Page 1
vol. XII No.12. ISSN 0265 4488 15 DECE
We San Forberation No. Waiting for Concessions
Leae
Hopes of Peace Kept Alive Amidst Military Stalemate
Pope's Visit astes Moves for Free Passage for Clans
* Göv社。 Propose is for Abolition of Executive Presidency
Foreign Minister Mr. Lakshan Kadirgamar
 
 
 
 

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Making the LTTE
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Chondriko and LTTE's Chonging Perception
India Fully Backs Govt. Moves For Peace
- Foreign Minister
Suicide Bombe denied
A Study in Tani
Biographies
Book Review: Tigers of Sri Lanka

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2 TAMIL TIMES
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15 DECEMBER 1994
I do not agree with a word of what you say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say its
| – Voiaire
ISSN 0266-4488
Vol.XIll No.12 15 DECEMBER 1994
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CONTENTS
Hopes for Peace Kept Alive. . . . . . . 4
Full Backing from India for Govt.'s Peace Plan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Pope's Visit Hastens Moves for Free Passage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Making LTTE Part of the Solution. . 9 Govt. Proposals for Abolition of
Executive Presidency. . . . . . . . . . 10 Chandrika and the LTTE's Changing Perception. . . . . . . . . . . 13 Peace Talks Should Aim for Permanent Solution. . . . . . . . . . . . 15
A Study of Tamil Biographies. ... 16
The Sub Continental Scene. . . . . . 20
The Rout of the War Mongers. . . . 24
Book Reviews. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Readers Forum. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
The people's ho return to peace
Alliance Govern 24 October that others and injur
On the one ha peace talks with and the absence reinforced that b, of the country, e. the LT TE Wa:S leadership one t presently not ver Government all appeared that Government of process at the pi
After a lapse of more hopeful, a between the Gov
indications are th
feared. The prop for a safe and f travel to Colomb additional impetu
The dispute w, Pooneryn cause parties are really is not only a que have suffered f Ordinary civilian nOVerment denie on military consi the people as pa and Elephant Pa Or hindrance.
Another factor a negotiated pea remained hostile Prime Ministerd to New Delhi th initiated by the G of any negotiate fears on this SCC
It must now t number of years party to deal a Neither is there meantime, it is na On either side ar.
As observed Cannot be achie Forces and the L. both military and duration of the meaningful talks
 
 
 
 
 
 

TAM TIMES 3
Encouraging Signs
pe and expectation for an end to the ethnic war and a which marked the assumption to power of the People's ment seemed suddenly shattered by the bomb attack on killed the UNP's Presidential candidate and over fifty 2d over a hundred persons.
nd there was the belief that the LTTE, the partner in the the Government, was responsible for the bomb attack of a forthright official denial by the LTTE unfortunately alief. Then there was a growing perception in the south 'en within Some sections of the peace constituency, that bent on liquidating the southern Sinhala political yone. And the extremist forces in the south, although y powerful, commenced a vitriolic campaign against the aging complicity and conspiracy with the LTTE. It hese developments posed great difficulties for the Mrs. Chandrika Kumaratunga to continue the peace ace and intensity with which it set out at the beginning.
nearly six weeks, the situation looks much brighter and and the signs are encouraging. Written exchanges ernment and the LTTE have been taking place, and the at both parties may recommence talks sooner than one osed Pope's visit to Colombo in January, and the need ee passage for Catholics from Jaffna to enable their o to see the Pope would appear to have provided an Is for both parties to find a way out of the impasse.
hether the passage should be through the Sangupiddyway or the Elephant Pass has to be resolved if the concerned about the interest of the people affected. It stion of seeing the Pope. The civilians of the peninsula or years without a safe and free passage
s have been held to ransom and their right to free ld no doubt by the conflicting claims essentially based derations by both sides. If one considers the interest of tramount, then both passages - Sangupiddy/Pooneryn ss - should be opened up for people to use without let
that was very often trotted out as a stumbling block for ce effort in Sri Lanka was that the Indian Government to such a course. The assurances given by the Indian uring the recent visit by the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister at India fully backed the peace moves and the talks overnment of Sri Lanka and would not stand in the way d settlement, one hopes, would help to remove any fe.
e very clear to everyone that what is in place for a now is a military stalemate without the ability of either crushing blow to the other and claim military victory. any prospect of such an eventuality occurring. In the It only the people who are suffering, but also the cadres 2 dying day after day in large numbers.
in these columns before, if a fully fledged ceasefire ed, a cessation of offensive operations by Government TTE and a guarantee for the renunciation of the use of political violence at least during the run up to and the talks must be regarded as a prerequisite for any to take place in an atmosphere of relative trust.

Page 4
4 TAMIL TIMES
Hopes For Peace Kept
Amidst Military Stalem
Rita Sebastian, Colombo
The People's Alliance government has firmly entrenched itselfin power and its comparison with the opposition United National Party (UNP), which is both rudderless and leaderless, is striking.
The once great UNP built up by gifted organisers like J.R. Jayewardene, Premadasa, Lalith Athulathmudali and Gamini Dissanayaketoday presents a somewhat abject picture of political bewilderment and apathy. The gamble of the party in fielding a rank outsider like Srima Dissanayake as Presidential candidate didn't pay off. The widow syndrome failed to provide the expected magic.
The Party today has chosen to lie low, both inside and outside parliament. There are those however who suggest it has no real options at present as long as the popular tide is with the PA.
It is this popular tide that opponents of the regime are watching cautiously. If the tide turns then the UNP will be the principle beneficiary.
The recent rash of strikes and mounting industrial unrest and the abnormal rise in prices, taking even ordinary items of consumption out of reach of the poor and the disadvantaged sections of society, could take away some of the strength the government enjoys. This also gives credence to the view often heard, that the IPA is better at stirring up populist feelings than at the business of governance.
The PA government is obviously alive to the fact that it needs to conserve its popularity for the next electoral exercise, that of local elections in March 1995 and parliamentary elections that might follow the setting up of a new constitution.
The PA government's first fiscal measure showed a very clear bias towards welfare measures and defence. However, the PA government in its management of the trade unions is coming under critical scrutiny. Many leading companies have either closed down, or are affected by labour problems and foreign investment seems to have virtually dried up for the moment, and the business community seems to be
watching and waiting of economic stimulus from the government forthcoming.
Basic infrastructur on hold. Reform of the privatisation of Sri L continue to be frozen, tion of Sri Lanka Tele trade union pressure.
Employers have to newly assertive and trade union activity. today have a highe strength than ever be
The peace process have slowed down to mishes continue betw forces and the Tige daily reports of attel tion into Sri Lankan the northern Jaffna military stalemate broken. And the g( creased its defences “vote on account in there is no let-up ir paredness.
From all accounts maintains that it does "taken for another made it clear to the go certain ground rules observed if there is cessation of hostilitic therefore have few re in the present circum
The peace constitu is bigger than ever, b( and in the south. Th north living unde hardships, deprived and other rudiment society which the res takes for granted, ye with an intensity tha the Tigers.
For the first tim government is heade leader who is not ta munalism. The laste that Chandrika Kur just as popular in th she was in the south
It is this factor hopes alive that the and military impasse The Tigers will hav account the overwhe

15 DECEMBER 1994
Alive late
. The package they expected has not been
al reforms are banks and the anka Telecom the privatisacomput off by
reckon with a even strident Trade unions r profile and fore. also seems to a crawl. Skireen the armed rs. There are mpted infiltraarmy bases in peninsula. The continues unovernment inpending in the November and defence pre
the military not want to be ride' and has vernment that will have to be going to be a es. The Tigers asons for cheer stances. ency however, oth in the north e people in the tremendous of electricity of a modern it of the island tarns for peace it is not lost on
the Colombo d by a popular inted by comections showed haratunga was e northeast as
that has kept Iresent political can be broken. e to take into ming desire for
peace on both sides of the ethnic divide.
However, as long as there are no clear indications of the contours of a final settlement, the Tigers can claim that there is no settlement on the table, or on offer. The govern
ment it is said is trying to put
together a peace package that will satisfy the legitimate aspirations of the Tamil people.
Meanwhile the clear indication by Indian Prime Minister Narasimha Rao, that India is willing to back the peace process in the island is a tremendous boost to the Chandrika Government. It is the first such indication since the signing of the controversial Indo-Lanka Accord in 1987. What makes this affirmation different is that unlike former President Ranasinghe Premadasa’s exercise which angered India needlessly, this peace process is not seen as antagonistic to India. Both Premadasa and Tiger supremo Vellupillai Prabhakaran were bogey men to many of India's political and administrative elite at the time.
President Chandrika Kumaratunga has skilfully obtained India's support, up to a point, without making any concessions in advance. She has played her cards well with a cleverness that not even her opponents can fault.
äe - , , . . . . , , , , . . w
stock CAP AS PLEASE}

Page 5
15 DECEMBER 1994
“We Stand For Liber Not Waiting For Conce - V. Prabh
LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran in his "Great Heroes' Day' speech broadcast over the Voice of Tiger on November 26 said he was prepared for peace and laid down some conditions, but ended his speech by calling upon Tamils to take the oath of Eelam: "The thirst of the Tigers is the homeland of Thamileelam.
The speech reflected the change in the LTTE's stance towards the Chandrika administration following the government's reluctance to resume talks with the LTTE after the assassination of Gamini Dissanayake to which the Tiger leader did not make any reference in his speech.
Prabhakaran said that when the "Chandrika Government extended its hand for peace they grasped it with friendship but the Sinhala army does not appear to like finding a solution to the problem of the Tamils through peaceful means. The uncompromising hardline military activities and war preparation of the army indicates this. The government does not want to act against the army's hardline approach.
Under such circumstances it is not
an easy matter to create an atmosphere for peace or normalcy.
If the Chandrika Government
has to secure the trust and the good will of our people it should first find a solution to their immediate problems and create an atmosphere for peace and normalcy in the homeland of the Tamils, Prabhakaran said.
Prabhakaran commenced his broadcast on a pious note. He said:
'We celebrate this day as the holy day on which we worship in the temples of our heart dear fighters who gave up their lives, sacrificed their lives for the noble ideal that our people should achieve freedom and live in freedom with dignity and honour and the right of self government.
Our country has paid an incalculable price for the sake of liberation. This land has turned into a battlefield and a river of blood has flowed on this soil. Our warriors are dying even today for the sake of liberation. All those thousands upon thousands of tombstones on this soil stand demanding liberation as their goal.
The figures of whom we encour corners, and wall ses to liberation.
A great politica place in Sri Lan ment has come t approach and an the Chandrika tended its handf it with friendshi in talks without or imposing an these talks bega we gave precede faced by our peo
The Sinhala ar to like finding problems of the peaceful means. ing hardline mili war preparations this truth.
It does not ap Chandrika gove given up the mili government does against the arm government is no any pressure on such circumstanc matter to create peace or normalc.
Therefore, if th a true and hone path of peace its if the armed forc that path.
Stopping war a the economic em passage for trans ban on the mariti tling refugees a position of the ar.
We stand not a path for peace. W the doors of peaca for peace. If talk we will take part that a solution sh to the daily prob people.
If the Chandrik to secure the tru our people, it s. solution to their lems and create peace and normal of the Tamils.

TAMILTMES 5
ation, eSSions' nakaran
the great warriors ter on roads, street Ls appear as witnes
al change has taken ka. A new governo power with a new ew mandate. When
government exor peace we grasped p. We participated
any preconditions y constraints. As n in the first stage hce to the problems ble.
my does not appear a solution to the 2 Tamils through The uncompromistary activities and of the army show
bear that even the ernment has not tary approach. The not want to act y's hardline. The t prepared to bring the army. Under es it is not an easy an atmosphere for y. e government has est interest in the hould be easy only es are also led on
activities removing bargo, opening the port, removing the me zone, and resetll depend on the my.
s an obstacle on the We have not closed 2. We are prepared s take place again in them. We desire ould be found first lems faced by our
a government has st and goodwill of hould first find a
immediate proban atmosphere for cy in the homeland
Our movement which fought for long, shedding blood, has taken the struggle to a higher stage - to the point where it has established structures of self-rule.
Today we stand on a very strong and solid foundation. We should never forget that the people who laid this strong foundation were our great warriors.
The Sinhala government is interested in (developing) negotiations with us because we stand on a strong base as a powerful force.
We will assist the Chandrika government if it takes steps to find a peaceful solution to the national problem of the Tamils.
If proper proposals for autonomy are put forward then we are prepared to examine them.
My Dear Tamil people! We are a movement fighting for liberation. We are not an ordinary group which stands abjectly in askance of concessions.
Our goal is that we should live with honour, peace, safety and freedom in our home soil, our own soil which historically belongs to us.
This is our national aspiration. We ask for a solution which will fulfill this national aspiration. Only such a solution can be permanent. Only that will create a lasting peace.
Until we get that solution, we should stand as one people rally round as one nation, with unflinching firmness.
We shall take an oath on this national day, on this day when we remember in our hearts, our warriors who laid down their lives for the liberation of our nation, that we will firmly stand by our goal.
As we light the lamps in the “warriors' resting 'abodes' which are the temples of freedom, we shall take this oath as a gift to their souls' aspirations.
Past Copies of Tamil Times Past copies of Tamil Times are available for sale in 12 volumes, the present series being volume 13. The price of each volume is £20 by surface mail. Those interested are requested to send a cheque/draft/money order for £20 for each volume to: The Circulation Manager, Tamil Times Ltd., P.O. Box 121, Sutton, SM13TD, U.K. The price for each volume in other Currencies is US$40/Can$47/AuS$54.

Page 6
6 TAM TIMES
GAMINASSASSINATION
Suicide Bomber del
Police investigating the bomb attack that killed UNP Presidential candidate Mr. Gamini Dissanayake and over fifty others are reported to have achieved a major breakthrough in identifying the woman suicide bomber. They have tentatively identified her as a 25-year-old woman named Malar.
Investigations have revealed that the suspected suicide bomber lived for around six months in the residence of Kumara, the father of Maru Wasantha at Sidharatha Adi Para, Kirulapone (opposite Maya Avenue) until mid-1993.
She is believed subsequently to have moved to Rajagiriya and then to a slum area near the Wellawatte Spinning and Weaving Mills. She and her husband, known as Ravi, paid a rent of about Rs.1,500 per month. They had two children, a boy of about two and a girl of around six months. She was about 24 years old. When she left Kirulapone suddenly, it was thought she had eloped with another man. She left the children behind, the daughter was left with a neighbour and the son was taken away by the father, sources said.
While at Kirulapone she was known as Malar, or sometimes as Dayanthi. She could speak no Sinhala at all, but was befriended by Sinhala people in the neighbourhood who could also speak Tamil, who helped her with shopping etc. She said she was from Negombo.
Witnesses in the area who have been questioned by police have identified her positively at the police mortuary. They were also aware of a leg wound Malar had which is present in the leg of the bomber. They all state however the bomber's face is contorted and difficult to identify. Police have also recovered Malar's passport from a neighbouring Tamil household whose occupants are now in custody. From photographs shown to these witnesses it has also been established that Babu, the suspected assassin of President Premadasa in May last year, had visited Malar's house on several occasions. Meanwhile a special police team has been assigned to investigate a person in Wennappuwa who was in
the Tamil woma the suicide bomb ga bomb blast, as said.
The person ha and the Police a relatives. The CI so far questione persons with rega ga bomb blast.
IGP Frank de conference on 24 identity of the si not yet been esta cum stantial e gathered points t
He said that may make one t work of the LTT concrete evidence on the basis of pos we have to form
He said journ conclusions on th cumstancial evic far. The material for a book. "That for a court of law He said 57 pel bomb went off at ber 24 and the b had been identifi ing two, one was bomber and the lated body which nition.
Ninety-four pe in that incident; been identified a recorded. One pe the hospital an The Wattala ac given the hospit false and the p
FU FOr (
Indian Prime simha Rao in Lanka's Foreig man Kadirgam said that India Lanka Govern tive.
Mr. Kadirgal with a group o'
volved in transporting illicit liquor said that M. F
and is alleged to have had links with
you will achiev
 
 

15 DECEMBER 1994
Robe tified
suspected to be in the Thotalannior police official
now disappeared e questioning his ) and Police have more than 300 'd to the Thotalan
Silva told a press November that the icide bomber had lished though cirvidence so far
the LTTE.
he circumstances hink this was the. E. But there is no to say so. It is only itive evidence that a conclusion. alists could form e basis of the cirlence collected so may be sufficient is not good enough
, he said. rsons died when a 12.15am on Octodies of 55 of them ed. Of the remainthat of the suicide ther a badly mutiwas beyond recog
rsons were injured und 93 of them had hd their statements rson was treated at d was discharged. dress that he had al was found to be olice are trying to
trace this Tamil man.
Investigators have collected valuable productions - the damaged head, hair, dismembered parts of hands and legs, the switching device, pieces of ballbearings, denim cloth, earrings, damaged wearing apparel, and the cyanide capsule.
The JMO and Governent Analyst who examined the body parts have said the hand and the legs belonged to the suicide bomber who was of a dark brown complexion, 25 to 28 years of age and 5 feet one inch tall.
The head was badly damaged and the police obtained the services of plastic and dental surgeons and with the help of super imposition and computer imagery reconstructed the head.
The IGP said five persons had positively identified on the basis of the photographs of the reconstructed head, that the suicide bomber who was wearing skirt and blouse, was seated in the third row at the Totalanga meeting. Photographs of 31 meetings of Mr. Dissanayake the police studied showed that the suicide bomber was present at the Ja-ela and Homagama meetings.
'We have received many messages saying that persons looking like the suicide bomber were found in Kirillapone, Rajagiriya and other places. We investigated every one of the bits of information we received. We have to complete investigations on two such messages' the IGP said.
He said the results of the investigations of the blood samples had not arrived from Scotland Yard. The tests done in Britain about the explosives too have not been received.
"We are continuing our investigations. We are even going through all the massive documents available with the Registrar of Persons', the IGP said.
Backing From India GOVt.'s Peace MOVes
inister Mr. Narahis talks with Sri Minister Lakshur on 7 December ully backed the Sri ent's peace initia
ar in an interview Sri Lankan editors o had said: "I hope peace. If you solve
your problem it will be one less for us'.
The Sri Lanka Foreign Minister said that he believed what the Indian government said and its genuine desire for peace in Sri Lanka. Some said that India had a “hidden agenda” on the Sri Lankan issue but he did not believe that, he said. Indo-Sri
Continued on page 8

Page 7
15 DECEMBER 1994
GOVT. RESUMES CONTACT WI
Pope's Visit Hastens For Free Passage for
The government sent an official message to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam on Tuesday, December 6
This is the first official step on the part of the government to resume the peace negotiations with the LTTE which were called off following the assassination of Gamini Dissanayake days before the Presidential election.
The decision to send the message was taken at a high level meeting at the Ministry of Defence on December 6 chaired by the State Minister for Defence Col. Anuruddha Ratwatte.
Informed sources said that the stand taken by the LTTE since it called off the unofficial ceasefire it had unilaterally observed prior to the Great Heroes' week was discussed in view of the government's plan to make an appropriate reciprocal gesture as preparatory for resuming the peace process soon after Christmas.
The government does not want to send the LTTE the wrong signal either by yielding to its demand that there should be an inquiry into the decapitation of its senior intelligence operative “Malli” at Weli Oya during the so called Tiger ceasefire or by remaining unresponsive to any of the issues brought up by the LTTE at the first round of talks. The former, in the government's view, would give the Tiger leadership the fatal impression that it could twist Colombo's arm at will and there is something amiss in the relationship between the P.A. leadership and the army - something which could be systematically manipulated. The latter no doubt will, as the government knows only too well, justify all that the LTTE has been telling the Tamil people since the government postponed talks following Gamini's assassination and therefore alienated to some extent the P.A.'s precious minority vote bank.
The December 6 meeting which was attended by all the service commanders and the secretary to the Ministry of Defence Gen. Hamilton Wanasinghe had to be convened to also address the question of opening
a safe passage Jaffna to travel for the Pope's v.
The Catholic and the Bishop lar had made tions to the gove it should give to available a saf peninsula to the
The LTTE ha government's ci doubt realising of the issue by ( already given p1 in the very first the government.
The Catholic important factor of things as well
The crucial sh strong "Catholic coast, which trac the UNP, in favo general and Pre one of the thing to the massive u support among t such the govern consolidate its p fore the UNP again.
The vexed que America station lage of Iranawil issues on which and their flocks is expected to b Pope's visit. The ly espoused the VOA protestors and substantial the change in p Catholic belt wh brought about, delicate line now
As a governm to be alive to th of dealing with countries such already in a c question of fina budgetary gap el five billion rupt subsidy for whe down the price being a main e the US governm

TAM TIMES 7
Moves Civilian
for the Catholics of
to Colombo in time sit in January.
Church in general of Jaffna in particuseveral representarnment mainly that p priority to making passage from the mainland.
put the ball in the ourt as always, no he sensitive nature laiming that it had iority to the matter round of talks with
constituency is an in the P.A's scheme as that of the LTTE.
ift in the electorally belt' in the western litionally voted with ur of the P.A. at the sidential election is s which contributed pswing in the P.A's he Sinhalese; and as ment is anxious to position therein becan make inroads
stion of the Voice of in the Catholic vila, one of the main the local churches Fell foul of the UNP, e raised during the P.A which zealouscause of the antiat the local level ly benefitted from opular mood in the ich it seems to have has to toe a very
2nt in power, it has realities and costs
the major donor as the U.S. It is uandary over the lcing an additional timated to be about es, created by the it flour for bringing if bread to Rs. 3.50 ection pledge, and 2nt's decision to cut
aid for wheat flour granted under the PL 480.
What can the government do in this situation about the VOA in view of the Pope's visit and the concerns which are still voiced in the "Catholic belt about the matter - the protagonist of the whole issue being the US government? While the government appears to be wringing its hands over this quandary, it is obvious that it is keen not to add to the list of problems by giving the impression at this juncture that it is concerned less about the devotion of its Catholic subjects in the Peninsula than insisting on those details of a deal with the LTTE to open a safe passage which are considered indirectly advantageous to the army but have no bearing on real strategic interests.
Many in the government and some in the army high command are not in favour of drawing the Vatican's attention to the cause behind a substantial portion of Tamil Catholics not being able to see the Pontiff. It will be a handle for the LTTE to plead its case in international fora’ said an official connected to the Foreign Ministry. Others point out that the LTTE can make use of this to further argue with its Catholic constituency and the Tamil people generally that the government is indeed putting the interests of the army before theirs contrary to the widely held view among the minorities that the President is genuinely interested in peace and hence will unflinchingly stand by the peace initiative.
On the other hand the LTTE cannot afford to be seen by Catholics living in Jaffna as being insensitive to their concerns about an event of great religious importance to them. This is so especially in the aftermath of some friction with the clergy at the Madhu church over problems in the refugee camp at nearby Thadchanamaruthamadu which had led to unprecedented strains developing in the traditionally cordial relationship which the Tigers had developed with the Catholic church in the north. The problem which had been simmering since last year was exacerbated by the hostile and imperious manner in which LTTE's deputy political leader, Karikalan, had chosen to 'discuss' the matter with the clergy at Madhu recently. Karikalan is a person from an orthodox Hindu background from Kaluwanchikudy - a predominantly Saivite
Continued on page 8

Page 8
8 TAM TIMES
Continued from page 17
Vellala village in the Batticaloa district which has had very little contact with Christians either through conversion or education. In addition to the acrimony caused by Karikalan's behaviour at Madhu, the fact that one of the LTTE's district level leaders in Mannar is a Hindu whose activities also have done little to alleviate the apprehensions of the Church and the laity in that region has not helped the Tigers. All these have had some repercussion in the peninsula's Catholic circles.
Despite its apparent desire to blame the government and a hawkish army for maliciously obstructing the Catholics of Jaffna from undertaking a devout journey to Colombo to see the Pope, the LTTE, like the government, has a few things to worry about in considering its relationship with its long valued
Catholic constit ture in connect visit next mont
Uppermost in the dismal pri thousand Cathc and old - who a the peninsula t to the Pontiff. them are people circumstances, qualified from "pass to leave being under age er “security clea
The Tigers, i out here, impos in the first pl outflow of the peninsula as Ee taking a heavy Jaffna citizen's Later it also b monitor all pot nels through
Continued from page 6
Lanka relations were now entering a period of great warmth and trust and he hoped that his visit would in a small way contribute to this growing cordiality.
The Foreign Minister also said that India had not asked for the extradition of LTTE leader Prabhakaran. A hypothetical situation of that kind should not be contemplated at this time, the Foreign Minister said.
Mr. Kadirgamar in his talks with Indian political leaders - New Delhi's power elite comprising diplomats, ex-diplomats as well as Indian army generals stressed that the government of Mrs. Chandrika Kumaratunga had twice asked the people for a mandate for peace and this was overwhelmingly supported by all sections of the community.
"We are committed to peace and there is no going back' he said. At the press conference held on 9 December before his departure he was asked whether he would concede that the measures effected by the Chandrika Kumaratunga government had been of a cosmetic nature and that nothing concrete had been given to the Tamils of Sri Lanka. Mr. Kadirgamar said that the government was a little over a hundred days old and during this period what had been done was to implement confidence-building measures. In the first round of talks with the LTTE the question of the partial
lifiting of the goods going int of electricity a refugees and taken up.
He said that period of war government felt must be made confidence-build taken.
It should be r that the people victims of war.
“When you ha as in 1987, gr There should b of the fact that soldiers lost the our country. M Lankan soldie) lost their lives. concerned the cause and are cause they bel matter whethe the ends. It whether the v which the ques but it has to be too have purs conscientiously they believe. A go to compoun the first time sode commenc ment in pursu
Mr. Kadirga battle for peace battle in war.

15 OECEMBER 1994
lency at this juncon with the Pope's
the LTTE's mind is spect of over ten ic devotees - young re expected to leave pay their respects A large number of who, under normal tould have been disgeting the LTTE's affna on grounds of or not having proprance”. , should be pointed ed the pass system ace to control the population from the lam War Two began toll on the average normal way of life. ecame a means to ential civilian chanwhich the LTTE
thought its security could be compromised. Thus for the LTTE the sudden departure of more than ten thousand people can become what it would see as a high security risk as well as a potential basis for the further depletion of the population under its control.
It is in the context of these concerns and perceptions of the LTTE and the P.A that one should examine the latest step taken by the government in the direction of making peace in the north. Latest reports indicate that the government had decided in consultation with the service commanders at the December 6 meeting to reopen the Elephant Pass route for civilian traf. fic and communicated the matter to the Tigers in the message sent to Jaffna the same day. However it is not clear whether the government
Continued on page 11
embargo placed on o Jaffna, the supply nd the questions of rehabilitation were
t after a prolonged and bitterness the t that some gestures
and to start with, ling measures were
emembered, he said, of Jaffna had been
lve a situation of war eat tragedies occur. 2 a deep appreciation thousands of Indian ir lives on the soil of any thousands of Sri 's and navy men too As far as the LTTE is 7 too fought for a still fighting for a ieve in. It's another r the means justify s another matter ar is the means by tion is to be resolved, recognised that they ued their objectives in the way in which ll these sad elements the tragedy. But for since this tragic epid there is a governt of peace'.
mar said that the is as complex as any But the government
was not going to be deterred. "What the outcome is, I cannot say today. can speak only with hope and commitment', the Minister said.
Asked whether he would agree to positive demands of the Tamils such as the permanent homeland and merger of the North and East, he said that he could not unveil an entire package of proposals so complex and delicate so soon.
Mr. Kadirgamar commenting on the validity of the Indo-Sri Lanka Agreement today said that it was signed under very special circumstances in 1987. The Sri Lanka government had already implemented a part of the agreement by making amendments to the constitution. With regard to the rest, much had happened in the intervening years in the world as well as in relations between the two governments. The situation may never arise to pursue the question whether Accord is alive in any meaningful sense, he said. Mr. Kadirgamar also said that the Sri Lanka government wanted to have a thorough investigation of the killing of Mr. Gamini Dissanayake. Earlier investigations into the assassination of other politicians had been very shoddy, he said.
He said that the Catholics of Jaffna had made a plea for Elephant Pass to be opened so that they could come South to pay their respects to the Pope when he visits Sri Lanka next month. Talks had been held with the army, and the army had no objections to the Pass being opened.

Page 9
15 DECEMBER 1994
Making the LTTE a of the Solution
by Jehan Perera
A positive feature in Sri Lanka is the relative swiftness with which realities are recognised. For many years, governmental leaders demanded that the LTTE should lay down its arms as the pre-condition for negotiations. But today most people recognise that this is something that the LTTE will never do merely to start the negotiations. Therefore they do not object to the government's peace negotiations with an LTTE that is apparently better armed than ever before.
But while few would be so rigid to insist on the LTTE disarming prior to the negotiations, most people would probably hold that this should happen after the negotiations. In other words, a successful negotiation would only be one in which the LTTE agreed to disarm as part of the solution. On more serious reflection, however, a serious problem can be seen to arise. The LTTE's idea of a successful negotiation, as is anyone's, is likely to be one that makes them better off rather than worse off.
There is no question that President Chandrika Kumaratunga has won the affection and, more importantly, the confidence of most members of the Tamil community. Reportedly there are more Chandrika souvenirs for sale in the north than even in the south where she recently registered the most overwhelming election victory ever. Her blunt outspokenness and willingness to even take on the Sri Lankan armed forces in verbal battle have endeared her to the Tamil people.
That she has her convictions and is willing to stand by them is clear. Therefore, unlike in the case of the B-C pact of 1957, the Dudley-Chelva pact of 1965 and the Jayewardene government's DDC law of 1981 it is most unlikely that President Kumaratunga will go back on what she puts her signature on.
Hovever the reality is that President Kumaratunga is but an individual, subject as much to impermanence as all others. Whoever succeeds her may share neither her ideals nor her strength. To the Tamils, therefore, and particularly to the LTTE, any agreement with
the government that is structure it outlives Presid tenure of office.
From the pers what would be that their intere remain secure than the retent The LTTE is lik mant on this iss
Therefore to th settlement in t disarming, the ably be seen as t peace. This beli locally and inte sincerity of the pursuing an hon the LTTE beco But whether thi on the LTTE to doubtful. It is re that where its o' cerned the LTTE
The LTTE, kn knows, that on their arms they vulnerable to an the part of the other party. In o they will, theref any peace talks them as part of scuttled. Unders point of view, the to be a part of th
Many politic pointed out th reason to be quit way things are : or without the p intensity war against them b has served their it unites the T them, whose pro Lankan armed f and affords them tion through sur Sri Lankan force
In addition, th They wield absol people living in largely control ti tion available to have set up the tive system con police and judic their own narr

**A*MES 9
Part
will have to be one in such a way that ent Kumaratunga’s
pective of the LTTE, a better guarantor sts will continue to after a settlement ion of their arms? ely to remain ada
e.
ose who see a peace 2rms of an LTTE LTTE will inescaphe major obstacle to ef will mount both rnationally as the new government in ourable peace with mes more evident. s will put pressure change its mind is asonable to believe wn survival is con
will not budge.
ows as anyone of us ce they lay down 7 will become very y act of bad faith on government or any ne way or the other ore, make sure that meant to disarm the solution will be tandably from their LTTE will not wish at type of solution.
al analysts have at the LTTE has e satisfied with the at the present with 2ace talks. The low
hitherto waged y the government purpose well in that amil people under tector from the Sri orces they become, arms and ammuniprise attacks on the
s
y control the land. ute power over the those areas. They e flow of informa
the people. They r own administraplete with taxes, ary. In terms of w interests, they
have everything to lose by agreeing to a peace in which they lay down their arms which made this all possible in the first place.
There are therefore essentially two alternatives before the government. One is to force the LTTE to lay down their arms by utterly defeating them in the military battlefield. To do so the government will need to gear itself up from the present low intensity war (which still for all consumes some 20 per cent of the national budget) and accept the challenge of a full scale war in which life and property are of no consequence.
But the stakes will be very high. If the government fails even after this mighty, and bloody, effort it will have lost any claim it had over the territories it failed to recapture, certainly in the eyes of the people living there who are likely to suffer enormous casualties in the event of a full scale military offensive and perhaps even internationally. The outcome of such a full scale war that fails to defeat the LTTE will almost surely be the birth of an independent state of Tamil Eelam.
Legalisation
The other alternative available to the government is the more pragmatic route of an acceptance of the ground reality but transforming it into a higher good for all concerned.
The reality is that the LTTE controls the north, militarily and administratively. The question is how to change this situation from being an obstacle to peace to being an advantage.
Over the past several years of military stalemate, the LTTE has gradually been setting up a system of local government of their own which meets most of the basic needs of the people in the areas that they control. If the government decides it can, in principle, transform Sri Lanka into a federal state by passing a law in Parliament that legalises this control by a body other than itself.
In other words, the administrative, police and judicial systems set up by the LTTE can remain in place. The essential feature offederalism is that the central government constitutionally cannot overturn certain locally relevant decisions of the federal units.
Continued on page 10

Page 10
10 TAMIL TIMES
The concessions will not all be one way from the government to the LTTE. Negotiations are not only about trust-building and problemsolving, they are also about bargaining. In return for the legalisation that the government will offer it, the LTTE will need to join with the government in pledging to permanently renounce the use of violence as a solution to the ethnic conflict, and to accept the united character of Sri Lanka.
Both the LTTE and the government should also pledge not to rearm after the agreement with a system of monitoring designed to ensure that there is no cheating. This would mean that there will be no more LTTE ships bringing arms
from abroad. It wi the government w down substantiall expenditures and, the budget deficit inflation today.
There will also important matters such as the status ( LTTE control but c the "Tamil Homela for the holding C elections in the no in the rest of t absorption of the the LTTE into a Lankan military the President and t final appeal to the
Government Proposals for
of Executive Presiden
The following is the text of the statement made by Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris with regard to the proposal by the Government on the abolition of the Executive Presidency.
The Executive Presidential system is the central feature of the Second Republican Constitution introduced by the J.R. Jayewardene Government in 1978. It marked a significant departure from the parliamentary executive model that existed in this country from 19481978, both under the Soulbury and the First Republican Constitutions. Today, 16 years after its introduction, a consensus is emerging across the political spectrum that the parliamentary executive model should be reintroduced. The People's Alliance Government has received overwhelming mandates at both the Parliamentary and Presidential elections for the abolition of the Executive Presidency.
The major weakness of the present system is the concentration of power in the Executive President. The fusion of the ceremonial, titular functions of the former nominal Head of State, and the real, substantive powers of the former Prime Minister, has vested considerable power in one person. Many of these powers are not exercised by Presidents in other countries with Presidential systems such as the U.S.A. and France. Furthermore, several institutional safeguards which exist in these countries such as the ratification of Presidential appoint
ments have not be Constitution. The inter alia the follov (a) S/he presides determines the n tries, and appoints Cabinet from am Parliament.
(b) S/he enjoys prosecution in res) done or omitted to his/her official or qua President.
(c) S/he appoints) number of importal out being required body else. These judges of the Sup Court of Appeal Courts, the Att Heads of the Army, and the Police, Sec. tries, the Commissi the Auditor-Gel Ombudsman.
(d) S/he can eve cumstances, exerci over financial Sup President dissolves fore the Budget h s/he may author from the Consoli monies that s/heco for the public serv that coud extend to
(e) S/he can disso any time except i after a Parliament
(f) Once elected, irremovable. The peachment process

also mean that ll be able to cut
on its defence herefore, reduce that is fuelling
pe several other to be negotiated fareas not under aimed as part of d, the time table f free and fair th-east unit like Le country, the ighting units of integrated Sri 'ommand under he provisions for Supreme Court.
Abolition су
an adopted in our President wields, ving powers:
over the Cabinet, umber of minisMinisters of the png Members of
immunity from pect of anything pe done, either in private capacity,
persons to a large ht positions with
to consult anypositions include eme Court, the
and the High rney General, Air Force, Navy etaries of Minisoner of Elections, eral and the
l, in certain cirelimited powers ply. Where the Parliament beas been passed, se expenditure lated Fund, of siders necessary ces for a period six months. fe Parliament at the first year ry election. s/he is virtually umbersome imparticularly fol
15 DECEMBER 1994
The legislation approach accommodates present ground realities but seeks to transform them into a better reality, in this instance, federalism which is the solution for a country like Sri Lanka in which the majority of our ethnic communities live in more or less geographically separate areas.
The advantage in this approach is that it does not call for war and killing in a high risk all-or-nothing venture as a total military solution would be. It is also a better alternative to the continuation of the present stalemate that is draining the lives and resources of the country and will surely make it a breeding ground for social unrest in the near future.
lowing the Supreme Court decision in Dissanayake et. al.v.Kaleel S.C.4- 11/91, suggests that in practical terms a President is immune from the threat of impeachment if the party to which s/he belongs has more than one-third of the seats in Parliament.
(g) The President can, under the Public Security Ordinance, introduce Emergency Regulations which override, amend or suspend any law enacted by Parliament, and if they fall within the ambit of the host of restrictions recognised by the Constitution, even curtail the fundamental rights enumerated in the Constitution.
(h) The President appoints Governors of the Provinces. Since the exercise of the Governor's discretionary powers, except in certain specified instances, 'shall be on the President's directions', the President wields enormous powers through the Governors.
This agglomeration of power in an individual is all the more dangerous because the rival sources of powerthe Legislature and the Judiciary - are relatively weak under the Second Republican Constitution. The President is responsible, yet not answerable, to Parliament. The Standing Orders of Parliament which under the previous two Constitutions precluded reference to the conduct of the nominal Head of State, except upon a substantial motion, have surprisingly been applied to the Executive President, notwithstanding the fact that s/he wields a far greater degree of political power. The fact that the members of the Cabinet are members of the Legislature and the constitutional

Page 11
15 DECEMBER 1994
provisions that provide that MPs can be expelled from Parliament mean that the Legislature is a relatively weak institution vis-a-vis the Executive President. The immunity provisions, the absence of judicial review of legislation, the appointment procedure of judges of the higher judiciary, and the procedure adopted to determine whether judges are guilty of proved misbehaviour, all in different ways, serve to undermine the independence and authority of the judiciary.
This combination of what has been described as an "over-mighty' Executive President and a relatively impotent Parliament and judiciary has, therefore, concentrated excessive power in one institution.
The advocates of the Presidential system in Sri Lanka put forward two main arguments in its favour:
1. It promotes stability and strong government.
2. It promotes the interest of minorities.
President J.R. Jayewardene himself argued in 1977 that a strong executive, unhampered by what he termed the whims and fancies of Parliament, was needed to implement the economic and social policies of the new United National Party government. A fundamental critique of this argument for strong government is, of course, that a Constitution is not meant to be an instrument to facilitate a particular political or ideological objective, or indeed a facilitator of strong government. On the contrary, the primary function of a Constitution, particularly in a modern Third World nation where the State inevitably wields considerable discretionary power, is to create regularised res
traint or checks and balances on the
exercise of political power. The Constitution of 1972, like its successor, suffered from the same basic defect: concentration of power in one institution (the National State Assembly and the absence of effective checks and balances. While both Sri Lanka's autocthonous constitutions may have promoted strong government, it is not at all clear that they promoted stability, and indeed may have contributed significantly to instability and the erosion of liberal democracy.
The second argument in favour of a Presidential system is, superficially, more powerful. Since a President is elected by the whole country, it is argued that the country's main poli
tical actor has to b who cannot be se and therefore a pE minority concern While this has constantly as a m nificance can be e ables minorities ti clout during a pri campaign, but inc once elected, the tually immune frc ure. The fact th President Jayewa any meaningful in outa political solut the North-East du in office, when he the power to do favourable politic powerful case in parliamentary exe the other hand, t actor, the Prime stantly and contin to Parliament. As Silva observed in Assembly in 1971:
"There is undoul in this system of F the British people is that the Chief day is answerable representatives of tinuously by reaso the Prime Minist Prime Minister on can command the assembly. This is weakness by my g one of the grea strength of the syst
Particularly und proportional repre possible that the p ing minority inter more effective politi system which give leverage continuou elections as well. F possible to develop stitutional mechan this important obje tion of a mixed syst al representation b man model which r field a national li obtain votes nation similar objective.
The Parliamental tem ensures that th powerful political a liament can be scrutinised by MF lenged at question course of parliamer be more easily cens from office, (for exa

a national figure arian in outlook, son responsive to and aspirations. en put forward jor asset, its sigaggerated. It enexercise political sidential election thereafter, for, President is virn political pressut, for example, dene did not take itiatives to work on to the crisis in ing his first term ot only possessed so, but also a l context, is a point. Under a cutive model, on he main political Minister is conuously reponsive Dr. Colvin R. de the Constituent
otedly one virtue 'arliament which evolved, and that Executive of the
directly; to the the people conn of the fact that ter can remain ly so long as he confidence of the mentioned as a ood friends. It is est sources of
e.
er a system of sentation, it is arties representsts might wield cal influence in a s them political ly, and between urthermore, it is alternative conisms to achieve ctive. The adoplm of proportionused on the Gerquires parties to zt and seek to wide achieves a
y Executive sys2 country's most :tor sits in Paruestioned and i, can be chalzime and in the ary debate, can red or removed ple by a motion
TAMILTIMES 11"
of no confidence) than under an Executive Presidential system; in . short, the leading political figure in the country is not kept aloof from the political fray, but on the contrary is in the thick of it, and is therefore in a real sense responsible and answerable to the elected representatives of the people.
The President, therefore, shall be a nominal Head of State elected by Parliament for a period of 5 years. S/he shall always, except as otherwise provided by the Constitution, act on the advice of the Prime Minister or other Minister to whom the Prime Minister may have given authority to advise the President on any particular function assigned to that Minister.
Continued from page 8
has also agreed to the basic conditions set forth by the LTTE earlier for reopening the passage when the army claimed that E.P. could be used by civilians to travel from Jaffna to the mainland.
Though the army has offered to open the Elephant Pass route for civilian traffic since the conclusion of Operation Balavegaya Two in the latter part of '91, the LTTE has objected to it on ground that it could be used as an axis for a major military thrust into the peninsula and that subjecting civilians to search would, among other things, help the forces extract supplies and information from them. Following the December 6 meeting a military official was quoted in the press as saying that a guarantee could be given that the E.P. base will not be used as an axis to launch a thrust into the peninsula. But other military officials dismissed the whole. thing saying that there is no change in the army's position that it is the LTTE that has to allow civilians to move through the base and that no guarantee has been given regarding the LTTE's conditions. However, a section of the press claimed on the 8th quoting Government sources that the LTTE had agreed to opening the Elephant Pass and that it will be opened shortly for civilian traffic.
The same day there were reports that the army had shot dead three Tigers who had infiltrated the Elephant Pass base and that a massive search was on in the area to locate others. The confusion continues thus. The Pope may find little signs of true peace when he arrives in Sri Lanka next month.

Page 12
12 TAM TIMES
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Page 13
15 DECEMBER 1994
Chandrika and the L Changing Percept
— by Taraki —
The attitude of the LTTE towards the P.A. in general, and towards Chandrika in particular, has to be carefully examined by anyone who is contemplating the island's future in terms of a peace package and its dividends. There are two aspects to this attitude. One: the reason or reasons for Chandrika and her gov
ernment insisting on peace. Two: the obstacles faced by her and the possi
bility of her submitting to these in due course as other leaders have done in the past.
Though the LTTE had been expressing from the time when it became apparent that she was going to be the P.A.'s undisputed leader, very strong reservations about Chandrika’s bona fides in handling the ethnic problem, there was marked change in their view after her significant victory at the southern provincial elections. -
While Tamil politicians and opin
ion makers exulted over that victory
in the deep south - which had long been considered a bastion of Sinhala Buddhist nationalism - claiming that it augurs well for resolving the
ethnic conflict, the Tigers preferred not to say anything except sound a
mild note of caution in some of their publications. This clearly showed that they were reassessing their view that Chandrika was merely picking up Premadasa's 'fishing rod' to insidiously drag in minority votes.
The prompt manner in which she set about the problem in the north as soon as she assumed office seems to have finally convinced the LTTE
that her intentions were somewhat
genuine. There was Tamil public opinion too which they could not ignore. Therefore they made a very significant move after the general election. h
“Tamil Eelam” the official English language newsletter of the Tigers in London stated in its October issue: "The LTTE made an unprecedented gesture in welcoming the election of a new Sri Lankan Prime Minister. It could be that they recognised in Chan drika Kumar a tunge a Sinhalese politician of different mettle'.
It should be mentioned, however, that whatever the Tigers said in
favour of Chan said in strict co harping on the ( Sinhala polity, d allip service to f historically inca honourable se Tamils. Neverth an exaggeration
by the evidence &
was, for the fi inception, convil sure that a Sinh nuinely keen on with the Tamil p
That the Tige at this juncture ( significant if on the explanations ting out the tr Chandrika's pea was that she wa ance with a simp. la which was ult consolidate her Sinhalese.
The formula c Stop the war for - this would he lions from defe) nance the subsid Sinhalese with verted - secure Sinhala majorit. sidies and then arise prosecute t political base in
According to a sought to explai behind Chandrik she was actually of the peace lobb the best and sul the disintegratio take away the s which has, at al the most adve prevented the o contradictions fr overwhelming i traneous factor b of the peace lobb Sinhala polity co away from the id the northeast th have to stop figh will leave the LT occupation they
They claim tha LTTE has reache

TAMIL TIMES 13
TTE's iOn
drika was always ntext as it were - ld refrain that the espite the occasioninding a solution, is pable of offering an ttlement to the less it would not be to say that, going vailable, the LTTE rst time since its nced in some meaLala leader was gecementing a peace eople. rs upheld this view an be deemed quite e were to consider proffered then, setue reasons behind nce initiative. One is acting in accordle budgetary formuimately intended to position among the
an be stated thus: some years at least lp divert some bilnce spending - filies promised to the the sum thus dithe loyalty of the y with these subif the need were to he war from a firm the south.
nother view which in the "true' motive a's peace initiative, following the tenet y in Colombo - that e way of ensuring n of the LTTE is to ole external factor l times and under ise circumstances, rganisation's inner om imploding and t – this sole exbeing war. Sections y argue that if the uld be fully weaned ea of making war in nen the army will ting: which in turn TE without the only are familiar with.
ut corruption in the denormous propor
tions and has become so cancerous that the leadership is scared to take any drastic step to root out the problem. The arrest of Kutti, "a senior leader in the Vanni, and several others allegedly for embezzling millions from tax funds which, according to a peace lobby person, led to the discovery that a large number of important people in the Tiger hierarchy were involved or had benefitted from Kutti's fraud is cited as a good example by the proponents of the peace strategy to illustrate their thesis.
There is also utter frustration
within the organisation and the
number of cadres volunteering to be Black Tigers is a sure manifestation of this moral rot they say; and the LTTE, according to them, is able to prudently skim such problems as they surface only because of the war - by sending culprits occupying sensitive positions to the battle front or by making it an excuse to make changes in the affected portion of the command structure.
Therefore, argues this influential section of the peace lobby, it is very essential for the government to bring peace to the northeast in order to expedite the only process by which the LTTE can be made to fall apart.
The LTTE no doubt is wary of the peace lobby's proximity to the powers that be in the P.A. This view which tried to read the peace lobby's peace strategy into Chandrika's Jaffna initiative, however, was something which the LTTE was familiar with from Premadasa's days.
But despite this and other explanations which sought to impute insidious motives to Chandrika's stand on bringing about peace to the war weary people in the north, the LTTE as we noted earlier, showed an unprecedented inclination to trust her personal bona fides and hence to welcome her election as Premier.
In this they showed the Tamils that they were at one with them. And also in this they were telling the Tamil people, and perhaps the world, once more that they were not the intransigent and crude warmongers they are generally portrayed to be.
However they qualified their position by reiterating three things - history, vested interests in the army and India.
Continued on page 14

Page 14
14 TAMILTIMES
Continued from page 13
To quote from “Thamil Eelam” — History is a good teacher, and what lessons (sic) the Tamil people learnt from past history (sic) have proved to be always unpleasant. No Prime Minister or President in Sri Lanka has ever been able to redress the grievances of the Tamil people; nor were they able to keep promises and undertakings. Either they did not have the political will or they got submerged under forces of Sinhala hegemonism. The fact is, there is an underlying reservoir of Sinhala chauvinism that surfaces every time some settlement seems possible. That could assume different faces - opportunist politicians, the greed for power of the party in the opposition, the Buddhist Maha Sangha, the
s
armed forces, war profiteers....'.
Yet, said the publication, the LTTE welcomed Chandrika's election as Prime Minister.
The November issue of the 'Erimalai” in an editorial apparently written just a day or two before Gamini's assassination paid a terse but glowing tribute to Chandrika's courage and steadfastness in “walking through the door of peace that has always been kept wide open by the Tigers to grasp the hands of love extended by the people of Jaffna and the Tigers' despite the unfriendly attitude of the army and India. It further observed that "The main opposition party the UNP is awaiting an opportune moment to express its opposition to the peace initiative. The army has already expressed its hostility and is placing obstacles. Hiding its intention of taking revenge on the Tigers, India fumbles, unable to stop the peace process'.
The atmosphere, then, was most conducive for the second round of talks, Chandrika having secured (or so it seemed) what no Sinhala leader before her could secure - the LTTE's trust in her strictly personal bona fides.
Later like everyone else the LTTE also seems to have been impressed by Chandrika's landslide victory and hence to probably ease things for her came up with the unofficial "hold your fire unless attacked' order - their stand being that since it is the government which in 1990 rejected out of hand their unilateral and officially declared ceasefire, the morall responsibility of declaring one again falls on the government, regardless of who is in power. (On 15.11.94, Balasingham acknow
ledged at a press c( na that the LTTE unofficial ceasefire then there was Ma at Weli Oya two da ham's announcem Col. Sinnathamby ) a fairly senior pe LTTE's field ope) played an import attack on the India Mulliavalai, the ENDLF positions and the attacks Elephant Pass, Pooneryn.
By focusing atte decapitation and si which the LTTE liberate violations gesture, the Tige making a very imp tically: It is corrobo has been building ka's rise to power . tion to bring pea despite her hones will be defeated by in the Army, and Sinhala chauvinism view, remains a co ern politics.
In other words, the Tamils that ev leader can be overy inimical to the T honourable settle publications have that Chandrika, t have to ultimately to these forces.
The Governmen makers asusualse to the political con issue. One can all have begun to cast drika’s Bona Fides doesn't bode well f government that self cash-strapped the LTTE's Jaff nathan' on 21.11 amining in this re
'Is the Chandrik nuinely intereste ethnic problem by solution or is it tI Tamil people like ernment. This is t by the Tamil peopl is nothing wron because after Ch duties as Presider many changes tc they were disap made them ask Chandrika wants

15 DECEMBER 1994
nference in Jaffas observing an for a week). But lli"s decapitation 's after Balasingent. Malli alias Pathmanathan is "son among the atives. He had unt role in the n army camp at inal assault on the same year, on Mankulam, Kokka vil and
ntion on Malli's x other incidents claims were deof their goodwill :r leadership is ortant point polirating the case it p since Chandri— that her intenze to the North ty and sincerity
vested interests that reservoir of in which, in their nstant in South
they are telling en a good Sinhala whelmed by forces amils getting an ment. All their
been predicting hough good, will submit and yield
t and its policyem to be oblivious tent of the whole so see that they doubts on Chanitself now, which or the future of a may soon find itThe editorial of na paper “Eela94 is worth exspect. a Government gein settling the finding a political ying to cheat the he previous Govhe question raised 2 today, and there in asking this andrika assumed (, people expected take place, and pointed and this this question. If o settle the ethnic
problem, she should take steps immediately, otherwise even if she wants to settle the ethnic problem it will not satisfy the people.
"In this respect there are 2 main obstacles for Chandrika, one is from the Army which has enjoyed many powers earlier, and the other is from India which tried to keep Sri Lanka under its influence. In the UNP government, the Sinhala extremists and Buddhist organisations obstructed the settlement of the ethnic problem. These 2 factors have not lost their power but they have only been weakened. Today the Army is in a powerful position. It is not easy to satisfy the army. When Chandrika was appointed as Prime Minister, she tried to settle the ethnic problem, but the army put obstacles. The reason for this is that the Army enjoys many facilities, and many Army officers have become millionaries because of the war. So how can the army agree for cease-fire and bringing the war to an end?
The other obstacle is India and its intelligence agency. They tried to establish their supremacy in Sri Lanka and failed. it was the Liberation Tigers who prevented this. India thinks that Liberation Tigers prevented it from establishing its supremacy in Sri Lanka, and India cannot digest and hence doesn't like Chandrika's government conducting peace talks with the Liberation Tigers.
"If the Chandrika Government is genuinely interested in settling the ethnic problem, it should change the structure of the Army Headquarters, and Sri Lanka being an independent country should not give in to pressure from the Indian government, and for this the Chandrika Government has got the authority and power. Otherwise it will also have to disappoint the Tamil people'.
Some days after this it appeared almost certain that the government was going to send a signal to the north by bringing the security forces command structure under the purview and control of a civilian bureaucrat.
The PA leadership has changed its mind Gen. Wanasinghe remains. The grim prospect of fighting another war is at the back of everyone's mind on both sides. As the blue tint euphoria vaguely dissipates from the war torn lands of the north, the fond hopes of the Tamils will be scattered there, dashed to smitheI'E26elS OIlCE IIOTE.

Page 15
de 15 DECEMBEn 1994
Peace Talks Shoul For Permanent Sol | - TULIF leat
, TULF leader M.Sivasithampram who had wide-ranging discussions with President Chandrika Kumaratunga this week has expressed optimism that she would find a reasonable solution to the ethnic conflict.
'We in the TULF have our own objectives and placed them before Ms. Kumaratunga. I cannot give any details of our talks. She met us alone and so I cannot take it upon myself to reveal details. I and the five TULF MPs who met her had a two hour long discussion in which she gave us a patient hearing and we are happy that she was positively responsive to our requests', Mr. Sivasithamparam said, in a recent interview.
"We are a nation, the Tamil people, and remember we are fighting for equality which we think can be achieved by a federal constitution, the veteran leader said. He sat in front of a large portrait of his slain leader Amirthalingam and said I agree with you we may be seventeen percent of the eighteen million people, and we are not asking for jobs and positions ratio wise.
The burly Mr. Sivasithamparam who had been the target of LTTE attack said 'You think we are euphoric about the Government's talks with the LTTE? We were never euphoric. But judging from facts and the statements made by the President we are hopeful that she will work out a political solution. The lifting of the economic embargo on several items have given us hope, he said.
Q: Was the assassination of Gamini Dissanayake a major Setback to the peace initiative?
A: I don't think so. For one thing, it has still to be proved that the suicide bomber was an LTTE member. You refer to the bombing of a naval ship by the LTTE. These are all different things. Peace talks are not for the LTTE alone. They are talks to find a permanent solution to the problems of the Tamils. The problems confronting the Tamil nation can no longer be ignored. It is this that makes the peace process important.
G: Will the TTE should n prosecution f political perse
A: Let's firs package. These into later. The TULF seeks, i solution that secondly constit which will help al autonomy.
We advocate to be achieved devolution of p Federalism. I a classical form the powers bet the periphery a tiation and dif country.
We also beli volution of pow tive factor, the amendments whereby the l people can be e
For example, state, as the c one cannot ha islative sover through Parlia Parliament i alienating th another body.
UNP
The UNP is li CWC leader M other CWC me the On Accour parliament, inf
The UNP VO on Account wil the governme) parties. The E 130 voting for
The CWC W ment on the U tested under t CWC members UNP could lose ment unless a reme Court is

TAMIL TIMES 15
di Aim ution'' der
TULF agree that the Iot have to face legal Or its excesses or Cution?
t settle the political : things can be looked political package, the s at first a regional
is Federalism and tutional amendments the process of region
regional autonomy by a process of the ower on the basis of m not talking of any of Federalism since ween the centre and re a matter for negofer from country to
eve that for the deers to become a posire should be certain to the constitution rights of the Tamil nshrined.
if there is a unitary onstitution specifies, ve Federalism. Legeignty is exercised ment and at present s prohibited from at sovereignty to f this claim remains,
you cannot give powers to peripheral body.
Also the executive powers of the people rest with the President and the Cabinet of Ministers. In this context, the Chief Minister of the Peripheral Unit cannot have executive powers.
We want to make it clear that once powers are given to the peripheral unit the centre cannot interfere. This is important.
The whole question of jobs and appointments for the Tamil people can then be solved with an autonomous unit administered by them. The peripheral unit will then be responsible for providing jobs and appointments. Only a few appointments may then be given at the centre to the Tamil people.
The Executive Presidency we believe, does not really help in the solving of the Tamil problem. But if the Presidential system is to remain, the TULF calls for a drastic reduction of its powers. The President must not hold any portfolios. He or she must be answerable to Parliament through a Minister. The President cannot be above the law. He or she must be answerable to a court of law for questionable actions.
Also the whole procedure of removing a President by impeachment or a vote of no-confidence must be simplified.
It is now too complicated and that is why the last impeachment motion failed.
I do not know about the other Tamil political parties but as for the TULF our objectives are clear we are fighting for equality.
to Act Against Thondaman
kely to move against r. S. Thondaman and mbers who voted for it Vote on Friday in ormed sources said. ted against the Vote hile the CWC joined nt and other Tamil ill was passed with it and 72 against.
tas elected to parliaNP ticket. They conhe UNP symbol. The if expelled from the their seats in parlian appeal to the Supupheld.
A memorandum of understanding signed between the UNP and CWC before the general elections permits the CWC to function as an independent group in parliament but another clause inhibits either party from taking action which would be mutually derogatory.
Mr. Gamini Dissanayake, then deputy leader of the UNP who signed the memorandum of understanding also included a clause which read that both the CWC and the UNP should work towards strengthening ties between the two parties.

Page 16
16 AML TIMES
A STUDY IN TAMIL BIOG
Thamotharampillai and
by Prof. S. Ratnajeevan H. Hool
The purpose of this article is to point out three general weaknesses in biographies by Tamils of Tamils and to call for better scholarship. The three weaknesses have to do with a tendency to i) boast of the subject, ii) make claims to greatness based on caste and iii) allow religio-nationalism to cloud the biographers' judgment. In particular, we shall take up biographies of C.W. Thamotharampillai' for purposes of drawing conclusions and shall also make occasional references to biographies of Navalar.' Thamotharampillai and Navalar are chosen because, first, much has been written about them of a propagandist nature that is totally inaccurate and needs urgently to be set right because it is taught to school children, and, secondly, this writer has a special interest in them.
Before delving into the three characteristic weaknesses of Tamil biographies, we will briefly review the life of Cirupitty Wyravanathar Thamotharampillai, so that, as Karalasingham says', younger Ceylonese Tamils may know of their heritage and the contributions this man from Jaffna has made to the language. Indeed, it may be said that Thamotharampillai, born on 12 September, 1832, has done more for the Tamil language than any other person from Sri Lanka and that to this date, a century after his death in 1901, his name commands immediate recognition among Tamil scholars anywhere. His contributions — mainly in ferreting out lost Tamil manuscripts through thorough searches including advertisements in the press, comparing the manuscripts found, and publishing them with a commentary — were extensive. The most significant among these was his publication of the Tholkapiyam - Chollathiharam and Porulathiharam on Tamil grammar, the oldest Tamil book in existence. Others include the Sangam works such as Kalith thohai and A ha - nahnooru. It is a measure of tiny Jaffna's role on the intellectual landscape of the time that the first two graduates of Madras University - of whom Thamotharampillai was one - were both from Jaffna and products of Batticotta Seminary, now Jaffna College. Thamotharampillai’s career took him from teacher in the services of the Christian missions, to editor of a church daily in India, to Head of the Tamił Department at Presidency Col
| lege Madras to A
the Madras Tre Judge, in which large earnings to tion of ancient TI was guardian in balam Ramana brother Cooma were studying t
Thamotharam: in which Hindu were dynamica Hinduism was r face of Christian first in direct res Ram Mohan Roy a period that, in Tamil identity, And studies of period such as because we hav them than of ot instructive.
Thamotharaı Winslow Kingsb Cyrus Kingsbu generation Chris Tamil under his his college educa cotta Seminary, taught for some sion and then pl head a mission converted to Sai keep his initial name Cirupitty motharampillai. conversion to Hi his caste-consci rapher says tha ground subject (kindalo"). Cas Christians from to India felt som presumed to assumed traditi names, particul "pillai' and eve Thamotharampi new name, and with Navalar (w forms to Vellala ple as “low-casta Thamotharampi conscious.
Having said th ampillai, we will general weakne raphers. The fi. cerns the unfo proclivity only t(

RAPHIES | Navalar
Accountant General of asury and finally to
capacity he used his continue his publicaamil manuscripts. He India to Sir Ponnamthan and his elder rasamy while they here."
pillai lived in a period ism and Christianity lly interacting, and edefining itself in the missionary challenge, ponse, and then under 's Brahmo Samaj. It is terms of present day nas much to teach us.
great lives of that Thamotharampillai’s, 2 more information of hers, are bound to be
mpillai, or Charles ury, the eldest son of ry who was a first stian, started studying father. After finishing tion in 1852 at Batti* Thamotharampillai years under the misoceeded to Madras to -run daily. there he vism,' and, wishing to s C.W., took on the
Wyravanathar Tha
The reason for his nduism had to do with ousness." One biogt his Christian backed him to teasing te-conscious Jaffna that period who went e discomfort at being be "low-caste', and onal Tamil or Hindu arly with the suffix n converted (as did llai).'.* His choice of
his close association 'ho addressed his “rehs and described peo') also tell us that llai was also caste
his about Thamotharnow turn to the three sses of Tamil biogrst shortcoming contunate Tamil/Indian praise the subject of
15 DECEMBER 1994
the biography. After all, it has been the Tamil/Indian tradition to mention only the good side of the subject, even to the point of exaggeration. This we see in old poetry where the poet's patron, the king, is usually described as being descended from the Moon or the Sun, and his praises go on ad nauseam. It is because of this tendency that few of us know that Gandhi held forth in his newspaper, The Harijan, comparing the intelligence of the lower-castes with that of a cow.' Similarly we find Ramanathan's biographer waffling through Ramanathan's and Coomarasamy's having to quit President College Madras following some scandals. In the same vein, all of Thamotharampillai's biographers shower praises on him for his intellectual attainments, but no critical appraisal of Thamotharampillai the man is in evidence.
It is after all, one of the enjoyable points of reading a biography to see that even great men are in many ways very ordinary persons like ourselves. In this, Thamotharampillai was no exception. His daughter who had stayed behind in Vaddukodai with his Christian brother Appukutti Kingsbury had - on her own wishes - a Christian marriage arranged for her. Thamotharampillai had suddenly turned up from India and the daughter, fearing that the father would put a stop to her marriage, ran out through a hole in the back fence and eloped with her fiancee on a bullock-cart. Missing the daughter, Thamotharampillai started going through each room of the house looking for her, until he came to one room where his niece Sundaram Hemphil,' was breastfeeding her chid. He asked Sundaram where the daughter was, and getting the evasive reply that she must be somewhere about (ungai engaryotham irukka vernum), he promptly assaulted her even as she was breastfeeding. Again, when The Rev. Canon S.S. Somasundaram, a Christian convert from a family closely associated with Thamotharampillai, rejected his ancestral privileges at Maviddapuram Kandaswamy Temple and got married to Ponnammah Hemphil, Thomotharampillai's grandniece, Thamotharampillai was doubly angry with Somasundaram for rejecting Hinduism as well as for marrying Ponnammah. Later when Somasundaram proceeded to Calcutta for his B.A., he was sent to his family friend and new in-law, Thanotharampillai's house in Madras to stop-over. Unknown to Somasundaram, the railway to Calcutta from Madras had just begun the previous week, but it is said that Thamotharampillai hardly spoke

Page 17
15 DECEMBER 1994
to Somasundaram on that visit and intentionally and pettily loaded him on the ship to Calcutta which was considered an arduous and tiring way of getting there. Somasundaram was deeply upset by this when he got to Calcutta and found out about the train.
But Thamotharampillai also had his kind side. Much of this side of his personality reveals itself in his relationship with his son, Francis Kingsbury, Professor of Tamil at University College, Colombo (now the University of Colombo) and an intellectual giant in his own right, having produced numerous books in Tamil as well as English. 19 Stories abound of Thamotharampillai's relationship with Francis; both were stubborn men who did not speak to each other since Francis's refusal to officiate at Hindu rites following his mother's death.
When Thamotharampillai had Fran
cis's frontal hair shaved in the Hindu fashion, Francis went and had his entire head shaved. It is in this relationship that we see Thamotharampillai's kind side. Although he had objections to Francis (something Karalasingham refuses to admit”) he felt a connection to Francis's daughter (Catherine Katpaham Kingsbury) and had given a pair of bangles to her at birth with strict injunctions to Francis's wife that she should not divulge that it was he who had made the gift - he feared that the bangles would be returned by the proud son. According to another story, when Francis became a Christian and walked out of the father's house at 21 and started living with William Miller, a missionary in India, Thamotharampillai, to protect the "family honour', had apparently sent Miller a monthly sum lest it be said that his son was living on charity. Francis was not told because it was assumed that he would walk out of Miller's house too rather than accept his father's largesse.'
Perhaps by the same Tamil tendency to exaggerate the subject's greatness, Mr. Karalasingham also errs in saying that Thamotharampillai looked after his brothers' education, found them jobs, and got them married. Appukutti for one was educated by the mission and employed by the mission as what the Americans called Native Professor of Mathematics at the Batticotta Seminary.” Thamotharampillai did try (not always successfully) to arrange marriages for the others, but
always to Hindus against the family's
wishes. One example of his success, was to the ancestor of Punitham Tiruchelvam, Neelan Tiruchelvam's mother - it is said that Thamotharampillai produced the tali from a drawer
in his house and tie it on his niec,
The second dra raphies arises frc Vellalahs by Vel devious way in duced. Accordin “Thamotharampi illustrious farm typical ploy used phrase "He wa; family'. What is the phraseology class Tamil for tant, but whose v must be mainta sign of class stati being direct. E ironic in that t was rejected by father, Cyrus Ki also the Levin motharampillai 1 the early years Lanka, the Chris against caste. F Rev. Daniel Wils whose diocese in his pastoral lette distinction of ci abandoned deci finally; those wh Christ must giv having really " their former conv and having "put Christ Jesus'. Th enforced throug Because Christi dered important ianity in the new the missions' b girls were cons supplying Christ
We know frc earliest inmates the lower castes from such poor been handed ov their parents). scriptions in old ) Koviah and Pa the students wen mixed bag is clea Vellalah parents with the other ( ing, and ii) the s after the stude) marriage could student. It was America-Ceylon troversial decisi admit only girls have some pro would make sui the boys” in Batt bury, like many time, took his b boarding during

ordered the groom to | l} awback in Tamil biogom the fact they are of lalahs. It concerns the which caste is introg to Karalasingham, llai comes from an ling stock'. Another by biographers is the s from an orthodox meant is obvious. It is of almost every upperwhom caste is imporwestern veneer (which ined at any cost as a us) prevents him from But in this case it is he Vellalah heritage Thamotharampillai’s ngsbury and probably s family that Thamarried twice into. In of Christianity in Sri stians were militantly "or example, the Rt. on, Bishop of Calcutta cluded Ceylon, says in r of 5 July 1833: "The astes, then must be idedly, immediately, o profess to belong to e this proof of their put off", concerning version, “the old man”, on the new man” in is policy on caste was hout his bishopric.” an wives were consiin upholding Christvily Christian homes, oardings schools for idered important in ian brides.
om records that the
at Uduvil were from and poor (some were homes that they had er to the missions by
Others from the derecords were clearly of ndaram orgin.” That e, in terms of caste, a ar from i) objections of to their child's eating children in the boardchool's having to look nt until a Christiam be arranged for the only in 1826 that the Mission took the conon "that they would s of good caste "who perty; such girls as table companions for icotta'. Cyrus Kingsearly Christians of his ride from the Uduvil this time of transi
TAMIMEs' 17
tion. While we know nothing of Mrs. Cyrus Kingsbury's caste background, it is significant that some of the early non-Vellalah inmates of the boarding schools have disappeared into the socalled Christian Vellalah community, and indeed, a good number through reconversion into Hindu families of illustrious farming stock' that need not be named here. The caste antecedents of Jaffna Christians are therefore subject to surmise and conjecture. But we have every reason to believe that Cyrus Kingsbury, like other Christians of his day, militantly rejected caste. Indeed therefore, it is the Kingsbury heritage to find greater dignity in being an out-caste (asangha) untouchable Christian than in the pitiable spectacle of a Sudra Vellalah" arguing for his high status in relation to others. Unlike what his biographers claim, an illustrious agricultural heritage is not the Kingsbury heritage, but rather one that Cyrus’s son, C.W. Thamotharampillai chased after for himself."
The third Tamil weakness of Tamil biographers is to allow their religionational sensibilities to cloud their academic judgment. For instance, few of Arumuga Navalar's biographers, because of his position as a Saivite leader, mention his temper tantrums in assaulting Vaishnavites during debates,' his Vellalah bigotry in putting down those considered lower and so on. We may note that one biography commended to us by no less an authority than the late Professor Kanapathippillai in the foreword, tells us' that the Bible was translated by Navalar (whereas it really involved the revision of a long-existing translation by a team of scholars including the Rev. Pandit Elijah Hoole, a team of which Navalar was but one under the Rev. Percival') and that this translation was praised in India and put into use (whereas after 50 years of use only in Jaffna, it fell into disuse because it was deemed to lack the 'excellences' of the Indian translation'). Another biographer constantly refers to the Bible written by Navalar (“avar eluthiya Bible'). Likewise even men of distinction like Justice H.W. Ta mbia h*“ and Professor S. Pathmanathan" appear to be allowing their nationalism to cloud their objectivity in claiming Navalar to be the father of modern Tamil prose (whereas prose writing was first used on a large and consistent scale much earlier by the Christian missions in their translations of the Bible, tracts and stories'). Even Professor K. Kailasapathy, who places Navalar among the great social reformers of the
Continued on page 18

Page 18
18 TAM TIMES
Continued from page 17
nineteenth century for his work in famine relief in 1876,' appears to suffer from the same blind spot when dealing with issues of religionationalism; for he seems not to be able to see that Navalar was only copying what the missions were already doing through their hospitals and work with the poor, and even that rather selectively; for Navalar distributed food only to Vellalahs and certainly not to those whom he called low-castes during the famine and teaches us in his 4th Palar Padam that Cattiram (gifts and alms) is to be given only to Brahmins and poor Vellalahs."
This tendency becomes obnoxious when Thamotharampillai's Christian heritage is brazenly ignored or played down, and all his biographers, consistently ignore a major period of his life when he worked for the Church for evangelisation in Kopay at a Teacher's Training College. Similarly Francis is called Alahasundaram by all of Thamotharampillai's biographers, a name that was only used at home' and never used by Francis in his numerous publications where he consistently went as Francis Kingsbury. Mr. Karalasingham, after using the name Alahasundaram that few would recognize, at least concedes at the end of the book in a note that Alahasundaram is no other than Francis Kingsbury.' Other biographers simply refer to Francis as Alahasundaram and say no more about him.' One would think that is a simple courtesy to use the name a man chose for himself - not to do so would be like insisting on calling Thanotharampillai "Charles Kingsbury'. Similarly Thamotharampillai's first two wives and the wives of his three brothers, the five Levins sisters, are referred to by the unrecognizable name of Kalingarayar by Karalasingham; again a case of caste legitimization and trying to hide their Christian roots.
Could this playing down of the Christian connection be because it is felt that any hint of his Christian upbringing would, in the minds of the biographers, diminish his Tamilness? This thinking has its roots in the idea expressed by Professor Pathmanathan that "the Hindu tradition, along with the Tamil language, forms the basis of Tamil identity' as though if Thamotharampillai had been a Christian, he could not have been a Tamil. If this idea is to be believed, even Valluvar, most probably a Jain, would not be a Tamil This same thinking appears to be echoed by Justice H.W. Tambiah, the Vice Chairman of the Navalar Commemoration Society, when he says that without Navalar,
what he calls th would have been conversion to Ch of Tamilness.' moved from anin Jainism to an ag ing Saivism that on pain of death property to now ianised, mono-t and egalitarian S little Victorian. Christians or Mu guage has got absorbed a litt Dutch, and is no Anglicised especi surely, the Tal Tamils. Indeed, Race” needed sav asking who sav worked only for whose schools u fused admission depressed castes i) educated thos Thamotharampil literature for us abolition of slav the caste-syste schools to the along the coastal female educatio education) from was in when they lah answer to th but is it warr Perhaps it is ti larship to be less examine why an with some achiev a product of th missionaries hav tified with atti imperialism, but that this was no this was very I early missionar with the coloni worked very m great risk to perhaps time n tury after ind fresh and balar tributions.
Thus we se writing biogral to inexactness view to self adulation, and is sad that e among us wh examined, and our thinking, tendency to se pense of truth this has its rc makes status an important Jaffna family means to clai

15 DECEMBER 1994
amil “Race” (inam) stroyed, as though tianity meant loss "he Tamils have n to Buddhism and essively proselytismanded conversion und confiscation of more sober, Christistic, monogamist vism that is even a Some Tamils are ms. The TamillanSanskritised, has Portuguese and getting thoroughly lly in speech. But ils do survive as at all the "Tamil ng, one cannot help d it: Navalar who the Vellalahs and til recent years reto those from the Or the missions that like Navalar and ai, ii) discovered our iii) worked for the ry and undermined m, iv) opened the lepressed, especially belt, and v) advanced n (let alone male the abysmal state it ' arrived?9 The Vellahis is to be expected; anted by evidence? me for Tamil schoVellalah-centric and Tamil of that period ement was invariably missions. Christian e at times been idenudes of racism and the evidence suggests generally so and that uch less true of the es who were at odds I administration and ch for the people at eir own lives. It is w, almost half a cenendence, to take a ed look at their con
that the Tamils in ies have a proclivity nd fuzziness, with a Florification, selfelf-congratulation. It in those best minds have been trained, rtified to be logical in unnot overcome this promotion at the exine wonders whether in our culture that one-upmanship such ing in life — every
is said, tries every
higher caste status,
so much so that the proportion of Vellalahs has risen from 30% in 1790 when the Dutch conducted a census to roughly a half today, and an unbelievable number of families claim to be descended from the Aryachakaravarthis of Nallur. These figures tie in with how the early so-called low-caste Christians disappeared into Vellalah Christian and indeed Hindu Vellalah families, and demonstrate that even Saivite claims to Vellalah status are as dubious and spurious as Christian ones.
Although one would like to distance oneself from Lord Micauley, one cannot but be reminded in this context of his now famous and acerbic minute about our 'false history, false astronomy, false metaphysics, during the great debate about whether Indians should be educated in English or the vernacular. Do we then dismiss Macaulay as a racist and go on as we are, or, do we reassess and correct ourselves so as to prove Macaulay wrong?
* S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole is a Professor of Engineering and an Adjunct Professor of the Humanities and Social Sciences at Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, CA 91711, USA.
Notes.
1. S. Karalasingham, Life of Rau Bahadur C. W. Thamotharampilai, Madras, 1993.
2. K. Muthukumaraswamyppilai, C.V. Thamotharampilai - Kawithirattu, Pulavaraham, Chunnakam, 1974.
3. Manonmani Sharumugathas, Navalar and Thamotharampillai, in "Navalar Centenary Issue”, Sri La Sri Arumugamavalar Sabai, Colombo 7, 1979.
4. Varathar, Navalar, Sri la Sri Arumuganavalar Sabai, Colombo 7, 1979.
5. Navalar Centenary Issue, Sri la Sri Arumuganavalar Sabai, Colombo 7, 1979.
6. Thamotharampillai belonged to the Kingsbury family founded by this writer's great-great-great-grandfather Cyrus Kingsbury, Thamotharampillai's father. Besides, both Thamotharampillai in his publication work, and the Rev. Elijah Hoole - a Tamil Pandit from Point Pedro who founded the Hoole family - in revising the Tamil translation of the Bible under the Rev. Percival, worked intimately with Navalar. All information here on Elijah Hoole is from File No. C. CE 071/1-12 on The Rev. Fr. Elijah Hoole, Church Missionary Society Archives, University of Birmingham.
7. M. Vythilingam, The Life of Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan, Colombo, 1971, pp.82-3. -
8. Said to be the first modern educational institution in Asia up to tertiary level. The reputation of the college may be measured by the statement of Sir Charles Trevelyan, Governor of Madras, that he found no young men so useful to him in the administration of affairs as those trained in the college (Seminary) at Jaffna'. P. 140 of

Page 19
15 DECEMBER 1994
Mary and Margaret Leitch, Seven Years in Ceylon: Stories of Missionary Life, American Tract Society, New York 1890 (Reprint by Navrang, New Delhi, 1993).
9. Such conversions upon going to India appear to have been common. For we find
the missions arguing on this basis for
greater funds from the US and England for increasing the in-take so as to permit their
students to continue their studies at terti
ary level without having to go to India. Out
of every 20 completing English high school
in Jaffna, only 2-3 found a place at Batticot
ta. The others had to go to India for college
education. See Leitch and Leitch, 1890, p.
147.
10. Source: Thamotharampillai's great
grand-daughter, Lila Solomon (nee Kadir
gamar) of Australia.
11. Manonimani Shanmugathas, p. 131.
12. It is interesting that names like Samuel and Kingsbury (and indeed Hoole) are generally not considered Tamil when carried by Tamils, while Sanskrit names are. Although we may today be somewhat used to the latter, it was not always so. I know of one Dushyanthi and a Wijeyanathan whose grandmother even today finds their names a mouthful, saying Thusiyanthi and Visiyanathan to the horror of
her grand-children. This process of con
tinually adopting Sanskritic mores to rise higher in the caste order - a well documented process that sociologists call Sanskritisation - becomes ridiculous when names are commonly given without even knowing their meaning. Examples are "Shobana' (the beauty of a woman from the blooming of her body with sexual activity),
and "Menaka' (the nymph who seduces men
- the most famous of her stories concerns Sita’s father, King Devarata, who saw Menaka in the sky and ejaculated as he
... imagined union with her; and as his seed
fell into a furrow on the earth, the earth conceived and gave birth to Sita, the furrow — Ramayana 1:65-66.)
13. Dagmar Hellmann-Rajanayagam, Arumuka Navalar: Religious Reformer or National Leader of Eelam”, The Indian Economic and Social History Review, Vol. 26, No. 2, 1989.
14. The Harijan, Dec. 19, 1936: The context was the evangelization of the lower castes by the Rev. Dr. Mott. See Duncan Forrester, Caste and Christianity, Curzon Press, London, 1980, p. 179: Gandhi's attitude was perhaps betrayed when he advised a missionary to pray for the Harijans but not to try to convert them because they did not have quoting Gandhi from the Harijan) "the mind and intelligence to understand what you talked... would you preach the Gospel to a cow?'
Gandhi makes it worse in a later issue by justifying this saying that it is no insult since he worships the cow, c.f. Gandhi's statement quoted in The Guardian (Madras) of 7 Jan. 1937: "To approach the Palavas and Pariahs with their palsied hands and palsied intelligence is no Christianity'.
Nonetheless, Gandhi did help the lower castes in the sense of one arguing: Dogs are dogs, but treat them kindly.
15. Vythilingam (p. 87) says the sons were recalled to Ceylon by their father. But
it is said that they following an incid
16. This writer
17. Source: Sul son, George D formerly headed nical Engineerin Colombo in the 1:
18. Source: Jee Canon Somasund
19. National M 1941, by his studi
20. But there motharampillai w related by Ber Kingsbury (Thal who went as Benj Malaya) to his ( Alfreds of Singa always had a gun shooting Francis come home. He cause not only hac ian, but he was a activity. Thamotl wards Francis is Karalasingham (. Francis was left enough money of reported by Mrs. bury Vijaya - Francis or his ( claim his extensi nounced Christial ism. Kingsbury V; this and claim th daughters, but he
2. It was af Francis named hi bury.
22. He was one the seminary. A approximately a Foreign Professor and Leitch, 1890.
23. It is widely ted within the Ta those claiming cas in a once pure re about dissuading rying outside th checking caste ( marriages. Even Christians do this, this pretence to Professor C. Su involvement in youth organisatio fenberger, came t 'caste fanatic' in so-called low-caste puram temple. ("F Indigenous Minor ism in Sri Lanka Asian Scholars, W 18&21.).
24. J. Bateman son, John Murray
25. Schwartz of sion of one woma than of six men'. Harrison, Uduvil. Tellippalai, 1925.
26. Sir James E ianity in Ceylon, 1850; p. 160. The

TAM TIMES I 19
had no choice but to quit nt involving exams. s great-grand mother. daram Hemphil's grandSomasundaram, who he Department of Mechag, University of Ceylon,
50s. vamany Hoole, The Rev. aram’s daughter.
emorial Issue, Colombo, 2nts on his demise. is little doubt that Thaas angry with Francis. As jamin Vijayayaratnam notharampillai's nephew amin Kingsbury Vijaya in laughter Gnanapoopathy
pore, Thamotharampillai ,
at home saying it was for with should he chance to was especially angry beFrancis become a Christ
lso engaged in missionary
harampillai's attitude toalso clear from his will. Note 1) simply says that out of it because he had his own. But - also as Alfreds, quoting Kingsthe will stipulated that christian relatives could ve properties if they rehity and returned to Saivjaya had been asked to do he properties for his four
politely declined.
ter William Miller that s eldest son Willy Kings
of the first graduates of Native Professor was paid third of what a married was paid. P. 144 of Leitch
known but rarely admitmil community that even te to be a later aberration ligion, would quietly set their relatives from mareir caste and carefully :redentials in arranging
the so-called Vellalah A well known example of galitarianism is the late ntheralingam who after an anti-caste Gandhian in, according to B. Pfafo be remembered as the physically preventing the is from entering Maviddaourth World Colonialism, ities And Tamil Separat', Bulletin of Concerned Wol. 16, No. 1, 1984; pp.
, The Life of Daniel Wil, London, 1860, p. 438. Travancore: The converun is of more importance Quoted on p. 4 of M.H. 1824-1924, ACM Press,
Emerson Tennent, ChristLondon: John Murray, Rev. Dr. D.T. Niles was
one of the few persons to speak with pride in his sermon about the first Niles's wife who was given by her poor mother to a missionary lady. In another case, a girl who sheltered at the mission house during a storm took bread and bananas from the missionary. The parents thereupon felt the girl was polluted and unfit for marriage and asked the missionary to look after her. See p. 118 of Leitch and Leitch, 1890.
27. The Koviahs are household cooks ritually equal to the Wellalahs and probably the descendants of Sinhalese agriculturists captured in war. The Pandarams are temple cooks.
28. So great must have been the attendant financial burden that the decision was taken that "the girls must be induced to accept the first eligible offer of marriage'. Harrison, 1925, p. 12.
29. Harrison, 1925, p. 12. The issue of property arose because the girls were married off by the mission with a dowry of 50
Rix Dollars. Note that The Church Mission
ary Society's boarding school for girls at Nallur - later moved to Chundikuli - was not ready until 1842.
30. Except for the Vellalahs themselves, all authorities agree that they are Sudra. For a complete listing of authorities who say the Vellalahs are Sudra, see S.R.H. Hoole, "The Tamils: The Problem of Identity and Religion', Indian Church. History Review, Vol. XXXVI, No. 2. pop, 88-135, 1992.
3. The claims of today's Tamil Christians to caste-status have their parallels in similar claims by the descendants of the original Buddhists who rejected caste.
32. Varathar, pp. 13-4; this propaganda is widely taught in schools.
33. See testimonials in File No. C. CE 071/1-12 on The Rev. Fr. Elijah Hoole, Church Missionary Society Archives, University of Birmingham. Also Sir James Emerson Tennent (Christianity in Ceylon, London: John Murray, 1850; p. 174) makes clear that The Rev. P. Percival, "the best English Tamil scholar in Ceylon' was in charge of and engaged in 'a revision of the Tamil Version of the Scriptures'.
34. Sabapathy Kulandran, The Word, Men and Matters, Institute for the Study of Religion and Society, Jaffna, 1987. 35. Saminathaiyar, U.V., p. 62. 36. H.W. Tambiah, p. ii of Note 5.
37. S. Pathmanathan, "The Hindu Society in Sri Lanka: Changed and Changing', in J.R. Carter (Ed.), Religiousness in Sri Lanka, Marga Institute, Colombo (n.d.). See p. 153.
38. The Jesuit Fr. Robert de Nobili (Tatuva Podagar Swami, who died in 1656) is regarded as the father of Tamil prose (D. Rajarigam, The History of Tamil Christian Literature, The Christian Literature Society, Madras, 1958, p. 19).
39. K. Kailasapthy, The Cultural and Linguistic Consciousness of the Tamil Community in Sri Lanka, Punitham Tiruchelvam Memorial Lecture, New Leela Press, Colombo, 1982. p. 5.
40. Hellman-Rajanayagam, 1989, p. 242 of Note 13.
Continued on page 20

Page 20
20 TAM MES
"HE SUB-CONTINENTAL
Ayodhya, Seshan and
by T.N. Gopalan
Call it their inability to overcome the shock of the end of the Muslim dynasty or the result of the malicious manipulations of the erstwhile British rulers, the Muslims in India generally suffer from a siege mentality.
The misplaced panderings to the sensibilities of the more reactionary elements among the Muslims by successive governments, both at the Centre and in the states, and the resulting Hindu backlash have made the community feel more and more isolated and even persecuted.
The outrageous demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya on December 6 1992 only confirmed their worst fears. From then on it has been one continuous down-the-hill slide for them, despite the spontaneous show of solidarity by the saner sections among the Hindus, what with the recurring riots and
the propensity of the country, under the lead Narasimha Rac Hindutva strate cut the ground of the communa
It was in such
judgement of t declining to de whether the Bal erected on the
temple and decl: could not be hu over the controv of the two cont Hindus or the cuiting the norm to serve the inte ment of the day fresh air. The have been reassl secularism of t need for cultivat
Continued from page 19
41. This writer's mother addressed him as Alahuth-thahtha.
42. In Karalasingham's embarrassment of writing of negatives, there is only veiled reference to Francis's trial at the Pasumali Church where he was priest, conducted by
Dr. Larson, Principal of Bangalore Theolo
gical College and consequent defrocking of Francis for his view - developed during his tenure as British Army Chaplain in Mesapotamia in the early 1920s as a result of reading German thinkers - that Jesus was a man. It was subsequent to this that he joined the university in Colombo.
43. S. Pathmanathan, (n.d.), p. 158 (Note 37).
44. This has been dealt with at length in S.R.H. Hoole, 1992 - see Note 30 - in response to claims at several public meetings and the Saturday Review by N. Satyendra that Tamil and Saivism are one. 45. It is indeed ironic that Justice Tambiah of all persons, whose then minor son at St. Thomas's College chose Sinhalese as his second language over Tamil, should lament the death of the "Tamil Race'.
46. R.C. Majumdar, Ancient India', Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1960; p. 428.
47. With Parvati even donning a blouse in recent years to address Victorian sensibilities.
48. There appear to be parallels between how the Tamils absorbed Vedic Hinduism and Sanskrit a millennium ago, and what is
happening with C. now. The Christial monogamy and equ precarious accepta and, with English, at a similar stage learned Tamils th liberally in their s status. It remains would in time be as Sanskrit is.
49. According t Meigs, writing in 1 2-3 girls in Jaffna second in Udupitty never saw) who Parents refused to school saying that her modesty, endar rendered her insubc Harrison, 1925 (N Emerson Tennent London: John Murr that the few who col (temple prostitutes chastity would not the temple manage to read and writes transcribe temple r patient efforts by female education ac
50. B. Pfaffenbur struction of Defen 1968 Temple-Entry Lanka", J. Asian St. citing Banks, 1960,
51. No family in mixed caste/race bli
 

15. DECEMBER god
Muslims
the largest party in avowedly secular, 2rship of Mr. P.V. , to adopt a soft egy purportedly to from under the feet
BJP.
a context the recent he Supreme Court ecide the question pri Masjid had been
ruins of a Hindu aring that judiciary ustled into handing rersial site to either ending parties, the Muslims, short cirtal channels in order 'rests of the govern, came as a whiff of Muslims seemed to ured of the essential he polity, and the ing the Muslim vot
ing bank in the elections to various state Assemblies was (and is) a comforting thought, as it were.
However, the one and only T.N
Seshan, the Chief Election Commissioner is threatening to set the clock back again by indirectly asking the Muslims in some sensitive states like Bombay to "prove' their citizenship in order to become eligible to vote in the polls.
The Presidential reference (at the instance of the Rao government) on the Ayodhya issue was a scarcely concealed attempt to work on the majority community sentiments - if only the Supreme Court would come out with a finding that a temple had indeed existed on the site on which the Masjid was subsequently erected, the government could gleefully throw the blame on the court and go ahead with building the Ram temple at the disputed site and go on to reap an electoral harvest, it was hoped.
The very fact that though the President's Rule was imposed in Uttar Pradesh immediately after the mosque was demolished, it took more than 30 hours for the central armed forces to take over the site -
hristianity and English n ideas of monotheism, ality among men have a nce in Hinduism now the Tamils appear to be
to Sanskrit when the rew in Sanskrit words beech to prove a higher
to be seen if English naturalised in Tamil as
o the missionary Mr. 816, he could find only (one in Alavetty, the and the third whom he could read and write. send a female child to earning to read 'spoiled gered her chastity and rdinate to the other sex' ote 25); p. 4 Sir James Christianity in Ceylon, ay, 1850; p. 156) tells us uld read were Devadasis whose modesty and have been of concern to 's) who had been taught o as to enable them to music. It took long and the mission to have cepted. ger, “The Political Consive Nationalism: The Crisis in Northern Sri dies, 49 (1), 1990, p. 82, pp. 73-74. Jaffna can deny having ood. It is an interesting
fact that even families that consider thenselves high-caste pride themselves in any light complexion and light eyes (Poonaikkan) that may run in the family without thinking of the origin. It is well documented that in Kerala, from where many Jaffna immigrants came (and at least a trace must surely remain in every Jaffna family), the Nambudiri Brahmin exercised "The Right of the First Night” (Jus Primae Noctis) by taking the Sudra bride home to bed on the wedding night, up to the early years of this century. Here Sudra includes the Vellalahs - Note 30. Other reasons for light skin among Tamils are the immigrants from Persia and Arabia to Kerala through the centuries as well as Roman settlers in ancient times in Tamil Nadu and Kerala who have disappeared into the population. It is noted that in strict Hindu law, anyone of mixed caste is not half this and half that, but untouchable (asangha). Those Tamnils who are of light skin or light eyes who do not wish to accept this explanation, must look to the Portuguese, Dutch and English for one. European colonialists did have children through Tamils (Portuguese mixture in an area around Changilithoppu and in some families is visibly evident from the blue and reddish brown eyes). This writer knows of one well-established Saivite family of "impeccable Wellalah credentials that has a Dutch ancestor who is carefully hidden away. However, the extent of mixture remains to be investigated. But unfortunately, because of the status implications and because the very families that know will be those least likely to speak out, the subject will remain uninvestigated for some years.

Page 21
15 DECEMBER 1994
A MAASSSMSAM BB BeSMSLMqeAqA SAAAASAAS MeAeMqMS gqSqAMSHS qS S
enough time for the Hindu zealots to finish the construction of a makeshift temple - was clear enough an indication that the secular credentials of the Rao regime were suspect. More was to follow. Regular worship at the temple was allowed, the site and its adjoining area was acquired, a government-sponsored trust of Hindu sants floated to oversee the construction of a full-fledged temple and Mr. Rao himself conveniently went back on his solemn promise on the floor of the House (of Lok Sabha) to have the mosque rebuilt on the very site on which the Babri Masjid had stood.
Especially with Assembly elections in Mr. Rao's home state of Andhra Pradesh – and in neighboursing Karnataka - only a few weeks away an Amen would have proved a tremendous morale booster for him. But the Supreme Court bluntly
refused to oblige.
It, however, by a majority of three to two, upheld the validity of the Ayodhya Land Acquisition Act, 1993 dealing with the acquisition of about 67 acres of land at Ayodhya including the site where the Masjid had stood - but there was a catch. If the Court had only declined to answer the reference even while upholding the Acquisition Act, it would have enabled the Centre to claim that the courts might not want to get involved in sensitive communal issues, but a government could not afford to do so; and when the Acquisition Act had been upheld, anyway there was already a temple on the site, a trust of respected
sants. . . .
But the Court struck down Section 4(3) of the Act - dealing with the abatement of all legal proceedings in respect of the acquired land in the lower courts - there are at least 22 cases and 40 issues title suits and connected proceedings which will now revive. Such an abatement without providing for an alternative dispute resolution mechanism was an extinction of the judicial remedy and amounted to negation of rule of law and hence unconstitutional and invalid, the
court ruled.
The real magnitude of the implications of this ruling will become clear when one learns that the Allahabad High court has been sitting on the main Ayodhya suit - as to who owns the disputed site and other related cases for the last four decades and more. There is no knowing when these will ever be disposed of.
There is also an ring all those cas Court through a in the parliamen transfer could be courts. Driving th further into a col Court confined it statutory receive would hold the trust till the fin the matter. No Sr in the interim, th warned.
And so the issu one. The BJP is t taking Ayodhyab court, meaning
emotions, stirring
But then the pas down over a pe demolition frenzy down, and right ir tion has been tak lines. The Hindu softer or tougher be losing its vote court's punch to reinforce this trer
Well there are The Court has all at the make-shift tinued on the gro of the majority c not be compromis cern that conside Hindu pantheon h into the mosque in chain reaction, a temple came up was razed to the majority judgeme taken a rather le not a holistic or returning the answered.
All the same 1 indeed a blow for s communalists hav their tracks.
And now Mr. T to be all set to st nest all over again Maharashtra are the Election Comr them to prove the before voting in tl tions early next y
As part of the list and during the photo identity car stations have issu ters to prove the manding they proc certificate, a pass certification or an an entry in the Na Citizens.

option of transferes to the Supreme
special legislation t, but even such a
challenged in the e Rao government rner, the Supreme s role to that of a r and declared it disputed area in al adjudication on hide manipulations e Centre has been
e is back to square alking in terms of lack to the people's
rousing people's trouble all round. ssions have cooled riod of time, the has almost died the U.P. polarisaing place on caste tva plank, of the
variety, seems to 'r appeal, and the the Centre should ld.
some weaknesses. lowed the worship temple to be conund that the right 'ommunity should ed. A moving conring that idols of ad been smuggled 1949, setting offa nd the make-shift after the mosque ground. And the nt seems to have galistic view and secular view in reference un
the judgement is secularism and the e been stopped in
.N. Seshan seems ir up the hornets' n. The Muslims of up in arms since mission has asked ir citizenship first he Assembly elecea. revision of voters' process of issuing "ds, several police led notices to voir citizenship deluce either a birth port, a citizenship extract showing tional Register of
TAM TIMES 21
SSLqSqALS0LSLTkLkTLTkSL SLLSLSMSSgA S qALASSSAAS AAAAALASS
Now police stations have issued about five lakh notices in this regard. Though several Hindus too have received them, it looks like the Maharashtra exercise is aimed at targeting the Muslims especially, "as though the government and the election machinery believe Mr. Bal Thackeray's version that Muslims are anti-national and hence we are not citizens and if we are, then we have to prove it, as agitated Muslim leaders have been quoted as saying in some press reports.
What if such documents could not be produced in the short time demanded of them? Would they have to lose their franchise when they had been voting all these years without any hassle?
The Election Commission had apparently issued such a directive in view of the large-scale presence of illegal immigrants in some border states. Though there are some Bangladeshi illegal migrants in Bombay, nowhere are they in such large numbers as to force virtually a fourth of the community to prove their citizenship.
And why of all the wings of administration should the police be entrusted with such a sensitive task? Is it an attempt to intimidate them?
After the Masjid demolition and the riots in Bombay and the ghastly serial explosions, the communal situation in the state has become very vitiated and the police is generally seen as anti-Muslim - the large number of Muslim TADA detenus se e m e d t o confirm such apprehension. In such a context asking the police to verify the citizenship was nothing but inviting trouble.
While the Maharashtra government sought to make out that it was only acting under instructions from the Election Commission, the latter retaliated saying that it was all a blatant misrepresentation of the Commission's instructions and that the government had botched it up by objectionable procedures and hamhanded work.
It is true that the Maharashtra government cannot escape the blame. But the fact remains that it was Mr. Seshan who had started it all. The People's Movement for Secularism, the Secular Initiative and the Friends for Education have accused Mr. Seshan of pandering to the BJP-led campaign about the 'substantial presence of foreign
Continued on page 23

Page 22
22 TAMIL TIMES
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Continued from page 21
nationals, illegal migrants from Bangladesh in Assam and Delhi’.
A joint statement from those organisations pointed out that Mr. Seshan had been involved in a running battle with the Assam government on the number of foreigners in the state, an explosive issue in that area. Even in Delhi a large number of Muslims were dropped from the voters' list in an exercise not very long ago.
They pointed out that Mr. Seshan was only trying to arrogate to himself powers which the Constitution never conceived of delegating to him. But then that is un character. A la Mr. Pandian, a former Speaker of the Tamil Nadu Assembly, Mr. Seshan has been claiming, even if not in so many words, that sky is the limit of his powers. And worse he is not free from a communal bias.
He is a regular visitor to Sankara Mutt in Kancheepuram and did not hesitate in using industrialist Dhirubvhai Ambani's plane to airdash on the death of the senior pontiff of the mutt. It is not just a question of devotion. As can be seen from a recent observation of his - 'I believe that anybody who calls himself an
Indian is a Hindu. . . . We have lost sight of this very fundamental principle in our lives. . . .''. Very much a
statement from the Muslims.
And now Mr. Seshan has latched on to a statement from the Union Welfare Minister Sitaram Kesri advocating reservations in jobs for the Muslims and has demanded that he be sacked from the cabinet.
While Mr. Sitaram Kesri was only playing to the gallery, the Commissioner's reaction smacks not just of arrogance but also of insensitivity - like when he reacted banning Urdu news bulletin in Karnataka when the issue had become communalised.
Some fundamentalist Muslim leaders like the notorious Syed Ahmed Bukhari, Imam of the Jama Masjid, New Delhi are now trying to rally the Muslim opinion against the Cong-I in the current round of elections. One has to wait and see where will all this lead the nation to. But when you have a Prime Minister who would reverentially touch the feet of a Shankaracharya with his head in public and a Chief Election Commissioner who speaks the language of Hindu zealots, things are not obviously very rosy.
Ms. Jayalalitha through yet ano phase, what w Court ordering h immediately com to create additi medical course sion of more no candidates and t leaders torpedoi have an alliance Karnataka with the ties and wi elections in this hence.
While the India been amended in 69 per cent res government jobs institutions, an state Assembly included in the placing it beyond scrutiny, the Su decreed that as admissions to COUSeS Were CO Would haveto con cent-ceiling norr reservations for t ses — which mean medical course 6 to be filled up fr petition. Though candidates on thi for these additio as 26 are from t ses, the Oppositic of this arranger compromising or reservation norm of the BCs.
The AIADMK med and hawed offend the court giving in on an survival of the B( postpone the ine clarification afte: the court. Now t that its earlier with failing whic State governme themselves befor non-implementat
At the time of were that the AI line. How the I reacts and wha
 

TAMILTIMES 23
NADU NEWSLETTER
litha's Discomfitures
by T.N. Gopalan
seems to be going ther disconcerting th the Supreme er government to ply with its orders onal seats in the acilitating admisn-Backward Class he state Congress ng her moves to with the Cong-I in a view to reviving h an eye on the
state two years
in Constitution has order to provide for ervation in state and educational act passed by the to this effect was
Ninth Schedule, the pale of judicial preme Court has s far as 1994-95 the professional ncerned, the state form to the 50-pern in the case of he Backward Clasit in the case of the 2 more seats have om the open comeven of the 62 merit list eligible hal seats, as many ne Backward Clasn would have none ment as it means the 69 per cent , a hard won right
government hum, would not dare nor like to be seen issue "vital to the 2s' and so sought to vitable by seeking clarification from he latter has ruled orders be complied h the officials of the nt must present it and explain the ion of the order.
writing, indications ADMK would fall in MK-led opposition t if the Supreme
Court ultimately quashes the Constitutional amendment itself are questions for which no ready answers are available. What is clear is that this would continue to prove a thorny issue for quite sometime to (20[[ì62.
But the major blow to her was the decision of the Cong-I not to have any truck with the AIADMK In the Karnataka Assembly elections. Surely the AIADMK is no big force there. At best there are a few Tamildominated constituencies where its support could prove vital to the Cong-I, especially so when its prospects are not all that bright. And it was the Karnataka Chief Minister, Mr. Veerappa Moily who is reported to have initiated the move for an alliance, but Ms. Jayalalitha responded enthusiastically.
She could have hoped that in the context of Prime Minister's readily extending her a helping hand on the reservation issue, pushing through the necessary constitutional amendment, and the vital stakes he had in the Karnataka and A.P. elections, he would grab the hand of friendship. But you can always trust her to spoil her own case by displaying overweening arrogance at the . most inopportune moments.
First she had the Speaker of the Tamil Nadu Assemby, Sedapatti R. Muthiah refuse to declare the six Cong-I MLAs despatched expelled from the party as unattached. President of the party Mr. Narasimha Rao himself should write to him on the matter. A letter from the General Secretary Mr. Janardhan Poojari would not do, he said.
These six MLAs have, it may be recalled here, openly aligned themselves with the AIADMK, in í. - rant violation of the party line. It was only with a great lot of difficulty the state unit of the Cong-I managed to persuade the High Command to expel them from the party. The decision was also duly communicated to the Assembly Speaker.
Obviously the Speaker's decision only means half a door is kept open for a possible reversal of the expul
Continued on page 24

Page 24
24 TAMIL TIMES
Continued from page 23
sion decision and corollarily for revival of the alliance.
Obviously Ms. Jayalalitha is still hoping to build bridges with the Cong-I high command over the heads of the state unit leaders as has been pointed out in earlier despatches.
It was perhaps this attitude which made her arrogantly and impulsively order Union Minister of State for Industries M. Arunachalam out of an aircraft in which she flew from Madurai to Madras.
Apparently the service, operated by a private firm and meant for the general public, had been specially converted into an exclusive flight for her and her minions for the occasion. Unaware of the development Mr. Arunachalam, a Moopanar loyalist, stepped into the aircraft, duly greeted her, took his seat only to be brusquely turned out by a police official, of course acting under the Chief Minister's instructions.
If the fact that he had failed to argue his case - he had been booked on that flight and the airlines had a moral obligation - or stand his ground but meekly walked out showed him in a poor light, the meanness of the Chief Minister's action was even more appalling. That the Minister was a Dalit lent the episode even more lurid colours.
It was in the light of these developments that Mr. Vazhapadi K. Ramamurthy could prevail on the High Command not to have any truck with the AIADMK since by doing so it would be sending wrong signals to the people of Tamil Nadu. Mr. Rao ultimately fell in line.
Annoyed the AIADMK announced that it would be contesting four seats in Karnataka and three in A.P., just to spite the Congand spoil its chances wherever possible. The TNCC-II has launched a one-crore signature campaign demanding the ouster of the Jayalalitha regime. And so the show goes O.
For an update on the controversy relating to the biography of Mr. T.N. Seshan, yet another interim injunction has been granted, this time on the ground that the book seeks to cast apersions on MGR.
Mr. Seshan narrates in a chapter how MGR sought to favour a sick private firm at the cost of the state exchequer and how Mr. Seshan the then Industry Secretary to the state,
tried in vain to blo how subsequently . out of the departm litha found the refe and moved the Mac once again. No less former Attorney G. saran is appearing ( Mr. Justice K. Ra recently appointed Court bench, also foi in question “unbecor office of the Electio but also in bad ta question of freedon was raised, the Jud the book would ha consequence had it an Opposition lead CEC, oh, no, it was
The Court was ind book was already minus the controve Mr. Annadurai. No please. And so yet tion was slapped ont is freely available in is another story.
ΤΑΟΑ
In another deve Neduchezhian, a Ta professor from Trich
The ROU
This is a postscript articles appearing i Observer headlined ". for peace' (11.11.94). gers” (9.10 part), “Let chance!" (War Monge In all these articles I punches against com racists, viz. — K.M.P. Jayasuriya, Gamani Cyril Mathew. This responsible for the m the TULF and rise of its leader Prabhakar ple, I would call the “ of yesteryear.
The second genera was of more recent ( to give credence and the local Klu Klux K themselves in differe an ideologicalaura to tions. They were the thaniya led by Dr. G asekera and quonc Nalin de Silva. Then Urumaya' of Dr. Ne Tilak Karunaratne, la. Dinesh Gunawar

k the deal, and e was shunted nt. Ms. Jayalarences offensive ras High Court a person than neral K. Paran her behalf.
mamurthy, only to the High und the passage hing of the high Commissioner ste”. When the of expression ge retorted that ve been of no been written by er, but from a oo much
ormed that the in circulation sial chapter on fait accompli, another injunche book. That it the book stalls
\
lopment, Mr. Lmil nationalist y and a strong
15 DECEMBER 1994
Tamil nationalist, has been detained under the TADA, allegedly because a member of an obscure Tamil extremist group, co-accused in a crime. of seeking to waylay a person while he was returning from a bank in Thanjavur district sometime ago, reportedly told the police that he had developed Tamil nationalist convictions because of the inspiration from Prof. Nedunchezhian.
The detention has been widely condemned and there was a one-day token fast in the city on November 8. to condemn such detentions and demand the repeal of the Act. Mr. P. Nedumaran, a well-known votary of : the LTTE, presided, but the programme participants were drawn from a wide range of political opinions.
(Incidentally the TADA, is not a preventive detention law as might be misunderstood from a despatch from this correspondent in the October issue. A connecting paragraph between the remarks on preventive detention laws and on those draconian measures aimed at preventing crimes against the State was inadvertently left out. TADA is invoked only after a crime is committed. The error is regretted.)
t of the War Mongers
by Amaradasa Fernando
to my earlier n the Sunday The last chance "The war mon's give peace a irs 11 — 30.10). did not pull my munalists and Rajaratne, F.R. Jayasuriya and was directly larginalising of 'the LTTE and an. These peovintage' racists
tion of racists rigin. In order
respectability, laners cloaked nt garbs giving their organisa“Jathika Chinunadasa Ameram Professor here was ‘Hela ville Fernando, nd Niyathapaiena stands in
splendid isolation, as he wants to parade an anti-UNP radicalism. This pose of radicalism comes as an incubus from his father. Alas!, both had been infected with the virus of racialism.
In the Presidential Election, it was significant that Dinesh Gunawardena's MEP was neutral in the deadly struggle between the PA and the UNP. I am sure that this gentleman would be more comfortable like the father who in his last years experimented with the UNP.
The high falutin” Sinhalaya Maha Sammathaye Boomiputra Party', was really a mad hatter's murderous gang. The first time it surfaced was when we saw one of its members contesting under its party flag in the parliamentary general election of August '94. He was the same man who served a prison sentence for the attempted murder with a rifle butt of Rajiv Gandhi, when he was reviewing the guard of honour, given to him when he came to sign the Indo-Lanka Pact of 1987.
The Bhoomi Putrayas who con

Page 25
15 DECEMBER 1994
tested only in the Hambantota District got a miserable 247 votes. In the Presidential, they improved their performance by getting 1000 votes in the Hambantota District. Dr. Harishchandra Wijetunge, its President contested the Presidential Election losing his deposit, but crawling to 32,651 votes islandwide, with a percentage of 0.43.
He appeared on TV after his crushing defeat, on the same evening of the election result and had the effrontery to say clownishly, that though his party was comparatively new, the country had endorsed his views! Then there were two wellknown journalists of whom, Dayan Jayatilleke has become a recent recruit to the ranks of the war mongers.
Double game
In a recent television debate on TNL he said that if necessary we should go on fighting the LTTE for the next years Dayan is not a racialist as far as I know, but he has a chip on his shoulder, concerning Chandrika Kumaratunga, who he accuses of having betrayed her husband Vijaya.
: A Sinhala journalist Edmond Ranasinghe, til recently the Editor of the Divayina another inveterate racialist and war monger was another one of the powerful voices against the PA and Chandrika Kumaratunga.
Ranasinghe resigned his post, though he is still retained at the Upali Group, when the management had his pro-war, and racist headline, Dora eriya, Koti penna (the door was opened, the Tiger jumped in'), meaning that Chandrika by her re-opening negotiations with the Tigers was directly responsible for the killing of Gamini Dissanayake, and several other front line leaders of the UNP. How pathetic it is to see the Divayina which has been the torch bearer forracialism come out grovellingly in its election victory edition in three colours, in type usually used for the declaration of a world war It said: “Loka Warthawak’ (World Record).
Bringing up the rear are the two legal eagles, Gamini Iriyagolle and S.L. Gunasekera. All these are the more vocal elements who thrive on the cesspit of racialism. There are several well-known men in saffron
Electorate
Col. North Col. North Col. East Col. East Col. West Col. West Col. Cent Col. Cent
Electorate Hambantota Hambantota Matara Matara
Galle
Galle
sistippi gagai Bh H II adai robes whom Irefu ist monks, becaus grave insult to th One, the Gautar his teachings wh sage was toleranc
The UNP playe running with the ing with the hour ers of the funera sanayake, shame into a political st ged his grieving and his elder son and tumble world They twisted th tions into a po where, the ex-Sp the Chandrika conspiracy in the Gamini Dissani Sarath Kongahag cial Councillor, a Ossie Abeygunase Amunugama, w kick of Gamini ghost candidate, inflammatory spel
But for the v police a riot might giving the signal racial riots, as ha Sinhala soldiers w Kanatte on Black obvious motive be postponement of This would have g arch manipulato) widow in the art ( politics. Fortunate try, the machinat. vidual misfired.
Analy I would like t

TAMIL TIMES 25
000LLLLLLLLLLL00LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL0LLLLL00LLLLLL0LLLLLLLLSLL0LL0LL
Party Gen. Election Pres.Election
Aug. '94 Oct. '94
UNP 24,522-54.62% 15,924-37.37%
PA 18, 140-40.41% 26,250-61.61%
UNP 17,858-44.72% 12,806-34.23%
PA 18,211-45.60% 23,867-63.79%
UNP 12,983-51.06% 8,557-36.67%
PA 8,977-35.31% 14,329-61.41%
UNP 50,136-52.38% 33,824-37.17%
PA 42,060-43.94% 56,219-61.78%
Party Gen. Election Pres. Election
UNP 38.67% 35.99%
PA 53.51% 61.52%,
UNP 37.43% 33.56%
PA 59.90% 64.69%
UNP 41.24% 3728%
PA 56.39% 51.40%
its hit . ise to call Buddh- analysis of election figures to show
e this would be a e Compassionate na Buddha, and hose prime meste. d a double game, hare and huntnds. The organisI of Gamini Dislessly turned it Junt. They draginnocent widow , into the rough of sordid politics. eir funeral oralitical platform eaker castigated Government for assassination of ayake. So did e, SLMP Provinnd Lieutenant of kera and Sarath ell-known sideDissanayake's who all made eches.
igilance of the have broken out for islandwide ppened when 13 vere cremated at July 1983, the ing to ask for a the elections. iven time for the to coach the of hurly burly of ly for the counions of this indi
/sis o give a short
those who said that had Gamini Dissanayake lived he would have easily defeated Chandrika Kumaratunga and also to debunk those sceptics of the Jathika Chinthaka lunatic fringe, that in the Deep South the Ruhunu Putras, the true blooded Sinhala Buddhists, would cast their votes against the Chandrika, Prabhakaran, Ashraff, Thondaman quartet.
The above electorates are traditional UNP strongholds. It is obvious that the minorities voted with the PA. However, it seems in spite of this, it is clear that there, has been no erosion of the traditional PA vote that the UNP and the other racialists were expecting. ༈ ༤
Now let us take three Southern Electorates district wise.
From the above analysis it will be seen that in spite of the Cassandras' forebodings that there would be an erosion of the PA vote, no such erosion in the deep South took place, in spite of adverse racialist propaganda against the PA. On the contrary, it has gained at the expense of the UNP vote. Thus the racist monster has been flayed for the third time. Firt at the “Francisco Southern Provincial Council election in May 1994. Then the General Election of August 1994 and the Presidential Election of November 1994.
There is a school of thought which boasted that had Gamini Dissanayake been alive he would have easily won the election. In
Continued on page 26

Page 26
26 TAMIL MES
BOOK REVE
Psychological Trau
“Mana Vadu” by Dr. Daya Somasundaram, Head of Psychiatry, University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka.
A recent leading article in the British Medical Journal (10th July 1993) commented: "we have known for centuries that traumatic events, both physical or mental have a profound and often lasting effect on the personality. Yet somehow we keep forgetting this phenomenon; it has been rediscovered, redescribed and renamed by each generation.' This statement encapsulates the consequences of trauma. However, work that began in this area after the Second World War continued and the focus widened to include not only those directly involved in combat but also the civilian population that was affected by war. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder recognised particularly since the early 1980s came to be accepted as a diagnostic category.
The psychological devastation caused by the ethnic violence on Sri Lanka punctuated by volcanic eruptions until 1983 and now endemic as a war in the North East can never be fully estimated or understood.
Despite the enormity of the task and
the trying conditions that surround him Daya Somasundaram takes the
6tinued from page 25 fact, Mr. M.H. Mohamed has said that he was winning the election and that was why the Government with the releasing of 30 Tigers, was instrumental in Gamini's assassination. Even if Mr. Thondaman's 400,000 votes went to Gamini Dissanayake, still he would have to make almost another 1,500,000 to defeat Chandrika. Not even the greatest UNP optimist would in his wildest dreams have expected such a world record in high jump
Finally I would like to quote that great Bolshevik revolutionary, Leon Trotsky on what he had to say to the defeated Mensheviks, (which will aptly fit our own racists) “You are pitiful isolated individuals; your role is played out. Go to where you belong from now oninto the rubbish can of history
first bold steps in Vadu (Scarred Min
Daya Somasund tials are unique. W. Somasundaram sta words of Brian S courage, determina ism to stay where and say what is ri what is convenient some power base.'
The book is in compilation of mate many seminars a sions organised by notably by Shanth ing centre for victin aimed at profession dents and many teachers, nurses a share the concern f The presentation, h accessible to memb who will find it a u
This is also the fi psychiatry in Sri author has very abl difficulties relating technical terms, som been coined for the synopsis in English and the Glossary terms at the end whose Tamil is we rusty. It is hearten the author has mad to adhere to Tam grammatical conver quotations from Thirukkural and T
The main body C three chapters. The the concept of psycl and refers to adapti tive coping mechan also references to p the international a
The second chapt 80 pages sets out in environmental and ables that determi gical responses to tr descriptions of the s corresponding time Alterations in bodi
the psychological
 
 

a
Department of
his book Mana l).
aram’s credenhat makes Daya nd out is, in the eneviratne "the ion and patriotthey are needed ght rather than or acceptable to
Tamil and is a rial presented at nd training sesvoluntary bodies ham, a counsellls of trauma. It is Lals, medical stufield workers, und clerics, who pr victims of war. owever, makes it ers of the public seful manual.
rst Tamil text in Lanka and the ly dealt with the to the use of he of which have first time. The at the beginning of equivalent will help those ak or is turning ing to note that e a special effort il literary and |tions. There are Риranaan. иrи, irumanthiram.
f the book is in first introduces Lological trauma fe and maladapisms. There are blished work in
ea. r spanning over great detail the personal varie the psychololuma. There are 2quence and the scale of events. y functions and basis of many
15 DECEMBER 1994
physical complaints are clearly explained. The author sets out how prolonged and unresolved trauma lead to disease states.
One of the behavioural responses to trauma is to flee from the site, seeking refuge or asylum. The displaced and dispossessed whether within their own country or abroad, face challenges different to the ones confronting those who remain. The consequences of mass migration are two-fold. There are problems facing the refugees, say in a country like the U.K. The author correctly emphasises the importance of addressing this issue. On the other hand a large number of people who fled the homelands are either professionals or elders with maturity and wisdom. The void is having its own effect on those who remain. There is particular reference to the disruption of health services by the author and a plea to organisations such as the Medical Institute of Tamils to continue help.
The concluding chapter is on treatment approaches. The different methods - physical, psychological and social are described and the spiritual dimension is not ignored. The author underlines the importance of using local resources and healing methods in the care of the victims. He desists from a blind adherence to Western techniques but incorporates such things as yoga asana, meditation, jebam, recitation etc. into the therapeutic repertoire.
The book is presented in an easily readable form with line diagrams and half a dozen charts. There are a number of case vignettes to illustrate the symptoms of the disorders but it would have been helpful to add a note on the treatment approaches used and the outcome.
Footnote: the book is best read in conjunction with a video recently released in London - Annai itta thee (The Fire the Mother Lit), again released by the University of Jaffna and depicting the psychological consequences of the ethnic war.
Review by: Dr. Kandiah Sivakumar M.R.C.P. (Psych), Consultant Psychiatrist.
Copies of the book Mana Vadu and the video Annai itta thee can be obtained at £7.00 & E10.00 respectively from -
The Medical Institute of Tamils or Tamil Information Centre Thamil House, 720 Romford Road, London E12 6BT.

Page 27
15 DECEMBER 1994
Tigers of Sri La
Tigers of Sri Lanka: From Boys to Guerrillas by K. Konark Publishers Pvt. Ltd., Delhi, Rs.350.
Review by Prof. Bertram Bastiampilla
University of Colombo.
At a time when an end to the civil war and the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka and instead an era of peace, is being debated, Tigers of Lanka: From Boys to Guerrillas affords topical and illuminating reading. This is a book written after patient and diligent investigation, and enriched by his personal interest, knowledge and understanding, M.R. Narayan Swamy provides the reader with a deep and clear insight into many matters which otherwise would have been incomprehensible or hazily understood in regard to the long lasting ethnic strife in Sri Lanka.
All the players in the sad and sordid ethnic conflict and violence which seems to go on and on in Sri Lanka appear as characters that could evoke only cynicism about human character. The two principal political parties in the governance of Sri Lanka, the United National Party (UNP) and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), had over the years been insensitive to the Tamil demands. Frustrated as the Tamil political leadership was owing to this response, on May 14, 1976 the leadership proclaimed that the only salvation for the discriminated Tamils lay in establishing Eelam or a separate Tamil State. Coincidentally on May 5, 1976, Velupillai Prabhakaran had founded the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) which still remains today intractable and intransigent in fighting the Sri Lanka Government in the quest for autonomy for the Tamils, if not for a separate state now. In any settlement of the conflict now the LTTE has to be reckoned with.
This book gives a vivid account, exhaustively and coherently, of the origins and growth of the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka. In this phenomenon, the role of a leader like Amirthalingam who gave support to these militants in the initial stages particularly, and the part he played thereafter is well delineated. The activities of Mavai Senadirajah, Murugesu Sivasithamberam and others of the earlier Federal Party (FP), and later the Tamil United Liberation Party (TULF), in regard
to the struggle fo Tamils and the en Thiruchelvam te talks when the m forfeited their fa with the Sri Lank traced by the Aut
To those who v grasp of what ai today and why i become a nation the word, this bo{ of the answers. I of militancy, the provided by the Lanka, and in th conclusion is ma Tamil ethnic con Sri Lankan Gove: to announce a p satisfy the Tar large and then tr all consensus arol
The writer em ging its (gover would lead only destruction and C disagree with hir
The eleven cha graphically desc start itself suspi tant groups apar they would thro carrying out daredevil attack the Sri Lankan hurt and its mor chilling are the a militant group g ate the other, an so on. Evidently certainly not for prevail between And the groups Eelam Liberat (ELO), Eelam N Liberation Fron National Libera Eelam People’s beration Front ( volutionary C (ERCP), Eelam ! nisation of Stud al Union of Eela Liberation Tige (LTTE), People nisation of Tan and Tamil Eela nisation (TELO

TAM TIMES 27
lka
Narayan Swamy,
l,
the rights of the deavour of Neelan
persevere with ilitant groups had th in discussions a Government are hor.
ish to gain a good ls Sri Lanka even , has still failed to n the true sense of bk can supply some ; surveys the birth
provocation for it governments of Sri e final chapter the de that to end the flict amicably, the rnment would have ackage that would nil sentiments at y to build a nationund it.
phasises that draghment's) feet now to more deaths, lespair. One cannot
. pters in this survey ribe how from the cion kept the milit although at times w in their lot on a dangerous but that would leave Government badly ale shattered. More ccounts of how one oes on to exterminthen another, and , at no stage, and long, did any love the diverse groups. Were SO numerous; ion Organisation ational Democratic (ENDLF), Eelam ion Front (ENLF), Revolutionary LiEPRLF), Eelam Reommunist Party evolutionary Organts (EROS), Genern Students (GUES), 's of Tamil Eelam Liberation Orgail Eelam (PLOTE) n Liberation OrgaEven this list may
not furnish a comprehensive enumeration of groups and factions. But, of course, of these only a few really matter, and in any case one by one, the groups got driven to the wall until the LTTE emerges as the most ruthlessly dominant force, and remains to be so.
It is interesting also to note how one group is more favoured by India at one time and then another one displaces it in the good books of the Indian authorities. And the Indian authorities and the Agencies also appear to have worked independent of one another - the Indian diplomatic community would not know the moves of the the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), and likewise the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) would not know what the diplomats or the RAW were up to. Hardly any co-ordination prevailed and actions were shrouded in secrecy and concealment. They acted often separately.
The author's investigations that reveal torture, conscription and brute force employed by the militant groups make spine-tingling reading indeed. Some of the groups especially come out as atrocious and inhumane in their behaviour, although one cannot say that any group had its hands clean. An excellent understanding is gained of the nature of the militant groups - those who appear to be humane now were really barbarous then according to the accounts in the study. And one group is not averse to enslaving or even exterminating another as each one sought sole mastery although all of them professed to be "liberators' of the same people. Narayan Swamy reveals quite an amount of information about Tamil Nadu's role in training camps, acquisition of arms, and of the exploits carried out by those groups beginning with the killing of Mayor Alfred Duraiappah and Inspector Batiampillai; the attacks on the Sri Lankan Army, and other such deeds.
One begins to understand the different agenda of the various parties that were embroiled in the long drawn out conflict. India had her own objectives, the RAW their own designs, the TULF's plans were different and the various groups harboured their own aims. The writer makes out how one tries to outwit the other and often fail in the endeavour. The waxing and waning fortunes of each group are vividly
Continued on page 28

Page 28
28 TAMIL TIMES
POLITICAL ASSASSINATIONS
T.N. GOPALAN’S commentary on the current morbid status of Rajiv Gandhi's assassination probe is quite revealing in how power equations work in politics (T.T., Aug. 1994). He states that, "there are vested interests at work, and they would not like the (Jain) Commission to go the way it pleased'. But he did not identify these 'vested interests'. Why? Surely, he is not so ignorant on who these 'vested interests' are.
Political assassinations and what follows when an associate of the assassinated leader ascends to the power has remained predictable since the times of Julius Caesar. Bertrand Russell, in his classic work, Power (1938) wrote:
A politician, if he is to succeed, must be able to win the confidence of his machine, and then to arouse some degree of enthusiasm in a majority of the electorate. The qualities required for these two stages on the road to power are by no means identical, and many men possess the one without the other'.
According to this principle, the associate of an assassinated leader is placed in a precarious position, if he is not photogenic or does not possess
mass appeal. So, thing not to revir his assassinated
Lyndon Johnso power following assassination in ak became the le the assassination 1981. Narasimha become the prim the assassination Similarly, D.B. W position as the assassins of R. P.
One can seepa of how Johnson, Wijetunge have the problem of th their immediate son and Mubaral the 'verdict' and erase the public assassinated pred is questionable h ceeded in this ve remain about Kennedy and Sa reasons. Rao and in the opposite d Johnson and Mu motives remaine are least interes answer to the ass brought them ta power.
Politicians who of their assassina not gain much memories of theil An exception to occurs when the family member of er. Thus the 'cha
Continued from page 27
traced. Deceit, treachery, chicanery and prevarication of which so much is detailed, tell the reader a tale of intrigue and double dealing that has been endemic in the ethnic conflict.
The TELO getting embroiled in a violent conflict with the LTTE, the latter's onslaught on the former's camps and its near annihilation of the TELO, and then the killings of the EPRLF leadership make gruesome reading. The PLOTE and its activities that are outlined are equally frightful. Much more of such horrible accounts are related. Sadly, the IPKF comes out poorly but not through any intrinsic fault.
Author Narayan Swamy piles facts after facts and detail after detail to give the reader a cogent and impressive recount of the ethnic
strife that has hun Sri Lanka. He wri simple pleasant t history of the ori conflict and its brutal violence o' those who are i contemporary dist Sri Lanka, this i: interesting rea Swamy does not si ment of the Indian the errors in the in and their duplicit the Indian diplom Lanka, the fund causative faults o political leadershi nature of the Sri groups, One cann that the IPKF ha misled misinforme - it is a judicious s
 

15 DECEMBER 1994
, he will do everyve the memories of colleague.
on ascended to the John F. Kennedy's 963. Hosni Mubarader of Egypt after of Anwar Sadat in Rao was lucky to he minister due to of Rajiv Gandhi. Wijetunge owes his President to the remadasa.
rallels in the styles Mubarak, Rao and behaved in 'solving le assassinations of predecessors. Johnk rushed to deliver tried their best to memories of their lecessors, though it ow much they sucnture. Still doubts who assassinated dat, and for what Wijetunge worked lirection to that of ubarak. But their d the same. They ted in finding an assinations, which ) the pinnacle of
step into the shoes ted predecessors do
by reviving the r deceased seniors. this rule of thumb new leader is a the deceased leadpters” on the mur
rt and still bedevils tes lucidly and in a D read style of the gins of the ethnic deterioration into ver the years. To Interested in the urbed situation in s compulsory and Liding. Narayan pare the misjudgepolitical big wigs; telligence of RAW y; the naivety of latic entity in Sri amental cardinal f the Sri Lankan p, and the bloody Lankan militant |ot but recognise ad all along been d and misdirected study indeed.
der of S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike and Indira Gandhi were closed in quickest possible time, because Sirimavo Bandaranaike and Rajiv Gandhi who followed them respectively were related to the deceased leaders. Since Narasimha Rao is no relation to Rajiv Gandhi, the murder mystery of the latter will take the similar route as that of John F. Kennedy. The truth will never be known.
Sachi Sri Kantha,
Osaka 565, Japan.
THE TAMIL PROBLEMHurdles and Possibilities for a Settlement
NONE can pray as fervently as the Sri Lankan Tamils, for a just and enduring settlement, of the so-called Tamil problem, which has brought so much disaster and suffering to the vast majority of the Tamils living in Sri Lanka. Many and varied are the ideas and opinions as to what would constitute a just settlement, with the Sinhalese and Tamils differing widely on basic issues. The hurdles to any settlement whatsoever, are indeed formidable. However, it is of crucial importance that the Tamils clearly understand the implications and the realities that are basic to this problem, such that negotiations and formulations being canvassed, be wisely judged. This is particularly important, since various interested parties and invididuals have conspired to formulate and present ideas, often with a view to promote their own selfish interests.
It would be pure self delusion for the Tamils to believe that the Government and the very great majority of the Sinhalese have been emotionally willing to concede anything worthwhile to the Tamils, except for cosmetic concessions which would not promote Tamil interest and selfhood. All along, the Sinhala objective has been the suppression of the Tamils, and the mode, a military solution. President D.B. expressed this briefly and succinctly, when he declared that there was no Tamil Problem, but only a problem of terrorism, equating the Tamil struggle as a case of pure terrorism, to be crushed accordingly. To attain this, time was important to beef up military capabilities by vast expansion of the Army, and the procurement of Sophisticated military equipment, to

Page 29
15 DECEMBER 1994
buttress, not only the Army, but also the Navy and the Air Force, to enable an overwhelming superiority. It would have been considered a betrayal of the Sinhala cause, if the vast expense and resources compiled to build up the military machine, be not used to the fullest. This should be remembered, in the context of President Premadasa being involved in the highly publicised negotiations with the Tigers, whilst surreptitious preparations were being prepared and supplies procured, to launch an offensive, when ready. These negotiations were for the purpose of beguiling the LTTE and also for placating world opinion as to the peaceful intentions of the Government. Many Tamils had been deluded into the belief that a peaceful resolution of the problem could have been achieved, but for the obdurance of the LTTE.
It would hardly be necessary to recapitulate the long history of the peaceful agitation and conferences launched by the Tamils to gain their rights and the equally frequent betrayals by the Government, to keep promises made. It is essential for the Tamils to realize, that it has always been the valiant and sustained offensive capabilities against the Army, which has gradually eroded the objective of a military solution, and forced some willingness to consider a political solution. Despite the frequent reverses, the confidence of the Army to crush the LTTE in their heartland, remained unabated, and hence the boast of the President D.B. However, the failure of the Yarldevi Operation and the sacking of the Poonakeri invasion base camp, resulting in the capture by the Tigers of a vast and adequate weaponry, abated the confidence in a military solution. This was compounded by the intolerable strain on the resources and economy of the Island, which for decades had drastically sapped the development of the country.
This implies that whatever party be in power, the need to resolve the conflict, must be a priority. No doubt, Chandrika has also brought a greater dedication to such an endeavour, though she would not by herself have carried through the prospect of negotiations, amongst the diehard Sinhalese, if not for the gradual realisation that the military option cannot be sustained. This has become all the more evident in view of the rapidly declining morale of the soldiers to fight against a far more
resolute foe. The Army top brass to by the soldier's fight. The Sinhal. notorious for indi said that D.B. Wij to somehow conti manipulation, hac a warning from th that the Sinhalas
Hence the pres tiations and emiss However, it is cru realize that the o Tamil regeneratio the part of the G regeneration anc which is the base and development mic and territori the merger of the together with ad of power to mana the bottom line, to must hold fast. T the East attach could be of little a lack of confidenc ability to crush t latter's ability to : bilities, which h Muslims to throw the Tamils, with guards.
From the above that the Governm ty be in power, m come to terms wi solution of the T follows purely and of the LTTE being own, and in no heart, except on t reality. The LTTE on and sustain the depend greatly on ness to endure t sufferings of the flict. The faint stooges, so abunda ment side, would first objective, to thwart or reduce These stooges ar resorted to the "running with the with the hounds power for themsel
14 Norbury Cres Scarborough, Ontario, Canada.
Private Pure/Applied Statistics, Phy HOrnes el 0.81.

AML TIMES 29
willingness of the fight, is tempered
unwillingness to a soldier has been scipline, and it is etunga's intention nue the U.N.P. by been thwarted by e High Command, oldier might rebel. ent spate of negoaries to the North. cially important to bjective of curbing n is no whitless on overnment. Tamil self sufficiency, for Tamil progress is based on econoall viability. Only 2 North and East, equate devolution ge their affairs, is which the Tamils runcated pieces of ed to the North, vail. It is only the !e in the Sinhala he Tamils and the sustain their capaas convinced the y in their lot with their own safe
, it would be seen lent whatever parust sooner or later th the LTTE for a Famil Problem. It solely on the basis gable to hold their way a change of che basis of facing E's ability to carry air struggle, would the Tamil willinghe hardships and decade's long conhearts, and the ant on the Governdoubtless be the be harnessed to : Tamil demands. nd quislings have popular game of hare and hunting , merely to gain
VeS.
T. Balasingham, cent,
Tuition
Mathematics. sics O/A Level,
visited.
-864. 3227
DID JESUS LIVE IN. INDIA72
REFERENCE the letter in the Forum page, "Did Jesus Live in India?”, it may be of interest to your readers that a Malay Muslim theologian in Malaysia cites that there is a span in Mohamed's life which is unaccounted and according to this theologian even Mohamed, the Muslim Holy Prophet spent a number of years in India.
So it is most likely that not only Jesus but Mohamed studied religion in India.
D. Ratnasamy, Singapore 1642.
TRAITORS ARE MORE DANGEROUS
SOME of the material printed in your November '94 issue is offensive to the Tamil speaking peoples of Ceylon.
The world accepts the ethnic civil war in Ceylon as a reality. There are two parties involved in the conflict, the government in Colombo and the liberation movement led by our leader Prabhakaram.
Until the war is amicably ended, Hoole and the likes of him cannot expect the niceties of democracy. Hoole should understand that traitors are more dangerous than the enemy.
Uyangoda should confine his conclusions to himself and refrain from making accusations against our noble leader, Prabhakaran.
The Sinhala army has no business whatsoever in the North and East. The shortest and most sensible path to peace in the Island, is for the Sinhala forces to return to their base in Colombo.
Our leader is the architect of our future. He is not to be vilified in your columns.
S. Pothalingam, FRCS. Geneva Lodge, 23, St. Mary's Avenue, London, E11 2NR.
VNNEYVIGNEs
CERTFEDACCOUNTANTS REGISTERED AUDITORS
84 Ilford Lane Ilford Essex G1 2LA Tel: 081-553 5876 Fax: 081-SS3 3721 Mobile: 0956 277112

Page 30
30 TAM TIMES
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MATRMONIAL Jaffna Hindu parents seek partner for B.Sc. graduate teacher, 38, teaching in Sri Lanka. Send details. M 760 C/o Tamil Tinnes.
Jaffna Hindu professional family seek fair attractive bride, doctor, Chartered ACCountant or similar professional with ambition, for son, B.Sc.(Hons.) Computer Science, age 28, UK born educated holding high position as Consultant, six figure salary, house owner, financially secure, height 5 feet 10 inches, fair complexion, good looking, non-smoker, non-drinker, honest serious minded hardworking ambitious, With Hindu Cultural ValueS. Please Send details and horOscope. All correspondence treated in strictest Confidence and replied. M 761 c/o Tamil Times.
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Jaffna Hindu brother SeekS partner for sister, 34, fair and pretty. Send details, horoscope. M 764 c/o Tamil Times.
WEDDING BELLS
We congratulate the following couples on their recent wedding. Rajathevan son of Mr. & Mrs. S. Kanagaratnam of 29A Fayland Avenue, London SW16 1TG and Chevanthy daughter of the late Dr. N. Kandasamy and Mrs. Sita Kandasamy of 1 11 Fishponds Road, London SW177LL on 4.12.94 at Hammersmith Town Hall, London W6. Dr. Thevakumar son of Mr. & Mrs. A Maheswaran of 18 Jalan Awan Gelgur, Taman | Yarł, 58200 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Vijayalakshmi daughter of Mr. & Mrs. R. Pathmanathan of Dwaraka . 17 Mulberry Court, South Road, Bishop's Stortford, Herts.,
CM23 3JMVOn 4. 1294 at Kalamandapam, Lorong Scott, Kuala Lumpur.
OBTUARIES
Mrs. Kanmany Murugesu, Retired Teacher, Saiva Mangayar Vidyalayam, Welawatte, Colombo. Beloved wife of the late Eliyathamby Murugesu, loving mother of Sarathamany, Nagules paran, Sita many, Sahadevan and Dharmarajah, mother-in-law of Thayakaran, Vasanthi, Thuraisingham and Anushya - passed away peacefully on the eleventh of November 1994. Crernation took place in London on the Sixteenth of November.
All members of her family sincerely thank relatives and friends who attended the funeral and sent floral tributes and messages of sympathy. - 7A, Pen with Road, London SW18. Tel: 081-870 4673.
IN MEMORAM
ln loving memory of Mrs. Gnanambikai Peruma Pilai on the first anniversary of her passing away on 12. 12.93.
Greatly loved, deeply missed
 
 
 

15 DECEMBER 1994
N LOVING MEMORY OF OUR BELOVED
Southarammal Rasa BOT. 1919-05-25 ·
Nanniththamby Rasa Born: 1907-07-18
ammah ReSt: 1966-09-03
appah Rest: 1991-12-01 Fondly remembered with love and affection for ever Both blessed with good heart, noble deed and great qualities Your love and affection we shared linger day and night and Planted for ever in our hearts: Sadly missed and dearly loved.
Sweet memories remain engraved in your beloved children: Rajeswaran (Geneva), Rajendra (UK), Rajanayagam (USA), Rajasooriyar (UK), Sri Ranjini (UK), Pushpha Ranjini (UK), Rajamanokaran (UK), Jaya Ranjini (Singapore); beloved niece: Maheswary Tharmarasa; sons-in-law: Rajayogeswaran, Mahendran daughters-in-law. Logeswary, Gowry, Malika, Chandrakumari, Jayanthi, and grand children: Raj-Anand, Vidya, Arathi, Jayasen, Luxmi, Ruban, Kalyami, Vathani, Ben, Ramanan, Shankar, Kawitha, Abirami, Kiruthika, Rasa Rajeswaran:- 142 Fieldhood Avenue, Bury, UK.
and always remembered by her husband Dr. C. Perumal Pillai; children Dr. Ravi Pillai, Usha, Jeeva and Ranjit; sons-in-law Desmond and Michael; daugh- Our tears will never fully dry. ters-in-law Shanthi and Vasuhi, And yet, you have not really left grandchildren Rajesh, Shahila, us
Meera, Arun and Arjun. For We Can dream of that World
And your memory lives on in our hearts and minds For all eternity.
So sadly missed and dearly loved by his wife and children Meenalosani, Sivakamasunthari and Shiyamalanayagi.
So much has happened that you have missed, A part of our lives is always empty,
Dr. P.S. Alageswaran
in everloving memory of Dr. T. Thambyah pillai (Research Fellow, Imperial College, London) who passed away on December 4, 1984. So quickly have the years gone by, The past seems like another World
in which we lived and laughed together - And heard your voice and saw your Smile.
Ten years separate us now,
Born: 4.7, 1928 Died: 1 O. 11.92
Much loved and missed by his wife and children, brothers, Sisters and their families, relatives and friends.

Page 31
15 DECEMBER 1994
decided to take to his glory our beloved Papa. What a wonderful, kind and gentle man he was. No one can forget his kindness to all around. We thank the Almighty for giving us such a gift of a father,
Greatly loved and deeply missed and always remembered by his wife, Sugirthamalar Beatrice Samuel, children, Raji (U.S.A.), Bala, Jaya , (Toronto), Viji (Melbourne), inlaws, Satchi (U.S.A.), Kamala, Premo (Toronto), Bubby (U.S.A.) and all grandchildren and great grandchildren.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
January 1 Amavasai; Feast of Mary, Mother of God.
in loving memory of Isaac W liam Ariyanayagam Samuel on the first anniversary of his passing away on December 14, 1993. On that fateful day, God
LLLLLLLLLLLLL
The late Mr. K. Nesiah's first death
anniversary falls on 30th of December this year. He is a man to be remembered by Tamils of Sri Lanka. As a senior lecturer on Education not only his stu
dents were happy about his lectures but also he won the esteem of Professor Green, a great educationalist himself and also of the then Vice-Chancellor Sir Ivor Jennings. Even after his retirement,
successive Professors of Education had recourse to him for securing his elucida
tion of educational problems that con
fronted them. Some of his treatises on
educational matters were evaluated by Professors of India and Great Britain as good and worthy of acceptance.
Mr. Nesiah had certain political views but never was an active politician. He supported the late Mr. S.J.V. Chelvanayakam in his demand for federalism to gain autonomy for Tamils.
Mr. Nesiah was a forward personality and treated all on equal footing. He evinced sympathy for the unfortunate ones who could not receive even elementary education. Ignorance and poverty were due to the environment in which they were brought up, he would say. As a member of the Youth Congress in Jaffna, he helped in creating an awareness of a sense of human equality and its social recognition. He once gave expression to his satisfaction that a neighbour of his gave a Raymond funeral' to a domestic helper.
He devoted a considerable part of his time as editor of "The Co-operator, a journal published in Jaffna. He helped, by his prolific writings, to create a sense of cooperation among the middle class Tamils and thereby gave an impetus to the co-operative movement in Jaffna. He also gave assistance to the late Mr. Veerasingham who gave a good lead to the movement there.
When Mr. Nesiah was President of the Parents Association of Jaffna, of which
K. Nesiah - An Appred
this author was its . this Association or monstration of stude disation in the sele University Educat standardisation did selection. It simply marks to one class marks to another. Inned that standara deed it did not appr norms of standardi educated world.
When he was Pre Association objected of the 'Cluster Schoc as it did not genuine standard of the ba their affiliation with schools. The author, contrary, to produce persuade the second their educational fac. ward schools and tha
Wettivelu Sa - An App
 
 
 

Jan. 5 Sathuirthi. Jan. 6 Feast of Epiphany.
Jan. 8 Feast of Baptism of Lord Jesus.
Jan. 12 Eekathiasi.
Jan. 14 Teedor presents Exhibition & Variety Entertainment at Walthamstow Assembly Hall, Forest Road, London E17. Tel O956 31437O.
Jan. 15 Thai Poosam, Feast of St. Anthony.
Jan. 21 630pm Walthamstow Tamil School presents Variety Entertainment at Walthan Forest Theatre, Lloyds Park, Winns Terrace, London E17.
TAMIL TIMES 31
Jan. 27 Eekathasi. Jan. 28 Feast of St. Thomas Aquinas.
Jan. 30 Anawasai.
At the Bhawan Centre, 4A
Castletown Road, London
W149HQ. Te: O71-3813086/ 4608.
Jan. 20/21/22 7.30/6.00/ 6.00pm Bhawan's Founder's Day Celebrations - Cultural Programme of Music and Dance.
Jan. 28 600pm Kalai lakkiya
Tel: 081 520 9784.
Jan. 25 Feast of the Conver
Sion of St. Paul.
Vattam presents Variety Entertainment of light Songs, Dances & instrumental Music.
Tel. O81-771 2104.
LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
Honorary Secretary, ganised a mass de'nts against standarction of students for ion. The proposed
not aim at merit meant giving more of students and less Mr. Nesiah condelisation as fake Inoximate to the usual sation known to the
sident, the Parents
to the introduction ols System” in Jaffna ly aim at raising the ckward schools by a leading secondary ities sought, on the 2 an inducement to ary schools to share ilities with the backt would have meant
destabilising even the secondary schools:
Mr. Nesiah loved Christianity and loved his Christian friends. But when it came to a matter of rendering accounts, he would not hesitate to condemn those who worked with him for failing to account for every cent of public funds. As Manager of the Nuffield School at Caitady, he rendered yeoman service and saw to it that every inmate of the School received the best attention.
He was charitably bent and always had ready money to give to the needy.
He was faithful and loyal to his good wife on whom he attended meticulously during the last years of her failing health.
Mr. Nesiah would keep his office room with the utmost nicety and cleanliness. Anything out of place he would call it dirt. He would not allow even a small piece of paper on his desk or room. He was a man of principle and had a sense of propriety which won him respect.
May he rest in peacel
S. Ponniah, Attorney-at Law, Jaffna.
nkaralingam preciation
I had gone to Colombo to attend a conference of school principals summoned by the island's Director of Education. A few minutes before the scheduled start of the meeting the Director looked round and asked, "Where is Sankaralingam?" He is with the Minister, sir, replied one of the assistants. Whispers Circulated and we learnt that Sankaralingam was a Junior Education Officer, who had all ther artication enactments, regulations and codes at his finger tips. His presence was required at Conferences to ensure that decisions made there did not Conflict With the enactments etc. Even the Minister of Education Called him in for COinSultation. A few seconds later, Sankaralingam walked in and the meeting began on schedule.
Sankaralingam and I had known about each other, but had not met. After the meeting, I gravitated towards him. In the short time we were together, I found that he knew a great deal about me, my school

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32 TAMIL TIMES
and the problems of the school. Indeed, he knew much of the personages in the educational world, their achievements, their specialities and their interests. He was a veritable walking "Who's Who'.
Later, when he was Education Officer at the Head Office, in charge of the Assisted Schools, I had to meet him often and I found that what lay behind his vast knowledge of persons and things was not mere curiosity but human concern for people, their problems and difficulties. The manager of a School had to serve a notice of discontinuance on a capable teacher of English, who had a 'drink' problem. He had been found drunk, lying on the roadside. He had also touched pupils and parents for money to buy liquor. He had a young family, wife and two children. Sankaralingam arranged things tactfully without displeasing either party. A letter of resignation was sent by the teacher to the Manager, who promptly withdrew his notice. At the same time another school badly needed an English teacher, to which an application was made with the undertaking that he will be better behaved. The shock of the notice of discontinuance had been effective. Everybody was happy. Sankaralingam could be ruthless in the interests pf education and efficiency. His primary concern was that pupils should be educated properly.
Sankaralingam's father was from a village called Thunnalai, Jaffna, also my native village, his mother was from a village called Alaveddy. At Arunodhaya College, Alaveddy and at Skanda Varodhaya College, Chunnakam, Sankaralingam showed himself to be a pupil of exceptional promise. The father died when Sankaralingam was in his teens, and he being the eldest child became the guardian to his brothers and sisters. He took his examination in his stride, and on his performance at the Senior School Certificate Examination, he obtained exemption from the London matriculation. He joined the University College, Colombo, and obtained the London B.Sc. degree in 1934. He sat for the Administrative Civil Service Examination, but failed to quality by a narrow margin.
He became a teacher and soon made his mark. He was selected as an inspector of Schools, and served in the provinces. He was noted for his fairness and thoroughness, and was selected to be at the Head Office as Education Officer in charge of Assisted Schools. His last appointment was as Director of Education for the Northern Region, the second largest region in the island.
After he retired from the Educational service in Sri Lanka in 1971, he came to the U.K. in 1972 and served for a time the Civil Service, here. Later, he devoted his time to social service and working for the Tamil cause. He was a founder member of the Trust for the Murugan Temple in Archway, London and General Council Member of the Standing Committee of Tamil Speaking People (S.C.O.T.).
In 1993, he went to Sri Lanka on holiday, and from there he went on a pilgrimage to India. There he was taken to B.S.S. HOS
pital in Madras for a ro was found to be suffe haemorrhage. His wife him all along. He w hospital but it was a lic passed away on the 17 His body was cremate and his ashes were SCa his wishes, in Sri La and Varnasi. He was e He had a wide circle remember him for his be sadly missed and lo by the members of his brothers and sisters.
He leaves behind his his children Gnanasan Vettivel, Vinayagan ( Arunthathi, his son-in-le kasapillai, daughter-inand his grandchildren S
Sanna and Rathina.
Emeritus Principal,
Hartley College, Pt. Pedro & St. John C Jafna.
The Resona
On a Monday mornin resonating in my ears dious sweet voice of persistently repeating ing me of the song ‘ı Gurunatha' which she
Ragam Aathi Thalam t 12th November 1994 a inaugural concert. ima ful the future was going generation, in the Carn teenage students like well not only to impres also to give a long las concerts they sing in. W many high quality mu taking place in London, ger generation active Week ends.
I have gone throug weekends of musical ti attended the Muthuswa membrance day organis Jayan at the Lalgudi S the 5th of Novernber 1 rare treat in listening to ances by Aravind Jay nathan and Kumar Rag, by a superb down to ea, dose of Veena Music MohanathaS and a VOC Ravi Ramadas who g harmonious performar pitched voice to add to t the Concert. The followi the Sa Pa Saba's inaug
In both these ConCer ists Bhayiravi Ganes Chandrapalan and Suja formed Outstandingly expert tutoring of these Saraswathy Packiarasa dents by Dr. Lakshmi J commending. Selvi Brur is due for a meteoric ris
Ratin

utine check up and ring from subdural , Saratha, was with as treated in the sing battle and he th November 1994. d in Madras, India, ttered, according to mka, Rameswaram ighty years of age. Of friends Who Will helpfulness. He will Vingly remembered
family and by his
wife, Sarathadevi, panthan, Bhavani, Kannan), Vasuhi, w Pratab Sivaprallaw Bala Johani, atish, Kailash, Pra
K. Pooranampillai,
olleges,
ting Voice
g a voice kept on . lt was the melo
Sujaya Chandran in my ears remindKutalinai Thatuvaie sang in Siwaranjani wo days earlier, On t the Sa Pa Saba's gined how wonderto be for our next atic music world, if Sujaya can sing so S the audience but ting memory of the e are fortunate that Sical Concerts are
keeping the youn
and busy during
h two successive erapy, having first my Dikshithar's resed by Dr. Lakshmi Chool of Music On 294, where I had a the violin performan, Kartik Raghuhunathan, followed rth humble musicä1 by Selvi Thulasi all recital by Selvan lave his SOft and Ce with his l'OW he enchantment of ng week I attended
ural ConCert.
is the three VOCalhwaran, Bruntha ya Chandran perwell. Careful and students by Smt. and the violin stuayan is well worth ntha Chandrapalan e in the future.
am Sarvananther.
15 DECEMBER 1994
Bakthi Shines in Sowmya's Arangetram
Yet another arangetram? Without letting my weariness show, I located my seat, in a packed (truly) Logan Hall on the 22nd of October. The Guru was Selvaluxmy Ramakrishnan so I knew what to expect. But what about the debutante? Can She live up to the high standards the Lakshmi Arts Centre has consistently produced? The occasion was the Bharatha Natya arangetram of Sowmya daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Sreeharan.
The simple but elegant brochure, declared that the dance style being adopted was that of kalakshetra. The debutante did not disappoint. That the firmness and purity of lines so fundamental to the style had been well inculcated was evident in the adavus. The aspect which was more impressive however was bakthi. If bhava is the outer mode of inner expression, then bakthi which seemed to come naturally to this young dancer was projected Commendably in many of the items.
The rapport on stage between the Guru and Sishya enabled the best to be drawn from the aspiring debutante, an aspect complimented by Dr. John Marr from the Bhavan and the academic staff of the School of Oriental and African Studies who was guest of honour.
The varnam Saminee manam irangi in the raga sri ranjani in praise of Lord Karthikeya, depicted the yearnings of a nayika. The scope for sanchari bhava was fully exploited and Sowmya displayed her competence in conveying a range of emotions. Among the padams, Enna thavam Seithanai in admiration of Yasoda with excerpts from the life of Krishna stood out. Here as in the other padams the ability to bring out the lyrical content, often a story, is tested and the abhinaya showed a remarkable level of understanding and maturity. The tenderness with which Yasoda attends to the young Krishna contrasted well with the firmness showed in checking the excesses of his pranks. The attempts of Krishna to free himself when tied down and the resulting dissolution of an ancient Curse were portrayed particularly well. The

Page 33
15 DECEMBER 1994
padam on Meenakshi beginning with a stanza from Abhirami anthathi gave a glimpse of the graceful lasya and in contrast in the padam on Lord Natarajah, Aadiduvar nadanam aadididuvar there was a short but lively interlude, with dance only to the accompaniment of the percusSionist, with violin but no vocal music. Interestingly, the items chosen, beginning with the sloka to Lord Ganesha right to the end related to every one of the main Hindu deities. Another indication of the emphasis on bakthi? The thillana in Behag brought the evening to a close with the mangalam Eelamani thirunadu. The vocal music was by Smt. Sivasakthy Sivanesan, with Sri Bhavanishankar on the mridangum, Sri Chandrasekhar on the violin and Dr. Nimairaj on the flute.
The solidity of the foundation was self evident. Sowmya's arangetram will be remembered for the thrills and not for the frills,
Sarukesi.
CANADAN NEWS ETTER
Social Housing
Mississauga is a city falling within the Greater Toronto area. Tamil enterprise has borne fruit again. The second Tamil Co-op Housing fully funded by the Government up to a total cost of $10 million is nearing completion at Rugby Road, Mississauga. This is an integrated housing of 80 units on eight floors. 75% of the units are on a rent geared to income basis and the residents are expected to go into occupation in February 1995. The building is named The Yard Co-op Homes Inc. A board headed by Arul S. Aruliah, Social Worker and long time resident of Canada, that initiated this project will manage the affairs of this new Housing Co-op during the first year of its operation.
Encouraged by the social housing policy of the Government Of the New Democratic Party two other Tamil organisations are also in the running to establish non-profit affordable housing for the Tamil community.
New Head Guarters
The Tamil Eelam Society of Canada, the pioneer Tamil organisation of Canada, has a new head quarters at 861 Broadway Ave., Toronto. This acquired two storey building will be formally opened by the Hon. Bob Rae, Premier of Ontario. Part of the Cost of acquisition was met by a government grant of $300,000 from the provincial Ministry of Citizenship. Mr. Murugesapillai Duraisamy, a senior administrator, heads the Society as its President for two years.
Weather
it is "Fall Time" in Canada. Except for a freak freezing rain on 27th November - "Maveerar Day, the weather is almost perfect. Even on the freezing rain day when people normally stay indoors, thousands attended the commemorative
meetings in Toronto a prayers that the sacri youth will not be in vain in an honourable settle
Canadian Ol Greets New Presi
The Canadian Relie Peace in Sri Lanka há tions to Mrs. Chandri her election as Pres They state: 'Your vict new hope for Sri Lank that under your leade, of Sri Lanka will be abi and honour from this p the last government, m in the name of norm Sure that this is not th Wish to take, nor is it aim to suppress the Lanka. Should you be ing a proper lasting re definitely recommend
the Nobel Peace Prize
Dedicated
BidS A
Glowing tributes were Durayappah at the r meeting held in Tor enconiums from Cc friends and family whe after three decades community in the pro noble profession'.
Growing up in Jaft she excelled in acader extra Curricular activi Prefect in Chundikuli C After graduating in obtained her Diploma and the Master's degr years later.
After teaching in F Pedro and Vennbadi Jaffna she came to Canada she first work University of Waterloo teaching job she want
"I have enjoyed tea much as I did in Sri La most rewarding expel riched my life, she
 
 
 
 
 

TAMIL TIMES 33
ld Mississauga with ifices made by the but will yield results 2nment SOOr).
ganisation Sri Lankan dent
of Organisation for S Sent their felicitaka Kumaratunga on fident of Sri Lanka. pry gives us a great a. We wish and pray rship, all the people 9 to walk with dignity point forward. Under uch blood was shed all peace'. We are e direction that you your government's good people of Sri Successful in instillall peace, we would your nomination for
Teacher Adieu
paid to Ms. Stella etirement felicitation Onto. Stella earned leagues, parents, in she stepped down
of Service to the erbial 'world's most
na in a large family, nic study, sports and lies and was Head iiris' College, Jafna.
Peradeniya, she irn Educatiori ir 1963 ee in Education four
artley College, Pt. Girls' High School, Danada in 1969. In ed as a Librarian af and Soon found the ed.
2hing in Canada as nika. lt has been the ience that has ensaid through moist
eyes. Stella's early retirement three years before the mandatory 65 is to enable her to devote more time to 'Pastoral Care' with the Evangelical Church and with Red Cross.
Radio Beams Tamil Programmes Daily
Radio Asia, which commenced its activities three years back with half an hour's Tamil programme every week has increased its air time to all days of the week from 8.30 to 10.00pm on weekdays and from 9.00 to 10.00pm during weekends.
Most of the air time is devoted to highlight the achievements and contributions of Sri Lankans in Canada. It COntinues to give encouragement and training to young and upcoming artistes in their field of arts.
They do commercial advertisements too and organisations in other parts of the world wishing to promote their products in Canada could advertise over Radio Asia.
Election to Ruling Party
A Sri Lankan, Gnanaki Balakroshnan was elected at the National Democratic Party Provincial Convention held on 21st November, as a member of the Provincial Executive, a powerful policy making body of the ruling party.
Sri Lankan Shines at Lumbini Dance Competition
ଷ୍ଟି S
Ananthy Sridas, the Sri Lankan among
the winners.
Prof. V. Subramaniam and Jaya Subramaniam organised the first Lumbini Dance Competition in connection with the International Conference of Indian Dance held in Ottawa on 27th November '94. In what was a grand and gala event hosted by Hema Raman, four dancers Ananthy Sridas, Jahanara Akhlaq, Kanchana Sastri (all from Toronto) and Garry Banerjee (Vancouver) were selected the winners by a panel of eminent judges consisting of the legendary Kamala and dancerchoreographers Fred Traguth and Uttara Asha Coorlawala and awarded $300 each. A surprise prize was an invitation to all four winners to travel to Germany in July '95, to perform and teach for three weeks.

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34 TAMIL TIMES
TRANSCON
SPILIPPING R. "
AIR TRAWELi:L
Air Freight Per
Toronto & Montrea Colombo & Singap Madras
Malaysia
உங்கள் உடமைகள் பாவையும் கப்பல் மூலமாகவோ அல்லது விமான மூ
TRANSCONTI அதுமட்டுமல்ல, நீங்கள் அனுப்பும் பொருட்கள் பாவையும் கொழு அனுப்பி உரிய கேரத்தில் ஒருவித கஷ்டமின்றி
TRANSCONTN அத்துடன், உங்கள் விமானப் பிரபானம் எவ்விடம் என்றாலும் குறைந்த வி
ANSG
நீங்கள் தொடர்பு கொள்ள வேண்டியவர்கள்
Woodgreen Business Centre, S
235 High Road, Woodgree
as 081-889 8486, MOBILE: 09565
ark,
London E12 6SL (NEXT To 6 KUMARS MI Tel: 0181-471 3707, Fax: 0181-471 5
The most exclusive sarees (Banaras, Kanchipu Kashmir Silk, Japan Nylex and Cotton Sarees, dren wear and costume jewellery in UK. If you visit us for artistic collection in pure silk fabr
உங்கள் உள்ளத்தை மகிழ்விக்கும் ஜவுளி சமுத்திரம் வவடிரா சின் எங்களிடம் நீங்கள் விரும்பும் நவீன டிசைன்களில் ெ காஞ்சிபுரம் பட்டுப் புடவைகள், மைசூர் சில்க் சேலை சேலை கள், பிளவுஸ் துணிகள், றெடிமேட் பிளவுஸ்கள் பட்டுப் பாவாடைத் தாவணிகள், பரத நாட்டிய நசை லுங்கிகள் (கிப்ஸ், சங்கு மார்க் சாரங்கள்), குர்த்த அனைத்துக்கும் வவுரா சில்க்'
சிறுவர் சிறுமியருக்கான நவீன றெடிமேட் ஆடை வகைகளுக்கு சிறுவர்களுக்கான புள் செட் ஆடைகளு வையகத்து மங்கையரின் வனப்பு மிகு தோற்றம் அது
நீங்கள் உங்கள் புடவை தேவைகளுக்கு ம வருக! வருக! வருக! என்று இ
 
 

15 DECEMBER 1994
NINAL
TRAVEL LTD
ON-CMBE225
(Orne Way)
Kilogram:
al 95p Sri Lanka Clearing at Ceylon Shipping Lines Ltd. Ore E140 UPBCC The Fastest ONE STOP Baggage Clearing E1.45 Centre' in Colombo at 294/10, D.R. Wijewardena
Mw, Colombo 10. 180
We guarantee your cargo will be shipped direct to Colomb0. SRO (ANKA N
தலமாகவோ உரிய கேரத்தில் பாதுகாப்பாகவும் துரிதமாகவும் அனுப்புவதற்கு NI NA SLIPPING ம்பிலுள்ள பாதுகாப்பான சேகரிப்பு நிலையத்திற்கு (Private Warehouse)
உங்கள் கையில் ஒப்படைப்பதில் விர்ப்பன்னர்கள்
NA SPPNG விலையில் நிகரற்ற சேவைகளை செய்து கொடுப்பதில் முன்னணியில் கிற்பவர்கள் ONNENA
T: Harry Mahendra, Asoka Femando or Nagabalan OPEN
te 412, Ashley House SEVEN London N22 4HF DAYS
INCLUDING
24500, FAX: 081-889 2676 SUNDAYS
(East Ham)
NI SUPER MARKET) 742
ram, Mysoore Silk, ) Gents wear, Chiare in London, do ics and sarees
s' s
பண்களுக்கான திருமண கூறைப் புடவைகள், பணாறஸ், கள், காஷ்மீர் சில்க் சேலைகள், ஜப்பான் நைலக்ஸ், நூல் ள், அழகு சாதனப் பொருட்கள், அலங்காரப் பொருட்கள், கள், ஆண்களுக்கான பட்டு வேட்டிகள், நூல் வேட்டிகள், ா செட், பேண்ட், சேட் டுக்கள், றெடிமேட் ஆடைகள்
ம், அமெரிக்காவில் இருந்து விஷேடமாக இறக்குமதி செய்யப்பட்ட நக்கும் நாடவேண்டிய இடம் 'வஷ்ரா சில்க்'
'வஷ்ரா சில்க்' தரும் அழகுத் தோற்றம் 'வஷ்ரா சில்க்'. றவாமல் நாடவேண்டிய இடம் "வஷ்ரா சில்க்' இரு கரம் கூப்பி வரவேற்கிறோம்.

Page 35
MBER 1994
GLEN EXPRES
155. Notting Hill Ga
Telephone: 071221 3
COMPETTT FARES TO COLOMBO, MADRAS, 1 TRIWANDRI SINGAPOR AUSTRAL,
2 AMTALE
Kuwait Airl Emi
ALL MAUOR CREDI COMPETITIVE FARES TO OTH

STRAVEL LTD
te, London W11 3LF
498 Fax: 071. 243 8277
VVE
FRICHY U/
'E
WITH STOP IN COLOMBO,
A WITH STOP W COLOWBO
Airways anka
rates
T CARDS ACCEPTED
ER DESTINATIONS AVALABLE

Page 36
SHIPPING AIRFR TO COLOMBO AND OTHE
PERSONAL EFFECTS, HOUSEHOLD GOC Appointed MAIN AGEN
Passenger Tickets & Uma
Special sov fares fri: L MADRMSTRIWEN) RUUMITRICH'' 1ւն
(NL) Stop in Colombo) - 10 5 է: IL ME C:
AIRLANKA FOT E 4Ք5 ዖኒll GULF 15 : KLIWIWIT E գԱC)
E| IATE 55 M PHC)'Y'NIL JORDANIA Կ` 4EÜ TR
14 Allied Way, of Warple Telephone: OB1-740-837 F2-4-2 ele
TRICO INTERNATIONAL
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Trico International Shipping Ltd S
Unit d, Building "C"The Business Central Wood Green,
Clarendon Rd, London N22 6X.) Tel: 081-8888787 Fax: ().8-8895445
 
 
 
 
 
 

REIGHT TRAVEL
-R WORLWIDE DESTINATIONS
3DS, WEHICLES AND MACHINERIES
T for AIR LANKA
CCOTT|pa nied Baggage
Wria CCOT panied Baggage rates COLOMBO:
a Freight - E 9.00 per Tea Chest
-- $2.00 per cu. ft.
" Freight - E3000 per 10 Kg.
" 50 far additična | Kg.)
"DRAS ---- E 1.50 per Kg. IWENORUM ... : * 80 par Kg.
WAREHOUSE IN COLOMBO
SLIMITED Way, Acton, London WOR
է (IBM - AE (IEEE;
25, GENCG
UNIWEST
INTERNATIONAL
3 O File:Il Bact Road, Landom N1 1 1 NA
Tcl : 081-3615087 4937
8-89544 Fax: 81-351 3498
All goods are lodged in a modern, fully computerised. Bonded warehouse (outside the Pori)
Ceylor Slipping Limes, 294||C) D.R. Wijlewarderia Mawasha Colombo 1). Tel: 4329945
WEARE THE BEST AND THE CHEAPEST
NOHIDDEN CHARGES
E8 5 PER TEA CHEST
TOCOLOMBO
Pianos (rew & used) and all Duty Free goods supplied
Travel Agents for Air Lanka, Kuwait, Emirates, Gulf Air, Air France, KLM, Royal ordanian, PIA and Balkan Airlines.
Katunayake International Airport Duty Free Shopping Guide available to our customers ind permissible Duty Free allowance on Oods shipped.