Page 1
VIXIN issN 02664488 15 ocTo
 

"I do not agree with a word D What you say, but "I
defend to the death you right to say it."
– Wir
Nation as Lost Confidence
in Political Leaders
- Bishops
A light of Refugees
new for Selene
... .Ye. Ye Sons
:
UN Urged to Probe Kings & Disappearances
Shakeup in Military CONSTITI
k Prenadassas Indian Wis
A "Country Haunted by
Corruption & Terror
TETTENDAWA
DEIG
A 20 Army Men Accused of Massacre
Tiger Clains - A Critique
JournalSS. Foi
Action Committee
Pight of Sri Lanka's Children

Page 2
15 OCTOBER 1992
CONTENTS
Editorial - Plight of Refugees. . . . . . . . . 3
People & Politics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.
"Nation Has Lost Confidence in its ISSN
Political Leaders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 ミ ANNUAL
iL Framework for Settlement. . . . . . . . . . . 6 Kist Canada. . .
Pilgrim Church turned Refugee Camp... 9 All other coun
Petition to UN to Probe Killings. . . . . . . 10
international Award for Writer. . . . . . . . O P
Change in Army Command Structure. .11 TANM
P.C SUTTON,
UNTE
Views expressed by contributors are not necessarily
those of the editor or the publishers. Phone;
PLIGHT OI
The estimated number of people displaced from their homes and places of habitual residence in Sri Lanka is estimated to be over a million. And this figure keeps on mounting day by day as the fighting between government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam is continuing.
In the north of the island, the continuing battles between the warring parties and the relentless campaign of indiscriminate bombing from the air and shelling from land and sea by the security forces have led to thousands of casualties and forced tens of thousands to seek refuge in makeshift refugee camps. In the east of the country, the senseless and brutal massacres of defenCeless Civilians belonging to all communities and the
tion of tens of thousands.
Hitherto, most of these refugees have been depending on the assistance, however meagre it may have been, given by the government in the form of money and dry rations for their sustenance and survival. Recently the government announced that the assistance given to the refugees was going to be halved, and the reason given for this proposed reduction was that the government did not have the required resources to continue with the same level of assistance.
At a time when the war is being intensified and more and more people are being displaced day after day, and when the government of Sri Lanka claims that it hasn't the resources to provide assistance to the internally displaced people, it is tragic that the Indian government has decided to implement an
 

TAMIL TIMES 3 &
CONTENTS
Cheap Arms Offer to Sri Lanka. . . . . . . 11
Army Men Held for Massacre of Tamils.12
N 02664488 Canadian Mission on Human Rights...12
SUBSCRIPTION
. . . E10/USS2O A.
anka Elections. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
CanS35
tries. . . E15/USS30 Alternative Solution to Ethnic Conflict. 14
Opposition Leaders Urge Fair
Harassment of Journalists. . . . . . . . . . 20
Claims by Tamil Tigers - A Critique... 21
blished by
L TIMES LTD Plight of Sri Lankan Children. . . . . . . . . 25 D. BOX 121
SURREY SM13TD
ED KINGDOM The publishers assume no responsibility for return of
O81-644. 972 unsolicited manuscripts, photographs and artwork.
F REFUGEES
accelerated programme of repatriating over one hundred thousand Tamil refugees from India to Sri Lanka. There is no doubt that security considerations following the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, and not humanitarian considerations, have motivated the Indian government's decision to return Tamil refugees to the island although the situation there is far from conducive to their return. The Sri Lankan government is in no position to provide either physical security or rehabilitation to the returning refugees.
People have not been displaced or become refugees by their own free will. It is the ongoing war carried on by those who have lost all feeling for their fellow men and women, the old, young and the infirm who are responsible for their plight. They have all the money and the weapons to continue to fight the war and replenish their war machine. Billions of rupees have been wasted in the purchase of lethal weapons of human destruction. However they claim that they have no resources to feed and clothe the refugees whose homes and livelihood have been decimated by the conscious and deliberate actions of these war mongers!
. Until such time as the warring parties summon the political will to bring an end to this war and create conditions for the safe return of refugees to their homes, the Sri Lankan government cannot abdicate or abandon its elementary humanitarian responsibility to provide assistance to the refugees. In the meantime, the Indian government also should abide by its humanitarian obligations not to return the refugees until the situation in the island is conducive for their safe return.

Page 3
15 OCTOBER 1992
CONTENTS
Editorial - Plight of Refugees. . . . . . . . . 3
People & Politics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
"Nation Has Lost Confidence in its ISSN Political Leaders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 ANNUAL S.
UK/lndia/Sri Lar Framework for Settlement. . . . . . . . . . . 6 Australia. . .
Canada. . .
Pilgrim Church turned Refugee Camp... 9
All other countr
Petition to UN to Probe Killings. . . . . . . 10
international Award for Writer. . . . . . . . 10
Pub Change in Army Command Structure. .11 TAML '
P.O. SUTTON, Sl UNITED Views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the editor or the publishers. Phone: C
PLIGHT OF
The estimated number of people displaced from their homes and places of habitual residence in Sri Lanka is estimated to be over a million. And this figure keeps on mounting day by day as the fighting between government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam is continuing.
In the north of the island, the continuing battles between the warring parties and the relentless campaign of indiscriminate bombing from the air and shelling from land and sea by the security forces have led to thousands of Casualties and forced tens of thousands to seek refuge in makeshift refugee camps. In the east of the country, the senseless and brutal massacres of defenCeless civilians belonging to all communities and the resulting fear have again caused a refugee population of tens of thousands.
Hitherto, most of these refugees have been depending on the assistance, however meagre it may have been, given by the government in the form of money and dry rations for their sustenance and survival. Recently the government announced that the assistance given to the refugees was going to be halved, and the reason given for this proposed reduction was that the government did not have the required resources to continue with the same level of assistance.
At a time when the war is being intensified and more and more people are being displaced day after day, and when the government of Sri Lanka claims that it hasn't the resources to provide assistance to the internally displaced people, it is tragic that the Indian government has decided to implement an
 

TAMIL TIMES 3
CONTENTS
Cheap Arms Offer to Sri Lanka....... 11.
Army Men Held for Massacre of Tamils. 12
1266-4488 Canadian Mission on Human Rights...12 JBSCRIPTION
Opposition Leaders Urge Fair ta. . . E10/US$20 13
AusS40 ElectionS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ' : k
CanS35 es. . . E15/USS30 Alternative Solution to Ethnic Conflict. 14
Harassment of Journalists. . . . . . . . . . 20
Claims by Tamil Tigers - A Critique... 21
shed by "MES LTD Plight of Sri Lankan Children. . . . . . . . . 25 3OX 121
RREY SM1 3TD
KINGOOM The publishers assume no responsibility for return of 81-644 0972 unsolicited manuscripts, photographs and artwork.
REFUGEES
accelerated programme of repatriating over one hundred thousand Tamil refugees from India to Sri Lanka. There is no doubt that security considerations following the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, and not humanitarian considerations, have motivated the Indian government's decision to return Tamil refugees to the island although the situation there is far from Conducive to their return. The Sri Lankan government is in no position to provide either physical security or rehabilitation to the returning refugees.
People have not been displaced or become refugees by their own free will. It is the ongoing war carried on by those who have lost all feeling for their fellow men and women, the old, young and the infirm who are responsible for their plight. They have all the money and the weapons to continue to fight the war and replenish their war machine. Billions of rupees have been wasted in the purchase of lethal weapons of human destruction. However they claim that they have no resources to feed and clothe the refugees whose homes and livelihood have been decimated by the conscious and deliberate actions of these war mongers
Until such time as the warring parties summon the political will to bring an end to this war and create conditions for the safe return of refugees to their homes, the Sri Lankan government cannot abdicate or abandon its elementary humanitarian responsibility to provide assistance to the refugees. In the meantime, the Indian government also should abide by its humanitarian obligations not to return the refugees until the situation in the island is conducive for their safe return.

Page 4
4 TAMIL TIMES
Premadasa's Indian Visit
Observers believe that the recent visit by President Premadasa to the capitals of the SAARC countries assumed a greater significance in that it has served to improve Indo-Sri Lanka relations which have remained cool for some time now. New Delhi's perception of Premadasa was conditioned by his known antipathy to the Indo-Sri Lanka Agreement of July 1987, his sudden and unilateral call for the departure of the IPKF three years ago, and his negotiations with the Tamil Tigers even as they were at war with the IPKF. New Delhi was said to have been very angry at the continuing reports that President Premadasa was in secret negotiations with the Tigers even after the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
But Premadasa's recent Indian visit and his negotiations with Prime Minister Narasimha Rao would appear to have opened up a new chapter in Indo-Sri Lanka relations. So much so the President stressed to journalists, "After last year's elections in India, our relations have grown from strength to strength. We have no problems. We see things from the same perspective'. The joint statement issued following the meeting of the two leaders said, "The President of Sri Lanka and the Prime Minister of India held wideranging discussions covering international, regional and bilateral issues in an atmosphere of friendship, goodwill and cordiality”.
Although his visit was in his capacity as Chairman of SAARC to discuss bilateral issues, President Premadasa was not averse to discuss with the Indian leader the island's intractable internal problem of the ethnic conflict, and the speeches, press statements and the joint communique issued following the talks between the two leaders reflected a conciliatory approach by both sides.
While Premadasa parried questions on the status of the Indo-Sri Lanka Agreement and described it as "onesided', and expressed his preference for "a treaty of peace, friendship and cooperation' on the model of Indian agreement with the former Soviet Union, the President of India Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma during his speech at the banquet given in honour of the Sri Lankan President said, "The Indo-Sri Lankan agreement was a sincere attempt to resolve the ethnic conflict which has sadly now gone on for well
People & PC
Over a decade. . . effective devoluti the framework o in which all citi would be able tol h on our and di citizens...'.
In regard to the Lanka, the joint c the viewpoints of Premadasa stress commitment to negotiated settlem parties concerned tions by the sec North, which wer protection of inno continue’. The Inc “expressed the ho equitable settleme mate aspirations munity within th united Sri Lanka through the effort people themselves those parties which path of violence'.
Observers not aspects in the India ment as reflecting tion regarding th
the island: firstly,
concern for a settle on the basis of fulf aspirations of the secondly, that such be within the frar Sri Lanka, which
state; thirdly, s' should be achieved of the Sri Lankan which means that
direct Indian invol not envisaged; an parties which have of violence must be settlement, which
the LTTE alone wo
To persistent que regarding alleged with the Tamil Tig categorically denie any ongoing neg LTTE. He said, ' hands in friendsh government did ta the past, but that insisted that the three precondition: tiations could begin should stop the us they should agreet tic process; and 1 recognise the righ parties to contest t.
Asked about the
 
 

ĪGS
What is needed is an n of powers within a united Sri Lanka ens of the country ve a secure life with ignity as equal
ethnic conflict in Sri mmunique recorded the two sides. Mr. d his Government's devise a peaceful ent involving all the , and that “operarity forces in the 2 necessary for the ent civilians, would ian Prime Minister pe that a fair and ht to fulfil the legitiof the Tamil come framework of a would be achieved s of the Sri Lankan and by involving all have eschewed the
e four important an PM's above stateIndia's current posie ethnic conflict in India's continuing ment of the conflict illing the legitimate Tamil community; a settlement must nework of a united means no separate uch a settlement through the efforts people themselves, the prospect of any rement is currently I fourthly, that all eschewed the path involved in such a means a deal with uld not be welcome.
stions by pressmen secret negotiations rs, Mr. Premadasa d that there were tiations with the We stretched our p', and that his k to the Tigers in hase was over. He LTTE must fulfil before any nego: firstly the Tigers of arms; secondly join the democrahirdly they must of other Tamil e elections.
alleged LTTE in
15 OCTOBER 1992
volvement in Rajiv Gandhi's assassination and the prospect of Prabhakaran's extradition, without giving a direct reply Mr. Premadasa said, "For all these things, there are laws in India and Sri Lanka; we do not want to mix things. Let them take their own course. Each issue will have to be taken up separately. Normal procedures will be followed”.
The Times of India editorially summed up Mr. Premadasa's visit in the following terms:
At his press conference in Rashtrapati Bhavan on Friday Mr. Ranasinghe Premadasa seized the opportunity to project an altogether reassuring image of himself both as current chairman of SAARC and as the President of the troubled island nation of Sri Lanka. This is no mean achievement considering the criticism the Sri Lankan leader often provokes in this country on account of his hostility to the IPKF, his reservations about the Indo-Sri Lanka treaty and his blou hot and cold attitude towards the LTTE. All this, it would appear, is now well and truly a thing of the past. The President indeed appeared to go out of his way to stress that after Mr. P. V. Narasimha Rao assumed office, the relations between the tuvo countries have groun from strength to strength.
'What is more, he drew satisfaction from the fact that on several matters of mutual concern or interest, India and Sri Lanka shared a common perspective. Even on the sensitive matter regarding the status of the Indo-Sri Lanka agreement, he sought to play doun the differences... on the whole, however, the visit has served to clear the air of much of the mistrust which has bedevilled Indo-Sri Lankan relations. In Sri Lankan eyes India no longer figures as a "big brother', but as an "elder brother'. The significance of this shift of perception cannot be minimised.
k CrackdoWn in
Tamil Nadu
Dr. S. Ramadoss, founder leader of the Pattali Makkal Katchi (Proletarian Peoples Party - PMK), Mr. S. Ramachandran, a PMK Member of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, and P. Nedumaran, leader of the Thamilar Thesiya Iyakkam and hundreds of others were arrested and later released on bail and they now face charges ranging from conspiracy to sedition following the three day PMK . Convention (September 10-12) held in Madras. The Convention on "Tamils' Right to Live' concluded with a largely attended march in which some carried life-size card-board cutouts of Tamil

Page 5
is OCTOBER 1992
> -smashimasia
Tiger leader V. Prabhakaran and the suicide-bomb-assassin of Rajiv Gandhi, Dhanu who was hailed as a ‘martyr”.
The arrests followed a decision by the Tamil Nadu government to launch a crackdown against the organisers of
the Convention and march supporting the LTTE which is banned in India.
In an obvious exercise in stealing the mantle of M. Karunanidhi's DMK and Jayalalitha's AIADMK, which wire denounced and portrayed as "traitors to the Tamils', the PMK formed only five years ago succeeded in holding a huge rally and march on 'an anti-north, anti-Hindi and antiBrahmin platform'.
The Convention adopted two resolutions. The first one stated, "In the interests of a just and durable peace in Sri Lanka, in the interests of our own defence and in the interests of human rights and saving Tamils there as well as here, this Conference requests the Government of India to ensure a peaceful emergence of Tamil Eelam consistent with world trends and recognise the same'.
The second resolution relating to the Tamils in Tamil Nadu stated that the PMK proposes "to struggle for the restoration of the political and civil rights of the Tamils, including the right of self-determination to be enshrined in a new Constitution... Unity can be ensured only by a willingness of the people to stay together. The Constitution must reflect the political reality', and urged that the right to self-determination of all nationalities in India should be incorporated in the Constitution.
Both the Central and State governments have reacted sharply against the PMK and its allies. The Union Minister of Home Affairs, M.M. Jacob, warned: "Those organisations who befriend, support and aid the banned LTTE will themselves have to be banned. Before taking any steps, the matter will be discussed with the Tamil Nadu government. The Central government has a very competent police force and intelligence services. We will find out the extent of the "friendship" between the PMK and the LTTE’.
The State Police carried out mass arrests.
k Udugampola
The former Deputy Inspector General of Police, Premadasa Udugampola, who hit the headlines with his revelations about arbitrary killings by "Black Cats' and the involvement of ruling party politicians in them, is assumed to be the most wanted man in Sri
Lanka. But the have got no apprehend him court is requir recording his st with the murd achchi. The not by the Magistr and the CID h that they have b whereabouts.
From his hi. Udugampola m with his press views. In respo report that the ployed some 50 hunt him, in a the press Udug fantastic; I don ernment has inc even for the cap and challenged to arrest him by commandos.
“Nati
O
The Catholic B called upon all themselves ur establishing a j ty. The confe.
advocates the f mula to achiev
1. Take step; economic polici view to ensurin its wealth am society.
2. Strengthe democracy by e of a politically sides and a he dissent and div
3. Get toge stature, rising siderations, in political soluti W8.
4. Take ever sary for the so reawakening ( up further ol cultural tradit freeing it from also economic
The stateme ence headed b Marcus Ferna other bishops i
“We, the C

TAMIL TIMES 5
authorities appear to here near him to
His appearance in d for the purpose of itement in connection r of lawyer Liyanarces repeatedly issued ate remain unserved, Ls informed the court een unable to trace his
eout, now and then akes his presence felt statements and interInse to a recent press
government had de) police commandos to hand-written letter to ampola said: “This is t think that the govucted 500 commandos ture of Prabhakaran', President Premadasa deploying 5000 police
There have beenwidespread accusations against Udugampola himself being involved in the reign of terror and organised killings during the 1988-89 period. Now he alleges that the army and police got a bad name when the death squads known as the "Black Cats' sponsored by ruling party men engaged in mass killings during that period. "The evidence that I have (oral, documentary and circumstantial) is enough to bring those responsible before the judiciary on charges of mass murder (genocide), conspiracy and aiding and abetting to commit such murder.'
How serious are the authorities in their resolve to apprehend Udugampola? According to him, the government has so far failed to arrest him because the police are sympathetic to him and have lost faith in the government because of interference in their work, abuse of their services and state patronage extended to criminals.
olic Bishops' Conference
bn Has Lost Confidence its Political Leaders'
Lanka, reflecting on the present situa
ishops' Conference has concerned to commit gently to the task of ust and peaceful socieence in a statement ollowing, four-point for2 the objective.
s to review the present es of the nation with a g a more just sharing of ong all strata of our
n the noble values of insuring the emergence unbiased media on all althy role for political ersity.
ther as statesmen of above petty party conorder to find a definite n to the North East
step as may be necesial, moral and spiritual f this nation, building our ancient religioions and values and not only political but ependence on others. t issued by the confer7 Archbishop Nicholas ido and signed by 11, as follows: M. tholic Bishops of Sri
tion of our beloved nation, wish to
share our profound concern regarding
certain contemporary trends and realities in our country. We cannot fail to heed the anguished cry of the poor and the marginalised sectors of our population. "I hear the cry of my people. I
have come down to free them" (Exodus
377-8).
"In the light of our commitment to
the gospel, which is good news to the
poor, we feel duty-bound to point out
t
these realities as they do not augur
well, for our country and its people.
"The majority of our people are heavily burdened by the ever increasing cost of living. Despite the seeming affluence and the availability of luxury goods, the gap between the rich and
the poor keeps ever widening. The .
prices of essential goods such as infant milk foods keep soaring, thus making
them inaccessible to a large segment of the population. The lower income groups find that they cannot survive with what they earn and thus there is
evidence of growing discontent, frus
tration and anger. The economic policies so far pursued have failed to bring about ajust and equitable distribution of the resources of our land.
"In the recent past there have been Continued on page 6

Page 6
6 TAMIL TIMES
Continued from page 5
many complaints that small farmers have no facilities to market their products at fair and just prices. While we accept that sufficient scope should be left for private initiative, our national assets and resources should not be permitted to fall into the hands of large scale and local and foreign invesίors.
The economic marginalisation of the majority of our people has given rise to crime, violence, dishonesty, bribery and corruption. We witness an alarming erosion of social, moral and spiritual values that as a nation we always upheld as sacred according to our religious traditions. Politicisation of religion has proved detrimental rather than helpful in upholding and promoting religious and moral values among our people.
"Freedom of the press and respect for fundamental human rights are among some of the strongest indices of a loving democracy. Yet both these ellements seem to be missing in Sri Lanka today. Enslaved by vested interests the mass media of our country whether owned by the state or by the private sector and different political parties, instead of serving the masses by stating the truth, seem to deliberately distort the truth seeking to keep the people in ignorance and even mislead the nation. Truth has become
TAMIL TIMEs
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Sutton, Surrey SM13TD deleting whichever is inapplicable. wish to paytrenew my subscription for one
ty chequecraftsmo infavoro Times kke støtte totalvakse of
elusive. Instead c freedom and ho] attempt to fan the religious disharm
"The war in ti keeps on dragging ing in massive los lives and resourc dence of a determ find a speedy and this, all parties ar to share the blame willing to sacrific the interest of th above party politi statesmanship to nation from ful Genuine patriotis our political lead addressing the bu nation with a dete. to findspeedy solu ernment and the exploiting this t achieve their ow scant regard to th ple. There are so chauvinistic attitu ple in order to ga tives. No politiciar to sacrifice his or h greater good of the
While the war
Tigers A
The Liberation Tig (LTTE) accused the du publication Fro) Ram of being an a Government who tacts with senior S. and the top LTTE past to strengthen projection.
In a press statem face of Mr. Ram', t cian Dr. Anton Bal Ram who had talks al wing chief Yogi many occasions in showed himself as of the LTTE and independent state." karan as a revolu progressive leader'. "Mr. Ram advis request to the II through (Tamil Na MGR to send the achieve the goal whole island’, Bala added that Mr. R. that "Shri Lankan ( be taught a lesson'. "He surprised us that the whole isla
tured”, Balasingha said the LTTE had
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

15 OCTOBER 1992
promoting growth, e our media often flames of ethnic and iny in Sri Lanka. Le North and East indefinitely, results of precious human es. There is no eviined political will to lasting solution. In d their leaders have . No one seems to be vested interests in e country and rise is in a spirit of true save our beloved ther catastrophe. n is sadly lacking in lership. Instead of rning issues of our mined political will, tions, both the GovOpposition keep on ragic situation to rn objectives with e plight of our peome who encourage des among the peoin their own objecseems to be ready er popularity for the
nation.
is being fought and
untold sufferings are heaped upon the people, our political leaders, both Government and Opposition, appear to
nation seems to have lost its conidence in its political leaders who seen to be accountable to no one. More and more people are becoming convinced that their leaders cannot free t is nation from its economic, political or other woes.
"Addressing ourselves to these burning problems and trends and recognising our duty to exercise our prophetic role in the light of the Gospel and our own Faith, we make this earnest appeal to all concerned to commit themselves urgently to the task of establishing a just and peaceful society in Mother Lanka.
"We appeal to all men of goodwill in this nation to reflect deeply and, in a spirit of fraternity and mutual respect, urgently take corrective steps to heal these wounds and rebuild our nation.
"We also wish to call upon all Christians to implore the Lord to heal this nation of its wounds and make it whole once again. We must remember the words of MICAH - 6/8-10 and what does the Lord require of you "to do justice, to love kindness, to walk humbly with your God”.
ccuse "Frontline' Editor of being
an “Indian Agent'
ers of Tamil Eelam 2 Editor of the Hinntline, Narasimhan gent of the Indian had used his conhri Lankan leaders } hierarchy in the
the Indian power
ent titled "The true he LTTE theoretiasingham said Mr. with LTTE Politicarathnam Yogi on 1985-86 period had a strong supporter its demand for an He adored Prabhationary, hero and
ed us to make a ndian government du Chief Minister),
Indian troops to
of capturing the singham said. He am had told them Government has to
with his suggestion nd should be caplm admitted and ejected the propos
al. He said that the LTTE had rejected the suggestion for Indian military intervention because the whole island would have been under Indian influ
eCe.
Recalling that Mr. Ram had published an exclusive interview with Prabhakaran in The Hindu in September 1986 he said that "the interview together with photographs was splashed covering the whole of the front page. That is the prominence the Hindu had given our leader'.
When the Indian government decided to detain Prabhakaran during the Bangalore SAARC Summit in 1986, Mr. Ram came running to us and offered to hide Prabhakaran at his house. He said that is the last place the police would suspect'.
Balasingham said that the LTTE had trusted Mr. Ram and it was through him that the LTTE had informed the Indian State Minister P. Chidambaram that the LTTE was willing to talk to Shri Lanka government on the Tamil homeland issue.
“When the talks failed Mr. Ram came and congratulated us, the LTTE statement said. "He said it was too little and too late and said the only way available was to put more pressure on the Shri Lankan government'.

Page 7
鸭节örö宅俘帘gö2
Parliamentary Select Co
Framework for Sett of Ethnic Confli
s:
Mr. Mangala Moonesinghe, MP, and Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Select Committee appointed to find ways and means to solve the ethnic conflict has put forward An Option Paper” contain ing a framework of proposals for a settlenent of the conflict. The full text of the draft paper is as follows: The framework and proposals embodied in this paper are based on the following considerations:
1. The question of the merger or non-merger of Northern and Eastern Provinces is a major contentious issue in the negotiations. Therefore, a solution acceptable to all parties without endangering the aspirations of all ethnic communities living in the two provinces, needs to be worked out. The framework proposed in this paper represents such a compromise. ii. The proposed framework also embodies the possibility of further strengthening of devolution in the sense that it envisages devolution within the devolved unit. iii. It also envisions ethnic integration through co-operation and consultation within the North-East region while further strengthening devolution.
The Framework and Proposals
I. There shall be two separate Provincial Councils for the Northern and the Eastern Provinces. The two Councils shall be elected on the basis of an electoral list agreed upon by all political parties.
II. Each Provincial Council shall be headed by an Executive Minister. The Executive Minister shall also be the head of the Board of Ministers of the Province.
III. There shall be a Regional council for the entire North-East region, and the Regional Council shall be constituted by the two elected Provincial Councils.
IV. When the two Provincia Councils meet together on matters pertaining to the entire region, they shall constitute themselves as the Regional Council.
V. The Regional Council shall be headed by a Chief Minister for the entire North-East region. The two
Executive Minis alternately fun Minister of the Executive Minist ter, the other. In Deputy Chief Mii
VI. When the t of Ministers mee to the entire regi tute the Regiona
VII. Legislativ jointly and sepa the tvo Provinc the two Councils to exercise legisla they shall do so á body for the enti) as the Regional Councils meet st do so for the resp
VIII. For the p and executive act Regional List anc
X. The Provi have legislative -matters (such as law and order) sp cial List and the matters (such as development) spe list.
X. In the case o regional subjects, the Regional Co direct bearing o shall not be op
Canadian
A Canadian Hu which visited Sri recommended u attention to solve end human right: authorities and t.
A report by th people of Sri Lan abuses of their that are shocking
"The fundame pression and ass restricted', the re
The Canadi although the hu has improved months, if measu by the number C discovered or dis level of violence

TAMIL TIMES 7
lement ict
(ers shall each year :tion as the Chief Region. When one er is the Chief Minishay function as the hister. wo Provincial Boards t on matters relating on, they shall constiBoard of Ministers.
e functions shall be rately exercised by ;ial Councils. When meet in joint session tive functions jointly, as a single legislative re region, constituted Council. When the parately, they shall lective Province. urposes of legislative tion, there shall be a Il a Provincial List.
incial Councils shall power in respect of land, finance, and ecified in the Provin
Regional Council of
planning, economic cified in the regional
f subjects specified as legislation passed by uncil and having a n a given Province perative until it is
approved by the relevant Provincial Council. (This measure will in effect safeguard the rights of minority communities, particularly in the Eastern Province). XI. There shall be one Governor for the entire Region.
XII. In each Province, the rights of ethnic and religious minorities shall be guaranteed by Constitutional arrangements. Broader issues Concerning Devolution
To strengthen devolution, for better center-province relations and for the promotion of national integration, the following measures relating to the national polity are proposed.
I. The creation of an Upper House of Parliament at the Center, consisting of 50 members. Each province shall elect three members to the Upper House. The province shall be the constituency for such elections. Of the remaining 23 seats, some will be nominated by the political parties represented in the Lower House in proportion to their numerical strength while the remaining seats shall be reserved for distinguished citizens (such as professionals, academics and developmental specialists) to be appointed by the President with the concurrence of the Leader of the Opposition.
II. The establishment of a Devolution Commission to co-ordinate and mediate in matters relating to centerprovince relations. The Commission shall consist of nominees of the central government and provincial councils.
III. The establishment of an independent Finance Commission, consisting of members nominated by both the central government and provincial councils.
Mission on Human Rights Violations
man Rights mission Lanka recently has rgent international the ethnic crisis and abuses both by state The LTTE.
e mission states the ka continue to suffer basic human rights ; and unacceptable.
tal freedoms of exociation are severely port states. an mission says man rights situation over the past few red in absolute terms f unidentified bodies appeared people, the emains appalling.
"The mechanism set up by the gov
ernment to investigate and improve
the situation is by no means equal to the task'.
The Indemnity (Amendment) Act officially shields any public servant from prosecution for alleged human rights violations committed prior to December 17th 1988. The Sri Lanka Bar Association asserts that the existence of this Act not only eliminates the punishment of those involved in disappearances prior to this date but encourages those who violate human rights to think that the government should extend the period covered by the Act, the report states.
Similarly the limitations based upon the mandate of the Presidential Com
Continued on page 13

Page 8
8 TAMIL TIMES
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Annual Reunion Lunch, A.G.M. & Variety Entertainment
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Tooting Leisure Centre, Greaves Place, off Garratt Lane, Tooting, London SW17 ONE
on Sunday, 15th November 1992, at 12.30pm
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Tickets: Adults £4, Children under 12 £2 For tickets and information please telephone:
O81-681 2052, O81-692 0823,0892 824661

Page 9
15 OCTOBER 1992
Madhu church refugee camp: pictures of some of the Victi
Pilgrim Church Tun
by Rita Sebas
Sunday mass at Madhu church. The young priest is somewhat hard on his refugee congregation. He talks of man's greed. The more you have, the more you want. You might even stake a claim to the land you now occupy, he tells them.
Madhu has changed beyond recognition. Only the church remains constant. We remember those other times. The jungle shrine at Madhu came alive only at feast time. Otherwise it was virtually deserted. The stall holders would put down their shutters until the next feast, and the next pilgrim season.
Today it is a sprawling village of cadjan-roofed huts, a thriving bazaar, and 29,000 refugees, the largest single relief centre in the island, administered jointly by the Madhu church and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
New settlement
Last Saturday UNHCR opened a sub relief centre at Palampiddy, 8
kilometres from thickly wooded fo and in its place ha settlement to hous fugee returnees fr first priority and Some movement centre.
But are more ce the problem. Ther ism, inside the ca rations and free sh community increas the state, content as they are now. B defence of many of overriding fear tha become victims of drome that prever to the homes the
pened before. Andi
What they really from the military and safety will be will be no retaliato happened in Mai and elsewhere bef
 
 
 

TAMIL TIMES 9,
ms who have been displaced from their homesteads
"ned Refugee Camp
stian in Mannar
Madhu. The once
est has been axed, as sprung up a new se 800 families. Reom India are to get later there will be from the Madhu
ntres the answer to e is growing criticmp itself, that free elter has spawned a singly dependent on to go on indefinitely ut it must be said in them, that it is the at they could easily the crossfire synhts them returning y ffled. It has hapt can happen again. y need is guarantees
that their security
assured, that there ryattacks like what lanthanai recently,
Ore.
Madhu assures them that safety. There is a 'gentleman's agreement between the two sides, the government and the Tigers that the Madhu camp will not be interfered with. There are no arbitrary arrests and no kidnappings.
For a refugee settlement Madhu is well organised. Government officials function as camp co-ordinators, maintaining records of the refugee population, helping in the distribution of food rations, and providing a listening ear
to the complaints.
In the bazaar you see native ingenuity at work. The embargo on petrol has made Preman Anthony, 22, turn out his own brand of fuel, vegetable oil mixed with kerosene, which he sells at Rs.100 a bottle. You use a drop of petrol, sold at Rs.1000 a litre to start off the engine and then feed it with the new mix', he says all smiles.
There are several young traders like Preman who do a thriving business and make a comfortable living in the circumstances. It is these people who will not suffer by a ration cut, or fisherman Anthonypillai who says he makes around Rs.200-300 a day.
The most vulnerable however are the widows like Rita Jesudasan from Cheddikulam, mother of two young children. Rita lost her husband, her mother and brother to the war, and is struggling to make a life for herself, but the odds weigh heavily against her as it does against the other 1300 widows in the camp.
Sisters of Charity From Cheddikulam have also come the Sisters of Charity displaced in the new wave of hostilities that broke out in 1990. The door to the house with the Continued on page 10

Page 10
10 TAM TIMES
Petition to UN to Probe Killings
Disappearances of Tamils
A 40-page petition has been presented to the United Nations Secretary General on behalf of the Sri Lankan Tamils urging a probe into the alleged 'disappearances' and killings of Tamils by "death squads' with the implicit support of security forces.
The petition focusses on the discrimination against the Tamil community by the Sri Lanka governments in the past four decades in the linguistic, educational and job areas, among others, besides violation of civil rights. The petition also appeals to the UN Secretary-General to obtain the approval of the UN bodies to set up an ad hoc tribunal to hear complaints from the Sri Lankan Tamils of "arbitrary arrests, disappearances, killings
Continued from page 9
near crumbling walls they occupy, is always kept open. And there are hundreds of callers. They are like ministering angels visiting homes, teaching the children, and counselling the traumatised. Soon they will return to Cheddikulam, where the convent is being repaired.
Like the nuns, the priests at Madhu church are on a 24-hour call. But however irksome it can be sometimes Father Jesurjah, the church administrator and his fellow priests take it in their stride for they must believe with the American psychologist, William James "that religion to be meaningful must relate to the people. One has to think of God in the better aspirations of humanity'.
Madhu has its share of heartwarming stories like that of disabled Jacintha Miranda. Jacintha cannot walk yet. Her determination has seen her through university and got her a degree in political science. Although displaced, she gets transported by bicycle to nearby Pandivirichchan 4 kilometres away, where, in a temporary shed she teaches A/Level students.
Although, according to the Government Agent Mannar, Kandiah Ganesh the last maha crop met the total paddy requirements of the people in the district and left a surplus of 6000 metric tons, Madhu is now experiencing a severe drought with the wells running dry and the people cycling miles to get their requirements of water.
"Drought or rain I want to go back to my village. How else do you think I can find the dowry to get my daughter married”, asks Vadivel a recent returnee from India.
and attempted genc its findings public.
The petition asks sanctions be impos Lankan governme) comply with the tril
The petition was U.N. authorities by chairman of the inte sion on due process ( P. Nanda, Professo University of Denve
The prime mover the New York-basec tion of People ol (GOPIO) which was an international co seas Indians whic plight of Indians in tries. The GOPIO's ( mas Abraham, sa second petition sent earlier one dealt
internatior
C
A feminist Tami for a year by Tau an international her efforts to expression.
The PEN orga 28-year-old Se commonly as S 1992 Freedom-t decision that wa ago.
But PEN pr Keeley said in that the group against naming for fear of what might do to her.
A year after sl the Liberation Eelam, and wit whereabouts o friends had deci had come to reve the award, Keel
Selvi, a third-y University of Jaf controlled north taken hostage or
She is the fou journal and in h the carnage in til Tamils and Sinh produced two pla
PEN, a wor

and
ocide' and to make
s that appropriate ed against the Sri nt if it failed to bunal decisions.
presented to the Mr. Louis Kutner, rnational commisof law and Mr. Ved Ir of Law, at the
r. of the complaint is l Global Organisaf Indian Origin. s set up following Inference of overch discussed the a number of counconvenor, Dr. Thoid this was the to the U.N. The with the human
15 OCTOBER 1992
rights violations of the people of Indian origin in Fiji.
The petition, quoting from the findings of a Canadian delegation that visited Sri Lanka in January this year, said: "Extensive and reliable evidence was presented to the Canadian team from a variety of sources. Detailing the widespread abuse of human rights by the security forces and by paramilitary groups cooperating with the Government. Today people live under the threat of extra-judicial killing, disappearance, torture and arbitrary arrest and detention at the hands of security forces'. The team found governmental cover-up of 'abusive acts' perpetrated in its name.
The petition also documents excerpts from the reports of Amnesty International and other human rights institutions. The petition refers to the exodus of Tamil refugees to Canada (50,000), India (200,000 officially and another 150,000 unofficially); Europe (100,000) and over 500,000 accommodated in refugee camps in Sri Lanka.
al Award for Writer Detained by Tigers
SOLOMBO, Sept. 4
I poet, held captive Tmil Tigers, has won
writing award for lefend freedom of
nisation said today lvanithy, known elvi, had won its o-Write award, a s made six months
resident, Edmund a press statement had been advised Selvi by her friends , the Tamil rebels
he was detained by Tigers of Tamil h no news of her r condition, her ded that the time all she had received ey said. rear student at the fina in Tamil rebelhern Jaffna, was August 30, 1991.
inder of a feminist 2r writing deplored he conflict between alese. She has also
lyS.
ld association of
poets, playwrights and novelists, said Selvi was captured because of her unusually frank criticism in her writing and in private conversation of the Tigers' methods of dealing with dissent in Jaffna.
Newspapers and journals are subject to strict Tiger control and other Tamils have been detained or executed for criticising the rebels.
Rebel sources were not available for comment.
Keeley said: "It is time for the Tigers to demonstrate that peaceful, well-intentioned criticism from within their own community is not only tolerated but encouraged. If they want to gain respect from the international community, they should show themselves to be committed to safeguarding internationally respected rights. They can do this only by releasing Selvi and others like her. -
The PEN Freedom-to-Write awards are given annually to two writers who have shown remarkable courage in exercising or defending freedom of expression and who have suffered repercussions as a result. The selection is made by the PEN Freedom-to-Write Committee. The awards have been presented each year since 1987; past recipients included the Malawian poet Jack Mapanje and the Moroccan essayist Abraham Serfaty.

Page 11
15 OCTOBER 1992
Change in Command Structure of A
President R. Premadasa, in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief, has changed the command structure of the Armed Forces by restoring with immediate effect full powers to the Joint Operations Command headed by Lt. General Hamilton Wanasinghe.
A Gazette notification to this effect has been issued in the wake of a major military debacle at Koddaikadu near Vettilaikkerni on October 1 and other factors, including large-scale desertions, high level government sources told The Sunday Times.
The LTTE overran a small army camp, ransacked it and got away with sophisticated weapons and equipment valued at a staggering Rs. 50 million.
The Government, by an earlier Gazette Extraordinary issued on March 20 this year, had assigned the task of commanding the operations in the operational areas to the Service Commanders and the Police Chief.
That order said: such officers oft engaged in ant shall not withsta of such duties spective comma) of the Army, th Navy, the Cor Force and the Police, as the ca
The aforesaid spector-General formulate, decid terrorist operatic for the same'.
The March 2 hadrescinded ce Emergency Reg by Government 1991, re-activat tions Command regulations had ity to the JOC C
Tigers Acquire Fast Boats
Sea Tigers have successfully acquired a fleet of fast boats and foreign expertise to expand their operations against the government security forces, especially the Navy, informed sources said. Sea Tigers trying to sabotage naval operations particularly in the northern theatre of operations are claimed to have sought help from foreign 'sources' for training, sources believe.
The latest Sea Tiger operation was reported from Karainagar in the Karaithivu island where the Navy maintains its northern area headquarters, sources explained. Two members of the Sea Tigers who attempted to infiltrate defences of the Karainagar base' were shot dead by security forces personnel, a military spokesman said.
Meanwhile the Navy was on alert to prevent the Sea Tigers from using a seized 30ft long inshore patrol craft to mount a possible attack on a naval base on the eastern port, Trincomalee authoritative sources indicated. Tigers described by the London based Tiger Secretariat as members of the Special Task Force division of the Sea Tigers, on August 29 in a commando type raid seized a locally made patrol craft from the Navy controlled Mandathivu Island.
Reliable sources said the Sea Tigers were certain to use the patrol boat to launch an attack on the Sri Lankan Navy itself or the Indian fishermen and then blame it on the Sri Lankan government.
C
A former Com
offered Sri Lank age consisting
tanks, helicopte personnel carrie knowledgeables
The sources sa plus equipment v saw Pact count under East-We treaties, comes w (Rs. 4.5 billio package.
Cheap surplus former Commun: available after Forces in Europ signed in Noven and the now-de limiting the num pieces, attack he aircraft each cou
The sale of su allowed under a provides for the limited by the tr
The sources sa surplus weapons arms market ha Third World cou the opportunity armed forces.
Sri Lanka has windfall provided Warsaw Pact ar cheap weapons v rid of under the ( a regiment of TCzechoslavakia prices last year.

TAMIL TIMES 11
\rmed Forces
"The armed forces and he Police forces as are i-terrorist operations, anding the assignment remain under the rends of the Commander he Commander of the nmander of the Air Inspector-General of se may be”.
Commanders and Inshall collectively plan, e and carry out antions and be responsible
Gazette notification rtain provisions in the ulations promulgated t on November 11, ing the Joint Opera. The November 11 given overall authorhief.
That order said: "The armed forces and such officers of the police as are engaged in anti-terrorist operations shall be under the command of the general officer commanding Joint Operations and for this purpose the Commander of the Army, the Commander of the Navy, the Commander of the Air Force and the Inspector-General of Police shall act under his command'.
Informed sources said yesterday the November 11 order which had been over-ridden by the March 20 order, has now been re-activated - which means the Armed Services and the Police shall be under the Command of the JOC Chief again.
In recent months, there had been widespread reports of differences of opinion between the JOC Chief and the Service Commanders, especially Army Commander Cecil Waidyaratne. There were also differences of opinion between the Service Commanders and the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, General Cyril Ranatunge.
теар Arms Offer to Sri Lanka
munist country has a a major arms packof the latest battle gunships, armoured rs and missile boats, ources have said.
aid the offer, for surwhich the former Warry has to get rid of est arms reduction rith a US $100 million h) five year credit
s weapons from the ist bloc states became the Conventional pe (CFE) treaty was mber 1990 by NATO funct Warsaw Pact ber of tanks, artillery licopters and combat ntry can have.
ch surplus weapons is treaty loophole which export of equipment eaty. aid the flood of cheap on the international s given a number of ntries like Sri Lanka to modernise their
already exploited the by the collapse of the ld the availability of which have to be got DFE treaty by buying 55 battle tanks from at unbelievably low
But the sources said the military was wary about buying from former Communist countries because of their unfamiliarity with East European technology and possible problems in the supply of spares in future.
They also said the main constraint which would preclude any major acquisitions from these sources was likely to be the acute lack of funds.
They said the offer by the former Communist country was for modern battle tanks, amphibious troop carriers, high speed patrol boats carrying guns and missiles and the latest armour-plated helicopter gunships armed with cannons, rockets and missiles.
Standing Committee of Tamil Speaking People (S.C.O.T.)
DEEPAVALI LUNCH
Including Cultural Entertainment
Sunday, 1st November 1992, at 1pm at Wandsworth Town Hall, Civic Suite, Wandsworth High Street, London SW182PU
Guest Speaker:
Dr. Kumar Rupesinghe, Secretary General, International Alert, Director of international Peace Research Institute For tickets and information,
please telephone 081-870 9897; 468 7181; 76.47912

Page 12
12 TAMIL TIMES
"Country Haunted by Corruption an
- Archbishop
The entire nation is afflicted with a deadly disease. Thousands are getting killed, wounded and rendered homeless due to the ethnic war. Corruption and terror have not yet ceased to haunt the country. Truth and justice have suffered. It is difficult to find the truth in a newspaper', lamented the Archbishop, the Most Rev. Nicholas Marcus Fernando at the annual healing service conducted at Tewatte recently.
Addressing the hundreds of thousands that had gathered in front of the National Basilica of Our Lady of Lanka on August 30 the Archbishop said: "When I look at the crisis facing the nation I am reminded of the
teaching of Jesus serve God and mam choose one or the oth
The Archbishop's published in the Sep "Messenger'.
According to 'N Archbishop also saic the crisis is the gre wealth. If we choo Kingdom of God an walk in the path that we will be able to a and unity that we so
"Let us in solidarit. nation pray to our Bl the healing of our w nation', he appealed.
20 Army Men Held for Massacre of 3.
At least twenty army personnel were being held and interrogated by military authorities probing the August 8 massacre of 39 Tamil civilians at Mailanthanai, a remote Tamil village in the Batticaloa District, according to the first annual report released by the chairman of the Human Rights Task Force, J.F.A. Soza.
Mr. Soza claims in the report that steps were being taken to hold an indentification parade despite difficulties posed by the rule that in identification parades where several persons have to be put up for identification the number of persons constituting the parade should be five times more than the number of suspects.
The deaths of over thirty soldiers and policemen in Poonani area on July 29 and the explosion in Kayts Island on August 8 which claimed the lives of popular military leaders may have
prompted the reveng Tamil civilians, ther
The happenings Kayts, no doubt, m give vent to their al ment, the report stat
The report further police investigating have several witnesse they were in a positio attackers as member
The number of dea and children has been at least 11 houses set
Meanwhile, arrar being made to brin army personnel incl commissioned officer member military co charges in connection sacre of 67 Tamils at June 12 last year.
SAARC Opposition
South Asian opposition leaders recently agreed on the need for impartiality on the part of heads of state during elections and called for guarantees not to manipulate elections and for polls to be conducted by an independent commission free from administrative interference in each country.
"Since both the government and opposition represent the people, there is need for a measure of tolerance and mutual respect, they said in a joint declaration of the SAARC seminar of opposition leaders of SAARC countries in Karachi.
The opposition should have free access to information on important issues, it said.
The declaration was signed by Mrs.
Leaders Urge
Benazir Bhutto, Lead tion and Co-Chairp People's Party, Mr. V. Indian Premier and Leader, Mr. Shaikh League President a Opposition Leader, anaike, SLFP Nationa Manmohan Adhikari, Communist Party Opposition Leader.
The five leaders
should provide mone political parties whet ernment or in the op basis of proportion o each party to fund poli research and traini workers.

15 OCTOBER 1992
Terror'
hat you cannot non. We have to
y
ΘΥ.
speech has been ember 6 issue of
essenger' the ... 'At the root of d for power and se to serve the
His justice and he has shown us, chieve the peace lesperately need. 7 with the entire essed Mother for ounded bleeding
9 Tamils
e attacks on the 2port indicates.
in Poonani and ade the soldiers nger and resenteS.
states that the the attack now 's who claim that in to identify the s of the Army.
d mostly women placed at 39 and on fire.
gements were g twenty more uding a junior before a threeurt to answer | with the masokkadicholai on
Journalists Form Action Committee
Sri Lanka's journalists have formed an action committee to combat what they claimed was government's opposition to a free press, says a recent IPI report published by the International Press Institute.
More than 500 journalists held a meeting in the capital, Colombo, to adopt a seven-point programme which called on all political parties and other mass organisations to safeguard freedom of the press.
“We want the repeal or the amendment of laws which prohibit the press from fulfilling its duty', said Lucien Rajakarunanayake, one of the organisers of the new movement. He added: "there is a lot of covert and overt opposition to free media'.
Mr. Rajakarunanayake pointed to two of the more repressive laws: one which prohibits reporting on Cabinet decisions unless they have been announced by Government spokesmen and the other a ban on reporting of any news which affects the country's economic well-being.
The meeting also called for the dismantling of Government control over state-run radio and television, and over a newspaper chain which publishes two of the country's three English-language dailies.
There are more than 2,000 journalists in Sri Lanka. Most work for the prolific press published in Sinhala - the language of the Sinhalese majority.
Some Sinhala-language newspapers are critical of the Government. Over the past three months, two editors have been charged with spreading disaffection against the Government through their news reports. — (IPI Report).
Guarantees for Fair Elections
er of the Opposirson, Pakistan P. Singh, former National Front Hasina, Awami nd Bangladesh Anura BandarOrganizer, and President of the of Nepal and
said the state y to all major mer in the govposition on the
votes cast for y planning and ng of political
They called for a regional review of electoral arrangements to ensure that elections in the SAARC countries are free and fair.
The leaders also reaffirmed the principles of national independence, sovereignty and equality of the countries of SAARC and emphasized the need to settle disputes by peaceful means and to seek political solution to the outstanding issues between the countries of the SAARC region.
The leaders decided to meet together periodically and to exchange information on a regular basis about the role of the opposition and the impediments in the way of democratic dispensation.

Page 13
15 OCTOBER 1992
Eight Army Men Named in “Disa
of 32 Students
Eight army personnel of the Sevana Camp have been named by the Human Rights Task Force as "responsible for the abduction and detention of the 32 schoolboys reported missing in Embilipitiya since 1989.
Task Force Chairman, former Supreme Court Justice, J.F.A. Soza, in his first annual report, has called for 'a full scale inquiry', by the law enforcement authorities into this incident. The HRTF report names eight personnel of Army's 6th Artillery Unit manning the Sevana Camp at that time as having been identified according to the statements made by parents of the missing students.
Task Force Chairman Soza states in his annual report for the period between August 10 last year and August 10 this year, that the HRTF had conducted its own investigations into the allegation of the abduction and disappearance of the schoolboys.
The HRTF report states, “The gravamen of their complaint was against a
certain school principal who had taken, advantage of some controversy to get
students to organise demonstrations
and processio) principal ‘could strations and himself initiall report says. T struck upa frie commanding t 88a,
The HRTF principal had other school h officials of the abduct seven c leaders and so s demonstrations disagreed.
Subsequently been taken into
Referring to students made report says tha the abduction o
In addition personnel, the army colonel a 'officers in char
The HRTF re
"Only a full s enforcement au
7356 Detentions & 3589 "Disapp
Human Rights Task Force Chairman, J.F.A. Soza has strongly recommended
that a person should not be held
without a Court trial, however valid the detention, for more than three years.
In the annual report of the Human Rights Task Force (HRTF) for the period between August 10, 1991 and August 10, 1992 former Supreme Court Justice Soza said: "Dateless detention such as is possible under Regulation 17 (of the Emergency Regulations) is frustrating and demoralising and in the long run will not serve to ensure a stable order. Even as a deterrent it is counter productive.
"Primacy should be given to the international norms on human rights in the implementation of human rights standards at the national level.
Even though international law is woven into our constitution our domestic laws like the Prevention of Terrorism. Act and Emergency Regulations require toning down', HRTF Chairman said.
He observed that right now detentions under the Prevention of Terrorism Act were not frequent. Most of the detentions are under Regulations 19 and 17 of the Emergency Regulations. Detention under Regulation 17 is not
regulated by t under the abov tive and not
Even recent held that Regu the constitution But in terms Regulation 17 severe', it said.
According to detainees held camps, six reh some police sta is 7356. Of the 1645 Tamils a: are 1796 Sinh Tamils and thre Boossa Detenti 692 Tamils, 16 Muslims at Ne Detention Cam
According to three Muslims being held at th Camp. Pelwatt 1187 Sinhalese Muslims.
Based on inf HRTF upto Aug persons have be this amount, 21 loa, 648 from A. comalee and 14

TAMIL TIMES 13. ,
ppearance'
y
s'. Subsequently this not control the demonrocessions. . . . that he helped organise', the he principal had then ndship with the colonel he army unit in the
'eport says that this suggested to various eads and government area that "they should r eight of the student top the processions and . These officials had
various students had custody. allegations of a "list' of by this principal, the t there is evidence of f 18 boys. to naming the eight
report identifies an ind a captain as the ge of the army men”.
port states: tale inquiry by the law thorities would help to
earanCeS
ime limits. Detention e regulations is preven
punitive”. ly the Supreme Court lation 17 is intra vires . So much for the law. of humane principles is undoubtedly very
HRTF, the number of n six official detention abilitation camps, in zions and army camps e 5628 are Sinhalese, hd 83 Muslims. there alese persons and 21 e Muslims held at the on Camp. There are
Sinhalese and nine w Magazine Colombo
he report 368 Tamils, nd one Sinhalese are e Kalutara Detention detention camp has 13 Tamils and 30
brmation received by ust 10 this year 3589 in reported missing, of 3 were from Batticanpara, 188 from Trin
from Polonnaruwa.
assess how much of what is stated is true and the involvement and criminal responsibility of the persons mentioned. We learn such an inquiry is in progress and will be concluded with
the recording of the statements of
certain army personnel who are difficult to contact as they are engaged in different parts of the country.
"The HRTF felt a private plaint could be filed for conspiracy to abduct and abduction against a soldier and the school principal.
"We made joint preparations in February 1992 to take this step but the persons concerned did not turn up for finalising the filing of the plaints and the move did not get off the ground.
"The parents are demanding a Commission of Inquiry. An inquiry whether under the Commissions of Inquiry Act No. 17 of 1948 or under the Special Presidential Commissions of Inquiry Law No. 7 of 1978 will not result in punishment of offenders under the Penal Code. Such punishment can be imposed only by a court of law. An inquiry by a Commission will only be a fault finding process and can result in the imposition of civil and fiscal disabilities but will delay the bringing of the offenders to book under the Penal Law which is what we think is the better option'.
Continued from page 7
mission of Inquiry into the involuntary removal of persons which limits investigations of complaints of removal to those occurring after January '91 calls into question the government's public commitment to uncover and stop all human rights abuses.
Referring to the LTTE, the Canadian Human Rights team has said it was presented with convincing evidence of continuing human rights abuses being perpetrated by the armed cadres of the LTTE. Although as an armed opposition group, the LTTE may not be directly subjected to the norms of humanitarian law, international human rights conscience dic--- tates that abuses of the LTTE be condemned.
Like the security forces the LTTE maintains secret detention centres where people are routinely abused and from where they often disappear. The centres are subject to no external monitoring and the reports reaching the Canadian team indicates that the conditions of detention are often dreadful. The LTTE has never pro
duced a comprehensive list of de
tainees so that family members who live in agony could known the fate of their loved ones, the report state.

Page 14
14 TAMIL TIMES
ETHNIC CONFLCT IN SR
Alternative Soluti
by Prof. Marshall R. Singer Graduate School of Public and international A
University of Pittsburgh
After looking briefly at the background of the problem, and at the obstacles to a solution from both the Sinhalese and Tamil perspectives, and then examining the factors pushing the parties toward a settlement, this paper then looks at alternative solutions. It constructs a theoretical continuum on which all states can be placed. At the extreme right it postulates a completely unitary state - which is where the Sinhalese extremists want Sri Lanka to go back to. At the extreme left it postulates a totally independent Tamil state (Tamil Eelam), where Tamil extremists want it to be. In between it looks at all of the theoretical points that one can imagine. It concludes that neither the Tamil extremists nor the Sinhalese extremists have the power to impose their desired solution on the other. Since it is inevitable that there is eventually going to have to be some devolution of power to some level of government below the center, it is suggested that the parties recognize reality and act accordingly. Since the Provincial Council are already in place, constitutionally, and since it is unlikely that anyone is going to be able to muster 2/3 of Parliament to change the constitution in the near future, it is suggested that the combatants recognize that reality and use the Provincial Councils as starting points to negotiate the specifics of exactly how much power is actually to be devolved to them. Once an agreement is reached, (assuming it can be) the government will have to imple
ment it, if peace i achieved.
BACKGROUND
For the person not specifics of the Sri some background i Lanka is an Island : West Virginia, situat point just 18 miles off coast of India. It has about 18 million peop are Sinhalese. The people of north India speak the Sinhalese predominantly Bud came to the Island a ago. The Tamils make the population. About ancestors of people w Island in successive south India, at least They settled predom north and east of w used to call Ceylon, pa Jaffna peninsula. Her quently referred to as or Jaffna. Tamils. The Tamil population who land were brought ove in the late 19th cent first the coffee, and plantations that took and their progeny nev have always been ver the Ceylon Tamils. T mountains around Nu keep very much to t vast majority of Tam Hindu religion. The rious ethnic origins,
Commonwealth of Totally independent (former USSR)
independent States
Fig.
"THEORETICAL CONTINUUM
Devol Confederation Feder like Switzerland like U,
British What European Federation like Commonwealth Community is Canada may of Nations is becoming become

15 OCTOBER 1992
OS
Affairs
is finally to be
familiar with the Lanka situation s in order. Sri about the size of ted at its closest the southeastern a population of le, 71% of whom Sinhalese are a an descent, who language, are hist, and who bout 2500 years up about 22% of half of them are ho came to the invasions from 1000 years ago. hinantly in the hat Westerners rticularly in the hce they are fre; Ceylon Tamils, other half of the ) live on the Is2r by the British ury to work on later, the tea their place. They er left. But they y separate from hey live in the wara Eliya, and hemselves. The ils practice the Muslims, of vacomprise 5% of
the population, and live all over the Island, although their main concentration is in the Eastern Province, where they constitute one third of the population. Although their mother tongue tends to be Tamil (because they settled in predominantly Tamil areas) they are not of Tamil ethnic origin. The remaining 2% of the population are called Burgers. They are the offspring of Portuguese, Dutch and British former colonial masters, and native women, and are almost exclusively Christians, as are another 8% of the population, both Sinhalese and Tamil.
Depending on one's political predilection, one can date the start of the Tamil/Sinhalese ethnic conflict from the start of those first south Indian invasions, 1000 years ago, or one can be more recent and point to the situation at Independence in 1984. I don't want to get into all of the specifics here, but one must mention the fact that when the Portuguese arrived in 1505 they found separate Tamil Kingdoms in the North and East of the Island, and separate Sinhalese Kingdoms in the South and in the Kandian hills. One must also mention that at the time of Independence the Tamils held positions in the upper civil service, and the professions (like medicine, engineering, accountancy, business, education etc.) far in excess of their proportion in the population. Again, depending on one's political predilection, that could be explained as the consequence of the British efforts to divide and rule, during colonial days, or it could be explained by the fact that nothing very much grows in the Northern Province, and hence the Tamils took quite naturally to the British education system, and the jobs within that system, that could be had by English educated people. In any event, it is true that the Tamils were very much over-represented in the most sought after jobs at the time of Independence. It is also true that Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike's 'Sinhalese Only' language
ure 1
OF DEVOLUTION OF POWER
Significant
tion to àtion
Federation like India
Regional Provincia S. Councils
Modest Devolution to Provincial Councils
Complete
Development Unitary
Councils State
Very Moderate Devolution like U.K.

Page 15
15 OCTOBER 1992
policy of 1956, was intended to remove those Tamils from those jobs, and open them up for the Sinhalese.
One also needs to know that there have been a number of agreements worked out between the leaders of the Tamils and the Sinhalese governments of the day, but that in each case Sinhalese chauvinists immediately screamed 'sell-out of the Sinhalese people', and, within days of the agreements having been signed the government reneged on the agreements. That is one of the reasons that young Tamils eventually became disillusioned with the political process and decided that the only way there could be any meaningful change for the Tamil people would be to have their own separate country (called "Tamil Eelam”) and the only way they could get that country was by the bullet.
Fighting between the Tamils and the Sinhalese has been going on, with varying degrees of intensity, since the late 1970s. Thousands of young fighters on both sides have been killed, as well as tens of thousands of innocent men, women and children who just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
OBSTACLES TO A SOLUTION:
Among the Sinhalese:
1. The Sinhalese have simply never understood the concept of federalism'. They insist that Sri Lanka is one indivisible Island, and that to introduce federalism would be to divide the island. The more suspicious among the Sinhalese, of course, believe that "federalism' is just the first step toward total independence for the Tamils. Hence they oppose it. In addition they see Sri Lanka as being their's'. The Tamils can always go back to India where they came from, the more chauvinist among them would argue, while the Sinhalese have nowhere else to go. Sri Lanka is seen as their country, a Sinhalese Buddhist entity unique in the world. The Tamils are still seen by many Sinhalese as interlopers who either have to assimilate to Sinhalese culture or get out.
2. There are two major Sinhalese parties. The ruling United National Party (UNP), and the opposition Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). As Donald Horowitz rightly observed see Donald L. Horowitz, Ethnic Groups in Conflict, Univ. of California Press, Berkeley, 1985), when you have two major ethnic parties competing for the allegiance of the same ethnic group, any concession by the party in power will be seized upon by the party out of power as a sign of weakness, and again, of 'selling-out our people'. That
dem
is exactly what happening in Sri
3. The goverr that it can wipe o Tamil militant g the Liberation Ti (LTTE, or frequer
Because of the which they curre. (which will be ex there is no doubt can deal them : Whether they however, remain author doubts it.
Among Tamils:
1. Most Tamils Sinhalese prom caused the rise among the young many agreement too many promi power, or 'autonc but not honoured
2. Tamils are politically, than a the height of the were at least 5 m and at least 32 f Moderate Tamils into one umbrell. the Tamil Unite (TULF), but that number of diffe tions. The LTTE and most fanati groups, has kille other militant gr cuse of being not adherence to th Eelam. Tamil m expressed a willin with the Sinhal killed by the LT traitors to the Ta. Tamil militants attacks on their LTTE of being pc who have turned the Tamil move their own group noted that; a) a generation Tami important consid the young boys w militant groups a are the tradition and c) the EPR Revolutionary Lil of the major gro LTTE) is a milita its origins in th rather than in th home of the LTT recent years, part has recruited inc Tamils. Further Peace Keeping Fc

has been continually Lanka.
ment now believes ut the last remaining roup fighting them, gers of Tamil Eelam tly, just "the Tigers'). isolated position in ntly find themselves, plained in a moment) that the government a very heavy blow. can be wiped out, is to be seen. This
; simply do not trust ises. That is what
of Tamil militancy in the first place. Too s have been broken, ses of ‘devolution of my' have been made,
even more divided, are the Sinhalese. At Tamil militancy there ajor militant groups, actions among them. , for a time, banded a organization called ed Liberation Front
really represented a ent, competing fac, the oldest, largest, ical of the militant d many members of roups whom they act sincere about their e concept of Tamil noderates who have gness to compromise ese have also been TE, accused of being mil cause. The young who survived LTTE groups accuse the wer hungry fanatics
on their brothers in ment to aggrandize . It should also be t least among older ls, caste is still an eration; b) many of ho joined the various re of lower caste than al Tamil politicians; LF (Eelam Peoples beration Front - one ups now fighting the ant group which had e Eastern Province, e North, which is the TE. What's more, in ticularly, the EPRLF reasingly lower caste , while the Indian frce was in Sri Lanka
TAMIL TIMES 15
(from July 1989 to March 1990) they made every effort to build up the EPRLF as a viable alternative to the Tigers.
The LTTE, until now at least, has demanded to be the only voice of the Tamil Eelam movement. Moderate Tamils and militants who have survived LTTE attacks believe the LTTE will kill them at the first opportunity they get. Similarly, the LTTE sincerely believes that they cannot disarm because if they do, an awful lot of angry Tamils (as well as revengeful Indians and Sinhalese) will come after them and kill them. One of the major problems the government has faced throughout the fighting has been to find Tamils who can legitimately claim to talk for other Tamils. The moderates tried and they were killed. Other militant groups tried and they were killed. The LTTE has sometimes tried, but the other militant groups refuse to let the LTTE represent them. Until the Tamils can get themselves together enough to field a joint negotiating team, it will be virtually impossible to reach a settlement.
4. All Tamil militant groups believe that the "Tamil homeland' must be treated as one political unit. This means a permanent merger of the North and East Provinces. They have been temporarily merged under the terms of the Indo-Sri Lankan Accords of July 1989, but there was supposed to have been a referendum to confirm that merger, but the referendum never occurred. Interestingly, it would appear that more moderate Tamils really don't care one way or the other whether the two provinces are merged or not. For their part, however, many Sinhalese are prepared to fight to the death to keep the two provinces separate. In addition, although they speak the Tamil language, the Muslims of the East are not too happy about being made a permanent minority in a province in which the overwhelming majority would be Tamil. One third of the Eastern Province is Sinhalese, and needless to say, they are not too happy. about the prospect of being included in a Tamil dominated province either.
FACTORS PUSHING THE PARTIES TOWARDA SETTLEMENT;
1. The vast majority of the ordinary Tamil people are tired of the fighting. Their lives and livelihoods have been completely disrupted by it. Hardly a family has been spared the loss of a loved one. Hardly a home hasn't been at least partly damaged, if not destroyed in all the fighting thus far, and
Continued on page 16

Page 16
16 TAMIL TIMES
Continued from page 15 ment, and used i
until 1989), the more seems to be on the horizon. They fairly conclusive want to get on with living their lives. LTTE was respo They can't while the fighting con- sination of Rajiv tinues. be prepared to go 2. The Sinhalese are also tiring of Now the LTTE is the fighting. Less so than the Tamils, only are the Sri perhaps, because it doesn't touch them coming after the as directly, but indirectly it does. nants of the ot Sinhalese soldiers are still being killed. whom the LTT Sinhalese civilians pushed out of their turned on. In ad villages by Tamil militants are still these Sri Lankan living in camps, afraid to go back to been armed and their villages. And money that should Indians, this time be going to develop the country is knowledge and a going, instead, to the war effort. Lankan governm
3. The donor countries who give Sri LTTE, once and Lanka millions for development each author's belief tha year (45.5 million U.S. dollars last year TTE will, simpl alone) are running out of patience. S the jun, They have many other places begging play cat and mou for money for development. Theydoni My informants te have to give it to a country that spends an't leader oft enormous sums of their own money : of the country (U.S. $ 1 million per day, at one point) ably are too. Eve
fighting a war against their own ments, believe; population. with the LTTE, alo
representatives.
4. Even the LTTE may now be 5. It is mv be willing to discuss a settlement short of Premadasa θI total Eelam. If true, this is a complete ment well in pad switch for the LTTE, which has, until Presidential elect now, killed other Tamils for consider- 1994. First of all ing anything short of Eelam. The feather in his cal reason undoubtedly is that the LTTE in history as p now finds itself almost completely iso- brought a aft lated. They have entered into talks fighting E. he w with the Sinhalese before, but have, be known as the P for reasons which seem inexplicable to to the dismember the Sinhalese, turned on them in the Any devolution t middle of the discussions. The Indian must be one in w Peace Keeping Force came to Sri Lanka in July 1989 thinking they by the Sinhalese te were going to disarm all of the militants and, by their presence on the Island force the Sinhalese to implement the Indo-Sri Lankan Accords, which called for a considerable degree of devolution of power to the Provincial Councils, in particular the now merged Northeast Provincial Council. From the Indian perspective they were doing i၏ိုဖုံးနီနီ၊ the Tamils a favour and giving them, if back and Chin not Eelam, at least a form of federal- y ism which many of them were very in willing to accept. But the LTTE wasn't p willing to accept that solution and they that stability can turned on the Indians. At least a thousand Indian soldiers were killed to Premadasa ju as a result, and thousands more were done killing as ma injured. No one who is not a part of the get his hands on. LTTE knows for sure how many LTTE 6. I beli th boys were killed in the fighting, but it tt ဗုးeဖူ had to have been a lot. But if that W didn't alienate the Indians enough, Sl0 elam, to (the reader must recall that almost all ဒုဗ္ဘိ ဝှိt; (If of the militant groups - including the gr ဗုဗူ; LTTE - were armed and trained in ို India in the early days of the move- naua also demai
and realized that a
unitary integrity o he wants a solutic does want to see S its economic devel is convinced tha: Lanka, if not into Indian Ocean, the Malaysia. Even
Taiwan, Hong Kol
peaceful settleme

15 OCTOBER 1992
as a safe sanctuary dians seem to have evidence that the |sible for the assasGandhi, and seem to to court to prove it. really isolated. Not ankan armed forces m, but so are remer militant groups E had previously ition, it is reported, Tamil militants have rained anew by the presumably with the ssistance of the Sri ent to finish off the for all. It is this t won't happen. The y make itself very !le while the troops se looking for them. l me that Prabakarhe LTTE) is already Other leaders probntually the governgoing to have to talk ong with other Tamil
lief that President 'ately wants a settlevance of the next ions, scheduled for it would be a major ' if he could go down he President who er all those years of ould not be willing to resident who agreed ment of Sri Lanka. hat he can accept, hich he is perceived have preserved the f Sri Lanka. Second, in because he really i Lanka get on with opment. I believe he , he can turn Sri the Singapore of the n certainly into the with the war still c growth has been s have been coming se investors from g and Singapore all 1 at Sri Lanka as a invest - provided be insured. Hence a t is very important st as soon as he is ny LTTE as he can
at India wants a ants a settlement e sure, but it wants Sri Lanka were to e to Tamil Eelam, it until every state in ded independence, l they need to do to
achieve it would be to maintain an armed struggle for as long as possible.) I realize that there are those in Sri Lanka who believe that the Indians do not want to see the ethnic crisis ended. They believe that India perceives it to be in its own interest to have Sri Lanka destabilized so that the Sri Lankan government will eventually have to come to the Indian government and ask for help. I simply don't buy that conspiracy theory. I believe that the Indians genuinely believe that their best interests would be served by having a peaceful Sri Lanka as their southern neighbour. To be sure, it is also in India's best interest to see to it that the Tamil population in Sri Lanka is relatively happy with whatever arrangement is ultimately worked out, so that the Tamil population of the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu will also be happy.
ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS:
Whatever alternative is finally agreed upon to end the fighting in Sri Lanka, there is no question but that it will include devolution of some political power to some Tamil region/s. The questions are: How much political power, and to which region or regions?
People who talk about devolution of power, usually talk about it in terms of giving the Tamils something. Very few people talk about all of the people who live in Sri Lanka sharing in that devolution. Sri Thillaiampalam, head of the Boston based Tamil Eelam Association of America (one of the most moderate of Tamil expatriate organizations), on the other hand, has been saying for years that federalism, in order to work, has to be for everyone - not just for Tamils. He supported President Jayawardena’s Provincial Council scheme as a first step toward federalism, precisely because it proposed a devolution of political power to all provinces. But he is relatively isolated in that approach. While I agree with his assessment, I'm afraid most people who think about the problem, think only about devolution to Tamil areas. Hopefully, that will eventually change.
One can envision thinking about devolution as points along a continuum, depending on how much power is actually transferred to a governmental unit at a level lower than the central government. At one end would be a unitary state with virtually no local autonomy, except perhaps for garbage collection and the like. At the other extreme end of the continuum would be a completely independent Tamil Eelam, with no ties whatever between it and what was left of Sri

Page 17
15 OCTOBER 1992
Lanka. In between range a virtually endless variety of options. The key factors are 1) how much power is actually devolved, and 2) the size of the unit being given power. With regard to "how much power...', questions which have to be resolved include, for example: Is the unit going to have its own police force? If yes, who will have control over hiring and firing of the police? In what language is the business of government and the courts to be conducted? Will the unit be allowed to have its own court system? If yes, who will appoint the judges? Who will decide questions of who can own land? How much power will the central government have over the operation of the government in the unit? If the center doesn't like the government of the unit, can it remove that government? Under what conditions? Will there be conditions under which the center will be allowed to rule the unit directly? What will be the language of instruction in the schools? Will it be allowed to have diplomatic representation? Will it have a separate currency? Will it be tied economically in some way to the central government? These and thousands of questions like these will have to be agreed upon before any settlement is reached. How they are decided will determine just how much devolution of power actually will have taken place.
Figure 1 is a representation of some of the possible points along the continuum that have been tried in various places around the world. In no way is this presentation made to limit the possibilities. Rather it is meant to highlight some of the possible alternatives.
At the extreme right is the total unitary system, with all decisions being made by the central government. Actually, Sri Lanka, prior to the enactment of the Provincial Council scheme, came pretty close to that model.
At a point slightly to the left of that, one can imagine a very moderate devolution of the kind the United Kingdom grants to Scotland, Wales, England and North Ireland. Essentially it is a symbolic devolution with most real power still being held by the center.
A little more to the left, on the continuum, one can see a point en
visioned by the Regional Development
Council scheme. Unfortunately that scheme was never fully implemented in Sri Lanka. There is a strong body of opinion which argues that had the Regional Development Councils ever been properly implemented Tamil discontent would have been nipped in the
bud, most Tal ported it, and groups would h was, however, much power to Sinhalese extre enough for the
that a decade ( hatred have en than ever to ge to draw the line Tamils would m on the continu are completely Tamil militant settle for that l
The modest c visioned in th scheme was ac Sinhalese to ha (just barely) in tional amendm acceptable eno tremists to hal (Janatha Vimu ing in 1989. E were finally cru great many Sin the Provincial and gave away noted here that where the rulin ty (U.N.P.), hac sary 2/3 majorit amendments t does not now e nor is it likely again for some
Thus, in rea constitutionally may be as fa continuum tha ernment will foreseeable fut all that bad, amendment th Councils to con really spell out much power a volved. Thus so tion on the part fact grant cons the Provincial ( possess. That the left on the c would probably of the Tamil might even be: militant groups that because tl the other milito to work within Provincial Cou along that thi some real devo were to work. T not occurred, t ledge.
If increased Councils were

TAMIL TIMES 17
nils would have supthe young militant lve dissipated. It never because it gave too the Regions, for the mists, and it didn't give Tamil extremists. Now f civil war, death and sued, it will be harder t agreement on where . It is doubtful that the ow settle for this point um (even if the Tigers crushed, the other groups are not likely to ttle real power.)
evolution of power ene Provincial Council septable enough to the lve passed Parliament the form of a constituent, but it was unugh to Sinhalese exre sparked the J.V.P. kti Peramuna) uprisven though the J.V.P. lished, there are still a halese who believe that Council went too far, too much. It must be it passed a parliament gUnited National Parmore than the necesty to get constitutional hrough. The U.N.P. njoy such a majority, that any party will time.
l political terms, and , Provincial Councils, r to the left on the t any Sinhalese Govpe able to go for the ure. That need not be
however, since the at enabled Provincial he into existence didn't in great detail just how ctually was to be deme creative interpretat of negotiators could in iderably more power to councils than they now kind of devolution - to 'ontinuum, by a notchbe acceptable to many moderates and indeed, accepted by some of the s like the EPRLF. I say he EPRLF and some of ant groups were willing the framework of the ncils before, but said all ere would have to be olution of power if they Chat devolution still has o the best of my know
power to the Provincial to be forthcoming that
would mean a de facto federalism, which Sinhalese extremists wouldn't like, but which would not need another constitutional amendment, and could therefore conceivably be implemented fairly easily. Given a chance to work, if, over time, it does actually work, the Sinhalese “right' might come to recognize that Sri Lanka hadn't been torn apart after all, and that "federalism' was less painful in practice than they had thought it would be. All of this, of course is based on the premises that a) the government would be willing to, make those real concessions, and thens, be willing and able to implement the concessions it had made, b) significant segments of the Tamil community would go along with the settlement. reached. Both of these premises remain to be seen.
Next on the continuum, there are various forms of de jure federalism. One of the more limited forms is that which prevails in India. There the individual states do have significant power, but the central government does have the right to suspend the state government and to rule from the center. In the event of a conflict between the center and the states, it is the center that prevails. This is the most devolution of power the Indian government wants to see the Tamils get in Sri Lanka. They fear that if Sri Lanka gives its Tamils too much more power than India gives its states, the Indian states are going to demand of India what the Sri Lankan Tamils got from their government.
In the American model the center also has considerable power, but according to the 10th amendment to the constitution, powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively...'. It is unthinkable, in the American model, that the center would rule in a dispute with any of the states, yet that is exactly what did happen for a time immediately after the Civil War. Still, that is an extreme example. It is not the same kind of "rule from the center' that India regularly resorts to.
In their effort to keep Quebec in the union, the Canadians are experimenting with proposals (not yet implemented) for a looser federation than either exists now, and one that is even looser than the American version. Whether that can succeed remains to be seen.
Switzerland, of course is not a federation, but rather a confederation. As far as I know it is the only example of one that has successfully survived. It has four separate official languages,
Continued on page 19

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very autonomous canton governments that have considerable power, and yet for reasons which may be peculiar to the history of that country, it has survived. Indeed, it is the only successful multilingual state which political scientists would describe as a nation: a place with a common identity and a common sense of "we-ness'. Political scientists used to describe Belgium and Canada that way also, but they no longer do. Whether Canada can become like Switzerland and transform itself into a functioning confederation remains to be seen.
What the European Community will actually become is anybody's guess, at the moment. Interestingly, in a world filled with centrifugal forces, it is the only political unit experiencing centripetal pressures. Again accidents of history may account for that. For 50 years Europe was faced with the threat of Soviet military might in the East, and American economic might in the West. To preserve itself it had to unite. (There is, after all, strength in unity.) How much unity will ultimately emerge now that both the Soviet and the American threats are perceived to have receded, remains to be seen. But whatever it will become in the distant future, as of January 1, 1993 it will become something less than a confederation.
The Commonwealth of Independent States is too new to say much about. Clearly it is viewed as something considerably less than a confederation, and clearly too, centrifugal forces seem to be driving the parts further away from each other. At least the bigger ones want their own armies, their own currencies, their own foreign relations. Historically, units that have not had a strong central authority (with the exception of Switzerland) have gone in their own directions.
Organizations like the British Commonwealth of Nations, made up of former British colonies, or the Organization of American States, made up of the countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, which have historically been associated with the United States are really nothing more than organizations of totally independent countries which have historically been associated in some way. The U.S. probably has more influence within the OAS than the British actually do within the Commonwealth, but still both provide some services for the weaker countries associated with them. To some degree, the richer countries in the association provide aid to the poorer ones.
At the extreme left of the continuum is "total independence'. One state can
be totally indepen cannot be totally other states. Tha Burma may be to each other, but Bulgaria could be Eastern Europe, the former Sovie come increasingl Germany and W. weaker a country, upon some other (
See Marshall States in a Wor Dynamics of In tionships, Free 1972). If Tamil Ee existence, the que it could be com (economically, edu ly and many other it would become m Sri Lanka or India
At any rate, thi theoretically possi other Tamil ext Tamils to achieve to the left on the can. The problem f they are not in militarily or polit solution to their want one as far to get on the contin given the fact tha tered both politic they would be luc. the Sinhalese to g meaningful devolu the framework oft cils.
The Sinhalese other hand, want maintain a positio. on the continuum preference, of cour the Tamils no cor While the govern position to badly da I have said before, they will be able to LTTE. Even if th they still would h tant groups to cor no concessions at a for the Tamils jus realm of the possib
Where does that could drag on for very inconclusivel that. It is clear tha power is going to take place. Given will probably con between "Modest D nificant Devolution correct, it seems to would benefit by possible and negot. agreement as they

dent of another, but independent of all at is, Bulgaria and tally independent of the only way that come independent of and particularly of t Union was to bey dependent upon estern Europe. The the more dependent 2ountry it has to be. R. Singer, Weaker ld of Pouvers: The ternational RelaPress, New York, alam ever came into stion is not whether pletely independent ucationally, militariways), but whether ore dependent upon
.
s is the range of the ible. The LTTE and remists want the a settlement as far
continuum as they or the Tamils is that any position either vically to impose a
liking. They may the left as they can uum, but I submit, it they are so splinally and militarily, ky if they could get ive them some very tion of power within he Provincial Coun
extremists, on the the government to n as far to the right as possible. Their se, would be to give ncessions whatever. ment may be in a amage the LTTE, as I don't believe that ) totally destroy the ey could, however, ave the other militend with. Making ll to local autonomy it is not within the
le.
, leave us? The war
many more years, ly. No one wants t some devolution of eventually have to political realities it ne out somewhere Devolution” and “Sigh'. If my analysis is me that all parties
starting from the iating as specific an can get, using the
TAMIL TIMES 19
Provincial Council format which is already in place. The Tamils are simply not going to get anything too much
further to the left, and the Sinhalese
are not going to get peace with any
thing too much further to the right. If
both sides can come to accept that reality, then maybe some meaningful negotiations could get under way to get a specific agreement. Whatever is finally agreed to, however, must be implemented. If it is not, the fighting will continue indefinitely.
As to the question of which size unit
power should be devolved to, there is no question that the Sinhalese missed a golden opportunity in not implementing the Regional Development Councils Scheme. But they did miss it. . The Provincial level could work everywhere but in the East. I suspect the longer the Tamils demand that all of
the Eastern Province be merged with ". the North, the longer a solution will be
delayed. It seems to me not impossible,
to come up with a solution that unites the Tamil areas of the East with the
Northern Province, and creates a Mus
lim Province in the East. It may not be possible for them all to be contiguous, but so be it. The Sinhalese areas could probably best be joined with the provinces they adjoin. Trincomalee is, of course, one of the problems. Both sides want it. It seems to me one of the only solutions for that, which might work, would be to declare it a separate unit, with the same powers devolved to it as to the other provinces. But these are details best left to the parties to work out. The point of this paper has been to
review all of the theoretical alterna
tives and then to dismiss those which will remain only in the realm of , theory. If the combatants want a solu
tion they will have to abandon theory and deal with reality. The sooner they do that the sooner there will be a solution.
THE CHARLATAN
'Kanamayilada kandiruntha vankoli, thanum athuvahap pavithu, thanum than pollach chirahai wirithadinatpol, kallathan katta kavi.ʼ
A turkey-cock that came across a peacock dancing in blissful ecstasy the dawning hours of his jungle habitat with his brilliantly lustrous plumage spread out like a fan, desired very much to express himself in the same beautiful and rapturous manner. A poet inspired by this sight, conveyed the truth in an immortal verse, that the song of an illiterate is akin to a turkey that tried to imitate the dance of a jungle peacock.
Richards Karunairajan.

Page 20
20 TAMIL TIMES
Harassment & Abuse of Journa - Asia Watch Urges Probe
The US-based Human Rights Agency, "Asia Watch' in an open memorandum, has called on the Sri Lankan Government to amend or repeal all Laws and Emergency Regulations imposed on the Press and investigate all claims of harassment and abuse of journalists.
The memorandum containing a series of recommendations based on the recent comprehensive Asia Watch report, "Human Rights Accountability in Sri Lanka', has also touched on "Threats to Freedom of Expression', "The Human Rights Task Force', 'Commission of Inquiry into the Involuntary Removal of Persons', 'Special Task Force on Human Rights, "The Kokkadicholai Commission', "The need to Review Emergency Regulations', The need to Review Police Structures and Procedures, "The need to Protect Fundamental Rights Petitioners' and the "Conclusions' in the Sri Lanka context.
Political opposition, the memorandum went on to say, should be granted equal access to the media under exclusive State control, such as the Television and the Radio while dispensing with the allocation of newsprint and advertising by the Government on the basis of political criteria.
“Asia Watch” urges the Sri Lankan government to amend or repeal all Laws and Emergency regulations which exceed the narrow restrictions permitted by international standards on Freedom of Expression and the Press. Free expression of dissenting views and access to information on Human Rights violations by State forces, as well as on efforts to correct these abuses, is essential to reestablish public faith in the principle of accountability, it pointed out.
Citing instances over the perceived unreliability of the Sri Lankan media and its lack of any real independence, the communique alleged, "The State controlled electronic media can be, and is, used to provide generous opportunity for coverage of the government's position while denying air-time to the government's opponents'.
During the impeachment of President Premadasa in August 1991, the memo went on to claim, "the President was given ninety minutes of television time to express his position on the matter but the resolution's sponsors were given no air time at all. Indeed, the Minister of State for Information, A.J. Ranasinghe, was widely reported to have said that the dissidents could not "of course' expect coverage on the
State controlled media, it added.
وتنمنتخخخخخخخة
"There are also papers and journal ernment owned. T power over the allo and newspapers ar. ernment advertisin
After publicity w tion viewpoints or the Government wi ment pointed out physically threaten moted, legal action the papers, print closed and one ol instances was the '
"More recently,
series of articles a Lankan Press featu former Police office Udugampola that was involved in t killings of hundred and Opposition p charges were broug tor and publisher u the Emergency Reg ing hostility, ill-wil the Government claimed.
Man A
Mystery shrouds til Lankan man in a C he was held on charges.
Santhakumar K died of an apparen suffered at Toronto' police version of t conflicts with that c
Metro police, in a said Kumarasamy culty breathing in h inmates say that returned Kumarasa out 9.30 at night, : plained of chest pair breathing.
Soon after he wa cell, Kumarasamy mate that he was t but he quickly sta pain. It took betwe nutes for a guard show up. They “walk his cell. They virtu out, inmates said. S Carleton of the Tor said Kumarasamy v cell and treated b staff. An ambulance hospital, he added.
On June 22, 19

15 OCTOBER 1992
lists
reSSU"eS 0 TheWSs that are not govLe government has ation of newsprint, dependent on govg’, it adds.
as given to opposi
opinions critical of re aired, the docu
journalists were 2d, dismissed ordewas taken against ing presses were the most recent Aththa'.
in April when a ppeared in the Sri ring allegations by r DIG Premadasa
the Government he death - squad s of suspected JVP arty members - ht against the Edinder Article 26 of ulations for ‘causl and contempt of the document
Commenting on the proposed Media Commission Bill, it added that the May '92 Report of Asia Watch expressed concern over restrictions contained in a draft proposal wider than those acceptable at international standards.
"The Sri Lanka Government should investigate all claims of harassment and abuse of journalists by members of its forces and pursue disciplinary or criminal actions against the offending parties' it urged the Government.
Referring to petitioners on Human Rights, it calls on the Government to execute severe disciplinary or criminal action against anyone attempting to harass fundamental rights petitioners or their lawyers, or otherwise to obstruct the proceedings of a fundamental rights case or impede the implementation of the Court's instructions.
The Emergency Laws, which even Government officials admit are generally unnecessary, it claimed, should be repealed as they virtually invite abuse. "Extensions of the dates covered by the Indemnity Act of 1989 are also dangerous because Parliament can be expected once again to extend the deadline' the memorandum explained.
ccused of Passport Forgery Dies
in Canadian Jail
he death of a Sri anadian jail where passport-forgery
umarasamу, 40, t heart attack he s Don Jail. But the he sudden death f some inmates.
brief news release, "was having diffiis cell'. Four prison rison guards had my to his cell abafter he had coms and trouble with
s returned to his had told his cellold he was "okay, rted yelling with 2n 15 and 20 miund two nurses to ed' the man out of ally dragged him taff sergeant Jim onto Metro Police ras taken from his y prison medical
then took him to
90, Kumarasamy
had been sentenced to three-and-a- half years in jail, convicted of counterfeiting over a thousand Canadian passports, visas and other travel documents. Pending an appeal, he was freed on bail.
Last march, he and another Sri Lankan were arrested and charged on six new counts of forgery, after a police swoop on a Toronto apartment where a sophisticated forgery of Sri Lankan and Canadian passports was in operation. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said the documents were highquality forgeries'.
A printer in Sri Lanka, Kumarasamy came to Canada as a refugee in 1987. A new trial date for his hearing was due the day after he died. Kumarasamy’s lawyer, Howard Rubel, who visited him in prison a week earlier, said he doesn't think his client had health problems.
At the time of Kumarasamy's 1990 conviction, prosecutors said it was the first time on record that a Canadian court had convicted anyone of running a passport forgery operation. Forged travel documents have a purchase value of US $25,000 and find a ready international market.

Page 21
15 OCTOBER 1992
A Critique of Tigers
by Ram Manikkalingam, MIT, US
The Tigers have posed as the saviourleaders of the Tamils for more than a decade. In doing so, they have succeeded in dominating Tamil politics and positioning themselves at the centre of Sri Lankan politics. While the Tiger ability to secure power through
coercion has played a critical role in
their political success, they have also been bolstered by a series of myths and arguments. The myths have ranged from the ridiculous - 'only Prabakaran knows the answer' - to the fantastic"thousands of Tamil youth are flocking to join the Tigers.' The Tiger myths are both easier and harder to counter than pro-Tiger arguments. They are easier to counter because as myths they are sustained by blind faith rather than reason and have no basis in reality. But this also makes them harder to counter because Tigerists who adhere to these myths are not open to reason. Despite their importance, this paper does not address the Tiger myths. Instead, it focusses on
three important pro-Tiger arguments
that recur in any discussion about the Tigers.
The first is that the Tigers are the sole representatives of the Tamil people. This argument is usually made by Tigerists (Tamil ultra-nationalists) and is easily countered, whereupon the second defence of the Tigers is invoked. This views their brutality as a response to an uncompromising and unchanging Sinhala nationalism. Ironically, this second pro-Tiger argument is also a critique. Because laying the blame for Tiger excesses on Sinhala nationalism, is also an implicit acknowledgement of Tiger brutality. But there is a much deeper critique of the Tigers, which sees their brutality as the consequence of an attempt to create a new Tamil identity, devoid of freedom and diversity. The final defence of the Tigers, which is shared even by Tamils (whether leftists, liberals or nationalists) who are critical of the Tigers, sees the Tigers, despite their viciousness, as the last defence against the outright destruction of the Tamil people.
This pro-Tiger argument claims that, given the absence of an alternative, a political defeat of the Tigers could jeopardise the possibility of Tamils achieving their rights and may even lead to the complete defeat of the Tamil struggle. This fear is reasonable and deserves careful consideration because it captures the sentiments of
Tamil national the Tigers, and tic Sri Lanka Tarhil struggle alternative doe bemoaning th one, Tamils
nationalists) sh
The Sole Re
The Tigers representative This claim is a examination of tics at peace ta years. Except when the Tig with the other and organisati resented the pa Tamil parties. quent to the In crucial point of the Indian gov was the Tiger (not just majo terim council i is the moral an position taken
Morally, the sentative statu for any organi. one group Or ( sent the inter munity usuall scrutiny from individual rigl doms. Undoub class or gender unity against But this is a b and does not the positive un al program. N crucial for an ( forge a tempo to confront a c
8 COSEISUS I ing the role of lar group ofin( tion. They ma political exped representative status is grant counter the at ences of opini ated by the do representative an organisatio tain control ov it represents. is not the org represents the

TAMIL TIMES 21S
'Claims
A
sts who are critical of many secular democrans, who support the . However, a nascent s exist. And instead of
supposed absence of leftists, liberals and ould help strengthen it.
resentative
claim to be the sole of the Tamil people. pparent from any brief "Tiger negotiating taclks during the last five for the Thimpu talks, ers participated along Tamil political parties ons, they have always rticipation of non-Tiger For example, subsedo-Lanka Agreement, a disagreement between 2rnment and the Tigers desire to have absolute rity) control of the inn the Northeast. What d political basis for this by the Tigers?
claim to sole repreis is difficult to sustain sation. The notion that Drganisation can repreests of a diverse comy fails to stand up to he basic perspective of hts and political freetedly, ties of ethnicity, may serve as a basis for a common oppression. asis for negative unity nstantly translate into ity of a common politicevertheless, it may be ppressed community to ary consensus in order ommon oppressor. Such ay evolve into delegatLegotiators to a particuividuals oran organisay then, for reasons of ency, be called the sole of a community. This td to an organisation to empts to exploit differn amongst the dominninant power. The sole status is not granted to 1 to enable it to main2r the community that he sole representative nisation or group that only opinion, the major
ity opinion, or the opinion with the greatest armed backing. But rather, it represents the opinion that is the outcome of a process of negotiations between diverse groups within a community who share a common experience of discrimination.
In general, the claim to sole representative status is a subtle issue and there is no single rule that can decide its moral and political legitimacy. For example, the PLO (Palestine Liberation Organisation) claims to be the sole representative of the Palestinian people. While this claim is difficult to assess, it is plausible, given the widespread support the PLO enjoys both in the Occupied Territories and among the Arabs in Israel. But the extent of support alone cannot be the basis on which the status of sole representative is decided. Rather, in the case of the PLO, their claim is legitimised by the Palestinian National Council, which is the parliament in exile of the Palestinian people. Here, debate is conducted in an open and democratic manner. And the executive committee of the PLO is then chosen by elections and negotiations amongst the different organisations that the PLO comprises, and is not dependent on the whims of an absolute leader.
Resolving Differences
Clearly, the Tigers do not satisfy any of the moral or political criteria to qualify as the sole representatives of the Tamil people. Not only are the Tigers a politically closed organisation, no one outside (or, for that matter, even inside) the organisation is aware of how political decisions are made. (Here political should be emphasised, because it is understandable to claim that military' decisions and plans should be secret). Worse, the traditionall Tiger method of resolving political differences is to physically eliminate them. In 1984 they killed Sundaram, a dissident who left the Tigers. In 1985, they killed Sri Sabaratnam, the TELO leader. In August 1987, shortly after the Peace Accord, they killed Vasudeva and other senior PLOTE . leaders. In July 1989, they killed the TULF leaders, Amirthalingam and Yogeswaran, while negotiating with them. In September 1989, thev killed Rajini Thiranagama for writing the book "Broken Palmyrah.' And in June 1990, they killed the leader of the EPRLF, Pathmanaba, and several others. Given this history of violent suppression of alternative opinions, it would be difficult for the Tigers to : claim that they have sought to build a democratic consensus through nego
Continued on page 22

Page 22
22 TAM TIMES
Continued from page 21
tiations with other Tamil political parties. Thus, any basis to the legitimacy of their claim to be the sole representative of the Tamil people must lie elsewhere.
The other basis on which the Tigers seek to stake their claim is their contribution to the armed struggle for Tamil liberation. The Tigers contend that the other Tamil political organisations seek to enjoy the fruits of peace without having paid the price of war. As the militarily strongest of the Tamil organisations, and as the only organisation to have consistently fought the Sri Lankan government (though this is debatable given their alliance with the UNP regime from 1989-1990), the Tigers feel they have a right to be the sole representative of the Tamil people. There are three objections to the Tiger claim to this status, even if one accepts their superior military performance as a reasonable basis on which to make it.
Three Objections
First, accepting the Tiger claim that since they have fought the longest and the hardest they should represent the Tamil people, doesn't mean having to accept the claim that they should be the sole representative of the Tamil people. The fact that the Tigers have the strongest military capacity gives them a pragmatic claim to representation (since if they so desire they can spoil the chances of peace). And the fact that they have fought the hardest may give them political legitimacy among the Tamil people. But both these factors, at best, give the Tigers a basis from which to claim the status of the main representative (not sole representative) of the Tamil people.
Second, if the basis for representing the Tamil people were derived from the extent to which an armed organisation forcibly extracted concessions from the Sri Lankan state, then the Tigers might have to make way for the IPKF. Any observer of the Northeast in mid 1987 was aware that it was only the threat of intervention from India that thwarted a UNP government defeat of the Tigers and conquest of Jaffna. This is clearly unacceptable and thus casts serious doubt on the very basis for Tiger claims to legitimacy.
Finally, although the Tigers may have been the most successful military organisation, this does not mean that they will be either the best representatives of the Tamil people or the best negotiators at the negotiating table. Their skill at warring does not automatically translate into skill as politicians and administrators. Negotia
۔ '&دہ ہتحہ , ۔۔۔
tions towards the conflict require pa promise. While the patience in war, the impatience with pe promising stance m cessful warrior, but successful negotiator have demonstrated wage war, but in do also demonstrated t pursue peace.
Response to Sinh
The second pro-T that the Tigers ar. Sinhala nationalism. while their tactics m brutal, they are just nature of Sinhala I politics of Tamil I doubtedly began as Sinhala nationalism. fered a history of dis lence and margina. hands of successive ernments. As Sinhala both manipulated f mobilised from below, increasingly alienate Lankan polity. They political means to coul sive politics of Sinhala series of failed pacts u disillusionment and th armed struggle for " tion'.
The initial resort to by the Tamils may hav able, given the reful Lankan state to comp) er, the subsequent dire the Tamil militant stru domination of the Tig much a consequence of politics. Clearly, Sinha provided the political c Tamil nationalism coul ism. Nevertheless, the sponse to Sinhala nati fails to explain or justi ses during the past dec ple, Tigerists cannot nationalism for the Ti murder rival Tamil pc and student and huma ists.
Sinhala nationalism the Tigers to kill Rajini or Vijitharan. The thousands of Muslims f east and the massacres others is not part of a nationalist, response to of the Sri Lankan state. expressed by the Tamil the expulsion of Mus recent Tiger killings o were protecting Musl that many Tamils see

15 OCTOBER 1992
solution of any ence and comgers have shown nave only shown ce. An uncomht make a sucis inimical to a Thus, the Tigers that they can ng so, they have at they will not
la Nationalism
er argument is
a response to he claim is that ay be cruel and liable, given the ationalism. The ationalism un
a response to The Tamils sufrimination, vioisation at the ri Lankan govnationalism was om above and
Tamils became from the Sri
used different hter the oppres
nationalism. A ltimately led to le pursuit of an national libera
armed struggle e been unavoidsal of the Sri "omise. Howev!ction taken by ggle, under the ers, was very internal Tamil la nationalism ntext in which become Tigerlogic of a renalism, alone, y Tiger excesde. For examlame Sinhala er decision to itical leaders, l rights activ
id not compel Thiranagama }xpulsion of m the Northf hundreds of atural Tamil he oppression he opposition of Mannar to ms, and the
Tamils who ns, suggests nis aspect of
Tiger behaviour as brutal and inhuman, and having no relevance to the Tamil struggle for liberation. However, there obviously are Tigerists who claim that all individuals, groups or communities who were killed, massacred or expelled by the Tigers were traitors to the Tamil cause.
They argue that killing those who oppose the Tigers is a necessary aspect of the struggle for liberation from Sinhala oppression. The Tigers usually define as traitors and then execute individuals who have significant sympathy and support among the Tamil people. And they are killed precisely for that reason. If the condemnation of these individuals as traitors is to make any sense, then the word traitor must be redefined to mean anyone opposed to the Tigers. This implies that any Tamil who is not a Tigerist is a traitor. The problem with this position, leaving aside its callousness, is that it is really a variation of the sole representative argument, which was earlier shown to be untenable.
Regardless of how vicious or uncompromising Sinhala nationalism may be, Tamil nationalism need not have adopted those very same characteristics. At the very least, the Tamil nationalist movement should have and could have maintained a semblance of internal democracy. Instead of being part of a reasonable response to the domination of Sinhala nationalism, actions by the Tigers are a reflection of the Tiger attempt to create a Tamil identity devoid of freedom, diversity and autonomy. Thus, the Tiger response is just that; a Tiger response. It is not a Tamil response and it cannot be morally or politically justified as a weapon against Sinhala nationalism.
The Last Defence
The most plausible argument for the Tigers today is that they are the last defence of an oppressed Tamil nation against Sinhala domination. This argument is put forward not only by Tigerists, but also by Tamils who have strongly condemned Tiger tactics and are opposed to their narrow political agenda. There are several problems with the notion that the Tigers are playing a positive role by acting as a buffer between the Tamil people and the Sri Lankan state.
The impression that the Tigers are protecting the Tamil people is blatantly false. The most obvious example again, is mid-1987, when they were retreating before the Sri Lankan army and were ultimately protected by the intervention of India. More notoriously, the Tigers have been known to setup ambushes and landmines in

Page 23
15 ocTOBER 1992
populated areas in order to invite retaliation on Tamil civilians by the armed forces (the Sri Lankan armed forces have, of course, obliged them) and increase their 'support'. Finally, they are the only active Tamil organisation in the Northeast precisely because they have banned or destroyed all others. Still, Tamil nationalists feel compelled to support or, at least, justify Tiger actions because they fear a Tiger defeat 'will set the Tamil struggle back one more generation'.
Sinhala Monolith?
This sentiment can be traced to a view about Sinhala politics, shared by many Tamil nationalists, that "all Sinhala regimes are the same'. They claim that as far as the Tamils are concerned the UNP is the same as the SLFP, which is the same as the JVP, which is the same as the LSSP, and so on. Furthermore, they argue that the Sri Lankan state's willingness to give concessions to the Tamils is usually the consequence of a military or political setback, rather than the result of a genuine change of attitude in favour of a political settlement.
This reading of Sinhala politics ignores the diversity of forces encompassed within it and the extent to which Sinhala politics, itself, is up for grabs. For example, it fails to adequately explain the most important recent development in Sinhala politics - the defeat of the JVP. Here, the most virulent element of Sinhala nationalism was defeated politically and militarily. This, in fact, is in stark contrast to Tamil politics, where the most virulent exponent of Tamil nationalism - the Tigers - succeeded in defeating everybody else. Moreover, today's baseline for political negotiations with the Tamils is not no rights, but rather the measure of regional autonomy constitutionalised in the Thirteenth Amendment. It is also important to note that even at the height of antiTamil violence in the South of Sri Lanka - July 1983 - there has always been a vocal, albeit small, group of Sinhala leftists and liberals who have consistently supported Tamil rights and opposed Sinhala chauvinism.
Still, Tamil nationalists counter, there is no concrete sign of these changes in Sinhala nationalism. The Premadasa regime continues to dillydally on negotiations and has failed to put forward a set of proposals to resolve the conflict. They argue that this regime has shown the same reluctance to pursue a political solution as the previous UNP regimes. This is true, but it obscures an important distinction between the political strategy of the current UNP regime
and the previou one hand, and
ime and the Ti Jayawardene r solidate power victory over th main goal of "O mid 1987. Th however, would its power by politically. If th would free up the defence bud economic infraflow in from the strictures. The economically fr and Sri Lanka v rapid economic could then por accurately) as t peace and prosp
Tamil or Tige
If this is so, w put forward an devolution that majority of th answer, of cours political courag Sinhala nationa tion is a desidera sa regime, but Premadasa regi out resolving th east because the its power at the rebellion which rent regime do this conflict in would prefer to
But, the Tige order to survive Tigerism depend Tigers to ensure are shut off fr achieving a poli fear that with that peace wo they would lose Tamil politics. Sinhala nationa not discernible, moment when has been weak ism has taken has veered awa, negotiated sett nationalists cour don't want a poli our only alterna ated there is nol
Invoking the tive as a plausi the Tigers is eitl Tigerist defence, concession made Tamils, whethe nationalists, whi ment to the con

TAMIL TIMES 23
s UNP regime, on the the current UNP regers, on the other. The egime sought to cony achieving a military Tamils. This was the peration Liberation' in Premadasa regime, prefer to consolidate esolving the conflict, conflict is resolved, it illions of rupees from get for expenditure on structure. Aid would West with little or no Northeast would revive m the end of the war would enter a period of growth. Premadasa tray himself (not inhe leader who brought erity to Sri Lanka.
ist? hy doesn’t Premadasa
extensive package of can be accepted by the 2 Tamil people? The se, is that he lacks the e to stand up to the lists. A political soluatum for the Premada
not a necessity. The me can survive with2 conflict in the Northwar does not threaten centre, unlike the JVP did. Although the curesn't need to resolve
order to survive, it do so.
rs need the conflict in . The very survival of ls on the ability of the that the Tamil people om the possibility of tical settlement. They the democratic space uld inevitably bring, their domination over While the changes in ism are real, they are because just at the Sinhala nationalism ned, Tamil nationalhe Tigerist turn and from the course of a lement. But, Tamil ter, even if the Tigers ;ical solution, they are tive. If they are defelody else.
bsence of an alternaole reason to support er the last resort of a or the first (and only) to the Tigers by those leftists, liberals or support a just settlelict. At this juncture
what distinguishes a Tigerist from a Tamil (liberal, leftist or nationalist) is . the next step. A Tigerist will use the absence of an alternative as an excuse to support the Tigers. A Tamil (liberal, leftist or nationalist) will be impelled by the absence of an alternative to create one.
The Alternative
The alternative to Tigerism can be created by drawing from four different arenas of Tamil politics. The first and most important is the Northeast, where there are numerous civilian and community organisations that have been working for the past decade. Student organisations, women's organisations, citizen's committees, refugee and rehabilitation organisations, the church and other groups have worked silently and tirelessly for years to pick up the pieces after the destruction wrought by the war. These groups have been silenced by the Tigers, who have either banned them or prevented them from working independently. Their independent voices represent the genuine will of the Tamil people, but they cannot coordinate politically in the presence of the armed threat of the Tigers. A Tiger defeat will liberate them from their enforced silence.
The next arena is in Colombo, where many individuals and members of other Tamil organisations have fled, fearing Tiger threats of death and imprisonment. Despite the lack of cooperation of the UNP regime, these organisations and political parties are seeking support for a political solution. Outside Sri Lanka, where the Tigers. cannot coerce the Tamil people with , impunity, independent Tamil voices are proliferating. Today, independent Tamil papers outnumber those put out by pro-Tiger elements, as support wanes for the Tigers among the exile Tamil community. Opposition, albeit passive, to the Tigers in North America and Europe has become more the norm than the exception.
The final arena is within the Tigers, themselves. No organisation, however totalitarian, can suppress all forms of internal disaffection. Silent opposition to Tigerism must exist within the Tigers as well. This nascent dissension within the Tigers might result in a change in the political perspective of the leadership. Though this is extremely unlikely. It is more probable that if Tigerism is to reform, itself, the leadership will have to be overthrown and give way to a more pragmatic and democratic politics. The inability to translate this multi-layered opposition into a concrete political program for
Continued on page 30

Page 24
24 TAMIL TIMES
KAYTS BLAST AND
THE AFTERMATH
I had the opportunity of being in Sri Lanka during the last two weeks in August and to witness what could very well turn out to be one of the best planned conspiracies that has been perpetrated in Sri Lanka.
The late Major General Kobbekadu. wa's untimely death is no doubt a major loss that the people of the country and the Government have suffered in recent history. However the stories that are being calculatedly circulated regarding the deaths as well as the clockwork nature of the events in the immediate aftermath do tend to indicate that they had been well planned and well implemented.
It is accordingly imperative to look objectively at who were the beneficiaries and losers from his death. One of the most relevant facts in this connection was the interview widely reported in the International media also, which was given by the General a few weeks before his death on the whole question of the war. Of equal importance was that he was the only top level military leader who had been able to establish a dialogue with all the Tamil militant groups. The late General's statements at the interview had included that:
i. It is imperative that a political solution be found for the conflict and that the task he was carrying out was to make the LTTE adequately weak to make them want to come to talks.
ii. The situation faced by the LTTE in Tamil Nadu and the consequent reduction in supply routes and the like as well as the progress made on the ground by the Sri Lankan forces had made LTTE militarily weak enough to agree to talks sooner rather than later. iii. Any further advances into LTTE controlled areas would be possible, but retaining them for longer periods of time would be quite costly in terms of life and resources both military and civilian.
The above was one of the most objective positions publicly taken up by any of the top military officers and was a far cry from the hollow, deceptive and downright unrealistic promises given by a number of other top Defence officials and politicians who had been previously in charge of the War.
The late General Kobbekaduwa's announcements were a good omen for an imminent commencement of talks
between the LTTE This was in the bes people at large wh many of their loved ending and unnecess have also enabled th funds to be deployed development efforts wasteful military ex
This was clearly th Sri Lankan Presiden talks as soon as he Accordingly the Go have been the greate the late General ach tives explained by hi the press interview r The greatest loser eventuality include th ign agents of arms d suppliers to the war sides; the Regional who sought the dests Lanka by promoting itially and are attemp ate the war by pusi unacceptable solution tional vested interests to the fire through I supplies with a view Sri Lanka's weakness ting perpetual depende The possibility of com tiations aimed at a po has been at least temp by the Kayts events :
N. RAM'S INTE
When I completed the ir the editor of Frontline, N the Sunday Island (rep September issue of Ta could only think of wh man said about the abi Nixon to tell lies. Trum can lie out of both sides ( the same time, and if h himself telling the trut) to keep his hand in”. Ti seems to fit the editor ( well.
Regarding his current Eelam issue, Ram has o an policy has become sc or inactive. So there is my playing a role. Becau an independent role. It policy response'. Ramu policy', 'assessment' a euphemistically to hide ated and played by the Analysis Wing (RAW) counterpart of CIA and had stated openly on the RAW to infiltrate the than referring to it pas one thing they were no and his relationship wit
 

15 OCTOBER 1992
and Government. it interests of the 0 were losing so ones in a never ary war. It would le already limited on the country's rather than on penditure.
e intention of the ut in calling such assumed office. Vernment would est beneficiary of ieving the objecm at the time of eferred to above.
s from such an he local and foreealers and other efforts on both vested interests abilisation of Sri the conflict inting to perpetuhing for totally S; and Internawho added fuel Dropaganda and to maintaining thereby promp
mCe. imencing negoolitical solution orarily aborted and the after
math. The otherwise divided opposition has found new mud to throw in the form of wild allegations and found a rope to cling to in the form of the conspicuous return of Indian involvement in the local political scene.
On the military side, the LTTE has
been made to look strong and are thereby more inclined to shun talks. The Government is being increasingly pressurized to continue the war allegedly as a sign of respect for the dead officers! There is also a campaign to say that the loss of the number of experienced men must be compensated for by purchasing larger amounts and more and more sophisticated arms
In the circumstances there appears to be grounds to believe that the death of the late General Kobbekaduwa and other officers at Kayts could very well have been a conspiracy aimed at preventing a possible political solution and the perpetuation of the meaningless war.
It is hoped that the Sri Lankan Government would accordingly appoint a commission as soon as is practicable to investigate possible local, regional and International involvement in such a conspiracy.
Bernard Wijedoru Rm. 1410, Austin Tower, 22-26A Austin Avenue, Hong Kong.
ERVIEW
terview which N. Ram gave to ublished in the "mil Times), I .. s at Harry Trulity of Richard han noted, “He of his mouth at he ever caught h, he'd lie just ruman's quote of Frontline as
, status on the bserved, “Indiomewhat inert no question of ise I don't play t is part of a ses words like nd "mistakes' the role initiResearch and ), the Indian KGB. If Ram failure of the LTTE (rather sively as For ot accessible'), h the RAW, I
would have admired his courage and conviction. His antagonism to the LTTE is understandable, if one separates the kernel from the chaff. LTTE was (and still is) the only Tamil militant group which the RAW personnel could not manipulate to dance according to the whims of the Indian policy mandarins.
I am also amused by the comments of Ram, a refined analyst of events in India, on the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. Factually speaking, the assassination trial has just started and verdict is yet to be delivered. But, according to Ram, "It is absolutely clear that the order came from the top (of LTTE). To prove this Prabhakaran has to be brought to trial'. One should mark the words, "absolutely clear'. Ram did not use cautious words such as 'apparent or "plausible', but has concluded as 'absolutely clear'. How did he arrive at this conclusion, without hearing all the evidences? Was he privy to some insider information? Or did Prabhakaran himself make a confession to Ram?
Lastly, I will not bet my money on Ram’s prediction that “Eelam is a
Continued on page 25

Page 25
15 OCTOBER 1992
Survey Reveals Plight of Childre
One in every five children in Sri Lanka of the age group 10-14 years does not attend school because of child labour practices.
This has been revealed in a survey conducted recently by two eminent social workers.
Of 1.9 million Sri Lankan children under the age group of 10-14, about 250,000 are in the non-formal labour market, the researchers Messrs. K. Kuhathasan and L.B. Baddewala said.
Around 100,000 children between the ages of 10 and 14 are in refugee camps, the survey has revealed. Nearly 20,000 in the same age group are engaged in male prostitution and some 10,000 are estimated to be street children, according to the study.
It said that concern was mounting among social scientists as one in every fifth child of the age group of 10-14 years does not attend school as a result of child labour practices. The social cost and consequences of this tragedy may hinder the future development of the nation, as a large number of these children will be "handicapped' for the rest of their lives. Children are found working in a variety of work situations and under varying conditions, according to the study.
It said about 28 per cent of female child labourers and 24 per cent of male child labourers are said to be working
in the agricult tors.
According t minimum age Lanka is 14 However, in S ment of childre their parents agricultural o] permitted for any day befor also permitted tion for trainil dramatic perfo 14 shall not be performance in endangered. Pe age cannot be or stoker.
Until recent years could be tion industry. E ILO Conventio ment in June th 14 cannot be plantations. It that children cannot be em Although the labour will not legislation, it ce without it. Cl essential to dea of child work. T ment that chi abolished yet t on how this is t
"DMK Has Lost Sympathy
for Tigers'
The former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and leader of the DMK, M. Karunanidhi told a recent meeting of the party's executive committee that his party has lost all sympathy towards the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) after its complicity in the murder of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and the murders of EPRLF leader Padmanabha and his colleagues became known.
However the DMK and the people of Tamil Nadu would never lose sympathy for the suffering Tamil people in Sri Lanka or the Tamil refugees now in India, he said.
Mr. Karunanidhi added that the DMK had never had any close links
Continued from page 24 pipe-dream'. It is either a case of amnesia on the history of the Indian freedom struggle or a crafty response to tell the Sinhalese audience, what they want to hear.
Sachi Sri Kantha.
with the LTTE 1988, it was the at the centre ar state governm which had close Tigers and enc financial help crores of rupees of more than for setting up mo camps in the St Revealing det about the talks Lankan Tamil r at the request ment both und V.P. Singh, he s refused to coope groups or parti malcy to the Tal
The Central has alerted the Tamil Nadu tha ning to storm ti galpattu sub-jai facing trial in th sination case munication, the has informed t

in Sri Lanka
ral and plantation sec
the study the basic for employment in Sri as in other countries. ri Lanka, the employh below the age of 14 by or guardian in light
horticultural work is ess than one hour on
school. Light work is n any school or institug purposes, or in any 'mance. Persons under employed in any public which life or limbs are rsons under 18 years of mployed as a trimmer
y, children under 14 Imployed in the plantaut with the adoption of No. 10 by the Governis year, children under 2mployed even in the can therefore be seen under the age of 14 ployed in any trade. fight against child be won solely through rtainly cannot be won hild labour laws are l with the worst forms here is general agreeld labour has to be here is less unanimity o be achieved.
TAMIL TIMES 25
It is pointed out that encouraging student enrolments at the beginning of primary school is heavily retarded by heavy drop-outs in later years. According to Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children Act "no person shall employ a child in such a manner as to prevent the child from attending school in accordance with the provisions of any written law'.
The study quotes: A survey conducted by the Ministry of Education which shows that even though, all children enrol in the primary cycle at some time, nearly 14% of those aged 5-14 years are out of school at any one time. About 4.2% of school enrolment are 'drop-outs' from grades 2-9. There are also wide disparities in attainment levels between the larger, betterfunded schools and small remote schools or estate schools. The survey reveals that the problem of illiteracy is particularly high among children in urban slums and the plantation sector. These children either help their parents to look after the younger members of the family or are engaged in income-earning activities.
According to the study, about 28 per cent of female child labourers and 24. percent of male child labourers are said to be working in the agricultural and plantation sectors. They work under extremely difficult, abusive and . exploitative conditions, in pesticidesoaked farms and plantations. More and more families are working as labourers on the farms.
2. Between 1983 and Congress government d the MGR AIADMK ent in Tamil Nadu connections with the ouraged the LTTE by o the tune of many and arms to the value ty crores of rupees and re than 30 training ate. ails for the first time le had with several Sri lilitant groups in 1989 f the central governer Rajiv Gandhi and aid that the LTTE had rate with other Tamil ls to bring back norhil areas of Sri Lanka.
government of India
State government of , the LTTE was plane high security Chenwhere all 26 accused e Rajiv Gandhi assasre held. In a comJnion Home Ministry e Tamil Nadu State
Secretary that a 15-member armed
team of Tamil Tigers has been de
spatched from Jaffna as a last ditch effort to subvert the trial and secure
the relese of the defendants, and has
directed the State government to take
all possible precautionary measures
against any assault on the jail.
Commemorating Dr. N.M. Perera
Arrangements have been made to remember the former leader of the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP), the late Dr. N.M. Perera. The "Dr. N.M. Perera Centre' was formally de
clared open by Dr. Gamini Corea, former Secretary General of UNCTAD. The Centre has been established by the N.M. Perera Memorial
Trust Fund at the former residence of the late Dr. N.M. Perera at 106 Cotta
Road which has been renamed Dr.
N.M. Perera Mawatha. The objects of
the Centre are (a) To foster and prom
ote the ideals and principles of social
ism with which the late Dr. N.M.
Perera identified himself and for
Continued on page 29

Page 26
26 TAM TIMES
CASSFED ADS
First 20 words 10. Each additional word 60p.
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Prepayment essentia The Advertisement Manager Tani Times Ltd, PO Box 121,
Sutton, Surrey SM 3TD Phone: 08-644. O972
MATRMONIAL Brother seeks fair Sri Lankan Tamil doctor for sister, 25, US citizen, presently enrolled in Ph.D program. Write with horoscope M 619 c/o Tamil Times. Jaffna Hindu parents seek suitable partners for doctor son, 27, fair, tall, resident in neurosurgery in Canada, Mars seventh and daughter, 24, tall, slim, qualifying in June '93 respiratory therapist and anaesthesia technologist (Canada). Canadian and American residents only. M 620 C/o Tamil Times. Jaffna Hindu seeks professional or graduate partner for her very fair, slim younger sister, 27, teacher. Send details. M 621 C/o Tamil
lines. Aunty seeks groom over 37 for niece, working in Colombo as draughtswoman. Widower considered. Telephone 081-647 8384 for more details. Jaffna Hindu seeks professional partner below 30 for her fair, tall brother, professional practising in U.K. Send details M 623 c/o
armii Times. Jaffna Hindu from good background seeks groom over 35 for attractive daughter, British Citizen, highly qualified and in good professional employment. Write with details. M624 Cyo Tanni Tinnes. Jaffna Hindu parents seek fair, attractive, professionally qualified bride under 25, for Master in Computer Science, 28, working in States. Write with horoscope, photo. M 625 C/o Tanni Times. Jaffna Hindu aunty seeks bride for nephew, 29, working in U.K. and doing his H.N.D. Ring 081-647 8384, for further details.
T.S.T. SKV TRAVEL
h We offer you flights on scheduled airlines at a fair price * We specialise in flights to Sri Lanka, India, Malaysia, Singapore, USA, Canada & Australia ir We will gladly refund the price difference if you can convince us that you could have got the same ticket cheaper elsewhere on the same date of purchase. Please contact Mr. S. Thiruchelvam Office Residence 255 Haydons Road 69 Toynbee Road Wimbledon Wimbledon London SW198TY London SW20 8SH
Te: O81.5433318 Te:081-5425140
OBTUA
MR. M.A. RASIAH. 'Ras lai (Retired Headmaster, former teacher at Herts ford, U.K.), beloved husb, atnam (lavalai), loving Sathianathan (Watford), wanchikudi), Bhavani Ste (New Malden), Nanthini logan (Watford), and F. kham, Canada); father-in Anuradha, Devendra (Apt jah and Catherine, prec Ammu, Sonna, Mathu, Rajen, Ravi, Uma, Vija Jennina, Damian and Di under tragic circumstanc 18th September '92.
He will be forever sadl remembered by his belov relatives and friends. As memory, has been arrang the 25th of October '92 Church of Our Lady and Rise, Garston, Watford thereafter an alms givin Orbital Community Centre ston. Our kind invitation is all our relatives and frien gratitude to all for the im sympathy during the time
MAY GOD BLESS HIS PEACE.
Sathianathan (U.K.), OS ar (U.K.), O81-949 2888; 662811, Bhavani Devani 97 14 614784; Ranjini (416) 887.1510.
Mrs. Thangaratnan Th Principal, Sri Shanmuga
malee/Navaly Maha Vidy
of the late Mr. A.W. Tha Manohari, Dr. Maheswara larajan (Australia),
Sivashanmugam (Abu D Geethanjally, grandmot Sharmilla, Dhanusha, Vi Sindhuva passed awayo
 
 
 

RIES
iah Master' of IlavaJaffna, Ceylon and Tamil School, Watand of Grace Nagarfather (appui) of Packiarajah (Kaluilla (Dubai), Shanker Theresa (Mathagal), anjini Emilda (Mar|-law of Rasammah, pu), Ranji, Nagaraious grandfather of Thayalan, Andrew, y, Anand, Sarene, anna, passed away es in Jaffna on the
y missed and fondly ed Wife, loved ones, Decial service, in his ged by his family for 2 at 3.00pm in the St. Michael, Crown
Hertfordshire and g ceremony at the 2, Haines Way, Garhereby extended to ds. Our thanks and mense support and of grief and sorrow.
SOU TO PREST IN
23 662970, ShankLogan (U.K), 0923 Devendra (Dubai), Emilda (Canada),
langarajah (Retired Vidyalayam, Trincoalayam, Jaffna); wife Ingarajah; mother of an (U.K.) and Nirmamother-in-law of
habi), Bhavani and
her of Prashanth, dhya, Bhargavi and n2rrd October 1992.
15 OCTOBER 1992
Funeral took place on 7th October 1992 at the Croydon Crematorium (U.K.) according to Hindu rites.
The family thanks all friends and relatives who attended the funeral, sent floral tributes and messages of condolence. They regret their inability to thank them individually. - 144 Turnpike Link, Park Hill, Croydon, Surrey CRO 5.NZ, U.K.
- 7 Audrey Gardens, North Wembley, Middx., HA03 TF, U.K.
- 2 Flax Place, Quakers Hill, NSW2763, Australia.
Mrs. Josephine Gunapushanam Varnan née Manikkawasagan, beloved wife of Alex Varnan, daughter of the late Mr. & Mrs. Nathan Rajamuttiah Manikkavasagan; sister of the late Emily Thambiratnam, the late Victor, Hilda Mills, Selvam, Faithbuell and Noel; sister-in-law of Mrs. Rajapillai and Navaratnam, aunt of Dr. Indrani Selvarajah, Vilo, Norman, Lakshini, Sureshana and Nishan; grand aunt of Timothy passed away on 21.9.92, funeral took place at General Cemetery, Kanatte, Colombo. Memorial service was held at Upper Tooting Methodist Church, London SW17 on 24th October - 74 Thurlow Hill, London SE21 8JN. Tel: 081-670 786f.
IN MEMORAM
Dr. Kethusigamany Ganesharatnam Born : 88.59 Died 21. 1087
Five years have passed without you, Life will never be the same without you, Every minute we live is a burden without you, We are proud of your unselfish sacrifice.
immeasurably missed by your everloving mother, sister Nages, brother Vicky, brotherin-law Naren and nephew Harry - 6 Blayfield Road, Burnt Oak, Edgware, Middx., HA8 ODF, U.K.
in loving memory of Linganyah slo Pullikutti Suppiah, former S.A.S., S.S.G, Singapore on the second anniversary of his passing away on 4th November 1990.
Sadly missed and fondly remembered by his loving wife Rani and daughter Anuradha, parents, brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces and other relatives. - 14 Newdale Place, Brampton, Ontario L6S F2Z, Canada.

Page 27
15 OCTOBER 1992
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
October 24 7.00pm Old Royalists' Association (U.K.) Social Evening & Disco at Sherfield Hall, imperial College, Exhibition Road, Kensington, London. Tel: 081-427 7407/853 32O7. Oct. 31 6.30pm Union College Old Students' Association (U.K.) A.G.M., Dinner & Disco at Heath Clark High School Hall, Cooper Road, Croydon. Tel: 081 993 3772/743 8289/959 9799. November 1 Thirukalyanam. 1.00pm S.C.O.T. Deepavali Lunch at Wandsworth Town Hall, Civic Suite, London SW182PU. Tel: O81-87O 9897
Nov. 6 Ekathasi.
Nov. 7 Pirathosam. 6.30pm Narthana Kalalaya presents 'Annarkali" dance drama and Violin recital by Natha Vidyalaya at Waltham Forest Theatre, Winns Terrace, London E17 Tel 081-5O9 1263/964 5868. Nov. 10 Fu MOOn. Nov. 15 12.30pm Skanda Varodaya College Old Students' Association (U.K.) Annual Reunion Lunch, A.G.M. and Variety Entertainment at Lola Jones Hall, Tooting Leisure Centre, Greaves Place of Garratt Lane, Tooting, London SW17 ONE. Tel: O81-681 2052/692 0823/0892824661. Nov. 20 Ekathasi,
No V. 22 Pirathosam. Nov. 24 Anawasai.
Meera's Memorable Debut
it was a memorable day for Meera, her parents - Sri and Smt. Vijayaraghavan and for the Guru - Smt. Uma Chandratheva on Saturday, 12th September '92, at Logan Hall, London.
It was Meera's Bharatanatya Arangetram. She was the third student to have reached the stage of graduation for Smt. Uma Chandratheva, the Guru, a product of Kalakshetra, under the tutelage of Late. Smt. Rukmini Devi Arundel.
The hard working Meera, who strived for perfection, demonstrated her skilful presentation which resulted in a varied and well balanced but traditional programme. From start to finish the repertoire featured complexities of rhythm and movements in which the unexpected featured regularly.
After warming up to a Pushpanjali, Ganesha Stuthi and Alarippu, Meera proceeded to execute the Jathiswaram, in Ragam Hindolam composed by Sri. Karaikudi Krishnamurthi and choreographed by Smt. Uma Chandratheva. he JathiSwaram immediately alerted us to the performance ahead.
After we saw the traditional choreography of Mylapore Gowri Ammal in the Sabdam, Sarasijakshulu, we were treated with a Varnam. This was a composition by the well known violin virtuoso, Sri LagudiJayaraman. The rendering of the Neelambari Varnam in Tamil, 'Senthil Mevum Deva Deva', by the singer, Sri. Kutralam Nagarajan who evoked all emotions through his modulated voice was noteworthy. Meera excelled in the Nritta.
The second half of the repertoire was indeed varied but well balanced. The Ashtapadi in Ragamalika expressed various Rasas, the Saraswathi Stothram and the Kriti which
followed were se ease. Neelakand Nataraja was nea
Between Thiru Meera we saw th Sadvani, compose and choreograph dratheva, which This Thillana shar Stutthias the invoc ConnenCennent C have been approp the last item, as it perfectly.
Meera Was aide gam of her guru, Sri K. Krishnamu ment of Sri Kutral out Bhava and de Sangeetha Vidwa pani and Sri S. dious contribution
The nonent M. patiently over the joy the parents enjoyed should be make us realise SOCial values tha enriched life - whe
Arvind's On 28th August 1 very tuneful two Concert by Maste, nied on the Mirida Desikar and on the Prakash.
In the limited fin offered a good val of famous compo: Dikshitar, Thayag nia lyer, Madura Shankaralyer anc melodious raga Lathangi, Abheri, Desh and Manav exposition of 'Nag specialmention. T na-SWafaS Were fe The thani-avartha Sri S. Desikar af Prakash was part meruku or special also to the entire
It is heartwarmi acquired a deep ul of Carnatic Music brought up and tra
Dr. Lakshmi J. successful in trans violin to her belc standard, that with the playing of raga Arvind will surely i
Pri
Professional Acc Book-keeping Administration t By
Te:

TAM TIMES 27
date and Meera was at her ta Sivan's keertanan on t and precise.
Opavai and the Bhajan by e Thilana in Ragam Hamed by Sri. K. Krishnamurthi ed by Simt. Uma ChanMeera executed perfectly. ed the same theme and the atory Ganesha Stuthi at the f the programme, it would oriate if it was performed as would have closed the loop
2d by the perfect Nattuvanthe excellent percussion of rthi, the vocal accompaniam Nagarajan who brought votion, the popular violinist 'n Sri. Thiruvarur Kothandahayaparan with his meloas the flutist.
eera had been waiting for years paid dividends. The derived and that Meera an example to all of us and the cultural, religious and it could be part of our
feVer Mye af.
Natya Rasika.
Violin Concert
992, we were treated to a and a half hours of violin r Arwind Jayan, accompangam by Sri Sormasundara 2 Ghatam by Bangalore Sri
he available, Master Arvind riety of songs by a number sers such as Muthus Wamy araja, Pattanam Subramaai Srinivasan, Thanjavur | Lalgudi Dayaraman in the s Hamsadwani, Shree, Thodi, Thilang, Tanjani, athi, to name some. His Innonnu in Abheri deserves heragaalapana and kalpaindered with poise and skill. nam on the Mridangam by Nid on the Ghatam, by Sri cularly enjoyable adding a polish' to this piece, and XOnCert. ng that Master Arvind has iderstanding of the finesse , although he was born, ined outside india. ayan has been uniquely ferring her virtuosity on the ved son to such a high some extra hard work in m, thanam, pallavi, Master each the top.
Parvathi Raman.
afe uition
ountant will give tuition in ccounting and Payroll equip you for jobs in fisf firrnS.
81-655.3272
Mr. Pooranampilai
A Man of Calibre
Writing a Biography, might perhaps mean invading one's privacy, but my aim is, to write about someone greatly admired for decades, for his work as an educationist. As I write this, it takes me back 35 years to the time, when I had the opportunity to be on the staff of Hartley College for five years when Mr. Pooranampillai was Principal. I am pleased as many other who know him well, that he has been able to make a visit to the U.K. with his wife and give us a chance to meet them and recall happy memories.
K.P. as he was fondly referred to by all those who knew him and worked with him, was a person of high intellect, integrity and great discipline. He displayed the qualities of an eminent educationist and Headmaster that Vadamaradchy ever produced. Being a man of the soil, he knew practically every student and his background, and could relate to the community at large and to all situations that arose during his period as Principal. Within a few years of his Principalship, he helped to create the corner stone of the educational system in the north, and of Hartley, in particular. His reputation rested on high motivation coupled with discipline, which formed the driving force to his success.
His pursuit for achievement, lay in his untiring efforts and the skills he possessed, which were evident in the standard he maintained in the school and in the results Hartley produced, both in academics and in the field of sport. He was a man of unique courage and determination, and always worked hard with the school's interest in mind. He adopted progressive methods of teaching, designed to give a greater degree of flexibility in the school curriculum. 3.
When I joined Hartley in January 1953 as a young teacher, rather inexperienced, I was filled in the beginning. with some apprehension as to what was expected in a classroom situation, and was faced with a dilemma, what kind of task master I was going to work for. As time sped by, I soon
gained my feet and learned what moti
vates pupils that generates good results, and that teacher morale is an important ingredient in the whole exercise.
A very good relationship existed. between the Head and the staff who always held him in high esteem and looked up to him for help and guidance. He had the capacity for great
Continued on page 28

Page 28
28 TAMIL MES
BOOK REVIEW
Medicine Betrayed
Medicine Betrayed: The participation of doctors in human rights abuses, British Medical ASSOciation, Zed Books, £12.95, pp.235.
'...He took my arm and very smoothly (said): "You know, Jacobo, that we doctors have many secrets...you see here: this blue is one of your arteries and I can inject here. You know that uve have some substances that make you talk but it is always so painful because it affects your brains, so why can't you just talk and we can be
friends". His presence was terrible be
cause he uvas the symbol that a scientific instrument is with you when you are tortured by the beasts.'
This quotation from Jacobo Timerman, the Argentinian writer, introduces the new report by a working party of the British Medical Association, aptly setting the scene for a thorough exposition of the role of doctors in torture.
Initiative for Peace and Democracy
Dr. Gavin Karunaratna a former Civil Servant from Sri Lanka, now a London based consultant to international voluntary organisations specialising in development studies in third world countries addressed a largely attended seminar held at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London last Wednesday (26/08/ 1992) on the subject STATE OF DEMOCRACY IN SRI LANKA.
The lecture was sponsored by the South Asian Legal Research Seminar, an academic research unit of the SOAS that invites specialists to address interested gatherings on current topics of importance.
Among the audience that participated in the seminar were Buddhist monks, University academics from Sri Lanka, ex parliamentarians, lawyers in exile and representatives from various human rights organisations concerned about the Sri Lankan situation.
The lecturer dealt with the problem of the erosion of democracy in Sri Lanka under the new Executive Presidential system of government, the failure of the multi-party system of government that has contributed to the steady decline and near collapse of public administration where political interference at all levels has had a cancer-like de-energising effect.
The working par Douglas Black, has years taking eviden of organisations national Medical as of the Royal Colleg Human Rights, th Foundation and the tion for the Care of But by far the gre was from Amnesty James Welch of the retariat as Working
A previous BIMA ture Report, publis influential in shap dards among docto tries, but its scope new report embrace involvement in tortu rators and victims, role of doctors in cor the death penalty, a hunger strikes, wit ment and forcible ex
OneS.
Of great topical sion of the problems particularly those where the condition seriously aggravate state. Other more are virginity testing tion, experimentati and trade in humar plant.
Naturally, the re to instances in oth enough material ha practices in the UK in the recent past, COCe".
Recognising the il some doctors find t report ends with a of recommendations of doctors becoming
Continued from pag
understanding to c both staff and st necessary.
Mr. Pooranampill of Hartley. He ser over three decadesin 1932, then was 1943 and from 1944 al of Hartley Colleg uished career at Ha John's College, whi his brilliance as an e was the Principal f 1976.
His addresses at I day speeches, resc today. His presence our association with whilst he is in our

15 OCTOBER 1992
y, chaired by Sir spent the last two ce from a number including many sociations, several es, Physicians for e Johannes Wier
Medical Founda7ictims of Torture. atest contribution international with International SecParty Consultant.
report, The Torhed in 1986 was ing ethical stanrs in many counwas limited. The s not only medical re, both as perpetbut discusses the poral punishment, buse of psychiatry, hholding of treatcamination of pris
interest is discusof asylum seekers, held in detention s of detention may
the psychological marginal subjects i, forcible sterilisaon upon prisoners organs for trans
port refers mostly her countries, but s been gathered of , either current or to give cause for
mpossible dilemma hemselves in, the comprehensive set for the prevention involved in human
rights abuses, ways in which they may get help if they find themselves being drawn in and ways of reporting the detection of abuses.
Those in particular need are doctors in situations of risk, such as the armed forces, police or prison services. They can appeal to their national medical body or, if that is not able or willing to support their members, there are international bodies who have a duty to intervene.
O Dr. Fleur Fisher, who has succeeded Dr. John Dawson as head of the Scientific, Professional and International Division of the BMA, writes: "This report is a living memorial to the late Dr. John Dawson to whom it is dedicated. It was his vision of the importance of doctors in the defence of human rights which is central to the BMA's involvement in this field.
"He inspired the Association to set up the Working Party which now reports. The message in Medicine Betrayed is of significance to every doctor in every country. As doctors we see people at their most vulnerable. The individual human rights of every patient must be jealously safeguarded by the profession, whether we are looking after patients in a residential facility in the UK or a prison in Turkey. The rights of prisoners, especially those in repressive regimes, are of particular concern. This book will help all doctors to be aware of their ethical responsibilities to the patient in front of them and their response as members of the international medical community.'
Medicine Betrayed is available from AIBS Publications Department, 99119 Rosebery Avenue, London EC1R 4RE.
- Dr. Duncan Forrest, Amnesty International, British Section, Medical Group.
је 27
lirect and advise udents whenever
ai was an old boy ved the school for - first, as a teacher Vice Principal in -1967 was Princip... After his distingrtley he joined St. ch was enticed by ducationist and he or nine years until
meetings and openund in our ears in the U.K. renews him. It enables us, midst, to reflect on
the past, and the many occasions we sought his guidance. In August this year, the Past Pupils Association of Hartley, had a Dinner in honour of him. That gathering was reminiscent of the old Hartley, of which we were all once part. We shall cherish happy memories of that era.
Mr. Pooranampillai is a devoted family man, and a man of the community he served. He endeared all those around him with his charm and admirable ways. Fond memories of him will always remain with us. We wish him and Mrs. Pooranampillai an enjoyable stay in the U.K. and con
tinued good health.
Mrs. Chandra Ratnavel (née Alagaratam)
Sheffield, U.K.

Page 29
15 OCTOBER 1992
Closing date for completed grid and coupon to be received is
30 November 1992.
Answers and the name of the winner - first all correct entry pulled out of a bag - will be announced in the December 1992
issue.
The winner will receive a prize of £1000 sterling. All entries should be sent to: Tamil Times, P.O. Box 121,
Sutton, Surrey SM13 TD, UK.
Across.
1. Politicians at times risk a nation to such type of policies (12) 12. Group of islands in the Indian Ocean used as convict colony by the British masters of India (7) 13. Often in the name of God, a solemn declaration (4) 14. Ancient classical Greek temple (4) 15. Three with such a name were assassinated, one by a religious fanatic, the other a political conspiracy and the third still unresolved (6) 17. Flowed in ripples making a gentle splashing sound (6) 20. Higher secondary educational pursuit (2) 21. Ante prandium, before a meal, abb. (2)
23. Kept in custody (4) 24. Scientific, abb. (3)
徽 A breach of friendly relations
4 28. Prefix for two- or more of these that are legally tendered in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka (2) 29. We do these to what we sow not necessarily on the land (4)
30. A name that began with an airport tragedy and ended up with a country's peaceful liberation from a dictator (6) 32. Membranous bag in an animal or vegetable organism (3) 33. Mother herese is the most famous of them all today (3) 34. In a different way (4) 36. Rim in disorder (3) 38. Mosquito that transmits yellow and dengue fevers (5) 40. A part of the Mediterannean between Greece and Turkey (6) 41. Inherited psychological impulses which emerge from the unconscious mind (2) 42. Key state, briefly, in the forthcoming US presidential elections (2)
43. Today's craze in the music system (2) 44. Widely used adjectively in assisting to define a moun (3) 45. Western mercenaries attempted a coup in this island state but came to grief even before they could get out of the airport (10) 48. Black hardwood, briefly (4) 49. Expressed to contradict (3)
Down: 1. Led the world to a new dimension in the political leadership of a nation (12) 2. An acid that plays an important role in the synthesis of proteins (3) ಕ್ಲೈAn object of excessive devotion
4. America's foremost space organisation (4) 5. Measure of distance, briefly (2) 6. Mother affectionately (2) 7. They brought tidings of great joy to the shepherds who gathered their flocks by night (6) 8. A relationship that Jesus claimed was his to God (3) 9. Possessed or experienced (3) 10. A township that figured in Homer's Iliad (6) 11. Held by Spain as a colony for 333 years until 1898, this land of 7,000 islands has a harmonious mix of Malay-Polynesian-ChineseIndian people (11) 16. Make a further remark to something already said (3) 18. Measure of acidity or alkaline level of a solution (2)
19. Isabella even as president could not live up to the popularity of her husband's first wife, First Lady Eva, and was overthrown by the Argentianian armed forces (5) 22. Wounded pride (6) 24, kept, meant or expressed from the knowledge or views of all except a few (8)
Continued from page 25
NOltiC
which he dedicated his life; (b) To establish a library of social sciences which shall include subjects encompassing politics, economics, labour trade unionism and human rights; and (c) To promote and organise research pertaining to politics, economics, labour, human rights and other socioeconomic matters.
A statue of the late LSSP leader is to be erected at the junction near Ayurveda Hospital at Dr. N.M. Perera Mawatha. The N.M. Perera Memoria Trust Fund also organised commemoration activities on his 13th death anniversary on 18 August. Dr. Carlo Fonseka, Professor of Physiology and Dean of Medicine of the University of Kelaniya delivered the "Dr. N. M. Perera Seventh Memorial Lecture' on the Philosophy and Science of N.M. Perera's Politics'.
ΕΡΟΕ
Douglas Devand Eelam Peoples (EPDP) which i Tamil group, has with a notice by t connection with plication filed by refugee living at Pannikka Pillaiy pitiya in Colombo that on 6 June
over at the camp EPDP and took Velaidan Ravindı Park Road, in ombo, and therea of her son was quently Mrs. Na the EPDP office, regard to her son

TAMIL TIMES 29
QUIZ CROSSWORDS - No. 21. Compiled by: Richards
persons (4)
26. Cash set apart for a particular purpose (4) 27. Do, re, mi, fa, so, la and what follows - remember Sound of Music! (2) 29, Egyptian mythical deity (2) 31. Gossip and rumour mongers are such kind of people and they
37. Named after a French bureaucrat, this Western indian Ocean island has 90 per cent of its country's population (4)
器 Level, free from irregularities
4) 45. - be it, expressing acceptance
cause much sadness (5)
32. Olaf Palme was an enlightened
leader of this country (6)
35. Every one of two or more
or even resignation (2) 46. Chemical symbol for calcium
2
47. “A note to follow sew' (2)
Quiz Crosswords - 19: Solutions.
Across: 1. Chavakacheri. 12. Homagama. 13. Can. 14. US. 15. Enigma. 16. Neap. 19. Dry. 20. Dev. 22. Navaly. 25. Di. 26. Ara. 27. Thovil. 29. Keratin. 31. Nat. 32. Amine. 33. NL. 35. Ctn. 36. Halal. 38. Aeht. 39. Palaty. 40. As. 41. Malaise. 42. Chankanai, 43. OR.
pown: 1. Chunnakam. 2. Bosea. 3. am. 4. Va. 5. Age. 6. Kandy. 7. Amir. 8. Cagy.9, Ecad. 10. Ra. 11. Inuvil. 17. Avarice. 18. Paranthan. 21. Edit. 23. Latent. 24. Ponnalaj. 27. TNT. 28. Vallaj. 30. Em. 34. Flyer. 36. Hala. 39. Pan. 40. Ac.
41, MA.
Winner: Mr. S.S. Waitilingam, 12 Essex Court, Essex Drive, Taunton,
Somerset TA14JZ.
e issued on
Leader
nada, leader of the
Democratic Party is a pro-government recently been issued he Court of Appeal in a Habeas Corpus apMrs. V. Nageswary, a the Refugee Camp at ar Temple, Bambala. Her petition alleged 1992 a person called from the office of the
her 19-year-old son ran to its office at 121 Narahenpita in Colfter the whereabouts
not known. Subsegeswary had gone to
made inquiries with , and was told by one
Romesh that her son could not be released in view of having committed certain offences. Apart from plucking a coconut at the temple, her son had not committed any offence and none of the members of the EPDP had any authority to arrest her son. Mrs. Nageswary had asked the Court to order the EPDP and its leader to produce her son and grant her custody.
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Page 30
30 TAM TIMES
Continued from page 23
the Tamil people in the Northeast has more to do with Tiger coercion than with Tamil consent to Tiger rule. Still, if the Tigers are defeated, what is to prevent the Premadasa regime from refusing to grant federalism to the Northeast?
New Forms of Struggle
The answer, of course, is nothing. The Premadasa regime, as mentioned earlier, doesn't need to end the conflict in order to survive. And if the armed part of the conflict is over, it may succumb to Sinhala nationalist pressure and continue its refusal to grant an adequate package of devolution to the Tamils. But this is no different from when the Tigers were present. Their armed presence has not compelled the Premadasa regime to grant federal autonomy to the Tamil people. A defeat of the Tigers will not preclude the Tamils from mobilising and agitating for their rights. Tamils will be able to raise their voices more freely and express disagreements amongst themselves as they organise against the Sri Lankan state. They can harness support from within the Tamil commun
ity, from symp Sinhalese, and further their str voices may be st government umw tlement, but at l from the interr so-called liberatic
New strategie tical struggle w. out since the arn domination of tl morally and poli will involve a pi Tamils search fo al expression. Tl Tamil people i armed struggle disobedience to forms of agitati Intifada, which from the defea armed struggle, unarmed people means of agitat press their oppos Israelis are cor with the Palesti the decrease in Israel subseque Although it is ur future will be a
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15 OCTOBER 1992
hetic Muslims and internationally to gle for justice. Their led by an oppressive lling to reach a setst, they will be freed l shackles of their
S.
for non-violent poli| have to be mapped 2d struggle under the a Tigers has become ically bankrupt. This iod of innovation as new means of politiche choice before the not only between and non-violent civil he use of non-lethal n. For example, the nexpectedly emerged of the Palestinian nas shown us how an can use non-lethal on to effectively extion. And if today the npelled to negotiate hians, it is because of Western support for nt to the Intifada. clear what the Tamil after the Tigers have
been defeated (because it will be created by Tamils, themselves), it is clear that if the Tigers continue to maintain their stranglehold on Tamil politics, the Tamil people will be denied the option of peace with dignity.
Conclusion
The chronology of pro-Tiger arguments indicates how opinions about the Tigers, even among Tamil nationalists, have evolved from the notion that they are exemplary freedom fighters to the notion that, despite their brutality and cruelty, they are all the Tamil people have. The 'sole representative' argument was a positive endorsement of the Tigers, but the last defence' arguyment is merely a strained attempt at defending them. This pessimistic view of Tamil politics, however, ignores the silent yearning for peace and justice of the civilians in the Northeast. They have a story to tell and a political project to carry out. But they have been silenced and the political possibility that they represent has been sabotaged by threats and violence. Thus, for the Tamil people's desire for justice to become a political reality, Tigerism must go.
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15 OCTOBER 1992
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