கவனிக்க: இந்த மின்னூலைத் தனிப்பட்ட வாசிப்பு, உசாத்துணைத் தேவைகளுக்கு மட்டுமே பயன்படுத்தலாம். வேறு பயன்பாடுகளுக்கு ஆசிரியரின்/பதிப்புரிமையாளரின் அனுமதி பெறப்பட வேண்டும்.
இது கூகிள் எழுத்துணரியால் தானியக்கமாக உருவாக்கப்பட்ட கோப்பு. இந்த மின்னூல் மெய்ப்புப் பார்க்கப்படவில்லை.
இந்தப் படைப்பின் நூலகப் பக்கத்தினை பார்வையிட பின்வரும் இணைப்புக்குச் செல்லவும்: Tamil Times 1996.06

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5 JUNE 1996
I do not agree with a word of what you say, but Till defend to the death your
right to say it.
– VOffaire,
ISSN 0266-4488
VOXV No.6 15 JUNE 1996
Published by
TAM TIMES TO P.O. EBOX 121 SUTTON, SURREY SM13TD UNITED KINGOOM
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CONTENTS
Journalists Revisit Jaffna. . . . . . . 4.
Devolution or Separation. . . . . . . 5
Hindu Council on Devolution. . . .6
Problems Facing the Govt. . . . . . 8
Catholic Call for Peace. . . . . . . . . 9
Tamil Parties & the Govt. . . . . . . 1
Peace After Military
OCCupation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
What Remains. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Inescapable Death Trap. . . . . . . 17 The Army Takes Jaffna. . . . . . . . 18
United Front in Power. . . . . . . . . 22
Karunanidhi in Tamil Nadu. . . . . 23
Maha Sangha and Devolution. 26
island in Darkness. . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Classified. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
War
It is Said that the Over Centuries ha about the atrocitie they lie about the are not active COI Violation of intern, nOrns Set down occurring in Sri deprivation of life landmine explosid making normal c from their homes Conflict.
The question th without violating til internationally re Sormalia and BO: operations even u as the repository human rights the tion of the standal therefore be that, human rights of th the human rights to avoid contributi War Or armed COr, make every effor
However, how of a continuing W Conflict Observe i sence of third p Connitted to the journalists will go actually happenir such knowledge V what is actually international Com Conduct of the be
in the Case of people of the cou What is happenin Clains that the T that itS forCeS hav of the Tamil Tige evacuated by th appealing to the recaptured by the and in freedom. C the peninsula dia Control of the mili those army contra says that Tamil C. Sporadic attacks says that hundre detention in the p of being connect
There is only ol and Counter-Clair humanitarian org. local and foreign peninsula, and th Representatives to these areas ar freely and withou is really happenit
 
 
 
 
 
 

TAM TIMES 3
and Human Rights
first casualty of war is truth because human experience s demonstrated that the parties to the conflict always lie is they commit against each other. What is worse is that atrocities they commit on the civilians on either side who mbatants. In short what occurs is that they lie about the ationally recognised human rights of the people and the by international humanitarian law, and this has been Lanka since the armed conflict commenced. Arbitrary 2 and limb in a variety of ways - shooting, bombing, ons etc., torture of the captured, destruction of property vilian life impossible and forcible evacuation of civilians have been a common practice in the conduct of this
at has to be asked therefore is whether war can be fought he human rights of the people caught up in it and infringing cognised humanitarian norms. Recent experience in Snia has shown that when troops engaged in war-like nder the auspices of the United Nations, which is regarded of the duty to guarantee the protection and promotion of world over, gross abuses have taken place in contravends and norms laid down by the UN itself. The answer must engaging in war almost inevitably leads to the violation of le people. Hence the duty of those who want to ensure that of people are not endangered is to do everything possible ng to the creation of circumstances that inexorably lead to flict, and in the event that War or armed Conflict OCCurs to possible to end it as soon as it is practicable. does one protect the people's human rights in the context var or armed conflict and ensure that the parties to the internationally recognised humanitarian norms? The prearties who have no part in the conflict, organisations
protection of human rights, humanitarian agencies and a long way in achieving this. Firstly, the truth about what is ng on the ground will become known, and publication of vill determine the reaction of the international community to occurring. Secondly, the fear of adverse reaction by the munity will have a deterrent effect on the behaviour and lligerents. Sri Lanka, therefore, there is an absolute need for the ntry and the rest of the world to know what has been and g in the war torn areas of the Northeast. The government amil people support the government's peace efforts and 'e been engaged in liberating the people from the clutches }rs. It says that thousands of Tamils have been forcibly e Tigers from their homes against their will and it is people to return to the Jaffna peninsula which has been military promising that they would be looked after fairly In the other hand, the LT TE asserts that the people who left so because they did not want to live in areas under the tary. It also says that those who have already returned to pled areas have not done so voluntarily. The government vilians have been killed in the Course of indiscriminate but by the Tigers upon the army. On the other hand, the LTTE ds of Tamil young men and women are being held in eninsula or transported to Colombo on the mere suspicion 2d With the LTTE.
he way of assessing the veracity of these conflicting claims ns and that is to permit access by human rights and anisations, independent third parties and journalists, both l, to all areas in the Northeast, particularly the Jaffna e districts of Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Mannar and Vavuniya. of these organisations must be granted unrestricted access d the people living there should be able to speak to them intimidation so that they may obtain information as to what g on the ground.

Page 4
4 TAMILTMES
hops and banks in the northern Jaffna peninsula are taking down their shutters and reopening for business, but some traders complain about the lack of stock and Some customers moan about high prices, a Reuter report datelined 19 June by Mick Macfie stated following the visit by foreign and local journalists to Jaffna for the Second time since the army regained control from the Tigers. The report added that Jaffna town was all but deserted when army marched in last December after the Tigers withdrew and forced the residents to flee from the northern peninsula across the picturesque Jaffina lagoon to the mainland.
Now businesses are returning, with banks, shoe shops, groceries and pharmacists in the Jaffna Grand Bazaar dusting off their counters. Customers are keen to buy, but the shops have little to Sell.
Aprivate school advertises "Spoken English with Grammar." Typing has become a growth industry. Men set up their ancient manual typewriters on the pavement and type letters to the government appealing for compensation for damaged property. The fee for each letter range from Rs.30 to Rs.40 ($0.55 to $0.72).
People have money, Jaffna is good with foreign money,' said C.Selvaratnam, a customerata clothes store, referring to money sent home by Tamil expatriates. "The money is enough by there are not enough things.”
Shop proprietor Sinnappu Naguleswaran stated that all his Stock dated last year, before he fled the fighting. He reopened his shop to find his shop just as he left it, although someone had been inside it. "More and more shops are opening up but we don't have enough stuff to be sold,” he said. "We have to buy on the black market, or we do barter exchange. Nothing is coming from Colombo.'
The government is concentrating its activities on getting necessities to as many people as possible so a semblance of normal life can return to the peninsula as quickly as possible. It supplies limited dry rations, and sells staples such as flour rice and kerosene through government agencies. But the
difficult task of wO in the fledgling dist spawned a thriving black market peop money,' a shopper “They fill all the qu Purpose Co-operati A bicycle tyre al ing for Rs.230 (S4.2 ($9) or more on the a kilo of rice selling sells for Rs.50 (SO said. Asked about LTTE which was market, he said he ( dangerous to talkal another shopkeepel T.Vallipuram is t National Savings B reopened in April has 45,600 savings is improving all the inflow of expatriate ment is a serious i peninsula where earner, is restricted rity concerns.
"Half the town h yet,” Vallipuram some of her staff w turn to the peninsul tion seem to be co mal. Butwedon'tk pen in the future.” In further Reuter June, Mick Macfie Hospital is battling ing in the corrido can't get its studen a leading girls' sch text books and the But the people ar. Jaffna town appeal turning to normal; ing in the backyar repaired and roads The recovery ef task for a governm money into securit rillas at bay while s anational economy than a decade of v Tigers.
“When you com you will find a mau cilities and amer Gunadheera, Chair ern Province Reh settlement Authori
 

15 JUNE 1996
king out wrinkles ibution system has blackmarket. "The Le are making big Selvaratnam said. Ieues at the Multive Society.” ld inner tube sell(5) sells for Rs.500 black market, and for Rs.16 ($0.32) 90), Selvaratnam whether it was the behind the black lid not know. "It is bout these things,'
said. he manager of the ankin Jaffna which this year and now accounts. Business time. Despite the money, unemployssue in the Jaffna fishing, a major | because of secu
las not come back said, adding that rere still due to rea. “Now the situaming back to nornow what will hap
report datelined 20 says: The Jaffna stray dogs defecatrs, the university ts back for exams, ool has lost all its e is no electricity. back and life is s to be slowly rewashing is appearls, roofs are being are being rebuilt.
ort is a herculean ent having to pour y to keep the guertruggling to revive devastated by more var with the Tamil
e from Colombo, ked contrast in faities,” Somapala man of the Northbilitation and Rey, told reporters on
18 June. "before you pass judgement, you must have an idea what it was like on April 19 when Operation Riviresa 2 started." "There was no population to speak of” in the northwest Valigamam area of the peninsula including the Jaffna town.
Now there are more than 250,000 people with problems which neighbours on the mainland can only imagine. One banker said that he was living in his own house again but it did not have a roof. "When it rained it is not good,” he said.
There is no electricity except in and around Jaffna Teaching Hospital, which is short of drugs, x-ray equipment and needs 60 more doctors and 600 more beds. Since reopening in May, hospital staff have found four landmines and are battling stray dogs which roam the open corridors searching for food from the wards. Each morning dog faeces have to be scraped off the concrete. "We need strychnine to kill them,” said a hospital Director, Dr.M.Kanagaratnam.
Some schools have reopened, but conditions are poor. "we have no books, no electricity, no PE (physical education) equipment,' said Selvanayaki Gnanes- waran, a teacher at the town's once-famed Hindu Ladies College. The government promised to give us books, but they still haven't arrived.'
The Jaffna Hindu College for boys reopened last month and students said they were worried about exams due in August. "They don't know how they are going to cover the syllabus,” said an English teacher, Arumugam Jeyanithy. "Some of the students want to postpone the exams.”
Nearly half the students and staff at the Jaffna University were still outside the peninsula, said acting Vice-Chancellor Pillai Balasundaram adding that exams are due on July 15. They must also fix the roof and replace computers that went "missing” during the few months the university was closed.
Another report datelined 20 June by Dexter Cruez of Associated Press Stated:
The widow squatted on a low stoo and told her story to the barefoot ol man tapping away on a rusty manual typewriter. Since her husband was killed in the civil war two years ago, she had lived in a quiet village of Tamil farmers, ironing clothes for a living. When government forces approached in September, she fled. She returned
home last month to find her two-room (Continued on next page

Page 5
15 JUNE 1996
(Continued from page5)
house destroyed -her furniture gone. Now she and her two small children live with a friend, depending on government handouts because no one has money to pay for ironing.
So on Tuesday (18 June) Siththan Arulan, aged 40, trudged to Jaffnacity to request the equivalent of $835 from the government to help rebuild her life. She found the old man in front of a bombed-out grocery store, offering to translate and type such requests for 70 cents a page. "I do not know if I will get the compensation, or how long it will take, but to restart my life I need ahome," Mrs Arulan said. Mrs.Arulan's problems are common around Jaffna.
Meanwhile, the people of Jaffna are struggling to adapt to life under the central government. Many lime Mrs. Arulan are unemployed, hungry and homeless. The say the government is taking too long to rebuild their homes and distribute food and medicine. With the local economy at a standstill, food and fuel prices have skyrocketed, forcing people to stand in lines for government handouts that they say still arn't enough. The government says that it was unprepared for the return of 400,000 Tamils who fled Jaffna city in advance of the military offensive.
But for all their suffering and frustration after 12 years of fighting, many Tamils say there are also ways in which their lives have improved since the rebels were driven out. For the first time in five years, the bombing and shelling by Sri Lankan forces have stopped. Shop owners no longer have to pay 10 per cent sales tax to the rebels. Taxi drivers no longer have to drive the guerrillas around for free. And Tamil parents don't have to sit helpless while rebel operatives recruit their children from high schools. "Because of the fighting, we have lived difficult lives for years," said Ponnudurai Jeyabalan, a teacher at Jaffna Hindu College, adding "Now we are looking for some sort of tranquillity.”
Inaway, they are finding some. The thousands of soldiers who now patrol the city are less imposing than many people had feared. Columns of troops marching through the streets hardly cast a glance at residents conducting their daily chores. Schoolchildren ride bicycles past them. At one intersection, soldiers stop to let an old man pass in his ox-driven cart.
THE CH (
o the questic the way of J several respo little doubt but tha to the conflict do n chance." "Very u character of the Trinco very unlike "What was poss in Jaffna will not Trinco.” “Who kn ho#pe that it will n caloa, but not Trir I recalled whata mbo Soon after the 1977 told me in K back, permanently There, there is pe did not take many too to become ath There was seemi place when I visite of March, so norm whether I had com Ce. But beneath tl was, I soon sensed, abnormality unce doubt about wha bring. At best, the de seemed to be, then wait for them it brings.
I had an uncan nagging feeling til what Jaffna was W with friends in N 1970's and the eau of an uneasy but v the violence. Will way of Jaffna?
The "round-ups commonly called Sinhala and Tamil ue. When I asked answered, Mayb was laughed out every day'I was t each week'. The 1
of a van going ro
"Earlier we were said Kandiah Ku government worke because since they treated us well. M selves: Is this the Army ?"

TAMIL TIMES 5
HOICE IS DEWOLUTION DR SEPARATION
by Paul Caspersz
in, "Will Trinco go affna' there were nses: "There can be t it will. Both sides ot give it any other nlikely. The mixed population makes ; Jaffna." ible for the Tigers be easy at all in ows? But we only lot." "Maybe Battico, I think." Tamil fleeing Colocommunal riots of andy: "I am going 7 to settle in Batti. rfect peace." Yet it years for Batticaloa eatre of war. ing normalcy in the d Trinco at the end all that I wondered e to the correct plahe normalcy, there scarcely concealed rtainty, insecurity, t the future might predominantattitulet's live for today, orrow to bring what
ny and persistently lat Trinco today is hen I first visited it MIRJE in the late ly 80's: the feeling ery fragile pause in Trinco go the tragic
'', as they are now even in the current vocabulary, contin, How often', and once a month'?' I bf Court. "It is not old "certainly a few ound-up' technique
und with a masked
afraid of the army,” narasah, a retired r. "Now we are not arrived they have any of us ask our
same Sri Lankan
informer, whose job it is to signify with a motion of the hand or head that a person is a Tiger or Tigress, has now grown so familiar that passers by sometimes do not care to stop and notice.
I was told the armed forces and the police are aware that the technique is sometimes used to settle personal scores and inter-faction vendettas and so there is cross-checking of the information received. Yet the technique smells sinister and should be discontinued. It only serves to intensify the growing alienation of the non-Tiger Tamil population - who are still amajority - from the Sinhala people and the government.
Amajority? Butletno one presume that it is a pocket borough majority. Unless the government looks sharp and refines its practices, it may even be a majority that will fast become a minority.
Besides the special "round-ups', there are also the numerous checkpoints in Trinco town where either police or army check all comings and goings and ask to look into any bags that are carried. These checkings are often so perfunctory as to be nearly useless. One person told me. “We understand there must be checking, even for our own security. But let them serve the purpose for which they are made.' But wouldn't this be called harassment?' I asked. "Precisely” he answered "there has to be careful checking but no harassment. Let, say, every tenth person crossing the checkpoint be checked and checked with some thoroughness. And no one will object if the careful checking is also a courteous one.' It can then even be a means of establishing good relations between police and people.
May be some volunteers can be found - retired policemen or army officers, for instance, well known for their kind manners - who can teach the young recruits to police, army, navy and air force how one can be both efficient and yet behave in such a way as to win the hearts and minds of the people. We have heard of 'operation Hearts and Minds' earlier. It is time to make it real, and a good place to

Page 6
6 TAMIL TIMES
start would be Trinco.
Leave Trinco and go to China Bay or Kantalai or Nilaveli. You will see more of these checkpoints, sometimes protected by sandbags. And on the way, especially at dusk, you may see, as I did two or three groups of soldiers being fanned out by an officer into the jungle. And if they tread on a landmine or are ambushed by men hiding among the bushes, all their families will get will be a few pieces of bone in a sealed coffin and their monthly pension for what would have been their lifetime plus a few other
ozenges.
One thinks of all these petty bourgeois cries of "no let up with the war'. It is not their sons who go to the front line in the lower ranks but the poor youth of our villages. I have not thought of the rights and wrongs of conscription but would, I think, support it for the school leavers of our "big Colombo and Kandy schools. It will be a way for them to repay the country for the "bigness” of the education they have received and also a way of muting the hawks.
Some persons in the South - is it wrong to say that the South began to be commonly called such only two or three years ago?-say that they are against the devolution proposals because they will lead to separation. They ought to consider carefully whether, quite contrarily, it is only devolution - real meaningful effective devolution - that can, as things now stand, prevent separation. To misquote Colvin R De Silva: no separation, then devolution: no devolution, then separation. And while it is said that separation is preposterous and utterly inadmissible, such is done in the name of anti-separation actually to foster it. Take, for instance, the tamashas at the "fall of Jaffna', the crackers and the feasts of welcome to the heroes of the capture. But to speak of the fall or capture of Jaffna is in practice to admit that there was a separate capital of a separate state which has now been recaptured. And what of the feelings of the Jaffna Tamils? To them Jaffna means at least as much for their culture and identity as Anuradhapura for the Sinhala people. Shades of Sapumal Kumaraya!
Brigadier Kobbekaduwa hada different idea. He was convinced that military victories would be hollow without political solution. And in recent speeches it is fortunate to note that even very high-ranking armed officers now speak of military action
only as a necessary ment of a political The political sol delayed is a day tl Trinco and Battical Every day of delay effect works toward was a time less t when one could le lombo early on a to Spendaday on til what are some of th the world. Or one c surely on the Frida end in an old Volksv days in Jaffna with friends and return on Monday. Iced pal mangoes, honey rec fna 'cool’ made out were added items O charming hospitalit ple. He once came we never come aga to Jaffna. Will wer There are Of cours sons why the politic no further delay. T minister in his last 8 November, 1995: "Mr Speaker, whi first budget of the government on 8 Fe dgeted Rs 24 billior year we are making billion for military Rs 38 billion per
he Hindu Cou
is a federatio)
ties and Boar Hindu Temples. It r spectrum of the H about eighty-five pe of Sri Lanka. It was ago to consolidate Hindu point of view sues affecting Sri and the Hindus in
Hinduism believe humanity and our ap nic question is base concept of live anc
also strengthened ir
famous dictum of th of the Sangam age who said "Yaadhun kelir”, - which mea
 

evil for the attainolution. tion must not be at further isolates a from the South. is a delay that in separation. There an 25 years ago ve Kandy or Cosaturday morning e ea Stern CO2aSt On finest beaches in ould travel up lei7 of a long weekagen to spend two former pupils or in time for work myra toddy, Jaffna l-bulb waraka, Jafof "kottakelangu' n the menu of the of the Jaffnapeofrom Jaffna. Will (n? We once went ever go again e many other reaall solution brooks he deputy finance budget speech on said: en I presented the People's Alliance bruary, we had bul, and for the next provision for Rs.38 expenditure.” year means more
15 JUNE 1996
than Rs 104 million per day or Rs 1208 per second. A part of this money goes to pay salaries to soldiers and so increases effective demand in a way that Keynes may have commended. But by far the greater part could be used not for planes (and commission) but for more or better hospitals, not for tanks but for more or better schools, not for
more soldiers and officers but for more
teachers and dedicated nurses and doctors. There have been other cases in history where countries have been ruined by military expenditure which the country could not afford.
There is yet another important reason: we have to stop, before it enters irremovably into the psyche of our naturally kind and happy people, the increasing brutalisation of all sections of our people, which is a direct result of the protracted conflict. Today human life in our country has become cheap and assaulting someone for something with anything until the person falls and bleeds or is even maimed for life is commonplace.
It is altogether too dreadful to think that, unless we are careful, Habarana might become like Thandikulam for those who want to go to Trinco to sea bathe below the Dutch Fort or Kadurawela become a "beyond at your own risk” point for those who want to go to hear the Singing Fish in Batticaloa or to bird watch in the eastern Woods.
u Council Submits
ents on Devolution
İncil of Sri Lanka of Hindu socieds of Trustees of epresents a broad indus who form Cent Of the Tamils formed 11 years and establish a on important isanka in general articular.
in the oneness of proach to the cth! on the universal let live. We are our belief by the : great Tamil poet Poonkundranar oore; yaavarum ls, every country
is my own and all the people are my kinsmen.
We feel that the continuation of this conflict in our multi-ethnic, multi-religious country will ultimately destroy the social fabric of Sri Lanka and all communities will suffer immeasurably. It is incumbent on all patriotic citizens to stop this internecine wal and to help build a united Sri Lanka where every citizen could live in hon our and equality, free from fear of Want.
On the eve of 16 August 1994, parliamentary elections, the Hindu Council issued a statement calling upon the people to elect a government that would settle the ethnic question, which was creating a culture of vio

Page 7
15 JUNE 1996
lence, which if not arrested in time, would destroy our civilised way of life. We made it clear that any political party which aspires to seek political power should have a clear cut policy on the ethnic question and how it proposes to resolve it. The ethnic question is really a Sinhala-Tamil problem that could be resolved amicably if there is a political will to settle it. The Sin- halese and the Tamils have a long history of self-rule, a distinct language, a religion and a culture with many common strands and a definite area, which each has been occupying for a long period of time. Any lasting solution must take into consideration these facts, which means that power has to be shared in a united country. Devolution of power is therefore the 2SWC.
Certain sections of the Sinhalese who are against the devolution of power must realise that peace cannot be obtained without the consent of the governed and that economic progress and social justice cannot be realised without peace. Peace to be enduring must be based on equality and justice. This becomes all the more important as some Sinhalese feel that they have only Sri Lanka to call their own.
At present there is no Tamil political leadership elected by the people at a free and fair election, who could speak on behalf of the Tamils. Tamil political parties and interested groups should endeavour to create a climate of mutual trust and understanding so that an acceptable solution could be reached. Care should be taken that the earlier policies of barren confrontation should not be adopted, which had not helped the Tamils to live inpeace with honour and equality. In reality this negative policy weakened the Tamils as a community in Sri Lanka especially in the districts where they traditionally formed the majority. The failure of the Tamil political leadership contributed substantially to the rise of the Tamil militant movement.
Since independence the country suffered due to the narrow, misguided policies adopted by the mainstream Sinhala and Tamil political parties and today we are in this tragic situation thanks to their unenlightened leadership. Our approach to the probkem must change. There should be a change of heart and a willingness on both sides to live and let live. After years of suffering brought about by
this conflict a nev dawned in the min Sinhala and Tamil conflict should el should live in peace Beating of the comn bring political divic the last parliament tial election. This
well for a political
Critical President Chandr Kumaratunga came Scene at this crucial only represented th but played a courag role in consolidatin ing this line of th openly acknowledg were the victims of is endeavouring to litical settlement b ries of changes in t Sri Lanka to enab manage their own specified subjects ir lier governments h and conferences but forward their specif solve the conflict, be noted that the Party and the left p; ted to the concept power in terms c amendment to the
We are in genera the conceptofdevol subjects assigned ti the necessary instit system. It is necess that the spirit an int stitution should a mind by the centre performing their res like in the past the cerity of purpose an the centre to make Our observations ar that need clarificati
1. Chapter II - Bu
We agree with 7( draft. However, we no need to include the proposed draft i The government col arises as is being do Sary problens coulé cluding 7(2) and 7( the Maha Sangha day to day politics. and 7(3) are include in any manner, dire

TAMIL TIMES 7
W awareness has ds of the average
person that this ld and that they
with one another. hunal drum did not lends as shown in
ary and presiden
new trend augurs Settlement.
Incture ika Bandaranaike into the political juncture. She not is new awareness, eous and decisive g and strengthenlinking. She has ed that the Tamils iscrimination and bring about a poy proposing a sehe constitution of le the Tamils tO affairs in certain n their region. EarLeld consultations did not openly put ic proposals to reHowever, it must United National arties are commitof devolution of f the thirteenth constitution.
ll agreement with ution of power, the o the regions and ution to work the sary to emphasize ention of the conlways be kept in and the regions in spective rolls. Unre should be sinda willingness by the system work. e made on matters on or change:
ddhism
l) of the proposed
feel that there is
7(2) and 7(3) of n the constitution. uld act as the need ine now. Unnecesl be created by in3). It could make to be involved in In any case if 7(2) 2d they should not :ctly or indirectly,
affect the equal rights granted to the other religions in the constitution.
2. Chapter III - The devolution of power to the regions
(a) Unit of Devolution
We feel the present North-East Province minus the district of Amparai should form a region and it should be called the North-East Region. We have come to this conclusion after taking various factors into consideration. This unit of devolution forms one contiguous area and comprises mainly of Tamils, who have lived in this area for centuries.
We are against non-contiguous areas forming an autonomous region. This concept has been rejected for the most part in the 1995 Dayton Peace Accordon Bosnia-Herzegovina. It was not successful in the United Nations partition plan for Palestine in 1947 nor with the partition of British India in 1947, as subsequent events have proved. If the principle of Muslim majority non-contiguous enclaves forming an autonomous region is acceded to in the North-East Province then it should also apply to Muslim majority enclaves in the Western, North-Western and Southern Provinces. About two thirds of the Muslims are outside the North-East Province, Moreover, this same principle of non-contiguous areas should also apply to plantation Tamils in the Central and Uva Provinces. All Provinces are heterogenous in population and the principle followed in other provinces should also apply to the North-East Province.
Weighted
Another proposal based on the principle of weighted representation of giving two equal sub-councils in the North-Eastie one Tamil and one Muslim - has to be rejected. The NorthEast has to remain territorially coherent and viable. It should not be subjected to conditions which do not apply to other provinces. There should be uniform procedures of devolution and if the principle of weighted representation is given to the Muslims of devolution and if the principle of weighted given to the Muslims in the East, it should also apply to the Sinhalese in the East and to Tamils in other provinces.
As suggested by us, since there is a

Page 8
8 TAMIL TIMES
he government is facing severe problems in endeavouring to assert its authority on several fronts. The obvious one is from the Northeast where the security forces have to confront the Tigers day in and day out.
The other is from the south not only from its political opponents, but also from the extremist Sections which are set dead against the government's move on devolution of powers and allied constitutional changes in respect of which even one or two of the constituent parties of the Peoples Alliance coalition are also creating trouble for the government.
At the same time, there is mounting opposition to the government's move to privatise enterprises which have hitherto been in the public sector. The recent devastating strike by the power workers is a manifestation of this opposition.
In dealing with the political opposition from the United National Party (UNP), the government is seeking to present its military successes in Jaffna as an indictment against the UNP which, it says, failed to achieve during its 17 year rule what the PA government had done within less than two years - that is to reassert the government’s writ in Jaffna.
Whether one likes it or not, southern politics is not insulated from the
(Continued from page7)
substantial number of Muslims and Sinhalese in the Amparai district a compromise could be worked out by removing Amparai district from the North-East Province.
If this is not acceptable then we should continue with the present arrangement of a North-East Province under the thirteenth amendment. The question ofareferendum couldbe considered after normalcy and the displaced people return to the North-East Province.
(b) State Land
If the centre makes use of state land for a reserved subject, it is presumed the centre will as far as possible give first preference to persons in the district and then to persons in the region in recruiting persons to run the project.
(c) State of Emergency Within a Region
As regards 26(4)(e) we would sug
consequences of
facing the country in the Northeast, discussion inevita cussion of the No. of necessity about they continue tc player in that cris
From a purely view, the success ( northern front has ganda cutting edg expected, even o comed, counter at gers resulting in reverses. Its lea when the inevitabl and the body-bags in their thousand could be faulted an debacle. This was the military was n ing the whole of t under its control. ginning of the gov campaign in the no sands of troops we the east to the north leaders criticised til ing and weakenin,
gest the Chief Ju: chairman of the tri of a regional counc ter and as far as p have a tribunal, cor ent and eminent pi the correctness of Centre.
(d) Finance As regards 27(8 ing the Finance C Minister of Financ cabinet of ministe useful.
One cannot expt One wants. The dr mitted by the gov be an honest atte vexed question, wil lution for decades. them in good faith ning in creating a trust and understal various peoples so and harmony. The amended constitu viewed after a laps
 

15 JUNIE 1996
he central problem -the continuing war and therefore any bly leads to the distheastern crisis and the Tamil Tigers as remain the main
political point of f the military in the dented the propaof the UNP. It had he might say welltacks from the Tisignificant military lers thought that, e reverses occurred came to the South s, the government di denounced for its on the premise that ot capable of bringhe Jaffna peninsula In fact, at the be'ernment's military rth for which thoure transferred from hern front, the UNP he action for exposg the eastern front
stice be made the bunal. Dissolution 'il is a serious matossible we should nprising independxople to decide on he decision by the
4 and 5 consultommission by the e in 4 and by the 's in 5 may prove
ct to have all that aft proposals sub'rnment appear to mpt to settle this ich has defied soLet us implement and make a beginclimate of mutual ding between the issential for peace workings of this ion could be reof five years. O
o
without any guarantee of success in the north. They never believed that the Tigers would withdraw without putting up a significant fight. As it turned out, the UNP is no longer in a position to conduct a propaganda war against the government on the northern military issue.
If the government is seeking to confront its political opponents in the south by referL S S L L S S S S L S S L SLL L L LSL L S SS SL L LS L LS SSL ence to its successes in the military front, the opposition is seeking to exploit the consequential problems caused in the south on the economic and social front - problems which are by no means unrelated to the resources it had deployed to achieve those successes.
Bringing down the prices of essential food items like bread, flour, milkfood, rice et. had been the battlecry by the Peoples Alliance during both the general election and presidential election campaigns. The belief was that by adopting a strategy of initiating negotiations with Tamil Tigers, the war could be ended with a political solution based on increased devolved powers to the regions. At the same time, government believed that the resulting peace dividend would not only benefit the country, but also it could fulfil its election pledges. For this strategy to succeed, the LTTE and its leader Pirabhakaran had to play ball with the government, but they had different ideas about the whole game, and the sinking of the two naval gunboats in the Trincomalee harbour on the night of April 1995 leading to Eelam War III put paid to the government’s well intentioned strategy and at the same time to the expectation of fulfilling its election pledges from the benefits of the peace dividend.
As far as the economy of Sri Lanka is concerned, it is virtually impossible to conduct the war devoting substantial manpower, financial and material resources, and at the same time produce and implement in development terms, popular and attractive schemes which result in significant impact upon the economy and the lives of the people.
War? Or development schemes and measures to benefit the country and to reduce the cost of living ? That is the choice. The choice had been made on 18 April 1995 by the LTTE, and though President of the country, Chandrika Kumaratunga had no say

Page 9
15 JUNE 1996
in the matter.
Some sections of society may tolerate their sufferings by the emotional satisfaction they receive from the socalled successes in the war effort. But when problems arise which affect their personal lives resulting from governmental measures, people begin to think and act differently. The issue of the government's move to privatise major sectors of the economy naturally concern the people working in those sectors and their families, because their very jobs and their future are at stake. The recent strike by the power workers which plunged the country into darkness is a manifestation of this natural concern, and the attempt to portrayitas a conspiracy to overthrow the government is laughable.
As far as the UNP is concerned, it seems to have opened up a different, but not unexpected front against the government. Having hitherto remained ambivalent and uncommitted on the government's devolution proposals, it has started to say that it would support only proposals that would guarantee a unitary state and that the union of regions as proposed by the government would lead to separation. That is the position it seems to take in the Select Committee discussing the devolution proposals. Any hope that the proposals would pass the initial hurdle seem to have been destroyed by the change of stance by the UNP. The government has only amajority of one in parliament, and even with the support from Tamil MPs sitting in the opposition, it cannot hope to get past the initial hurdle obtaining the required two-thirds majority if the UNP chose to vote against.
"Preservation of the unitary state" seems to have become the latest battle cry of the UNP to hit at the government, and in this the UNP is bound to have the support of the extremist chauvinist sections in the South. While glorifying the military, and not the government, for its military successes, Chandrika and her government would be portrayed and denounced as the wrecker of the unitary state.
The PA government is also suffering from internal dissentions among its coalition partners. While in a coalition such as the PA, one would normally expect tensions even in public, the recent manifestations divisions appear to be of a serious nature. The worst culprit is the Democratic United National (Lalith) Front (DUNLF) whose leader Mrs. Sirimani Athulathmudali is a member of the PA
cabinet. While ot
Prof.G.L.Peiris ar country to sell the g lution proposals, going around raisir lar to those raised tions in the south. home is the UNP, UNP does not di former President would find it diffi ticularly after the dence of a link be and her husband's lady also would no PA because she wo the political wild likely remain in th net and continue to government.
The LSSP also open signs of opp( ernment on othe1 against the governi sion of the emerger privatisation issue. issue the LSSP is government.
The other troub other than the eter Lankan politics Mr.S.Thonda- man Ceylon Workers Co net minister. Tho contested under th ing the last electior He joined the cabi
eace is in fact is also a task, í al responsibili Women of Our tim be forged step by wish for all Sri La your manel flower its surroundings, op into its full glory sun, true good an blosson on this be cause they flourish and every one of Paul II, Colombo,
It is with these v in our minds that w the Catholic Nation Justice, Peace and ment in Sri Lanka v thoughts with all c on the situation of especially in that
 

TAMIL TIMES g
her ministers like ; going about the overnment's devoSirimani has been g objections simiby extremist secThe lady's natural but so long as the ch the legacy of
Premadasa, she Cult to join it parmergence of evitween Premadasa assassination. The t want to quit the uld find herself in 2rness. So she is
2 PA and the cabi
Stir trouble for the
has been showing sition to the govissues - voting ment on the extency and also on the On the devolution solidly behind the
le-maker is none hal survivor of Sri in recent times,
the leader of the bngress and a cabinda and his MPS e UNP ticket duris in August 1994. net, but neither he
and his MPs have resigned from the UNP, nor has the latter taken action to expel them which might result in them ceasing as MPs. Thonda is prone to make statements in public which contradict the government's position on the ethnic issue, but when asked about cabinet collective responsibility, he would defend himself by saying that he was making those statements as leader of the CWC and not as a cabinet minister. Thonda sits in the cabinet but his MPs sit in the opposition. In one of his recent press interviews, he openly said that the CWC was not a part of the government. Again recently, he permitted One of his MPs to even move vote of no-confidence againstone of his cabinet colleagues. While Thondaman will not oppose the government on the devolution proposals, he certainly presents problems for the government on many other issues. Some of his critics doubt his reliability as a genuine partner of the PA is open to question.
As the situation stands, President Chandrika Kumaratunga and the PA government she leads are facing difficult times ahead. One way of meeting the challenge may be to take the calculated risk of dissolving parliament and calling a general election Seeking a bigger majority. That will depend how confident is the government on winning such an election. O
a divine gift, but it a challenge, a morty of the men and ... It has always to step. My parting nkans is that, like which, no matter ens up and blooms in the light of the d true peace will autiful island, bein the heart of each you. (Pope John 21 January 1995). ords still echoing 'e, the members of al Commission for Human Developwish to share a few ur fellow citizens Our country today,
which concerns
peace. These thoughts are the fruit of our common reflection and hopefully could contribute in some way towards the cause of peace in our belovec motherland.
Most of us in Sri Lanka profess re. ligious traditions which consider val ues, such as non-violence, absolute nobility and sacredness of life in all its forms, tolerance, love and readiness to forgive and forget, concern for justice and equality of all human beings, as being of absolute importance for personal or communitarian liberation. In this sense we are sad to note an increasing crescendo of voices that advocate violence and war as the only way to resolve conflicts. War and peace are concepts that are diametrically opposed to each other and to believe in or propagate the ideal "war for peace' is in itself a contradiction.

Page 10
10 AMIL MES
Perhaps this idealogy has caused an increased militarisation of the present conflict with grave consequences for the people and the country.
Violence
War and violence can only lead to hate and a total breaking of hearts. It will be easier to solve an armed COnflict but a wounded relationship between races is even more difficult to heal. The continuation of this race based violence and war will only lead to an unhealable split of hearts. Is it worth it? We wonder.
Secondly, in this violent conflagration young people, Sinhala or Tamil, the greatest asset of this nation, are dying or are being rendered incapacitated in their thousands. Family life is being disturbed. Close to a million of our people have become refugees both among the Sinhala and the Tamil populations. Valuable assets of the nation are being wasted for the purchase of weapons - bought by all parties in the conflict. Valuable foreign exchange is lost and it only helps to enrich arms producers and pedlars.
Our economy is seriously disturbed. Terror attacks in Colombo and other places have killed many innocent civilians and made life miserable for many. Fear has gripped families of of fice workers and others who trek to the cities for employment. The tears and heartburn of the children who lost their parents, parents who lost their children, wives who lost their husbands or vice versa and families who are rendered destitute, displaced are all crying out to us, men and women of whatever religion or ideological persuasion, political leaders be they Sinhala or Tamil, the leaders of the rebels - "Enough war, allow us to live in Peace'.
Among these we cannot but especially think about the poor be they Sinhala or Tamil, who constitute more than half our national population and who suffer the most due to the ill effects of this senseless violence. They are the voiceless once whose life, means of income, meagre life support and protective welfare support systems are normally badly disturbed by this conflagration. They too cry out for an end to all of this.
We are convinced that among the poor there is no feeling of racial or linguistic discrimination. At the same time we also note with Sadness the
constantcrescendo to inflame the feel public with statem mental to peace a nation.
Among these are (a) The notion long to a parti gion only - oft some of our le religious. (b)The view th tions to this pr different gover lead to a divisi the truth being isa de facto di try with cer unaccessible to Zens. What ha now is to unite divided. (c)The view of Sinhala leader and that the On the Tamils have lems is to aspir OW. (d)The view th be always prop ments only. It structive prop peace have co: LTTE or other We also note tha kept in the dark ab situation prevailin or is deliberately r stitutions in the S the North publisl ports or events, bi even deliberately sometimes help to age in the hearts ar ple. We wish to rer in this all importa national life to cor duty to act with a bility, truth and he contributing to cr for a peaceful and of this conflict.
Conflicts can né the gun. None of ( ers advocated Suc cannot be overcom alone. All conflict in dialogue, compl and harmony. We has happened in world in the recen ing today in Israt zegovina, in Ang places. Not every

of voices that seek ings of the general ents that are detrild harmony in this
that this nation becular race or relien loudly stated by aders - political or
at attempted soluoblem tried out by nment's would only on of the country - that already there vision of this countain areas being ) most of our citiis to be attempted that which is thus
prejudice that the S cannot be trusted ly possible solution to solve their probe for a state of their
at solutions have to osed by the governis Said that no conosals for a definite me so far from the
Tamil groups. toften the public is out the truth of the g in the North-East misled by media insouth as well as in hing erroneous reiased or Sometimes inflammatory and create a wrong imld minds of Our peomind those involved nt and vital field of sider it their sacred sense of responsilpfulness positively eate the conditions dignified resolution
ver be settled with our religious foundh a principle. Hate eby hate but by love s finally have to end romise, mutual trust have seen how this several parts of the it past. It is happenel, in Bosnia- Herola and other Such thing will work out
15 JUNE 1996
well immediately - sacrifices will have
to be made; there will be ups and downs in a process for peace, but, those of us who believe in the essential nobility, goodness and capacity of man to change his life racially, dobelieve that miracles are still possible for us, Sri Lankans.
Dialogue
Hence, we call upon both the government and the LTTE to abandon the present path of violence and war and to engage in a process of sincere dialogue. This is the only way in which true heroism can emerge and a process of interior healing, building up of trust and mutual respect which is the need of the hour, can be started. We believe that it is possible, auspicable and should be attempted. As is the case in many other parts of the world, such a process may have to be conducted either through informal contacts or with the assistance of a third party in whom at the initial and difficult stages of the dialogue both parties can enshrine their trust. A third party participation does not have to necessarily mean an infringement in our internal affairs or sovereignty. It is rather a help.
We call upon the government to adequately provide for the basic needs of the populations in the troubled areas where facilities are scarce. We also appeal to the LTTE to allow the people now displaced in the areas of the North and East to go back to their original areas of residence. We firmly believe that it is the people who should decide their future and not the political or military leaders - such is the dignified and democratic way. No nation can be built on the principle of force and coercion. People are the nation.
We hope and pray that as dignified human beings with a noble history and noble religious and cultural traditions, we in Sri Lanka can overcome all these divisions, and build a united, egalitarian and prosperous Sri Lanka tomorrow. If there is a will, there is a way. Let us sincerely and humbly venture out to discover the way in which we are to achieve that goal - the way that reflects the best and mOSt noble in our religious, socio-cultural and political heritage.
May God bless Sri Lanka with Peace
(Catholic National Commission for Justice, Peace and Human Development).

Page 11
15 JUNE 1996
he Five Tamil Party Alliance comprising the PLOTE, EPRLF, EPDP, TELO and EROS appeared before the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on 7 June to argue their case for regional autonomy. The victory of Karunanidhi and the much publicised intention of the five party alliance to call on him in Madras to discuss the present state of the ethnic conflict seems to have given an aura of importance to their appearance before the PSC.
The PSC meeting was well attended and lasted longer than the time normally allotted for the Committee's transact- ions. However, a very significant point made by the Five Party alliance as a preface to their presentation was more or less ignored or perhaps not taken seriously by the members of the PSC. The Alliance told members of the PA, UNP, JVP and the SLMC, "Pl-e ase do not compelusto reconsider the decision that we made many years ago to enter the democratic mainstream'.
The parties in the alliance are all ex-militant groups which in 1987 gave up their armed struggle for a separate state of Eelam. They are finding itincreasingly difficult to face their detractors today. The question that is posed in public and private to them in the context of the apparent futility of the Select Committee process, is "what have you got to show the Tamil people in lieu of Eelam after nine years of negotiations?". Their detractors also point out that even the quantum of autonomy granted under the thirteenth amendment has been taken away and that no-one has been able to do anything about it.
Having lost almost all grounds to counter their detractors by reaffirming the faith they have in ability of the Sinhalapolity to rationally resolve the Tamil problem, they agree with and endorse, privately and sometimes openly, the basic issues raised by their critics. In fact it might be an understatement to say that the Tamil parties are today extremely suspicious of
the PA leadership ing the ethnic c which was once People's Allianc to vent its frust lambasting Presi never it finds a f The PLOTE a routinely vote wi Parliament on th wide emergency their time until ternative to their pendence on the is found. These t fear that once it to the Tamil peo be an utterly uns will be politically Support the gov ment. Even today aware of the fact popularity is due extend to the em the government wide. It was not press that Doug leader of the EPI that he could sho port he has, if he the emergency f months.
In these circum the non-LTTE T opening in India shifting their bas terial sustenan bound to abando gime. The PAals aware of this, m by some Tamil i cling to the belie get the best deal to get under the sation. (Even S grown less sure thusiastic claims ing the greates Tamils in the no The governme to pre-empt any disgruntled Tam Karunanidhi to i half in resolvin,
 

TAMIL MES 11
's bonafides in solvonflict. The EPRLF a staunch ally of the is today ever eagre ation and anger by lent Chandrika whe
O. ind the EPDP which th the government in 2 issue of the islandappear to be biding Some substantial alcurrent material deMinistry of Defence wo parties evidently becomes quite clear ple that the PSC will alvageable fiasco, it Suicidal for them to rernment in Parliaboth parties are fully that part of their un: to the support they ergency laws which has imposed island cd in a section of the las Devananda, the DP, told the President wher the public supwere to vote against or three consecutive
Istances, the moment amil groups see an or in Tamil Nadu for e of activity and mare, they are surely n the Chandrika re) seems to be vaguely )st probably advised ntellectuals who still f that the Tamils will they are ever likely PA’s benign dispenome of these have of their original enabout Chandrika beboon ever to the rth east).
ht is making attempts bossible move by the l groups to persuade Intercede on their bethe ethnic conflict
in the north and east. The Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) is also disenchanted. The Party held talks with the President and Professor GL Pieris on 7 June. The discussions lasted for almost three hours. TULF MP, Joseph Pararajasingham took up the matter of the 60 youths who had been arrested in Jaffna after the conclusion of Operation Riviresa Two and who were brought to Colombo for interrogation and detention. (In addition to these, according to some unconfirmed reports, more than three hundred youths had been rounded up and brought to Colombo to be detained at rehabilitation centres and Police stations near the city). The TULF delegation, however, was as usual, asked to persuade the UNP to agree on the merger and the repeal of Articles 2 and 76 from the Constitution. Even the pro-Chandrika lobby in the TULF is not reluctant to accept today that this oftheard suggestion of the goverhment that the Tamil parties should first persuade the UNP, which has become an extremely slippery customer now, is clearly aimed at sending them (the Tamil parties) on a silly wild goose chase and helping the PA in not taking the blame for it at the end of the day.
The general mood of despair and chagrin among the mainstream Tamil and political parties was reflected in the editorial of the Tamil daily "Virakesari' (the only independent Tamil daily in Sri Lanka) of 10 June 96. Commenting on the complaint that
there is partiality in the human rights
field along ethnic lines, it said "That racism has entered places where it should not have entered has been confirmed by reports that there is racial discrimination even in (the task of) safeguarding human rights. The protection of human rights is meaningless when it is practised on the basis of race..... Racism is deep rooted in all social and political affairs of this country. Everything is being done in politics taking only the Sinhala people into consideration. A situation has arisen where only the Sinhalese are being considered the people of this country. It is the Tamil minority which is affected by this situation. There is discrimination against the Tamils in everything including education employment, and promotions. The threat to their security has also increased...'
The editorial referred to a case taken up in Parliament by a Tamil MP. The same day it was reported that a super

Page 12
12 AML TIMES
intendent of the Ceylon Electricity
Board (CEB) who was reported missing on 3 June, two days after the conclusion of the CEB engineer's strike which sunk the country into total darkness and helplessness for three days, had been found dead on the Wellawatte beach. The CEB superintendent was identified as Nithyanandavel Kirupananthamoorthy aged 37. It appears that he was actively involved in the CEB strike and had spoken in support of the CEB union. His relatives had expressed strong doubts about his disappearance and death (he had died of suffocation in water).
The death of Nithyanandavel has to be examined in the context of the government's strong armed tactics to crush trade union action and the much castigated failure of its intelligence agencies to report the strike in advance, said a Tamil political source. The intelligence agencies which were caught napping when the CEB engineers struck work, seem to have made an attempt to imply the involvement of the LTTE in the strike. There were reports in sections of the press of a possible Tiger connection. No-one, however, took this seriously because it was a well known fact that the CEB
union was controll which has been Chandrika regime's actions in the South tend its support to th emergency. In fact sent Police in mufti | tivist of the Ceylon Union in order to pr Strike in the crucia The LSSP keeps acc ment of having reco timidation which it high handed than leashed on the unic ment by the hooliga the past. So the que in trade union cir Nithiyanandavel is m or is his disappeara dire warning to trad parties as to what is if they do not toe th
But the Stark truth that politically un who decide to exel cratic right to activ legitimate trade unit can be accused of b bent on sabotaging Meanwhile 23 up youths who have
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ed by the LSSP opposing the anti-democratic by refusing to exe extension of the the government to arrest a key acBank Employees e-empta possible ! banking sector. using the governurse to acts of inclaims are more what were unon worker movens Of the UNP in stion being asked cles is whether herely a Scapegoat ance and death a te unions and left in Store for them e regime's line.
of the incident is Drotected Tamils cise their demoely participate in on or other action eing LTTE moles the government. country Tamil been held at the
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Kalutara prison for a long time have announced that they will begin a fast unto death on 23 June. They chose to announce their intention, by design or by accident, during the week which marked the fortieth anniversary of the Tamil movement for language rights in Sri Lanka. The prolongation of their detention is due to the reason that there is apparently no-one to translate their statements which are in Tamil
The TULF organised a meeting on 5 June to mark the day on which the struggle for language rights began in earnest forty years ago on the Galle face green. It was chaired by Mr Charles Abeyasekera, who is chairman of the Language Commission- an appointment made specially by Chandrika. CWC leader Thondaman, LSSP leader Bernard Soysa and SLMC leader Ashraff (all Ministers in the PA cabinet) were among the speakers. The meeting revived bitter memories of the nasty incidents on Galle Face Green in 1956 and the role played by the then Prime Minister, SWRD Bandaranayake (President’s father) in the rise of Sinhala hatred against the TamilS. TULF MPNeelan Thiruchelvam who organised the meeting at the Saraswathi Hall at Bambalapitiya was
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Page 13
15 UNE 1996
hile President Chandrika has opted to present the legal draft of her political package soon after the Jaffna victory, presumably in order toget the support of the euphoric and applauding Sinhala majority, the capture and continued occupation of Jaffna with its agonizing consequences for half a million Tamils have hardened the minds and hearts of the Tamils against Chandrika's approach to solving the Tamil problem and establishing peace in the country. An objective reading of events leading to the military occupation of Jaffna will illustrate the folly and futility of her two-pronged approach-namely, waging a war against the Tamils and their de facto leadership and at the same time trying to push unilaterally a political solution pleasing only the majority Sinhalese but by-passing the Tamils and their leadership.
The take-over of the ghost town of affnaby the armed forces of Sri Lanka and its Armed Forces and interpreted as a successful completion of the first
(Continued from page 12)
evidently pleased by the vivid manner in which some speakers described the wrongs which had been perpetrated on the Tamils by the President's father. Interestingly the only person present there who had participated in the Satyagraha of 5 June 1956 was Musoor Moulana - a Federal Party firebrand of yesteryear. He had come there as a member of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) and was seated among the audience. But most Tamils who attended the meeting were aware that 5 June is also commemorated by the LTTE as the Black Tigers’ Day and is the day on which Sivakumaran committed suicide to escape arrest by taking cyanide in 1972.
It is quite apparent from such gatherings held in the city that the mood among the Tamils in Colombo is quite hostile to the PA regime. The comments and questions which emanate from a wide spectrum of the audience is a clear manifestation of this mood. At another meeting organised last month by an organisation called the Tamil Progressive Front which apparently enjoys some kind of support from the EPRLF, the audience burst into applause whenever a speaker criticised the government for watering down the package. This somewhat alarmed the few pro-Chandrika Tamil intellectuals who were among the
Peac
Vicar G
phase towards a pea hasalsobeen celebra extremists as a signi the Sinhalese and a not a death-blow, to the Tamil claims fo tion and autonomy.
But to many Tami Jaffna and the hoistir rialistic intention of to subjugate and rule country. It was hidd ous proclamation ol War' or "War for Pea Government and its S become sharply artic
speakers. But there v done because the came from speaker Edirisinghe and Dr F anamuthu. An impo made there by Dr E. a respected and pc young academic, is heard in Tamil politi miss the argument problem will be solv racism has decling among the Sinhales rika's leadership. If some sceptical Tamil hala chauvinism is i and with it the trad to giving an honoural Tamils, then why di ship make precisely additions to its Augu which the Sinhala
agitated for? As EPF Premachan- dren rig the government dic Tamil parties wher. legal draft; and nor tions made by the
cluded. Instead the
commodated chang chauvinistsin the bu Sinhala pressure gr lationship Chandrik the Tamils is on the acteristically does n probably will not, ur

After the Military upation.0Ílafína
TAM TIMES 13
Rev Dr SJ Emmanuel, eneral of the Catholic Church, Jaffna
ceful solution. It ed by the Sinhala ficant victory for severe defeat, if the Tigers and to r Self-determina
ls the capture of g of a Lion Flpethe majority race the Tamils of this en behind the pi"Peace through ce"by the present upporters and has ulated in the mili
was nothing to be sharpest attacks s like Dr Rohan akiasothy Sarawrtant observation dirisinghe who is olitically honest
now frequently cal circles to disthat the Tamil ved Soon because 2d substantially se under Chandit is the case, ask Lleaders, that Sinin severe decline, itional resistance ble solution to the ld the PA leaderhose changes and ust 1995 proposal nationalists had RLF leader Surash htly pointed out, not consult the it prepared the le of the suggesTamils were inlegal draft of aces suggested by reaucracy, clergy, pups etc. The rea cultivated with rocks. She charot see it and most ntil it is too late.O
tary occupation of Jaffna, hoisting of the Lion Flag, the ceremonial Proclamation and the celebrations in the South.
Some form of an imperialistic wish, to be the sole proprietors and rulers of this country with the Tamils as the "dependent tenants' or "the subordinate minority, to be ruled by the Sinha- lese, has been previously given expressions, not only by chauvinistic politicians and narrow minded monks of the South but also by the former President Wijetunga wen he said in the crudity of village language that the Tamils of this country have to survive by their dependence on the Sinhala race "like the creepers on a huge tree".
With the defeat of the UNP at the last elections, the Tamils hopefully thought that such extremist and imperialistic intentions among the Sinhalese were on the decline if not altogether dead. They entertained hopes that the Paris educated President Chaindrika will follow a non-imperialistic and non-militaristic approach to peace. But these hopes have been dashed to the ground. y 8
Many well meaning Sinhalese and Tamils even today speak nostalgically of a return to peaceful coexistence. But if it implies merely a "social agreement' for a subtle subordination or an enslavement of Tamils, then the Tamils will reject it. The Tamils demand and fight not for the peace between the master and the servant, but for a just and honourable peace between equal citizens of a country. The fact that the Sinhalese and Tamils have lived peacefully in the past does not mean that there was a just peace.
The chasing away of half a million citizens from their homes in the Jaffna region by continuous artillery shelling and aerial bombing from 17 October onwards, and then the hoisting of an unloved, if not despised, Lion Flag over their empty town as a victory over the Tigers, the Tamils and their demands - these have humiliated not only the direct victims and those still Surviving in the North but almost all Tamils in Sri Lanka. The untold suff

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14 TAMILTIMES
erings the displaced are still going through as a result of the military action and the tightening of relief services to them and restricting the services of the international NGO's - these have understandably pushed the Tamils to greater anger against the Government and have hardened their stance for any immediate reconciliation with the Government.
Everyone agrees that security restrictions and checks are necessary for the safety of Colombo and its citizens, especially when feelings run high and emotions can end up in an outbreak of disorder and destruction. But the way these restrictions are implemented by the armed forces, with the assistance of the "patriotic Sinhala citizens' who appoint themselves as "security personnel' and connected corrupt practices make out all Tamils, not only those travelling from the North to the South and have to be in Colombo temporarily but also those permanently living in Colombo, as scape-goats for any disaster in the City and as perennial security-threats for the City.
The house to house Search, the suspicion cast on them by their long-time Sinhala neighbours and friends, the unlimited detention of Tamils in police stations, and a number of antiTamil checks done on the person, their property, money etc., including special police passes which over-ruled even the national identity cards - all these were shameful and humiliating acts confirming much of the rears the Tamils have about a peaceful co-existence under a centralised Sinhala Goverhent.
The right to know the truth of what is happening in the country is a basic human right of all the citizens of this country. For purposes of military strategy and national security, the Government has a right to enforce the strictest censorship at certain times. But the PAGovernment has gone beyond limits not only with regard to restrictions and checks but also kept a whole population in the South in the dark about events in the North. The thinking in the South and the moves of the Government are very much determined by the truth of what is really happening beyond Vavuniya.
It has prohibited local and foreign journalists for many months from going to the North. All war-reports in the Colombo media were tailored and supplied by the military and anything contrary was censored. This approach of avoiding the truth and deciding
things on hearsay or has been a major cau ment’s failure. Allo journalists and forei the North will help and favour a realisti Similarly the tigh tions on most of the to the North during has not helped the disabled the LTTE. are made victims an manly throttled. Anc ternational NGO’s thousands of displa Vanni district have mission to have even of communication.
The truth about ke a million people in : tion of immense Suff ing to increase restric cies that could relie consequent slow-de: population is not W South nor in the wor from a series of oper: and sufferings have i last few months that suffering of all the: breaking point of na
Ever since Presi came to power on "peace and no war' times entertained gi an approaching pea other times suffered ments at escalating V previous Governmen Seems to have mai moves for peace as est efforts for wa pronged approach against the Tigers an offering political pro gers to solve the T clearly based on a w. understanding of the
Failing to arrive at the militant but de fa ship, the Sri Lankan tempts to handle th primarily as terroris ondarily as a politica for the last President was no Tamil proble rorist problem. Th Chandrika has open that Tamil militancy the intransigence an diency of the Sinhal not solving the Tar double-pronged app ing a political soluti

from aerial views se of the Governwing independent gn diplomats into emerge the truth C approach.
tening of restricessential supplies he last five years Government nor Only the people their lives inhuof late all the inwho are to help xed people in the been refused pertheir instruments
eping almost half a displaced situa*ring and continutions on the agen:ve them and the ath caused to the ell known in the ld. Displacements ations, restrictions increased over the the accumulative Se has reached a tional disaster.
dent Chandrika the promise of the country has at owing hopes for ce as well as at heavy disappointwar. Compared to ts, the presentone de the strongest well as the greatr. This doubleof making war dat the same time posals to non-Tiamil problem is rong analysis and Tamil problem.
a settlement with cto TamilleaderGovernment ate Tamil problem m and only secl problem. In fact Wijetunga, there m but only a terLough President ly acknowledged set in because of Id political expea Government is mil problem, her roach of attempton with the help
15 JUNE 1996
of a Colombo-based pseudo Tamil leadership and at the same time continuing, if not escalating the humiliation and restrictions against the Tamils and war against their de facto leadership, the Tigers, is bound to fail.
The PA Government is making the best use of its Oxford educated Foreign Minister with a Tamil name for an international campaign against the LTTE, for curtailing its activities among the Tamil expatriates and for rallying international support for the war. But it rejects vehemently every offer for a third-party mediation for peace. Who is for war and who is for peace?
Unless a breakthrough is made in changing this two-pronged approach, into an all out political approach with the help of a third party, the spiral of war and violence is bound to stay. And such a breakthrough is possible only when the Government courageously and without the fear of losing face, can pullback its forces from positions that humiliate, restrict, suspect and subjugate the Tamil people. It is futile to throttle the Tamil neck with one hand and shake the Tamil hand with the other.
Another breakthrough is needed with regard to the political package itself. What was started as a radical political solution to the North eastethnic crisis has ended up with a political package of constitutional changes for the whole country and for Buddhism. That a permanent solution to the ethnic problem be found is the dire need of the country and the wish of the majority, especially the Tamils who have suffered and lost valuable lives for many decades.
But the PA government is trying to offer a broad-based package of solution to the whole country (without appearing to be over-concerned about the Tamil problem) and to Buddhism (by enshrining a special status for Buddhism and winning their support) has met with a heap of opposition and run into unnecessary problems. The majority in the South seem to be asking, why a medicine for the whole country when the problem is only with regard to the Tamils? A breakthrough is needed in reducing the present package to a "Northeast package', selling it to the LTTE as a response to the Tamil demands and implementing it for a limited period of few years before considering it for the rest of the country. O

Page 15
15 JUNE 1996
A long-time resident of Jaffna in northern Sri Lanka, who wishes to remain anonymous, sets out his views about the aridity of life under the LTTE which reflect the diversity of views among people and reveal the dangers of ascribing an ideological homogeneity to the Tamil people as a whole
“War is the means by which nations escape from time. 'JG Ballard, The Kindness of Women.
I steal the title, What Remains, from a slender German novel written by ChristaWolf, perhaps the most sensitive of the writers who lived and were able to publish in the German Democratic Republic - Was bleibt. Written during the decade preceding and published just after the fall of the Communist government of“East Germany”, the novel presents the situation of a writer who is suspected of subversive activities or ideas. Gradually she realises that she is being watched everywhere she goes, as well as at home. Even her telephone calls are monitored. She refers to the spies of the secret police as "the watchers”. She is so familiar with their presence in her life, their cars parked in front of her home, that she thinks of offering them tea, but then she thinks better of it.
Wolf, like her heroine, had some faith in a socialist future for her people, certainly enough to allow her to stay in her country while expressing herpersonal disappointments through her fiction. Yet from her very first novel, one can sense the obvious disillusion with a party system that brooks no opposition; with the first election in the GDR we see her heroine realising, with a sinking feeling, that this system is going to be much like the totalitarian system of the Third Reich. Still, she has high hopes for its different purposes. It is in this connection that the protagonist of Was bleibt finds her “watchers’ Indicrous - they're wasting their time by destroying the future for which they are not working.
This loss of faith leads her to the
conviction that th munist system of solely on preservil she is driven into sion about her ow try, and her societ most depressing,
trust? The hope o out to be a type of the police try to
"public' reading, t officials and system were invited. An the conclusion of th works is a gift put man dressed as a 1 letariat but who is man, one of the dishonoured in th honoured, ofcours The reader senses the novel reflects eventsjustbeforet
The question, ho ment (there is no ( novelist wishes reader is the title period (full stop), that nuance being 1 reader. It is certainl What does remair cere people putin of an avowedly so hold! Here is wha double possibility two simple words apply to the situa population of Sri experiences of the observer of the Tan with the same need it is not just the course, that needs situation of the Sinhalese majority lim minority, large
One novel writte Lankan, Romesh ( few stabs at desc against the backg from an earlier pe in his novel, Reef,
"But there we then, no thugs killing that the
 

AM WS 15
e totalitarian comthe GDR is intent ng itself And thus
a state of depres'n work, her couny, the latter may be for whom can she f the society turns young person that turn away from a o which only party n-trusted colleagues interesting irony at his reading from her in her hands by a member of the proactually a clergyprofessionals most he GDR, the most e, being the worker. that this portion of the rapidly moving he Wall fell in 1989.
wever, or the Stateguestion mark), the to leave with the
- What Remains, or question mark, eft to the individual ly meant both ways. of the ideals sinto the development cialist state Orbetremains. It is this expressed in these that I would like to ation of the Tamil Lanka. After the year AD 1995, the mil Situation is faced for reflection. And Tamil situation, of reflection, but the entire island, its 7 and its other Musly Tamil speaking.
nby a Sinhalese Sri Gunasekera, takes a ribing the present, round of memories criod. At one point
he writes:
re no death squads so callous in their sy felt no pleasure
until they saw someone twitch against a succession of bullets. In my childhood no one dreamed of leaving a body to rot where it had been butchered, as people havehad to learn to do more recently."
Twenty-five pages later, he reflects on the bombardments the people of Jaffna and other Tamil towns have been subjected to during the last ten years.
His observations can be coupled with a remark occurring forty pages later that takes a stab at Sri Lankan politicians:
"The rest of the country, sliding into unparalleled debt, girded itself for a change of a completely different order: a savage brutalising whereby our chandiyas - our braggarts - would become thugs, our dissolutes turn into mercenaries and our leaders ಅಜ್ಜಿ! as Small time megalomaniacs.”
The question or statement, as I see it, is not only What Remains, but What Has Become of Sri Lankan So ciety. The brutalisation of the Sinhalese population has brought about the reaction of a determined segment of Tamil youth. And this segment, in its determination, has felt it necessary to become something like the government under which Christa Wolf spent her adult life, until recently. Solidarity was one of the proclaimed goals in her country. But Herbert Lehnert, in his essay on Mrs Wolfs novel. “Fiktionalitat und autobiographische Motive.” describes the "alienation', and I translate from the German, “of every individual-in a system of power that in truth prevents the promised and propagated solidarity through its system of control”. And again: “There is therefore solidarity only on the other side of the power of the socialist state as it actually exists'.
We have seen the solidarity of the LTTE (and other similar organisations) to create a separate Tamil State undermined in recent years by a similar development-solidarity prevented by a total system of control that brooks no opposition. And particularly in the last six months this system has led to alienation as significant segments of the public have understood the primary purpose of those fighting for this

Page 16
16 TAM TIMES
separate state to be the preservation
of their organisation. Lehnert puts it,
in terms of Christa Wolf's novel, thus: "What will remain is not the totalitarian power that is self- preserving but the young people who have not allowed themselves to be driven away by the police (from her "public' reading)'.
This is really a very positive result, if it is what Mrs Wolf really meant. Translated into Jaffna terms, I would have to substitute the middle-aged and the elderly for the young people (or the most of them), somewhat less positive or hopeful, because of the age factor. For here it is those who have refused to be driven away from their homes who have "voted with their feet'. In either society the action, or the inaction, taken has not been without risk. And in Jaffna it has occurred despite the incidents of terror bombing perpetrated by the government forces that became immediate propaganda assets for the LTTE in recruiting new members.
The Italian Jewish author Primo Levi, who so well described his days in the Auschwitz death camp, succinctly describes the situation that also obtains in Jaffna, in his book The Drowned and the Saved. The pressure that a modern totalitarian state can exercise over the individual is frightful. Its weapons are substantially three: (1) direct propaganda or propaganda camouflaged as upbringing, instruction, and popular culture; (2) the barrier erected against pluralism of information; (3) and terror.
All three types of repression described by Levi have been practised by the LTTE, particularly in the Northern province, where their rule has been absolute since 1990. Street drama, theatre, and popular music have all been used to inculcate separatist principles; educational and social service organisations have been used to promote the image of the organisation as well as the public welfare. Information has been completely infiltrated or eliminated, no outside newspapers are sold (although recently a few copies of Sunday papers published in Colombo could be bought inJaffna). And the mail embargo has eliminated other outside Sources like magazine subscriptions. The Tiger radio competed with Sri Lankan radio in one-sided news reporting.
Terror has been a major policy in
securing the pacil lic and in coercir Leading political but also leaders in and university, lea government, all down if seen as a gemony. (I speak the Tamils themse nations of nat Sri Lanka or India ganisation has im on the citizenry in work. Just before last siege of Jaffn manded a half mC September and O ployees of the stat And it made ofte ments on others. P very high, from d price to as much a the normal with Sc rol, for example. been put on scho courage children of recent disasters bombing, whereal immediately, were to such captive auc one-two-hourexh( the Army got to J population was to many university cruited at the las of resistance to th been reported, an the LTTE to recru Navaly bombing it appeared that the into Jaffna.
Since fear has pl in gaining the CO-C lic, it is very diffi support for the L the anti-LTTE sen the other hand, of also still strong, v large measure for ing the orders to li as the area west ( been surprising to ple simply withdi doors and windo' rival of the Army, given the Tigers seen the plight Chavakachcheria even if they hadn’ tually seen it, and this area to avoic avoid the bombing area between Pala
While the situat

15 JUNE 1996
fication of the pubng its co-operation. figures, of course, education, Schools dersin business and have been gunned threat to LTTE henere ofterroramong lves, not of assassiional leaders in a). And then the orposed onerous taxes order to support its the Army began its a, the LTTE had denth's salary in both ctober form aleme, like teachers, etc. n excessive assessrices have also been ouble the Colombo S one-hundredtimes carce items like petMuch pressure has ol principals to ento join. Video tapes , such as the Navaly bout 120 were killed shown everywhere liences, followed by Drtations. Just before affna and before the ld to evacuate, even students were ret minute. Instances e exhortations have it was not easy for it recently until the took place and until e Army would move
layed such a big part operation of the pubcult to estimate the TTE or to estimate timent. The fear, on the armed forces is which accounts to a the public's obeyeave Jaffna (as well of town). Yet it has findhow many peorew behind closed WS to await the aralthough the excuse was that people had of the refugees in nd other points east, t gone there and acthen came back to that crush and to g and shelling in the lly and Jaffna town.
ion in Jaffna has re
sembled to a certain extent the situation presented by Christa Wolf in her novel, it could be said that the situation in the Eastern Province more closely resembles that of the Thirty Years Way (1618-1648) in the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation. It was not simply a war of religion, although for many this was crucial; it was also aware of the balance of power between principalities subject to the Emperor as well as a balance of religious practice. It was also a war of the balance of power between principalities subject to the Emperor as well as a balance of religious practice. It was also a war of suppressed nationalities, like the Czech or the Dutch, and concurrent language conflicts. Some towns were razed more than once, as Jaffna has been, But the Empire itself was very much gerrymandered in its loyalties and its religious adherence, as is the Eastern Province. While the invasion of the IPKF was first seen as one of salvation, as Protestants saw the Swedish King Gustav's sweep through Germany, it turned into an occupation not unlike Spain's in Germany, with its Inquisition. Ricarda Huch, in her account of that terribly destructive war, describes a scene that much resembles Our Oಳ್ಳ! recent experiences of panic in Jaffna. She tells of two small boatloads of very young nuns fleeing from the Swedish forces down the River Rhine from the convent at Dadenberg. The nuns are crying and wailing that they are lost some want to throw themselves into the river. But the Abbess commands the girls to be quiet, calling over to them from herboat to remember their promises to be God's women, his spiritual wives, and not to wail like peasant girls. If God has sent them such . severe trial, they must pray to time and put their souls in His hands. And the words of their mother superior seems to calm them and they begin sing until it grows dark. At this they look back towards the convent and see the glow of the fire set there by the Swedes Nevertheless, they continue with for. titude on their way, soothed at leas: by the fact that they have rescued th: most important and valuable documents and relics. One girl raises up - bone to show the Abbess, who recog. nises it as the jawbone of St Adria which they will then be able to prese; to the Jesuits of Cologne when the arrive there and praises the girl. The are then all jubilant at this discover.
In the situation in Jaffna I would Sa

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15 JUNE 1996
that where there has been encouragement to stay in one's place, rather than run (and the experiences of panic and of running in July helped to prepare this change of heart), provided by a few religious and social leaders, there has developed a sense of community and mutual helpfulness that one had not noticed previously. It has been inspiring to see this come to pass. Yet the organisation is still among us, even though we west of Jaffna have been completely cutoff from both the LTTE state as well as the Army occupation. The boys and the girls of the LTTE staying behind are as determined as ever to fight for their separate Tamil Eelam and have frequently accused those staying behind as traitOS.
Justice Chatterji, a character in Vikram Seth’s delightful epic-size novel of Indian society and politics and education in 1951-52, A Suitable Boy, reflects, while perusing the All India Reporter: Calcutta 1947 and 1948:
“In microcosm those two pages reflected the passage of an empire and the birth of two countries from the idea - tragic and ignorant - that people of different religions could not liye peaceably together in one.' In Jaffna, we are still left with the opening question, or statement-What Remains. And it may as well be a question rather than a statement. For we don's know what remains, yet. And we ask ourselves now what indeed does remain of the aspirations of the Tamil people, to live with their own language, without harassment, military, economic or otherwise, with their own Tamil Hindu culture (or their Tamil Christian culture), with their own hopes and ambitions for their children and their homeland? This is the question that remains unanswered.
NOTES:
1 p.42 (Granta Books, Viting: London, 1994)
2 p. 118 (Ibid) 3 In Weimarer Beitrage, Heft 3/ 1991, p.437
4 I.bid p.438. 5 p.29 (Summit Books, New York: 1988) 6 Der Dreissigjahrige Krieg, Vol.II 591ff.(Frankfurt/Main, 1947; first published 1914) 7p.469. (Viking/Penguin Books India, New Delhi, 1993) (Courtesy of “Pravada', April 1996.
(The following the main article b peared in "Erii published from garded as expre, sition of the LTT
The Sri Lanka took a military o Riviresa 2. The was more to brin the people who n into Thenmaratic during Riviresa regions under the Having taken m than previousl Riviresa il exerc ernment capture bilising a large I Seen as an oper failure. Althoug Anurudiha Ratwa military protecti area to hoist Sri and made Sweets viding a variety placed people wi his words and r The opposition cise the use of a and the spendil money in order t defend a virtuall same time, it is international hu tions condemné refusal to let in national newsm region.
Though the p to return to the control, the gove by somehow re. those areas, it c opinion in its fa the voices of S forces and thos criticising it. Be government trie under its total ( ninsula which f been under the had become a q the government that, by bringi Jaffna peninsul could annihilat to a very weak
 

TAMIL TIMES 17
is a translation of y Aathliriyan that apalai” (May 1996) Paris which is resing the official poEl
1 government underfensive code-named im of this offensive g back to Valigamam hoved out from there hi and Vadamaratchi I than to recapture control of the LTTE. ore number of days y planned for its ise, though the govValigamam by momilitary force, it was ation that ended in h Defence Minister Itte went in with tight on to the Jaffna fort Lanka's national flag statements about proof facilities, the disere unwilling to trust eturn to Valigamam. arties began to critilarge military force ng of large sums of o capture, secure and deserted area. At the also well known that man rights organisa:d the government's journalists and interen into the occupied
'ople were unwilling areas under military rnment believed that, ettling the people in uld turn international vour and also silence inhala communalist parties which were sides, the fact that the d and failed to bring ontrol the Jaffna peor over a decade had control of the LTTE estion of honour for Further, it believed ng the whole of the under its control, it the LTTE or push it position. The Chan
drika government had attempted several times to weaken the LTTE. Operations like Leap Forward 1, 2 and 3, Handshake, Thunderbolt, Riviresa 1 and 2 bear witness to these actions. We should bear in mind what retired army commander General Gerry de Silva said which is that preparations for these military operations were made during the time of the UNP regime of President D B Wije tunge and had the blessing of the leader of the opposition, Ranil Wick- remasinghe. On this basis we can see that the invasion of the north was planned for a vary long time.
When the army tried to advance under its operation Leap Forward, the LTTE's fighting forces, though less in number through its ingenious counter attack caused severe damage to the enemy and forced its retreat. It cannot be doubted that the government forces, although they had to retreatin defeat during the LTTE's "Tiger Jump' operation, had the chance of acquiring battle-experience through that operation. Because it was on the basis of this experience that the government piled up its military might in the north. It withdrew its forces from several parts of the east to move them to the north and also brought in huge quantities of military equipment to reinforce its military might. The statement by the army to the effect that the government had during the one year since April 1995 procured ten times more weapons than during the ten years preceding is worth noting here.
When the enemy launched Operation Riviresal backed up by massive military strength, the displaced people in their hundreds of thousands left for Vadamaratchi and Thenmaratchi. The liberation Tigers had, for more than a month, requested those people living in areas of Vadamaratchi and Thenmaratchi to move to the Vanni area fo. At the same time they also explained to the people the necessity of becoming direct participants in the struggle and undergo training. When the enemy attacked with powerful military strength and a large army, it was considered that confronting the enemy with less number of fighters in a direct conventional battle Was not a

Page 18
18 TAM TIMES
practical option. The intention of the government too was to draw the liberation Tigers into a major conventional battle and thereby weaken their strength and decimate its military strength.
It maybe said that it was under these
conditions that the LTTE resorted to its strategic withdrawal. As a result of this withdrawal, the entire peninsula can come under the control of the army. But to keep a large territory under its control in this way will be impractical as far as the economic situation of the Sri Lankan government is concerned. Even when the peninsula was under the control of the LTTE, there was a need to deploy a sizeable number of fighters to prevent the army setting out from its camps. Until the Jaffna peninsula remained the base-region of the fighters, they had to be in a defensive posture to defend it and to run a civilian administration. But now, the army by capturing these areas has been pushed into a position in which it has to defend these areas from infiltration by the LTTE. The LTTE who were in a defensive posture have now been provided with the opportunity to infiltrate into army controlled areas and to conducta guerilla war. For example, even when the military claimed that Valigamam was under its total control, the government kept on announcing that its soldiers were being killed by sporadic guerilla attacks by the LTTE. Now, instead of 45,000 soldiers being deployed in Valigamam, when it has to spread the same number over the entire Jaffna peninsula, the concentration of the forces is reduced thus enabling the LTTE to infiltrate and carry out attacks with ease.
The Indian Army which came to Sri Lanka in 1987 under the IndoCeylon accord was scattered over the North-East. The fact that even the Indian army which, with a hundred thousand troops were spread all over, struggled unable to keep the NorthEast under their total control is history. Now, it can be said with certainty that the Sri Lankan Army stationed with its 45,000 soldiers cannot bring these regions under its total control.
By bringing Vadamaratchi and Thenmaratchi under their control, the army has adopted a self-defensive posture in order to defend those areas. When the LTTE continues its guerilla war against these troops, the entire forces deployed in the north will be in a situation caught in a trap from which they cannot escape. O
lmost without á Aih the fina
Sri Lankansec pied the entire Jaff 16 May, by taking the eastern portion of Operation Riviresa I launched a day earli ceeded in taking the region but also ensu
the small port of Po Government forces.
After nearly a C Lankan Governmen its writ over the e smashing the head de facto state of the of Tamil Eelam (LT When the ambitic eration Leap Forwar in the peninsula in J many gave the mil chance. But in Rivi western Valikamam, nating in the captur in December 1995; il took northeastern T April; and finally
 
 
 

15 JUNE 1996
mit Baruha in Jaffna & Colombo
a shot being fired l phase, the urity forces occuna peninsula on remaining south Vadamarachchi. III (Sunshine III), er, not only suc2 Vadamarachchi red the return of
moved into Vadamarachchi.
If the capture of territory is a victory for the Government, the voluntary return of the people to their homes in the Valikaman area is an even greater Success.
Although it was a day-long conducted tour in the presence of senior military personnel, journalists were able to observe the situation first hand
bint Pedro to the
ecade, the Sri it has established ntire peninsula, lquarters of the Liberation Tigers TE).
busly-named Opd came a cropper uly last year, not itary much of a tresa I they took the action culmie of Jaffna town n Riviresa II they henmarachchi in on 16 May they
ఖ
&
and also talk to the people. A group of 40 journalists were flown in an HS-748 aircraft, which did some interesting manoeuvres before landing. Given the record of the Tigers using surface-to-air missiles against Air Force aircraft, an unusual descent was attempted. To avoid any missiles the LTTE may still ave in its armoury, the Avro flew 15 feet above water for about 10 minutes before it came in to land. A couple of Air Force helicopters hovered around to keep the area clear of boats. Finally, the pilot made a near-perfect landing at the Palali airfield.
Leaving Palaliafter abrief introduction ("no questions please') to the new

Page 19
15 JUNE 1996
Overall Operations Commander (OOC), Major-General Srilal Weerasooriya, the media persons were bundled into a bus. The destination was Kilali, the crossing point taken from the Tigers during Riviresa II.
Though much time was spent in the Tata bus, we could see that thousands of people were making the long journey back home, and the rundown truck, the hand-tractor and trailer, the dilapidated car and the ubiquitous bicycle - all were being put to good use by people going back after nearly six months away from home.
Away from the gazetôf the security personnel accompanying us, the people whom this correspondent spoke to were obviously relieved at being able to return to their homes with the promise of leading a more normal life than
of the nearly 6,000 ers had reported ba pected most of the soon. (Since then, a have resumed, acco tion available in C The civil admin appear to have the with such a large I Its distribution net with the Army con with the people in c these are tasks the on continuing with back to the more se on the Tigers milit A massive rehabi Struction effort is ninsula. Presid
Kumaratunga has h foreign envoys to S
the LTTE had permitted.
There is a shortage ofessential items. Rice was selling for up to Rs 65 a kg, and a litre of kerosene cost Rs 135. "I can't dream of using my motorcycle. Buying kerosene is simply out of my reach," a Jaffna University employee told this correspondent in Chavakachcheri.
Free rations are being distributed by the security forces but the effort appears inad
equate from the point of view of the people. At Urelu, on the Palali-Jaffna road, people had waited almost the whole day for their rations, and many of the hundreds standing in queue left disappointed.
The Jaffna Government Agent (the equivalent of a District Collector in India), C Pathmanathan, said some 200,000 people had returned to their homes in Valikamam by 8 May. The number of people living in Thenmarachchi was about 80,000. Pathmanathan's job was to ensure that the people were able to settle down again. He said that 80 per cent of all homes in Jaffna city were damaged and that there was an urgent need for building material to repair them.
The Government is still coming to terms with the large numbers of people involved and their varied requirements. Some bank branches have been opened, but there are no telecommunication facilities.
Pathmanathan said that 40 per cent
thus far her Goverr sented concrete pr international assist Electricity, wate: munication, the dis and other componer infrastructure have place. The Jaffna is in a mess. Many turned, but there i there appears to be a The place, of cour Some 150-odd pa treated in the hospit over 1,000 beds. Th tor, even beds, app taken away to Poin gers, a hospital em The Government tribution outlets har that a fresh shipme items has been ha Government Agen among the people.
 

TAM TIMES 19
government teachck to work. He exschools to reopen handful of Schools brding to informaolombo). istration does not resources to deal number of people. work seems weak, tinuing to interact lifferent areas. But Army is not keen h, as it has to get rious job of taking arily. litation and reconneeded in the peent Chandrika lad a meeting with eek assistance, but
The reconstruction of Jaffna is crucial for the Government in its effort to demonstrate the difference between its administration and that of a militant organisation.
The Government must provide a range of facilities that were not available to the people during the period of LTTE rule. If, for example, the people want television and newspapers that are not LTTE publications, it is the task of the Government to provide these to them.
On the political front, many people believe thata dialogue between the Tigers and the Government is the only hope for a viable solution. When the results of the last peace initiative (blasted away, so to speak, by the Tigers on 19 April 1995 at Trincomalee harbour) are pointed out, they remain persistent in that
opinion.
A middle-aged man on his way to Jaffna (OWn said: 'No force has been used by the Sri Lankan security forces. Our return has been voluntary. Who wouldn't want to return home?'
Do people resent the LTTE asking the people to quit their homes at short notice?" "Nobody liked the idea of moving away,” he
ment has not preoposals regarding 2ՈC6, r, roads, telecomstribution network hts of the economic to be put back in Teaching Hospital doctors have res no surgeon and shortage of drugs. se, is a Shambles. atients are being al, which once had estand-by generabear to have been t Pedro by the Tiployee Said. says that some disve been set up and nt of essential food inded over to the it for distribution
replied. Such reactions are not surprising - leaving something unsaid, or resorting to understatement, appears to come naturally to people in Jaffna, who have seen differentforces in control, and who know what to say and what not to say. For all that, people in the peninsula do feel that they have a bit more freedom today. They are also guarded in their approach towards the “new masters”, the Sri Lankan security forces.
One university employee was categorical that the people were unhappy about living under the gun, whether it was in the hands of the security forces or the LTTE. Asked if he had heard about or read the political package of reforms proposed by Kumaratunga to resolve the crisis, he said people had seen bits and pieces. "I have not seen the whole document,' he said, withholding further comment.
A government official in Urelu was categorical that Kumaratunga had di

Page 20
20 AMTIMES
luted the proposals between August 1995 and January 1996, buckling under pressure from the Sinhala -Buddhist lobby. He was curious to know what role India would play in the dispute. "If some mad person went and killed (Rajiv) Gandhi, you cannot blame the entire (Sri Lankan Tamil) community for the incident.” he said. When told that India had lost some 1,300 soldiers during the stay of its peace-keeping force between 1987 and 1990 and any such intervention was a near-impossibility, the official maintained that India had taken a "wrong track' last time around.
The bottom line is that people may be happy to see the back of the LTTE, but they are not overtly enthused by the presence of the security forces. However, they are more than willing to give the military a long rope, waiting to see what kind of approach the troops will take when under pressure. For the moment, the people want to rebuild their lives, send their children to school and university and not be scared for their lives.
Some are worried about the presence of LTTE agents amidst them. A nagging suspicion remains about the plans and capabilities of the Tigers. Clearly, the LTTE will resort to individual attacks in the peninsula, but its cadres may not be able to pull off a major operation against the security forces.
While the people examine the situation with care, military strategists are already looking at the next phase of the operation, which will probably be the opening of the land route between Elephant Pass and Vavuniya. The Government knows it cannot remain
totally dependent on sea and air links
between Jaffna and the rest of the country; it will have to open the land route as promised by President Kumaratunga last year.
Faced with the fall of Jaffna town in December last year, the LTTE struck with a vengeance in Colombo, killing nearly 90 persons and injuring 1,300.
Now that the whole peninsula is gone, will the LTTE go for Colombo again? Prior to the launch of Operation Riviresa II on 19 April, the Tigers launched an unsuccessful attack on the Colombo port.
As far as the administration of the peninsula is concerned, the Government may have its share of problems. For the moment it appears that a group of officials will administer Jaffna and
embers of
inte-lligent
Saying that lhi and its colonia Stitute the ninth D cording to them, th previous Delhisal lim rulers, starti founded on the sco Yamuna by Mohau slave dynasty in These eight Delhis wayside, but the n the eight Muslim and sociological l the Delhi-based in loss to explain wh is avowedly behinc ing for the violen Party these days.
Themajority oft and other metropol and western Indi. Bihari Vajpayee's fice at North Blocl resident Indians f Auckland, too, felt velopment. Howev living in metropo Southern India felt
its "liberated” peop
President Kumau does not favou gun-toting militant the LTTE. She tol Democratic Party Douglas Devanand Jaffna did not war moderate Tamil C Front, on the other pear keen to resum in the peninsula at
Colombo has wo victory by taking Jaffna peninsula : people return to t round has gone to her Government.
(Coutesy of 'Fro;
 

15 JUNE 1996
by G.Ramesh
the Delhi- based sia take pri- de in Lutyen's New Del architecture conelhi in history. Acere have been eight | founded by Musng from the one rching plains of the mmed Ghori of the the 12th Century. have fallen by the inth Delhi Still has ones as geological indercurrents. Yet, telligentsia are at a ly this ninth Delhi l Hindutva, plumpt Bharatiya Janata
he citizens of Delhi litan cities of north a celebrated Atal assumption of ofKlast month. Nonrom Vancouver to t happy at this de"er, a lot of people litan eastern and relieved when he
ple. atunga reportedly r the return of groups opposed to d Eelam People’s y (EPDP) leader a that the people in it them back. The Jnited Liberation hand, does not ape political activity
the moment. n a major political the whole of the und ensuring that heir homes. This Kumaratunga and O
demitted office fifteen days later, as
did a vast majority in semi-urban and rural India who have experienced the traumatic and dark days of the Babri Masjid demolition.
Thus, the Indian intelligentsia seems to be vertically divided over the question of BJP. The very mention of this word evokes instantempathy from a lot of bureaucrats, academics, retired army generals, chartered accountants, Bharata Natyam dancers, computer professionals, and definitely, the majority of non-resident Indians. At the same time, the BJP-RSS combine evokes total revulsion from eclectic humanists, artists, left-wing activists, federalists and voluntary outfits. This division was reflected in the nine-hour long parliament debate before Vajpayee returned to his poetic self and demitted office as Prime Minister on 28 May. The questions during the debate were: What type of society India is and what type of the BJP-backing intelligentsia is trying to give a dangerous twist to them. Correctly put forth by DMK ideologue Murasoli Maran, the BJP is an anachronism, standing for a dangerous monoculture in a land of multilingual, multiethnic and multi religious diversity. Maran’s remark drew a characteristic response from Vajpayee who quoted Tamil poet Subramania Bharati's verse Engal Thaai to drive home his point that the “Bharata Nata has only one face and speaks in only one tongue.”
What is her speech all about 2 To whom does she speak? To the West, or to herself? Is her speech that of a victor, or vanquished? And what language would she use when she talks to the current-day child labourers of Sivakasi'? Or the Adivasis of Bastar Or Muslims of the lanes of Bombay city? Vajpayee may be a poet, but he has no answer to these questions. However, Bharati, the archangel of Tamil modernism, who started out as
ntline, 146.96)

Page 21
15 JUNE 1996
a follower of the romanticist Shelly and rewrites Nammalvar in his Kannan Pattu, has the answers in his poetry, which meanders through a variety of landscapes and mindscapes of compassion, sensitivity, exile and bravery. No political outfit, least of all the DMK and the BJP, can claim a legacy to this unique tradition of Tamil modernism which is the new culture heralded by Bharati.
However, it is interesting to note that none of the 40 Tamil-speaking members of Parliament could oppose Vajpayee's hijacking of Bharati. There can be no answer from Maran who continues to edita poor, film-orientated and commercial Tamil weekly glossy Kungumam and has fathered the Sun TV private channel, which unabashedly copies the crude Western programmes and telecasts Adults Only Tamil film songs after midnight. He and the 39 other MPs from Tamil Nadu, resorted to simple clapping, to appreciate the 13-day long Prime Minister's keenness to speak in Tamil, something which Vajpayee has never done in his 38-year long stint as an MP. That was all they could do! And Vajpayee emerged victorious indefeat.
Vajpayee's effort and the Tamil MPs typical response underline the poor situation in which the Indian intelligentsia has placed itself: culture for them has become just an ordinary symbol, waiting to be hijacked, in the course of power play. Hijacking of culture is the only phrase to describe the means adopted by the BJP to come to power. The BJP intelligentsia has had no qualms about destroying the epics of Ramayana and Maha-bharata in the Doordarshan to change the terms of the public spheres of north and western India. And the DMK non-culture's answer to the Doordarshan is the Sun TV, which has a mix of populist Tamil film-based stuff and quickie imitations of the West. All this sells well, and hence, the Tamildubbed Mahabharata television aerial is being telecast on the Sun TV for more than a year now. Quite logically, the Sun TV has ended up promoting the BJP's values
India may be seen to be having strong institutions of modernity, but it does not seem to have got much in the shape of modernism. And whatever existed as modern creative space has been swallowed up by the farcical public sphere from which creativity is
being drained out of an indigenous modernism in Indi of such giants like
Perhaps, this is why the modern I produced only a and not many mc tellectuals. This v case during the I gle when intelle sought to be diff tasks of the intelli bers of the intelli fessional edifices became activists i Struggle, the intel more difficult tas the cosmos and cu the worse side of grate its better sid intellectuals and an artist and an in contacts with tow like Sister Nive bindo. His role a activist was far his attempt to re culture in mode Tamil’s first quin mystic. And there of his calibre.
In today’s Ind space is fast bec stead, a fierce St. coveted position firstly, among mé nant upper caste between the uppé ing strata of the and Dalits, third mediate castes th between the inte Dalits.
This struggle i current Parliame following wome Bhattacharya, th Professor of E Sushma Swraj, til Brahmin ideolo turned Informati Alsatian dog in tural censorship channels, Manek of Sanjay Gandh sis of her Sikh ci a pocket of Utta Dal ticket; Um fire-spitting Sa Pradesh repre Phoolan Davi, queen of Mula

TAMILTIMES 21
There is not much adition of creative , despite the efforts (agore and Bharati.
as much a reason dian landscape has solid intelligentsia lern artists and inas certainly not the dependence Strug:tual activity was rentiated from the entSia.While mementsia erected proof modern India or h the Independence lectuals took on the of redefinition of Lture to fight against the West and intee. India had its own Bharati is certainly tellectual, given his fering personalities dita and Sri Auros a journalist or an ess significant than define cosmos and rnist terms. He is tesSential moderniSt were not to be many
ia, the intellectual oming vacuous; insuggle is on for the of the intelligentsia: mbers of the domiS themselves; next, ir castes and the risintermediate castes y, among the intermselves, and lastly, mediate castes and
exemplified by the ht's spectrum of the n members, Malini CPI(M)'s Calcutta Inglish Literature; e BJP's Delhi-based gue spokespersonbn Minister (with an ow) who wants culOn Western satellite a Gandhi, the widow , winning on the bammunity votes from Pradesh on a Janata Bharati, the bald hyasini of Madhya enting the BJP; he Behmai bandit am Singh Yadav's
Samajwadi Party; and that actress from West Godavari District, Jayaprada, who has managed to get in on a Telugu Desam ticket after overcoming personal traumas and long dancing stints in Tamil. Telugu and Hindi films (Satyajit Ray once called her the most eloquent face in Indian filmdom after Waheeda Rahman, incidentally a Tamil Muslim). Interestingly, all of them have something to assert about culture, without letting us recognise that they are themselves victims in the chaotic ethos of struggle for the posts of intelligentsia.
V P Singh, whose interest in modernist painting and poetry is well known, was among the first to recognise this irresolvable struggle for the position of the intelligentsia and make full use of it for the purposes of political mobilisation. The leftists, as usual, missed that future which he was able to perceive. So, when he announced the implementation of the Mandal Commission recommendations way back in 1990, he had already drawn up the political agenda of the closing decade of the century: the emerging intermediate castes were demanding their place in the bureaucracy and elsewhere.
However, V P Singh's plans were being upset by members of the original intelligentsia. Once close to the Congress, they were getting themselves fitted intojetset, corporate age. The majority of them later plumped for the BJP which straddles a des (non)-identity and non-resident professionalism. And the BJP which had most of the rich non-resident Indians already in its ranks was crudely targeting the poor Muslims to mobilise its Hindu constituency.
V P Singh's announcement effectively brought home the reality of this struggle. Thus, it needed an artist's mind to grasp the struggle and work through it. And V P Singh was ready to renounce power in 1990 and not take it again in 1996 when it was of fered to him on a platter. Of all the politicians, this princely Rajput from Manda thus became the new Chanakya, the quintessential Brahmin priest arguing for the backward classes, the wily Sukracharya of the Asuras, the Viswamitra egging Trishankus on to ascend to the new heaven.
The Indian Express, which has become the mouthpiece of the BJPin the current scenario, wrongly wrote an

Page 22
22 TAMIL TIMES
United Front Takes AS BJP Beats Hasty
by T.N.Gopalan
he euphoria is burst. The saffron camp has been forced to beat a hasty retreat. Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, the BJP leader, has handed in his resignation and Mr Deve Gowda, the newly elected leader of the united front, a gallimaufry of small and big regional and national parties, has been sworn in as the 12th Prime Minister of India.
What all this portends for the integrity of the country, for the stability of the polity, remains to be seen. However, the fact remains that India is set to go through some agonising times, its future dependent solely on how the present crop of its leaders conduct themselves.
The events of May, after the eleventh Lok Sabha was constituted, have indeed been breathtaking.
For a momentit appeared as though India was remorselessly sliding into the hands of the Hindu fundamentalists, represented in the Parliament by the Bharatiya Janata Party. The latter's tally of 160-odd seats in a 532member house was nothing much to rave about, but it was the best performance put up by the party since Independence. With support from its electoral allies like the Janata Party in
(Continued from page 21)
editorial that he was once again trying to become the Prime Minister. V P Singh is more than just a Prime Minister. He is now both an insider and outsider of Indian politics, and arguably, the sharpest of the existing band of Indian intellectuals. He, and all other artists and intellectuals, need to differentiate themselves from the original as well as the emerging intelligentsia, as their powers of changing the world have been drained. All of them need solitude and introspection. It is to be hoped that V P Singh doesn't enter politics in 1999 after the end of his sanyas. His artistic self, as much as all of India's creative persons, needs to rediscover themselves. And it would be interesting to find out the direction of his future painting and
poetry.
Bihar and Harya Maharashtra, ith members. With ( an all-time low other party a three-digit figure BJP would be able ous regional part promises and for Sensing the dau party's ascent to peopled by varieg munities, the prof ties including the CPM and such re Talugu Desam, t. Congress and t Asom Gana Pari gether - with the gress led by Mr N new front could c. on the floor of the But then this fro coming - endlessl issues as whether or reasonable to f with the help of t cially with the Ma. at its helm or ask Government itself leader of the new whether it might in low the BJP to fo1 and then fall unde inner contradictio The Front could ti luck in the next ro Even as the noi non-BJP leaders w their precious tin rounds of fruitles BJP itself was mo approach. While it individual MP, it d support, among t especially.
Time was of the bers game, it was got the first striki lure more and mori went by, offering and the like.
The BJP did tr DMK and the T satirist Cho S Ram helped bring the t and roped in actor.
 
 

erea
a and Shiv Sena in i the support of 187 ongress having hit f 136 seats and no ywhere near a it looked like the to win over the varies with all kinds of the Government. ger in a communal power in a country ited castes and com*ssedly secular paranata Dal, CPI, the ional parties as the he Tamil Maaniala he DMK and the shad did come tosupport of the Conlarasimha Rao, this ommand a majority
House. ont took a long time y debating on such it would be sensible orm a Government he Congress, espechiavellian Rao still he party to join the , who should be the front and finally ot be prudent to alm the Government r the weight of the ns of its coalition. hen hope for better und of elections. -Congress and the ere frittering away e in innumerable s discussions, the e systematic in its did not contact any ld Scout around for e regional parties
ssence in this numelt, since whoever would be able to supporters as days ministerial berths
to influence the C through noted swamy - who had 'o parties together Rajnikanth for the
15 JUNE 195 campaign too - the AGP and the TDP through some other intermediaries. but no success was forthcoming. But when the Akali Dal which had won eight seats came forward to support it, the BJP got a shot in its arm. On the ground that it was the single largest party in the Parliament and it stood on a relatively more solid ground, President Shankar Dayal Sharma invited the BJP to form the Government According to reports Mr Vajpayee was hesitant to take up the offer. Whea no other party apart from the Akali Dal had promised support, it would not be prudent to go through the agonising exercise of horse-trading, besides attracting the odium inevitabke in such efforts, Vajpayee had felt.
It was Mr Pramod Mahajan, the general secretary of the BJP and said to be virtually a factotum of the notorious Bombay-based Reliance Group and Mr Bhaironsingh Shekhawat, the Rajasthan Chief Minister, known for his manipulative skills, who had promised to go all out and achieve a majority for the party and pushed Vajpayee into accepting the invitation.
President Sharma gave him a fortnight's time to prove his majority. The United Front, the motley crowd, essentially led by the CPM, was frightened that its constituents could drop out one by one. Disturbing visions of splits in the Janata Dal and even in the Congress were raised.
There were also apprehensions that the discredited, but still wily Narasimha Rao, might enter into a deal with Vajpayee and allow the Government to survive or stake the claim of his own party, as the second largest in the Lok Sabha, if and when Vajpayee was voted out. But mercifully nothing of the sort happened. All the constituents of the United Front stood together and Rao too unequivocally promised to supporta UFGovernment from the Outside.
The election of the leader of UF did seem to pose some insuperable problems. Former Prime Minister, VPSingh, still the moving spirit behind the left-of-centre non-Congress forces, of the Janata Dal especially, though he had been keeping away from active politics, refused the offer. Then the UF leaders turned to the ageing patriarch from West Bengal, Mr Jyoti Basu, leader of the Communist Party (Marxist). Being a pragmatic communist and with a clean image, he was expected to provide both stability and respectability to the Front.
But the CPM was adamant. It would

Page 23
15 JUNE 1996
not spare Basu. Not only that it would not even be part of any Government in which it would not have any decisive role. In West Bengal and Kerala it was heading coalitions because it was the dominant partner. Becoming part of Governments in which it would be a little more than a bit-player, with little ability to influence the Government's actions would damage its credibility, it said.
Confabulations resumed yet again with the different constituents pulling in different directions and the Various Janata Dal leaders staking their claims.
At one stage even Mr G Karuppiah Moopanar was thought of, but this swarthy leader from Tamil Nadu, who has been assiduously keeping away from any political office all these years, preferred to optout. Otherwise Tamil Nadu would have had the honour of seeing one of its own sons making it to the all-important post for the first time. Anyway it was not to be and the choice finally fell on the 63-yearold Deve Gowda from another southern state, Karnataka.
Deve Gowda is not a man of any great stature. Nor was he much of a charisma either. Only he is adept in the cut-throat world of politics where scruples do not matter too much and wherein compromises even with sworn-enemies could carry a person far on the road of success. He had put together the Janata Dal left in a shambles by Mr Ramakrishna Hegde and SR Bommaiand and managed to form a Janata Dal Government in Karnataka after some interregnum. Today Karnataka is one state where the Janata Dal is in a very strong position and perhaps this earned him the top job.
Besides leaders like Moopanar, Karunanidhi and Chandra-babu Naidu would not trust the more Suave and experienced Hegde - the latter is suspected to be very close to Rao. Meantime the BJP stepped up its offensive on various fronts. It tried to inveigle parties with all kinds of promises and vowed not to keep aside for the nonce such sensitive issues as uniform civil code, abolition of Art. 370 (providing for a special status to Kashmir), rebuilding the temple at Ayodhya and so on. The presidential address to the new Lok Sabha studiously kept away from such controversial issues. Some of its leaders and that insufferable fanatic from Bombay, Bal Thackeray, even started dropping hints of large-scale violence if the
"pseud-secularis tage the people' vent the BJP frol
The BJP was thing, whether r. in Sack cloth al somebody's thro, in power. But in party, major or to be associated v when it was bec more and more ing social tensic trum, whateve Vajpayee himsel And so even be motion was putt bowed out gracel A 21-membe Gowda was sub without much at win the confiden after which the m panded and the would Start in ea
The first signs tive. The workin minimum progra a wonderful balau pro-economic rel
in 3 June Karunanid casion wa low-key celebra ceived visitors at almost unending cadres at the A DMK headquar Around 5,000 all over the State cials and senior alone the disgus Jayalalitha, eve Own Stan-dards, tions were a rel: Clearly the h years was miss ceremonially cu gathering as he And as it happe tory public mee in which the lea showers of lim
 

TAMIL TIMES 23
’ sought to "sabomandate' and preruling the country. repared to do anylling on the ground d ashes or slitting it in order to stay on othing worked. No minor, would prefer rith the BJP at a time oming progressively ggressive, generatns across the specr moderate face f sought to project. fore the confidence o the vote, Vajpayee ully. r cabinet of Deve sequently sworn in lo. It is expected to ce vote in mid-June Linistry would be exgoverning process
neSt. have been very posig out of the common mme of the Front is ncing act between the form and anti-reform
lobbies. While vowing to continue with the reform measures, the document also speaks of protecting the native industry and promoting the more efficient public sector undertakings.
Thus it became clear that though Mr P Chidambaram, one of the pillars of the new economic regime under Rao, is the finance minister, the multinational corporations are not going to be allowed to play havoc with the Indian economy or that the worker interests are going to be sacrificed at the altar of the mammon. A considerable part of the credit for this turn-around in the Front's economic programme should go to the CPM.
All the same the future is bristling with several complications. How long will Rao allow the Gowda regime to wait before pulling the carpet from under the feet of Gowda? What is the kind of price the Congress will seek to extract and how much Will the Front be prepared to concede? When will the ego clashes explode and destroy the Government? Were the recent elections only a semi-final and in the final will the saffron power assert itself? None can venture any answer now.O
his year, Kalaignar hi turned 73. The ocis marked by some ions. He himself rehis residence and the stream of his party hna Arivalayam, the CS. saplings were planted by government offiDMK leaders. Leave ing pyrotechnics a la n by Karunanidhi's the birthday celebratively simple affair. opla of the previous ng. He did not even a cake before a huge had done in the past. hed even the mandang on such occasions er is drowned out in tless and unabashed
encomiums had to be cancelled in view of the state mourning for former president Neelam Sanjiva Reddy who had passed away only a couple of days earlier.
The local media and the inveterate letter-writers especially were overwhelmed by the restraint shown by Karunanidhi and his followers. These days one can find articles and letters full of praise for his maturity and sobriety, in Striking contrast to the revolting brashness and the sickening sycophancy of the Jaya birthdays.
The writers also make it a point to enter a caveat - it is good he is starting on the right note, making it appear that he has learnt the lessons, but he should not forget the lessons along the way, otherwise history will repeat itself, etc.
But right from the day the election results started coming out and he re

Page 24
24 TAML TIMES
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Office Residence 255 Haydons Road, 69 Toynbee Road Wimbledon Wimbledon London SW198TY London SW208SH Te: 0181-5433318 Te: O181-5425140
SOUTH LONDON TAMIL WELFARE GROUP
41-47 Hartfield Road, London SW 19 3SG
Volunteers Needed
We need volunteers for helping Our Tamil Elders with -
A Shopping A Collection of prescription k Hospital, G.P. visits & for Befriending
We Offer in turn -
y Travel expenses k Meals Allowance
Appropriate training in useful skills ir Useful experience for your future
A reference
You will have the pleasure of serving your community and valuable use of your spare time.
Please contact SLTWG on: 0181-5403715 for further details
 
 
 
 

15 JUNE 1996
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Page 25
5 UNE 1996
ved with commendable poise and equanimity without dancing on the rooftop, Karunanidhi has been acquitting himself well, behaving responsibly, with little room for complaint.
Even in the constitution of his 25-member ministry he took care to see that he did not invite any adverse public opinion - he did not include, much to the surprise of the observers, his son Stalin, leader of the youth wing and widely touted as his successor, or any of Stalin's lieutenants. That Stalin remains a powerful personality behind the screen is a different story. In fact Karunanidhi himself observed in an interview that his son had been kept out of the ministry only to avoid undue speculations, though he certainly merited a place. And it is his nephew, Murasoli Maran, his most trusted counsellor, who has bagged the prestigious industries portfolio in the union cabinet. Maran's hand is seen in most of the decisions of the DMK.
It may be recalled that Mr V Gopalsamy (Vai Go), now heading the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), had been peeved when he was denied a place in the V P Singh ministry in 1989, though he was then the DMK's star in the Rajya Sabha and popular next only to Karunanidhi among the cadres. Maran has always mattered most to Kalignar and what this tie-up will mean to him in the future remains to be seen. Clearly though he would not relish any younger leader becoming too popular in the party. Like in the case of Mr Parithi Ilam Vazhudhi whO had made a name for himself for single-handedly fighting the Jaya regime within the stultifying confines of the legislature under Sedapatti R Muthiah, with a right mix of humour, wheedling, compromise and aggression, Vazhudhi had been able to make a great impact and he hails from the scheduled castes.
Everyone expected him to be made a minister, but instead he has been elected Deputy Speaker of the Assembly. Kalignar has been giving lame excuses for his decision, but his motives are clear. The point is even while conducting himself admirably in public, he also ensures that his personal agenda is never derailed.
So also he tread wearily when it came to Ministry-making in the Centre. He did respond positively when dhe BJPapproached him for support, at Maran's instance, again it is said. He is reported to have sent a sevenpage fax message containing his mini
mum demands - we that Tamil Nadu bo status like Kashm hoping either way granted the status h hero in the eyes of not, he could save tials intact.
Anyway the BJP Self to do so - afte when it was oppose case of Kashmiritse other bits were of Karunanidhi would realised the risks in shoulders with a pa Tamil Nadu.
He did drive a h Mr Gowda to gett for the DMK, apart Mr Venkatraman, Tindivanam, a rela has made it. That did not seek to push issues like autonom Cauvery would i test for the United F coalition politics. who as the Chief M taka, had refused | terim award of the the PM and how h abovenarrow regio and how far Karul willing to compror ՏՇՇՈ,
So also the 50 pe for the backward ( educational institu formulahas beensh preme Court is an before Karunanid used to taunt Jayala to defy the court a interests. The shoe He evidently feels So far refrained fr with the courts.
Nowhere Karuni Sense of caution is in the case of the II gle. Despite his re that he is deeply c. situation in the isla all the Tamil milit; ing the LTTE, ther that he is inclined out yet again.
Sources close to that he has been grievance against t sassination of R. cooked his goose f anyway they had a Never again would broiled in the Lank

TAM TIMES 25
l, he did stipulate 2 granted special ur under Art 370 he would win. If e could become a the Tamils, but if is secular creden
could not bring itall how could it d to Art 370 in the lf. However some fered, it is said. not bite them, he volved in rubbing rty like the BJP in
lard bargain with wo Cabinet berths from Mr Ma- ran, an MP from tive lightweight, part Karunanidhi Gowda too far on ly or Cauvery. indeed be an acid Front itself, for the Mr. Deve Gowda, Minister of Karnato honour the inTribunal, is now e is going to rise nal considerations hanidhi would be
mise remain to be
r cent reservations castes in jobs and tions and which ot down by the Suother thorny issue hi. In the past he litha by daring her nd defend the BC is on his leg now. incomfortable, but om joining issue
anidhi's abundant Seen as clearly as Lankan ethnic tanpeated assertions oncerned with the nd and pleas from ant groups include is no sign as yet
to stick his neck
Carunanidhi reveal nursing a strong he Tigers - the asajiv Gandhi had ve years ago, and cted in bad faith. he like to geteman issue whatever
his personal commitments might be - certainly he would not like to attract the charge of encouraging or promoting the case of the assassins of Rajiv Gandhi.
At his very first press conference, after he assumed charge, he did declare that he had always been concerned with the sufferings of the Lankan Tamils, that he wanted army atrocities on the civilians put to an end and that he would take up the issue anew with the Centre before long. He made the statement on 13 May, but nearly one month down the line, he is yet to come out with anything concrete on the issue.
Meantime the EPDP the TELO, the EPRLF and the EROS have jointly written to him seeking an appointment with him not only to greet him but also to discuss the issue and press him to take some initiative at the earliest.
There was also an editorial in the Viduthalai Puligal, official organ of the LTTE, calling upon the UF Government in New Delhi to "shed the anti-Tiger stance of the Congress regime and become an ally in the struggle of the people of Tamil Eelam”.
In the same issue, in another edit, the LTTE expressed its happiness over Karunanidhi's victory and recalled with pride his boycott of the reception to the IPKF in 1990. However, the paper also expressed its concern over the "anti-Tiger position taken by Karunanidhi' and told him that such a stand would unly help the Sinhala Government. He must change his position and become supportive of the Tigers, it counselled.
Some private channels too have been opened. But nothing seems to have worked. He is yet to respond to any of the overtures.
EPDP leader Douglas Devananda in a newspaper interview has however said he would be talking to Maran shortly. In a related development the arrival of 17 persons, seven of them women, all in the 25-30 age group and hailing from Jaffna, at Nagore, in the last week of May, has kicked off another controversy. They are all unarmed and arrived on the Indian shores by a fibre-glass boat. There is no clinching evidence that any of them belong to the Tigers. But interested parties are circulating rumours to that effect and dropping hints that something sinister is afoot. Even a respectable daily like the Hindu has gone to town with such claims.
How could anyone from Jaffna think (Continued on page 29)

Page 26
26 TAMIL TIMES
A BLAST AND A KUMBABHSHE - TAMIL NADUSTEMPESTO
by G.Ramesh
O n the night of 18 May, some miscreants exploded a crude country- made bomb in the outer prakaram of the famous Meenakshi Amman temple at Madurai. No one was injured as it took place in a lonely place, and only the flooring was damaged. A Muslim fundamentalist group was first blamed for this strange minor blast, but later Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, sick and tired of the manipulative deeds of the state police, transferred the probe to the Central Bureau of Investigation.
That the temple, one of the finest artistic treasures of Tamils down the ages, was in a state of decay and neglect was clear to me during a visit in late April. It is unfortunate that the temple, which draws Tamils from across the world over, presents a shabby look, even as the tourist inflow is getting higher. Apart from lack of security, the devotees have to face up to the terror of bats. The Thousand Pillar Mandapam which has thousands of icons, art pieces, photographs and modern paintings with reference to iconography, architecture and folk legends, is not being maintained properly. The Mandapam could at best be the backdrop of a mujra dance number involving Manisha Kiorala and Arvind Swamy in Mani Ratnam's hit film, Bombay.
Despite the best efforts of Mr AV Jayachandran, who as Museum Administrator had illustrated the forms of temple worship among the Tamils, the Museum also seems to have been neglected. As a boy, I remember having seen illustrations of the Nava Thalam, or time measures employed by Tamils down the ages, in the Museum. Now they are either missing or damaged. Of the 22 images of the 63 Saivite saints depicted in the temple, only nine can be seen, as do images of the yantras, folk and village gods and Zoolatry.
Despite the tall claims made by the AIADMK regime led by J Jayalalitha, it is now clear that the temples in Tamil Nadu, which are storehouses of classical and popular art forms down the ages, are not at all being maintained. Countless temples in Tamil Nadu are languishing for proper care and maintenance. Unfortunately, for
the Tamils, temples places for wish-ful kind of temples erec abjectmonstrosities no longer public S creative space of th tion can blossom.
That Tamils can all this is evident popularity of the K festival at the famo temple in Mylapot South Madras on 6 authorities had spé renovate the temp used sandblasting to The Kapaleeswar
Devo
t was with dism the Maha Sangh the BMICH on ince the Devolution F the Government. V Mahanayake Theras yas have kept away. the meeting were thi hala Only hardliner form of devolution minorities in areas W inate. These hardlir of devolution as a separatism and the country. They have g an Eelam phobia an posals as the writin Separatism.
It is well-known t the past to resolve t by the B-C pact, Du kam pact, and the ence convened by wardene were scuttle the Maha Sanghawh Sinhala Only chau Baddegama Wimal lanx that forced Prer daranike to abrogate Madihe Pannasiha chauvinists who scut
 

15 JUNE 1996
(HAM DAY
have become just filment, the new ted in the State are , thus, temples are pheres where the culture- in ques
somehow get past from the Sudden umbabhishekham us Kapaleeswarar e in the heart of June. The temple ent RS 50 lakh to le, and had even clean up its walls. ar temple has had
ution Package and the
Maha Sangha
hay that I read of a meeting held at 5 March to denouPackage offered by ery discreetly the
· of the three NikaThe convenors of e well-known Sins who oppose any of powers to the here they predomhers see any form stepping Stone to division of the one paranoid with d they see the prog on the wall for
hat all attempts in he ethnic problem dley-ChelvanayaAll-Party ConferPresident Jayeed by hardlinersin Io spearheaded the vinists. Thus Ven awansa led Phamier S R W D Ban the B-C pact. Ven spearheaded the ttled the D-C pact.
an extraordinary history, with such great figures as Sampanthar and Saint Arunagiri having Sung there. Mylapore locality itself is full of tales of such tall residents as Tiruvalluvar and St Thomas. The locality figures in the accounts of legendary travellers like Huang Tsang and Marco Polo. The temple was known to have been built after an earlier one on the shores was demolished by Portuguese bigots, but it is also certain that the new temple has had Portuguese, Spanish Moor, French, British and Muslim patrons, marking the secular and cosmopolitan character of Mylapore down the ages. French soldiers had even taken refuge inside the temple during a battle in 1672. True to this tradition, Christians and Muslims have vied with each other to contribute for the Kumbabhisekham festival. Such bonds alone ultimately save the secular public sphere in India. O
This fact is admitted on page 140 of the history of the Amarapura Dharmarakshita sect. The book is titled “Dam Reki Naka”.
The attempts to settle the ethnic problem by the All-Party Conference convened by President Jayawardene was wrecked by Ven Palipane Chandrananda in league with the Sinhala Only hardliners. The result of all these wreckings by the Sangha led to continued agitation and protests by the democratic Tamil parties.
When all attempts to settle the problem by democratic methods failed the Tamils were driven into the arms of the terrorists who posed as the saviours of the Tamil people. They said the only method of reducing their aspirations was by military means. From the point the LTTE terrorists took over the leadership of the Tamil agitation, for autonomy in their regions. Hence, the present war which is ruining our economy and taking aheavy toll of our military forces. Now the war has come to Colombo and the whole world has seen the carnage at the Central Bank through TV coverage of the incidents No Ethnic Problem The Sangha leadership who spok

Page 27
15 JUNE 1996
at the recent BMICH meeting have stated that there is no ethnic problem in Sri Lanka. Therefore, there is no need to ask for a solution to a non-existent problem. And also there is no need for the Government to evolve a plan to meet the aspirations of the Tamils for regional autonomy. The Sangha spokesman saw only a terrorist problem and they called for the subjugation of the LTTE by military means. Then according to them, in the absence of an ethnic problem or dispute there will be peace, law and order in the country.
But the fact remains that before the LTTE took to arms, there was agitation by the Tamil democratic parties that believed in a negotiated settlement by peaceful means. They found that the Maha Sangha spearheaded the agitation against all three agreements and wrecked them. So to deny the existence of any ethnic problemand say there is only a terrorist problem is a failure to understand the background and the cause for the resort to arms. No terrorist war will be possible unless people sympathise and support them.
The spokesmen who claimed to
voice the opinion ( are inveterate chau prepared for any f They are not expe ence and their knc tional political pro tutions is poor. Th ethnic problem an and means of set taken seriously. On ng the Sangha can opinion of the M issue. This probab we have to settle th eful means. If the into the arm-twisti goist Sangha our n ed to unending w and a strangulatio rise above third wi and general ruin.
The Governmen the elected Memb There is no room to give into press tionary monks. We Sangha only wher Dhamma in which authorities. Theira by the rulers only ( ing how to rulein í
Punging the is
0 are
he government used its mailed fist to meet the challenge of an unprecedented 72 hour strike by electricity employees plunged Sri Lanka into a complete blackout. Using emergency powers, the government declared the electricity and other allied activities essential services and ordered all Strikers to return to Work forthwith. Failure to return to work was declared a criminal offence. However the power workers decided to defy the government's directive.
The strike was launched 29 May by employees including engineers numbering over 14,000 against the government's move to privatise Lanka Electricity Company (LECO), a subsidiary of the state controlled Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB).
The strike paralysed the country's economic and commercial activities. Patients, including serious cases, in hospitals were severely affected and most of them were sent to their homes. An official who wanted remain anony
mous for obvious least one hundred lombo due to lack
To make mattel controlled water supplies in the cap not operate its pun out electricity. F transport was also Frozen food stock rants and even h Factories came to ing hundreds of th without work.
The strike could moment for the country, dependin its electricity on hy ing power cuts fo day adversely aff tivity and making enormously diffic in the island's hist forward by one h mum use of dayli ity.
 

AMIL TIMES 27
fthe Maha Sangha vinists who are not orm of devolution. rts in political sciwledge of internablems and constiair opinions on the democratic ways tling it cannot be ly a plebiscite amoindicate what is the ha Sangha on this y is the last chance is problem by peacgovernment gives ng tactics of the jination will be doomar, economic ruin, n of our efforts to orld poverty status,
t has to be run by ers of Parliament. in the constitution ure tactics of reachave to respect the they teach us the they are experts and dvice can be sought O hatterS COCCIaccordance with the
Dhamma. Beyond this they have no right or scope. In the whole Buddhist world it is the Sinhala Sangha who says that "politics is the bhikkus heritage”. It is a heritage of apostasies coming down from the Anuradhapura period, and should be disallowed as recommended by the Buddhist Commission report which the first Bandaranike Government undertook to implement. Before it could be done the Premier was assassinated by a powerhungry Buddhist monk. And with that, Sasana reforms recommended have gone underground.
If the Sangha is properly organised and controlled by the Maha Nayake, as is done in the other Theravada countries such as Burma and Thailand they will not resort to the present comuptions and apostasies such as politics, business ventures, renting out temple rooms to laymen including LTTE agents, running garages, printing presses, tuition classes, karate classes, parking vehicles for a fee etc. etc. Therefore, the first duty of the Sangha is to set their house in order instead of trying to dictate to Parliament what it should do and not do. O
reasons said that at patients died in Co
of medical care.
's worse, the stateboard cut off water ital because it could hping stations with'ublic and private severely disrupted. .s in hotels, restauomes went spoilt. agrinding halt leavousands of workers
not have at a worse government. The g for 80 per cent of "dropower, was facnearly ten hours a cting economic acpeoples normal life ilt. For the first time ory, clocks were put Our to allow maxight to save electric
Water levels of the reservoirs had been steadily deteriorating and many of them were left dry because of the expected monsoon rains not falling for months. And prayers by monks and others invoking the blessings of the God for the rains did not have much effect.
Faced with an impossible situation, the government took a tough stand against the strike characterising it as politically motivated and as a conspiracy to overthrow the government. The President went on national TV and declared, "My government cannot allow 14,000 workers in the Ceylon Electricity Board to hold a country of 18 million people ransom. This is not a legitimate demand of trade unions, but an attempt to dictate policy matters to the government. No where in the world has that been allowed or tolerated. Nowhere in the world has a trade union been permitted to dictate policy to the government, and we shall not allow it. They are trying to run the government. We know this has been planned over several weeks, because parts of generators were removed and wires cut at the same time on Wednesday. Even the General Hospital generator was broken at the same time, and on Thurs

Page 28
28 TAMIL TIMES
day, further parts were removed by persons who pretended they were there to repair it... We have taken a clear decision that, democracy or no democracy, we shall govern and give the people what they want. Short of killing people, we are going to use whatever power we can use.”
As part of the "Operation Shock” launched by the government to confront the strike, over three hundred strikers were rounded up from their homes by security service personnel and taken to their work stations to commence work. On the second day of the strike, 20 leaders of the striking union were taken into custody at the time they were holding a press conference in Colombo at their headquarters, who were later released.
While the government was officially taking a tough stand, a few MPs belonging to ruling party who have formed themselves into the now well known "Mulberry Group” continued to have talks with strike leaders with a view to ending the strike. There was relief all round when the Strike was called off on Friday 31 May. It is understood that the electricity workers have been givenanassurance that they would be consulted if LECO is again considered for privatisation. By the weekend, the life was slowly returning to normal.
Privatisation to Continue Sri Lanka will continue to "reform' its public sector non-profitable and badly run enterprises through privatisation schemes, Rajan Asirwatham, the head of the Public Reform Enterprise Commission(PREC), told the press on 11 June.
Denying that there has been any change in government policy following the electricity strike, Asirwatham who overseas as head of PRECall government's privatisation programmes said, “I categorically say that there is no change in government policy to reforming non-profitable and badly managed public enterprises.'
Where a total or partial sell-off is not feasible, the government would end most monopolies by encouraging competition and reform others by injecting efficient management. "As stated before, reforms will proceed with emphasis on transparency and protection of worker' rights,” he added.
It had been hoped by some that the government would move very slowly on its urge to privatisation following the recent damaging strike by power workers. However some others say
that the strike coul had the governme negotiations with "reforms' to the e Discussions wit enterprises earma tion or "reforms workers were not tion so long as the their rights were ac Asirwatham said CEB was never u and therefore the them did not arise ties had discussed Lanka Electricity a CEB power distu which is up for pr Though concer were understandab placed. "Even our say that you canno point we stress at
A statement fro tice in Switzerland it has banned all in the country fron ing guns after a ser dents involving ext Tamil rebels fight state in Sri Lanka.
A similar ban e) mainly due to the ac and those from for
According to the Refugees, as at th year, 23,464 Sri La Switzerland. A . spokeswoman said a sharp increase i among Sri Lankan
The Australiangc announced a contri US dollars to help war in Sri Lanka. T evenly provided th Nations Children
(UNICEF) and Frontieres (MSF), ing the ability to ( ian assistance in th
Currently $360,0 cated to the UNICE affected by the war
 
 

15 JUNE 1906
have been averted it adopted a line of he unions about the ectricity industry.
labour unions of ked for privatisahad shown that verse to privatisar job was safe and equately protected, adding, "But the ) for privatisation, need for talking to ' But the authoriwith workers of the Dompany (LECO), ibution subsidiary, vatisation. s for job security le, they were misbidding documents tretrench labour, a every press inter
m Ministry of Jus
on 4 June said that Sri Lankans living n buying or carryies of violent inciortion of money for ing for a separate
ists for the Turks tivities of the PKK mer Yugoslavia.
Federal Bureau of end of May this nkans are living in fustice Ministry that there had been n violent clashes Tamils living there
vernment recently bution of 720,000 ictims of the civil he money will be rough the United Emergency Fund Medicines Sans othagencies haveliver humanitar! island.
0 have been alloto assist children The Fund will be
ustralian Grant
view and discussions with unions,” Asirwatham said.
The LECO bids were cancelled as they failed to reach the minimum government valuation of two billion rupees (836 million) for 51 per cent, showing that the Commission was not "selling the family silver at bargain prices," added Asirwatham.
The PAs election manifesto of 1994 said that the CEB and the two state banks, Bank of Ceylon and the Peoples Bank would not be privatised and that promise would be kept.
Otherwise, the reforms would continue. Fourteen regional plantation companies now in state hands would be sold by the end of 1996. Nine have already been sold. Restructuring Airlanka and Sri Lanka Telecom will be finished by the end of 1996, Asirwatham added.
leading to some deaths. The Tiger supporters in Switzerland had stepped up its activities to collect money from Tamils living there, she added. "There is a suspicion that in many cases the contributions are collected with extortion. The violent incursions by those who are engaged in this activity are being increasingly met with corresponding violence by those affected," she said.
The new federal ban on guns applying to Sri Lankans took effect from 4 June and applies nationwide. It takes precedence over the various gun laws of Switzerland’s 26 Cantons, some of which ban the carrying of guns while others are less strict.
used to improve the infrastructure in 20 schools and to purchase essential equipment.
At the same time, a sum of $360,000 has been allocated to the MSF. Of this amount S150,000 will be used to provide medical assistance in the eastern Batticaloa district, especially for surgical paediatric assistance in the Batticaloa Teaching Hospital. And the rest will be used to provide surgical facilities for the Vavuniya hospital in the north of the island.

Page 29
15 JUNE 1996
On the Military F.
In a statement issued on 4 June, the LTTE has vowed to intensify attacks in the northern Jaffna peninsula, which is under military control, with a view to preventing the government from setting up a civil administration. The statement published in the LTTE journal, "Viduthali Puligal", said that the LTTE would "take the war into the inner sanctum of the army-controlled Jaffna peninsula."
"The Sri Lankan government's plans to establish a military administration in the occupied Jaffna peninsula will be smashed with these intensive operations," the journal said.
Sporadic incidents of LTTE ambush attacks in the Jaffna peninsula recently recaptured by the military from the Tigers and particularly in the east of the country have witnessed a marked inCease,
On 28 May two soldiers were killed in a Tiger attack on a tractor loaded with weapons near Nelliady. The attackers are reported to have got away with a large quantity of weapons and ammunition. In the crossfire one civilian was also killed.
On 27 May, the Tigers attacked and overran a military post at the remote village of Meegasgodella in the Trincomalee district. Nine soldiers including an officer were killed and the military claimed that at least 25 Tigers were killed in the ensuing battle.
On 28 May four civilians were killed at Kondavil not far from the Jaffna town when their tractor ran over a Tigerlandmine which had been intended for the troops who were engaged in moving relief supplies,
(Continued from page 25)
of Tamil Nadu as a possible place of refuge in the changed situation since May 1991 still remains a mystery. Some in the 17-group are reported to have told the police that the vigorous anti-LTTE drive had created a lot of insecurity in the minds of the people and hence their decision to leave the peninsula. They have since been confined to a special camp in Chengalpattu.
According to sources Karunanidhi would like to operate in an atmosphere free of any tension or suspicion, at a time when his moves would not be misinterpreted. But will such a time ever come? Will he take the bull by its horns, take some meaningful initiative and live up to the professed convictions? O
On 2 June eight and one wounded wil they were travellin Puttur in the Valig separate incident, injured when they w grenade that had be Nine policemen a station at Welikane district in the northc killed when in an June.
Fourteen Sinhales women and four cl to death with swords houses set ablazew the small village of the Vilpattu game sa Puttalam in the nor around midnight on Government forc forced their positior sula by securing a ro main base at Palaly
Japanese L.
The Japanese g on 15 May to gra loan package of 3 lars to Sri Lanka to state visit of Sri Chandrika Kumara cording to Japanes here in Colombo.
Accordingly two were signed in Tc for a grant aid tot US dollars for n equipment for the services at the U deniya.
The Second ex package totalling dollars for five pro
Cyber Cafe
In the midst all Lanka is to keep formation technc The race is on all super-highway in the first "cybercal ers the chance to they sip their ca, to a Reuters repo
Just days after announced the la Cafe in Colombo new joint venture it would have it

TAMIL TIMES 29
Ont
ivilians were killed ena tractor in which ; hit a landmine at mam division. In a hree children were are toying with hand :n left behind.
tached to the police in the Polonnaruwa ntral province were TTE ambush on 7
2 civilians, including ildren were hacked and knives and their en the Tigers raided Aruwakalu close to nctuary 16 miles off h west of the island
10 June. es have further reinin the Jaffna peninad link between their and the base at El
ephant Pass where the peninsula joins the mainland. In an operation on 10 June, troops cleared a passage between Kilaly and Elephant Pass, a distance of 13 km. The passage allows road access to Elephant Pass for the first time since 1990 providing a land route supply line from the mainland to the peninsula.
"This implies that security forces in vehicles can move by land between Elephant Pass and Palaly enabling easier supply systems to troops at Elephant Pass and Vettilaikerni," said a military spokesman. Military sources claimed that troops overcame the LTTE resistance without much difficulty when the Tigers abandoned a large camp with strong defences, but two soldiers including an officer were killed and one wounded in the course of the encounter. However the Tigers claimed that they inflicted heavy casualties upon the troops.
Tigers blew up three navy boats anchored at the Karainagar navy base located at the Karaitivu island west of the Jaffna peninsula killing two sailors and wounding one on 11 June, according to navy sources.
Dan Package
overnment decided nt the largest ever 63 milion US dolmark the four-day Lankan President atunga to Japan, ace Embassy sources
exchanges of notes kyo. The first was alling 20.8 million ew buildings and
Faculty of Dental niversity of Pera
change was a loan 342.2 million US jects in the country,
the sources said. Part of the loan is earmarked for the purpose of constructing a combine cycle power at the Kelani Tissa Power Station.
Meanwhile the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $24 million confessional loan to the Sri Lanka government to help rebuild two oil storage facilities damaged in a Tamil Tiger attack in October last year. The loan will cover the foreign currency cost of the project, while the local currency cost equivalent of $17.14 million will be borne by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), according to ADB sources. The loan will extend over 40 years with a grace period of 10 years and a service charge of one percent per annum, the bank said.
in Colombo
its problems, Sri breast with the inlogical revolution. ng the information the island to open e,” offering customsurf the Internet as pucinos, according
three entrepreneurs unch of the Cyber later this month, a aid on 7 March that Internet cafe, the
"Surfboard,” up and running within a week. "The Surfboard is Asia's newest, coolest Internet cafe,"the venture announced in a press release. The Surfboard is a joint venture between the Galadari Hotel, ITECH Innovations and Lanka Internet Services Ltd. The cafe will also be an electronic post office, library, training Centre, art gallery, corporate conference centre, virtual office and electronic shopping mall. "There's a big demand here for this kind of thing,” Ratten Abdul Hussein, joint owner of the rival Cyber Cafe, told the media.

Page 30
30 TAML TIMES
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Sri Lankan Hindu parents, professionals, Colombo, seek suitable partner for daughter, 26, B.Sc. Computer Science (USA) employed Colombo. Tel: O1203 602020 Ext. 7105 (UK).
Jaffna Hindu parents seek partner for son, 28, Engineering graduate in good employment. UK permanent resident. Send horoscope, details. M 851 c/o Tamil Times.
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Jaffna Hindu parents seek professional partner for fair, pretty, professionally qualified daughter, 24, in good UK enployment. Mars seventh. Send horoscope, details. M 854 C/o Tanni Tinnes.
OBITUARIES
Mr. K. Kumarasundaram, beloved son of late Mr. Kanagasabapathy and Mrs. Kanagasabapathy, loving brother of Balasundaram, Logasundaram and Rajasundaram passed away on 23.5.96 in Melbourne, Australia.
He was born in Matale, Sri Lanka, educated at Twickenham College, London and lived in New Malden, Surrey. After working as a chartered civil engineer in Indonesia and Jamaica, he immigrated to Mel
bourne, where he was a lecturer at the Royal Melbourne linstitute of Technology. He devoted much of his time to the study of ancient Hindu philosophy and Tamil culture and published several articles worldwide.
The members of his family thank all relatives and friends who sent messages of sympathy - K. Balasundaram, Melbourne, Tel: (613) 9795 3568; K. Logasundaram, London, Tel: 0181 540 1322.
XR్న
Mrs. Ranjini Geetanjali Thirunavukarasu (44), beloved Wife of Mr. P. Thirunavukarasu, loving mother of Poornima and Pradeep; loving daughter of Mr. S. Mahalingam (retired VicePrincipal, Jaffna Central College) and late Mrs. P. Mahalingam; daughter-in-law of late Mr. S. Ponnuthurai and Mrs. P. Ponnuthurai, Sister of Mrs. Lalitha Dilkushi Karunakaran (Sydney), Premkumar (Singapore), Mohankumar (Sydney), Ranitkumar (London), Nimalkumar (Sydney), Tilakumar (London) and Miss Priyadarshini Damayanthy (London); sister-in-law of Karunakaran, Kamalarani, Vijayalaxmi, Nirmala, Yasothara, Nalini, Kamaladevi, Sugirthadevi and Balanathan passed away in Sydney, Australia on 24.05.96 and was cremated on 27th May.
All the members of the family
thank all friends and relatives who attended the funeral, sent floral tributes and messages of sympathy and assisted in Several ways during the period of great sorrow. Their special thanks are due to Mr. Kathir who performed the funeral rites. - M. Ranjitkumar, 173 Kempton Road, East Ham London E6 2PU. Tel 0181 471 93.11.
 
 
 

15 JUNE 1996
கண்ணிர்
அஞ்சலி
கடல் நீரில்
உன் ஊனில்
நிலமாய் நீ இருந்து
Mrs. Lukshmi Amma Sinniah, (92) Retired Headmistress, beloved wife of the late Sinnathambiyar Arambo Sinniah of Karaveddy West; loving mother of Sivarajah (London), Rajathurai (Colombo), Balasunderam (USA), Kanagasunderam (London), Mrs. Nageswary Sangarapillai (Singapore), Mrs. Mangaleswary Balakrishnan (USA) and Nadarajah (S. Arabia) passed away on 29.3.96 and was cremated according to Hindu rites on 30th March at
திருவாட்டி சின்னையா இலக்குமி அம்மா
அன்னையின் மடியில் 20.03.1904 அரன் அடியில்: 29.03.1996
தாயே எம் தயாநிதியே!
கருவெடுத்து உருவெடுத்த மேகம் போல
உயிர் தந்து, உருத் தந்து உலகில் எம்மை ஆளாக்கினாய்
பயிராய் எமை வளர்த்தாய்
அமுதுடன் அறிவும் ஊட்டி அவனியில் சிறக்க வைத்தாய்
நல்வாழ்வுக்கான நலங்கள் அத்தனையும் நாம் பெற்றுப்பீடுறவே வாழவைத்த கைம்மாறு கருதாத நின் தெய்வீகத் தாய்மையின் அரவணைப்பை என்றும் நாம் மறவோம் சந்ததமும் நின் பாதம் போற்றிப் பணிந்திடுவோம்!
the General Cemetery, Kanatte. The Anthiasdy ceremony took place in Mutwal and the thanksgiving prayers and lunch afterwards at the residence 222/14 Ban da ra na ya ke Mawatha, Colombo 12. The 31st day rituals were also performed according to Hindu rites at Rameswaram Temple, South India on 29th April 96.
We pray with devotion for our beloved mother's Athma to rest in peace.

Page 31
15 JUNE 1996
IN MEMORAM
in loving memory of Mr. B. Sivagananathan on the fifth anniversary of his passing away on 22.6.91.
Remembered with love and affection by his step mother Mrs. Rajaletchumy Balasubramanian, wife Kamala; brothers Dr. Sivaloganathan, Thirunavukkarasu, Radhaakrishnan, and Sritharan, sisters Mrs. Gowri Pathmanathan, Mrs. Bhagawathy Mohanadas, Mrs. Mangayarkkarasi Jetheendran and Mrs. Jayanthi Kumaranayagam - 9 Upton Close, Park Street, St. Albans, Herts, UK. Tel 01727 873537.
Third Death Anniversary
10th June 1996
ln Ever Loving Memory Of
Kanagambihai Ragunathan
May the Good Lord Sathia Sai Baba Bess and keep you in His Loving Care.
Life is not measured by yea But the love and affection y Are precious memories for No Words Can Comfort us, When those we love depar Days of sadness still loom But memories of you will liv
Remembered by your ev son Sri, daughter-in-law S 173 Mammoth Hall Trai Canada. Tel: 416 4123549
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
July 3 Feast of St. Thomas.
July 6 7.00pm Jaffna Hindu College O.B.A Annual General Meeting and Cultural Evening of Veena, Bharatha Natiyam and Vocal recitals at Kingsbury High School Hall, Princess Ave., London NW9 9JR. For details Tel:01462 435425/0181 952 1147/2O4 5366.
July 7 6.00pm London Tamil
Centre presents "Silappathiharam Dance Drama' at SeCombe Theatre, Cheann Road, Sutton, Surrey in aid of London Sivan Kovil. Tel 01277223981/O181 690 O401.
July 76.00pm Tamil Society of Queen Mary & West Field Colleges, University of London presents Cultural Night with Villu Paatu, Dance Drama & Chithralaya Music Group at Lloyds Park Theatre, Waltham
Arangetram in Switzerland
The Bharatha Natya Arangetram of Kumari Sherin Romini, daughter of Arunthathy and Sivasundaralingam of Basel, Switzerland and disciple of Natya Kalaimamani Krishna Bavani-Sritharan took place at Gemeindehaus St. Anton in Basel on 18.5.96.
Snt Krishna Bav Natya training at til Arts Academy, Jaffn, er training in Kath known Vel Anandan of the Kathakali S. instructress of the laya, Basel.
Young Romini sta with the usual Pushy galam and Went on am and Varnam in After the interval, the nayaki" and "Malai Ragamalikai were audience. She cond with Thillana in Hal 'Kurathi' folk dance.
The chief gues, Kumaran, a formert Sri Lanka in his spe Guru for her servic Switzerland. Ronnin by her Guru on Natt Thamotheram (UK)
 
 

| AML TIMES 31
IfS, ou gave, us to hold,
շVer ԱS, e for ever,
Wanted Mirudangam & Violin Teachers
British Association of Tamil Schools needs a qualified Mirudangam and a Violin teacher with a Sound knowledge of Tamil and a minimum of 10 years experience in accompanying Bharatha Natya dancers and pro ven a bility to compose music for Bharatha Natyam. Basic salary £8000 per annum plus benefits. Closing date for written applications to: Mr. K. Sivagurunathapillai, Chairman B.A.T.S., 18 St. Michael Close, Bickley, Kent BR1 2DX. by 12th July 1996.
Complexed issues
demand simple solutions!
"Strategic Prayer
Intercessors' Action Group for Sri Lanka.
"er loving husband Ragu, Baku, grandson Vishva — , Scarborough, Ontario,
.
Tel/Fax: 0181 251 8325 Pastor Barnabas Alexander
Or Elizabeth Thulasi
stow, London E17. Tel: 0181 423 1885/923 1556.
July 11 Kaarthikai; Ekaathasi; Feast of St. Benedict.
July 13 Pirathosam.
July 14 6.30pm Speech Day, London Tamil Centre in Wembley School Hall, East Lane, Wembley. Chief Guest: Cllr. Lata Patel, Mayor, London Borough of Brent. All welcome.
July 16 Aadi Sevvai 1. July 19 Chathurthi. July 20 Aadi Pooram. July 21 Shashti.
July 23 Aadi Sevvai 2, Feast of St. Bridget.
July 25 Feast of St. James. July 26 Ekathasi. July 28 Pirathosam. July 30 Full Moon, Aadi Sevvai 3.
July 15 Amavasai.
July 31 Feast of St. Ignatius.
ni had her Bharatha he Rananathan Fine and underwent furthakali under the well a versatile exponent yle. She is now an Kalaniketan Nadana
rted her performance panjali, Thodaya Manto Jatiswaram, Sabth
Nataikurinji Ragam. ? Pathans 'Navarasa
Polluthinile' both in well received by the luded her programme nsandi Raga and the
'Koodaiyedi Tamil" Iniversity lecturer from ech complimented the S to this divine art in was ably supported Ivangam, Smit Ambika - VOCal, Smt Komala
(France) - Violin, Sri Ravi Tharmaraj (France) - Mridangam and Sri A. Shanmugathas (Switzerland) - Tabla.
Over Four Decades of Educational Service to His Community
Mr. V. Sivasubramaniam, former Principal of Skanda Varodaya College passed away recently on 26.4.96. He was eighty seven years old. He lived in the suburban town of Chunnakam, a couple of miles away from Skanda, originally established as Kanterodai English school. Due to the indefatigable efforts of Kanthiah "Upathiyayar, nurtured generously by Dr. S. Subramaniam and later by his liberal minded nephew, the late Mr. V. Dharmalingam, TULF Member of Parliament, the School flourished into one of the leading institutions of Jaffna contributing its share of professionals and administrators in all walks of life.
Mr. Sivasubramaniam after passing the Cambridge senior in 1926, joined the staff

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32 TAML TIMES
of the school and continued to remain with his Alma Mater till his retirement in 1969. While in service he earned his honour degree in Geography and arts degree in Tamil, as an external student of the LOndon University before completing his Teachers' Training Course. Dresed in impeccable White in national Costume with a folded shawl round his neck, he was a familiar figure on his bicycle to and from home. Kanterodai English school was originally a grant-in-aid school. Funds were scarce for buildings, laboratories, equipment etc and its success depended on the hard work and dedicated service to the teachers who remained with the School through thick and thin without straying into greener pastures. Mr. Sivasubramaniam was one of thern who remained with his Alma Mater until his retirement after a period of forty two years of educational service to his community.
The school relied heavily on his advice and intimate knowledge of all matters. He knew the trials and tribulations of the majority of students who hailed mainly from a farming community and middle class families. As a teacher he was soft spoken and always open for discussion. No class was ever neglected because of other connected important matters and his advice was sought even after his retirement and he gave it ungrudgingly. His oft repeated maxim to his students was that 'success was ninety nine percent perspiration and one percent intelligence."
Generations of students now in all Walks of life will remember with gratitude the benefits of having come under his guidance. It is an irony of fate that this peace loving and practising Hindu leading a quiet life in retirement had in his last days, due to the turmoil caused by the ethnic conflict, migrated from his permanent residence to Chavakachcheri where he breathed his last.
May his soul rest in peace.
S. Kunnarakulaslingan.
Ganesh Chanmugam (1939-1996)
Ganesar (Ganesh) Chanmugam's personal identification mark could well have been the broad beam of Cheer across his face attended by bright inquiring eyes, upward tilted; it rarely took leave of him. In March
1996, this expansives result of complications marrow transplant. The only friends and rela scientific community wo the field of astrophy Professor of Astrophy State University, Bato international reputation in the physics of collap
Born in 1939 in Co early education at R. ombo, and later at the in Colombo, where in University Science Sc ceeded to Downing Co Cambridge, for his Mat then earned his docto, University in Boston, M lowing a spell at the Belgium, he joined the State University at Batc spent the rest of his pro field of astronomy and tenure there he publisl papers, was made a Fe American Physical Soc Astronomical Society, a many international con invited to NASA beside, research organisations
Like his father the lat gam, Professor of Ar ombo Medical Faculty Ceylon, and his grand Chanmugam, Vice-Pri tral College, he loved t all of his Colleagues attested to his facili fascination and enthus Sics with others. He w caring person who WC friendship of the many from far and wide to a Baton Rouge.
His outstanding Louisiana State Univer, lly honoured by the es Chanmugam Memoria future activities in phy: at the university.
Throughout his life at the long dark days whe battling myeloma (ca. marrow) he was Sup Prithiya (nee Kanagast Ravi and Suresh. To t Ganesh Chanmugam pathies.
Part of what Husain the Philosophy Departir ty wrote was:
He knew of binary sys stars, Spinning galaxies, as i COSOS AVSS Devised for his mind, í With official notice, "He | deny all this. I think I see him roami StafS.
Dr. Devi Chanmugam Ernest Macintyre.
 

15 JUNE 1996
oul noved on as a s following a bone loss saddened not tives but also the prld-wide working in sics. Ganesh was /Sics at Louisiana in Rouge, with an as a leading expert Sed Stars. lombo, he had his oyal College, ColJniversity of Ceylon 1962 he won the holarship and pro}llege, University of hematic Tripos. He rate from Brandeis fassachusetts. FolJniversity of Liege, aculty of Louisiana on Rouge where he ofessional life in the physics. During his ned more than 120 low both of the US iety and the British elivered lectures at ferences, and Was s many other major
World-wide.
e Dr. P. K. Channuatomy at the Coof the University of father, the late J.K. ncipal, Jaffna Ceneaching, and severand students have ly for sharing his siasm for astrophyas also a kind and on the respect and people who came tend his funeral at
Contributions to sity are to be fittingstablishment of the | Fund to support sics and astronomy
7d especially during in he was heroically ncer of the bone ported by his wife inderam) and sons, hen, all Who knew extend their sym
Sarkar, a friend in ment of his universi
fems, collapsed
if the jagged
a jigsaw puzzle. . .
is gone.'
ng among the
and
Cultural Show in Seychelles
The above is from the Cultural Show by the young artistes depicting “Thirumurai Varalaru' on the occasion of the Fourth Annual Sangabishegam of the Seychelles Nava Sakthi Vinayagar Temple.
The finale connected with the Sangabishegan was the first ever Carnatic Music Recital held on 9th June at the International Conference Centre. The popular vocalist Dr. Seerkhazli Siva Sithamparam son of the late legendary singer Seerkhazli Govindarajan gave a well attended recital which held the audience spell bound. He gave a free recital at the temple hall on 12th June.
Vina Arangetram Of Harri Wrndawan Siwanesan
At Harri Sivanesan's Vina Arangetram one was aware that here indeed we have a young master, assured, competent, at times humorous, always composed. It was a joy for my wife and myself to be present On that day - 23.3.96 - at the Lewisham Theatre. The chief guest was Sri Viram Jasani, Chairman of the Asian Music Circuit. Guests of Honour were Mr. David Moore, Dr. M. Nandakumara, Bhavan's Executive Director and this reviewer.
Harri's playing that evening was of a standard of which his Guru Smt Sivasakthi Sivanesan, Bhavan's resident teacher of Karnatic music could well be proud. Proud too must have been Harri's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Sivanesan, for their son showed a maturity of talent, poise and even a touch of humour that impressed and enthused One and all.
Harris programme commenced with a Varnam in the raga Purvikalyani followed by Gamganapate in raga Hamsadhavani and a piece by Dikshitar in the raga Amritavarshini, sensitively played. Harri continued with one of Tyagaraja's Pancharatna kritis in raga Gaula. His sense of rhythm was faultlessly displayed. Before the interval Harri's climax was a piece in raga Abheri by Mysore Vasudevachar Bhajarere manasa. It was in this piece that Harri showed his real skill in Manodharma Sangita, with a beautiful alapana and faultless kalpana svaras. Harri's accompanists

Page 33
15 JUNE 1996
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were Sri M. Balachandar on Mridangam, Bangalore Sri Prakash playing Ghatam and Sri K. Sithambaranathan Mursing. Supportive of Harri throughout the evening the three percussionists were as it were challenged by Harri's brilliance to give of their very best.
After the interval and a piece in Garudadhvani, Harriagain brought to bear his talent for improvisation in the main raga of the evening, Mohanam. After a wonderful and sensitive alapana he executed a delightful tanam and then played pallavi in a cycle of 9 beats, Khandajati triputa. There ensued four lighter pieces in ragas Kanada, Ragamalika, Desh and Darbarikanada. The last was Hari tum haro by Mirabai After speeches by the chief guest and guests of honour, Harri played Tillana, the joy of which was matched by the joy on Harri's countenance. He concluded with Tiruppukal and Mangalam.
Truly Harri's is a rare talent displayed at quite a tender age and one will watch his future under the guidance of his revered Guruji Smit Sivasakthi Sivanesan with confident eagerness.
J.R. Marr.
Renowned Musician Sings at London Temples.
M. R. Vijaya, the renowned carnatic vocalist from India has arranged to give recitals of devotional songs at the seven Hindu temples in London along with her accompanists. The following is a programme of her recitals. 02.08.96 Friday 6 pm: Muttumari Amman Temple, 180 Upper Tooting High Street, Tooting, London SW17 7EN. Tel: 0181 767 988 1/205 1089. 06.08.96 Tuesday 7.30 pm: Sri Rajarajeswari Amman Temple, Del Lane, Stoneleigh, Surrey KT172NE. Tel: 0181 3938147. 09.08.96 Friday, 7.30 pm: London Murugan Temple, 78 Church Road, Manor Park, London E12 6AF. Tel: 0181 478 8433. 11.08.96 Sunday 4 pm: Sri Ganapathy Temple, 123-133 Effra Road, Wimbledon, London SW19 8PU. Tel: 0191 542 7482. 13.08.96 Tuesday 8.30 pm: Shri Kanaga Thurkai Amman Temple, 5 Chapel Road, West Ealing, London W139AE. Tel: 0181 81O 0835.
Rengan N. Devarajan
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London Tamil Centre able evening at U Logan Hall on April art lovers and Conn by the winners of a it was encouraging language flourishes generation. The sec tral music. A cont Violins, Flutes and music that was ple: students of Sivathar Sivarajah, Kirubah and Kothandapanih. produce this item Vocal music by st wathy Packiaraja memories. Forgottel by Vasanthakokilan memories.
The highlight of dance drana 'Chit one aspect of the Kalaimamani Putha penned this scintil character of which
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

TAMIL TIMES 33
ALTY & CRIMINAL SOLICTORS ܠ
ENANTISSUES USING
ISSUES NADVICE URY CLAIMS
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ɔm: Highgate Muruhway Road, London 35.
an: London Sivan in Road, Lewishan, 9f01813189844,
ni Centre’s Evening
presented an enjoyniversity of London, 27th. It was a treat for enced with speeches famil speech contest. o note that the Tamil among the younger Dnd item was Orchesbination of VeenaS, Miruthangams made sing to the ear. The ni Sahathevan, Muthu ran, Gnanavarathan ld been well trained to of melodious music. dents of Smit Saras
brought nostalgic pieces made famous brought back happy
he evening was the ira Pavai, based on pic 'Silapathikaram'. eri Subrananian had ing drama, the main as Madha Vi, the mis
tress of Kovalan. the dance was composed by Smt Uma Chandradeva and the drama was brought to life by Uma's stimulating choreography and vigorous training amply seen in the students' portrayal of the drama characters. Every step, every movement and every expression was carefully woven into the intricate plot. Kalakshetra's training methods shone beautifully in every scene. It is amazing that 33 students were trained to participate in this gigantic effort of staging a single drama. One should not forget the vocalist Smit Thilakasakthi Aravamuthan who sang with great flair. It is felt that this drama should be presented to a wider audience including the host community at a venue like the South Bank which will attract more attention to Tamil Cutlure and arts. It is happy to know that this drama is being presented again on the 7th July in aid of the London Sivan Temple.
Janardhanan Ratnasabapathy.
Tamil Cricket and Netball Festival 1996
The United Tamils Organisation organised a well attended Cricket and Netball Festivall for 20 UK based Old Students' ASSOCiations of Sri Lankan Tamil Schools on 27th May (Bank Holiday, Monday), at Wadham Lodge Sports Centre, Wadham Road, E17. Jaffna Hindu were the Cricket champions who defeated Jaffna Central in the final match of the tournament. The picture below shows, T. Pirabaharan, captain of the Jaffna Hindu team receiving the Championship cup from the renowned cricketer Sir Garfield Sobers, who was the Chief Guest of the Festival.
Chundikuli Girls' were the Netball champions after defeating Vembadi Girls' in the final match. The following awards were also made. Man of the Tournament:

Page 34
34 AMIL TIMES
Vijayanathan (Jaffna Hindu), Best Bowler: Raviraj (Jaffna Central), Best Batsman: Pirabaharan (Jaffna Hindu), Man of the Match: Pirabanathan (Jaffna Hindu).
In the competition for the best presented marquee put up by the partaking schools, the Urumpirai Hindu marquee was adjudged the best by the West Indian Wicket keeper Derek Murray, who coordinated the judging of the marquees.
There was an exhibition Cricket match between UK County players and International Tamil players. The following represented the UK Counties:- Chris Sutton & lan Pearce (Blackburn Rovers), Derek Randall & Derek Murray (Notts), Philip De Freitas (Derbyshire), Russ Taylor (Arsenal), Steve Dock (Glamorgan). The Tamil players were Shanthikumar (Canada), Naguleshwaran (New Zealand), Jeyenthiran (USA), Dr. M. Theivendra, Roy Selvarajah, Suben Senthilvel, and Vijayakumar (all of UK).
After the draw for the new Vauxhall car, which was raffled and a fireworks display which lasted about 10 minutes the festival drew to a close at about 9.30 p.m.
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ளுக்கு கிரமமான, நம்பிக்கையான சேவை.
தினங்கள்)
ப்பட்ட பொருள்கள் வரை.
க்கு விசேட கட்டணம்.
எங்கள். ப்பாவனை மின்சார உபகரணங்களுக்கு வரிவிலக்கு.
ல்தர துரித விடுவிப்பு வசதிகள் அளிக்கப்படுகின்றன.
LONDON
395 KUWAT AIR 415 AIR 485 AIRLANKA 395
}ndran Asoka Fernando or Nagabalan(Nags)
Suite 412, Ashley House,
con N22 4HF 3 DAYS
INCLUDING
4500 FAX: O181-889 2676 SUNDAYS
OPEN SEVEN

Page 35
15 JUNE 1996
GLEN EXPRES
2.
S257 155 Nottina H
otting Hill G IATA Tel: O725184
Twice
BRITISH
scheduled fligh
Depart Tuesday & S
at 11.3O
T - From Ga
Arriv Wednesday
Return poSSib
Competitive hotel
N eta Major Credit C
Fares tO AuS
hmmmmmmm
 

AM MES 35
STRAVELLTD
iate, LOndOn VV11 3LF 28 Fax: O171243 8277
a Week
AIRWAYS —gr
tS tO COlOmbOO
ure Saturday
p.m.
WiiCk Via Abu Dhabi
val
& Sunday
e Via Maras on EA
rates in Sri Lanka
cards a CCepted
tralia available

Page 36
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