colonel saab basic issue of tamils died long ago.how can anybody negotiate with LTTE and AL QAIDA? if it happens,every one of us fighting terror will look like fools
I have always read all your articles with great interest. They are well balanced, un-biased and have india's interests at heart. This column brings out the reasons for backing the SL Tamil cause by every right thinking Indian.Kudos from a Tamil Indian
All those people who is crying the LTTE is a violent group, what you would do if one of your family member has been killed or chase out of their property or raped. When people was oppressed violently the reaction will be the same if not more from the people who was on the receiving end, which is what Sinhalese asked for and that%u2019s what they have been getting. Where were all these people and international communities when Tamils were forced to leave their homes and businesses? In 1958, 1977 1983 only thing they had left when they came to Jaffna was whatever they were wearing when they chased out that day. Sinhalese understands only one language that is violence, even though they suppose to be the buddas sons and daughters. Tamils in lanka bust their bottoms to be well off in SL unlike the Sinhalese who did not really care much about their future then get jealous at Tamils for being successful. Is it a crime to work hard and study hard to be well of? It is crime to be jealous and kill. Sinhalese have an amnesia before 1983 and they pretend to forget or in denial mood how Sinhalese systematically cleansed Tamils. Contrary to popular belief, LTTE was really created by Sinhalese not by Tamils, by their action to Tamils. One thing the Sinhalese are very good at is putting up a good show for international community by saying things that every country want to hear for their own interest, ESPECIALLY TAKING INDIA FOR A RIDE. YOU CAN FOOL SOME BODY SOME TIME BUT CANNOT FOOL EVERY
Dear Mr. Athale, You seem to make a lot of assumptions. You cannot relate the present conflict to the ones that took place in ancient and medieval times. The protagonists then were different from the ones now. You have not considered the demographic evolution in tamil south caused by the advent of dynasties from deccan like vujayanagar etc. The present day "tamilians" have nothing to do with those who lived during the times of cholas and pallavas in the ancient and opre-medieval days.
RE:Tamil Elam:quo vadis
by waruna on Jan 14, 2008 07:40 PM Permalink
the legal system in sri lanka is screwed up. there is Dutch and portugese Civil law, there is a criminal code and a british common law system followed by a recognition of ancient tamil property law and a recognition of shariah law. of course the legal system is messed up.
but one must note that there is a war going on, has been for the last 25 years or so. And you shouldn't immediately assume that all people kidnapped from JAFFNA are military. Suicide bombs explode in colombo, Kadiragmar was killed in colombo, were they the Military too.
Thamilchelvam was killed in LTTE controlled territory was he not, and was that done by the LTTE.
don't forget how poor Sri lanka is. its not just the tamils who are poor. if you compare the real numbers tamil people are economically much better off than a lot of the poor sinhala people in the rural areas. this is with most of the war being in tamil areas. what does that tell you?
it never helps to look only though one eye, if you open both you might see something you didn't spot before. But there is nothing wrong with opening them both, even if you end up not seeing anything new.
Eelam will never happen through war. It is a real chance in 50 -100 years when all people can agree for Tamil autonomy in the north. only chance is for long period of peace. followed by economic prosperity.
RE:Tamil Elam:quo vadis
by sethu madhavan on Jan 15, 2008 09:04 AM Permalink
Dear Mr.Varuna, I understand the problems with strife torn srilanka. But terror is terror whether it is perpetrated in srilanka or in USA, or in India. For that matter we may include all the groups like al-qaeda, LTTE, JVP etc in one category. If they are fighting with each other it is a matter of one rogue falling out with other.
But you have to understand that the nature of conflict is different from medieval times. The present day "tamils" are mostly immigrants from deccan states of India during 15th century(like some or many sinhalese). They do not have anything to do with ancient Indian dynasties like cholas etc that they claim to.
India went down to Mohguls only becaues of they went away from the path of truth to selfinterest. Now the Congress&DMK parties is taking away the Truth from India,Not delivering the Justice to people of Elam,Hence the defeat of india is nearing.Some good deed the country have to do to save itself.It has to interfere or supply all sophisticated arms to LTTE so that Tamils are so kind hearted they will deliver the justice to sinhalese without harming single civilian.
RE:India is still living since there are somebody to talk the Truth
by harsha on Jan 14, 2008 04:10 PM Permalink
hey Siva subra manian, The world has seen how 'kind hearted' the LTTE is. That's why the FBI named LTTE as the worlds most dangerous terrorist organisation. We have seen all the unthinkable attrocities committed by LTTE to innocent Sinhala, Tamil & Muslim civilians of Sri Lanka. Don't assume that the rest of world is as stupid as you are.
RE:India is still living since there are somebody to talk the Truth
by Chelvarajan Sethukavalar on Jan 14, 2008 05:53 PM Permalink
Harsha your name is Sinhala. Yo are very silent about teh genocide of teh Yamils by succsive Sri lankan governmenbts. Tha large scale etnic cleansing in teh Tamil East, The ariel bombings shellings and killing of thousands of innocent Tamil civilians. The large scale detruction and bombings of Tamil homes .hospitals orphanages, schools chrches an dtemples by eh Sinhala armed ofrces. The deliberate emptying of the native Tamil populations in the historic Tamil North and East. Many of tehm are now living as refugees in the west or in miserable conditions around Colombo or in refugees camps in India or in the TamilNorth and East. Many of these Tamil lands especiaaly in the East are now earmarked for Sinhla settlers in the so called liberated East. Soon after independence they forcibly assimilated a large number of poor Tamil Catholic fishermen with the help of the southern Sinhala Catholic Church, in the Tamil North West in present day Chilaw anad Puttalam . Now only a few Tamil Hidu islands around Udappu and Munneswaram reamin in this once Tamil North West coast. Many older Tamils stil remember this as it within their life time.The Sinhalas never want to admit or even acknowledge they are the main casue for the present crisis. The discriminatery and racist policies of every Sinhla government since indeoendence is the cause of this. They have never wanted to acknwoledge teh ancient Tamil presence in Sri Lanka and will never. There was not LTTE before the 1980s
RE:RE:India is still living since there are somebody to talk the Truth
by Chelvarajan Sethukavalar on Jan 14, 2008 06:07 PM Permalink
Have you forgotten how the Tamils were trated during thier peceful prtests inteh 50s and 60s, They were laughed and scorned upon made a but of jokes in teh parliament. Sinhla thugs and criminals were set upon Tamil politicians during thoer satyagrahas. The Tamil home were burnt looted and many Tamil skilled and then the Tamils were blamed stating that you all agitated for your rights and this displeased the Sinhala masses. Harsh ayo must have witnessed the burning an dlotting and killing of Tamils in 1983. where drunken drugged Sinhla mobs were led by Buddhist priests senior government ministers and protected by the Sinhla armed forces. Who gave these mobs the electoral list of every Tamil home and business to destroy kill loot and burn. DO you remeber the speech President Jayawardena gave on the Television. He aplogised to the Sinhla population as they were greatly inconvenianced by the killing burning and looting of Tamils, Tamil home and businesses. He stated that he cried when he saw Sinhals queing to buy bread during this period. He and his murderous ministers never even uttered a single word of sympathy for the Tamils whose homes were burnt lives lost women raped etc. He only stated that the Tamil deserved this treatment as they asked for it.Even now many Sinhlas using North Indian and other names come here and blame the Tamils. NOt one of them acknowledge that the Tamils are discriminated, because to you and most SInhlas they are not. To you lot the Tamils are
RE:RE:RE:India is still living since there are somebody to talk the Truth
by Chelvarajan Sethukavalar on Jan 14, 2008 06:25 PM Permalink
getting the correct treatment. THis is their place in SInhla Buddhist Sri Lanka. So why are they clamouring for equal rights when they the rights that they deserve has been given to them. This is what our Mhavamse states or politicians state our school text books state.( it does not matter or acknowledged that around 70% of the present Sinhalas have descended from recent South Indian Tamil migrants who migrataed around 600 to 100 years ago, whilst the infusion of South Indian Tamil blood (Mainly Chola) in to the Eelam Tamils more or less stopped by 12th century AD.Many South African Whites also use to states and were surprised as ot why teh Balcks were revoting. They could not understand as t owhy these people who they thought were better of then the other Africans were protesting. FOr in their minds the Bkacks were in their due place and that is what they deserved , It is the same with you Sinhlalas.The LTTE are not saints but they did not kill thousands. Of the 90000 people killed inthis conflict more than 90% are innocent Tamil CIvilians killed by Sri Lankan armed forces/Police heavily armed Sinhala thugs and colonists. Thew rest are mainly LTTE and Armed Forces. The LTTE ahd killed Tamil politicians most of these were quislings and no Tamil really liked them and they were harming the Tamils. MOst of theh so called Sinhla civilians killed by the LTTE are actually Sinhla thughs sentto the Tamil NOrth East as settlers to terrrise the Tamils. No one believes the FBI
RE:RE:RE:RE:India is still living since there are somebody to talk the Truth
by Chelvarajan Sethukavalar on Jan 14, 2008 06:39 PM Permalink
they wil say anthing to suit USA interest. They lied about Sadam Husseins weapoms of Mass destruction. When Sadam Hussein used chemcial weapons on the Kurds and teh Iranians who supplied them to him. The same west. Innediately after the bombning of the Kurds in Hallabja what did Presiden Reagan state. He said Sadam is a nice man and we can do business with him. The Americans sided with the Guatemlan government when they killed aroudn 1million native Indians. The supported Right wing dictatorships in Chile and Argentina and amny parts of teh third world that had atricious human rights, because it suited them.Everyone knows the Usa is the biggest supporter of teh Sri Lankan government and it heavily arming the Srilankan government through its proxies Pakistan Israel. The SriLanka government has prommised them many facilites so they really do not care about human rights. The Sinhlas and the Tamils are a bunch of darkies to them so cares if they kil each other as long as USA interests are served. Immediately after the 2004 tsaunami the USa marines wer ein Trincomalee. Did they help the Tamil population in the East ( one of the most affected people )no. We are not Whites Europeans like th Kosovars ar Bosnians or Christians liek th East Timorese who deserve better in life . Who cares about these mainly HIndu native Eelam Tamils. The Sinhala scan kil them for al lwe care as lon gas Trincomalle is ours. Indeed OSama and AL quaida inspired by LTTE what a bunch of rubbish.
I HAVE TO CRITICIZE THIS ARTICLE BECAUSE I FEEL THAT THE INTENTION OF THE WRITER IS NOT CLEARLY TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM IN SRI LANKA AND GIVE A LASTING SOLUTION BUT TO MAKE SRI LANKA ALIGNED TO India so that they can have a claim to the resources in the indian ocean if the need arises in the future.Me being a sri lankan was appalled by the intentions of the article.Come on sri lanka is not a state where every power can come in and meddle with it. You people are only interested in your gain not sri lankas gain.I know that the Tamil problem should be addressed and the solution the author gives is a feasible option.Thats the only point i saw in the article that was worth praising,Otherwise the other parts were related to how can india make sri lanka its pariah.(sorry for my tone in the article because i feel really hurt by most parts of this article-next time when the author writes something maybe he can rephrase his stuff)
RE:Sri Lanka is not India's pariah
by on Jan 13, 2008 06:45 AM Permalink
eelam is not just because its about Elara, in the bible, eelam is a prosporous and fertile land found during the wondering through the desert. Looks like the tamil home land is more about the catholic church than the Tamil people.
afterall, hinduism and hindu Gods have a special place in the buddhist mindset. eg Murugan or Katharagama devio.
RE:Sri Lanka is not India's pariah
by sethu madhavan on Jan 14, 2008 11:47 AM Permalink
There is no way you can find a peace ful solution to the problem when you have two groups professing the same kind of ethics . Populist tamil extremism on one hand and the lankan hegemony on the other . The only thing that is very clear is that the nature of conflict is definitely different from the ones witnessed during medieval and ancient times. The change in demography has definitely some thing to do(Most "tamils" of present era being the one who came from deccan during the rule of vijayanagar dynasty).
RE:Sri Lanka is not India's pariah
by Edwin Navaratnam on Jan 14, 2008 02:42 PM Permalink
Sethu Madhavan. The Tamils in Tamil Nadu may be from the Deccan. BUt not the Eelam Tamils. They are predominanlty a mixture of Cholas(Vellalar) and older native Tamils, who are closely related to the Chera inhabitants of present day Kerala. This is the reason they are culturally, like the Sinhalas closer to Kerala amd at times tp partes of Southern Tamil Nadu (where this Deccan influence and origin is negligible), than to present day Tamil Nadu. The is why the Eleam Tamils are strongly Saivaite. Their culture very matriarchical ( copmared to the Patriarchical culture of present day Tamil Nadu). Their spoken Tamil is vary archaic far more purer has far less Sansrit word and is much closer to the Changam Tamil. The place names of present day Tamil Nadu is very Sanskrtised, whereas the Tamil plcas names in Sri Lanka are derived from Old Tamil.( including many Sinhala plce names). The DMK is largely made up and started by Tamilians of Telugu ( Deccan ) origin. That is the reason. The most DMK members do not like the elite of the original Tamils. The Vellalars and teh Tamil Brahmins. The Telugu Nayakas took over the lands of the Vellalar land owners especially in northern Tamil Nadu. Other than pets of southern Tamil Nadu. Lots of these Vellars were made destitute and many came to the Jaffna region to be amongst their fellow Vellalar. Jaffna is a Vellalar stronghold. These Vellalar refugees by inermarrying with the local Vellalars infused their hatred into the local Eelam Tamils
RE:RE:Sri Lanka is not India's pariah
by Edwin Navaratnam on Jan 14, 2008 03:13 PM Permalink
Against the new elite amongst the south Indian Tamils. The Tamil Nayakas( the people to whom they liist their land and power). This is the reason The native Sri Lankan Tamils especially the Vellalars who make up around 50% of their population, derisively call the South Indian Tamils as Vadakkathaiyan and generally refues to marry in to South Indian Tamils. They always state these are not real Tamils unlike us, Once when I was a saml boy I questioned my Aunty asking her how are so sure that we are ful blooded Tamils and teh south Indian Tamils arnt, She scolded me and stated not be cheeky and stated yes we all know lots of them are Vaduvas.It has been told to us by the elders. This were her words not mine.Later as agrown up I realised her Vaduva meant Vadugan another word for a person of Telugu origin and the Jaffan or native Sri Lankan Tamil word for an Indian Tamil Vaddakataiyan means two meanings one literraly means the person from the North. The other subtle meaning is a corruption of the word Vaddugan ( meaning someone of Telugu origin whose orgin is also north of the historic Tamil country not just north of the Tamil areas of Sri Lanka). The other thing amongst the native Tamils in SAriLanka being largely Vellalar they have nevr been anti Brahmin as the Vellalars and the Vrahmins are very closely allied. These were the two old elite Tamil castes< Teh iriginal Cholas Pandyans and CHera Kings had a Vellalar origin. It si ironic that most Indian Tamil Brahmins are taking
RE:RE:RE:Sri Lanka is not India's pariah
by Edwin Navaratnam on Jan 14, 2008 03:31 PM Permalink
their revenge on these Unfortunate Sri Lankan Tamils who have noting to with their predicament in Tamil Nadu in the 60s and 70s. These original Tamils largely of Vellalar descent are also suffering from the same source like the SOuth Indian Tamil Brahmins. The DMK is l;argely made up of these Tamil Nayakas ( originaating from the Vijaya nagar empire) they made teh Vellalar pwerless at teh beginning f their rule by taking away their land. The other elite caste amongst the old Tamils the Brahmins were not touched much at that time as the were mainly the temples teaching or in similar professions. Really not much of a danger to these new elite. However during the British rule the Brahmins got educated and became powerful Iam not defendng the dsicriminatory caste practices of Brahminism etc . But these Brahmins became a threat to these new Tamielite. So through their newly formed Dmk which was largely made up of Tamilians of Telugu heritage they started to turn th elargely poor and opressed Tamil masses aginst the Tamil Brahmins, sone of teh discriminatory practices practised by the Tamil Brahmins againstthe lower non Brahmin caste helped this. The irony is many of the Sinhla aristoracy which are spearheading the Tamil Genocide are also of this Nayaka heritage, They are the Tamil Nayakas of the VIjayanagar empire, The Bandaranaikes Ratwates,Jayawardenes, Wickremesinhes. SO the Tamil BRahmins are ironically supporting the same people who screwed them to Kill the Eela, Tamils
RE:RE:RE:RE:Sri Lanka is not India's pariah
by sethu madhavan on Jan 14, 2008 04:59 PM Permalink
The nature of wars in medieval ages were different. During those days,the buddist srilankan kings ruled in a very unjust and duplicitous manner. The invading imperialist cholas and pallavas were of a kingdom which was cosmopolitan and very just and truthful. Even as they invaded srilanka and brought it under their control, they did not try to convert the buddists there, nor did they try to divide the island ethnically. They just created a fair and democratic form of governance and held it so. Also some sinhalese wilfully helped the cholas and pallavas , where as quite a large number of tamilians who were supporters of pandyan kings helped the sinhalese kings. Thereby the nature of conflict THEN was not ethnic(Sinhalese.Vs.tamils etc).
After the end of their rule the incoming vijayanagar dynasty brought a lot of people from deccan and they belonged not only to nayak caste but also to others(brahmins etc.). The race of nayak kings were also different from that of cholas etc.The vijayanagar people were not good rulers like cholas and pallavas etc. They created artificial divide between tamil and sanskrit. They created a divide between "shaivas" and "vaishnavas".They created and skillfully exploited confusion. They were not at all good administrators. Even in wars they were not gallant soldiers, but miserable cowards and cunning crooks who employed guerrilla and terrorist tactics. The LTTE ways resemble more the ways of nayak/vijayanagar chiefs.
RE:Sri Lanka is not India's pariah
by sethu madhavan on Jan 14, 2008 04:30 PM Permalink
Mr.Edwin, good insights. Here's my analysis. I do not hold any hatred against any caste or people without reason.But i know too well that cholas, pallavas,cheras and pandyans definitely belonged to the royal race of kshatriyas.Velalars did mean farm owning and mercantile communities during their time(during time of cholas etc.). during that period they were also referred to as Ay, Velir etc and of them we are told that they belonged to the yadava race which gave birth to Lord Krishna and that they ruled dwaraka in gujarat long ago.I do not think the present day velalars descended from the ones mentioned in that chola/pallava literature. No distinction between tamil and sanskrit was made by rulers of those dynasties(that ruled from times immemeorial in epochal ages). This distinction and parochialism came into being only during vijayanagar period.
After the chola/pallava period by 1300 A.D, there was a lot of migrations into south causing a change in demography. This change also affected srilanka , as many of the colonizers coming alongwith the telugu/kannada chieftains also proceeded from madurai and rameswaram onto jaffna and triconamalee.For all practical purposes they identify themselves as tamils.
The nature of conflict during medieval ages was different from that now.I do agree that there is partisanship with sinhalese, but that is never to say that the tamil movements led by LTTE and co are not terrorist and partisan.
RE:RE:Sri Lanka is not India's pariah
by sethu madhavan on Jan 16, 2008 11:25 AM Permalink
Before things get out of hand we do like to act. If the LTTE and other terror groups are not finished off by the ongoing offensive, we will have to use nuclear weapons against terrorists and we will do so .
RE:RE:Sri Lanka is not India's pariah
by LION on Jan 24, 2008 04:36 PM Permalink
whatever you have narrated here is partially right but atlast only sinhalas are after extremism been blinded folded by their rulers and before looking at any liberation movement be it ltte or other you need to have a look at its 'opponents'. The liberative movements are ON right path and may initially being as small armed groups they might have demonstrated their sight hardly.
RE:Sri Lanka is not India's pariah
by LION on Jan 24, 2008 04:28 PM Permalink
The portal seems to be worried over the crocadile tears of a sinhala where no lankan sinhala media is worried about indias concerns. And their media do needful to their people and government by creating timly required 'image' for themselves.
Many Srilankan Tamils feel that the only solution to this problem is seperate Eelam because Tamils are very confident the Srilankan Majority Regime will find or accept any political solution which can protect Tamils right and security. Tamils will never trust Srilankan Governments as they have, many times, demonstrated going back on accords and using ruthless activities against tamils to satisfy their majority people to win the election. My point of view, the best solution will be "IRREVERSIBLE, INTERNATIONALY PROTECTED INDIAN TYPE FEDERAL STRUCTURE WITH THE PLAN OF ACTION AND TIME FRAME WHET IT IS REVERSED BY SRILANKAN MAJORITY REGIM". Unfortunetely Indian regim lost its oppertunity and the credibility with their immatured and un-ethical approach during the IPKF operation. - Gowry Balan
RE:Article reflects the mindset of majority tamils
by Sivasubramaniam sivkumar on Jan 12, 2008 05:50 PM Permalink
Anil Athale's piece is most refreshing as it does not carry the overload of biases of those who hog the counter-terrorism industry. The present writer subscribe to Anil's balanced view which Anil and rediff readers can browse by visiting veluppillai sivasubramaniam in SouthAsiaContact@yahoogroups.com The introductory paragraph is given to encourage readers to visit the writer's blog. INDO-SRI LANKA RELATIONS REVISITED
This is a critique of an article %u201CIndo-Lanka Relations Presently Seem To Be Moving On An Even Keel%u201D: R Swaminathan %u2013 Excerpts from an Interview by Nilantha Ilangamuva, 6 December 2007, Sri Lanka Guardian.
Another Indian apologist for the Sri Lankan (SL) genocide speaks out. Though a much laboured effort justifying India%u2019s so-called %u2018hands-off%u2019 policy it covers the points that B Raman covered in %u2018Facing Realities%u2019 in Outlookindia.com June 2007. Raman's piece was analyzed in depth in %u201CA TAMIL DARFUR TRAGEDY IN THE MAKING IN SRI LANKA %u2013 INDIA%u2019S RESPONSE CRITICAL? %u2013 V S Subramaniam in velupillai.sulekha.com Jun 27 2007. A must read for an objective view on India%u2019s role in SL and the Rajiv assassination factor. The author%u2019s pedigree; belongs to a class/caste that dominated the intelligence/foreign policy establishments at both Central and State levels (the Dravida movements ended the latter; this explains their continuing antagonism towards DMK/SL Tamil politics); used the positions of inf
