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LTTE commandos, disguised in Sri Lanka major oil storage tank, farms in Colombo (
 

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Bomb Attacks
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in military outfit, stormed and set ablaze two
20 Octobert.

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2 TAMIL TIMES
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15 OCTOBER 1995
do mot agree with a word
of what you say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it.
ISSN 0266-4488
Vol.XIV No. 10 15 OCTOBER 1995
Published by
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CONTENTS
News Review. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.
Oil Depots Set Ablaze in Bomb Attacks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Mass Rally in London. . . . . . . . . . 9 Tamils Tryst With Destiny. . . . . . 10
Will Devolution Lead to Peace... 13
Clearing the Hurdles to a Solution. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Government's Peace Plan - An Evaluation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Towards a South Asian Times... 19
Sub-Continental Scene. . . . . . . . 21
Book Review. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
The Value of Dissent. . . . . . . . . . 25
Hindu Congress Appeals. . . . . . 26 Readers Forum. . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Th
Operation Leap Operation Thunde played in moves c violence, death at being played in military encounte, Tigers. One is tre TVSCreens of Sri by the LTTE both The question is these games. W. participants have the injured on eith that those who h end-game and á participating in l Whether they hav But what is m majority of the civ life as any other Sacrifice their linn fell victims of the or those unsuspe tree and lost their raid by the Sri L becoming unwilli participants.
Without being positions of the relationship of for to emphasise in th and the ongoing recognition of the negotiations betw government and it is precisely expressed in thes Cessation of hosti government of F beginning of this hostilities in June Սudging from ! Tamil Tigers at from both the pt promises to be The death foll Seven weeks approximately around the Wor
"One question | this enormous of reaching you practical terms Since then, may Combatants and people among th aggravation of th question remains
One is not seek is wrong. In the human relationsh inhabited by pec variety of views a for the greatest h practicably possil
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

TAM TIMES 3
e Art of the Possible
onward, Operation Frog Jump, Operation Handshake, rbolt, and Operation Sunshine. These are not war games r in TV Shows to titilate and exCite the innate affliction for d destruction in the human psyche. These are war games real life in the war-torn areas of northern Sri Lanka in s between the Sri Lankan government forces and Tamil ted to episodes of these games chosen selectively on the Lanka, and through video tapes produced and distributed locally and abroad. whether the active participants enjoy their role in playing' lether it is so or not, the fact is that a large number of been losing their limbs and lives for real. The death toll and er side demonstate this factbeyond doubt. The factis also ave laid down their lives have Contributed to their own re not there to see the end of the game they were hey have no opportunity to come back to life and know 9 sacrificed their lives in vain or not. pre tragic and impermissible is when the overwhelming lian population in these areas who expect to leada normal group of normal people aspire to do are called upon to ls and lives in the course of these war games. Those who bombing in the precincts of the Navaly church (on 9th July) cting pupils of Nagarkoil school who took cover under a limbs or lives (on 22 September 1995) in another bombing ankan airforce are typical examples of non-participants g casualties in these war games conducted by willing
udgemental about the merit or otherwise of the declared parties to the conflict, and taking into account the ces on either side, time and time again it has been our task ese ColumnS that the ultimate Solution to the ethnic Conflict death and destruction in Sri Lanka ought to be by the legitimate aspirations of the Tamil people through political een the parties engaged in armed conflict, the Sri Lankan the LTTE. On the basis of the above assessment that views were e columns welcoming and enthusiastically supporting the lities agreement and the negotiations initiated between the resident Chandrika Kumaratunga and the LT TE at the year. That is why two months after the resumption of 1995 in these columns we posed the following question: he events since fighting resumed on April 19 between the ld government forces following the withdrawal of the LTTE eace process and the cessation of hostilities, Eelam War lll more gruesome, grisly and ghastly than the two that preceded. on either side, including among civilians within a matter of has risen to a staggering figure of over 600. That is 35 human beings each week. By any standard of conflicts d, that must surely be a record.
hat must be asked from those responsible for the sacrifice of number of human lives is a short and simple one: Has your aim r declared goal been advanced one iota in any meaningful and because of so many sacrifices made in such a short time?' ly months have passed, many more limbs and lives of both civilians have been lost, and many more thousands of civilian population have been displaced in a revengeful e tragic history of the past decade-and-a-half. But the still appropriate and unanswered.
ng an answer to establish whether one is right or the other ultimate analysis politics, as much as any other form of p, is the art of the possible. Living in an imperfect world ple of differing cultural and social backgrounds with a nd aspirations replete with contradictions, one must strive appiness and satisfaction for the most number of people le in a given historical situation.

Page 4
4 TAM TIMES
NEWS REVIEW
Military Offensive
18 October - After a week-long lull in the fighting in the northern Jaffna peninsula, Sri Lankan security forces launched the latest phase of their offensive code-named "Operation Sunshine' against the Tamil Tigers on 17 October.
Colombo circles considered the operation as the final phase of the military effort to capture the Tigerstronghold of Jaffna. However, military spokesman Brigadier Sarath Munasinghe said, "It's not the big one. It's simply an operation.'
As the fighting escalated in the north with at least 10 to 15 thousand troops backed by tanks, airforce planes and artillery seeking to advance from their newly captured positions following "Operation Thunder Strike', it was reported from the eastern port city of Trincomalee that a Black Sea Tiger suicide squad blew up a government cargo vessel anchored in the harbour, killing two naval officers, five soldiers and two civilians. The 21-metre vessel had been provided to the Navy by the Ministry of Fisheries to transport food supplies to the beleaguered northern Jaffna peninsula.
On the previous day (16 October), the Tigers killed at least 32 soldiers and wounded 23 more when they ambushed a contingent of troops on foot patrol at Chenkalady in eastern Batticaloa.
A LTTE news report said of the fighting in Jaffna that the security forces were resorting to heavy shelling and aerial bombardment and civilians were fleeing as the troops sought to advance amidst fierce fighting from Mathagal to Chulipuram and from Achchuveli and Puthur and that Valigagam north was being subjected to intense shelling. Heavy fighting continued in Navakkeri, Nilavarai and Urelu, 70 soldiers were killed, one army tank and two armoured personnel carriers were destroyed, a Tiger radio broadcast from Jaffna added.
The Operational headquarters of the army in Colombo was quoted as saying that more than 250 Tigers were wounded on the first day of the operation. The army lost 19 soldiers killed and 157 wounded.
13 October - The military offensive launched on 1 October was widely reported by commentators and diplomats in Colombo as an all-out effort to capture the northern Jaffna peninsula
from Tiger control, but government
spokesmen had described it as a “li
mited operation'. B. al shelling, no ma been reported durin However, inform ombo are of the v Tigers unilaterall peace process and 1 the government is the Tigers militaril to be to fight the Ti Jaffna on a phase defense analyst sai Since the war w sumed, government spend billions of military aircraft, n other forms of so ment and weaponir fighting capacity o The government re liamentary approva 8.6 billion rupees dollars) this year.
Speaking to rep sing the army's celebrations in Co mander Lt. Gen. C that the latest mili eration Thunder S security forces in a a final attack on added, "Nothing is The LTTE will tr selves in Jaffna at that they will not fight. If and when v will realise that thrown out of their of their heartland.' According to the "We have enteredt war.'
"Operation Thund ment forces nu thousand backed and attack aircraf phase of their muc sive in Jaffna in II on 1 October repc hundreds of death ing cadres of th advancing troops. naval gunboats an and the fear of a sulted in the disp. thousands of peopl The LTTE also su ber of casualties.
Following the fi sive code-named “ Strike', a milit announced that t anced 21 square k forward defence li northern military turing Achchuvel kiri, Wasvilan, Pu Avarankal, Iddaik that 51 Tigers a killed in the fighti

15 OCTOBER 195
sides the occasionor incidents have ; the last few days.
d sources in Col2w that since the abandoned the 2sumed hostilities, esolved to take on . The aim appears gers and take over by phase basis, a
ith the Tigers rehas been forced to upees to acquire rval gunboats and phisticated equipto strengthen the its armed forces. cently sought parl for an additional (165 million US
rters after addres47th anniversary lombo, army comFerry de Silva said tary offensive, “Optrike' had put the strong position for Jaffna town, and going to stop us. y to protect themall cost. We know give up without a ye take Jaffna, they they have been stronghold and out
army commander, he final phase of the
r Strike' : Governmbering several by tanks, artillery , launched another n anticipated offenorthern Sri Lanka rtedly resulting in among the resiste LTTE and the eavy shelling from the Palaly airbase vancing troops reacement of several from their homes. fered a large num
st day of the offen)peration Thunder try communique e troops had advometres from their es from their main lase at Palaly capThoppu, Navakhthur, Pathameni, du and Vallai, and 19 soldiers were g that ensued.
A convoy of naval supply vesses proceeding from the eastern port Trincomalee escorted by six navy gunboats came under attack on 2 October off the coast of Mullaitivu fom “Sesa Tiger' boats on the second day of the offensive. One naval supply ship, 'Rana Gaja' was badly damaged, 15 members of the forces killed, and some 54 soldiers and sailors aboard were wounded in the course of the encounter. The Navy claimed that government forces counter attacked and sank eight LTTE boats killing at least 30 Tigers.
As the fighting progressed into the following days it was reported that scores of soldiers and Tigers were injured or killed as the troops advanced. Military spokesmen later claimed that the troops killed over 250 Tigers (later increased to over 30 when they tried during the early hours
of 3 October to mount a counter attack
against the troops in an endeavour to retake the villages captured by the troops in the course of their advance. Tigers in large numbers launched an attack on the troops in Punnaliakadduwan, Navakkiri and Puththur west area in the early hours of 3 October, but they were beaten back with heavy casualties on their side, an army spokesman stated.
Initially the LTTE denied reports of heavy casualties on their side and a statement from their London headquartes stated that only 8 of their cadres had been killed. However, the Tiger leadership later conceded that at least 150 of their cadres had been killed. According to reports from Jaff. na, among the dead are a number of LTTE men belonging to its senior ranks.
A Tiger radio broadcast on 3 October said that heavy fighting was raging in the areas around Achchuveli. "Thousands of civilians are fleeing their homes towards Chavakachcheri' (situated south of Jaffna town). Some 50,000 people had been rendered homeless since the offensive began, the broadcast said.
A military communique issued on 4 October announced that the dead bodies of 108 male and 10 female LTTE cadres were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross by the security forces. Sri Lanka's TV network and newspapers in Colombo published photographs of scores of dead bodies of Tiger cadres arranged in rows and displaying weapons captured from the Tigers. Brigadier Sarath Munasinghe said on 5 October that the armed forces had recovered 152 dead bodies of Tiger cadres after the battle on 3 October.

Page 5
15 OCTOBER 1995
"Our information is that the LTTE lost over 300 of their trained and experienced cadres', he told a news conference in Colombo.
Munasinghe added that three senior ranked cadres, including the LTTE's women's wing leader, were killed in the battle. He speculated that there was much dissension at the level of the Tiger leadership and that the Tiger intelligence chief Pottu Amman had been removed from his position just before "Operation Thunder Strike' began and replaced by a person identified as Kapil Amman.
A statement issued on 4 October by the LTTE said that "A major battle took place between the LTTE forces and the Sri Lankan Government forces in Navakiri, Puthur, and Avarangal areas during the early hours on 3 October. The LTTE launched a counter offensive against the military at 2.30 am and a fierce battle lasted more than 4 hours. The counter offensive was led by the Tigers Women's Brigade which penetrated several kilometers deep into the military lines and attacked on several fronts with light mortars and light machine guns. During the counter attack the LTTE forces were confronted by a barrage of heavy machine gunfire, mortar attack and cannon fire. A massive. blitz of several thousand shells was unleashed by the military to prevent the LTTE from overrunning their newly established positions. Close hand to hand fights erupted on several fronts.
During the four hours the military kept the skies above the battle field ablaze with continuous para flares. 150 LTTE fighters attained martyrdom in this battle. The military also sustained heavy casualties.
"The Sri Lankan Government forces continued to shell civilian areas all day yesterday. This resulted in the death of 8 civilians including 3 children. More than 30 civilians were seriously injured. The shells were directed away from the battlefront into Point Pedro, Thunnalai, Irupalai, Kopay, Neerveli and Urumpirai.
A Tiger broadcast on 5 October said that the civilian death toll in the latest offensive was 22 and the number of displaced people was 75,000. Food Shortage : The intensified fighting between government forces and the Tamil Tigers in northern Jaffna has led to an acute food shortage threatening near starvation of the civilian population, according to reports from Jaffna.
"Areas like Puththur, Avarankal and Achchuveli where the fighting had occurred and have been captured by the troops are farming areas. Now
the farmers have b so there is no produ no flour, nor veget from Jaffna is repor
. A statement rele in Jaffna on 11 ( according to annou Jaffna Secretariat ( Agent, all reserves supplies have now The last stock of 40 distributed to baker adchi area in the J provide food for the of displaced person out of the areas rec government troops.
The LTTE's stat the Director of Plar Secretariat, Mr. K had made urgent p. ment in Colombo ! shipment of emerg the peninsula. In stated that 'such a arisen in the penins general population starvation. Further unavailability of flo bread, the essentia come to a halt as of though all food br shipment was ratic further stocks ava Please take immed food supplies to the
The Government Colombo confirmed food shortage in Ja
Children Killed in E least 68 people, ir children, were kil hundred others wou aircraft dropped bo: of a school in the Kovil near Point ) Jafna on 22 Septe
In a statement re 23 September, Mei teres (MSF) (Doct( tiers), which has so working in war-tor nearly 200 persor when bombs fell nea 150 children who died within three ho to hospital. subsequ children died in hos
, Although milita! itially denied any
incident, it later tı aircraft's target wa erected near the sc to commemorate Th niverary, but bomb, hitting the school waiting under a tre

een displaced, and ction. Now there is tables, a resident ted to have said.
ased by the LTTE Dctober said that, ncement from the of the Government of emergency food
been exhausted. ) tons of flour was ies in the Tenmaraffna peninsula to significant number s who had moved :ently captured by
ement added that ning of the Jaffna K. Pathmanathan, leas to the governfor the immediate ency provisions to his message, he situation has not ula since 1990, the is on the brink of more, due to the ur all production of l staple food, has 10.10.95. . . .Even ought in the last ned there are no ailable in , Jaffna. iate steps to send
north'. .
Agent who was in on 11 October that ffna was acute.
Bombing Raid : At cluding 42 school led and over one unded when attack mbs in the vicinity
village of NagarPedro in northern mber.
eleased in Paris on decins Sans Fron)rs Without Fronme of its members n Jaffna, said that ns were wounded r a school. Of some were wounded 15 ours of being taken ently a further 27 pital.
ry spokesmen in
knowledge of the ranspired that the s a decorative tent hool by the Tigers lileepan's death ansmissed the target children who were
e.
TAM TIMES 5
EPDP Leader Escapes Assassination Bid
The leader of the Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP), Douglas Devananda, MP, narrowly escaped assassination, when a squad of suspected Tamil Tiger gunmen stormed the party's fortress-like headquarters along Park Road in Colombo on 10 October.
Four of the EPDP leader's associates and bodyguards were killed in the attack while the EPDP leader is reported to have escaped by jumping out through a window at the rear of the building and taking cover in the neighbouring domestic garden. Until Devananda surfaced in public the following day, there was speculation that the Tigers had kidnapped him.
The attackers used AK-47 assault rifles, a barrage of grenades and a 40 mm rocket propelledgrenade to penetrate into the heavily fortified premises, which doubles up as Devananda's home as well, with a steel-plated gate always manned by armed cadres of the EPDP.
It is clearly the LTTE's work. They should know that it is not easy to kill me. We have been in this game before, Devananda said. "They want to get me because they know that we're emerging as the alternative Tamil leadership that will replace the LTTE in the north. The LTTE wants us wiped out because it has been affected by our strategy and approach to the Tamil problem and its fear of our increasing popularity, he added.
Mr. Devananda said that he and his comrades fought off the heavily armed attackers for some 20 minutes before "withdrawing with others from the premises for lack of ammunition.
"I am certain it was an LTTE job. Their target was Devananda,” Colombo's police chief G.B. Koakadeniya told newsmen.
Tamil political parties, including the EPRLF, PILOTE and SLMC condemned the attack and the attempt on the EPDP leader's life.
Censorship
The imposition of censorship on military related news by the Sri Lankan Government as from 21 September came into severe condemnation mainly by the print media and organisations of journalists. The government's announcement required the obtaining of prior approval from the Competent Authority for the publication or trans
Continued on page 6

Page 6
6 TAM TIMES
Continued from page 5
mission of any "military related news' within or outside Sri Lanka.
But within four days the government relented in the face of criticism and lifted the censorship on the foreign media. "The government accepted the point that the censorship is damaging its standing in the international community, and decided to exempt the foreign media from being subjected to censorship', Mr. Edmund Jayasinghe, the Competent Authority said on 26 September. “You are allowed to report everything as you had been doing. But please do not write anything that leads to a chaotic situation in the country, he added.
"The government has a right to impose censorship to safeguard military secrets and sensitive information. But it cannot use censorship as an excuse to crack down on the media', Waruna Karunatilleke, Chairman of the Free Media Movement said. Referring to the lifting of censorship on the foreign media while continuing to subject the local media, Mr. Karnatilleke said, "If the argument for imposing the censorship was that the rebels were gathering intelligence from the media. . . they can still obtain this information from the international media.'
In the meantime, the opposition United National Party (UNP), has encouraged the newsmedia to institute proceedings in the country's Supreme Court alleging infringement of fundamental rights on the grounds that the governments censorship regulation discriminates between foreign and local media.
The Emergency (Restriction on Publication and Transmission of Sensitive Military Information) Regulation, No.1 of 1995 promulgated on 21 September prohibited the publication or transmission of any material containing any matter which pertains to any operations carried out, or proposed to be carried out, by the Armed Forces or the Police Force (including the Special Task Force), the procurement of arms or supplies by any such Forces, the deployment or use of equipment, including aircraft or naval vessels, by any such Forces.’
It has been suggested that the government’s move to control the publication of military related news was linked to the ongoing war effort against the Tigers in northern Sri Lanka.
A government communique said, "The government has subjected the publication and broadcasting of news within and outside Sri Lanka on the operations and related activities of the armed forces and police to the approv
al of a Competent government perceiv ponsible reporting o the armed forces by ers and electronic mr the interests of the public. Distortion of operations impedes this national crisis morale of the forces.
Facing a barrage C from journalists at a in Colombo on 21 Se of Information Mr. nayake sought to de ment against accusa position of the cens that the governmen its free media policy.
Hoping that the ce) temporary and short ter said, “We are a ve people. The concep' culture has not been government.” Linki ment's decision to im what he described reporting by some added, "Certain secti publish huge exagg think anywhere in th makes such revelati tions.'
"Sometimes papers which might even inc ethnic violence. The siders it a national ( communal peace and
Amnesty Ap Civilian Pro
Amid reports of a sive looming in the Lanka, Amnesty Ir urgently appealed to government and the l of Tamil Eelam (LT necessary measures lians and others taki in the fighting.
“At the very least, si be introduced to avoi arbitrary killings of ci persons who, having part in the hostilitie involved in fighting ness, wounds, detent cause, Amnesty Intel
The human rights also urging both parti detainees are not sub - including rape - a and that the sick, th
those who are detaine
der are protected fi
reprisal and violence
tage-taking.
Appeals are being

15 OCTOBER 1995
Authority. The d that the irresnews related to certain newspapedia has harmed country and the facts on military ttempts to solve and affects the
fangry questions press conference tember, Minister Dharmasiiri Semafend the governions that the imorship was proof had abandoned
nsorship would be lived, the Minisry liberal-minded of free media abandoned by the ng the governpose censorship to as "irresponsible newspapers', he ons of the press erations. I don't e world the press ons and accusa
publish things cite communal or government conluty to maintain
calm.'
peals for otection
arge-scale offennortheast of Sri ternational has the Sri Lankan liberation Tigers TE}) to take all to protect civing no active part
afeguards should id deliberate and vilians and those taken an active , are no longer because of sickon or any other national said.
organization is es to ensure that lected to torture ld ill-treatment, e wounded and or who surrenom all acts of — including hos
ent today amid
reports of an escalation of the armed conflict in the Jaffna peninsula. The Jaffna area in the north of Sri Lanka is predominantly under the control of the LTTE- the main armed opposition group fighting for a separate Tamil state called Eelam in the northeast of the country. An estimated 800,000 civilians currently live there.
Although Amnesty International does not address the general issue of military tactics, the appeal is based on concerns for the life and safety of civilians, prisoners and the wounded in view of widespread human rights abuses reported in the context of previous offensives.
The organisation is calling on both parties to at least give unimpeded access to all areas under their control, including all places of detention, to fact-finding and other missions dispatched by humanitarian and intergovernmental organizations, including the International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees.
Amnesty International is also appealing for Sri Lanka to become a party to Protocol II Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 relating to the protection of victims of non-international armed conflicts.
Trade Unions Back Political Package
The final proposals of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Constititional Reform 'should be capable of winning the confidence of national minorities, says a statement issued by a group of major trade unions. The grouping of 22 labour organisations, which has generally endorsed the Government's devolution package, comprises both trade union federation close to Government political parties as well as several large independent trade unions.
The union statement said:
“We consider the Peoples Alliance Government’s presentation of devolution proposals for deliberation by the Select Committee of parliament as a bold and sincere attempt to bring about a political solution to the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka. The Government’s peace initiatives including its devolution proposals, have received sympathy and support of international circles which have called upon the LTTE to enter into peace negotiations with the government on that basis. We wish to underline that this development constitutes a vital factor for the success of the peace process launched by the government.

Page 7
15 OCTOBER 1995
“As the ethnic conflict intensified, the workers, in the Northern and Eastern regions drifted away from the mainstream of the trade union movement to the detriment of working class struggles. As the war escalated, the then government utilised the Public Security Act to trample upon and to put burdens on the working class. Under these conditions our trade unions campaigned consistently for a political solution to the ethnic conflict.
"Narrow communalist concepts fanned the flames of war for 12 long years at the cost of about 50,000 lives. People are being killed daily. Those who suffer loss of life in the war are mostly, sons and daughters of the working people. On the other hand war's ravages result in large scale destruction of resources that are vitally needed for the development of the country. It is our bounden duty to prevent this immense destruction of life and resources by bringing about a political solution conducive to restoration and consolidation of confidence among the nationalities in the country.
'A frame work for wider regional autonomy towards a just settlement of the ethnic problem is contained in the government's proposals. There is room for improvement of these proposals through discussion in the parliamentary select committee. The proposals are also currently being widely discussed in the country. These discussions are sometimes assuming the form of an attempt to devalue and weaken the proposals, rendering them unacceptable to the Tamil and Muslim minorities. Such endeavours do not represent an honest quest for ethnic peace. We appeal to all the working people to extend their cooperation for the solution of this conflict, taking into careful consideration all national and international realities, without giving in to communalism.
"Certain people are advocating the pursuance of the war without advancing proposals for devolution of power. They contend that the separatists can be defeated militarily without putting forward devolution proposals. As we see, it is only a utopian hope which ignores the national and international realities. The attempts to lay by the devolution proposals at this juncture are in fact a service rendered for the separatists. We cannot forget that the rationale for separatism was provided by none other than communalists on both sides.
Even if it is assumed that the LTTE could be defeated solely by military means, that will not eliminate the causes that led to the war.
"Even though the LTTE has stated
that they reject proposals in toto, th cognizance of them tary select commit solution successf doubtedly be a pov the LTTE to enter any case, we woul attention of the gov that talks will hav with the LTTE in solution to this con
"It is quite clear osals of the parlian mittee should be the confidence of t ities. It will be the d tee to evolve a s enable proposals foi live peacefully as rights in a unite appeal to the worki lead in realising t the large majority ple today for peace
US Congr Negotiat
A resolution enco process in Sri Lan out dissent in the
sentatives recently
US House of F solution 181 calle negotiate in good ending the current Lanka and to findi political settleme: ethnic conflict whi ritorial integrity o
It said a politica 'appropriate const and adequate pro rights' is the pat comprehensive pea
The House of R expressed a "willin provide the good C States to help rest flict in Sri Lanka parties to the conf
The motion depl of fighting by the called on the LTT negotiating table State Department major terrorist org
“The LTTE is Wic engaged in politic cluding the murde ing candidate for t idency and the President Ranasin
The Represent the commitment to strated by the La fiance of brutal ac ism'. They also cor

AMIL TIMES 7
the Government's ley cannot but take ... If the parliamentee can work out a ully, it will unwerful influence on into peace talks. In d like to draw the ernment to the fact e to be held even working out a final flict.
that the final propnentary select comapable of winning he national minoruty of that commitolution which will rall nationalities to citizens with equal d Sri Lanka. We ng class to take the he expectations of of Sri Lankan peo
'ess Backs ed Peace
ouraging the peace ka was passed withUS House of Repre
epresentatives Red on 'all parties to faith with a view to t armed strife in Sri ng a just and lasting nt to Sri Lanka's le assuring the terf the country'.
l solution, including itutional structures tection of minority h to a lasting and ace in Sri Lanka.
Eepresentatives also gness in principle to ffices of the United blve the ethnic cona, if so desired by lict”. ored the resumption LTTE in April and E to return to the , noting that the has named it as a ganisation. lely believed to have all assassination inr in 1994 of a leadhe Sri Lankan preskilling in 1993 of ghe Premadasa'. atives commended ) democracy demonnkan people ‘in dets of wanton terrormplimented the gov
ernment for the significant improvement in the area of human rights.
Several speakers who addressed the House on the resolution commended the 'good efforts of the Sri Lankan government to work for peace, adding that the motion recognised the 'very real efforts of the government to respect basic human rights and achieve a just peace'.
They also said that the LTTF withdrew from negotiations and resumed military operations against the government without provocation and in violation of the cesefire.
Referring to the government's devolution package, they said "we can all applaud this effort to settle Sri Lanka's problems politically rather than militarily. If our government can play a role it would be an honour for all of us to help end the bloodshed'.
Amnesty Welcomes Action Against Death Squads
Last week's arrests of 18 members of the security forces and seven civilian informants suspected of being responsible for the ‘disappearance”, torture and killing of at least 21 people should send a clear message to the security forces that human rights violations will not be tolerated, Amnesty International said recently.
Ten of those arrested are members of the Special Task Force (STF), an elite police commando unit, and there are also reports that the head of STF has been suspended by President Chandrika Bandaranalike Kumaratunga.
"While welcoming the arrests and suspension, we urge the Sri Lankan government to take all necessary steps to ensure that the criminal investigations underway will progress smoothly and that those responsible will promptly be brought to justice, the human rights organization said.
Amnesty International is also calling on the government to ensure that the fate or whereabouts of all people reported to have recently "disappeared be fully clarified and that the relatives of the victims be granted adequate compensation.
Thirteen of the victims found have been identified as Tamils abducted in the capital Colombo in the last few months; their bodies were later found in lakes and rivers in the vicinity of the capital.
During a press conference on 30 August, the head of the police's Criminal Investigation Department in charge of the investigations of the
Continued on page 8

Page 8
8 TAML TIMES
Continued from page 7
abductions in Colombo announced that they had found evidence that the victims had been tortured and strangled with plastic handcuffs. The victims were then left in a disused toilet in the headquarters of the STF before being dumped in lakes and rivers in the vicinity of the capital.
On 29 June, President Kumaratunga had ordered an investigation into the discovery of, at the time, 11 bodies in Bolgoda Lake, south of Colombo.
Amnesty Intern expressed concerr re-emergence of t appearances' whic spread in the peric
"Disappearances ported again, pal northeast and th following the resul of fighting in the country between and the Liberatio Eelam (LTTE), the opposition group.
Oil Depots Set Ab in Bomb Attack
22 OCTOBER - Huge fireballs lit up the pre-dawn sky as tens of thousands of tons of oil were put to the torch when Tamil Tiger commandos carried out a spectacular devastating earlymorning attack on 20 October at about 1.45 am blowing up two oil storage tank farms located only a short distance away from Sri Lanka's capital. In two simultaneous attacks, the Tigers stormed the country’s two largest oil storage facilities thus delivering what has been described as a big blow to the government's military operations in the north.
As government troops escalated their offensive operations in the Tiger stronghold of the Jaffna peninsula, the LTTE attack on an important installation close to the capital was described as a retaliatory attempt to move the theatre of war to the south and divert the military resources away from Jaff na. The message implicit in this attack from the LTTE high command seems to be, "If you hit us in the north, we will hit you in the South.'
At least twenty-five security service personnel, including airforce men and two civilians were killed in the simultaneous attack on two oil installations, one at Kolonnawa and the other at Orugodawatte a few miles away. A Reuters' correspondent saw the bodies of seven airforce personnel, one policeman and two civilians at the main gate of the Kolonnawa oil storage depot and body parts of a suspected Tiger suicide bomber.
Security forces later seized a lorry struck) with rocket-propelled grenade launcher, grenades, bomb-packed suicide vests, wirecutters, plastic explosives, medicines and some items of food, said to have been used in the attack. It is suspected that the attackers might have concealed themselves in the lorry which was stuffed with spacking cases of fish and piles of old
newspapers. Four the lorry, over pow planted explosives of the attackers sives blew himself puty Inspector ( H.M.G.B. Kotakad referring to the att wa oil depot.
"Two separate g Kolonnawa comple in order to ensur would make it thr part of a wider LT vital installations. security around w national television, said. He acknowled fears that Colombo lities could be pois
About three ho broke out, eight gu the Kolonnawa de Lankan soldiers opened fire at the A told the press. At l men were invoved said.
The police also arrested six LTTE ing the driver of th attack who was la person from northe lowing the oil dep spector General ol jaguru, was quotec those who particip had either been ar was also said tha located the premis attack was plannec
The Kolonnawa
storage facilities h the island's impor the fire spread, th fuel shrouded the ( urbs in black
thousands of resid homes. Despite app

lational had earlier about the recent he pattern of 'dish had been so wide
d 1988-1990.
started to be reticularly from the e capital Colombo, mption in mid-April e northeast of the the security forces in Tigers of Tamil main armed Tamil
laze
KS
attackers arrived in ered the guards and on the tanks. One packed with exploup', Colombo's Degeneral of Police,
eniya told newsmen ack on the Kolonna
roups attacked the ex from either side 2 that at least one ough. This could be TE effort to attack
We are increasing vater facilities and 'Mr. Kotakadeniya ged that there were 's water supply facioned.
purs after the fire nmen tried to enter pot disguised as Sri
in uniform, and Airforce jeep,' police east 19 to 20 LITTE in the attack, they
claimed they had commandos, includhe lorry used in the ter identified as a ern Kilinochchi, follot attack. The Inf Police, W.B. Ral as saying that all ated in the attack rested or killed. It it the police have es from which the
.
and Orugodawatte old virtually all of ted petroleum. As e blazing tanks of apital and its subs moke, ca u sing ents to flee their eals on state radio
15 остовен 1995
and television not to panic, terrified residents fled the area fearing that the fire could spread and engulf them.
As tensions escalated, two Tamil persons were violently attacked and killed in apparent revenge for the attack on the oil installations. A police spokesman said that the two men killed might have been mistaken for LTTE men who took part in the attack.
The government also imposed a curfew in the greater Colombo area ostensibly for the purpose of preventing a backlash against Tamils living in the south and also to help to carry out a search for the attackers. Security was tightened in the capital and important locations like the Kattunayake international airport, railway stations and other sensitive buildings were put under round-the-clock surveilance.
As a direct consequence of the destruction of almost the entire stock of oil, military officials expresed concern that the loss of the oil could affect the ongoing military operations in the north. The government also imposed restrictions on the sale of petrol to motorists and limited the supply of aviation fuel to international airlines which were advised to refuel their planes from outside Sri Lanka.
As troops and fire-fighters rushed to the burning depot, the attackers opened fire, cutting down 23 soldiers and wounding 36 others at the Kolonnawa depot. In the ensuing shootout between the attackers and the troops, the BBC correspondent in Colombo, George Arney, reportedly sustained shrapnel wounds to the neck and face when a bullet hit the wall next to him. "I saw a group of soldiers running at a crouch and then one lifted his rifle and levelled it at us,” said Mr. Arney, who was with the BBC producer Razia Iqbal taking cover next to a small Buddhist shrine.
"I waved my notebook at him and said: "Don't shoot, Press BBC'. And then he shot. I don't blame the soldier', Arney said. "It was dark, he didn't know who I was. It just happened.'
The heat from the oil storage tanks was so fierce that firefighters had no choice but to watch helplessly as they burned out of control. The government appealed to India for personnel and equipment to put out the fire, and within a few hours of the request, Indian assistance had reportedly arrived on the scene.
The value of the tanks destroyed is estimated at £6 million and destroyed oil at £12 million according to the Chairman of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation.

Page 9
15 OCTOBER 1995
Ranil Wickremasinghe, the leader of the Official Opposition and the United National Party said in parliament that he was shocked that President Kumaratunga had flown out to attend the 50th anniversary celebrations of the United Nations in New York even after learning about the blasting of the oil depots.
Government spokesmen asserted that the attack on the oil installations would not result in the change of plans as far as the military operations in the north were concerned. Just because Kolonnawa is in flames, we are not going to change our plans. We will continue with determination,' the State Minister for Defense Col. Anurudha Ratwatte told the press.
73 Civilians Killed: Tension was further heightened when reports began to circulate about the slaughter of 73 Sinhalese civilians, men, women and children, from three villages in the east of the country during the early
hours of 21 Octol Tigers did not accel these murders, th placed the blame ol
aSS8Ce.
Most of the victi with knives, sword were killed at Poon kane between Polo caloa, 16 were kill ma in Amaparai : killed at Padaviya district.
As fears of renev lence directed aga among Tamils livin government reimpc few and troops ar ployed in large nu ombo area to preve such violence. ( opposition politicial people in radio anc remain calm. They of seeking to provc
Mass Rally in London
An estimated 7,000 Tamils participating in a massive indoor rally at Alexandra Palace in London on 9 September, called for the recognition of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam as the true representatives of the Tamil people. This massive turn out was easily the largest ever indoor Tamil gathering in London. More than 25 Eelam Tamil associations in Great Britain participated in the Rally and condemned Sri Lanka's genocidal onslaught on the Tamil homeland and called for the ending of arm sales by Britain to Sri Lanka.
The five hour rally commenced with a live Nathaswaram recital and the Tamil Eelam flag was raised in the hall by a Tamil mother whose son had given his life in the struggle. Life size video clips of Velupillai Pirabakaran, moving amongst the people of Tamil Eelam were shown on a large screen on the stage, together with his statements on the underlying nature of the Tamil struggle for self determination.
The General Secretary of the United Kingdom Federation of Tamil Associations, Dr. N. Sathchitanandan who was the first speaker, said: "It is not for President Chandrika Kumaratunga to determine who were the true representatives of the Tamil people. The Tamil people know who it is who has defended them and who it is who is struggling to establish their right to self determination. It is Velupillai Pirabakaran and the Liberation Tigers who are the true representatives
of the Tamil peopl Speakers pointe called political pac hide the ugly milit Lanka governn Kumaratunga has the Buddhist Hig thing will be finali over they said.
Rev. Richard Wo Church of Australi flown from Austr expressed his solida struggle for self pointed out that it and violence of th which had led to th armed resistance ( led by the Liberat. Eelam.
Mr. M. Vasant five months ago Chairman of Sri I sion, said that the ment had used th "tactical episode'
Past copies of available for sa the present ser 14. The price C £25 by surface each volume in is US$45/Ca Australian dollar
be drawn on
only. Those requested to s draft/money or Tamil Til The Circulatior Times Ltd., P.O Surrey SM

TAMIL TIMES 9
er. Although the t responsibility for 2 police promptly the Tigers for the
ns had been killed s or machetes. 31 alikatuwa in Welihnarwa and Battid at Managalagand the rest were
in the Weli Oya
red communal vioinst them spread g in the south, the sed a full day curd police were dembers in the Colnt any outbreak of overnment and ns appealed to the TV broadcasts to accused the LTTE ke a violent back
lash against the Tamils by the Sinhalese as in July 1983. "On behalf of the government, I wish to appeal to all sections of the people of Sri Lanka not to be influenced by rumours and false propaganda which will lead to a breach of the peace,' Information Minister Dharmasiri Senanayake appealed.
The LTTE would very much like a backlash against the Tamils living in the south. For them, that is the best way to force the army to withdraw troops from the north. This is a national crisis and we must help to maintain law and order or prevent any violence against the Tamils living in the south, Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe said.
However others speculated that these attacks in the east were aimed to distract the military from concentrating their troops in their northern offensive.
d out that the so kage was a mask to tary face of the Sri ment. “President already promised h Priests that nosed until the war is
oton, of the United a, who had specially alia for the Rally, arity with the Tamil determination and was the oppression e Sri Lankan state e rise of the lawful if the Tamil people on Tigers of Tamil
harajah, who until had functioned as anka State TeleviSri Lanka governe peace talks as a in its attempt to
undermine Tamil resistance and marginalise the Liberation Tigers. "It was a tactic which had miserably failed, he said to rousing applause from the audience. He said that he had little doubt that if Sri Lanka recognised the existence of the Tamil nation and its right to self determination and also recognised the Liberation Tigers as the true representatives of the Tamil people, the two parties to the armed conflict would be able to talk to each other on equal terms and work out durable peace in the island. Mr. Nadesan Satyendra, Legal Adviser to the International Secretariat of the LTTE also addresed the gathering.
The Rally concluded with the gathering standing up and declaring in unison: (1) "We condemn the genocide of the Tamil people by Sri Lanka; (2) We call upon the British government to stop selling arms to Sri Lanka; and (3) We recognise the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam as the true representatives ot the Tamil people.'
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Page 10
10 TAM TIMES
Tamils Tryst With D
by former Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer
The time has come for a full-fledged federal statehood for the Tamil community inhabiting the North-East of Sri Lanka for several cultural centuries, with linguistic-ethnic identity and territorial integrity, as a homeland within a sovereign Sri Lankan republic for whose economic development and ethological diversity the Tamils have made priceless, perennial contributions. The impregnable reality of Tamil human integrity was violated for a half a century by myopic leaders of the Sinhala majority, hardly realising that repression is the midwife of reprisal and timely statesmanship is the mother of conflict resolution.
The discriminatory acerbity reached exasperative extremes since the early Eighties; and Sinhala chauvinism, abetted by the state forces, made savage attacks on the Tamil minority and tore down a happy human future for that lovely island. When despair leaves no option but to “do or die”, even a pacific human collective, bonded by agony and ethnic, religious or other deep chord, will turn militant, terrorist or tigerish, since they have nothing to lose except their precarious life and self-defence becomes a sacred human right. So emerged from the harrowing ashes of inhumanity the menacing phenomenon of a death-defying youth with bloodshot eyes ready to inflict atrocities, all other doors being closed.
India, during Indira Gandhi's time tried to negotiate through G. Parthasarathy, but failed. Rajiv Gandhi benignly dropped food and medicine by air to the besieged people of Jaffna; but the mediation that followed betrayed the golden opportunity because of the canny cunning of MR. J.R. Jayewardene exploiting the goofy vanity of Rajiv whose constructive intent was entirely derailed.
Constitution
The rashness and immaturity made the Jayewardene-Rajiv accord an unwitting treachery where Indian blood was avoidably wasted on the island's north and turned a friendly community into a hateful enemy.
Humiliated, the great Indian army returned home and the LTTE proved its bitter bravery, military strategy and unconquerable spirit. And that dastardly, ghastly assassination of Rajiv was a hasty horror for which history may claim from the LTTE its price.
A serendipitous crescent of hope
arose from that lon amid landmines a nancy, long in ges sudden new turn in Chandrika Kumara urgency of a posit dangerous, campai honour, coexistence sovereign Sri Lank large chunk of autc able price of self-det nising with soverei
Ms. Kumaratung ing and courageous with sufficient devc the Tamils campaig success and won t mandate from the Wan moonlight ind ka rising in the S. skyl
She accepted the any negotiations to karan had to be col more than the LT has its own logic settlement sans th has a dog's chance.
Waves of violenc tion of their basic Emergency, accent the Tamils. Of cou sombre years of steeled their hear destruction weapol indulged in bloodt an alibi for Tamill
In the light of la Sri Lanka Friends formed at Madura dent. Our stand, ences, was geared islanders. When wi Hong Kong, specif commendations em discussions held il phere.
A full federal de a categorical impel stability. The fla must be uniquely S the specifics of Ta demographic com April '95 we met high level particip close to the LTTE cerpts from the below under the proposals for expec cess in Sri Lanka direction and dime of powers (vis-a-vi
We, who gathe

15 OCTOBER 1995
estiny
hunger for peace d tragedies. Poigation, produced a the person of Ms. tunga who felt the ve, daring, albeit gn for peace with and amity under a an sky, granting a nomy as an inevitermination harmognty. w a, with a convincmanifesto of peace lutionary space for ined with stunning he elections and a Sinhala majority. eed, with Chandriri Lankan political
proposition that for win, Mr. Prabhanvinced. Tamils are TE but realpolitik and so, no Tamil e LTTE acceptance
:e and the deprivarights, through an uated the torture of rse, the LTTE, as suffering passed, ts, acquired mass ns and occasionally hirsty barbarity as human liberation.
er events an Indiahip Association was i with me as presiat various conferto the good of the , as a group, met in c constitutional reerged in the light of a friendly atmos
volution of power is ative of Sri Lankan our of the model ri Lankan, meeting mil aspirations and osition. Again, in n Hong Kong with tion, even by those and Colombo. Exoposals are given title "Hong Kong ting the peace proand projecting the |sions of devolution the North-East)'.
ed in Hong Kong
from April 11 to 14, 1995, to discuss ways and means of expediting the peace process already under way in Sri Lanka, are presenting these proposals to the Sri Lankan Government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the fervent hope that those would help the parties arrive at an early solution.
We specified immediate confidencebuilding measures and Constitutional changes.
In view of addressing the root causes to the current conflict, we believe the following Constitutional arrangements are necessary for the resolution of the conflict:
Article 1 of the Constitution of Sri Lanka shall read as follows:
Sri Lanka (Ceylon) is a free, sovereign, secular, independent and democratic socialist republic and shall be known as the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.
Article 2 of the Constitution of Sri Lanka shall read as follows:
The Republic of Sri Lanka shall be a Federal State.
The powrs enjoyed by each state may vary according to its needs and circumstances.
The basic unalterable features of the Constitution: Notwithstanding any other provisions in the Constitution. the following shall be paramount. (a The human rights enshrined in the chapter on Fundamental Rights, the dignity of the individual, the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law in conformity with the principle of equality before the law and equal protection of the laws shall be inviolable and enforceable at the instance of every citizen and against any official of the state and constitutional functionaries and authorities, without period of limitations.
(b) The boundary and the devolved subjects of the states shall not in any manner be amended without such amendments being passed by both the national assembly and the state assembly/assemblies to which such amendment is applicable.
Critique
(c) Every Fundamental Right inscribed in the Constitution shall neither be invalidated by any promulgation of emergency nor shall it be suspended or restricted either by the President or by Parliament.
(d) The right to life and liberty as laid down in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights shall be a basic feature of the Constitution.
(e) Any implementation of a truly federal Constitution will envisage

Page 11
15 OCTOBER 1995
safeguarding its basic structure and no amendment should lead to the erosion of the federal character of the Constitution. The official language of Sri Lanka shall be Sinhala and Tamil. English shall be the link language.
The present temporary integration of the North-East should be made permanent, subject to the creation of separate regional councils which would ensure the realisation of the political aspirations of the Muslim minority in the North-East State.
We call upon the negotiating parties to take measures to alleviate the misgivings of the Sinhalese communities in the North-East. Fields of executive and legislative power in respect of the following subjects, among others, shall be exercised by the states exclusively: Land, law and order, education including higher education, regional taxation and regional foreign aid.
The federation shall reflect the national character, giving due representation of all the regions in all national institutions.
The signatories include me, Mr. Justice Dorab Patel, (Human Rights chief and formerly of the Supreme Court of Pakistan); Mr. Kannabiran, President, PUCL; Mr. Param Cumaraswamy (Malaysia), President LAWASIA; Rev. Wootto n, GeneralSecretary, Australian Human Rights Foundation;
Representatives of the Sinhala monks and of the Christian community, Dr. Sathananthan (close to LTTE); Mr. Hakeem, MP of the Muslim Congress and others who have been in the Sarvodaya and other conciliation movements in Sri Lanka.
Our creative proposals, prepared with imaginative sensitivity and response to reality, were communicated to both sides without publicity at that confidential stage. But now battles have broken out. Violence often justifies itself. But why not give one last chance for truce and talks?
When people are gripped by passion, reason is muted but wisdom cannot retreat before unreason even if violence rages. Here we have a package of proposals presented by Ms. Chandrika Kumaratunga, seeking to redefine the specifics of her offer. On some untenable alibi, she has failed to communicate the new synthesis of Sri Lankan sovereignty and Jaffna selfdetermination to the one party which alone can deliver the goods, namely Mr. Prabhakaran & co. The alleged reason is that the battle drums are deafening and unless the arms are laid down, the LTTE is out of bounds for a creative conference. That is asking for the moon. The outright rejection of the
package by the L equally infantile. I to jettison prestige settlement in Sri structural readju summation to be d Do get back to th since blood and iro an entente cordiale Grie An analysis and que of the Hong K lier referred to and devolution of pow open the way to a scotched negotiatio Kumaratunga c building moves f break-down of tall aborted. The sover is underscored by cannot be expected liquidation of the i LTTE had, at a cer ly consented to Sri ty subject to a vas tion of powers. Th: Kong document s although one m. asserted that if t. Eelam would be appeal, from, this Tamils whose mil fuhrer is indubitab an, that negotiatic Ms. Kumaratung above reprisals.
It is beyond a North-East is the Tamils and an un ance of their integ) provincial unit is Tamil region just li is to miss the cat that the North an with a higher aut ational features, as the other province: areas and glorify t. be a stroke of fede North-East is a more sub-sovereig Central presence gions. Otherwise, the decade-long come to nought. C where, if you like, is unique, the f which is to debunl
The Chandrika with all communi and security, ht equality, togethel platitudes regarc and fundamental take note of the troversy, except claring an equal st Tamil with Engli guage. The shar

TAM TIMES 11
TE spokesman is beseech both sides nd argue for a just Lanka's political, tment - a convoutly wished for. negotiating table never inaugurate
fOUS
| comparative critiong proposals earthe current offer of er may, perhaps, esuscitation of the ns. Maybe, had Ms. one confidencelly and fast, the is could have been eignty of Sri Lanka her. Naturally, she to preside over the sland republic. The |tain stage, definiteLankan sovereignt and vital devoluat is how the Hong tressed this point, ember even then he fight continued won. I can only distance, that the itary and political ily Mr. Prabhakarons be revived and a sagaciously rise
rgument that the homeland of the conditional acceptrated existence as a basic. To treat the ke any other region egorical imperative di East is an entity onomy and founddistinguished from ..To carve out other nem as regions may ral realism but the 'quasi-Eelam' with n powers and less than the other rehe whole course of loody history will eate regions everybut the North-East ilure to recognise
the struggle. vision of Sri Lanka ies living in safety man dignity and with a string of ng human rights freedoms does not core of the conthe extent of detus for Sinhala and h as the link lanng of power of all
regions cannot be alike since that obliterates the relevance of the Tamil struggle which entitles them to a far larger protection regarding human rights, coexisting, as they are, with a snarling Sinhala majority and a Colombo power which has yet to grant equality and fraternity for the Tamils. The structure of devolution, good so far as it goes, makes the same mistake of treating the Tamil North-East Province like any other Province. The contiguous Tamil territory, with its integrity restored as before the disintegrative process during the last decade began, is important. Even the powers, administrative, legislative, and judicative have to be wider, deeprooted and beyond manipulation by a majority in Parliament. The grievous error in the "Chandrika package' is its failure to instal the North-East as a special category. for instance, JammuKashmir in India has a special status and a special Constitution. The Irish, certainly, will claim special provisions from the British, even as Quebec from Canada. The Tamil homeland, subject to Sri Lankan sovereignty, is a unique Constitutional entity and is not a mere Province like the others.
The idea of a Regional Council (a Presidential proposal) is centrifugal fairness and welcome. The Central and Regional Lists are a federal feature and are good. But, here again, the Tamil Province must enjoy wider legislative powers which may be settled with Constitutional generosity having regard to the demands urged by Jaffna all these bleeding years with adamant insistence. Surely, one suggestion which can be made straight-way is that the residuary powers (unlike in Item 97 of List 1 of the Indian Constitution) must belong to the Tamil province.
The office of Governor has dubious potential as the Indian experience shows. The mere provision that his appointment will be with the concurrence of the Chief Minister of the Region or that he maybe removed by a two-thirds majority is no guarantee of smooth running. Very careful and circumspect provisions are necessary to keep the Governor as a necessary figure but remaining as a glorified cipher.
Law and Order is an extremely sensitive subject and a clumsy arrangement with a dichotomy between a National Police Commissioner must come under closer scrutiny. Wisdom lies, so far as I can see now, in leaving law and order, including armed police, to the North-Eastern State, exclusively.
Continued on page 13

Page 12
12 TAMIL TIMES
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BOOKS BY K. WAKUNTAVASAN
YEAR OF REDUCED
TITLE PUBLICATION PRCE
1. Three Months in New China and 1953 S.00
Soviet Union
2. நான் கண்ட நவ சீனா 1953 3.00
3. The Way Out for the
Tamil Speaking People
Indo-Ceylon Federation 1978 OO 4. Tamil Eelam Nation and UN0 1978 OO 5. 19826u 35Ldý RFypú 1980 S200
6. The Way Out for the
Tamil Speaking People
indo Tamil Eelam Confederation 1984 SOO 7. Tamil at the UN 1992 5.00 8. ஐ.நா.லில் தமிழன் (Second Edition) 1993 4.00 9. A Tamil Eelam Voice in the UNO (Second Edition) 1994 S200 î0. Tami Eelam 1982 1.00
(by MK Enlaventhan Kwakunthavasan) 11. தமிழ் ஈழம் கோரி
ஐ.நா. பொது மன்றத்தில் முழக்கம் 1980 3.00 (gricotsflust Buñpoast Jyés (pyosuo)
Edited, Printed and Published by K. Vaikunthavasan invaluable and indispensable 80.00(Postasgo Extra) A3 Size - 440 Pages-Brand New Coples for Sale From: K. Vaikunthavasan, 55 Warren road, Colliers Wood, London SW192HYT: 0181-542 9787

Page 13
15 OCTOBER 1995
Continued from page 11
Land and Land settlement, of which the Hong Kong proposals have a clear idea, require to be viewed in a special way vis-a-vis the North-East. Breaking up demographic and territorial integrity leads to bitterness and revivall of violent clashes. The present provision in paragraph 4 is too abbreviated and inadequate, remembering the strategic importance of the subject and its Central misuse in the past. Education has always been fraught with conflict potential. The entire subject should be left to the North-East, Even if the national schools and universities are to be run in the North-East, they may have a disruptive role in the cultural integrity of the North-East, if concurrence with the N.E. Government is not mandatory. The Tamilian culture everywhere has been of profound concern to that linguistic community. The Indian experience is a lesson. Therefore, cultural statesmanship calls for greater autonomy in this matter to the North-East.
The administration of justice by High Courts is a good idea and must be welcome. The independence of the judiciary has not been sufficiently guaranteed in Part VI of the proposals. Even in India, there has been controversy regarding the authority of the judges. The concept of a Regional Judicial Service Commission has functional gaps and genetic flaws. The court is the citizen's final sanctuary and must be free from North-East and Central pressure. The Regional Attorney General, his appointment and functions, are a little curious, even dangerous. Between him and the Governor the laws made by the Regional Council may be imperilled. The North East Province must have a High Court of its own and the Supreme Court should have limited jurisdiction to reverse or otherwise interfere with the North-East Regional High Court.
Severity
A Commission on Devolution as a perennial process is a new idea. It requires to be expanded and discussed in greater detail. The Commission should not be a stratagem whereby the North-East will be deprived of its impregnable autonomy. Care must be be taken for a veto in such cases.
Part IX desiderates a union of regions. But no emergency power exception cases of external aggression, no Central intervention (e.g. Art. 356 in India), no financial or developmental power, exercisable as Central grace is, unjust and undemocratic.
Military means alone, Ms. Chandrika concedes, cannot solve the minority
problems of the pe back on politicals ments have been her national add ited sovereign rep and communities come constructive pluralistic democ rights and fundar will win if Mr. vinced of her sin cludes:
"This is our mo us together grasp
Will De
The proposals f the national qu Chandrika Kum centre of the c bate. The next s exercise would to be incorporat ter of the Cons submitted to a Parliament in v political parties The Select Comi receive a copy O by mid Septemb months of Octob a detailed consic sion. If the cha the Select Com submitted to the draft Constitut approval by a Parliament. Th and its allies in command 139 majority would a Parliament of the United Nati cipal opposition critical to the s cise. If a 2/3 m further constitu to be overcome. to take place in new constitutio adopted by a who vote in suc
The devoluti sented by the ( sise the follow tures. Firstly, th Lanka is a plu! tinct ethnic and ties who have and promote th This must inclu their culture, pl and to transact state in the lang Secondly, Tami

TAMIL TIMES 13
ople, and so she falls lutions. Noble sentiexpressed by her in ess to rebuild a unublic and the regions
she hopes, will bepartners of a stable, acy enjoying human ental freedoms, She 'rabhakaran is conerity when she con
ment in history. Let it and dispel hatred
and distrust and frame a common future which we can be all proud of."
All that friends of Sri Lanka and the Tamil fraternity, which has passed through traumatic severity in particular, can wish for is to begin again where they left off. As for all of us, it is good to conscientise ourselves to help in a happy and just termination of this bleeding feud and indelible wound. We have a role because "there are no passengers on spaceship Earth - Everybody's crew'.
(The Hindu).
volution Lead to Peace?
by Dr. Neelam Tiruchelvam, MP
or the resolution of 2stion by President aratunga are at the urrent political detage in the political be for the proposals 2d into a draft chapstitution and to be Select Committee of which all the major 3 are represented. mittee is expected to if this draft chapter er and to devote the er and November to leration of its provipter is approved by mittee, it would be Parliament and the ion would require 2/3 majority of the e Peoples Alliance the opposition can votes while a 2/3 "equire 150 votes in 225. The support of onal Party, the prinparty is therefore uccess of this exerjority is secured, a tional hurdle needs A referendum needs the country and the would need to be majority of persons h a referendum.
on proposals pre
overnment empha- .
ng important fea2y reiterate that Sri al society with disreligious communihe right to protect ir distinct identity. e the right to enjoy actise their religion business with the lage of their choice. and Sinhala have
been rcognised as official languages and have been accorded equality of status. Although in 1988, after the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord, accorded recognition to Tamil as an official language, this is the first time that the two languages are accorded equality of status. In doing so, the proposals seek to redress a major irritant in ethnic relations.
Thirdly, the nature of the state has been redefined, Sri Lanka was regarded as a unitary state in the second Republican Constitution. In the present proposals, the state is described as a Union of Regions within a united and sovereign republic. In this regard, there is a conscious attempt to build on recommendations made by the Mangala Moonesinghe Select Committee that Sri Lanka should devolve power along the lines of the Indian Constitution.
Fourthly, legislative and executive power would be exclusively devolved in respect of the regional list of subjects to regions. Each region would ordinarily coincide with the province except in the North East wherein it is envisaged that new regions would be constituted by redemarcation of provincial boundaries. The concurrent list of subjects has been abolished and almost entirely added on to the regional list. Both land and law and order are devolved subjects and there is provision for a Regional High Court to exercise original appellate jurisdictions within the region.
Fifthly, with regard to the relations between central government and the Regions there are very significant departures from the existing 13th amendment. The Gov. ernor's powers have been signifi
Continued on page 29

Page 14
14 TAM TIMES
Clearing the Hurd
to a Solution
President Chandrika Kumaratunga announced the wide-ranging proposals for the devolution of powers to the eight regions on 27 July 1995. True to her earlier pronouncement, the devolution of powers is 'extensive' covering all the major subjects and functions which under the control of the central government dominated by the Sinhalese have facilitated various overt and covert discriminatory practices against the minority Tamils and the denial of their legitimate rights. "One of the regions would be constituted by re-demarcating the existing boundaries of the present North-East province in full consultation with a view to reconciling Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim interests. Provision for a subregional council for the Muslim dominated part of the East also exists. Regional council established democratically for each region will exercise exclusive legislative and executive powers within the devolved sphere. Colombo and Sri Jayawardenapura areas as well as those of the international airports and harbours would come under the purview of the Central Government. The distribution of the subjects and functions between the Centre and Regions is indicated under the Regional list (45 items) and the Reserved (Central Government) list (58 items), which have since been published in Sri Lanka and abroad (T.T. of August 1995 p6).
The proposals devolving powers to the regions have been assigned different labels: the peace package or plan'; 'political package'; or 'devolution package'. the aim of the package regardless of any label assigned is to end the ethnic conflict politically by adopting a consititution that removes the centralised and overriding powers of the government. The disclosure of the contents of the package after an anxious wait has instead of raising hopes for lasting peace in all parts of Sri Lanka appears to be having the opposite effect. The hostile actions of both the warring parties continuing since April 19 and inaction on the political front towards the implementation of the peace proposals give cause for concern. In addition the difficult situation is being exacerbated by the display of chauvinism by extremists on either side.
International and National Response
The EU and many foreign govern
by Dr. S. Nara
ments have praise tion plan that offe. to the Tamils. The I welcomed by all the parties represented have admitted tha positive factors in liberals too have favourably, highl courageous and w tutional reforms ev ite all communities pared with the inte the positive re Sinhalese politician or conditional.
The liberal de Amaratunga has su riately the devoluti most radical, mos most progressive' schemes proposed plemented in the must be, it provid yet, of the restorat Lanka..' (T.T. of Al
Diehard oppone
In the group of are the extremists cannot unlock the the principle of coethnic people unde that guarantees in equality and freedo of all the different sceptics on either the proposals ever them just as Salı condemned by man see the colour of th
The Sinhala cha sed with the notio have the inalienabl. the whole of Sri L that Tamils canno rights in any part o entire country is th Sinhalese. They se historical fact that and Tamils original The fact that the homeland in France 81% French Canad right to a self-go state with the fede da. Quebec’s distinc ledged in the 19 Accord.
Federalism is stil the few vociferous S

15 OCTOBER 1995
les
palasingham
d the bold devolurs broad autonomy proposals have been Tamil and Muslim in Parliament. All t there are several he plan. Sinhalese
commented very ighting the most ide-ranging consti"er proposed to unin Sri Lanka. Comrnational response, sponse of some is is either subdued
mocrat Chanaka ummarised appropon package as "the t enlightened and of all devolution so far and if imspirit in which it es the best chance ion of a united Sri ugust 1995).
YntS
diehard opponents s and racists who ir minds to accept existence of multir a political system practice the rights, om of the members communities. The side would dismiss without reading man Rushdie was y who did not even e "Satanic Verses'.
uvinists are obsesn that they alone e right to rule over lanka. They insist t claim territorial f Sri Lanka, as the e homeland of the em to ignore the both the Sinhalese ly came from India. French have a does not deny the lans in Quebec the verning linguistic ral union of Canatness was acknow987 Meech Lake
1 an anathema to inhalese, who will
oppose any proposals to devolve powers of governance to the Tamils. There are also the dejected politicians who have been rejected by the people in the 1994 elections despite advocating communal policies. They continue to believe that the ethnic issue can be exploited politically to serve their own narrow and immediate interests. Some have placed belief in the Kataragama deity above faith in the people to get the package rejected. There are, of course, some opportunists living comfortably outside the war zone, whose continued economic gains for themselves and their families depend crucially on the continuation of the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka.
Religion and Politics
Some among the Buddhist priests who claim to be the protectors of not only the faith but also the Sinhala race are once again in the forefront promoting not peace but aggression. They believe that protection can be guaranteed only by maintaining the dominant status of Buddhism and of the Sinhala people. Their advice to the Sinhalese leaders is not based on love and compassion, which are the very tenets of the teachings of Lord Buddha, but on enmity. When religion and politics are mixed and the prelates assume the dual role of religious and political mentors, the democratic process is seriously undermined. They can serve the followers of Buddhism far better by voicing their opposition to the anti-Buddhist activities that are tarnishing the reputation of Sri Lanka. The whole world is now aware of the existence of death squads in Sri Lanka that have abducted, tortured and strangled fellow citizens in large numbers, throwing the mutilated bodies in lakes, rivers, canals, sea and street fires. Mass burials had also taken place in secret.
According to human rights groups some 60,000 Sri Lankans 'disappeared' during the JVP uprising in this despicable manner. The vast majority of the victims were Sinhala Buddhists. The resurgence of the death squads following the resumption of hostilities between the LTTE and the government in which the victims of the horrible killers are the Tamils has shocked the present Government. It has condemned strongly this practice within its own establishment and a number of officers alleged to be behind this atrocious act have been arrested. The same condemnation has not come from the highest in the Buddhist establishment. Nor did it promptly appeal to the followers of the faith to stop killing
the helpless Tamils during the several
anti-Tamil riots in which many were

Page 15
15 OCTOBER 1995
brutally murdered by Sinhalese hooligans, who were encouraged by their political masters.
Advocates of the Unitary Constitution
In this group there are the elected representatives of the people as well as responsible' persons who have expressed some reservations on the contents of the proposed package, specifically as they relate to the North-East. Invariably, their reservations can be traced to the transformation of the unitary character of the constitution and the permanent merger of the Northern and (the Tamil areas in the) Eastern provinces. The proposals relating to the devolution of control over state land to the relevant Regional Councils is also resisted. They want the centre to have absolute control over state land in all regions. They seem to ignore the fundamental principle of democratic rule that the government exercises control over the land on behalf of the people and certainly the people in any one region have the democratic right to assert that such land within the region should be under their control. This land right is fundamental to any meaningful devolution of powers and should not be seen in the same vein as, for example, the controls over international ports not devolved to the regions.
As before some have condemned the proposals as paving the way for the eventual division of the country along ethnic lines, although the proposed plan does not divide the country into two self-governing states as in the American formula of "two in one' agreed by the local leaders to settle the conflict in Bosnia. It splits Bosnia into two separate self-governing entities within the single state, thereby retaining its territorial integrity. They also see a potential offensive Tamil army in the proposed regional police forcel
Price to be Paid
Some are concerned about the cost of implementing the proposed system involving eight regional councils and a central administration. A price has to be paid to achieve lasting peace by ensuring that the costly mistakes, which divided the people and the country are not allowed to happen again. Have they thought of the cost already incurred by the people in continuing the endless war? Both sides have set up their own "defence fund' and people have been asked to contribute liberally for killing fellow Sri Lankans and destroying their property. If the people of two or more regions wish to merge
into one unit, provision could be made
in the constitution for mergers. A
similar issue raise degree of devoluti where the majorit. are Sinhalese. T moured for autono scale and they see The theoretical so lem is to assigns North-East counci. rent power struc councils. Sinhales find this preposter
The antagonists under the illusio five decades of bit the minorities coul virtue in the same and that limited c within its framew theroot causes oft conflict. Their co anti-discriminato come at least a ge would not be tak Tamil people as a to the ethnic probl Sinhalese natio) nationalism in Sr any realistic solu crisis has to recog advanced to such cies and attitudes pursued vigorousl. tage, it is now infa only the nationali people exists in S pragmatic way t two, is to accept frame supporting osals which seek t and territorial int
The Endurance
Ironically, som rapid economic de be achieved throu the entire econ( would result in causes of the co where these punt when the develo) economy was the the successive gov the people under tion. In 1948 Sri capita income av same as that of Si pore's level is thri average income o! head. There are n for Sri Lanka to many comparabl economic develop integration of the one of the them. N was not pursued SLFP governmer an integrated ec ethnic difference

TAM TIMES 15
relates to the high on to those regions " of the inhabitants ley have not clamous powers on this no need for it either. lution to this probpecial status to the and have two diffetures for regional e nationalists will ous and offensive.
of the proposals are that after nearly ter disappointment, d suddenly see some unitary constitution evolution of powers vork would remove he protracted ethnic nversion of late to ry proposals have heration too late and en seriously by the permanent solution em. The existence of halism and Tamil i Lanka is real and tion to the ethnic nize this. Both have heights by the poliof past governments y for political advanintile to pretend that sm of a homogenous Sri Lanka. The only o accommodate the , the constitutional the devolution propo maintain the unity egrity of Sri Lanka.
Test
have argued that velopment can only gh the integration of my and that this the removal of the nflict. One wonders its were since 1948 ment of the entire responsibility of all ernments elected by he unitary constituLanka’s annual per raged US$ 200, the ngapore. Now Singae that of Sri Lanka's around US$ 500 per any political reasons have fallen behind
Asian countries in ment and the lack of economy perse is not ational development by the UNP and the is on the premise of nomy, political and that separated the
North-East region from others playing a crucial role.
In sum, the arguments against the devolution proposals are practically the same that have been used before to prevent earlier attempts to devolve (limited) powers to the provinces. People have already paid a heavy price as a result of being duped by the scaremongers. The will of the majority cannot be imposed on the minorities by oppression or force for ever. The consequences of such methods are blatantly clear to all who have suffered in one way or another since 1983, following the outbreak of civil war in Sri Lanka. Even after the "Operation Leap Forward', 'Operation Tiger Leap', 'Operation Dragon-fire' and "Operation Handshake 2', nothing tangible has been achieved by either side in terms of their declared objectives. On the contrary the tremendous death toll as well as other losses of scarce resources to both sides have escalated further. The resumption of the military operations by the Government forces anticipated to follow the "Operation Leap Forward' has also resulted in civilian casualties. Despite the censorship on all defence and military related news imposed prior to the renewed attack, these have been reported by international media through foreign channels. The brutality of the renewed war belies the commitment to a peaceful resolution of the conflict. Each side appears to be testing the endurance of the opponent Sinhalese and Tamil people who in the end stand to lose more, if the hostilities continue.
The role of the print media
The independent press appears to be playing a dubious, if not a mischievous role, judging from the materials published by some on the devolution issue. Some works are intended to embarrass leading members of the present government and to torpedo the package even before the first hurdle is cleared. The print media seems to be rekindling the emotional feelings and racial hatred, which cannot in any way facilitiate a political solution to the ethnic problem. Presently, the discussion on the package is mostly clouded by emotion and distrust. The performance of the media controlled by the Government is pathetic in illuminating the contents of the package, let alone allaying the unfounded fears and exposing the many myths propagated by some, which are frustrating the courageous efforts taken to unite the divided country in the most democratic way.
What is being conducted in the
Continued on page 16

Page 16
16 TAMIL TIMES
Continued from page 15
name of constructive debate in the local media is mostly chauvinistic propaganda, which only exacerbates the ethnic divide. The mutual dependence of Sinhalese and Tamil extremism is being reinforced by the mischievous work of some agitators in the Sri Lankan media. It appears from a recent private opinion poll that 41% of those surveyed did not know the details of the devolution proposals. This proportion would be very low in the areas under the control of the LTTE as information is also controlled by the rebels. The wishes of the majority of the Sinhalese and Tamil people, who are war weary and want an early end to the killings and suicides are being ignored, let alone being supported by the supposedly responsible national press. There has been hardly any discussion on the present de facto division of the country and the consequences of rejecting the package. Peace and unity will have to be sought and achieved through pragmatic compromise and not by exhibition of jingoism. Responsible persons and institutions cannot afford to remain silent at this critical time. They have a duty to enlighten the public of the raison d’etre for the proposed structure of democratic rule and also forewarn about the adverse consequences of rejecting it.
LTTE's Catch 22 Situation ,
The extreme and uncompromising position of the Sinhalese nationalists on the government's proposals discussed earlier is equalled by the commitment of the LTTE to establish the independent state of Tamil Eelam. However, in the case of the latter there have been mixed signals discerned from the statements issued at various times by the LTTE's chief spokesmen. From these it is surmised that a viable alternative to an independent Tamil Eelam in which the security of life, territorial rights and freedom of the Tamils are guaranteed and their political aspirations fulfilled would be acceptable to them. However, LTTE's expressions of its readiness for another round of peace talks has not been taken seriously at present by the Government, following LTTE's unilateral action in April to break the truce and resume hostilities.
LTTE's stand on a political solution appears to be intertwined with its assumed role as the sole representative of the Tamils. It is very assertive when that claim is sought to be undermined in the course of exploring a political solution to the Tamil problem. In this situation, its response to any covert or overt moves to alienate it from the Tamil people would predict
A.
ably be hostile. The of the package by
therefore, be seen particularly when
has declared that it the conflict peace weaken the LTTE was not officially gi' proposals during th peace talks because have refused to r discuss the subject.
The LTTE spokes have said in Jaffna package does not p. permanent political pave the way for a lo rebels have urged support the packag porting it are traito
LTTE's leaders throughout that all gestions to end the v sed with them only. the other Tamil g nothing to win ther and, therefore, hav in on any solution. on the other handh er talks with the present conditions. also under press Sinhalese parties an influential Buddhist the military opera LTTE. In fact some to the announcemer package before 'def There is a strong ( Government that's militarily is the o them to the negotia
Importantly, the tions besides those which indicates th Catch 22 situation the Government te process of negotiati settlement of the e the LTTE accept thi devolution package political settlement mula for a politica requires changes t cannot come into el sent constitution amended accordi already objected to implication to the deciding the politi minority Tamils. ) (T.T. of August 199 ing passed all th Sinhala people hav proposals at a refer people have the r their own future. made to impose an settlement on tl through military 1

15 OCTOBER 1905
outright rejection the LTTE should, from this angle, the Government s strategy to settle fully is first to militarily. LTTE ven the devolution Le currency of the they are alleged to 'eceive them and
man is reported to a that "this peace ave the way for a
solution but does ong term war.” The the Tamils not to ge and those suprs!
hip has insisted proposals and sugvar must be discusAccording to them groups have done ights of the Tamils e no right to come The Government as ruled out furthLTTE under the The Government is ure from other nd particularly the , clergy to continue tions against the have even objected ut of the devolution eating the LTTE. opinion within the oftening the LTTE nly way to bring ting table'. 'e are other quesmentioned above e existence of a for the LTTE and ) start again the ons for a political hnic conflict. Will framework of the as the basis for a Any agreed forl settlement that ) the constitution fect until the preof Sri Lanka is gly. LTTE has his and that is by majority Sinhalese cal future of the TTE's statement 5, p7), notes: “Havese hurdles, the e to approve the indum. The Tamil ght to determine f any attempt is arbitrary political e Tamil people heans, the LTTE
will resist it.’ Unless there are constitutional provisions for forming a (interim or regular) regional council without conducting elections, it is difficult to see how the power to govern the North-East region differently, can be handed exclusively to the LTTE. This is a formidable problem that appears to have been overlooked. Any political solution must be not only acceptable to all but also feasible from the standpoint of constitutional amendments. Otherwise, the agreed solution will only end in a stalemate.
LTTE has so far boycotted all elections. Will it be prepared to allow free and fair elections to be conducted in the areas under its control in terms of the amended constitution? In short, the question boils down to whether the LTTE will accept the single constitution of the Government of Sri Lanka applicable to all the regions? It is important to recall that various pronouncements of the LTTE leadership on their one-party system of governance are based on a separate constitution for the Tamil region.
LTTE should reconsider carefully its own strategy from the standpoint of achieving the common aims of the Tamil people taking cognizance of the embroiled situation described above. It is common knowledge that any movement claiming to fight for the legitimate rights of the people it represents would negotiate from a position of strength. The experiences of recent liberation movements which waged wars for decades, indicate that in the end they have to negotiate with their opponents to win their demands. Any miscalculation of the most opportune time to negotiate can be disastrous to the achievement of the common aims of the people even at any foreseeable point in time. Unsympathetic Buddhist Leaders
The joint memorandum dispatched to President Kumaratunga by the Most Venerable Mahanayake Theras of Malwatta and Asgiriya Chapters in consultation with the Karaka Maha Sangha Sabhas of both Chapters calls for the withdrawal of all the important powers to be devolved to the regions, which are considered by the peace seekers as decisive to the resolution of the ethnic conflict. First, they want the Government to wipe out "terrorism' in the North and East. After that only any political solution should be introduced.
Any one perusing the memorandum cannot fail to notice the kind of power structure the prelates want the Government to preserve in order to continue the dominance of the Sinhala Buddhists. Their intentions are also

Page 17
15 OCTOBER 1995
obvious from the recommendation that the proposals to set up new Provincial Councils should be introduced in Parliament as a separate Act and not as a constitutional amendment in view of the fact that in the event of that law being passed as a constitutional amendment, it would not be possible to change or amend it again.' At the same time they have expressed the view that since the PC's Act No. 42 of 1987 is in operation, there is no need for a new PC's Act. In sum, the memorandum serves to reinforce the distrust in the minds of the Tamils of the true intentions of SinhalaBuddhist supremacists to retain a unitary (lopsided) constitution. The power structure indicated in the above memorandum only adds insult to injury and if the amended proposals give any similarity to it, then not only the LTTE but others too will have valid grounds to object. All-Party Consensus
Having examined the positions of the LTTE and the Buddhist establishment, attention is now turned to the key political parties in the democratic mainsteam. This is important under the procedures which the Government is committed to follow to change the present constitution. The proposed plan has to go through a complex and time consuming process before it is accepted and then implemented in its final form on the presumption that a broad consensus can be reached on the framework.
The draft constitutional amendment giving effect to the devolution proposals will have to be placed before the Parliamentary Select Committee on Constitutional Reform. After it has examined all the submissions, the approved version has to be presented to Parliament and passed by a twothirds majority. The main opposition party, the UNP, has indicated that it will express its views on the proposals only after they are presented in a draft form as constitutional amendments. It has so far acted responsibly, stating that it is not against devolution as long as it is not a stepping stone to a separate Tamil state. Without the support of the UNP there is no chance at all for the PA Government to get the required two-thirds majority. It has only a very thin majority with the SLFP having only 113 out of 225 seats.
Among the coalition partners in the PA Government, the DUNLF has openly expressed some reservations on the devolution proposals through a draft memorandum. This also contains recommendations which in essence amount to retaining the unitary character of the constitution. The SLFP needs the support of the DUNLF to be
m
assured of a simpl ment. Another p has already wel stating “that th dimension in the given due recogn Tamil parties rep ment have expre unlikely that this the contents of changed drastice CWC is support package, its futu pend on the natur agreed by the UN cannot afford to a that can sway su interests of the country.
Whether the pl its present form ca hurdles depends o all the major parti mainstream to sup of the plan. At pre all-party consens bright. One can present generation unlike their pred the courage and f the peace plan. ' conscious of the f rent situation, th advantage in deny minorities so as to the privileges of munity.
The final hur cleared is the appr a referendum. An movement (invol peace activists and paigning for pea human rights and local and national party politics and plan along the line at the present t crusade, the lead take for granted public opinion as did warning of Fr. this effort too fails doomed to further perhaps continue Lanka', is real an Sunday Times of 1
President Kum cently that her was a historic cha to resolve the ethl that the people v chance through s mistaken sense of appealed to the pe munalism and em asizing that every reality that ther solution to the on north.

TAMOL TIMES 17
a majority in Parliaartner, the SLMC, omed the package Muslim political
country has been ition'. Although all resented in Parliassed support, it is will remain intact, if
the package are lly. Although the ve of the original re position will deof the amendments P and the SLFP. It ntagonise any party port or damage the Tamils in the up
an substantially in in clear all the above n the willingness of es in the democratic port the framework *sent the outlook for ls does not appear only hope that the of political leaders, ecessors, will have oresight to agree to They must also be act that in the curere is no electoral ing the rights of the ) be seen promoting the majority com
dle that must be oval by the people at island-wide people's ving the liberals, all the NGOs camce, racial equality, justice) urging the leaders to discard o agree to the peace s proposed is crucial ime. Without this !rs will continue to hat they can form hey wish. The canTissa Balasuriya: “If Sri Lanka may be decades of war and d division of Sri most timely (The 0/9/95 — SIL). aratunga said reevolution package nce for the country lic crisis. She hoped ould not miss this heer stupidity or a patriotism. She also bple to eschew combrace peace, emphone had to face the was no military 'oing conflict in the
Whatever valid grouse she may have against the LTTE after the fiasco of the peace talks that began on her initiative, the indiscriminate actions of the forces under her command proclaimed to achieve the aim of weakening the LTTE militarily are not seen by the Tamils in the same light. The President as head of the armed forces cannot avoid responsibility for their actions in the battlefield. Her declared commitment to a political solution to the Tamil problem is being undermined by the actions of the armed forces under her command. The Government's strategy to weaken the LTTE first by pursuing the kind of military operations, which claim many civilian lives and destroy their property may instead of producing the intended result, bring the people closer to the rebels. This negative trend was observed following the recent indiscriminate artillery shelling and aerial bombing of some towns and villages close to Jaffna. The idea to look for peaceful methods of sidestepping the attitude that LTTE has steadfastly been adopting towards the governments has also been suggested by some political analysts. But this will be impossible, if the Government does not change its attitude towards the suffering Tamil people in the areas affected by callous military operations and the economic embargo. Both have not helped in any way to win the hearts and minds of the Tamil people but only provided ammunition to the propaganda machinery of the militants. The dominant attitude of the critics of the package also tends to justify the stance of the Tamil sceptics, who are cynical of a political solution to the Tamil problem.
Judging from the approach taken to incorporate the proposals in the constitution, it appears that the President planned to get the support of the people by direct appeal. The presumption being that the other major political parties will be influenced by public opinion in favour of the proposed devolution plan. Knowing the magnitude of this uphill task, the failure to implement immediately a plan to raise awareness among the people of the need for a different system of government and to explain the package has been a serious blunder.
It is paramount that the counterproductive dual strategy of peace through war' to settle the ethnic conflict is abandoned and replaced by a pragmatic one, which focuses on winning the support of all the people. Otherwise, the Government itself may miss “the historic chance for settling the ethnic crisis' before the people get a chance to give their verdict on the peace plan.

Page 18
18 TAMIL TIMES
Government's Peac
- An Evaluation
by Prof. Kopan Mahadeva
Mrs. Kumaratunga was elected Executive President in November 1994 as the candidate of her SLFP's People's Alliance with other parties, which won the General Election in August 1994 making her the Prime Minister for 81 historic and meteoric days. Her mother Sirimavo, now again Prime Minister, became Chandrika's Minister without Portfolio during UNP President D.B. Wijetunge's remaining term in office.
Manifesto Promises
The main vote-winners at the above elections were her promise to create peace in the island through negotiations with the LTTE, the indisputable "de-facto' leaders of Tamils, and to abolish the controversial executive presidentship around July 1995. Although she did arrange for four rounds of one-day talks with LTTE by varying teams of her officials, LTTE pulled out of the talks after 104 days of cessation of hostilities. They have explained that even the agreements reached during the talks regarding immediate commodity relief to the Tamil areas, pending negotiations on a permanent political solution to the ethnic conflict, were not being honoured and implemented. The war soon resumed, and Mrs. Kumaratunga continues as the Executive President todate.
Peace-Package
One concrete thing she has managed to do towards peace during the past one year is to bring out a political package for resolving the ethnic conflict, as a sort of semi-official greenpaper, for discussion by various political groups. It has, very sadly and conspicuously, not been sent to the LTTE for their views. Though her proposals do go further than the various partial offers of previous governments, allegedly with Tamil and Muslim welfare in mind, a recent pilot opinion poll reports that only 8% of even the majority-Sinhalas are in favour of her package. Out of the 92% of Sinhalas who are opposed to her paper, happily for the cause of justice and peace, there is a vast number who feel that she has not gone far enough to meet Tamils' grievances in a way that solid foundations for a lasting peace could be constructed at this stage itself.
The propos apparently not c run to just 12 ty only four lines in one-page Prean occupies the last Reserved List, a functions to be de
Propos New Gd
The present state is envision “united and sover regions with 'cons ers and function gional Councils w legislative and e within the devo 10.1 of Proposals
Now, decentra idea in the corr Lanka, with bureaucreacy. Al the LTTE is th realised their rig any past unitary way that a union the throats of t top-centre, with ence and their acceptability buil proposals.
Question
Sinhala and T. nised as official glish as a link la Clause (d).
This is a sensi been applied all Independence in that the Sinhala guage) Act of 19 Kumaratunga's Bandaranaike, w minatory germ militancy and til new principle is any form of cent would also be con graciously accept its success will d extent and spee which could be c1 tutionalised pact
For a New
The need, not tional amendme constitution has the Government of Terrorism Act

15 OCTOBER SOS
e Plan
als, which were iscussed in Cabinet, ped A-4 sheets, with
the last page, and a ble. An Appendix four pages, with a ld a Regional List of volved by the centre.
ed Form of Overnment
centralised unitary ed to change into a eign republic ofeight istent' devolved pows. Each of their "Refill exercise exclusive xecutive competence lved sphere” - para
lisation is indeed an ect direction for Sri
a bott le ne cked so a just assertion of at Tamils have not hts effectively under government. But the is being forced down he regions from the out their independsay, firstly, has unt into the President's
of Languages
amil are to be recoglanguages, and Enanguage – Preamble,
ble principle to have l these years since 1948. It is well known Only (Official Lan56 introduced by Mrs. father Mr. S.W.R.D. as the selfish discriwhich created Tamil he LTTE. Hence the air, to be followed by ral government, and ducive to peace if it is ed by all regions. But epend largely on the d of ethnic goodwill 'eated under a consti
Constitution
merely for constitunts but for a new been well realised by But, the Prevention and the 6th and 13th
Amendments to the 1978 Constitution must be removed or replaced, a Bill of Rights must be incorporated which is justiceable, and also the spirit of Section 29 of the 1948 Soulbury Constitution confirmed, for protection of the minorities, to make the new Constitution workable and fair to all ethnic groups, regionally and holistically.
Provisions For Law and Order
Regional Police Commissions and Regional Police Services are provided for, but their powers are subtly and badly crippled. E.g. the proposed National Police Commission will have the power to transfer regional police officers inter-regionally. This is bound to propagate all the oppressive problems the Tamils have faced all these years. Also, the regions will have no armed services of their own. With the 72% Sinhalas forming over 97% of the armed services, this restriction can never offer security to Tamils, at least in the near future, after all the recent happenings.
Central & Regional Functions
The spirit in which the President's proposals have been formulated have been marred by the control-grip which is being retained by the big Central List of Functions. E.g. Land & Land Settlement are Regional Functions, but the Centre has its right to regional lands required for its central functions. Also, the damage done by government-sponsored colonisation schemes of the past in Tamil areas of the Northeast, is to be left undone. Education is a regional function, but there could be National Schools and Universities in the regions, of which, the Centre will be in charge. Since education and language are closely related subjects, the above provision could present severe problems in the Northeast Region. And another bone of contention is likely to be the Trincomalee Harbour in the Northeast Region which, according to the Proposals would still come under the Centre. Although a Commission Devolution has been provided for, in order to
Continued on page 29
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Page 19
15 OCTOBER 1995
Towards a South Asia
by Santasilan Kadirgamar, Toky
Tamil Times now in its 14th year of publication has established itself as a well-edited, balanced and informative monthly that is read in several parts of the world. The contents of Tamil Times in recent years reflect a broader coverage giving readers a much needed insight into what is happening in India. Recent issues have also brought into the pages of the Tamil Times an interesting and on-going debate on Christianity and Hinduism, a debate that goes beyond the confines of the religions and cultures of the Tamils, having a broader South Asian relevance. The destinies of the peoples of Lanka be they Sinhalese, Lankan Tamils, the Hill-Country Tamils, Muslims and others are irretrievably linked to India and the other states of South Asia. This is a plain geo-political fact. In addition there is an underlying cultural unity among the peoples of this region. In spite of the friction and in some cases bitter inter-state and ethnic conflicts prevalent in the region one cannot wish away the factors that unite. Unity in diversity has been a perennial thene in the history of South Asia.
Modern nationalism and the nationstates in Europe are hardly two hundred years old. In some cases less than a hundred years old. We have in the last twenty years seen these states moving towards a new regional formation - the European Union with a European parliament. France and Germany after having fought three bitter and brutal wars between 1870 and 1945 are today the pillars of the EU. Though Allies in the 20th century, it is worth recalling that Britain and France fought seven wars between 1689 and 1815, from Louis XIV to Napoleon, in Europe, Asia and America. They remained rivals for empire throughout the nineteenth century. K.M. Panikkar, the Indian historian named what is popularly called the first world war - the European Civil War. While nationalism stil remains a potent force (often given expression to in soccer hooliganism) the future points towards an increasingly integrated and united Europe.
The same trends are evident in Southeast Asia where the Association of Southeast Asian States (ASEAN) constituting Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand have completed twenty years as a regional grouping. Vietnam has been the latest to join this group.
This would have years ago. Bittel some ASEAN st throughout the
later Vietnam-C Cambodia and (Burma) will be ing it into a pow sive regional org
Other regiona been formed in North American tion (NAFTA) c Canada and Me augurated Asi Cooperation gro grouping of sev cluding the AS Japan, South together with Al Canada and til Prime Minister has been pro Caucus of South states. But stron on Japan is prev a grouping that { worsening trade USA and Japan bashing in the U into such a grou recent years in investment in t dually moving Moves are afoot technical coope) and the ASEA. and Singapore, stantial commuu
The South A Regional Coop Bangladesh, Bh dives, Nepal, Pa will soon compl founding in 1 SAARC recent meeting in Indi particularly wit stood in the wa The summit hel however made s initiation of SA) Free Trade As economy is expe pace in the n century, it is b will be the Asia focus has been where Singapo land have been Recently Vietna attention and so much so that fear of being l

TAMIL TIMES 19
n Times
been unthinkable ten hostility prevailed in ates against Vietnam Vietnam war and the imbodia conflict. Soon
possibly Myanmar joining ASEAN makerful and comprehenanisation.
groupings that have recent years are the
Free Trade Associaomposed of the USA, kico. The recently ina Pacific Economic up (APEC) is a loose eral Asian states inEAN states, China, Korea and Taiwan, stralia, New Zealand, he USA. Meanwhile Mahathir of Malaysia pagating an Asian
East and East Asian g US pressure exerted enting it from joining excludes the USA. The relations between the and periodical Japan JSA could push Japan. p. As it is Japan has in :reased its trade and he Asian region, graaway from the USA. to increase trade and ration between India N states of Malaysia where there is a subity of Indian descent.
sian Association for ration composed of utan, India, the Malkistan and Sri Lanka te ten years since its )85. The leaders of y held their annual a. Bilateral problems, India, have hitherto 7 of closer coperation. in April this year has ome progress with the TA — the South Asian ociation. The Indian sted to grow at a rapid xt decade. The 21st ing widely predicted, century. Much of the on South East Asia , Malaysia and Thaimaking rapid progress. m has attracted much creasing investment. the United States, for it behind, has estab
lished diplomatic relations with Vietnam. In East Asia in addition to Taiwan and South Korea with their strong and booming economies, all eyes are now on China. Let us not forget that hardly ten years ago and prior to that at the peak of the cold war hostile relations among some of the states of both East and Southeast Asia were far worse than what prevails among some of the states of South Asia. Some of these political disputes and tensions still persist. But these are being increasingly over shadowed by the drive for economic development, regional trade, investment, migrant labour and technological cooperation.
Som etim e a round 1980 the Jayawardene government put out some feelers proposing that Sri Lanka seek ASEAN membership. The writer happened to participate in two symposiums on this subject. One was in the University of Jaffna and the other at the MARGA discussion as observers. The consensus at both symposiums was to reject ASEAN membership. The participants stressed the need for closer cooperation with India and the other states of South Asia. It was observed that in that in addition to the obvious geographical proximity, we had much more in common with these states culturally and politically than with the ASEAN states. At these symposiums it was pointed out that politically the South Asian states are open societies where democratic rights and processes and relevant civic institutions have taken root. Most ASEAN states were perceived as semiauthoritarian states where socialist dissent punished with imprisonment or exile. There were severe restrictions on personal freedoms, especially the right to a free press, discussion and free expression of opinion, and the right to form political parties. On the contary Sri Lanka is a country in which traditions of dissent are strong. These factors together with geographical factors precluded Sri Lanka's participation in ASEAN. As it turned out the ASEAN states were not interested for their own reasons.
In South Asia, Pakistan and Bangladesh are notable examples of states where repeated attempts made by the security forces to establish dictatorships have failed. In India, Mrs. Gandhi's attemp to subvert democratic processes was challenged and reversed in 1977. In Sri Lanka in the Jayawardene and Premadasa periods there were grave violations of human rights. The semi-authoritarian rule of 17 years under the executive presidential system was overthrown by the historic
Continued on page 20

Page 20
20 TAM TIMES.
Continued from page 19
verdict given by the people in August and October 1994. In Nepal democratic rights and representative institutions have recently made advances. In brief the peoples in the states of South Asia have demonstrated again and again, that in spite of the pressing problems of poverty, ethnic strife and conflict, they seek solutions within the framework of an open society, with democratic rights and civil institutions.
Fifty per cent of the people in the South Asian region live below the poverty line. with the exception of Lanka, problems of illiteracy (especially illiteracy among women) and health care, population growth rates, infant mortality rates life expectancy and other social and economic indicators place the region among the more backward regions of the world. In Lanka the present never ending conflict has begun to take its toll on our once proud social welfare system and its resulting high Physical Quality of Life Index. While this is true, on the other hand the human resources we have in the region is one of our great assets. This region has the largest number of scientists and technically qualified personnel next to the United States and perhaps Russia. In September last year the Tamil Medical Doctors in the UK organised a conference to focus on the health situation in the war affected areas in Lanka. An observer rightly pointed out that the conference demonstrated the wealth of human resources available among the Lankan Tamils, and said that the findings arrived at this conference and the expertise available should be made available to the whole of the South Asian Region, if possible to all the Third World countries where similar conflict situations prevail.
With 1.2 billion people constituting a fifth of the world's population and with its growing middle-class of over 250 millon, South Asia has the potential to become a major player in the changing world economic scenario - as a market for both international and intraregional trade and investment, and as a source for skilled and unskilled labour. In addition in the area of culture and education (especially scientific and technical studies) there is immense scope for cooperation that could be beneficial to the peoples of the region. To cite just one example, from the 1920s to the 1950s, it was the teachers from Kerala (and to a lesser extent from the then state of Madras) who laid the foundations for a well developed system of education in the sciences in the Jaffna schools. This lasted until Jaffna students educated
in Indian university graduates) were ab places. University of took to teaching muc cooperation propelle the stronger Ceylon the Jaffna schools
place they continue country's educationa
At the moment issue that stands in the sub-continent i Kashmir, which in Muslim tensions anc Asian and African l of decolonisation s and adopted the E the nation-state, w cially created by the to suit their own in divide and rule by t during the colonial ican and European the cold war helped al rivalries, disharm the first four decade tion. The end of the weakened American nomies have now peoples of Asia from tion that began wi Vasco da Gama in I peoples of Asia inc opportunity to look to seek their own de South Asian Region problems of ethnic co to a large extent is a ism. They are extre] so far as they conc oppression and disc cratic and human I degree of autonomy call for relentless e manship of a high conflicts have little eradication of pove) lead to resolving t and social problems this modern era. Il wars and violence in seen as futile and Cooperation in non cial, cultural and especially trade an stimulus to econo could help create the The late Prof. Kodil ledged expert on Inc tions and SAARC, remarks at a semina in August 1993 sa several bilateral pro member states of Su not be under-estima time he said there a ters that are not co which cooperation Kodikara called fo: latter areas. The

15 OCTOBER 1995
colleges (science le to take their Ceylon graduates h later. it was this at that time by rupee that gave the pre-eminent to occupy in the | system.
the single major he way of peace in s the problem of turn fuels Hinduviolence in India. aders at the time lavishly accepted uropean model of hich was articificolonising powers terests. Tactics of hese same powers period, and Amerinterests during perpetuate nationony and conflict in s after decolonisacold war and the and Western ecofinally freed the | western dominath the arrival of ndia in 1948. The w have a fresh at themselves and stinies. The whole has its unresolved mmunities, which legacy of colonialmely important in ern freedom from imination, demoights and a high . These no doubt fforts and statesorder. But these relevance to the ty, nor can they le vital economic in the region in n retrospect the particular will be senseless wars. -controversial soeconomic issues, d its consequent mic development climate for peace. ara, the acknowo-Sri Lanka Relain his concluding r held in Colombo d that there are blems among the ARC. These canted. At the same 'e numerous mattroversial and in s possible. Prof. action in these establishment of
SAFTA is one such step towards closer cooperation.
Venkat Narayan the well known Indian journalist has posed the question “From “SAARC” TO “United States of South Asia?" (See Lanka Guardian June 1, 1995). That is no doubt a challenge that has to be faced The nation-state is in crisis everywhere and appears to have outlived its usefulness. But let us not have illusions of its imminent demise. It is likely to go through a process of slow death. But we can learn from the lessons of history. The trends worldwide are towards regionalism at the macro level. The problem is at the micro level - to guarantee and protect the autonomous and democratic rights of ethnic groups and indigenous peoples however small they may be. There is a compelling need to guarantee the collective rights of these people. Once this is done narrow nationalism and the trend towards a proliferation of nation states are likely to give way to larger regional entities. We could thereby avoid terrible tragedies by skipping the break-up process and by consciously moving to larger regional entities encompassing a variety of smaller autonomous units. The lessons are there to be learnt from the European experience. Need we repeat the disastrous and tragic history of Europe with its numerous dynastic, religious, nationalistic, ideological and imperialistic wars that lasted 400 years, culminating with the Second World War and the terrible holocaust, only to arrive at European unity in the second half of this century. Or is there another path that can be consciously and deliberately taken, that is peaceful, gradual and evolutionary.
We are apparently in the early stages of an epochal change driven by economic imperatives. At this juncture in history the task is to set the climate for greater cooperation and understanding so that we could move towards the regional ideal in the long run. And this must begin with a forum for discussion. The Tamil Times drawing from its own history and its commitments can make a major contribution in opening its columns for news, exchange of opinion and discussion on political, social, economic and cultural issues that cover the South Asian region and cater to the needs of a wider readership. The tradition that Tamil Times has established in making its columns available to diverse opinions while remaining strong and unwavering in championing the rights of the oppressed, and its commitment to human rights and democratic
Continued on page 29

Page 21
15 OCTOBER 1995
Hlas the Count-dOV Begun for Jaya’s F
T.N. Gopalan
Sorrows come not in single spies, but in battalions only. Whether Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalitha is a tragic heroine or not, the fact remains that suddenly she seems to be all too vulnerable, buffeted as she is on multifarious fronts.
The Enforcement Directorate is closing in on her confidante Sasikala and her nephews, the Income-Tax department hounding out both her and the Sasikala clan and superstar Rajnikanth threatening to enter politics besides, some opinion polls are predicting a humiliating defeat for her in the next polls.
Her cup of woes would never have so much overflowed as it does today. Angry at the turn of events she seems to be on the point of unleashing her cadres against the Centre.
Again as in a Greek Tragedy where the climax immediately signals the beginning of the end of the protagonist, the celebrated wedding of Jayalalitha's foster-son V.N. Sudhakaran, on
September 7 marked the beginning of
almost endless troubles for her.
Variously billed as the mother of all weddings, the marriage of the century and a fairy-tale wedding, the marriage of Sudhakaran with legendary thespian Sivaji Ganesan's granddaughter Sathyalakshmi did prove to be an important turning point in her rollercoaster ride.
In fact the world came to know that Jayalalitha had a foster-son a few days after a screaming statement from her denouncing media reports to the effect that the Enforcement Directorate was interrogating her aide Sasikala in connection with some hawala racket as "motivated, mischievous and malicious'. That was in May last.
Soon thereafter she announced that her foster-son Sudhakaran, a nephew of Sasikala, was getting married to Sivaji Ganesan's granddaughter.
The betrothal, though closed to the Press, was a grand gala function by itself, what with a fleet of 18 cars, a panoply of liveried servants carrying costly jewels as wedding gifts and so
i.
And when they started putting up pandals on a huge 35-acre site in the heart of the city and word was sent to partymen at all levels to make it to the family occasion', the media started
carrying fantastic st( nomical celebrations Some Press reports around Rs.10 crores. made matters worse it was nobody else's b much money was si ding and anyway th befitting that of the f The media hype o pitch.
The actual cel perhaps a scaled d enough to set the The marriage eve p deed a grand spect lightings over long board structures re fortresses, rows aft dancers, orchestra, carry the bridegr walking beside a s Sasikala, and the s board.
More than 1.5, lak of the marriage feast huge cut-outs of J: roads leading to tl lamps, viewing gall pandal, all these ma that day everythin grinding halt and w the wedding.
The IT departmen immediately and va. nected with the wed including cooks, con of provisions were Jayalalitha to come ment lashing out a ness' of the Centre.
But meantime th happening on other f nakaran, another ne and actually the eld CM’s foster-son Sud volved in a hawala served summons all pleas before the cour bail and the quashin not yield any fruit. F months now he h arrest and it is a refl of affairs that a connected to the ru successfully brush a of the law.
Incidentally durin High Court, the CBl the racket in which involved had antitions.

TAM TIMES 21
MV al
ories of the 'astros' on the cards. projected costs
Jayalalitha only by asserting that usiness as to how pent on the wedle style would be oster-son of a CM. nly increased in
ebrations were own version, but tongues wagging. rocession was inacle - decorative stretches, card'sembling ancient er rows of folka regal chariot to oom, Jayalalitha uitably bedecked cribes went over
h persons partook , the next day. The ayalalitha on the he venue, Ornate 2ries, the gigantic de it look as if for g else came to a hat mattered was
ht was on the job rious persons conling of the century tractors, suppliers grilled, provoking out with a stateit the "vindictive
ings had started ronts. T.T.V. Dhiphew of Sasikala est brother of the hakaran, and inracket had been ld his persistent ts for anticipatory g of summons did or more than two as been evading ection of the state person so closely ling circle should side the long arm
g a hearing in the counsel said that Dhinakaran was lational ramifica
Even as the Dhinakaran affair was hogging the newspaper headlines, a more innocuous hawala racket, but involving persons closer to Jayalalitha broke out.
The JJ TV floated by the Sasikala clan was charged with paying five lakh US dollars to a US-based satellite firm for hiring a transponder without the knowledge and permission of the Reserve Bank of India, thus violating the Foreign Exchange Regulations Act (FERA).
While the older brother of Sudhakaran and managing director of the JJ TV, Bhaskaran, has already been arrested in this connection the other two directors of the firm, Sasikala and Sudhakaran have been served summons by the Enforcement Directorate. Jayalalitha who had earlier denounced rumours of interrogation of her aide as motivated has now chosen to keep quiet.
Even while studiously ignoring the enforcement drive, she is concentrating her fire on the IT inquiry into the marriage extravaganza and her partymen are running amok, attacking central government establishments in the state for harassing their leader and her extended family.
Almost every one of the family besides Speaker Sedapatti R. Muthiah and a couple of other senior ministers are under scrutiny by the IT. All of them have piled up assets "totally disproportionate to their known sources of income', and through calculated leaks to the Press, the IT is keeping the heat on the lot.
It looks like only some political move can help the beleaguered lady wriggle out of the current mess - meaning some kind of rapprochement with Narasimha Rao.
However the political environment is no less frustrating for her. The local Congress leaders are so cheesed off with her that they have sternly warned Rao against making overtures or reacting positively to any approach from her.
They were able to prevail on him against attending the wedding despite a personal invitation from her. In a reluctant bid to mend fences with Governor Channa Reddy she had also called on him and invited him over, but he too cold-shouldered her.
And to make matters worse for her, superstar Rajnikanth is threatening to enter politics anytime now, perhaps float a party of his own, in the company of that old war horse and MGR's lieutenant R.M. Veerappan, recently
Continued on page 23

Page 22
22 TAMIL TIMES
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15 OCTOBER 1995
Continued from page 21
sacked from her cabinet, and strike an alliance with the Congress.
He is generally perceived to have an enormous following, among the youth especially, and if only he throws his hat into the ring, he would surely triumph, it is believed. In fact a survey by a reputed market research firm has revealed that her popularity is at an all time low and Rajni could sock it in her eye.
However Rajni still looks cagey and has steadfastly refused to make his intentions clear. Apparently he wants an assurance from the Congress that if he does enter and the alliance romps home, he would be made the Chief Minister.
But there are others who claim that the happy-go-lucky guy he is, he does not want to be encumbered with the burdens of office or trapped in the dust and din of politics, though he does realise his charisma.
In fact while issuing a statement saying that time was not yet oppor
tune for him to ente it was for God to dec he lambasted the . said that if only she power in the next e God could save the
Evidently he is de her unsettled and even campaign agai does not float a part
It is the Congress ismatic personality desperate to get evel which is egging him
Other parties lik MDMK are also scar of Rajni's entry. Whi afraid that after all h tent anti-Jaya camp snatch the victory f the last moment, Va hundreds of youth a ers, would stand to does take the plunge
Whoever win or down for Jayalalitha have begun.
GOdmen Call the Sł
T.N. Gopalan
The citizens of India, that is Bharat, woke up on the morning of September 21 to a startling phenomenon. The apparently lifeless idols of Lord Ganesha had suddenly become inordinately thirsty - all over the country they had started drinking milk avidly.
It looked like the day of the apocalypse. The pious thronged through the temples in thousands. Thousands more sought to feed the idols kept in their own homes. But there was one limitation. The Lord chose to drink only the milk offered in table-spoons and kept close to his nostrils.
The scientists scoffed at it as an instance of surface tension - milk in the spoon attracted to the moist idol and spreading through capillary action, mostly collecting below the idol, but overlooked by the devotees in their mystic communion.
Even as the rationalists were despairing over the lack of scientific temper and the Hindutva forces were gloating over the ways of God, 'arousing the Hindu consciousness, the notorious godman Chandraswamy declared that it was he who had conjured up the phenomenon, just to make the people understand how close he was to God and warn his enemies to lay off.
He had been in some difficulties that week with the CBI unravelling his connections with the underworld, and
a junior minister i Rao Government ev ity to order his arres
However it was Ch came up trumps ult godman-fearing R. wings of the impetu the CBI dragged its
Babloo Srivastav wanted inter-state volved in 42 differe: them murder and k dited recently from once been given ref wamy, when he was Babloo's links with Dawood Ibrahim su engineered the min of Bombay in Janu matter of speculatio
Hence it was the C arraign the extreme godman. Mr. Rajesh dynamic Minister of: Security, once a shooter of the Prin since fallen from g. serious series of clash Home Minister, S.B. that he was going ti lowly ministry and before the expected directed the CBI to a even though technic not fall under his pu set offa big furore in
Chandraswamy no

TAM TIMES 23
r politics and that cide on the matter, Jaya misrule and were returned to lections, not even people. 2termined to keep perhaps he would inst her even if he y of his own.
without any charto boast of and
n with Jayalalitha
O.
e the DMK and 'ed at the prospect
le Karunanidhi is
mis years of consispaign, Rajni could rom his hands at i.Go., who counts among his followlose a lot if Ranji
loses, the countcould be said to
OtS
n the Narasimha en had the audacst.
andraswamy who imately with the ao clipping the Lous minister and eet in the matter. a, India's mostcriminal' and innt cases, some of idnapping, extraSingapore, had uge by Chandrasa fugitive. Besides the notorious don spected of having d-numbing blasts uary 1992 are a
. BI that sought to ly well-connected Pilot, the then State for Internal trusted troublehe Minister, but race following a hes with his boss,
Chavan, sensed o be shifted to a so, a few hours babinet reshuffle, rest the godman, ally the CBI did
urview, and thus
the country. ee Nemi Chand
Jain, supposedly a tantrik who could perform the most esoteric of rites and win all kinds of favours from the Gods above, has prospered enormously in this country of the gullibles. He had won the esteem of personalities like Mrs. Gandhi, but his most consistent and most devout loyalist has been none other than the present Prime Minister Narasimha Rao.
It was he who is believed to have introduced the Swami to the higher echelons including Mrs. Gandhi. However it is the more mundane job of wheeling-dealing which has earned the glib-talking pseudo-monk a lot of followers the world over. From African Presidents to arms dealers like Kachoggi to ambitious call-girls like Pamella Bordes to an array of bureaucrats, they, have all vied with each other to court the Swami, an
acknowledged expert in swinging
deals.
One does not need any more damning testimony of the Swami's credentials than the fact that his most unabashed supporter is Dr. Subramaniam Swamy.
He has been involved in many a fracas in the past, has even been jailed once for his involvement in a shady deal, but he has successfully come on top every time adversity stared him in the eye.
If Mr. Pilot had thought he would put such a man in his place or at least embarrass and stay the hand of the PM, he was sadly mistaken. Pilot was the one who was put in his place, he was shunted off to the Environment Ministry. Though the CBI cops went through the motion of interrogating Swami on the disclosures of Babloo, it was clear in less than a fortnight that no harm would come to the Swami. Even the writ petition in the Delhi High Court challenging Pilot's arrest order was withdrawn.
Finally, as we go to press, a group of sadhus led by Chandraswamy, were preparing to hold a big yagna right inside a reserved forest area, giving scant regard to the environmental regulations.
The various departmental heads concerned are wringing their hands in despair, but the police would not dare touch them. When interviewed by the pressmen, the sadhus asked arrogantly, "Whose permission do we need to carry on God's work?' Incidentally the state of Delhi has a BJP government. Though there is no love lost between Chandraswami and the BJP, they would not run the risk of being perceived as anti-Sadhus or anti-yagna.
Continued on page 29

Page 24
24 TAMIL TIMES
Rushdie waves His war
The Moor's Last Sigh
by Salman Rushdie, Jonathan Cape, 437 pages, E6.95.
Review by V. Abdullah
Salman Rushdie's "The Satanic Verses' made him an apostle of freedom of expression and thought in our time. This happened because the late Ayatollah Khomeini sentenced him to death as being an apostate from Islam on the basis of hearsay evidence - not heresy - since the revered Imam had not bothered to read the book. This is now part of the world's cultural history.
The intelligentsia of the world know Salman Rushdie as the author of "Midnight's Children' which won the prestigious Booker Prize and which has now been christened the "Booker of Bookers' as the best novel to win the prize. Then came "Shame' on the birth of Pakistan (what the author called a case of "multiple pregnancy'), which was very promptly banned in that country. These and other works have earned for Rushdie awards and recognition from many parts of the world. The Satanic Verses' was his last major work: it brought him fame and a great deal of undeserved notoriety. Since its publication he has been living in hiding fearing death at the hands of some insensate fanatics.
Now comes The Moor's Last Sigh' described by the author thus: "Mine is the story of the fall from grace of a high-born crossbreed - Moraes Zogoiby, called Moor... the only heir to the spice trade 'n' big business millions of the da Gama-Zogoibies of Cochin.” The ‘da Gama’ in the name pointsto descent from Vasco da Gama, the first European trading marauder to land in India at the tail-end of the 15th Century. The story is woven in the now familiar style of magic realism and in its flow takes in every major event of present-day India.
The dominant figure in the narrative is Aurora, heiress to the da GamaZogoiby millions, who herself is the product of an Indo-Portuguese Mangalore-Catholic alliance. She on her part marries a Cochin Jew who seems self-effacing but is a genius in business. He manipulates the joint family business and plantations in such a way that they are able to sell off their Cochin property in spite of family feuds and settle down in Bombay on the heights of the aristocratic Malabar Hill in a magnificent mansion of many hues and designs (even le Corbusier
having a hand in The Zogoibies, rora, beget four ch three daughters, a rent ways. The so narrator of this stc four and a half m tion, thereby in growth is at doubl ary mortals. At the ten, at ten twent fortyfive ninety ye. is deformed and flesh without finge of a sledgehamme)
Aurora is a gre her ankle bells on Ganesh Chaturth with naked feet ol bar Hill. Apart fro she is a gifted pain murals in her pala nent painters and salon. She is frier ones in the land, l cians and political Minister, Nehru h and one of his lett (acknowledged in from Nehru to Ind
Other character narration include who incites a mob wants in Bombay; guess the original trol' personage. Th in Bombay with its and dadas appeari drop. The late E large like a crum the Bombay riots the pages. The s Henry the Navig Portuguese explo the Bombay riots sions. It is divided House Divided', "Bombay Central' Last Sigh'. The do the Moor's mothe Aurora, and the less powerful pre: Abraham, oversha difficult to set o events that take pl a fantasised versi erything of import pened in recent tin ebb and flow of p gious and com mushrooming into currents of violenc underworld, of dru ret and of business sively in the open. described often t

15 OCTOBER 1995
d Again
he designing of it).
Abraham and Auildren, one son and ll of whom go diffen is the Moor', the ry, who was born in onths after concepdicating that his ; the speed of ordinage offive he looks y years old and at ars old. His one arm inds in a clump of rs with the strength
at dancer who dons hly once a year, on night, and dances n the crest of Malam being a danceuse ter who creates vast ce of a house. Emiartistes throng her ldly with the great Ministers and politileaders. The Prime imself, writes to her ers to her is quoted the appendix as one lira). s who figure in the
Raman Fielding to do whatever he it is not difficult to of this “remote conhe events take place underworld of dons ng in the hazy backBabri Masjid looms bling shadow while flash gorily across story goes back to gator, the intrepid er, and ends with and the serial explol into four parts: "A "Malabar Masala', and "The Moor's minant influence of r, the one and only shadowy, none the sence of his father dow the story. It is ut in sequence the ace; the narration is on of actuality. Evtance that has haphes finds a place; the political power, relimunal passions senseless riots, the e and revenge in the ng trafficking in secscams done aggresThe way events are hrows the reader's
Review
brain into a whirl, the frightening enormity of it all making one gasp.
Rushdie's mastery over English adds spice and humour. Talking of the harsh reality that is Aurora, his mother, he says many of the events were like a gallant coat laid over the filthy mud-puddle of her soul' - an expression redolent of Elizabethan England shorn of knight-errantry.
Talking of Mrs. Gandhi, of her years in power and the tyranny of the Emergency, Rushdie says: "There was no final morality in the affairs of State, only Relativity.' He advances a new variation upon the Einstein theory. 'Corruption was the only constant. . . for a relative we can bend a point. . the truth... even the law.”
At another place: Many think that death is the door to God's chamber of glory but that is an empty room. Eternity is here on earth. Money can't buy it. Immortality is Dynasty. Is there a better description of events in India during the Seventies and Eighties when the glories of that bastard breed of democracy, called dynastic democracy, were dinned into our ears by persons who should have known better?
Bombay City, beloved of the author as the place of his birth, is central to this narration. It is called "the bastard child of a Portuguese-English wedding, and yet the most Indian of cities. Rushdie turns sentimental with what he calls “the magic that stirred this insaan soup, the harmony that emerged from the cacophony. He asks in despair: "Did you not see that what was beautiful in Bombay was that it belonged to nobody, and to all? Did you not see the everyday live-and-let-live miracle thronging its overcrowded streets?' One wonders whether the re-christened Mumbai' will hear this cry from the heart,
As the story moves along, crafted by a master of the language, the Moor finds himself in violent love with one Uma Saraswathi - again a symbolic composite character - who is responsible for cutting the umbilical cord that bound him to his mother. Eventua. he finds himself a forlorn crimina wanted by the Bombay police. He is put in a filthy prison from where he is rescued by none other than Raman Fielding who nominates him one of his star “hit men’. ,,
Meanwhile his mother dies, slipping from the rocky precipice where she

Page 25
15 OCTOBER 1995
was doing her annual dance. Later his father lures him back into the parental fold and big business. He learns of the deep ramifications of his father's business empire which takes in the underworld of drug trafficking among other things. He becomes aware of the many secrets of his mother's life as well and he swears vengeance on Raman Fielding who had engineered her death. But he finds he is forestalled in the attempt. Come the Bombay blasts and the Moor finds himself fatherless, a refugee on the run from his native India. .
The Moor makes a beeline for Andalusia, once the cradle of Moorish civilisation, to a place called Benengali where a former chela turned enemy of his mother, Vasco Miranda of Portuguese descent, lives in a castle on top of a hill. He is taken prisoner by Miranda who has become eccentric, on the verge of insanity, a slave to drugs. The Moor and a Japanese prisoner, a women artist with the strange name Aoeeue, are chained together night and day. There the Moor writes his life story, reconstructing it chapter by chapter. The mad Miranda in a final fit of violence shoots Aoeeue and dies, his body bursting with blood gushing out of every pore. The story ends with the Moor writing the last chapter of his life, his last sigh'. The Moor finds himself in a cemetery, resting on a grave. He gazes on the glory of the Moors, their triumphant masterpiece, the Alhambra, Europe's red fort, sister to Delhi’s and Agra’s. . . a testament to love that endures beyond despair. . . to the most profound of our needs for flowing together, for putting an end to frontiers, for the dropping of the boundaries of the self.' He wants to lay his head on the tombstone with the hope he would "awaken renewed and joyful, into a better time.'
If“Midnight’s Children” was a tale of hope, however phantasmagorical, is The Moor's Last Sigh' one of despair? It is difficult to say, for much of the symbolism abounding in the book may be interpreted in different ways by the reader, depending on his basic mental make-up. Says the Moor to his Japanese artist companion, before her last moments: "this is) our story in a nutshell, our tragedy enacted by clowns... we are consonants without vowels, jagged, lacking shape.'
There are a number of events which come careening down memory lane for an alert Indian reader. For example that long-forgotten kiss that was implanted on Abbas Ali Baig on his brilliant near-double century in a match against England - it is made the subject of one of Aurora's early paintings and it almost brings on a
communal riot at the Fielding – for the kis, damsel and the kissed another community
We read of an India in the person of on whose name is the sub limericks; she is also object of Raman Fiel lust. She becomes a when she marries the of social convenience clear by the narrator.
We are told of the V.V. Crocodile, who the extraordinary c1
The V
After six years' deten ary authorities, Nol winner Aung San Su mar (Burma) was rele arrest on 11 July. O Civil Rights Moveme Lanka issued the third Value of Dissent, whit of her writings. The English, Sinhala and
In the face of the attempts to silence th San Suu Kyi has cor out for democracy an In one of the extracts she describes how au ernments regard dis lenge to be confronte whereas in a democr nowledges the right major differences of resolved peacefully in Moreover, the discuss tion of such differenc social change, which authoritarian governr for a change in politic country, to transform on absolute power to genuine respect for jus human rights.
This booklet is the issued by the Civil Ri of Sri Lanka. The m ranges across the Gautama Buddha to S and covers subjects Shakespeare’s Kinų Twain's Huckleberry embourg’s The Pro torship, and a statem lal Nehru on civil li scribed is Galileo’s pel treatise on the solar went against establish thority of the time. In years later, the Catha cially admitted it had latest publication in from leaflets issued

ehest of Raman er was a Hindu one belonged to
Miss Universe Nadia Wadia ect of numerous the unattained ling's lecherous art of the story Moor for reasons
a point made
super financier s charged with ime of bribing
TAM TIMES 25
Union Ministers. The exploits of Khazana Bank International are also trotted out. Though one may not let out peals of laughter, one does chuckle and titter at the way the author makes light irreverent fun of all the sacred cows in Indian public life. Many self. important balloons are pricked to let out empty air leaving the owners in defenceless deflation.
It is heartening that Rushdie has written another masterpiece to delight his large readership and make them think, despite his sojourn underground to escape fundamentalist fatwa toters.
falue Of Dissent
ion by the militbel Peace Prize u Kyi of Myanased from house n that day, the nt (CRM) of Sri lin its series The ch includes some publication is in Tamil.
military rulers' eir critics, Aung tinually spoken d human rights. in this booklet, thoritarian govsent as a challd and crushed, acy, which ackto be different, opinion can be open dialogue. ion and resolues is the root of is anathema to ments. She calls al values in her a system based one based on tice, liberty and
third in a series ghts Movement aterial in them centuries from ephen Spender, as diverse as I Lear, Mark "inn, Rosa Luxlem of Dictant by Jawaharperty. Also desecution for his
system, which ed religious au
1992, over 350 lic Church ofieen wrong. The ludes excerpts by the White
Rose', a small group of young Germans critical of the ruthless totalitarianism of Nazi Germany. Twenty-one year old Sophie Scholl (whose photograph shares with Aung San Suu Kyi the front cover of CRM's booklet) was among the members of this group who were executed in 1943.
The unifying thread running through this selection is the danger of suppressing dissent. The piece on Galileo shows that scientific ideas which were seemingly outrageous are often later recognised to be important scientific advances.
While many of the writings in this collection derive from the past, the suppression of ideas because they in themselves, or the person who voices them, are inconvenient or politically disturbing continues to this day. Only in recent weeks, United Nations officials deleted certain passages in a book they had commissioned for the 50th anniversary of the UN. In protest all the authors who contributed articles to the book, as well as its editor, have withdrawn their names from the publication.
One of the passages censored was a statement by the Dalai Lama to a public gathering in Vienna where he had been banned from addressing the 1993 UN World Conference on Human Rights. By a timely coincidence, CRM's new booklet quotes an excerpt from the same speech, where the Dalai Lama says that he cannot share the view of some Asian governments who contend that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights sets out Western standards, which, because of differences in culture and economic and social development, cannot be applied to the Third World. "I am convinced that the majority of Asian people do not share this view', he says, “for it is
Continued on page 26

Page 26
26 TAM TIMES
Hindu Congress Ap
The All Ceylon Hindu Congress has appealed to the government to bring an end to the ongoing war and аппоипce a package for the political solution of the conflict. The following are extracts from the Congress's recent Statement
"We do not relish the ongoing war. We do not condone the killing of any person whether he is a Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim, Burgher to whatever religion he may belong. By this ruthless war, valuable lives that could contribute to the development of this country are wantonly destroyed. The finances that could be used for economicemancipation of the masses is used to destroy them.
The information we gather from various sources, (mainly from those coming from Jaffna), express in no uncertain terms that there is very heavy loss of life among civilians. A large number suffer from injuries (substantial numbers of the latter also die in hospitals due to the nonavailability or non-adequate medical care at hospitals due to inadequacy of drugs and medical personnel). There is wanton destruction of properties. Our information is that unaccountable number of dead bodies are found in hospitals even outside the mortuaries due to inadequacy of storage space. We come to gather that over three hundred have died, over two thousand have been injured and over three hundred thousand have been made homeless. All these have happened due to indiscriminate bombing and shelling. From these one is never near wrong if he concludes that this is a war perpetrated on the Tamil Population by the Government.
Continued from page 25
the inherent nature of all humans beings to yearn for freedom, equality and dignity....Diversity and traditions can never justify the violation of human rights'.
In publishing The Value of Dissent, CRM aims to show that intolerance from whatever source - from government, opposition groups, other factions within society, or from society as a whole - is dangerous for us all and must be identified and opposed. The questioning of authority and convention, and the free exchange of ideas, are essential for social development and scientific advance.
Suriya Wickremasinghe, Secretary, CRM.
As Hindus we
dismayed as the bombing and shel places of worship Selvasannathy Te: Sivan Temple, Sal akali Amman Tem Peters Church.
Her Excellency anaike Kumaratu. with the vast maj voting for her. She the citizens of thi peace and prospe from the presenth is not allowed to tal the mandate to ret tion of the ethnic contrary to our di that Her Excellenc taken steps leadin truction. The Gove a military solution the decimation of Tamil people will n sponsored atrocitie trated on them. As army, navy and a the north is de fau Tamils.
All governments pendence era in aroused violence í (either State insp directed) when Tar grievances dem violently against trated on them. Th the State was forc youth, Tamil yout was a rebounding f ism. We agree with dent when she s suppress the prese but without accept tion there could LTTE'. A war of a f more violent than peace is achieved inc tial thing for peace page of this war b Excellency Chandr Kumaratunga was Messiah emerging prosperity to this she will not fall a vi "honours mutant m
We reiterate tha cease immediately package of political made available soo
We appeal to He dent to put an en announce her poli appeal to the LTTE

15 OCTOBER 1995
peals
are aggrieved and military targets for ing have fallen on to mention a few, mple, Valvettiturai, garaththai Pathirple and Navaly St.
Chandrika Bandarnga came to power ority of the Tamils got a mandate from s country to bring rity. It is evident appenings that she ke a step forward on tore peace by soluproblem. On the ismay we observe y's Government has g to war and desrnment has chosen which will result in
Tamil population. ot forgive the State es presently perpeit is a pure Sinhala ir force fighting in 2to Sinhala war on
s of the post indethis country have against the Tamils ired and or State mils expressed their ocratically, non injustices perpee militancy against ed upon the Tamil h taking up arms orce to State terrorI the present presiaid that "we can int LTTE by force able political soluemerge another uture will be much the present unless w. The most essenis immediate stopby both sides. Her ika Bandaranaike thought of as a to bring peace and and. We are sure ctim to the dictum pres”.
at the war should and the proposed solution should be
r Excellency Presid to this war and tical solution. We
to reciprocate.
We appeal to the Hon. Minister of Health and Social Services to
(a) send adequate number of doctors to the North-East to meet this disaster situation,
(b) send medical supplies to meet this situation.
We appeal to the Hon. Minister of Ports, Shipping, Relief and Rehabilitation to help in ending life in refugee camps early so that there could be prevention of disease that usually occurs in epidemic proportion under crowded conditions. We also appeal to him to provide early and adequate relief for those who lost their homes and belongings.
We appeal to the N.G.O. community to supplement or complement relief measures which they had been contributing lavishly at this time of need.
We appeal to the diplomatic community in this country to use their influence with the Government to put an end to this war against Tamil people.
We appeal to all Tamil Members of Parliament (on whose support this government survives) to bring pressure on the Government to stop this war and bring out the political package for peace very early. We also appeal to them to withdraw their support to this government if their demands are not conceded.

Page 27
15 OCTOBER 1995
READERS FORUM
A RESPONSE TO UYANGODA, HOOLE AND ANANDA
JAYADEVA UYANGODA (Tamil Times, 15.09.95), like many of the enthusiasts for the "Peace Package', seeks to oversimplify the problems of peace in Sri Lanka by blaming "extremists', and in this instance the LTTE is at the receiving end of his attack. The LTTE is certainly not the voice of moderation and one should not forget that it was the product of the failure of the politics of moderation in the face of Sinhala chauvinism. Uyangoda considers A.T. Ariyatne, the Bandaranaikes and Dudley Senanayake as voices of moderation. But these individuals have dabbled in Sinhala chauvinist politics during their long careers in public life and have failed to stand up against the politics of chauvinist extremism when it really mattered. I do not think that Rev. S.J. Emmanuel's (T.T., 15.09.95) is a voice of extremism. The fears that he expresses about the peace package are real as far as a large section of the Thamil people are concerned. They will continue to remain as long as the benevolent voices of moderation and reason that defend the government's handling of the peace process view the solution to the national question as an act of kindness by the majority nationality. Given the record of the Colombo governments during the past four decades, the Thamil people have every reason to be apprehensive about the intentions of any government. Even if the PA government means well, as Uyangoda and others believe, it has to act in a more convincing way if it is to secure peace in its lifetime. To a large section of the Thamil people, the government talks peace but its actions emphasise war. Even before the package has been formally presented the government shows signs of yielding to pressure from the small section of Sinhala chauvinist extremists.
R. Hoole is correct in drawing attention to the importance of the question of territory. Advocates of the envisaged peace package have generally neglected this aspect of the problem. The fear that the proposals will only legitimise recent politically motivated colonisation in the East cannot be ignored. I am somewhat surprised by Hoole's disappointment in some of the eminent Sinhalese professionals for placing their signatures on documents rejecting federalism and an interim
council for the N. eminent profession communal muck
troversy about stan the early '70s and is tions about Thamil 1980. I also remem were reputed to spe moderation at tha' sign an appeal fo education is no gu and clear thinking members of the generates prejudic sion and injustice. A cist is worse than a because he can fiu arguments to justif also dress up fascis] way. The BJP is no tuals and Jaathika by intellectuals. One is that intellectuals society. As far as st lectuals go, the con the worth of the si names of the sigr about the value oft
I am not sure wh means that the Tha '70s was not predo ist. Events during regime triggered se among some Tham struggle as a who secessionist until aft the wake of the D born in 1977. Tham the child of Sinhal the Thamil people tinuously reminded identity for severa. nationalism was an desire to safeguard preserve their exista ity. Despite Hoole LTTE, it is the mail the Thamil people's tion. It will conti leading role for som genocidal war wag ment’s armed force early end and pea established. The gi take the initiative i and if it is serious ab choice except to in LTTE.
Hoole's subjectiv the LTTE goes to t. ing the LTTE for ev wrong for the Tham cites approvingly from Mattakkkala quotes an Indian argue that it was LT enabled the contin Sinhalese in the Ea that the LTTE is r Thamill-Muslim clas

TAMIL TIMES 27
orth-East. It was als who raked up during the condardisation during pread wild allegaacademics around per that some who ak with a voice of time refused to r sanity. Formal arantee of honest Intellectuals are very society that , hatred, oppresAn intellectual fasless educated one ld good academic y evil and he can m in a fashionable t short of intellecChintanaya is led hope for mankind rarely transform atements by inteltents tell us about gnatories and the latories say little he contents.
ether Hoole really mil struggle of the minantly nationalthe 1970-77 UF cessionist thinking il youth, and the le was not really er the atrocities in harmishta society il nationalism was a chauvinism and have been conof their Thamil decades. Thamil expression of the that identity and ence as a national's dislike of the h representative of struggle for liberanue to play this Le time, unless the 2d by the governs is brought to an ce with justice is overnment has to in ending the war, out peace it has no egotiate with the
ism in criticising he extent of blamerything that goes il people. He even a leading citizen' pu (who in turn
army officer) to TE’s struggle that ued settlement of st. His accusation esponsible for the hes in 1990 fails to
take into account the role played by the IPKF and the clients of India among the militants in worsening Thamil-Muslim relations. The unhealthy attitude of nearly all groups of Thamil militants towards the Muslims is something that they inherited from the Federal Party and the TULF. One should also not overlook the mischief of the government in systematically using a section of the Muslims against the Thamils. I fully endorse the view of Hoole that the government has to take the initiative in reversing the 'course of disintegration' and believe that he means that the government should make a serious bid for peace. There is a lot to be desired in the way that the average Thamil in Colombo is treated by the security forces. I hope that the advocates of the peace package will also pay attention to this aspect of the problem.
Jeeva S. Anandan makes some interesting observations in his article inspired by his enthusiasm for the peace package. I do not share his views about Gandhi and this is hardly the forum to debate that matter. I am tempted nevertheless to draw attention to a few of the factual errors in that article. Kashmir is not the only state facing a secessionist struggle. Punjab is back on the secessionist agenda and Naga and Mizo struggles for secesssion were not controlled on the basis of Gandhian principles. The comment about the DMK responding to the kindness of Nehru in pledging to retain English as the link language misses the point that the DMK learned soon that "Draavidanaadu.' was a dead duck and what they put forward as Dravidian nationalism was in fact a brand of Thamil nationalism. In 1962 Nehru used the pretext of the Sino-Indian border conflict to make any demand for secession illegal and the DMK gladly complied to safeguard their interests in electoral politics which they entered in the late '50s. The DMK like the Thamil elite in Sri Lanka was hostile to making the language of a neighbour the official language and preferred the domination of English and it is the class interests of such bankrupt elite that is holding India together. One should not forget the ease with which Delhi dismisses state governments when they threaten the power of the centre. Nehru did it in 1957 with the Kerala government, and his descendants have loyally followed suit.
The Panchaayat system was not the brainchild of Gandhi. It existed in the subcontinent for centuries and was free from party politics to some extent.
Continued on page 28

Page 28
28 TAM TIMES
Continued from page 27
I think that it was Rajiv Gandhi who, by making Delhi control the funds to the Panchaayats, sought to drive a wedge between the state government and rural local government to the benefit of the centre. The possibility of governing India by a system of traditional Panchaayats requires a vast degree of decentralisation and does not seem realistic in the context of the modern Indian state. Gandhi himself, despite his dream of "Graama Raaj', was close to India’s industrial magnates and was hostile to the struggles of agricultural workers against landlords. His opposition to the caste system was so ineffective that Ambedhkar rejected Gandhi’s approach and chose to register his protest against the caste system by initiating mass conversion to Buddhism.
Anandan's parallels with Europe are weak since we are dealing with a different kind of nationalism in a different era. India, the child of and successor to the British Raj, became independent in 1947 only to surrender to the multinationals and their agencies. There is a need to re-launch the struggle for the independence of the subcontinent, this time with the oppressed people in the lead. Selfdetermination of minority nationalities, overthrow of caste oppression and women's liberation are more important than a bogus unity that serves the interests of a tiny minority and their imperial masters. I am pleased, however, that Anandan has reminded us about the importance of a himsa to Buddhism, especially at a time when the government with its historic proposals for peace is gleefully endorsing the recruitment of members of the Buddhist clergy to the army.
S. Sivasegaram
Camberley Avenue,
ondon SW20.
C. SUNTHERALINGAM: A CENTENNIAL TRIBUTE
AUGUST 19 marked the centennial anniversary of the birth of Chellapah Suntheralingam, one of the colorful intellectuals of colonial Ceylon, who also represented Vanni Tamils in the parliament between 1947 and 1960. If Suntheralingam is alive today, he would have been pleased that his prophesy of a separate state for Tamils has turned out to be almost a reality.
As described by A. Jeyaratnam Wilson, in his 1994 book, S.J.V. Chelvanayakam and the Crisis of Sri Lankan Tamil Nationalism, 1947-1977, four decades ago (24 June 1955 to be
exact), Suntheral amendment to the “the formation of a dent state of Tham ing Tamill-speaking within the Commo
Suntheralingam the then colonial ( B.Sc. degree from lege, London in 1 M.A. degree at t Oxford in 1920. Fo years, he also se Civil Service and Service, and quit being bored by the challenge in such His wisecrack was spend his entire lif of gun licences'. A as the Vice Princi lege in 1922, Sunt his first real job mathematics at the College, and held 1940.
Suntheralingam Tamil community 1947, when he v independent MP f general election. cabinet of D.S. S Minister of Comme to quit a year later Ceylon Citizenship was successfully re' niya constituency 1956 general electi was a schoolboy, I of my mathemati Ratmalana Hindu should read the Ho mathematical wi Suntheralingam iI the heavyweights Bandaranaike, N. vin de Silva.
Jeyaratnam Wils his 1988 book, Th Lanka, that Sunt man of integrity w to his convictions, scribed as a Ceylo) neither lead nor fi that at least in p sions of the Tamil h Suntheralingam ! which surpassed t G.G. Ponnambalar vanayakam. In the documents, conter in Sri Lanka are s what happened b nayake and G.G. between S.W.R.D. Chelvanayakam o dene and Amirthal eralingam as a te portance of writte book, Eylom: Begi

lingam moved an Throne Speech, for a separate indepenil Ilankai, comprisg peoples in Ceylon, nwealth”.
was a rare bird in Deylon. Following a the University Col917, he earned an he Balliol College, r the next couple of ved in the Indian the Ceylon Civil these posts after lack of intellectual distinguished jobs. that he could not e 'signing the issue fter briefly serving pal of Ananda Colheralingam landed as the professor of 2 Ceylon University this position till
's services to the in politics began in was elected as an or Vavuniya in the He also joined the enanayake as the rce and Trade, only in opposition to the Act of 1948. He turned to the Vavu
in the 1952 and ons as well. When I was advised by one cs teachers at the
College that one unsard to relish the t and wisdom of h his debates with such as S.W.R.D. M. Perera and Col
son had observed in e Break-Up of Sri heralingam was 'a rho acted according , he was best dein Tamil who would ollow'. I would say roviding their verhistory for posterity, showed leadership he performance of n and S.J.V. Chelabsence of primary mporary historians pinning tales about etween D. S. Sena
Ponnambalam or Bandaranaike and * between Jayewaringam. But, Sunthachr, knew the imn history. His 1967 nnings of Freedom
15 OCTOBER 1995
Struggle - Dozen Documents by C. Sunteralingam uvith ‘Candid Comments and Criticisms' by Lord Soulbury, is a worthy publication in this regard. I could only speculate that since Ponnambalam, Chelvanayakam and Amirthalingam were lawyers, their modus operandi was limited to presenting and arguing their Tamil case' in front of a judge' (Speaker of the parliament) and on occasions submitting petitions to a higher authority. So, they did not bother much to place their versions of history in written record. I consider this as a serious lapse as far as Tamils are concerned.
Suntheralingam slipped badly on the 1968 Maviddapuram temple-entry conflict. He projected himself as the spokesman of Defenders of Saivism'. Bryan Pfaffenberger had written an analysis on this issue, which was published in the Journal of Asian Studies in February 1990. Suntheralingam's controversial stance on this delicate issue was that his 'objection was not to untouchable temple entry per se but rather to any attempt to coerce the temple management into changing its views and to any interference by the Colombo government in Hindu religious affairs'. Pfaffenberger had inferred that "Suntheralingam may very well have been sincere, but his statements were widely taken as just so much rhetoric intended only to sugar coat the conservative position'.
Suntheralingam also had a final fling at the 1970 general election contesting the Kankesanthurai constituency against Chelvanayakam and campaigned on a divisive catchy slogan “Silvuwaiya a Welaa?” (Are you going to choose the Cross or the Vel?). His appeal was rejected by the Kankesanthurai voters. In one sense, his standing in Sri Lankan Tamil politics can be equated to that of Periyar E.V. Ramasamy Naicker's role in the Dravidian movement in India. Both provided the 'original sparks' for the excitement and explosion which followed in the Tamil 'self-respect movement” in India and Sri Lanka. Both faltered late in their careers.
One can reject the transgressions of Suntheralingam's political actions in 1968 to 1970 to senility. But his services to the Tamils in the area of education and politics between 1922 and mid 1960s (upto the publication of his 1967 book, Eylon: Beginnings of Freedom Struggle) cannot be forgotten. As Chelvadurai Manogaran has stated in his book, Ethnic Conflict and Reconciliation in Sri Lanka (1987), Suntheralingam "was the first Tamil politician to use the name “Eelam” to refer to the independent Tamil state of Sri Lanka, which the Tamil United

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15 OCTOBER 1995
Liberation Front and militant Tamils proclaimed in the 1970s.'
Suntheralingam's influence on the events related to the Tamil society badly needs an in-depth study. Apart from the few citations I have quoted, not much has been written on his role
as a 'sentinel of Tamil conscience'.
Sachi Sri Kantha
5-16-305 Tsukimicho, Fukuroi City, Shizuoka 437-01, Japan.
Continued from page 20
The moral of this not-too-edifying story is that in this great land of saints and savants it pays to be a godmanif only one has the right connections. NTR Falls: However, another politician who captured the imagination of the masses through his portrayal of a variety of gods, Mr. N.T. Rama Rao, came to grief last month.
Barely ten months after he was voted to power with a massive majority in Andhra Pradesh, he found himself out in the cold when his MLAs led by his own son-in-law Chandrababu Naidu revolted against him protesting the extraordinary powers enjoyed by his wife (half his age and whom he married only a few years ago).
Even extra-constitutionalism seems to have its own checks and balances. A timely reminder to Chandrasamys, Narasimha Raos and Jayalalithas perhaps.
Continued from page 18
arbitrate on such issues, the devolved functions still smack of subtle moves to retain central control over the Tamils and Muslims in every possible constitutional manner.
Summarised Conclusions
Although the President in her 'address to the nation' on 3 August 1995 accepted unqualifiedly, ". . . .the fact that the Tamil people have genuine grievances for which solutions must be found', because, 'during the 50 years since the end of the colonial era, the aspirations of the Tamil people were not adequately fulfilled within the parameters of the political process' and also "instead, a regrettable feature of the history of contemporary attempts to address their demands consisted of disingenuous methods resorted to by successive governments...', it is the Author's conclusion in this necessarily brief analysis, that the President's proposals are very unlikely to succeed in their present form, for the above reasons and other shortcomings, such as side-tracking of the central issues of Tamil nationhood and homeland.
Continued from pá rights, are values t can bring to this b will make it possibl linguistic, religious in the region to inte with common proble the future. There is popular periodical t Tamil Times both which it is situat Kingdom - and the ted to, is best su initiative. The U thousands of expat communities in the to the long historia tween the U.K. and lectual, journalistic sources available in an appropriate loca' publish such a pe take up this challen the peoples of the re. Times.?
Continued from pa
cantly reduced an be regarded as a the President. The Governor would re ence of the Chief Governor so appoi power to disallow almost all cases be the advice of the C Centre's power C region which alm existing provision Constitution have limited. The prop that the Chief M removed from offi enjoys the confiden Council.
Several commel comed the propos serious attempt underlying grieval and Muslims and the conflict in the President herself the new approach unqualified accep that the Tamil pe grievances for wh be found. A criti relates to the uni the North-East. Ti lined in the prop redemarcation of a manner as to terests of Sinha Muslims. This w. contentious issue negotiations sho within the next fe Although the p a significant adva

TAMIL TIMES 29
ge 23 hat this periodical roader task. This for peoples of all and ethnic groups ract as we grapple ms and visions for a vital need for a o meet this need. by the location in 2d - the United deals it is commitited to take the .K. is home to iates from all the region. In addition al connection beSouth Asia, inteland library rethe U.K. make it ion from which to riodical. Will you ge and provide for gion a South Asian
ge 13
l he can no longer mere nominee of : appointment of a quire the concurrMinister and the nted will have no laws and will in required to act on hief Minister. The Ir dissolving the ost replicate the s of the Indian been significantly osals recommend inister cannot be ce so long as he ce of the Regional
ntators have welals as a bold and to address the nces of the Tamils to bring an end to North East. The pointed out that is predicated on tance of the fact ople have genuine ch solutions must cal issue however t of devolution in he approach outosal calls for the boundaries in such reconcile the inese, Tamils and ll remain a very on which tough uld be expected w months.
roposals represent ance from all pre
vious attempts of ethnic reconciliations, many important features represent an existing consensus betwen the major political parties in the south of Sri Lanka. Nonetheless, hardline critics of the devolution proposals continue to argue emotively that the proposals would lead to the disintegration of the nationstate. They have particularly objected to any change in the unitary character of the state and to the devolution of powers with regard to land, fisheries, irrigation and law and order. They further contend that Regional Councils should not be allowed to directly obtain foreign investment or international grants and loans. Even issues which were resolved by the 13th Amendment are being recanvassed in a highly charged political atmosphere.
The future of the exercise depends on the ability of the Government to remain firm and not to allow the proposals to be progressively diluted by the forces of Sinhala nationalism. This by itself would not secure the success of the exercise as the United National Party needs to be persuaded to support the draft chapter. UNIP hitherto has remained cautious while in principle recognising the need for devolution and for a political resolution. The TULF leader Mr. M. Sivasithamparam has repeatedly urged the government to forward the proposals to the LTTE and to engage in direct political negotiations. Without such a process the proposals even if they are accepted by the people at a referendum will remain largely an academic exercise.
(Translation from India Today).
BURNING BUSH
Christian Fellowship
Proclaim Christ Crucified and instruct the power of His resurrection to the poor, announce liberation to the oppressed, recover sight to the blind, heal the sick raise the dead, Set at liberty them that are bruised, Prophecy the soon coming King, go into all the world and tell women, children and men that are enslaved spiritually, mentally and physically "Christ the liberator has come!'' For Prayer Requests and details of weekly services please Phone/Fax:
Bro, Barnabas J. Alexander O181251 8325
Childminder Available Sutton Area. Tel: O181 669 6324

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30 TAMIL TIMES
Box No.
MATRIMONIAL
Jaffna Hindu sister, seeks professional qualified partner for sister, 31, graduate, Australian citizen, 5'4%”, Mars eighth. Send horoscope, complete details. M 815 C/O Tamil Times.
Jaffna Hindu uncle seeks groom for niece in her thirties, fair, attractive, graduate, mathematics teacher in Colombo. Send horoscope, details. M 816 C/O Tamil Times.
OBTUARIES
Mr. Sinnathamby Thiagarajah, of Karainagar, Thirunelvely and Canada, Retired investigating inspector and Second Secretary to the Minister of Postal and TeleCommunication Services, Sri Lanka, son of the late Mr. & Mrs. Sinnathamby, Son-in-law of the late Mr. & Mrs. Sivasamboo, beloved husband of Parameswary (Canada); loving father of Ravinthiran, Rubenthiran (both of Canada), Renuka (Australia), loving father-in-law of Sarojini, Umayal (both of Canada), Dei varaj (Australia), loving grandfather of Darren, Myuran, Denuja, brother of late Senathirajah, Selvanayagi, late Nadarajah, Thangarajah and Sivanayagi passed away peacefully on Thursday, 31st August in Canada and was cremated on 2nd September. The members of the family thank all relatives and friends who attended the funeral, sent messages of sympathy and assisted them in various ways. - 6 1 1/3575 Kanett Crescent, Mississauga, Ontario L5A 3Y5, Canada. Tel: (905) 279 0179.
CLASSIFIED ADS
First 20 words 10. Each additional word 60p, Charge for
3. (vat 17y's extra) Prepayment essential The Advertisement Manager, Tamil Times Ltd, PO Box 12
Sutton, Surrey SM13TD reole1644 0972 Fax: 0181-24
Mr. Na mas ivayam Sivaneson, Fellow of Ford Foundation, former lecturer of Colombo University, Sri Lanka; subsequently at University of Brunei and University of London, passed away on 10.9.95.
Sadly missed by his beloved wife Rani, sons, daughters, daughter-in-law, sons-in-law and grandchildren. Cremation took place at Chelmsford Crematorium, Essex on 13.9.95.
The members of the family thank all friends and relatives who attended the funeral, Sent floral tributes, messages of sympathy and condoled with them during the time of great sorrow. - 69 Foxglove Close, Witham, Essex CM82XW. Tel: O 1376 517879.
Ratnammal wife of late Mr. Veerasingham Kulathunga Sundharam, formerly of 'Mannar Veedu', Kadaisamy Kovil Road, Vannarponnai, Jaffna, daughter of late Mr. & Mrs. S. Muttutamby; sister of late Mrs.
C. Somasundaram, late Mrs. G.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Rajadurai, Mr. M. Theagarajah (London), Mrs. M. Emmanuel (Kuala Lumpur), Mrs. S. Rasiah (Kuala Lumpur), Mrs. V. Saravanamuttu (Sydney), Mrs. V. Balasingham (Sydney) and Mrs. Y. Mahesa (Toronto); loving mother of Mrs. R.S. Nadarajah - Mani (Sydney), Mrs. P. Kathirkamathasan — Baba (London), Mr. K. S. Kumarasingham – Raju (Colombo), MrS. P. Senathirasa -- Pathma (Toronto), Mrs. T. S. Kumaresan — Thilaga (Jafna), Dr. V.K. Balasingham (London), Mr. K. Muthukumarasamy – Rajan (Colombo), Mrs. S. Pa dnm es wa ra n - G o wri (Brunei), Mrs. K. Nagendra - Asai (Sydney) and Mrs. A.
Cumarasingham - Rasaith y (Sydney) passed away peacefully on 9th October 1995 while on holiday in London and was Cremated on 12th October. She also leaves behind many loving grandchildren and great grandchildren. Members of her family wish to thank all friends and relatives who extended their sympathy and support - 54 Torrington Drive, Harrow,
Middx., HA2 8NF. Tel: 0181
2433526.
IN MEMORAM
Lovingly remembered on the 6th an ni versary of the passing away of
Daniel Selvarajah Sanders, Ph.D., ACSW Sept. 28, 1928-Oct. 14, 1989 The Fifth Annual Daniel S.
Sanders Peace, Human Rights and Social Justice Lecture
internationally known as a leader in efforts to achieve world peace, human rights and social justice. Daniel S. Sanders was Dean, Professor and Director for the Center for Study of International Social Welfare Policies and Services, University of Illinois UrbanaChampaign, School of Social Work, USA from 1986-1989; Also Dean, Professor and
15 OCTOBER 195
Director of international Program, University of Hawaii School of Social Work, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA from 19711986. FOurder and First Presdent linter-University Consortium for International Social De
velopment, USA from 19801989.
Dr. Harriet Jakobsson.
School of Social Work, University of Lund and University of Orebro, Sweden, Consultant to the United Nations High Commission on Refugees gave the Fifth Annual Daniel S. Sanders Memorial lecture On March 22, 1995 at the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. Her subject was A LOST GENERATION THE YOUNGEST VICTIMS OF WAR AND REFUGE.
George Warren Brown School of Social Work. Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri USA has established a scholarship in honor of Dan. The Daniel S. Sanders Scholarship will be awarded each year to an incoming MSW student from abroad. The first such award, in the amount of $6,000 will be made in academic year 1996. Dean Shanti K. Khinduka said: ‘Dar was an indefatigable advocate of international social development. It is a pleasure to have his name associated With a scholarship earmarked for such an important direction in sociaj work education.
Christobel Chelvathy, Selvaranee, Chandra, Chandran. Balan, Ariam, Alagan, Sanders Niles families, 614 West Florida Ave., USA.
Urbana, Illinois 61801
Mr. Viswallingam Shanmugavadivel Rtd. SPHl, Valvettiturai EOrr. 3.O7 1922 Departed 28.9.1990
Sadly missed and fondly rennen bered on the fifth anniversary of his passir away by his loving wife Ra:

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15 OCTOBER 1995
ganthi; children Amirthakala (Canada), Ratnakumar (VVT), Swarnakala, Nandakumar (UK), Premakumar, Uthayakumar (both of Germany), Sivakumar and Sugirthakala (both of UK); sons-in-law Subashchandrabose (Canada), Ponnambalam (Switzerland) and Gobiratnam (UK), daughters-in-law Cha n d r a le ka (VVT), Atputhamalar (Madras), Yogamathi and Yogasarojini (both of Germany) and Helen (UK); grandchildren Kavitha, Janitha, Jawagar, Sitharth, Aravinth, Anusha, Kousigan, Shobana, Pradiipa, Thushyanthini, Priyan
thini, Shanmuga priyan, Sathelesan, Shamini, Prashanthan, Nivedita, Ainkaran, Nishanthan and Mahison - 9 Portland House, High Trees, LOrdon SMV23PD. Tel 0181 671 92.09.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS November 1 Feast Day of All Saints. Nov. 3 Eekathasi. Third lypasi Velli. Nov. 4 Pirathosam. Nov. 6 Full Moon. Nov. 10 Last lypasi Velli.
Nov. 12 Remembrance Sunday.
AUSTRALIAN NEWSLETTER
Sydney Tamils Hold Peace March
A large gathering of over 2000 Tamils assembled at Martin Place, Sydney at about 11 a.m. on 198.95 to protest against the Sri Lankan army offensive and the continued economic catastrophe in the North. Almost all Tamil organisations were represented and there were speakers from be Uniting Church, the Catholic Church, Hindu Organisations, Students Movement, Civil Liberties Organisations and Women's Movement. They condemned the Sri Lankan Government for causing extreme hardship and suffering to the civilians in the Tamil areas.
Mr. Lawrie Ferguson, a Federal M.P. expressed sympathy for the plight of the Tamils in the North and East of Sri Lanka. AMr. Thanabalasingam of the Eelam Tamil Association spoke in Tamil. Mr. Ana Pararajasingam of the same organisation gave a run-down of recent political events in Sri Lanka and pointed out that the Sri Lankan Government was telling the world that the LT TE had rejected the latest peace proposals, whereas in fact they have not been formally submitted to them. A number of young people, many of them Australians addressed the gathering.
A group of little girls performed a Kolatam dance and then a Freedom Dance accompanied by stirring music. Hundreds of white and red balloons were released into the sky to signify the thirst for peace and freedom.
The meeting was followed by a march in which the processionists carried hundreds of placards and shouted slogans, raversed several streets in the heart of the city and reached the New South Wales Parlament House.
At was a very successful demonstration af dhe strong feeling amongst Tamis in Sydney about the plight of their brethren in the North and East of Sri Lanka.
Sri Ganesh Visarjan Festival was held for the fifth year in succesion on 3rd September. The venue for this festival
Which has become popular annual Hinc of Australia is the S ple in Sydney. As religious and cultura pated. Satguru Sri wami, Founder of th in Hawaii, who had c 1990 urged the Hinc this festival and it Visarjan Committee then, visited the ter, five years and hono no Wonder that th growing in popularit Six thousand devo year. After Kalas Abishekam and De Ganesha Utsava My rated in garlands wi around the temple c accompaniment o music, the ringing cymbals and the blo A large Visarjana clay was decorated taken in procession Park Beach and in the Pacific Ocean.
While the religi being conducted Cultural show was quee specially ere Proceedings comm of the Jyoti by Dr. President of the Several association the cultural progral day were the spirit Sri Sivaya Subt address by the ( Parthasarathy, Higi dia and the speech M.P. representing South Wales.
An important ite year is the Ganesh for Children under three groups accol of children took par were awarded prize The canteen organ Served both North food, it was very pc of the funds need tival. Carnatic Music C
 
 
 
 

TAM TIMES 31
Nov. 15 Feast of St. Albert, the Great.
Nov. 16 Feast of St. Margaret.
Nov. 18 Eekathasi; 5.00pm Toronto Alumni of Jaffna Colege and Uduvill Girls College present Christmas Bhajanai in Carratic Music at Milliken Wesleyan Methodist Church, Kennedy Road - 4 mile north of Steeles. Guest Speaker. Bro. J. Abu Bakker. All WelCOme. Nov. 20 Pirathosami First Karthikai Somavaram.
Cecilia.
Nov. 26 Sathurthi. Nov. 27 Second Karthikai Somavaram. Nov. 3O Feast of St. Andrew. At Bhawan Centre, 4A Castletown Road, London W14 9HQ. Tel: 0171-381 3086 4608. Nov. 18 7.00pm. Utsav presented by 'Srishti' Nina Raja Rani CreationS.
Nov. 24 7.30pm Sargam pre
Nov. 21 Feast of the Presenta
tion of Our Lady.
Nov. 22 Annavasai; Feast of St.
sents Vocal Jugalbandi, Hindustani: Lakshmi Shankar, Carnatic: Sivasakti Sivanesan with live accompaniments.
the biggest and most du festival in the Whole ri Venkateswara enin past years over 30 l organisations particiSivaya Subramuniyase Himalayan Academy on his visit to Sydney in lus to unite to organise plessed the Ganesha 9 which was formed nple after the lapse of ured the devotees. It is he festival has been y every year with over fees participating this a Stapanam, Maha eeparadhana, the Sri Irthy, beautifully decoas taken in procession n a "Thandikai" to the f live Nathaswaram of bells, the clash of Dwing of the conch.
Ganapati made out of and after poojah was to the nearby Stanwell mersed in the waters of
)US Ceremonies Were inside the Temple, a in progress in a marcted for the purpose. enced with the lighting A. Balasubramanian,
Temple Association. Is contributed items for nme. Highlights of the ual lecture by Satguru amuniyaswami, the Chief Guest Hon. G. Commissioner for inby Mr. Ian McManus,
the Premier of New
n of the festival every Colouring Competition 15 years divided into ding to age. Hundreds f in the competition and is and merit Certificates. ised by lady volunteers indian and South Indian pular and earned most 2d to organise the fes
oncert: Carnatic music
lovers in Sydney were enthralled by the vocal music recital of Sri Sanjay Subramaniyan on 10th September at the Wallace Theatre, University of Sydney. Sri Subramaniyan, one of the most promising vocalists in Madras had already toured Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. He held the audience spellbound from the moment he began singing and his rendering of Vasudevayoni in Kalyani and Palinstu Kamakshi in Madhyamavati were outstanding. He also sang several compositions by Arunagirinathar in praise of Lord Muruga. He was accompanied by Sri R. K. Shriramkumar on the Violin and Sri Arun Prakash on the Mridangam and received a standing ovation at the end of the recital.
New South Wales Senior Citizens' Association: At the 4th Annual General Meeting of the Association held on 26th August '95, at the Santa Maria Del Monte School Hall, Strathfield, the following were elected to office. President: P.S. Segaram; Vice President: E. Vijayaratnam; Secretary: S. Senathirajah; Asst. Secretary: Col. V. Ramanathan, Treasurer: V. Sivasubramaniam; Asst. Treasurer: R.S. Gasperson, Committee Members: C. Alagendram, M. Balakrishnan, L.S.C. Canagasingham, Mrs. N. Nadarajah, N.C. Rajanayagam, Mrs. S. Rajapoopalasingam, C.S. Sebaratnam and l. Wijeyanayagam. The association has a membership of 290.
Book Release: The launching of a book on "Water Resources Development - Jaff. na Peninsula" by Mr. K. Shanmugarajah took place on 17th September 1995 at the Homebush Primary School, Homebush. The author who was Deputy Director of irrigation, Sri Lanka; Adviser on irrigation Development to the Ministry of Water Resources, Nigeria, Engineer for World Bank, FAO and United States sincy for lnternational Development observes that as there are no rivers or streams in the Jaffna Peninsula and the topography does not permit the construction of reservoirs, water resources development of the peninsula must be based on its ground water. Conversion of the lagoons in the peninsula to fresh water lakes is identified as the most feasible method of recharging the underground aquifer. Books are available from the author at 830 per copy at 95 Weaver Street, Erskine Park, NSW 2759, Australia. Tel: (O2) 8343467.

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32 TAMILTMES
CANADAN NEWS LETTER
The Federation of Associations of Canadian Tamils (FACT) held a seminar on "Towards a Peaceful Resolution of the Sinhala-Tamil National Conflict" on 7th October 1995 at Tamil Eelam Society of Canada, 861 Broadview Avenue, Toronto. Discussion papers were submitted by Prof. A.J. Wilson, Mr. Adrian Wijemanne, Mr. Visvanathan Rudrakumaran and Mr. M. Vasantha Rajah. All four were of the view that a separate state for the Tamils in Sri Lanka would promote peace between the Sinhalese and the Tamils. They were of the view that President Chandrika's Devolution proposals contained flaws such as (a) The NE region is given the same autonomy powers as the other regions. (b) The emergency powers wipe away even the limited autonomy. (c) The Constitutional Council and the Boundary Commission are bound to be Sinhala dominated blocks, (d) A future Sinhala majority parliament can easily nullify everything now negotiated and settled. The Consensus of those present was that any settlement short of separation has to be mediated by a third party and implementation guaranteed.
In the evening over 300 persons attended a fund raising dinner in aid of Rehabilitation of Tamils in Sri Lanka at Oriole C.R.C., Don Mills. The guest speakers were Mr. Adrian Wijemanne and Mr. M. Vasantha Rajah.
Passing Away of Athmajothi N. Muthiah: The Sri Lankan Tamils and the Hindus in particular suffered a great loss in the passing away of Athmajothi N. Muthiah on 8th September 1995 in Montreal where he was on a visit. The late Mr. Muthiah was an erudite Tamil Scholar and an ardent Hindu saivite. He was fond of prayer meetings and led a crusade for prayer meetings in every Hindu home. Though born in Jaffna, he spent most of his life in Nawalapitiya where he was a teacher and later the Head Master in Kathiresan College. On his retirement he accepted the heavy responsibility of running the Kaithady Hindu Orphanage. He was 77 years old. Shakespearean Plays: The Shakespearean village in Stratford in Ontario becomes alive here in summer and autumn each year. This year they staged "Merry Wives of Windsor', 'Comedy of Errors' and "Macbeth'. These plays attract many visitors from the States. Stratford is just two hours away from Toronto, a busload of Sri Lankans made their annual visit to Stratford on 8th September to witness 'Macbeth'.
Ambika Delights in Edmonton: Ganna Bhooshanam Smit Ambika Tharmotheram, the well-known carnatic musician gave a recital of vocal music at the Velma Baker School Hall, Edmonton on 30th September 1995 before an appreciative audience. The recital was sponsored by the Tamil Cultural Association of Alberta, Canada. It was an evening of lively, enchanting Tamil music.
Ambika who was O. U.K. was ably support Rajanna was on the A Bhaniai on the Harm Vigneswaran on t Damayanthi on the Ta
Mrs. Rasammah - 17.4.1904 to
An Appre
Mrs. R. Kanagasabai following a brief illnes name in educational Ci the 1930s. Mrs. Kanag her colleagues and frie tion at Uduvil Girl embarked on a teachi early in life took on the bility of being the He Saiva Mangayakarasi
gious educational inS Cincts of the hallowed in Nallur. She held ti retirement in 1964. M sionals hailing from tha their early training an institution and are livin Kanagasabai's dedic and expertise. Despite her husband in a road 1937, she combined
four young children ar. an exemplary manner children have excelle fields. In later years sl pleasure of seeing her
 
 
 
 
 
 

a holiday from the ld by local talent. R. firuthangam, Vinoth nium and Flute, P. e Tabla and V. mbura.
soi
Kanagasabai 01.9.1995 - Cilation
who passed away was a household cles in Jaffna since asabai (Rasakka to lds) had her educas' College. She ng career and very onerous responsiad Mistress of the sidyasalai, a prestitution, in the pre(andasamy temple is position till her ny leading profes! part of Jaffna had education at this testimony to Mrs. tion, Commitment the tragic loss of traffic accident in er motherhood of if her profession in o much so that her f in their Chosen 2 not only had the Jwn children doing
15 OCTOBER 1995
well but also her grandchildren, not to mention generations of others' children who passed through her school.
She was an intensely pious person, very outgoing and hospitable and her home ir Nallur was both a haven and a refuge for innumerable young people who found ir her a caring foster mother. Many woulc recall with amazement her incredible memory of people and events concerning even their own lives, which they themselves had difficulty in recalling.
Mrs. Kanagasabai is survived by her only brother, Sandrasegaram and her chidren Kanagarajah, Dr. Thilagarajah, Satkunarajah, Chandra and their families.
"To live in hearts you leave behind is not death.
Bharatha Natya Arangetram of Kavitha
The arangetram of fourteen year old Kavitha, daughter of Dr. & Mrs. Nadesalingam, took place at Logan Hall on 16th September. The “Vinayagar Vanakkam' sung by Mathini Sriskandarajah in her captivating voice gave the initial momentum for the OCCaSiO'n.
Kavitha commenced her arangetram with Ganesha Vandhanan in Raga Nata followed by Alarippu, Natesa Kauthuvan in Raga Hamsadwani and Jathiswaram. Kavitha is naturally blessed with a good figure, poise and grace. She performed to perfection. The "Varnam', as we all know is the most difficult and elaborate piece requiring great concentration and stamina, was performed with absolute synchronisation of Bhava, Raga and Thala.
An interesting item is "Nritta Vadhya Vinyasam', where Kavitha danced with great artistry for Muthu Sivarajah's entrancing Miruthangam, Chithambaranathan's excellent morsing and her Guru Ragini Rajagopal's Crystal clear Nattuvangam. The Keerthanam Nadanam Aadinar" has been performed at manyarangetrams but Kavitha brought the dance alive, effortlessly throwing in some difficult "Karnas' in a unique style.

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15 OCTOBER 1995
The chief guest Neila Sathyalingam in her speech said: "Today on this stage 1 saw Dance come alive with Miruthangam and Morsing. Foran arangetram artiste to have that amount of understanding in rhythm is a great thing'. 'She has a beautiful figure, very expressive face, lovelyaramandy, beautiful hands, fingers and all the best assets a dancer needs. She is a wonderful artiste. She should never give up dancing even for her studies'. Knowing Neila Sathyalingam's fame one cannot resist quoting the proverb "Vashishdar Vaayal Brhamma Rishi'. When she accolades as such, who am l to utter anything to the contrary?
Fronn Kavitha's Head Teacher Mrs. Marsha Elms of Kendrick School, Reading, we heard with pride and astonishment that Kavitha also surpasses in her studies and several other pursuits. She has passed grade 4 violin, grade 5 ballet and grade 6 piano. She is a member of The Berkshire County Youth Dance Company and a county Badminton player who earned a National Silver medal in 1993.
The credit for this arangetram presentation obviously should go to Kavitha's Guru Ragini Rajagopal for the selection of pieces, for her resourceful choreography and for recognising and exploiting Kavitha's talents to produce such a performance.
All the artistes involved are worthy of praise. The engrossing singing by Mathini Sriskandarajah, the entrancing Miruthangam by Muthu Sivarajah, the enthralling violin by Thiruvarur Kothandapani, the enchanting flute by Gnanavarathan Pichiappah, the excellent morsing by Kandiah Chidrambaranathan, the resonating compering by Ravi Sanguhan and the astounding lighting rendered by Ambikai Seevaratnam, all contributed a great deal to make this arangetram a memorable One.
Sita Venkatraman.
Skanda Old Students Celebrate Their Tenth Anniversary
The UK branch of the Old Students of Skanda Varodaya College, Jaffna celebrated their tenth anniversary with a reunion lunch and variety entertainment at Holy Cross Convent School Hall, Sandal Road, New Malden, Surrey on Sunday, 17th September 1995.
After lunch the variety entertainment was provided mainly by the old students and their children. Shobitha Sathianandan and Arthee Yogendran from the junior group and Janaki Kuhanendran, Hari Siwanesan, Karthiga Gangatharan from the senior group provided two fascinating weena recitals. Bhayiravi Ganeshwaran entertained the appreciative audience with her melodious music from the violin. Mr. K. Jananayagam gave a flute recital which held the audience spell bound. Mr. M. Sathiyamoorthy sang light songs which drew rounds of applause. The grand finale meras a scintillating Bharatha Natyam recital
by Brintha Baladasan ham, Angelo and M. very Versatile artistes addition to their pe miruthangam provid ment for all the it showed their appreci, entertainment provide
The Annual Gener place halfway throug tainment resulted in following office bear year 1995/96. Presi General Secretary: ann, Treasurer: R. Presidents: S. Karna nanam, Sports Co-o nanda, Cricket Secre an, Football Secret Netball Secretary: Sabanathan, Cultu Sathiyamoorthy, Com lappah, Mrs. V. Gang S. Nadesan and P R
Amman Te Benefit
The Raja Rajeswa Stoneleigh in Surrey Cultural show in aid fund at Rutilish Schoc on 9th September 19, shows Dharani Bal Bharatha Natyam rec
On the whole it waé evening and the othe tic vocal recital by Ma a humorous drama Sivanathan, a veen Varatharajah and a pupils of the Kingst Culture.
His Lordship, Cot Mayor of Epsom anc chief guest, recalled Sri Lanka some ye appreciated the cul people in these cou lated the temple auth they have achieved the excellent cultural day.
 

TAMIL TIMES 33
Jason Pararajasingrino Kumarathasan, in their own right in rformances on the 2d the accompanims. The audience tion of the excellent d. l Meeting which took h the variety enterthe election of the 9rs for the ensuing ent: N. S. Kandiah, Dr. T. Gunasunthar
Vinalendran, Vice gasabai & S. Sivagrdinator: S. Nirmalatary: K. Gangeswarry: M. Sivanathan,
Dr. (Mrs.) M.J. K. rai Secretary: M. mittee: Dr. M. Cheltharan, N. Leypang, anjan.
emple Has
Show
ri Amman Temple, had a very successful f the temple building | Hall, London SW20 95. The picture below adharan during her ital.
as a highly enjoyable ritens Were a Carnanickam Yogeswaran; produced by Pulavar a recital by Vathani
folk dance by the on Institute of Tamil
Incillor Cyril Fraser, Ewell, who was the his visit to India and ars back, when he tural values of the ntries and Congratuorities on the success with the temple and show presented that
A.G.M. Of Sri Lankan Tamil Lawyers
The Sri Lankan Tamil lawyers Association of Great Britain held their A.G.M. recently in South West London and elected the following ofice bearers for 1995/96. Presdent: MVirma Sockanathan, Vice Presidents: P. Rajanayagam & Arul Ponnambalam, Secretary: R. Sivaganeshan, Asst. Secretary: K. Vetivel, Treasurer: A. Sriharan, Asst. Treasurer: K. Mahesan, Executive Committee: S. Yogarajah, C. Sithamparapillai, R.D. Ratnasingam, S. Paramalingam, Shirani Thevarajah and M.K. Sritharan.
A Left Handed Competence
The Miridangam Arangetram of Dushan, son of Mr. & Mrs. Joseph on 2nd September at the Lewisham Theatre was unique in the sense that Dushan, unlike what we are used to watch, is a left hander. This fifteen year old student had his early training under Balasri and Sivarajah and later came under Bangalore Prakash for intensive training for the past five years. The Arangetram performance to accompany top level musicians, Chandrika (vocal) and Jyotsna (violin) specially commissioned from Bangalore, India, an experience that would have normally rattled any fresher, enthused Dushan with a challenge. Chandrika's string of brigas and Jyotsna's equal challenge did not deter young Dushan from exhibiting his own rapturous play. His thaniavarthanam for the palavi in Kanta Triputai was remarkable. As the Guest of Honour Sri P. P. Kanthan suggested, now that Dushan has exhibited his natural talents, further exposure along with senior musicians should build him up as a top percussionist.
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34 TAM TIMES
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