sea like the back of their hands were hired
Lka would have been spared the embarrassment and
some souls could be saved.
Kannan Saravanan said,
July 15, 2007 @ 10:27 am
Guys!
Let’s there be no mistake about it. The Tigers were not defeated by Mahendra Percival Rajapakse’s forces in Kudumpimalai. Apparently, they engaged in a stratagical manoeuvre leading to tactical withdrawal. M’s forces just filled the vaccum upon LTTE’s self imposed eviction as they do during their course of action.
Had the LTTE put up stiff resistance against the M’s forces as they did / do in nothern theatre of war, the incident portrayed as so-called victory now would have unfolded differently.
As a Tamil myself and ardent supporter of our Freedom
Fighters, I am not ready, as majority of others I know feel, to underestimate LTTE’s bravery and fortitude.
We must wait and witness. The very time will tell in the near future what I fortell now. The euphoria arising from the so-called victory of Kudumpimalai will definitely be short-lived. Capturing Kudumpimalai without fighting is not an achievement to be proud of. This is in any way not a victory.
Do Rajapakse & Co. have any political measures to drive a wedge between the eastern Tamils and the LTTE?, not to mention Karuna Group who sowed the seeds for temporary, partial failure in the East and EPDP.
In fact, the East is now a vortex of low intensity conflict which would suck in forces and materials needed in abundance to sustain it from the nothern theatre of war.
To summarize, so-called Kudumpimalai victory is not a lasting achievement, rather a ephemeral. The time will tell. The afterglow of so-called Kudumpimalai victory will soon fade. Rajapakse & Co. , through triumphalism, again succumb to sinhala extremism and irrationalism and are to celebrate the so-called victory.
The LTTE must outsmart Rajapakse & Co. militarily soon and it will.
May The Almighty Bless the Tamils!
Kannan Saravanan said,
July 15, 2007 @ 11:31 am
Guys!
Let’s make no mistake that the LTTE were not defeated in Kudumbimalai. As a matter of fact, they engaged in a stratagical manoeuvre leading to tactical withdrawal. The vaccum made by the self imposed eviction by LTTE itself was filled easily by the moron Mahendra Percival Rajapakse & Co.’s chauvinistic forces. This is not in any way a victory.
Had the LTTE put up stiff resistance against the moron’s forces as they did/do in the nothern theatre of war, this incident potrayed as victory by inane brains would have unfolded differently .
As a Tamil myself and ardent supporter of our freedom fighters, I am not ready to underestimate the LTTE’s bravery and fortitude.
The euphoria arising from the so-called victory of Kudumbimalai will difinitely be short-lived. The time in the near future will tell what I fortell now. Telling the truth adhering to the bonafide facts and ground realities cannot be interpreted as pouring scorn on the opponents.
Capturing Kudumbimalai as the chauvinistic elements crow, without hard fighting or stiff resistance at all is not an achivement to be proud of .
Do M. P. Rajapakse & Co. have any political measures to drive a wedge between the Eastern Tamils and Tigers, notwithstanding the traitor Karuna group who sowed the seeds for regionalism and temporary, partial failure in the East and EPDP. Again I want to emphasize that telling the truth canot be interpreted as antagonizing the Eastern tamils.
In fact, the East is now a vortex of low intensity conflict which would suck in more forces and more materials needed to sustain it at least for now from the nothern theatre of war. Then what will happen? The time will tell.
We will wait and witness that the afterglow of so-called Kudumbimalai victory will soon fade. Moron Rajapakse & Co., through triumphalism, succumb to Sinhala extremism and irrationalism again and thereby are to celebrate the so-called victory.
To summarize, the so-called Kudumbimali victory is not a lasting achievement, but, rather a ephemeral. Again, the time will tell.
May The Almighty Bless the Tamils!
Vel said,
July 15, 2007 @ 4:14 pm
Sinhala occupation state terror military and Sri Lankan government funded paramilitary terrorize Tamil population in Tamil Eelam since 1948. Sinhala terror military torture, abduct, kill, loot and rape Tamils more than 50 years. More than 75,000 Tamils were killed and several hundred of thousands of Tamils were displaced due to the Sri Lankan government state terrorism. The Sinhala government tried to eliminate Tamils from Tamil Eelam in order to create its own Sinhala nation. Tamils are fighting for self determination and want to free from Sinhala occupation faild state.
Whether Tigers fight against Sri Lankan state terror government not, Sinhala government will kill Tamils. People don’t agree with this, please see what happened even before Tigers born.
Eliminating presence of Tamils from Tamil homeland is Sinhala agenda. This is the only persistent fact in last 60 years.
Suresh M said,
July 16, 2007 @ 12:03 am
Anyone who believes that capturing east, or more specifically Kudumpimallai, from Tigers is not a victory to Sinhala forces, is fooling themselves. When Jaffna was overrun by Mrs. Kumaranatunge?s Sinhala forces in 1995, some said the same. Rajapakse brothers, and Sinhala people certainly should celebrate the conquest.
As in the ancient time, Sinhala nation wants to rule over Tamil nation, and still there are Tamil warlords or paramilitaries work with them for money. Problem with the Tamil nation is that there is no Tamil Kingdom (Sera/Chola/Palava/Pandiya) further in the north to bail them out in this difficult time.
Some Sri Lanka Tamils counting on savior India, and once again they are going to learn the hard lesson that it’s not India’s interest to help Tamils anymore.
Only option Tamils have now is to strengthen the hands of LTTE/TNA. I know for some of you don’t agree with me, but what is the alternative? Tamils live abroad can play the role of the long lost Northern Tamil Kingdom to help Tamils in Sri Lanka.
Thanabal said,
July 16, 2007 @ 1:37 am
Dr.KC is pre fixed with Wickipedia and its posting. I have seen this message from him countless posting.
There is no question that LTTE made lot of mistakes. However, we should remember that not all five fingers are identical in size, shape or Function. Out of the all the 1st (thumb) is more important than any other one. Does this means that when we pork our eyes willfully or accidentally with our thumb, we cut off and throw our thumb ???
As far as Kudumpimallai is concern, LTTE made one of the hardest and skillful tactical withdrawal with men and materials to the north and therefore there is nothing there to celebrate for VICTORY.
It is mad and idiotic to think that we can expect Democracy and freedom of speech from a A militant group which is trying to safeguard and extend the control of the tamil land in the face of stronger enemy who is being supported by multiple “INTERSTING PARTIES”.
In the future the walls of West and SOuth will write the story of “RISE and FALL OF RAJAPAKSE Inc”. and it will be soon.
venakai mainthan said,
July 16, 2007 @ 3:23 pm
Expecting the Sri Lankan Government to win the hearts and minds of the Tamil people is like day dreaming. It will not happen now or in the future. Sri Lanka must be the only country in the world to bomb its own citizens!!
They have poisoned the minds of the future sinhalese generations by falsifying history.
The current state of affairs of Sri Lanka is the result of bad governance of successive governments. Only a miracle can save Sri Lanka!!
Sri Lankan politicians of all hues(green,blue or red) are only interested in fattening their bank accounts!!
Suresh B said,
July 17, 2007 @ 12:50 am
From my experince as young tamil civilian man I felt SAFE and SECURE under LTTE than any other army.
I was born and raised in Colombo until Black July 1983. Me and my family spend 32 days in Mahanama refugee camp ( Mahanama School in Bombalyapitya). Then we moved to Jaffna. First I lived under LTTE control of Jaffna from 1984 to 1987 then under IPKF from 1987 to 1990. We were deprived of many essential items and political freedom under LTTE. But we never felt any physical threat from LTTE polices or its guns. Always the threat came from SL army or the IPKF.
So when I hear people were talking about EAST IS LIBERATED from LTTE and civilian should jump up and down of joy. I laugh because now the ordinary civilians have to worry about SL Army, Karuna’s army, Pilian’s army, EPDP, JVP and Sinhala hard line mobs. This will push the people back to LTTE and ask for their protection.
Suresh B.
Jeronimo Azavedo said,
July 17, 2007 @ 2:48 pm
Hi,
DBS writes interesting articles and I emphasise the word interesting and perhaps entertaining. But I have serious difficulty in accepting the accuracy of his facts and the perceptions created. Take the following line above as an example.
DBS says ‘The battle for LTTE controlled Eastern province did not start with Mavillaru as propagated by sections of the media. It began militarily on April 25th 2006 when Army chief Sarath Fonseka was targeted by a suicide killer. Sampoor and Moothoor East were bombed and shelled.’
Sarath fonseka informed me over dinner on Chrismas eve 2005 that he will clear the east. ( I will withhold the other comments made to me)
The battle for the East began with the LTTE landmine and grenade attacks in Jaffna, with the LTTE’s mini intifada.
The pronouncements made to me over dinner in December 2005 has one by one come true, including elections and development of the East.
The first to commit ethnic cleansing in Sri Lanka’s long history was the Tamil King Sankili. After executing 600 Catholics in Mannar he ethnically cleansed Jaffna of Sinhalese.
Here is the account by Rasanayagam in his publication Ancient Jaffna.
‘After the massacre of the Christians Sankili’s insane fury longed for more victims and he fell upon the Buddhists of Jaffna who were all Sinhalese.’He expelled them beyond the limits of the country [i.e. Jaffna Peninsula,] and destroyed their numerous places of worship. Most of them took to the Vannis and the Kandyan territories.’
Here is another excerpt from rasanayagam, which Tamils find difficult to swollow.
‘That Jaffna was occupied by the Sinhalese earlier than by the Tamils is seen not only in the place names of Jaffna but also in some habits and customs of the people.’ (p.384)
Alex said,
July 18, 2007 @ 12:39 am
Srilankan refugees live in INHUMAN conditions!
In our NOMAN-LAND Kudumpi-Mallai we are fighting for nothing;
In our NEIGHBOUR-LAND our people living in INHUMAN conditions.
This news came in THE HINDU newspaper.
LANKAN REFUGEES LIVE IN INHUMAN CODITIONS
- by Karthik Madhavan
No public convenience facility for these 70 families who stay here
KANGAYAM: By any given standard the long, rectangular, asbestos-roofed hall is dark at noon. It was built to be that way, so that grains stored are safe free from rodents and thieves. That hall, though, has never seen a grain since its construction a few years ago at the Regulated Market, Kangayam. What it has instead accommodated are the rather heavy, grief-stricken hearts of Tamil refugees from Sri Lanka.
Twentyfive families in all inside the hall and another 45 outside. The houses of those inside are something like this – plastic sacks used for packing cement have been cut and stitched to make up for walls that are not more than seven feet high. All conceivable human activity takes place either inside the enclosures that are no bigger than six feet by six feet or adjacent to the building, in the open where the families share bathrooms.
As for the public convenience facility, the less said the better. For, there is none for the 70 families that are subsisting rather than living there for over a decade. Given the condition, the refugees use the 10-acre Regulated Market campus for open defecation.
This is one of the problems in the market?s over a decade old history at the current location. Ever since it moved over to the present location on the Karur Road-Muthur Road junction on December 13, 1996, the Market has not functioned till March 22, 2007. The reason farmers and traders cited, among others, was security. In a letter on April 16 to the Member of Legislative Assembly, Kangayam, farmers said in no uncertain terms that they as well as traders were concerned about the safety of sunflower, copra and other produce.
Citing poor infrastructure facilities and the presence of refugees at the market premises, the farmers demanded refugees? relocation to resume trading. In its reply on June 23, 2007, the Government has said that an alternative will be chosen for construction of houses. What it has failed to say is when will the new land be identified and at what stage is the process in.
Meanwhile, the next sunflower season, according to sources at the market, is expected to begin this August. Given the poor condition of godowns and presence of refugees, the market people fear that they will miss yet another reason despite their propaganda among farmers to bring produces to Kanagayam market.
Copyright 2000 – 2006 The Hindu
http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/18/stories/2007071854570600.htm
Vipula said,
July 18, 2007 @ 2:57 am
Mr.Jeronemo Azavedo
You want us to believe that Sarath Fonseka told you he was going to start war to clear east in december 24 2005.
He also told many other things you dont want to tell.
Aney Kiyandako Apata.!
Mr Azevedo please dont con here. you think we are jokers for you to come and boast here.
Tell us who you are first if we are to belive you and not hide behind portugal dirty comanders name.
Dont be Thom pachaya
Thamarai K. said,
July 18, 2007 @ 12:43 pm
Is military conquest enough to win over the Eastern province people?
As a citizen of the East I think that will be enough.
We dont want to be part of any war. This is what I want to tell my northern brothers
Let us to live alone. Fighting for us is enough brothers. Please leave us alone. We prefer to starve without food and die.
We prefer to live as slaves to Sinhalese than being a cannon fodder to you guys. We would be happy to give our lands to Sinhalese and work as Coolies to them than working for you for nothing !!!!
Thanabal, in my view, if I paraphrase your own words,
It is mad and idiotic to think that any Tamil miltiant group will fight for our freedom. Praba & Co is becoming richer and richer at our blood! Let that stop forever
Jeronimo Azavedo said,
July 18, 2007 @ 1:02 pm
My Dear Vipula,
You do not make sense.
If I was boasting, would I not use my own name? What good does it do to boast using another name?
kind regards
Jeronimo
KK Nathan said,
July 18, 2007 @ 8:39 pm
Yes Mr. Azevedo
We are waiting for you to reveal full details of your conversation with Gen.Sarath Fonseka where he told you about eastern war details.
When, where, how and why?
He trusted you so much?
You must be very big shot
Then why hide behind false name?
Did you really talk with the commander or simply boasting here
Naga said,
July 18, 2007 @ 8:48 pm
I have a feeling that the two warring factions are staging a sort of play for the consumption of the general public. This appears to be a part of the pre-elction “deal”. The GOSL or the LTTE – the parties to the alleged agreeement have neither denied nor owned up. Most of us know that there had been some sort of deal. LTTE must come out and make a statement, if they are interested in gaining some credibility in the minds of the sufferring Tamils. Credibility of the GOSL is now a history.
Jeronimo Azavedo said,
July 19, 2007 @ 1:27 am
My Dear Nathan,
I am a humble citizen of Sri Lanka and not a big shot as you suggest. I can also tell you that our army commander is also a humble citizen from a humble family in Sri Lanka and quite opposit to anything that resembles a big shot as you suggest.
I have also met the Navy Commander Karanagoda and he is also very down to earth and humble citizen.
My identity is irrelavant. What is important are the facts that I have disclosed.
This administration is like no other that I have observed.
There is a certain determination to resolve Sri Lanka’s ethnic dispute as never before as as I have suggested.
what you are seeing today are actions that were planned and put in place long long time ago.
What you read in the press is a severely distorted view of individuals and actions with various political perceptions and motives. If you wake up on a Sunday and read all the newspapers you might think that you are living in several different countries at the same time.
As I have stated, Sri Lanka does not operate according to the perceptions created by DBS. He may sound convincing, but no one is accurate all the time . He paints a Tamil friendly portrait in his articles in relation to the Sri Lankan conflict.
Sri Lankan Tamils constitute a very small minority in Sri Lanka below 8% of the population now and its like trying to view the United States through a Black American perspective.
Just some food for thought.
kind regards
Jeronimo Azavedo
Thanabal said,
July 19, 2007 @ 5:58 am
LTTE is not a legal organization to acknowledge or deny any sort of deal with any player other than Norway and GoSL. Making a deal with Mahinda with his pre-prez era doen’t count as GoSL since it was a Government of CBK.
Arvinth, Trichy said,
July 19, 2007 @ 9:18 am
“But what troubles me now is this. All accounts of the current war are from a military perspective alone. It is from that of the protagonists . Very little is said about the real victims of the war. The war was for conquest of territory alone it seems. It is as if there were no people in the east and it was a territory devoid of humanity!”
“Yes! of course!!. The security forces say that they fought this war to save the Eastern Tamil people from the bondage of the LTTE. The LTTE says they fought to protect the Eastern Tamil people from getting into the clutches of the security forces”.
“What really happened was that the ordinary people – Tamil civilians – were victimized in a war they never wanted. Sadly they suffered most and are the real victims of this war of Eastern liberation”. – DBS
If the Sinhalese government of Srilanka liberates the Eelam Tamils from the Eelam Tamil Tigers LTTE’S clutches, then why 20,000 Eelam Tamil refugees came here in this last one year alone?…still coming.
And according to the Eelam Tamil Parliamentarians (TNA) if in Eelam Tamil Tigers LTTE control area Eelam Tamils live with security & with all freedom, then why they have their family here (most of the days they also stay here)? some of them send them to western countries & claimed asylum there.
One side Eelam Tamils trying to get out from Eelam Tamil Tiger LTTE clutches to save their children, other side Sinhalese government of Srilanka in the banner of LIBERATING TAMILS FROM LTTE clear out them from their homes, villages, own land put them in refugee camps (without any basic facilities) & claim the land as HIGH SECURITY ZONE for the future SINHALESE COLONIZATION & in the name of development in East they are going to put Sinhalese families there.
But the Eastern renegade Karuna & the Eelam democratic Eelam Tamil minister Dog-lus Devananda without any rights to talk with Mahinda Rajapakshe regiment or to expose these, just like a dog waiting for his masters left over food to eat sitting under the Sinhalese regiments foot.
In the name of EASTERN LIBERATION renegade Karuna helped the Srilankan Sinhalese military, what happened now? He is living within Srilankan Sinhalese military’s clutches & only his EASTERN TAMILS SUFFERING.
Time to time Sinhalese governments of Srilanka using the Eelam Tamils to rule Eelam Tamils;
Using the Eelam Tamils to take the freedom of Eelam Tamils;
Using the Eelam Tamils to take the rights of Eelam Tamils.
LIBERATION FROM SINHALESE;
LIBERATION FROM EELAM TAMIL TIGERS;
Only HUMAN SUFFERING!
Metha said,
July 19, 2007 @ 8:10 pm
Even DBS t o see Tamils being freed from clutch of LTTE.
Eastern Tamils(ET) are breathing air of freedom. I don’t know why DBS has doubt of winning ET. GOSL has already won the heart of ET through Karuna. That is why Army has taken the full control of EP. In few months we can expect all the displaced people would be settled.
Naga said,
July 20, 2007 @ 8:57 pm
Dear Mr.Jeronimo Azavedo
Diagreements apart, you do play an important role. It is people like you stimulate the feelings of even the moderates to think otherwise. Keep the good work going.
Carlo Kovoor said,
July 23, 2007 @ 3:26 am
Jeronemo Azavedo is illogical , irrational and inaccurate. I have pointed this out on other occasions.
Now he is casting aspersions on Mr. DBS Jeyaraj unnecessarily as if he has some axe to grind.. He needs to be refuted.
First of all Mr. Jeyaraj is a person who writes openly and fearlessly under his own name. He has not resorted to pseudonyms like JA. If JA is saying he has heard from the horse’s mouth (Sarath Fonseka) he must reveal who he is or shut up.
He cannot say DBSJ is wrong because SF told him so and then refuse to divulge his identity. Only other thing is for Fonseka to confirm that he did tell JA this.JA cant have it both ways.
Then about what JA says about DBSJ being wrong. Ever since Thoppigala fell the media has been saying the Eastern war started after Mavilaru. To his credit DBSJ has been saying long before that the eastern war began after the bombing of Sampoor on April 25th 2006. Even now DBSJ in his article pointed out what he has been saying all along.
Now JA says Sarath Fonseka told him on Dec 24th 2005 that they were going to clean up the East. On that basis he accuses DBSJ of being entertaining etc and saying he was wrong.
Again this is an irrationally stupid accusation!
What Sarath F allegedly told JA (If JA is telling the truth) does not in any way affect what DBSJ has been saying. In fact it only strengthens DBSJ. It has been DBSJ’s position that the GOVT has a hidden agenda about East and has been pursuing it. So JA now confirms it.
Aso what DBSJ refutes is the assertion by media that the war began with Mavilaru. That position remains unaffected by Ja’s comment. It only shows that the war was planned in 2005 itself but it does ot change the fact that the war in east started on April 25th.
Now what JA should do is to contact all Colombo media and tell them about what SF told him on Dec 24th. But he remains mum on that and picks up a quarrel with DBSJ.
This reveals two things. JA is afraid to write in Colombo media because SF will contradict him or say he is a liar. The other is that JA has a grudge against DBSJ
By all accounts JA is a pompous humbug and a coward who dares not divulge his name. Hiding behind a pseudonym combining a Portugese colonialist and an Apache warrior this pathetic specimen attacks DBSJ for his own reasons