Page 1
Tamil
Wo W|| N. ISSN O25
V. Gopriggury, DMK MV'
DMK MP's Secret Mis
k What will Karunanidhi
k Indian Media Comments
of N-E Elections
k LTTE LUCants IPKF to le
 
 

75p
5-4488 MARCH 1989
k EROS/EDF MPs Boycott Opening of Parliament
Ak IPKF OFFENSIWE AGAINST LTTE
k Jayawardene’S
damaging contribution
sion to LTTE leaders
do?
U2 శ్య
Dr. Cot'in R. de Sira, the LSSP leader μια μαSScα αιμαν αι 82

Page 2
2 TAMIL TIMES
ISSN C
ANNUAL SU
UK/india/Sri Lan All other countr
The publishers assume no responsibility for return of Published unsolicited manuscripts, photographs and artwork. TAM T
P.O. E. Views expressed by contributors are not necessarily SUTTON, SUR those of the editor or the publishers. UNITED
FOR A NATION
Following the surprise victory of the Eelavar Democratic Front (EROS/EDF) which secured thirteen seats in the North-East Province in last month's general elections, the idea of a National Convention of Tamil political groups has been intr duced into the current political agenda. It is learnt that certain preliminary practical moves have already been taken to give effect to this welcome idea.
The idea is most welcome and opportune for more than one reason. That it would endeavour to constitute such a National Convention was one of the assurances that the candidates of the EDF gave the Tamil people. Besides the fact that the majority of the people have endorsed this idea, it has been evident for any discerning person that the people had long ago become exasperated and helpless with the tragic consequences flowing from the continuing infighting among various Tamil groups.
A substantial body of opinion, both within and outside Sri Lanka, has Contended that the absence of the representatives of the Tamil people as co-partners in the formulation and eventual signing of the Indo-Sri Lanka Agreement constituted a fatal defect. It is argued from the Indian side that it was the lack of a unity of purpose and the then prevailing state of hostility among the Tamil groups that directly contributed to this deficiency. They also contend that, it was after having made strenuous and protracted efforts to bring the various Tamil groups together for the purpose of negotiating with the Sri Lankan government and failed repeatedly, the Indian government had to go ahead on its own in signing the Agreement. Whether this contention is true or not, right or wrong is presently irrelevant. The fact is that, had there been in existence a Common Front, Forum or Alliance of Tamil political groups and parties at that time, it would have been virtually impossible for India and Sri Lanka to have ignored such an organisation and enter into the Agreement as they did in July 1987.
Several issues, covered and not covered by the Agreement, have been raised as matters of concern for the Tamil people and indeed some of them are matters of concern for the whole of Sri Lanka and its entire people.
First, the question of the extent of devolution of powers which is viewed as inadequate and on this issue there is almost total unanimity among all Tamil groups. In fact the recent statements made by the Chief Minister of the North-East Provincial Council amply demonstrate that there are many problems to be resolved in this regard.
Secondly, the temporary nature of the merger of the Northern and Eastern Provinces and the government's determination to hold a referendum on 5 July in the Eastern province alone are fraught with more dangers than one could imagine.
Thirdly is the question of the unnecessary obligation to take oaths under the 6th Amendment to the Constitution. A year ago, even the SLFP leader, Mrs. S. Bandaranaike, went on record expressing her consent to the repeal of this provision.
Fourthly is the present state of armed confrontation between the IPKF and the LT TE which has continued from 10 October 1987 to the present day. It must be
 

MARCH 1989
66-4488 CONTENTS BSCRIPTION The New Parli t 3
6e NewW h”313Th6ert. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . EO/USS2O
What will Karunanidhi do? . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 EROS/EDF seeks renegotiation . . . . . . . 7 monthly by
Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 MES LTD -
Jayawardene's damaging contribution. 12 )X 121 EY SM1 3 TD News in brief. . . : - - - - - - - - . . . . . . . . . 19 INGDOM Classified AdvertisementS . . . . . . . . . . 22
AL CONFERENCE
self-evident that without the participation of the LT TE, a lasting solution to the conflict is difficult to contemplate. The desire of the Tamil people for an immediate ceasefire must be given expression and a way must be found for the LTTE, to become a partner in evolving the eventual solution. Human rights violations, including arbitrary killings, disappearances, detention, torture and deaths in custody, have become part and parcel of the continuing conflict and these must be brought to an end.
Fifthly is the question of state-aided colonisation of Tamil areas. In fact the Manifesto under Which Mr.S.S. Bandaranaike contested the Presidential election proposed a freeze on such colonisation for the time being until the question is resolved by negotiation.
Sixthly, some representative Muslim organisations have raised the question of a separate Muslim unit to be created within a merged North-Eastern province. The people of Sri Lanka are today experiencing the perils of Sinhalese politicians having unreasonably, unwisely and often violently denied the powerful emergence of a Tamil consciousness to preserve its identity, language and culture. No one should make the same mistake of ignoring the present emergence of a strong feeling of a Muslim identity as a factor in contemporary Sri Lankan politics, and therefore due consideration, recognition and acceptance must be given to this factor.
Lastly is the continued presence of Indian troops in North-East Sri Lanka. While the arrival of the IPKF provided and continues to provide a feeling of security to the Tamil people who suffered years of unmitigated atrocities at the hands of the Sri Lankan security forces, the unforseen confrontation that developed between the |PKFand the LT TE and the continuing military operations have resulted in no less suffering for the Tamil people. It must also be recognised that there is popular resentment among the Sinhalese population to the presence of the IPKF. This justifiable resentment is being maladroitly mobilised, mischievously manipulated, and menacingly misdirected by those chauvinist elements who have traditionally opposed the legitimate rights of the Tamil people. Employing such demogogic expressions like 'Eelam fifth columnists and terrorists being in league with Indian imperialists, these neo-fascist elements, while targetting for murder all those who recognise Tamil aspirations, are attempting to emerge as 'saviours of the motherland from foreign occupation'. In these circumstances, it is in the interests of everybody, Tamil speaking people, Sinhalese people, Sri Lanka and India, that conditions be created for the departure of the IPKF within a time frame.
The Wisdom in the idea of a National Convention is that it can discuss and arrive at a framework of mutually agreeable formulae on outstanding issues of concern for the Tamil people, present a joint front in any negotiations with India, the Sri Lankan government and opposition parties, and above all bring an end to the self-destructive internecine armed conflicts by the acceptance of the fundamental premise of the right of each and every political group or party io exist and function on the basis of democratic pluralism.

Page 3
MARCH 1989
COLOMBO NEWSL
by Chithra
THE NEW PARLAM
Unlike the previous long parliament in which the UNP had enjoyed a four-fifths steam-roller majority, the present one has an opposition of onehundred members to the government's 125. The 4 member Sri Lanka Muslim Congress led by its neo-fundamentalist leader, M.H.M. Ashroff (who has dutifully agreed with Ayotalah Khomeni's death sentence on Salman Rushdie), has been flirting with President Premadasa before the elections and therefore there is some speculation in political circles that this party may eventually join the government. Even if that were to happen, it will leave the parliamentary opposition basically strong, and the government is not expected to have an easy ride.
After eleven years of chaos, violence, corruption etc., the UNP was predestined for certain defeat, but it is still in power thanks to the incompetence of the SLFP and the machinations of the JVP which concentrated its campaign of violence and murder upon the opposition parties and ensured a low poll to give victory to the UNP. No wonder that, even after hundreds of his own party members and supporters, in addition to those of the opposition, have been brutally killed by the JVP/DJV, President Premadasa has so far been reluctant to name the JVP as the culprit.
The ceremonial opening of parliament took place on March 9 with all the usual pomp and pageantry with the President and his First Lady occupying centre stage in media coverage. However, there was another small group, hitherto unknown in parliamentary circles, whirh stole the political limelight and receic attention by not attending the opening of parliament and refusing to take their seats. EROS, which now prefers to call itself the Eelavar Democratic Front (EDF) and which won 13 out of 31 in the North-East Province, kept away from Parliament. Not that they had promised to keep away for good, but they want certain outstanding problems, like taking the oath under the 6th Amendment, to be resolved first.
The other Tamil MPs belonging to the EPRLF, TELO and TULF had no such qualms, took their oaths owing allegiance to the unitary constitution and promptly helped themselves to their allocated seats. Defeated in elections, but returning through the TULF's National List, A. Amirthalingam occupied a seat in the front row to which he was apparantly entitled by
III. U11"Il
reason of seniori he went into vol India in 1983. ' Parliamentary l acid comment w appearance with representation ir that the people
achieving anyth For all practical that the TULF
been resurrec strange legal pro an electoral syst
The TULF-E alliance, which purposes of the tion of convenien from the start. EPRLF have de separate group in will not accept th The two MPs be however, contin the TULF.
The SLFP, wh ‘snatch defeat fra at the elections, gent of MPs a Bandaranaike r Anura was the l tion in the last time Mother Siri post.
It is reliably r did not give up without his ch tantrums and pl SLFP must be President Jayaw ing the system sentation that e parliament 67 M actual voting in the SLFP would the previous first had been in oper
In addition to President Prema Ministers of Stal himself the Mini and Implementa fence and the n of Buddha Sasal
As far as rep ities in the Cab Muslims, Mr. A. ter of Higher E Technology and ter of Trade a Tamil. Mr. S. TI of Textiles and velopment... AmO State, there are Muslims. The t
 

TAMIL TIMES 3
ENT
ty he acquired before untary exile to South The EROS/EDF noneader, Shankar Raji’s ras, “The TULF's disout trace from Tamil Parliament indicates have lost all hope of ning through TULF. purposes we thought was dead. But it has ted through some vision in the Sri Lankem”. PRLF-TELO-ENDLF was formed for the elections, was a coalice and it did not work MPs belonging to the cided to function as a n Parliament and they he whip of the TULF. longing to TELO will, ue to function under
ich managed hard to om the jaws of victory” nas a 67 strong continmong whom are the mother-son duo. Son Leader of the Opposi
parliament, but this ma was elected for the
"umoured that Anura his claim for the post aracteristic temperolonged sulking. The thankful to former rardene for introducof proportional reprenabled it to have in IPs. According to the the various districts, have got only 5 seats if -past-the-post system ation.
a 22-member Cabinet, adasa has sworn-in 49 te. He has retained for stry of Policy Planning ation, Ministry of Deewly created Ministry
3.
resentation of minorinet go, there are two C.S. Hameed as Minisducation, Science and A.R. Munsur as Minishd Shipping, and one hondaman as Minister
Rural Industrial Deng the 49 Ministers of two Tamils and two wo Tamils, M. Sella
samy, Ministry of Transport, and P. Devaraj, Ministry of State for Hindu Religious and Cultural Affairs, belong to the Ceylon Workers Congress.
The President engaged in a game of suspense and drama when he failed to name the Prime Minister at the time the Cabinet was announced. Most were speculating on Lalith Athulathmudali who no doubt worked hard for the UNP victory. Gamini Dissanayake was also in the running. Eventually, the person appointed as Prime Minister was a rank outsider, Mr. D.B. Wijetunga, who is regarded as an obedient Premadasa-loyalist and who will in no way pose a threat or a challenge to him. Ven that appointment is to be for a specified period of one year, according f3. Premadasa's edict.
In dismissing the claims of Lalith and Gamini for the moment, Premadas said, "It is a known fact that there are some members of the group who are aspiring to the office of Prime Minister. I am aware that they have the support of different sections of the Government Parliamentary Group. In exercising my prerogative, I do not desire to create a division by considering anyone in this instance. Some are known aspirants, whilst others have also indicated their claims to me'. If the aspirants want to be considered favourably by His Excellency in future years, let them conduct themselves in an acceptable manner
NORTH EAST: THE NEW MPS JAFFNA DISTRICT
EDF/EROS E. Ratna sabapathy S. Sivamaharasa T. Loganathapillai K. Selvanayagam EPRLF K. Navaratnam G. Yogasangari
TRICOMALEE DISTRICT
E. Pararajasingham AP. Seich S. Eduard J.G. Rajen thirann
K. Premachandran
EDF/EROS SLFP S. Ratna rajah A.D.S. Gun auvardene K. Mathavarajah UNP
M.E.H. Maharoof VANNI DISTRICT
EPRLF UNP
A.E. Silva R.M. Pulendran R. Kuhanesuvaran
EDF/EROS SLMC
I. Alfred S.S.M. Abu Badr
BATTCALOADISTRICT
EPRLF G. Karunakaran P.G. Casinader S.P.T. Thambimuthu EDF/EROS SLMC A. Gunaseelan M.L.A.M. Hisbulla
DGAMADULLA DISTRICT UNP SLMC
P. Dayaratne M.H.M. Ashraff° A.P.G. Chandradasa
N.Y. Bakmeeuveuva
ELO J. T. Nadar
SLFP T.A.K. Thewarapperum.

Page 4
4 TAMIL TIMES
EROS/EDFM OPENING OF
The 13 members of Parliament belonging to the Eelavar Democratic Front (EDF), a political party initiated by the Tamil militant group EROS, elected in the recently held general elctions did not attend Parliament when it was ceremoniously opened on March 9.
Mr. Shankar Raji, a founder member of the Eelam Revolutionary Organisation told a news conference on March 7 at Hotel Lanka Oberoi in Colombo the hotel they are alleged to have bombed five years ago, that the right conditions should be created for them to enter Parliament.
He did not say whether they would boycott Parliament completely nor did he indicate when they would attend its sessions.
Mr. Raji who is also on the Central Committee of EROS (but not an elected MP) said they had held two hours of talks with President R. Premadasa on the evening of March 6, their first official metting with him.
He also said an EROS Central Committee meeting would be held within a week in which their talks with the President and the Government's attitude would be reviewed.
An EROS delegation would leave for New Delhi shortly for talks with the Indian government on the situation in the island, he added.
Mr. Raji said that although they had come a long way in their struggle, there still was 'a lot of unfinished business' about which they were holding talks with the government to resolve.
It is the outcome attitude of the gov desire to bring abo conditions for them ment that will deci action, he said.
"I can assure yout keep in mind the be people and would do ble to bring peace ar north and east” he di
"We are here afte: struggle' he said, " rooted mistrust and both the Tamils Sinhalese. Are we loc where this mistrust through institutiona which we as a party with others?
This mistrust and be removed and the equals for peace top and east, he said.
As part of this, the to the Constitution ( atism should be repe The existence of th he added meant that not trusted, he said.
"I don't think we indefinitely under su where you do not trus Removing the 6 amounts to treatil citizens of this count free. We should feel
"It was this attit years that made us also said
One of Sri Lanka's most charismatic politicians, Dr. Colvin R. de Silva, passed away on 27 February, following a brief illness, only a few days after he celebrated his 82nd birthday. The founder President of the oldest political party in the island, Lanka Sama Samaja Party, Dr. de Silva was nominated by the United Socialist Alliance as its MP from the National List a week before he died. His body was cremated on 2 March at the Independence Square in the presence of a vast crowd. parts and dominated public life in Sri Lanka for nearly 55 years. An acknowledged historian, his doctorall thesis, "Ceylon Under British Occupation' continues to remain the classic work for the period. Described as the Marshall Hall of Sri Lanka, he was by far the most
COLVIN DE SILVA DIES A
eminent of criminal strode the halls of giant respected by c judges alike. Both i and public platforms audience spell-bounc tured by his brilliant oratory. His best two during parliamentar the speeches he n attempt by the then deprive the plantati their citizenship in 19 Bill to make Sinhalat language of the cou during which he pro clared, "Two language One language, two na A prolific pamphl Silva displayed his va and grasp of Marxist
· the days before th
cumbed to coalition p.

MARCH 1989
Рs воҮсотт PARLAMENT
if their talks, the rnment and the ut the necessary to enter Parliae their course of
hat our party will st interests of our everything possid normalcy to the clared.
several years of There is a deep suspicion among as well as the king to the future could be removed mechanisms for would work along
suspicion should Tamils treated as
evail in the north
6th Amendment disavowing separaled, he said.
e 6th Amendment , the Tamils were
could continue ch circumstances it us” Mr Raji said. th Amendment ng us as equal y. We should feel 2qual’ he said
ude over several take up arms' he
T 82
lawyers and justice like a olleagues and n Parliament , he kept his I and enrapand powerful contributions 7 debates are hade on the overnment to On Tamils of 48 and on the he only official ntry in 1956 phetically des, one nation. tions'. teer, Dr. de st knowledge theory during LSSP suclitics.
He said EROS was in contact with all organisations including the LTTE and the JVP (not necessarily at an official or organisational level). If you want a durable peace in the north and east and a solution to the ethnic problem, leaving the LTTE out will never
bring that about he said.
"By the LTTE's actions we find that they haven't given up hope of achieving their objectives through armed struggle', he said.
He said he believed EROS could act as a go-between to help bring the LTTE into the political mainstream.
Before they talk to the LTTE, he said they must be sure that the right conditions for their entry to the democratic process are created.
EROS wants a phased withdrawal of the IPKF and a complete demilitarisation of the north and east. However, he added, the entry of the Indian troops brought a feeling that there was security for the Tamil people. As it is, he remarked, "I think the IPKF is required. But it is up to the Tamil leadership as well as the Sri Lankan government to see that the conditions necessary for the IPKF's presence are removed and we could live in this country in peace as equals.'
He said EROS was driven to take up arms when there were no democratic means to remove the injustices against the Tamils. "We hope we can resolve this without going back to the way we were. We would resort to all possible means of expressing our dissatisfaction. I don't exclude the armed struggle,” he also said.
EROS, he said was not under threat from anybody either to attend or not to attend Parliament.
They did not take part in the provincial council elections since they felt nothing would be achieved by it, he said, adding that this was borne out by the statement made by the chief Minister of North East Province.
He said that in their talks with the President they had raised the issue of the continued imprisonment of 140 Tamil political prisoners, including 45 EROS members, in spite of the general amnesty granted under the Peace Accord and their laying down of arms.
The President had said he was unaware of the situation and that he would consider it and take necessary action, Mr. Raji said.
The others who were at the news conference were Ilayathamby Ratnasabapathy MP, for Jaffna and Central Committee member, Sivapragasam Ratnaraja, MP for Trinocomalee and S. Darwood Basheer, an MP for Batticaloa from the national list.

Page 5
ARCH 1989
MADRAS NEWSLETTER.
WHAT WILL KARUNANID
Ever since the DMK stormed back into power in Tamil Nadu in the third week of January, Karunanidhi-watching has become a major political pursuit among not only the Indian media, but also among Eelam Tamils, among Tamil expatriates in several countries in the world, and why, among Sinhalese in Sri Lanka as well. What A ill Karunanidhi do, or mot do, on the Sri Lankan Tamil question? - that has been the question on the lips of housands of people. The range of enotions on his return to power varies from triumphant euphoria to cautious eptimism, from disturbed feelings to ine of positive fear, depending on each person's political conditioning, each person's capacity for mature assessment, and of course each one's selfinterest. When it comes to public personalities, how fascinating it is to see that while the person is one, the differng external images of him add up to a hundred and one Let us document whatever has happened in the one nonth since the DMK's return to powSr. the various perceptions by various people, as well as the DMK leader's wn visible thinking and actions on the problems of the Eelam Tamils.
On assuming office, Mr. Karunaridhi’s first comments on the Sri Lankan Tamil question were guarded, but positive and encouraging, from the amil point of view. He used the expression “the people of Tamil Eelam’, not Sri Lankan Tamils - a semantic efference but nevertheless significant. He made specificc reference to LTTE eader Prabhakaran, and he assured Eelam Tamils that his party, in office rout of it, would never let them down. He was guarded when he said that he sould discuss the issue with the Cenrai government and try to bring about complete peace' in the Tamil areas. Talking to reporters, he said that the peace achieved was not complete, as he LTTE was still holding out. He ould try to find out what reservations the LTTE leader Mr Prabhakaran had about the provincial elections held recently in the Tamil areas and on the ow installed Tamil administration. Mr. Karunanidhi said that because he vras not in power all these years, he ould not keep track of the Centre's noves and had no opportunity to know the nature of the talks the Centre had rth the LTTE, the Sri Lanka government and various other organisations a different stages. Now that the apportunity has come to me, I will rise it, he said. Asked whether he
still supported til demand, he circ tion but said that to have it as its g view favouring a would bring all th Eelam, he said permanent soluti talk without any ly to a questio Prabhu Chawla Will you provide Tamil Tigers as M Money cannot b arms and bloods come only throug wisdom in which contest.
Now how does
he has said? Firs tantly, whatever action-oriented th case of giving co to questions, load pressmen are ha to. In short, he gi a man fully seize and that he inten a sense of respor kept the LTTE a karan in the cen the time. There w behind the actual of the LTTE was tion that had to b not Tamil Eelam. prepared to hug t had returned to projected by the and the Indian of
While the LT react to the DMK the statements m others volunteer Mr. Amirthaling Secretary Genera UNI in Colombo. more careful in p tion. He knows upset what has b Tamils under the do anything to u said; "DMK's victo sent a message Karunanidhi. Mr “He will have eno own. They will no what is happening a spill-over to Tam correspondent Su writing to the II (Jan.26) reported: has sent shock w; Sinhalese think th nidhi in the sad
 

TAMIL TIMES 5
HI DO2
ne “separatist Eelam umvented the questhe LTTE continued oal. There was also a narrangement which le benefits of a Tamil . For achieving a on both sides should reservations'. In repn by senior editor of INDIA TODAY -
financial aid to the IGR did?', he replied: uy peace, only more hed. A solution can h negotiations' - the statement no one will
one interpret all that tly, and most imporhe said reflected an hinking. It was not a nventional responses ed or otherwise, that abitually accustomed ves the impression of 2d with the problem, ds to act, but act with isibility. Secondly he nd its leader Prabhatre of the picture all 7as no attempt to get lity that the attitude central to any solube found, even if it be Thirdly, he was not he illusion that peace the north-east as Indian government ficial media.
TE did not publicly election victory or to ade by Karunanidhi, ed their comments. gam (now the ex-) ul of the TULF told
"I think he will be ower than in opposithat one could not een achieved by the
accord and will not ndo it. The EPRLF ry is our victory and congratulating Mr. '. Thondaman said: ugh problems of his t be concerned about here unless there is nil Nadu”. A Colombo geeswara Senadhira DECCAN HERALD
"The DMK's victory aves here and many hat with M. KarunaIdle, the Liberation
Tigers of Tamil Eelam might get their sanctuary back in Tamil Nadu to train militants and wage war' on Sri Lanka. He quoted an unnamed SLFP member as saying:'Karunanidhi's statement that the DMK government would not disappoint LTTE leader Prabhakaran and the people of Tamil Eelam has confirmed our fears'. The largest circulated English daily, THE ISLAND, took up the war cry and urged strengthening the security forces "to combat the threat the country may have to face in the future'. The newspaper reminded its readers “when Prabhakaran forsook his godfather's (MGR's) patronage refusing to accept the dictates of New Delhi, Mr. Karunanidhi extended his support to the LTTE'. The SUN sounded less dismal. It said the people of Sri Lanka expect Mr. Karunanidhi to be decidedly different from his predecessor MGR, who it said was the 'godfather of terrorism'. A senior member of the ruling UNP was on the other hand quite sure that the DMK will not interfere. "They do not care for Sri Lankan Tamils. Now that he is Chief Minister he will change his line. when in power he told the then Sri Lankan Tamil leader Chelvanayakam not to ask for his support, and advised him to settle the Tamil problem with the Sri Lankan leaders in Colombo; not only that, as the Chief Minister, Mr.Karunanidhi did not hesitate to hand over the topmost Tamil militant leaders Kuttimani and Thangadurai to Sri Lanka”.
That being the spectrum of assessments (some of them sounding like whistling in the dark), based on assumptions and reactions to whatever statements made by Karunanidhi, let us see what initiatives had been taken on the part of the DMK leadership. One of the first requests in this connection came from Mr. Amirthalingam. Flying down to Madras in the midst of his election campaign', Mr. Amirthalingam met Mr. Karunanidhi on February 4, and requested him to appeal to the LTTE to give up violence and return to the mainstream of politics. Much play was given to this meeting in the columns of THE HINDU, but other reports indicate that Mr. Karunanidhi was not impressed. On the following day when he met newsmen at Anna Arivalayam (a few days before his departure to Delhi) he made his position clear "It was not correct to say the LTTE was indulging in violence, he said, when asked about TULF secretary-general A. Amirthalingam's appeal to him for steps to end the Tiger violence. The IPKF should stop its operations resulting in violence and confrontation with the LTTE (INDIAN EXPRESS: Feb 6). After meeting the Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, Mr. Karunanidhi made his party's position more explicit in a briefing to New Delhi pressmen on February 8. Here are extracts of a report in the INDIAN EXPRESS of

Page 6
6 TAMIL TIMES
February 10. "At his press conference, news men asked him a number of questions on the Sri Lankan Tamil issue. Mr.Karunanidhi explained the stand of the DMK: the Sri Lankan Tamils believed that Tamil Eelam would be the remedy for their suffering, and if the problem could be solved without recourse to that remedy he and his party would be very happy. To a specific question, Mr Karunanidhi replied; “Tamil Eelam is the ideal of Mr.V. Prabhakaran and if he gets that, all concerned will be happy. At the same time the DMK would not like the present situation of violence to continue. It wants the Lankan Tamils issue settled through negotiations involving all groups, including the LTTE". Asked about the withdrawal of the IPKF from Sri Lanka Mr. Karunanidhi told another questioner: "It is wrong to say that the LTTE alone is responsible for the violence in Sri Lanka. The war between the LTTE and the IPKF is the main reason for violence and this war should be stopped".
It was very clear that the Indian Prime Minister had gone out of the way to accommodate Mr. Karunanidhi during the latter's stay in the capital. Apart from two successive days' meetings, the second lasting 40 minutes without aides, Mr. Rajiv Gandhi had deputed Minister of State for External Affairs Natwar Singh to brief Mr. Karunanidhi on the various steps taken by the Centre in respect of the Sri Lankan Tamil issue, which briefing had lasted one and a half hours. Although Mr. Karunanidhi had remained tight-lipped about the outcome of all the three meetings, there has been considerable speculation about the nature of the dialogue between the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister. While Mr. Karunanidhi had advocated talks with the LTTE, Mr. Rajiv Gandhi is believed to have said that any new initiative had to wait till the Sri Lankan Parliamentary elections were over and nothing should be done to disturb that process. Mr Karunanidhi had apparently accepted that position, which it was probably that made him say he would resume his discussions with the PM after February 15. A New Delhi corresspondent P.P. Balachandran writing to the Bombay weekly, THE SUNDAY OBSERVER said: “. . . During his recent talks with the central leaders on the Sri Lankan issue, one of the assurances chief minister Karunanidhi sought, in return for soft-pedalling the Tamil Eelam issue, and which New Delhi agreed to, that any IPKF offensive should see to it that the LTTE chief is not eliminated. In other words, New Delhi assured the Tamil Nadu chief minister that the IPKF would only play hide-and-seek with the LTTE leader but would never kill him even if the hide-and-seek game were to take a few hundred more lives on the Indian
side. The IPKF ca. attempt to captur senior army comm is naive to expect of Prabhakaran tenacity will surre take his own life i
On the question talks there has be although at the t this, nearly ten da the Sri Lankan ele a new hesitation or the Prime Ministel cause the New Di the electoral outc have gone haywire pectation, havi spadework, that alliance would car with them has beel makes Mr. Karun on that the LTTE s talks more plausibl on the part of Mr. K another story altog
That has everytl ebullient DMK M wamy. A known T tical firebrand and assment not only ti in Delhi but at tim leader in Tamil N wamy was suddenly landed in "Tamil Ee of his secret visit ( periodical. While p buzzing with rumc ture and intention general secretary made a statemento Mr. Gopalaswamy v gone to Sri Lanka. the party's permissi Anbazhagan said had not consulted president, but had l on his own accord. connected with the visit anything to do Mr. Karunanidhi h. the Sri Lankan issu otherwise, on the s overall commander had called on Mr. residence. It could h courtesy call, but tl that there was mo Two days later, res tion from Congres Kumari Anandan i Assembly, the Chi ated what Anbazha lier, adding that had neither sought had he sent him v The INDIAN EXP ing this, also report been granted by th Commission in Mad sure, the reporter ( unnecessary padd viously an LTTE m sent unofficially b Madras with the Ce

MARCH 1989
, however, make an him alive. But as a under points out, "It at a guerilla leader motivation and der meekly and not stead”. f the resumption of n no word about it, me of my writing s have passed since .ions. There is now, the part of both; on s side, possibly behi calculations on me in north-east
The confident exg done all the the TULF-EPRLF y most of the seats belied; which only anidhi's contention hould be invited for e. As for hesitation arunanidhi, that is ether.
ing to do with the P, Mr.V. Gopalasiger backer, a polia constant embarMr. Rajiv Gandhi es even to his own adu. Mr. Gopalast discovered to have lam”. The first hint ame from a Tamil olitical circles were urs about the naof his visit, DMK K. Anbazhagan n February 19 that who had reportedly had not obtained on for the visit. Mr. Mr Gopalaswamy him or the party's undertaken the trip It was in no way DMK, nor had his with the talks that ad been holding on 2. Coincidentally or ame day the IPKF Lt. Gen. Kalkat arunanidhi at his ave been a routine Le popular belief is e to it than that. ponding to a quess-I deputy leader n the Tamil Nadu »f Minister reitergan had said earMr. Gopalaswamy his permission, nor 'ith any message. ESS while reportd that no visa had Sri Lankan High ras. For good meaoncluded with the ng-up that "prember Johnny was the Tigers from tre's help to meet
leader Prabhakaran in Sri Lanka, but he was killed under mysterious circumstances enroute on the island". Before the public statements came from the DMK hierarchy, the belief is held that it was "Kalaignar" himself who had secretly sent Mr. Gopalaswamy with a message for Mr. Prabhakaran. While puzzled observers are now wondering what to make out of all these, a friend of this writer who knows Mr. Gopalaswamy well, asserts that a firebrand he may be, but Mr. Gopalaswamy is a disciplined party functionary, and that he would never place himself in any state of confrontation with his own leader. Whatever that may be, Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi cannot be expected to be pleased about the whole affair. At this stage, one does not know when the resumption of talks between him and the Chief Minister would take place, but there is no doubting the possibility that Mr. Gospalaswamy would be Item No.1 on the agendal.
IPKF OFFENSIVE AGAINST LITTE
The Indian Peace Keeping Force, after months of low level operations mounted intensive military operations against what it describes as LTTE fortifications, bunkers and hideouts in the Vavuniya and Mullaitivu areas.
The LTTE has alleged that the IPKF was using aircraft and helicopters to bomb the areas indiscriminately setting the villages aflame and causing heavy civilian casualties. The statement said that over one hundred civilians had been killed and several hundreds of families have evacuated the areas as refugees.
The statement added that thousands of Indian and Sri Lankan troops in combined operations backed by artillery and tanks had been putting up fierce resistance. In one incident alone at least 10 IPKF men were killed following an explosion of a landmine planted by the LTTE.
Although Indian authorities denied reports of civilian casualties and claimed to have killed about 50 to 60 LTTE men for the loss of 8 IPKF men, civilian sources from the areas affected confirm that several Tamil civilians including women have been killed in the operations. Reports also indicated that the IPKF blocked all access roads to Nithiyakaikulam to prevent any fresh supplies reaching the LTTE and to ensure that LTTE men did not sli out into other areas, and conducted, house to house searches of houses in the area.
The IPKF offensive against the LTTE began on March 2 after pressure from the Sri Lankan government following several violent incidents in the course of which several Sinhalese civi lians had been kilied in the Nort Central Province during previou weeks.

Page 7
MARCH 1989
EROS/EDF SEEKS
OF INDO-SRL
The candidates who contested as an Independent Block in north-east Sri Lanka upon thirteen seats in the recently held general elections and they belonged to the Eelam Revolutionary Organisation of Students (EROS), a Tamil militant group which has suspended armed struggle since the signing of the Indo-Sri Lanka Agreement in July 1987.
Generally internecine armed conflicts have dogged the relationship among Tamil militant groups, but EROS has successfully avoided such conflicts with the LTTE and their relations have been reported to be cordial. The LTTE called upon the Tamils to boycott the elections, while the EROS, which could not register itself in time as a political party fielded candidates in the elections. In this interview, the official representative of EROS in London, Ravi Suntharalingam, covers a wide range of subjects including their position on the Indo-Sri Lanka Agreement, relationship with the LTTE, success of their candidates at the elections and their proposals for a National Conference of all Tamil groups as a means of creating unity.
Q: EROS was reported to have formed itself into a political party called the Eela var Democratic Front (EDF) sometime ago. What was the reason to put up candidates in the recent elections as independents?
A: Before we could register the EDF as a political party with the Commissioner of Elections, nominations for the elections were called and therefore our candidates had to contest as an independent bloc. If we had the chance to register it in time, they would have contested under the EDF banner.
EDF was conceived as a political front in the hope that one day all or most of the Tamil political groups could be part of it. It is neither the political wing of nor a cover for EROS. It is meant to be a genuine forum of all Tamil groups on the basis of certain agreed principles and positions in regard to the Indo-Sri Lanka Agreement (ISLA) and other issues affecting the Tamil people. Because of different approaches among Tamil militant groups about the ISLA, some are referred to as pro-Indian and others anti-Indian. We do not accept this categorisation.
Not anti-Indian
Q: You may not agree. But the view that some of them are pro-Indian and others anti-Indian is widely held. Eros has long been known to have had close liaison with India on most matters. Has that relationship become somewhat strained due to recent developmentS?
A. No. It is an important question. At no time have we regarded India as our enemy. We are clear in our view that the interests and security of the Tamil speaking people are very much tied with the security interests of India and the Indian Ocean region. The considerations which apply to the security interests of India cannot be regarded as contradictory to those of the Tamil people. However, they have got their own internal affairs, for Ahich purpose they might want, for instance, to develop friendly relations with socialist countries. That is not to say that we will become anti-Indian. In fact, in a security sense, we can be regarded as pro-Indian. But that does not mean that India can, through its various institutions, intimidate us to accept everything they think is right for the Tamil people in respect of their Internal affairs. O: By participating in the recent elections, has EROS/EDF accepted the ISLA as a basis for settling fe ethnic Conflict?

TAM TIMES 7
RENEGOTATION ANKA ACCORD
A: Not at all. When the ISLA was conceived, it was thought of as providing an interim solution and we accept that thinking. The Tamil speaking people have a right to an interim solution within the unitary state of Sri Lanka. In the exercise of that right, the people should decide that. No single group can decide that. That is why we participated in the elections. It is in accord with our accepted theory - one country but two nations. We are not seeking separation by barb-wire fencing. However, our position is that the ISLA requires fundamental rectification before it is accepted as forming the basis of even as an interim solution.
issues for negotiation Q: In what matters should the SLA be rectified.
A: Firstly, the issue of the merger of the northern and eastern provinces. The present arrangements for the merger are temporary and not satisfactory. Even the Chief Minister of the North-East Provincial Council said recently that these arrangements and the institutions now in place would collapse the moment India pulled out of Sri Lanka.
Secondly, colonisation of Tamil areas which is still continuing. Even the areas from which the Tamil people had been displaced during the last few years have been and are being colonised. The oppression of the Tamil people was sought to be perpetrated through colonisation. A proper answer to this vital issue has to be found.
Thirdly, the rights of plantation Tamils. Although recent legislation affords citizenship rights to the so-called stateless persons, there are thousands of plantation Tamils who applied for Indian citizenship some 15 or 20 years/ ago under the terms of the Srima-Shastri Pact which was entered into over the heads of the affected people. Though their applications were not even acknowledged, they are supposed to be pending and these people are presumed to be Indian citizens and hence to be repatriated against their will. In fact the ISLA provides for their repatriation. We cannot forget the circumstances in which these people were forced to make their applications. At that time they were facing attacks by gangs of hoodlums instigated by Sinhala chauvinists. The so-called leader of these people, Mr. Thondaman, too was going around saying that India was a safer place. Now he seems to have changed his mind. Sensing our increasing support among plantation Tamils, he has also begun to act as if he is supporting the claims of these people for citizenship. Q: What is the number of people falling into this category? A: Approximately 240,000 in all which include all those who applied some 15 or 20 years ago together with their natural increase. In addition to this there is another category. Those who have already been repatriated to India in past years and who are undergoing great hardship. They also should be given the option to return to Sri Lanka and be granted all their rights.
Fourthly, the package for the devolution of powers does not represent an adequate response to the aspirations of the Tamil speaking people and therefore has to be rectified.
Muslim unit
Q: You talk about fundamental renegotiation of the ISLA. How did you think that legislation including constitutional amendments providing for what you
Continued on Page 9

Page 8
8 TAMIL TIMES
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MARCH 1989
Continued from Page 7
ask for can be enacted by the present parliament where the ruling party does not possess the required majority? A: It is not a question only for the ruling party. All those who think that the Tamil speaking people are part and parcel of Sri Lanka should support whatever legislation is required for the purpose. The left parties have already indicatd their support to the ISLA and devolution of powers and we hope to get their support. The manifesto under which the SLFP leader Mrs. S. Bandaranaike contested the presidential election had some positive elements in regard to the question of devolution of powers. The SLFP also should be drawn into the negotiating process. We also have to take into account the concerns expressed by the Muslims. Although they are Tamil speaking, they want to be indentified as Muslims and we must recognise that.
Q: The question of the need to constitute a distinct Muslim Unit in the eastern province has been raised. What is your position? A: We respect the views of the Muslim people, but we hold the view that the Muslims are Eelavar too. When we formulated the concept of Eelavar (all Tamil Speaking people living in Eelam), instead of Tamils, which sounded chauvinistic, we foresaw these problems. The negotiations and agreements of Muslim political organisations have had with Tamil groups including us, and the manner in which the Muslim people had voted manifest a clear expression that the future of the Muslim people is bound up with that of the Tamil people.
Surprise victory Q: EROS/EDF won 13 seats in the recent elections. It surprised many and upset several predictions. What is the secret of this success?
A: The surprise is that those who contested against us also won a number of seats. In fact we should have won many more seats if not for the acts of foul play by our so-called opponents. But we do not regard them as our real opponents except for the fact that they were involved in contests in these elections.
Those who are surprised at our success did not have any idea of the work we have done amongst the people to win their hearts and minds; they are those who are prone to making shallow judgements on bits of information they receive from here and there without understanding the realities of the situation. Obviously, the degree of xenophobia which afflicted the minds of Tamils who live abroad, particularly evident in their glorification of violence, suffered from a lack of insight into the real problems faced by the people and the way they were thinking and feeling. They thought that guns and grenades were the determining factor obviously misunderstanding the meaning and context of Mao's much publicised quote - political power flows from the barrel of the gun. Q: How come that even independent commentators expressed surprise at your success?
A: Obviously, all along there has been an underestimation of the support EDROS had among the people until the elections proved otherwise. No body, including analysts and commentators, had the means of testing the popular wish. The daily propaganda of the many Tamil groups did not help in properly reflecting the people's thoughts and feelings. Even the people in Eelam itself were not in a position to assess the situation correctly because the media was not free, and in fact was not allowed to be free. The news media was pre-occupied with the phenomenon of violence - the incidents of violence and the parties or groups involved in such incidents and the tragic consequences resulting from such violence - and therefore did not reflect the true feelings of the people. Those who relied for

TAMIL TIMES 9
information on media reports also suffered from this distorted picture.
Even among Tamil militant groups there was a misconception about the use of violence. They do not understand that there is another way. That is, you do not use the gun all the time. It is there to be used at a specific time to achieve a specified purpose. It is that extra bit that may be needed. But it is not the total way.
Our position is that the people should have the central role in our struggle. If they are cowards let them be so; if they are not let them come forward. But they alone must decide for themselves in terms of their own interests - how far and how fast they want to go, when they want to stop and rest, and when they want to go further. As leaders of an organisation, what we must do is to guide them and tell them, "Look, this is the time you have to be aware, this is the time we must move, this is the opportune time to acieve some success, and therefore come forward.' That is our role. We should not be like shepherds to go behind the people and chase them with guns and bullets and force them forward. Genuine support of the people and real success in politics cannot be achieved that way.
We regard the EROS victory at the elections as a victory of the people. We are the only group which really understood the mood of the people at different levels and at different times. During these elections it has been tested and we have been proved right.
LTTE's boycott call
Q: Is it true that the LTTE wanted your candidates to withdraw before the elections in support of their boycott call?
A: It is a delicate question and I have to answer it carefully. We had talks with all the groups before the elections. We informed them about what we were going to do. It was necessary for us to do so since we had handed over all our weapons to India. Other groups still possessed large quantities of weapons. Our leaders and members have been walking around among the people without weapons. They were not seeking or carrying weapons. We did so to keep our undertaking to India as the guarantor that we would not hinder the process of democratisation of the society. That did not mean that EROS could ignore any violent threat to itself from the EPRLF, LTTE, IPKF or any other group or faction. We made it clear that we would put up candidates through the EDF. WE decided to discuss it with all the groups including representatives of citizens committees, trade unions etc. who understood the problems facing the people and to decide on candidates to contest the elections by accepting the basic principles of the EDF.
We approached the LTTE to see whether they would be interested in making the election a success. Obviously they chose to interpret the electoral process differently. They had the right to do so. LTTE may have informally tried to persuade us that it that it would not be right to participate in the elections as it would be rigged etc., but as far as I know there was no such official request. Whether there were threats or not is not the question. But the fact is that we did not succumb to any threats from any group. We contested on the basis of our own principles as much as other groups like the EPRLF, TELO, ENDLF or LTTE had the right to do what they wanted to do on the basis of their politicies.
I also must say that the candidates we put up were not necessarily all members of EROS. Among those who contested and won there were only 4 or 5 who could be regarded as active members of EROS. The others were selected on the basis that those who had been with and worked among the people all these years must be given a chance. Whether the LTTE threatened us or not has now become irrelevant because, after the elections it was the EPRLF which mounted attacks on

Page 10
JU IAMIL IIMES
our members. We look at the LTTE much more positively than the EPRLF at the moment. However, objectively we do not regard any group as our enbemy.
Victory for the people
it is alleged that EROS got the votes on the claim that its candidates had the support of the LTTE and to that extent the people were deceived. is that true?
A: Let me make it clear that genuine LTTE members and those who truly understand the LTTE's position will not make such irresponsible statements. I do not like to comment in uninformed propoganda because we wish to look at the future in a much more positive and constructive manner rather than indulging in petty squabbles. The LTTE and EROS may not be agreed on all fundamental questions, but we do not look at each other as enemies but as friends. EROS does not monopolise this election victory for itself. It is a victory for all those who believed that the elections would mean something to the people. The elections represented a stage at which people had the opportunity to express themselves. Only petty men begin to analyse as what vote belonged to whom and it is rather unfortunate.
The fact is that the LTTE called for a boycott. The people who are strictly members or supporters of the LTTE would have obviously obeyed this call. A lot of people did not vote and it is possible that there were supporters of the LTTE among those who did not vote. It is also possible that some of the LTTE supporters voted for the EDF candidates not because we deceived them, but perhaps they understood that it was the only way to express the acceptance of the principles of the EDF, and these are (a) The Tamil speaking people constitute a nation; (b) Withdrawal of the IPKF and the Sri Lankan security forces from the north and east within a time frame; and (c) Setting up a National Conference to resolve the question of inter-group rivalries and unnecessary shedding of blood among Tamils. I must add that it is a substantial victory for EROS because we withstood the pressure from various quarters who expected that we should nor participate in the elections.
PKF withdrawal
a: Does EROS subscribe to the view that the IPKF should withdraw immediately?
A: No, not at all. We are seeing a situation in which one faction is being armed by the IPKF in order to achieve certain political ends, and we do not think this is the right way of going about things. However, the Tamil speaking people have not developed their strength in regard to their own security to withstand any attack or pressure from some quarters, may be from the Sri Lankan government or other organised groups from south Sri Lanka. Presently, therefore, we are not in a position to see the IPKF go, but India and IPKF should positively think towards their withdrawal within a time frame so that Tamil society becomes more democratic under which the people can elect their own representatives freely and without pressure and feel free in every sense. The unfortunate role played by the IPKF should be replaced with others like a force from the SAARC countries or a Commonwealth force, one should be alive to the security situation. In the interests of the Tamil speaking people and those of India and the region, we do not see the need to replace IPKF with some other force, but we would like the IPKF to leave withing a time frame.
For Tamil speaking people to reach the next stage in their goal, the groups must come together preferably through a National Conference where they can iron out their differences, reach an understanding and accept a framework for further work and thereby bring an end to their feuds and if this were to happen, the need for the continued presence of the IPKF or the Sri Lanka security forces would not be there.

MARCH 1989
Q: Some people allege that India is engaged in genocide against the Tamils of Sri Lanka. Do you agree? A: Genocide is an over used word which means many things to many people and very often misleads them. Using the word in the present context is to underestimate and give a wrong picture of the plight and suffering of the people under the Sri Lankan security forces. But, India's, no not India's, because India is using several of its institutions in regard to the solution of our problems, and one such institution is the IPKF, and I think your question concerns the IPKF, and we cannot say that the IPKF is committing genocide, but it has committed several excesses and attrocities against many people. By claiming that these be part of a campaign of genocide is to unwittingly fall into the trap concealing or mitigating the enormous crimes the Tamil people had to suffer under the Sri Lankan security forces.
Attending parliament? Q: Will your elected MPs attend Parliament?
A: Attending Parliament is not a big question for us. Although we are not separatists, we cannot accept the requirements of the Sixth Amendment and take the Oath of Allegiance foreswearing separatism. The question of separatism rests with the Tamil speaking people and not the government. However, in the present context, it would seem that Parliament is the only place we could find to raise, for instance, the problem that confronted us immediately after the elections when EPRLF men began attacking the members of our organisation. Personally, I would not want to take an entrenched position on the question of the EDF MPs attending Parliament. People have given us a mandate to speak on their behalf. We must seek the best way to air the people's grievances and sufferings. If the best way to do so is by attending Parliament, then our MPs will do so. In any event, the question of attending Parliament in the context of the Sixth Amendment has to be examined closely.
One of the main tasks is to create a situation in which the people are truly represented through the democratic means. Today we feel the LTTE is unfairly treated by the IPKF in some respects. Some of the political positions of the LTTE very much correspond to our positions. Without LTTE's participation, there could not be even an interim solution. Today their lives are being wasted. They do not have the opportunity to sit down and consider what they have to do in the future. We have to bring the LTTE back into the responsible democratic mainstream. This is one of the reasons why the EDF was formed. Now as elected representatives of the people, it will be the task of the EDF MPs to raise in Parliament the problems presently faced by the LTTE, and for this reason too it may perhaps be necessary for them to attend Parliament.
Q: How can the present confrontation between the IPKF and LTTE be brought to an end? A: Firstly, India should cause a ceasefire between the IPKF and LTTE and create the conditions suitable for negotiations. India must accept the fact that the LTTE has a role to play in the whole process. It has shown that it has support among the people many of whom did not vote at the elections. India and other groups should accept and respect that fact.
Secondly, the Indo-Sri Lanka Agreement has to be renegotiated. Such renegotiation cannot be between Sri Lanka and India, or for that matter India and any one particular group. We must bring all groups together on the platform of a National Conference where they could agree on a common framework and then a tripartite conference of representatives of India, Sri Lanka and
Continued on Page 15

Page 11
MARCH 1989
ETTERS
PUBLISHER KILLED
The body of M. Amirthalingam, founder of EELAMURASU, Tamil journal was found near Perumal temple in Jaffna on 14 Feb. Earlier on the same day about 6pm seven unidentified gunmen entered his Navalar Road residence, and took him for questioning. It is widely believed that this group was responsible for his murder near the temple.
He was the managing director of Thamilier Nithiyem, a privately owned bank, and during his last years he managed a factory run by a group of widows of pogrom victims. In 1977 he unsuccessfully contested as the United National Party candidate for Kayts constituency.
Founded in 1982 Eelamurasu soon established itself as a highly circulated Tamil daily newspaper in Northern part of Sri Lanka under the editorship of Mr.S. Thiruchelvem (Esthey), a prominent Tamil journalist in Sri Lanka.
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) brought the publication under their direct control and in 1987 when conflict broke out between the IPKF-LTTE, Indians blazed the press as their first operation against Tigers.
His last years were spent as the assistant land commissioner for Jaffna/Killinochi districts. It was ironic that the announcement of the revival of Eelamurasu publication was made on the day after his death.
He will be remembered by all journalists and writers who have entered the profession through Eelamurasu.
T.G. CONSTANTINE London E.6.
P.C. fOr Plantation TamilS
I am writing to point out one of the major omissions in the current IndoSri Lankan Pact. It makes no mention of any provisions to guarantee safety and justice for the Tamils of Indian origin, who have been toiling in the tea plantations since the British took them to Sri Lanka over 150 to 200 years ago.
At the time of independence in 1948 the Tamils of Indian origin were the second largest group in Sri Lanka. The indigenous Tamils were, in fact, the
third largest group, after the Sinhalese
and the Indian Tamils
The Gurukhas in Bengal, who arrived there during the last few decades, have been granted a Provincial Council to protect their rights. Instead of aiming for a similar set-up for the Indian Tamils in Sri-Lankan tea plantations, the Indian government seems to have ignored these Indians
Even now it is not too late to return all those Indian Tamils who have been
deported to India pacts between th Lankan governm bothered to consul fore sealing their
Indian Tamils live Provincial Council
the Gurukhas in B
The Indian Gove ise by now that t please the Sinhal their own Indian TI
An independent indigenous Tamils Council for the In a long way towarc for India in its sofi
Sutton P. Surrey
Tigers: K in Sri L The Indian Army saying that they v the Tamils in the they said they wer Tigers on the orde Jayewardene and with high sounding which were blow Tigers.
Enraged, they t the Provincial trumpeting that bring democracy a democracy in our
After the Provin fiasco, the pro-Ind stalled in power. not recognise the last general electic to paint some re cliques by involvin iacs TULF into the have given a clear of respectability ha the TULF cliques posed by the infig place there now.
On the other ha ter “Lion Flag” Pe over the Indian nothing has happe Provincial Counci mayed. Events ar prophecy of Prab true, regarding the general election, proved that nothin to the country with not late even no Tigers into the Prabhakaran is the Lanka.
Point Pedro.
An End to S
I am a faithful Times but I was really angry at above caption in issue.
 
 

TAMIL TIMES 11
under successsive Le Indian and Sri ents which never lt these victims be
fate, and let those
in dignity under a set up as granted to engal. rnment should realhey cannot forever ese by selling out" amis.
homeland for the s and a Provincial dian Tamils will go ls ensuring security t under belly.
Varothayasingham"
ey to peace anka
came into Sri Lanka were here to protect North & East. Later e here to unarm the ers of President J.R. mounted operations g Hindi names all of n sky high by the
ried their hands at Council elections, they came here to is if we had not had land.
cial Council election ian cliques were inBut the Tamils did cliques. During the on, the Indians tried 'spectability to the ng the election manpicture. The Tamils verdict and the garb as been stripped and s' nakedness is exhting that is taking
nd, the chief minisrumal is lamenting Radio that so far ned to activate the ls, and looks dise proving that the hakaran is coming e accord. In the last
the Tamils have g good could happen hout the Tigers. It is w to persuade the
main stream as a key to peace in Sri
M. Sukumar
tateleSSneSS
reader of the Tamil a little amused and an article with the your January, 1989,
The author states "Minister S. Thondaman must be congratulated for persuading the Government to adopt the new law to end statelessness'. This is far from the truth.
As a Minister for ten years under Jayawardene, Thondaman was unable to get the UNP to agree to end statelessness despite his pledge to the plantation workers in 1978 on accepting a port-folio that he would get the UNP to agree to end statelessness within a year. How was it then possible to get the UNP to agree to accept it now, after 10 (ten) years just before the Presidential and General Elections?
The UNP's options were limited. The Indian vote bank will join the Tamil militants! Thondaman is really the recipient of the fallout of the Tamil Militant struggle in th North and East of Sri Lanka, any sensible political observer will accept this. Let there be no illusion, that there has been a change of heart among the predominent UNP racialists or that Thondaman's struggle has resulted in the end of the stigma of the stateless. Pity that in the land of Buddhists and Hindus it was the barrel of the gun of the Northerner that brought justice to the plantation Tamils. I am one of them,
and I am not ashamed to be grateful to
the BOYS.
23 East Moor Wingate Garden Madras-26
V. RAJAN

Page 12
12 TAMIL TIMES
JA YA MWARDENE’S DAMMA
The damage that ex-President Jayawardene has done to Sri Lanka is both serious and long lasting. It will probably not be reversed for half a century, if ever. He has dismantled democracy, done lasting damage to the electoral system, reduced parliament to a farce, damaged a much respected legal system, created economic chaos, made the solving of the ethnic conflict almost impossible, precipitated a major civil war in the country and put India in a very difficult position. Above all, he has legitimised and institutionalised violence and made violence the only possible method of political protest, replacing the rule of law by the rule of the armed thug. At the last cabinet meeting over which he presided he rightly observed, "Whether we like it or not, terrorism in Sri Lanka has come to stay and we will have to live with it for the rest of our lives.' What should have been pointed out to him is that much of this is of his own making.
Institutionalisation of Violence When in 1977 Jayawardene allowed his Industries Minister, Cyril Mathew, to get together a band of hoodlums, the Jatika Sevaka Sangamaya (JSS), and encouraged them to intimidate all those who opposed, or indeed did not actively support, the UNP, he institutionalised violence. In the succeeding years, JSShoodlums with direct access to Minister Mathew, Minister Mohammed and Prime Minister (now President) Premadasa, ran amok in Colombo. They called themselves the “Trade Union wing of the UNP although it is doubtful whether these hoodlums knew what trade unionism was all about. Their numbers grew rapidly as members of other trade unions were intimidated into joining this "Trade Union'. As their numbers grew so did their power as more and more of these hoodlums found a place in Jayawardene’s administration and in government corporations. Senior government officials and even those in the private sector were intimidated and insulted by these hoodlums. The Head of State took no action to stop this deliberate flouting of the law. The police, law officers and even Supreme Court judges were not immune. The rule of law was, with presidential aquiescence, replaced by the rule of the political hoodlum.
In July 1983, JSS hoodlums under the direction of their masters in Jayawardene's cabinet, went about in a completely organised manner killing innocent Tamils in Colombo and destroying their property. For four days the President was silent. There was no call on the security forces to restore
Brian Senev
law and order. Whe appear on national was not a word of con hooligans or the atr committed. Not a sin been brought to book crime. Not only punished but not ever made to investigate Lanka's history. Jay carry the full respor Futhermore, there a tions as to the reas dene's reluctance to b lums to book. At is dene's own complicit murder.
In an incredible act ity, Jayawardene t arms to Sinhalese "Home Guard') and s Tamil areas to kill ar Tamils. These undis ment-armed hoodlum the law of the land.
When the murdero tremists of the Jar Per am una (JVP) Jayawardene banned for dramatic effect, h JVP leader to a duel failed to materialis these ruthless mur their group to the sta party and allowed t quite openly.
The institutionalis: for which Jayawarde sponsible is somethin be reversible for half ironically not only th! regime but will threat follow.
Jayawardene proce anti-Tamil hatred in generated a war of hy Sinhala people, portr whose President he a igners who had to b tarily. He thus took a which was self consci and turned it on its apostles of non-viole the instigators of viol
This is indeed a cri encouragement of Sil ism against innocent dene has done treme the good name of th By his failure to tak racist bigots like the his "Front for the Motherland', he has their murderous acti aged the formation treme Sinhalese grou
He has done simila Sri Lankan armed

MARCH 1989
GING CONTRIBUTION -
iratne
n he finally did television, there demnation of the ocities they had gle hoodlum has for this heinous vere they not an attempt was this blot on Sri "awardene must isibility for this. re obvious queson for Jayawarring these hoodsue is Jayawariy in this mass
, of irresponsibilhen distributed
hoodlums (the ent them to the ld intimidate the ciplined governs were set above
us Sinhalese exhatha Vimukthi reappeared, the JVP. Then e challenged the The duel having e, he pardoned derers, restored tus of a political hem to operate
ation of violence ne is directly reg which may not a century. It has reatened his own en the regimes to
eded to whip up the South and steria among the aying the Tamils lso was, as foree destroyed miliBuddhist culture pusly non-violent, head so that the nce now became ence.
me. By his active nhalese hooliganTamils, Jayawarndous damage to 2 Sinhala people. ce action against Rev. Sobitha and rotection of the in fact condoned vity and encourof even more expS. ur damage to the forces and the
(PART 1.
police. By active encourgement of their indiscipline and irresponsible behaviour, he has brought international contempt on the Sri Lankan security forces which will take years to undo.
Violence - a tool of political protest
Jayawardene has enshrined violence as the only available tool of political protest. In December 1983, he sacked the elected representatives of the Northern Tamils from parliament. With the removal of the democratic methods of protest, the only available method was violence.
He did the same in the South. When he cancelled the general election due in 1983 and replaced it with a rigged referendum, he denied the Sinhalese (and Tamil) people the democratic method of lodging their protest. The result was a massive uprising, allegedly JVP, but with major contributions from large numbers of dissatisfied people who had no other method of protest.
Damage done to the legal system
Jayawardene, himself a lawyer and the son of a Supreme Court judge, has insulted the Supreme Court and degraded the judiciary to an extent unknown in the long history of this proud and well-established judicial system. His 1978 Constitution dealt a severe blow to the independence of the judiciary. The Courts were put in a subordinate position without the power of the judicial review of executive action. Thus when the 6th Constitutional Amendment which seriously violated the civil rights of the Tamils was challenged in Court, the Supreme Court held that under the new Constitution it had no power to review this legislation.
Following the promulgation of the 1978 Constitution, Jayawardene locked out the Supreme Court judges from their chambers until they came to him on bended knees and took an oath of allegiance. It was an insult to the Supreme Court which is without parallel in any civilised country.
Over the next decade, judges of the Supreme Court were insulted to an extent that seriously undermined their authority. Hooligans transported in government vehicles intimidated and insulted judges whose judgements were not what the government wanted. Fines imposed by the Supreme Court on errant junior police officers were, on Jayawardene's instructions, paid by the government and disciplinary action replaced by promotions.
Setting himself up as a dictator.
Jayawardene did not merely appoint himself the Head of State, but he gave

Page 13
MARCH 1989
himself the powers of a dictator. He was the Head of the Executive and of the Government and the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces. He could dissolve Parliament. He appointed, and could remove, the Prime Minister and all the Ministers, the Head of the Army, the Navy, the Air Force and the Police. He appointed all public officers required by the Constitution and written laws. He appointed the Attorney General, the Chief Justice, the President of the Court of Appeal, all judges of the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal and the High Court. He conferred on himself immunity from legal action for anything done or committed to be done by him both in his official or private capacity. In 1983, at the 25th annual session of his party, he could boast that he was above parliament and the judiciary and that the Prime Minister and the Cabinet were at his command. By 1985, he had taken over the Ministries of Defence, Plan Implementation, Janatha Estates Development, State Plantations, Higher Education, Power and Energy. What more was needed to make him a dictator is unclear.
Violating the Constitution of Sri Lanka
Jayawardene violated his own constitution to satisfy his ego and personal ambitions. Article 30 of the 1978 Constitution stated that the President 'shall hold office for a term of six years'. This meant that there was a constitutional restraint on the President's power to renew his term before the expiry of six years (ie February 1984). In practical terms it meant that Jayawardene could not pick an advantageous time to have himself re-elcted as President. In July 1982, he fixed' this by amending the Constitution (the Third Amendment) which enabled the President at any time after the expiration of four years after the commencement of the first term of office by Proclammation declare his intention of appealing to the people for a mandate to hold office by election for a further term. The Amendment obtained the necessary two-third majority from Jayawardene’s docile parliament and became law on 27th April 1982. The same day, Jayawardene issued a procammation that he intended to obtain a mandate for a further term. Significantly, his major political opponent, Mrs. Sirima Bandaranaike, was presented from running for the Presideny because Jayawardene had deprived her of her civic rights. Not only could she not campaign and hold public office out she could not even support any one else who did.
The 1982 Presidential election was conducted with the entire government apparatus (government vehicles, manpower and the State-controlled media) restructed to support the incumbent President. This and other serious irre
gularities made th tion a farce.
In October 19 amended the Con (the Fourth Amen concern for he di Lanka. The 4th A the life of parliame a Referendum wit General Election. that followed wa Emergency Laws rigging which put doubt. Only 38% o
for the continuat:
ment. 32% voted 2.4million people ( get to the polls beca tion by governmen Even Jayawardene er of Elections, has conduct of the Ref. Intimidating t
In 1977 soon afte over the country anaike, he set ab from the political "Court bypassing and the Court of . Bandaranaike for power. When the issued a Writ of Jayawardene’s “Cc the Constitution ment) to restrict t court to issue writ sure that there wal Bandaranaike, Ja futher legislation annulled the findi Court. With a newl Jayawardene accep his "Court' and in Banaranaike of h seven years. This parliament and als SCehe.
The only oppos now came from th soon fixed this by , stitution (the Seco make it impossible party which had r from the people of the establishment to continue. This to Constitutional am the entire TULF a opposition from pa Opposition even was not tolerated. tion meetings wer up and the partici government-direct
Castrating the Sri
Jayawardene ha tled democracy in reduced parliamen Jayawardene’s 19' placed the authori that of the Execu position to which h himself. The politi both Sinhalese an

TAMIL TIMES 13
Presidential elec- opted to be governed by a parliamen
were seriously violated. 32, Jayawardene As has been mentioned, he removed
titution yet again the leader of the Opposition in parliament) without any ment, the leader of the main Sinhalese Image done to Sri Opposition party and the entire Tamil mendment enabled Opposition from parliament. He even nt to be doubled by silenced the members of parliament of out the need for a his own party by obtaining undated
The Referendum letters of resignation from them on the
conducted under dubious grounds that he should be in a with a degree of position to reconstitute the governhe overall result in ment party. He thus reduced parliathe country voted ment to a rubber stamp. Parliamentaon of the govern- rians were now mere spectators as the against and some affairs of the State were run according 0%) could not even to the whims and fancies of a single use of the intimida- individual. t-backed hoodlums. Part 2 next issue 's own Commission
been critical of the Dr. Ratnam - a rendum. O O he Opposition versatile genius
r Jayawardene took . . . from Mrs Bandar- : “The late Dr. James T. Ratnam was an out removing her educationist who was the live-wire of scene. He set up a research activities. Though he did not he Supreme Court graduate himself from any recognised Appeal to “try' Mrs university, he emerged as a versatile
alleged abuses of genius.”
Court of Appeal. This tribute was paid by Bishop Prohibition against Ambalavama when he unveiled a porurt, he amended trait of the late Dr. James T. Ratnam the First Amend- at the Evelyn Institute, Thirunelvely
he right of Appeal at a memorial meeting in honour of Dr. s. To make doubly Ratnam.
s no escape for Mrs Continuing the Bishop said that he Yಖ್ಖ lived his life based on certain high W ့် thီ” A. principles which were worthy of ngs oI une Appea emulation by our countrymen. He dey bestowed legality, dicated all his wealth to the educationoted the findings of all progress of the succeeding genera1980 stripped Mrs tions. Unlike most of the educationists er civic, ght for of Sri Lanka, who sought greener removed her from pastures with self-interest, Dr. Rato from the political nam stuck to the land of his birth and
spent his life on research works.
ition in parliament Professor S. Chittampalam of the e Tamil party. He Jaffna University said that the late Dr. amending the Con- Ratnam was a man of perfection. He
nd Amendment) to saw to it that any work he undertook for the main Tamil was completed with satisfaction and eceived a mandate perfection. Though he could have lived he North to pursue the life of a Zamindar, he donated all of a separate state, his wealth to the cause of education. tally unacceptable Mr. Rajan Kadiragamar, Principal endment removed Emeritus, Jaffna College, said that Dr. ld the leader of the Ratnam should be remembered with liament. gratitude for the large number of outside parliament books he donated to the Jaffna library. Legitimate Opposi- The donation is now a part of the e regularly broken property of the community. He loved pants assaulted by Jaffna, the Jaffna College and the 'd hoodlums. Church.
Lankan Parliament The following were elected to the s not only disman- Council of Management of the Evelyn Sri Lanka but has Ratnam Institute for Inter Cultural to a rubber stamp. Studies:- Prof. A. Pathmanathan - '8 Constitution re- Director, Rt. Rev D.J. Ambalavanar, y of parliament by Dr. S. Jebanesan, Mr. A. Kadirgamar, tive President - a Mr V. Sivasamy, Dr. K. Sittampalam, e quickly promoted Mr A. Rajasingham, Dr.(Mrs) M. 'al rights of people, Arudchelvam. Mr. K. Gunaratnam, d Tamils, who had and Mr. Leslie Bartlett.

Page 14
14 TAM TIMES
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Page 15
MARCH 1989
NEW TAMIL WEEKLY IN JAFFNA
A new Tamil weekly - "Thisai” has made its appearance in Jaffna and is published by New Era Publications Ltd., the publishers of SATURDAY REVIEW, the English weekly which is now temporarily out of publication.
LTTE DENIES ARMS SUPPLY CHARGE
The LTTE has denied the charge made by the former Andhra Pradesh Home Minister that it had supplied weapons to Naxalites in the State. An LTTE statement issued in London said: "It was only the members of those movements fostered by the Rajiv government for the purpose of liquidating the Tigers used weapons like AK 47 on Indian soil, and indulged in anti-social activities. Some of them sold weapons. The LTTE is short of arms. It is forced to face the fourth biggest army in the world and in such a situation, the Tigers value their weapons more than their lives. It is ready to buy weapons, not to sell them.”
DIPLOMATI
The Sri Lank granted full dip to the Palestin nisation in Colo
AF AR BA
The Indian Air F up a major air b ing the Tiruchi capital outlay rupees.
ELEPHAN REC
The 13-year old named Indiraja, Lanka as a pos Lanka's most r which died last ombo to a high spending 39 hou
Continued from Page 10
Tamil groups should take place where the negotiations can be carried out.
Thirdly, the LTTE and EPRLF and other Tamil groups must understand and accept the people's wish - they do not want armed confrontation to continue. They must stop the fighting and feuding and also give up certain entrenched positions they have hitherto held unreasonably and participate in the National Conference we are proposing.
Media censorship
Q: Earlier you referred to control and censorship of newspapers circulated in Tamil areas.
A: Yes. The situation is not different now. Whether it was done before the Agreement or is done now makes no difference. If the people have no credible means of knowing what is actually happening, obviously people will not come forward. People are not stupid to believe the mere propaganda of any group or groups which have developed their own vested interests and in pursuit of such interests try to ensure that news reports are suppressed or distorted or exaggerated.
Once we accept that the people and their views are the most important factor, there are certain principles that go with it, and one such basic principle is the freedom of the press. We believe that the media should always be genuinely free. Even if the media is against us they should remain free. They should have the right to write what they like. But what we would seek is a chance to say that they are wrong about us and put our own views across to the people. The fact of the matter is that papers published in Eelam had been controlled and censored by one group or the other depending on who dominated the area at a given time.
Some groups believe that by purely controlling, censoring or manipulating the news media, they could somehow dominate society and cause a conscious change. That is a mistake. First of all, we must trust the people, respect them as individuals and as well as social animals. Otherwise we would not know whether
 

TAMIL TIMES 15
C STATUS FOR
PLO
an government has lomatic representation ian Liberation Orgambo.
SE FoRTIRUCHI
orce has decided to set base in Tiruchi adjoin
airport, involving a of several crores of
T GIVEN VIP DEPTION
tusker elephant, regifted by India to Sri sible successor to Sri evered elephant Raja year, arrived in Col-level reception after rS at Sea.
JAYEWARDENE:
A Political Biography
The first of two volumes of a political biography of ex-President Jayewardene, titled "J.R. Jayewardene of Sri Lanka” has been released for sale in Colombo. The biography is co-authored by historian Prof. K.M. de Silva and a former U.S. ambassador to Sri Lanka, Howard Wriggins. Priced at Rs.750/- in Sri Lanka, the first volume deals with the first 50 years of the life of Mr. Jayewardene.
NEW FACES IN FOREIGN RELATIONS
Replacing A.C.S. Hameed who held the office of Foreign Minister for over 10 years in the Jayewardene cabinet, is Mr. Ranjan Wijeratne, the UNP general secretary. Mr. Bernard Tillekeratine who has been Sri Lanka's High Commissioner in New Delhi for six years has moved to Colombo as Foreign Secretary. In India, Mr.S.K. Singh who has been India’s ambassador in Pakistan, has taken over as Foreign Secretary from K.P.S. Menon at the latter's retirement.
they are placing any trust in us or not. Unless they have the opportunity to raise their doubts about us or our policies and clear them, we would not be able to take them forward or even represent them properly. Therefore, as far as we are concerned, a free press is essential even after EROS/EDF has achieved power. There should be full freedom of the press and genuine pluralist democracy. w
Pluralism
Q: You refer to pluralist democracy. What is your view on the claim by any militant group to its right to sole representation of the Tamil People?
A. As much as we like to function freely, say what we like to the people and represent them, we respect the same right to all other groups irrespective of their size or shape, big or small, militant or otherwise. They have the right to exist, function, and propagate their views. Our view on this issue is based on our theoretical premise that Tamil society is a fragmented society riven by cast, religious and class differences. From the beginning, EROS has taken up the position that it cannot represent all the people all the time because it is a class oriented organisation. So, in a place where national liberation is not even halfway through, to say that we with our policies represent all sections of the people would be a fallacy. If EROS were to even talk in that way, that would be the beginning of the end of the success we have had thus far. In short, whether we are in power or not, we believe in genuine political pluralism. Q: What have you got to say about the defeat of all the traditional leaders of the Tamil United Liberation Fronf?
A: The Tamil speaking people have voted to break away from the past and I salute the people for having done so emphatically by defeating the TULF leaders. The people also have shown to the world that they are not worried about supporting those involved in left politics. The defeated TULF leaders must gracefully accept the people's verdict, bid goodbye and disappear from the political arena.

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16 TAMIL TIMES
Indian Media Commer
On N-E Elections
THE HINDU
“. . . In the recently merged NorthEastern province, the Indian Peace Keeping Force's sphere of direct responsibility, the three rounds of elections have been conducted peacefully, credibly and with an encouraging voter turn-out in the face of the LTTE threat. The provincial council election, which was contested only in the three eastern districts of the North-Eastern province, installed a government dominated by the EPRLF, the militant organisation that has come forward boldly to co-operate with India on the implementation of the Indo-Sri Lanka Agreement. Some of the legislative and other technical steps have been taken, but in essence the devolution package promised in the Agreement remains to be implemented on the ground. The conduct of the presidential election with a creditable level of voter participation in the Tamil areas boosted the confidence of the political process in the security environment created by the IPKF. The triumph of EROS, a small but well-knit militant organisation and now a registered political party, in the parliamentary election held on February 15 enhanced the credibility of the whole exercise. In the first place, this outcome demonstrates that the Tamil people back overwhelmingly the restoration of the peaceful democratic process. Secondly, the IPKF has been able to deliver handsomely on its promise to create a security environment where large numbers of people could come out over an extensive area and defy extremists threats to cast their ballot. Thirdly, the surprisingly strong popular endorsement of EROS, the creditable performance Of the EPRLF (and even TELO) and the blotting out of the TULF suggest (as The Hindu's Colombo Correspondent puts it) that "the leadership of the region has passed on to a new generation of politicians who had their baptism of fire in the Tamil militant movements' and “the TULF's style of politics might have become irrelevant. When given the opportunity, the Tamil people have expressed their emphatic disapproval of the TULF's political strategy and tactics of staying away from the arena between mid-1983 and now and coming over so late in the day to ask for votes. EROS - which has pursued some kind of middle (or relatively independent) path vis-a-vis the role of the LTTE and the question of cooperation with the IPKF - reflects, in a sense, the dilemmas of many people in the Tamil areas, and especially the Jaffna Peninsula, where the fight the LTTE put up in the preAgreement period in defence of the Tamil people is remembered and
appreciated. A little l the EROS leader, Mr is on record with Ind organisation's firm co Indo-Sri Lankan Acc democratic process his desire to "continu socio-economic emalı people within the framework. The elec increase respect for t independent line, several criticisms re. volution exercise, an that the time has cor on the political challel the base of Tamil p tion. The IPKF, thr dous endeavours ( through its sacrifices principled and hor adhered to (for all the had to face), has achi in the direction of en ans of different ethni live and work togeth crisis . . .”
THE TV INDO
“. . . In the Tamil a and the east, the mixed. The moderat allies have been left b group of militants bec ers sat it out in Mad raged at home. But th sarily benefit the Tamil Tigers. For one unable to keep peopl polls. For another, E. distance itself from t out a stand which ta both tamil resentmen sent military role as for the restoration EROS now in Parli madasa should find it dialogue with the Tar
ΝΟΑΝ ΕΣ
“. . . As an index of t Tamil's attitudes, the that region is less clea at stake there, the pr accord parties like E only seven. EROS wh out its stand on the d has with 13 seats, em ger force. There hav dications of close tie and LTTE. It is, how to infer from EROS's the election – the LT that some within the
cile themselves to th cess. This is why i assumed that a new peace has opened in

MARCH 1989
htS
རུ་སྟར་ : ༔ ལྷོ་ན་ འ་
known fact is that A. Balakumaran, Lia reiterating his ommitment to the ord and . . . the and has pledged e the struggle for ncipation of our prevailing legal toral verdict will he organisation's which, includes lating to the ded it also suggests ne to concentrate nge of broadening olitical participaough its tremenon foreign soil, and through the nourable course 2 criticisms it has eved a great deal tabling Sri Lankc backgrounds to er in a region of
ES OF A
reas of the north picture is more e TULF and its ehind by EROS, a ause TULF leadras while battles his will not neceshard-liners, the
thing, they were e away from the ROS has tried to chem by spelling kes into account its of India's prewell as the need
of peace. With ament, Mr Preeasier to open a mils.”
KPRESS
he north-eastern poll outcome in ir. Of the 31 seats o Indo-Sri Lanka PRLF have won nich has not spelt evolution scheme erged as a strone been Some ins between EROS vever, premature s participation in TE boycotted it — LTTE may recone democratic prot cannot yet be phase of enduring this region.”
DECCAN HERALD
". . . In fact, only two political groups were able to organise some kind of campaign - the UNP in the Sinhalamajority areas and the Tamil United Liberation Front and its allies in the North-Eastern Province, where the decisive voice today is that of the Indian army. The defeat of the TULF's leaders like Mr A. Amirthalingham and Mr M. Sivasithamparam confirms the political demise of the Tamil moderates. All 10 seats won by the TULF have gone to members of the Eelam People’s Revolutionary Liberation Fron“ (EPRLF) and smaller groups aligned with it who fought on the TULF symbol. These are the former extremist groups now in power in the Tamilmajority province under New Delhi's patronage. The Eelam Revolutionary Organisation (EROS), making its electoral debut, has walked away with 13 seats, including eight from the Jaffna region. Since EROS did not conduct any campaign, its remarkable showing must be attributed to the popular upsurge in its favour. It is interesting to speculate whether the EPRLF and other favourites of New Delhi could have come to power in the Tamil province if the EROS, which is known to maintain fraternal links with the LTTE, had been in the fray during the provincial assembly elections.”
The Indian Post
“. . . The vote in the North-Eastern Province is most unexpected and signifies a major change in public attitudes and mood. The turnout suggests defiance of the LTTE and all it stands for today without going to the other extreme of endorsing the TULF's middleof-the-road policies. It remains to be seen what Eelam Revolutionary Organisation of Students (EROS), once an ally of the LTTE, will make of the electoral message, whether they will participate in parliament and risk elimination by the LTTE or capitalise on its current popularity (it has won 12 out of 23 seats that went to Tamil candidates) in violent and extraparliamentary directions. There is no mistaking the meaning of the vote for the TULF. Not only did party veterans bite the dust (Mr Amirthalingam, general secretary, and Mr Sivasithamparam, party president, suffered humiliating defeats) but Jaffna made an overwhelming decision in favour of EROS and secondly, the militants in the TULF alliance, the EPRLF and ENDLF cadidates, have walked away with most of the other crucial Tamil prizes. All this should not necessarily be understood as a vote for greater militancy but a mandate for younger leaders whose commitment to the Tamil self-determination is clear and unequivocal."

Page 17
MARCH 1989
THE HINDUSTAN TIMES
“. . . The fact that the elections took place in the North and East is in itself significant but what has come as a bigger surprise is the creditable performance of the Eelam Revolutionary Organisation of Students (EROS) at the cost of TULF which was expected to fare better. The poll results in Tamil areas are a clear indication of the support which the LTTE still retains there. The defeat of the TULF secretary-general, Mr A. Amirthalingam, speaks of the waning popularity of the party. Not that the Tamils are for violence and terrorism but they are not inclined to back the leaders and parties which were not with them during the worst period of their agony and suffering. If the TULF has lost its hold on the Tamils, both Colombo and New Delhi should not hesitate to deal with the EROS while tackling the ethnic problem . In Jaffna, the EROS has won eight out of eleven seats whereas TULF has won only three. To the extent EROS echoed the LTTE's strident opposition to the presence of the IPKF during the campaign, the poll results in the north-east should induce some rethinking on how long the Indian troops have to stay in Sri Lanka.”
Free Press Journal
. . . While there is as yet no indication what President Premadasa proposes to do about the Tamil seccessionist threat over the long run, for the moment the partial autonomy under the provincial councils system appears to be paying small dividends. The victory of EROS, an ally of the proscribed LTTE, in the North suggests the possibility, even if only the slightest one, of the Tamil militants re-entering the political mainstream. The July referendum on the merger of the North and East could undo all that but for the moment, Sri Lanka has reason for optimism.”
FINANCIAL EXPRESS
The bloody strife that has ruined the island paradise of Sri Lanka is going to eontinue unabated. That is the sad lesson that emanates from the election that has swept Mr. Premadasa's United National Party back to power. Large majorities do not mean popularity or peace in Sri Lanka. The overwhelming majority enjoyed by Mr. Junius Jayawardene did not prevent the Tamil problem from exploding in 1983 and the Tamil problem looks as bad as ever after the latest election. The moderate old-timers of TULF, led by Mr. Amirthalingam, have been usiped out. Mr. V. Prabhakaran’s Tigers did not contest the election, but their revolutionary friends of the Eelam Revolutionary Organisation
won 12 seats
emerge as the Two other part the earlier dist) and TELO – v seats. And the S gress won fou strongly sugge the current EPF nOrth-east doe Support, only N
“LITT
Mr. V. Gopalasa to Madras after trip to Sri Lal during which h with the LTTE
karan, said that hardened on the
He told report quarters shortl Tamil Nadu chi leader, Mr.M. "impulsive' act C Lanka to explo solution to the been forgiven by
Mr. Gopalas: Eelam goal of L be negotiable an be any immed negotiation unle troops from Sri ] detainees and situation for tall
Mr. Gopalasan with Mr. Prabhi in a jungle in S. ern area and ) LTTE camp to IPKF soldiers w at LTTE camps.
The LTTE troops to leave former would tal win freedom', he Mr. Gopalasar provided him pro shelling by IPKF cordon around t
The MP said h discipline by not nanidhi of his r scribed as 'succe an insight into thinking and thi port of the Tamil gle, he said.
He said Mr. P to be pained by LTTE men, inc LTTE Jaffna C camps and the LTTE militant, b. was authorised LTTE.
Mr. Gopalasar

TAMILTMES 17
in the north-east to port. Second the Muslims of the single largest party. north-eastern province are conscious es which fared well in of their separate identity and are ict elections - EPRLF unlikely to vote for Amparai remainon no more than 10 ing in the province when - in accordri Lanka Muslim Con- ance with the Gandhi-Jayawardene r seats. The result pact - a referendum is held to decide sts two things. First, that issue. In other words, neither the LF GOvernment in the Tamils nor Muslims are happy with s not enjoy popular the Gandhi-Jayawardene solution. r. Rajiv Gandhi's sup- Nor are the Sinhalas of JVP. . . "
E WANTS IPKF TO LEAVE'
— V. GOPALASAMY, MP
my MP, who returned meted out to negotiators in the LTTE a 24-day clandestine had disillusioned the Tamil group abnka's Tamil province out the credibility of an approach for e held 'secret parleys' further talks. Also, All India Radio's leader, Mr.V. Prabha- systematic campaign to denigrate the , the LTTE stand had LTTE had been intensified, he said.
Tamil Eelam issue. The LTTE leaders had clarified that ers at the DMK head- they respected India and hoped it y after meeting the would bring about an end to fighting in ef minister and party the Tamil areas. "They do not hate Karunanidhi, that his India', he added. if a secret visit to Sri The LTTE men merely resented Ine the possibility of a dia being used by the Sri Lankan Tamils' problem had government to deploy its army and the party. waste the money of the Indian people to try and crush the 'freedom struggle', amy said the Tamil Mr Gopalasamy said, adding that the TTE did not appear to latest move for joint Indo-Sri Lankan ld neither would there operations against the LTTE had iate prospect of any caused anguish in Tamil areas. iss India withdrew its A large number of Tamils whom he Lanka, released LTTE had met had told him that the IPKF created a conducive attacks were more devastating than (s. Sri Lankan army rampages in the my said he had stayed past, with Indian services using Soviet akaran for a few days Union-made helicopter-gunships to ri Lanka's north east- attack Tamils. A large number of nad moved from one innocent Tamils had been killed in another to evade the IPKF attacks he said. ho fired mortar shells Mr Gopalasamy said Mr.Prabhakaran had explained to him the factors men wanted Indian which led to the clashes with the IPKF. Sri Lanka and the The “turning point was the death of 12 ke on itself the task to LTTE men who consumed cyanide 2 said. when the IPKF handed them over to ny said the LTTE men Sri Lankan soldiers nearly two years otection from constant ago. "These youths would never had soldiers who threw a died on the battle-field but they died as ne jungle to mab him. a result of IPKF betrayal', Mr. Prabhae had 'violated party karan had told him, he said. informing Mr. Karu- When Mr. Prabhakaran saw the mission, which he de- youths' decomposed bodies, he quietly ssful'. He had gained strapped on the holster which he had the LTTE's way of earlier removed as a gesture of laying 2 "whole-hearted sup- down arms and placed his pistol in it. people to their strug- Other LTTE militants followed suit. The fighting with IPKF then began on rabhakaran appeared a regular basis, Mr. Gopalasamy said.
the detention of 147 On steps for a negotiated settlement,. luding Kittu, former he said it was for Mr. Karunanidhi to ommander, in IPKF discuss ways, including further talks killing of Johny, an with the Centre. Mr. Karunanidhi had y the IPKF though he merely told him he should not have to negotiate with the undertaken his trip prior to Mr. Karu-3 nanidhi's meeting with the Primes ny said the treatment Minister, Mr. Rajiv Gandhi. g

Page 18
18 TAMIL TIMES
STAR N
MUSIC - DANCE
(TTAM II L &z MIA L
PRECS ECNTT
SV RAJ ENTE VERANDAH RES
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West London Tamil School is a successful and fast growing organisation in the voluntary sector. The 'school has to its credit 250 students enrolled for the learning of Tamil language, dance, music and computer studies and is the largest voluntary organisation in U.K. conducting weekend classes at three premises.
Applications are invited from suitably qualified and well experienced professionals in Carnatic music for the post of Consultant of Music Studies for a period of six months. Experience in vocal music and one instrumental music is essential. The post holder should be able to communicate in English and Tamil and is expected to take an active role in advising and guiding the board of governors, leading other music teachers in curriculum development, teaching, performing arts in concert etc. and encourage students to sit public examinations in vocal and instrumental music.
The post holder is also expected to spearhead activities such as Text book writing, Theatre visit, Holiday project and be an adviser to other similar organisations affiliated to the West London Tamil School.
Please send full CV by 1st of June 1989 to:
The Head Master WEST LONDON TAMIL SCHOOL 179 Norval Road North Wembley, Middx HAO 3SX
West London Tamil School is an equal opportunity employer funded by London Borough of Brent, London Borough of Ealing and London Boroughs Grant Scheme, Urban Aid and European Social Fund.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Page 19
MARCH 1989
NEWS IN BREF NEWS IN BREF NIE
O The controversial book 'Satanic Verses' by Salman Rushdie was banned in Sri Lanka when the Minister concerned issued a directive on 3 March to the Controller of Imports not to permit any copies of the book into the country.
O The former Prime Minister and leader of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, Mrs. Srimavo Bandaranaike, has been elected Leader of the Opposition in Parliament.
O The former Secretary General of the Tamil United Liberation Front, A. Amirthalingam, who was one of the defeated candidates in last month's general elections, has been nominated as MP from the National List.
OThe petition challenging the validity of the presidential election held in December last year filed by defeated candidate, Mrs. S. Bandaranaike, is to be heard before a bench of five Supreme Court Judges.
O A gang, allegedly belonging to a Tamil militant group, stormed into the Sinhapura Tract 13 Colony in Anuradhapura on 22 February and killed six villagers including a woman and three children and later set fire to their homes. Ten others were injured.
O Fifty-two year old S. Sambanthamoorthy, who was one of the members included in the TULF's National List for the purposes of last month's general election was shot dead outside his home at Chenkaladi in eastern Batticaloa on 7 March. The victim was a former chairman of the Batticaloa District Development Council.
O Mylvaganam Amirthalingam, the publisher of the Tamil language daily "Eelamurasu', was kidnapped by six armed young men from his residence in Jaffna and later shot dead on 18 February.
O Nearly 25,000 Tamil speaking youths are to be engaged in rehabilitation and reconstruction work in the North-East province, according to a statement by the Provincial Chief Minister, A. Varatharaja Perumal.
O The Trincomalee Urban Council Offices are to be shifted to a new location leaving the entire building to be used by the N-E Provincial Council Secretariat.
O A high proporti children lose their e of Vitamin A deficie recent survey by Organisation.
O At least 25 Tamil infighting among groups during the February.
O Four IPKF pers in a bomb explosion depot in Jaffna on Nelliady, an IPKF s a clash with the LT
O Eight Sinhala three women and
child, were hacked
others seriously inju in the Weli Oya ar by a gang alleged Tamil militant grou 37 Sinhalese peas children, were simi Dutuwewa in the vince.
O Over 700 prisone Lanka's prisons di from Welikade and in Colombo and 18 pura and Pelawatt ing to statistics fur ons Department.
O At least five pers IPKF men and a civ clashes between th at Kinniya on 24 F the incident, the massive search ( which a number harassed.
O Police Inspector and Reserve Polic nayake were kille policemen were inju allegedly belonging Delica van opened on 25 February.
O The security forc 15 youths in the
search operation in Sri Lanka on 25 Fe
O Army officers in reported to have i ational Head Quar Ministry concernin group of anti-subs gunmen involved in in the North Centr people of the area a
jungles after night

TAMIL TIMES 19
WS IN BRIEF NEWS IN BRIEF NEW
on of Sri Lankan ye sight as a result ncy, according to a he World Health
persons died due to Tamil militant week ending 25
Innel were injured near Kondavil bus
22 February. At oldier was killed in TE.
settlers, including a twelve year old
to death and ten red in a settlement ea on 22 February ly belonging to a p. On 12 February, ants, including 22 larly massacred at North Central Pro
rs escaped from Sri uring 1988 - 219 Magazine prisons 6 from Anuradhae prisons - accordnished by the Pris
sons, including two ilian, were killed in e IPKF and LTTE ebruary. Following IPKF mounted a peratiion during of civilians were
Rohana Athudawa 'e Constable Ratd and three other red when gunmen, to the JVP, in a fire at Ankumbara
es rounded up over course of a house Deniyaya in south bruary.
2ertain districts are nformed the Operters of the Defence g the activities of a versives (anti-JVP) a series of killings al Province and the ce seeking refuge in all due to fear.
O Seven people were killed when a bomb exploded outside a hotel along Dalada Vidiya in Kandy town on 26 February. A school boy who is believed to have carried the bomb was also injured.
O The UNIP Provincial Counci Member in Matale, B. Ekanayake and two of his supporters were injured and his bodyguard killed in an ambush when gunmen, allegedly belonging to the JVP, fired at the jeep in which the victims were travelling. The incident occured on 26 February about three miles off Matale town.
O K. Perinbam (25), M. Rajendran (23) and V. Pathmanathan (22), who were members of the Tamil militant group TELO were killed allegedly by a rival group at Thambiluvil in Akkaraipathu on 24 February.
O Two persons were killed when a vehicle in which the newly elected EDF/EROS MP.S. Edward and some of his supporters were travelling was attacked at Meesalai allegedly by a rival militant group. Mr. Edward escaped injuries. A. Anton belonging to the EROS was attacked and kidnapped at Myliddy allegedly by men belonging to the EPRLF and he was released after three days.
O 38 Sinhala villagers were shot and hacked to death, and about a dozen more seriously injured at Borawewa in the North Central Province on 27 February by a gang allegedly belonging to a militant Tamil group. The victims included 19 men, 9 women and 10 children. The attackers armed with guns, swords and knives had reportedly attacked the victims in their homes and pursued those who ran into the nearby jungle.
O India has spent Rs. 1.74 billion on the IPKF deployed in Sri Lanka over and above the troops' salaries and allowances from July 1987 to 31 January this year, the Defence Minister K. Pant announced in the Indian Parlia
ment on 28 February.
O Japan has provided Rs.47 million debt relief grant for the eleventh time to Sri Lanka to facilitate adjustments to past bilateral aid from Japan. The grant is aimed at relieving the island's likely debt repayment difficulties.
O Sub-inspector of police, Chandrasena, was killed and four other policemen were injured in Amparai when gunmen attacked a police patrol on duty on 28 February.

Page 20
20 TAMIL TIMES
O The brother-in-law of the newly elected EPRLF MP Mr. G. Yogasankari was shot dead at his residence by gunmen allegedly belonging to a rival militant group on 26 February.
O D.M. Jayaratne and Y.B. Tennekoon, two newly elected SLFP MPs for Kandy have been charged and served with indictments before the High Court of Colombo under the Emergency Regulations and the Penal Code with rioting and causing damage to CTB busus by throwing stones and setting fire to them on 29 July 1987, the day on which the Indo-Sri Lanka Agreement was signed.
O Two Tamil speaking lecturers have been obtained from India on a contract basis, with the consent of the N-E Provincial Council, to meet the acute shortage of lecturers at the Nurses Training School in Jaffna. In adddition, steps are being taken to train some senior nurses as lecturers in India and on their return they will be posted to the Training College for nurses in the North-East Province.
O Rail tracks between Chettikulam and Madu Road were blasted on the morning of 1 March allegedly by a group of LTTE men. Following this incident, through railway services from Colombo to Talaimannar Pier have been suspended until further notice.
O Tamil public servants who lost their jobs as a consequence of the Sinhala only language policy are to be reemployed in North-East Provincial government services. In addition, a motion moved by the Chief Minister, A. Varatharaja Perumal, requesting the central government to re-employ these government servants was unanimously adopted by the Provincial Council.
O An army officer was killed when a gang numbering 20, allegedly from the JVP, ambushed a joint army-police mobile patrol at Gampola in Kandy on 1 March. Details of casualties among the attackers when the security forces returned fire are not known.
O On 2 March, the Sri Lankan Cabinet decided that the private North Colombo Medical College should be vested in the government although it was to continue as an independent medical college awarding its own degrees without being affiliated to any university. Henceforth, students seeking admission should satisfy the same criteria applicable to state medical colleges.
O A draft of a proposed Indo-Sri Lanka Friendship Treaty has been sent to the Indian government for its consideration, according to Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister Ranjan Wijeratine.
O On 27 February were killed in the Anal incidents associated called by the JVP. A Tract 12 within the police area, A.G. Som minda Kumara (16) matilake (28) were sl identified gunmen. A na, a gang clad in arm shot dead a Grama Herath at his home a hold goods on fire. SLTB bus travelling : niya-Kebithigolewa r fire at the 6th mile tra v el ling a long Rambawewa road was Bandara of Tract 12, gunned down and h motor cycle set ablaz forces are reported to custody several allege separate incident three ing a police constable Bulathsinhala.
O A police constable, P Kalutara police statio: in his residence at
Buddhist monk, Ven Thero was shot and c allegedly by JVP gunn rate incidents on 28 F
O Five persons, four of to one family, were gang of men who arriv shot them dead a shor from their home on 1 nutenna in Ratnapura Wasantha Hettiarach Hettiarachchi, Sisira Sanath Hettiarach Ariyapala.
O A gang comprisi stormed the Gampaha during the early hou) threatened the hospit lence and shot dead a p warded in the hospit Meril Kinson alias Bab shot at and injured wh produced for a case in Magistrates Court on
OTwo bodyguards of : shot and killed by tw. kumbara on 3 March.
O All seventeen memb the Sri Lanka Muslim were elected to the Nol cial Council, and who fused to take their o their letters of resigna to the Commissioner o SLMC had decided to a to the N-E PC exclu. eastern province and ignations. The new l would be submitted t Commissioner shortly the SLMC Mr.M.H.M.

several persons adapura area in with a hartal' At Gemunupura Nochchiyagama nasiri (28), Chaand Nimal Prenot dead by unt Horawapothay-type uniforms Sevaka, S.K.B. ld set his houseThe driver of a along the Vavubad was set on post. A lorry
Mihin taleset on fire. A.M. Rajangane was is tractor and e. The security have taken into d suspects. In a » persons includwere killed at
iyasena of south n was shot dead Pyagala and a K. Seelaratana ritically injured, hen, in two sepaebruary.
them belonging
kidnapped by a ved in a van and t distance away March at AmuThe victims are chi, Hemantha
Hettiarachchi, chi and A.M.
ng of 30 men a Base Hospital rs on 2 March, al staff into sirisoner who was al. The victim, i was previously ile he was being n the Gampaha 27 February.
a UNP MP were o men at Badu
ers belonging to Congress who rth-East Provinhad so far reaths handed in tion on 6 March f Elections. The ppoint members sively from the
hence the resist of members o the Elections , the leader of Ashroff said.
MARCH 1989
O Six youths were killed on 5 March in a gun-battle when security forces advanced on an alleged JVP training camp at Dorape in the Habaraduwa police area. Two suspects were taken in for questioning and weapons and ammunition were captured from the scene of the clash.
O Several hundreds of youths, alleged to have connections with the JVP, were rounded up on 5 and 6 March during a cordon and search operation by the security forces in the southern Matara district. After intensive questioning, about 150 suspects have been detained.
О J.P. Piyadasa, a grama sevaka and the brother of a UNP Minister of State was shot dead at his residence by gunmen on 6 March at Laggala in the Matara district. In the same area another person identified as W. Rajapakse was shot dead near a busstand on the same day. B. Wickremasinghe, an ex-police officer was shot dead by a lone gunman at Kotugodalla Vidiya in Kandy.
O A Sinhala trader named Ranatunga Puchihewa from Ambalangodalla was kidnapped on 4 March allegedly by a group of Tamil men who had demanded a ransom of Rs.3 lakhs for his release. The victim's dead body was found later with several gunshot wounds.
O A youth was hacked to death and burnt at Dambagalle in the Monaragala district on 6 March allegedly by an anti-JVP organisaton called the Peoples Revolutionary Red Army (PRRA) which had been created to mount revenge attacks upon JVP members and their supporters. On the same day, Jayantha Herath and another person, both members of the United Socialist Alliance were shot dead at Waligodapola in Hatharaliya area allegedly by a JVP gang.
OThe Indian government has donated an ambulance and a mini-bus to the Jaffna Teaching Hospital under the Rehabilitation scheme of N-E Province. Ambulances were previously donated to the Mullaitivu, Mallavi and Thunnalai hospitals.
O Mr. Desmond Fernando has been elected President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka. He has long served as the Secretary of the Civil Rights Movement and is a member of the International Commission of Jurists.
O The Sri Lanka Freedom Party has written to the Commissioner of Elections asking him to declare the election of Members of Parliament from the Colombo District null and void on the grounds that the malpractices on the day of the election and during the run-up to the poll were such that it was anything but free and fair'.

Page 21
MARCH 1989
PEOPLE & EVENTS
MIRUTHANGAM ARANGETRAM
YASASKARAN — Son Of BrahmaSri POOrna Siva Satchithanantha Kurukkal - High Priest of Britannia Hindu (Shiva) Temple Trust had his Arangetram (musical debut) on Miruthangam on Saturday 25th February at the Highgate Murugan Hall. The Hall situated in the basement was packed with invitees and a closed Circuit television facility was set up - very thoughtfully - by the organizers, on the upper floor hall to cope with the overflow of lateComers.
Miruthangam is a percussion instrument played by Nandhi in Lord Shiva's Court (a point emphasised by His Holiness Sri Sankara Acharyar in his message to Yasaskaran's performance.)
Yasi on his Miruthangam was accompaniment to Srimathy Sivasakthi Sivanesan. Other accompanists were Dr Laskhmi Jayan and Sri Bharathan Ponnambalam. Yasi's great occasion started with Varnam and climaxed through various pieces during which ample opportunity was provided to him by the Singer and the accompanying artistes.
Yasi was trained under Sri Muthu Sivarajah, an exponent in Miruthangam in the United Kingdom. Sri Sivarajah has also been on the stage on several occasions providing accompaniment to other artistes on various other instruments too. Credit should go to the organizers of the numerous Tamil Schools and the dedicated teachers of music and dance at such schools. More or less every Borough in Greater London has a Tamil School with music and dance lessons, all of which are conducted over weekends, and it is a pity that many parents are unaware of their existence. These schools make very talented classical artistes out of youngsters like Yasaskaran who are brought up in a Western environment with little or no contact with their language or rich cultural traditions.
May we hope for many more debuts of young classical talents home grown in Britain.
WMA SOCKANATHAN
THANKSC
A service of Than and Witness of Mrs late wife of the ve Mr. K. Nesiah, who was held at St J. Chundikuli on 28 conducted by the
Sarvanantham anC by the Archdeacor Kanagaratnam. It Bishop D.J. Amba
South London Ta The A.G.M. Of the 4.389. The follow Committee of Ma, S.D. Balarajah, V Armitt, Secretary: 1 Mr. S. Sivagnanam S. Stanislaus and
Vijayambig
***" "Slet
Vijayambigailindr
of Tchaikovsky's
Bharatiya Vidya
fOne in the COr dance scene.
Once again, sh as a Creative and amazing compos forms to Tchaiko the audience, da CeSS Aurora, the
Equally astonis ing her co-dancer ing School) succe units in the rhyth unique privilege participate in su jayambigai deser for her creative making it possibl. in such feats.
In 1981, when ; experiments, chc Swan Lake' in Karunanidhi had 'Nadana. Chudar
 
 
 

VING SERVICE
ksgiving for the life, work Pushpamany Nesiah, the eran Jaffna Educationalist passed away on 13.11.87, hn the Baptist's Church, 12.88. The Service was /icar of the parish, Rev J. the sermon was preached
of Jaffna, Ven. Canon. J. losed with a prayer led by 3W3Fiaf,
mil Welfare Group
S.L.T. W.G. was held on sing were elected to the nagement. Chairman: Mr. ice Chairman: Mr. John Mr. S.J. Joseph, Treasurer: , Asst Secy/Treasurer: Mr. 9COnmmittee innernbers.
ai & Tchaikovsky's ping Beauty'
a Kumar's recent adaptation
'Sleeping Beauty' at the 3havan was another milestemporary Indian creative
e lived up to her reputation daring choreographer in her ition - using Indian dance /sky's music. She delighted ncing the lead role of Prinsleeping beauty. hing, was her effort at trains (her students - still attendssfully to spot Indian dance ims of Tchaikovsky. It is a for students of dance to ch historic events and Vives a big bouquet not only masterpiece but also for 9 for students to participate
she pioneered such creative reographing Tchaikovshy's similar style, Dr. Kalaignar conferred on her the title of pli” (Dancing Luminary).
Paul Dharmaraj
TAM TIMES 21
FOR FRIENDLY SERVICE ANO ADOWCE IN BUYING & SELLING HOUSES, SHOPS AND COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES.
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VEMBAD OLD GIRLS ASSOCIATION (U.K.)
The Annual General Meeting of the association was held on 29.10.88 at the Putney Methodist Church Hall. The following are the names, addresses and telephone numbers of the main office bearers elected. President Dr. Meena Mahendra, 4 Teesdale Gardens, Isleworth, Middx TW7 6AT Tel: O1-560 1569 Secretary: Mrs Padma Perinpanayagam, 76c Whitehall Road, Gravesend, Kent DA 125PH le O474 3616OO Treasurer: Mrs. Umayal Sooriakumaran, 56 Malden Hill, New Malden, Surrey KT3 4DR
Tel 01-949 4234.
Co-Opted to Race Relations Committee
The Race Relations Committee of the Borough of Lewisham has coopted a Sri Lankan Tamil, (Mr. Sivagurunatha Pillai) onto the committee.
Mr. Pillai serves as the academic Head of the Tamil Academy of Language and Arts
(TALA), a voluntary organisation based at Lewisham.

Page 22
22 TAMIL TIMES
CLASSIFIED ADS
First 20 Words 10. ach additional Word 60 Charge for Box No. 23 (Vat 15% extra)
Prepayment essentia
MATRIMONIAL
Tamil parents seek a partner for their gnter, 25 years of age, educated in England; British citizen and a keen Jehovah's witness. Prospective partner has to be JW or willing to follow JW. No other bar in respect of race, age, etc. US and Canada residents welcome. Recent Comers to UK will be considered. Write to M 280, C/o Tamil Times.
Jaffna Hindu brother seeks qualified partner for sister, 37, height 5'3" fair. Reply with horoscope to M281, c/o Tamil Times Jaffna Hindu parents settled in U.K. seek suitable professional/graduate working partner under 32 for their fair, pretty, graduate daughter, British citizen, 26 years, employed Ain London, Mars in eighth. Please send chart and details to M282, C/o Tamil Times.
Uncle seeks suitable partner for his 28 year old graduate niece, fair, pretty, and resident in Australia with permanent visa. Professionals preferred. Horoscope and details to M 283, C/o Tamil Times. Jaffna Tam if Hindu parents seek bridegroom for daughter, 34 years, in employment and British citizen. Horoscope and details to M 284, C/o Tamil Times. Jaffna Hindu parents seek educated, good looking, partner in mid-twenties for son, 32, engineer, employed in Middle East. M285, C/O Tamil Times Hindu brother seeks educatd partner for 39 year old lawyer sister employed in Colombo. M286, c/o Tamil Times.
Jaffna Hindu brother, resident in New Zealand, seeks partner for AL qualified, 37 year old sister, does sewing and typewriting. Reply to M287, C/o Tamil Times,
WANTED
Cook required for new South Indian res
taurant in Blackpool, Lancs. Must prepare all South Indian dishes. Accomodation provided. Please Contact Pal-Mal Restaurants Ltd., 198 Central Drive, Blackpool, Lancs with C. V. and 2 referees.
WEDDING BELLS
We congratulate the following couples on their recent marriage
Ratnakumar (Ragu) son of Dr. & Mrs R. Thirunavukarasu, 101 Middle Leeford, Stechford, Birmingham B34 6HA, U.K. and Vasuki daughter of Mr. & Mrs. K.K. Subramaniam, 22 Balmoral Way, Belmont, Sutton, Surrey, U.K. on 18.3.89 at Stanley Hall, South Norwood Hill, London SE25
Shanthikumar son of Mr & Mrs J. S. Ariaratnam, Temple Road, Jaffna, and Ruth Jebaranjini daughter of Rev. S. P. K. Solomon, Vicar of the Church of the Holy Spirit, Vavuniya and Mrs Solomon on 18, 1.89 at St John's Church, Chundikuli, Sri Lanka.
Dr. David Wairavanathan Son of the late G.R. Vairavanathan and Mrs. Vairavanathan, Erlalai North. Sri Lanka and Kirubamalar daughter of the late P. Aiyathurai and Mrs Aiyathurai. Chavakachcheri. Sri Lanka on 27. 1.89. at J.D. C. S. l. Cha Vakach Cheri ChurCh.
FORTHCOMIN
April 1, 6.30 p.m. Lor present their Annual
Carnatic Vocal, Sitar Natyam and Grand Vee als at Lola Jones Hall, Garratt Lane, London S information telephone 01
April 5 9.30am Prize G College, Vaddukoddai, Guests: Prof. A. Thurairaj University of Jaffna & Mr.
April 14, London Meik, British Saiva Siddha Anniversary celebrations, Musical Recitals by San Thevara Pan issai Thilaga thy Siva Sri Samy Thanda Ghanapathy Temple, Lo, 1.00pm; Highgate Sri Mu, don N6. 6.30-7.00 p.m. Murugan Temple, Lond р.т. April 15, Saiva Siddhar Murugan Temple, 78 Chu E12 from 2 to 5 p.m. Pe Loganatha Mutturayan, Dr. Lydia P. Dronkers ( Kjaerholm (Denmark); Sr, (France), Dr. Maria Herrm information telephone 01April 22, 7 p.m. Music A Rhythms and Songs (M.A. London Trio Vanathi Ni shmi GaneSOn 8 Chithra in a spectacular spect Natyam at Acton Town H tickets and information 7900. April. 23 430 to 730рт including items of Bhara Music and instrumental M the Institute of Tamil C Assembly Rooms, Maple Surrey, U.K. For tickets telephone 01-399 7848&
April 30 Asian Chaplainc giving Festival of our Pati minster Cathedral, Londo Chief Celebrant: His Emin Hume. Asian Bazaar No information telephone Fl O1-222 2.895
At Bharatiya Vidya Bhave Road, London W14 9HQ. 4608 April 1, 7.30 p.m. Violin S Jayan April 8, 7.30 p.m. Sitar Srivastava Aprill 21, 730 p.m. Pandi Centenary Lecture by Dr. India.
OBITUAR
Elizabeth Packiam Rob Selvadurai Robert; mothe nuel (U.K), Wesley (M (Colombo), Maureen V Angeles), Pearl Chanmu George passed away on : 43 Ellerby Street, London
S.P.L. Thaventhiran (45 of Anne Sarojini nee Se James and Jude, brother garampillai (U.A.E.), S. (Melbourne), S.C. F. Jitt and Puranam Mazenod (k On 21.1.89 - 3 HorwOOC Way, Basingstoke, Hants
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

MARCH 1989
G EVENTS
don Veena Group 2ultural Evening - Piano, Bharatha ha Orchestra RecitGreaves Place off V17. For tickets and 543.2126
ving 1989, Jaffna Sri Lanka. Chief ah, Vice Chancellor,
A. Thurairajah. ndaar Adheenam, ta' Centre, 1 Oth Saiva Thirumurai feetha BhuShanam, m OthuVaa – Moorpani Tesikarat Sri ldon SW19 12.30ugan Temple, Lonand London Sri Dr E12, 8OO-9.OO
ta Seminar at Sri Irch Road, London rticipants: Siva Sri london University, Holland); Dr. Lars Deva Kolumarane ann (Germany). For 531 6435.
cademy of Dance, D.R.A.S.) presents hiananthan, LakSatkumananthan rum of Bharatha all, London W3 for telephone 01-845
Cultural Evening ha Natyam, Vocal fusic presented by ulture at Surbiton e Road, Surbiton, and information Of -94.9 7848.
y presents ThanksOn Saints at Westin SW1 at 1.30pm ence Cardinal BaSil on to 6.30pm. For . A. T. Moraes at
ln, 4A Castletown Tel O1-381 3O36/
plo by Dr. Lakshmi
Recital by Baluji
Jawaharlal Nehru Karan Singh, MP,
ES
art wife of the late r of Esther Emmaelbourne), Neville /ignesiwaran (Los Jam (Sydney) and " 1. 1 - 89 ir Lordon - SW6 6EU.
beloved husband
lvadurai, father of of Sothy Mariase:.B. Thanenthiran o inthiran (Norway), ayts) passed away Gardens, Harrow RG21 3NR
Kasippillai Nalliah (72) Retired Malaysian Telecommunication Engineer and President Kuppilan Katkarai Katpaka Vinayagar Temple Society, beloved husband of Kanagambikai, father of Gnanalakshmi Sriskandarajah (Sri Lanka), Gangadevi Sivasubramaniam (Canada), grandfather of Balanthuja and Sinthuja passed away on 6.2.89 in Kuppilan, Sri lanka.
Sarojini Visvendran, born 8.941, beloved wife of T. Visvendran (British Gas-Eastern, Potters Bar, U.K.), mother of Shankar and Latha; daughter of K. Kanagasabai (Retired
Chief Accountant, Police & Excise Depart
ments, Sri Lanka) and the late Mrs. Yogam Kanagasabai; sister of Chandramohan (Sri Lanka), Dr. Indramohan (Zambia), and Surendramohan (U.K.) passed away on 23.89 at Stevenage - 27 Cromwell Road, Stevenage, Herts, U.K. Tel: 0438 356533
A.T.Sinnadurai (82) Proprietor, ATS Wattegama & Matale and Jothi Stores, Alvai, Sri Lanka: husband of the late Pasupathy, father of A.T.S. Ratnasingham, Velautham, Navaratnam, Nadarajah, Mrs. Rajaluxmi Karunanantham, Mrs. Puvaneswary Hyland all of Wimbledon, U.K. Sinnathamby (Holland); Kandasamy, Kanagalingam and Magayakkarasi of Alvai, Sri Lanka passed away in . Colombo on 8,289 - 104 Dora Road, London SW 19 Tel:01-946 t 140.

Page 23
MARCH 1989
JRIMMIGRATI(
Unaware of the requireme obtaining the
A Work Per * Businesse k Settlemen dr Visitors k Students k British Cit
Information on these and any othe
For more information, please COntact uS at Our frie
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TAMIL TIMES 23
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nts and correct procedures for
following visas?
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S tS
izenship Applications r visas is available at our friendly firm.
Ο Θ preliminary diSCuSSiOn ndly office: Tel No: 01-6820345
, Tooting Broadway, London SW17 OLN
es Rene & Seema Khan
Standing Committee of Tamil Speaking People (S.C.O.T.)
Tamil New Year Lunch & Raffle Sunday, 16th April 1989 at 1pm at Lola Jones Hall, Tooting Leisure Centre Greaves Place, off Garratt Lane, London SW17
For tickets and Information, please contact: The Treasurer, SCOT, 181 Torbay Road, Harrow, Middx HA29QF Telephone: 01-422 8984
YOGA. & CO.
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Page 24
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