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 1997.03

Page 1
WXW No.3 ISSN 02664488 5 MAR
Lawrence. Thilakar, international spokesman for the LTTE reported to be in northern Sri Lanka for talks with the Tiger |eädership
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15 MARCH 1997
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conTENTs
Political Violence 03 On the Military Front 04 TTE intensifies Attacks 05 Mullaitivu Offensive 05 Over 150 Tamils Drown 07 Another Plane Crash O7 Crackdown on Guns 08 NeWS in Brief 09 The Tamil-Muslim Divide 10 Approach to End Ethnic Conflict 11 The Morally Centred Society 15
The Debate - the Choice for Tamits 16 Spectre of Bofors & Rajiv's Ghost 22 Deities of Tamil Nadu, Old & New 23 Arrest of Tamil Lankans in Tamil Nadu. 24 Book Review - Lost Opportunities 27 Because I am a Journalist 29 Classified 30
The ongoin by a resurgenc With the murde Member of Pay throughout the have recorded concern arson, lence,
That a Men Party(UNP) is a MP comes as na and political vio this period that commentatorp appointed to th Wickremasingh English press it refusal, to purgé
On the other been its timidity and remove fron ally thousands o previous regime their so-called b gun Culture to wh to confiscate all Surrender of We
The politicial politically motiva themselves not opponents. The Puttalam, some ers of the UNIP? appear to have i
On a more f lated Violence, i. peaceful and no east of the count and in fact coul sheerintensitya east The contin inpinged upon has been under provisions of the role of the nilit become more pt these forces top
lf Should not was to emerge Sown in the sout Satiyagraha at G were subjected approval setting ethnic and politi ety and predeter processes in the
The campaig serves support. reached and the whether the phe, the South of the
 
 

TAM TIMES 3
Political Violence
campaign for local government elections has been characterised of widespread political violence. The violence that commenced in broad daylight witnessed by many members of the public of a ament belonging to the government has continued unabated ampaign, independent election monitoring bodies and the police ver 1500 incidents of election related violence. Most complaints destruction of property intimidation, thuggery and physical vio
ber of Parliament belonging to the opposition United National raigned as the prime suspect in shooting dead the government surprise to those who have experienced the long history of terror ance practised by the UNP during its 17-year rule, it was during criminalisation of politics was developed into a fine art. As one t it, "contract killers and professional bomb-makers were even ruling party's working committee. The UNP leader, Mr. Ranil 's saintly image, constantly propped up by the privately owned Colombo, stands in sharp contrast with his inability, or rather the party he leads of these utterly criminal elements."
hand, the failure of the present Peoples Alliance government has to take timely and appropriate action to root out political violence circulation the instruments which enable it to be practised. Literflethal firearms issued or acquired legally and illegally during the have been in the possession of a large number of politicians and odyguards. If the government wanted to cleanse society of the ich it has become accustomed, then it should have acted promptly these weapons, But it did not. The belated call for the voluntary apons, though welcome, is two years too late.
is of the PA cannot be absolved from blame for the proliferation of ited violent incidents, Some well known politicians of the PA have been reluctant to deploy thuggery and violence directed at their past year witnessed their violent disposition in Negambo and of them behaving like common gangsters attacking the supportThe poison of political violence introduced by the UNP would Tfected some sections of the PA as Well,
Indamental level, in discussing the current Wave of election reshould be realised that the south of the country cannot remain -violent when the only instruments of discourse in the north and yare the bomb and the bullet. The south and its people have not, I not have remained immune from the damaging effects of the ld cruelty of the violence involved in the ongoing war in the northration of the war in the north-east has of necessity adversely he democratic and civil governance of the whole country which a state of emergency since 1983. Emergency regulations and Prevention of Terrorism Act have been frequently invoked. The ry and the police in the day to day affairs of the country has pnounced because the government of the day has to depend on rosecute the war in the north-east,
be forgotten that the seeds of politically motivated violence that later years and which characterises the northeast now were wayback in 1956 when Tamil politicians peacefully performing a ille Face Green Colombo in protest against the Sinhala Only bill p Violent attacks as the forces of "law and order" watched with cene for what was to develop into an uncontrollable escalation of all violence which today permeates the entire fabric of the socinines the working of the institutions of the state and the political country.
to arrest the resurgence of political violence in Sri Lanka deut, until a peaceful negotiated solution to the ethnic conflict is ongoing war in the northeast is brought to an end, it is doubted omenon of political violence can be eradicated for good even in puntry,

Page 4
4 TAM TIMES
CALL AGAINST POLITICAL V.
In the context of an upsurge of widespread political violence associated with the forthcoming local government elections in Sri Lanka, the Coalition Against Political Violence, composed of several individuals associated with human rights and political organisations issued the following statement on February 13:
The Coalition against Political Violence deeply regrets and unreservedly condemns the killing of Mr. Nalanda Ellawala, MP at Kuruwita on 11 February by gunmen travelling in a UNP convoy. It also cordemns the acts of arson and destruction that followed the killing, even though such actions might have been motivated by deep feelings of outrage at this blatant act of murder.
The Coalition against Political Violence, comprising of organisations and individuals committed to peaceful politics, has drawn the attention of all political parties to the threat to democracy posed by
renewed acts of po the last few months the danger that, unle could vitiate the loc tions. We, togethe rights organisatiol pointed out that the guns by politicians them has contribute violence.
The danger tha before us. The threa gs over the entire el say strongly that th weapon of intimida on of the democrati The "democra must also realise th; the use of violence to private acts of rev Counter-productive efits are necessarily last analysis will ha
Even before government forces had time to bask in glory in the aftermath of their Operation"Edi Bala" which successfully achieved the linking up the road route from Vavuniya to Mannar, the Tigers struck simultaneously on two military bases in the east of the island on 6 March. The LTTE attacks on the pivotal Trincomalee navy base and the overrunning of the brigade headquarters at Vavunaitivu gave further confirmation that the current military pre-occupation of the Tigers is, as they lose ground in the north to the security forces, to focus their primary effort in the east of the island. And as the LTTE attacks mount, both in their frequency and intensity, the east is becoming more and more destabilised.
The recent success of Operation"Edi Bala" by government forces on the one hand, and latest attacks by the Tigers in the east merely reinforces their ability to strike at Will and has little to do with the ability of either party to the conflict to be able to win the war in the long term.
Commenting on the LTTE attacks, Pakiasothy Saravanamuttu, a consultant at the Centre for Policy Studies and Alternatives, an independent think-tank, told Reuters on 7 March, "It is part and parcel
of the Liberation Ti (LTTE) strategy to armed pressure ( LTTE's way of say might say, we're st can inflict damage We're still here an ers,'The LTTE are well as a military : Former air foi shall Harry Goon on the Well-defe showed the LTT small groups for on selected targ
dacity of the LTT
tage call by the T cal trademark 1 Goonetileke Said
As for the offe Mullaitivu area, lombo speculat might have be “one-four” - a c jungle camps us their main militar before they we Jaffna strongho is said to be pro
 
 

OLENCE
cal violence during t also emphasised stopped, this trend | government elecwith many human , have repeatedly legal possession of and those close to to the escalation of
we foresaw is now ofviolence now hanction campaign. We use of violence as a on is a gross violati: rights of the people. ic" political parties it, at a practical level, as well as recourse enge in retaliationare their perceived benshort-term and in the alp only those forces
15 MARCH 1997
which are dedicated to the realisation of their political goals by the use of violent
nearS.
The Coalition therefore appeals to all political parties to take a principled stand against the use of violence and thuggery and to join together in denouncing its use and instructing their supporters to refrain from all acts of violence. If their stand is to achieve credibility, they must also remove or suspend from political activity all those who are accused of acts of violence presently and in the past. It is only then that a free and fair election, the hallmark of a democratic polity, can take place.
The UNP, whose provincial leaders are alleged to have been behind this murder, hasa special responsibility to actdecisively now. It must disassociate itself from these persons and co-operate in ensuring that they subject themselves to the due process of law.
The Coalition appeals to the government to conduct an impartial inquiry into these incidents and to let the law take its course against all who are accused of these crimes. It must also act immediately to disarm all politicians,
The Coalition intends to approach all political parties to persuade them into joint action against political violence and hopes that their endeavours to ensure a peaceful democratic practice will meet with a good response. O
gers of Tamil Eelam's show they can exert n the army. It is the ng 'Whatever anyone in the game and we Whenever We Want to. we still are key playmaking a political as atement"
e chief Air Vice Mar
tileke said the attack led China Bay base s ability to sneak in urprising, fast attacks S. "It showed the au
!t was a mere saboers. And it was a typiTE guerrilla attack"
ive in the northeasern litary analysts in Cothat the real target the Secretive base plex of sophisticated by the Tamil Tigers as perational centre even dislodged from their late 1995. The base ed with underground
residential accommodation or the LTTE leadership and storage facilities for vast quantities of military, medical and food supplies. It was from this base, reported to be the LTTE's main communications and command centre with its vast network ofunderground control rooms and passages, and believed to be the hiding place of the elusive Tiger leader, Vellupillai Pirabhakaran, that the Tamil Tigers kept at bay and survived the might of the indian army during their ill-fated encounter in Sri Lanka's ethnic imbroglio between 1987 and 1990.
Analysts discounted that the offensive was part of any bigger military strategy to destroy the LTTE's nerve-centre of operations. Others thought that the offensive was in the nature of a pre-emptive strike following intelligence reports of a LTTE build-up in the area in preparation for a major attack on government forces. Confirming this analysis, a navy official told Reuters, "It was a well co-ordinated, pre-emptive strike on all LTTE bases in the area. An LTTE build-up for an attack was reported in the area. Our attacks should disrupt their plans and also cause heavy casualties."
When the army spokesman announced on 14 March that the operation was over, it was evident that the forces were not yet ready to confront the LTTE head-on for a decisive showdown. O

Page 5
15 MARCH 1997
Intensies Attack:Sn
Tigers struck at Sri Lankan forces on 6 March with pre-dawn attacks on two military bases in the island's east.
The Tiger attack which commenced at about 11.30 pm on the Trincomalee base lasted nearly three hours before they withdrew in the face of the ground and air counter-attack by government forces. Reports indicated that at least 300 to 400 Tigers attacked the China Bay airforce base with rocket launchers and mortars. TheTigers had in advance penetrated the highly fortified air-base accompanied by suicide cadres with explosives strapped around their bodies, and according to the military's claim, they found the bodies of four suicide attackers.
A military spokesman admitted that one air force man Was killed and four wounded and a Chinese-madeY12 transport plane severely damaged during the LTTE attack. The LTTE's Voice of Tigers radio station said the rebels destroyed a Y-12 transport plane and damaged a Mi-24 helicopter gunship in the attack on China Bay,
The security forces in the eastern port town of Trincomalee are reported to have been taken by complete Surprise by the attack on the local air force base.
At about the same time as the Trincomalee attack, the Tigers numbering over 500 launched more determined fierce assault upon the Vavunativu army camp, located just outside Batticaloa.
A bridge connecting the base with the main road to Batticaloa had been blown up by the attackingTigers to prevent the movement of troop reinforcements,
The military admitted that the camp was overrun by the Tigers. It took 12 hours for military reinforcements to reached the camp and by that time 65 soldiers and policemen including two officers had been killed, and over a hundred of the soldiers were Wounded, according to a statement from the Ministry of Defence. More than 35 soldiers were wounded in the raid, he added.
Claiming that they killed over 160 retreatingTigers, military officials admitted rebels had set fire and destroyed several buildings at the army base and carried away rifles and ammunition. Soldiers held onto a small part of the base, aided by helicopter gunships that arrived at dawn and strafed the rebels with rockets and canon fire, the officials said.
Contradicting the defence ministry claim as to the number of Tigers killed, the Voice of Tigers' radio quoting the LTTE's official newspaper "Eelanatham" said that 84 Tigers were killed, including two high-ranking guerrilla officers, but did not give the number of rebel wounded. The newspaper carried a photograph of
three "Black Tiger" the LTTE leader Ve taken shortly before Bay attack, the ra which deliberately the past several n again they can lau any part of the nor radio said,
In a statement London office in re: Trincomalee, theTig have largely destro heavily fortified airb land's eastern distric attack launched on V effectively destroye two anti-aircraft gun "A unit of BlackT maximum-security around midnight kil personnel and blasti tion of the compount at the nerve-centre tary operations - rem the moment. Three the operation: Major tain Nivethan and Ca
On the following LTTE's office in Lon ment giving details camp at Vavunathiv Lankan defence mi sued false details of tack onan army cami follow the real events "At 1.05Thursday launched a major off gic'VaVunathivu arm district. The camp ho of the Sri Lankan ar of the military's forwa tecting its main cami After six hours of he kan troops fled leavir and demolish the ca much hi-tech equipn calibre gun, A rescu caloa's main army ca ter for Sri Lankan tr bridge to the capture as Soldiers tried to m and the remaining tre tense fire from LTT military casualties in are significant, thoug not discernible.
"Consequently, bombers, M124's and ships arrived on the strikes against LTTE tured camp. Howe' planes were Swiftly C retaliatory fire and d return. There followe of the LTTE-captured
 

TAMIL TIMES 5
uicide bombers with pillai Prabhakaran, hey left for the China o said. "The LTTE, ept a low profile for onths, proved once ch fierce attacks in h and the east" the
ssued through their pect of the attack at rs said, "LT TE forces ed Sri Lanka's most se located in the isof Trincomaliee, The lednesday night also a Y-12 aircraft and S.
igers penetrated the China Bay base at ing several airforce ng awaya major porl.The base - located of Sri Lanka's miliains out of action for TTE Soldiers died in Sitampalam, Cap
ptain Vijayaruban" .
day on 8 March, the don issued a stateof the attack on the 'u. It said, "The Sri histry yesterday isThursday's LTTE at) at Vavunativu. Here
morning LTTE units 2nsive on the stratecamp in Batticaloa used 300 members ny and formed part ddefence lines proin Batticaloa town. Vy fighting Sri Lang LTTE to take over mp. LTTE captured ent including a 50effort from Battimp ended in disasops. A connecting base was blasted ke their way across ops came under inunits, Sri Lankan is failed rescue bid exact figures were
i Lankan Puccara tell helicopter-gun:ene to launch airighters at the capr, these fighterven away by LTTE
not subsequently persistent shelling amp from two army
positions - Batticaloa's nearby military airbase and Kommanthurai. UT TE fighters returned fire at the airbase and reSultant troop casualties are presumed high. In the entire incident LTTE casualties amounted to 84, including the death of Lt Col. Mathana (commander of the Batticaloa-Amparai women's' brigade) and Lt. Col. Palendra (commander of the Vinodhan brigade)." ()
Military Offensive in Mulaitivu
A combined army, navy and air force operation began in the early hours of 13 March in a declared bid "to destroy all known rebel bases in the jungles of the northeastern Mullaitivu district and along the eastern seaboard", and according to defence officials artillery, war planes and navy vessels have been pounding a famil Tigers' base reported to be the headquarters of the LT TE in north-east Sri Lanka. The Tamil Tigers, in statements issued from their London office, claimed that he government's official claim of targeting LTTE bases was totally false. Each and every target struck has been a civilian one. This could quite easily be verified were Sri Lanka to permit journalists to the north.
A military official claimed, "Air force pilots have reported direct hits on targets. Ground troops monitoring rebel radio transmissions say the rebels have suffered heavy casualties and are asking for reinforcements."
"LTTE camps in the area were pounded for three or four hours starting at dawn," the official said. "Sea Tiger" bases were also attacked, and several camps in the base complex and others on the coast were destroyed, the he said. Military spokesman Brigadier Tissa Jayatunga said, "Ground troops monitoring enemy radio transmissions say the terrorists suffered heavy casualties and are asking for help from their leaders." Several camps in the base complex and others on the coast were destroyed during the offensive, he said. Jayatunga declined comment on reports that troops from the Weli Oya army base, about 40 km (25 miles) south of Mullaitivu, were advancing on the LTTE's "1-4 base" stronghold. "Ground troops are there in certain locations in the area but we can't say where," he said.
A statement from the TE's London office on 13 March said, "Sri Lankan artillery pieces are ferociously shelling surrounding Tamil villages from Manal-Aru military base. Meanwhile Puccara and Kfir jets have flown several sorties dropping bombs and unleashing rocket-fire on these residential areas. The raid started at 5.30 this morning and is still continu

Page 6
6 TAMIL TIMES
ing at 9.00am, when this report was filed. It is reasonably assumed human life has been lost though precise details are difficult to ascertain while the assault is continuing.”
As the military onslaught continued, the Tigers in another statement issued from their London office said, "Sri Lanka yesterday launched co-ordinated military strikes on residential areas of Mullaitivu killing many civilians, destroying homes and creating yet another flow of refugees. The attack - using air, ground and naval forces - terrorised coastal and interior Tamil villages for a full 8 hours. Residents are still reeling in shock from the ferocity of the onslaught.
"it began at 5.30 in the morning with long- and medium-range artillery fire targeted at ordinary villages. Later, navy gunboats in the eastern seas fired cannons directly at coastal settlements which house mainly Tamil fishing families. Most homes between Alampil and Challai- on the northeastern coast-have been damaged beyond repair. The renowned St. Vellankanni Catholic Church has also been blasted to rubble.
"There has been an exodus of people - joining the swelling ranks of the Vanni
displaced - clamb land, mainly Udu nai, Thaneerutu a ray of devastated while lie desertec "Air attacks o 7.30am. Puccara unleashed rocke concentrations th 12.15pm. Kfirs a mission first at 10.55am. The firir relentless the wh treated effectively The scene among unbridled panica still visibly shake badly traumatisec "The governm geting LTTE base and every target: ian One. This cou fied were Sri Lan to the north."
On 14 March said that the op north-east Was O over, lt was a limi spokesman Brig. told the press.
Operation EDI BALA, the largest military offensive launched by the security forces this year, ended with a formal announcement on 20 February by the Ministry of Defence that it had been successful in linking up troops moving from Vavuniya with troops moving from Mannar. One of the key aims of the operation which commenced on 4 February was to secure the Vavuniya-Mannar road which had remained obstructed for years. Mannar and the island of Talaimannar north of the town have been under the control of the army while the surrounding areas had been controlled by the Tigers. Mannar was accessible to government forces only by Sea,
Deputy Defence Minister Anuruddha Ratwatte, accompanied by senior military officials, made the inaugural 80-km (50-mile) journey between the two towns on Friday, military officials said,
According to the announcement the operation met with little resistance from the LTTE although statement from its London office on 12 February had promised to prevent the advance by troops and predicted a "tremendous clash". "The road from Vavuniya to Mannar is now open." the statement said.
With the road to Mannar from Vavuniya was formally opened for public transport on Saturday February 22, he army said it would set up a checkpoint at Paraiyanalankulam to control civilian
movements to an trict, in much the S checkpoint in Th operates.
Following the appears to have north-western S which provides coast, and of the these locations v in terms of comm Colombo. The c have a major imp to operate in the from Vavuniya sa
However, giv woman power in forces at presen on to this large e insurmountable, sibility of attacks now has not ré troops,
Relief age
10,000 people by this operation Relief Centre Madhu. A furthe Camp in Palam
"in this milit ers, Sri Lankan ing their way th out regard forci statement said been forced to
 

ng to safer places inukulam, Kumulamu| Mulliyawallai. An arshing villages mean
the interior began at dropped bombs and on selected civilian | ran another sortie at omplished the same 00am and again at from all quarters was e day with Mullaitivu as a "free-strike Zone'. he people was one of d disorder. People are with many children
nt's official claim of taris totally false. Each truck has been a civili quite easily be veria to permit journalists
an army spokesman ration in the island's ver. "The Strike is now ed operation" military dier Tissa Jayatunga O
d from the Mannar disame way as the present andikulam in Vavuniya
operation, the army now gained control of the eaboard of the island access to the Indian Wilpattu jungles. Both ere critical to the LTTE unicating with India and ss of these areas can act on the LTTE's ability Vanni region, a Source d. in the shortage of man/ the Sri Lankan security the logistics of holding panse of territory seem Added to this is the posby the LTTE which up to sisted the advance of
ies reported that over ho had been displaced admoved into the Open un by the UNHCR in 5000 had arrived at the ddy,
y offensive, like all othxops have been bulldozugh Tamil territory withian casualties" an LTTE added that Tamils had he to India "as a last re
15 MARCH 1997
sort to escape the army advance."
As the advance by troops continued, a statement by the LTTE on 12 February said, "Sri Lanka's 'Operation Edibala' is continuing with troops setting fire to Tamil crops as they advance. So far, a string of Tamil villages between Vavuniya and Mannar have been occupied. Soldiers descended on these villages like swarms of locusts sending residents running in terror as their homes Were bombed and bulldozed. Acres of rice fields have been purposely scorched during the assault in what is becoming a more and more typical military tactic. While enforcing a food blockade to famil areas, Sri Lanka is systematically wiping out Tamils' own attempts at cultivation. The airforce, meanwhile, is targeting houses and public buildings making it difficult for civilians to return to their lives. Around 10,000 displaced Tamils are already crammed into Maddu Church refugee camp. Other displaced civilians have sought safety in the town of Iranai Illupaikulam."
On February 21, an Antonov 32 aircraft that had just taken off from the airfield in Ratmalana with a full load of Servicemen bound for the north Crashed into a marshy field next to the runway, 4 persons were killed and 40 others injured in this crash.
"The inactivity of the UNHCR over the past two years has been astounding" the LTTE said in a scathing attack on the United Nations refugee agency. A statement by the Tamil Tigers from their office in London said on 25 February that UNHCR, has been turning a blind eye to the problems faced by tens of thousands displaced Tamils by recent military operations by government troops in the northern Sri Lanka.
The LTTE statement said that the recent offensive "Edi Bala" by government forces had created more than 17,500 refugees."Despite this, the UNHCR has not yet made any meaningful steps to press Sri Lanka into easing its embargo to refugee areas. The inactivity of the UNHCR over the past two years has been astounding"
UNHCR's representative in Colombo, Peter Meijer, declining to comment on the TTE's accusation, said about 10,000 people had fled their homes ahead of the army advance and were at a relief centre at Madhu, 40 km (25 miles) west of Vavuniya, "This centre already had about 7,000 displaced persons from earlier offensives. So there are about 17,000 displaced people there at the moment, Meijer said, "I understand there is enough food for the people at the camp. Everything at the moment is under control," he said. The camp also had enough medi cine, Guillermo Bertoletti of the French aid agency Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) told the press.

Page 7
15 MARCH 1997
It has been reported that Lawrence Thilakar, the Paris-based international spokesman for the LTTE, had secretly arrived in northern Sri Lanka to have discussions with the Tamil Tiger leadership. Reports said that Thilakar had come to brief the LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran on possible moves to resume peace talks.
Tamil sources in Paris confirmed that Thilakar has not been seen or available to be contacted in Paris where he is normally resident. The reports about his visit, though widely circulated, has not been denied by the LTTE either in Sri Lanka or from abroad.
Newspapers in Colombo speculated that Thilakar had entered the country via Nepal and India using a false name. They said he had arrived on a LTTE-owned cargo ship and been picked up by Sea Tiger boats off the northwestern Mannar area.
It is no secret that Thilakar, as international spokesman for the LTTE, has been having contacts and talks with diplomats in western capitals who had pledged their support for a fresh round of peace talks between the LTTE and the government. It would seem that the governments of the United Kingdom, Norway, Canada, and Switzerland have expressed their willingness to play a role in facilitating the resumption of talks. O
OVer 150 Tamils DrOWn in Boat Disaster
At least 150Tamils, including several women and children, fleeing from the escalating military operations by government forces against Tamil Tigers in northern Sri Lanka drowned when their overcrowded boat sank off the northwest coast of the island on 20 February.
The India-bound boat, carrying refugees to India, nearly 35 miles away, capsized and sank Palk Straits, in which the Sea Tigers, the naval wing of the LTTE freely operate, soon after it left the LTTE base at Nachchikuddah village in northwest Sri Lanka.
Reports duoting LTTE radio broadcasts said that only 20 out of a total of 170 passengers could be rescued. The LTTE had recovered 130 bodies. Seventy people were missing, including 22 children. The Search for the bodies of other victims was continuing, a report said.
This type of tragedy faced by fleeing Tamils is not new in that similar incidents have occurred in the past. Last October, 14 people, including eight children and four Women, drowned when another boat
carryingTamil refug
A LTTE staten said, "Suitcases ar recovered from the drowned trying to e recent army offensi being offered back ceased. The Tamil E lam are now in po and have said survi those who died may ings"
UNP MP Susant of the principal susp Ellawela murder a Magistrate in Colo There was an islands for Mr. Punchinilame accounts of the killir as being one of thos the scene of the incid who was with EllaWe has also identified F of those involved in t Susantha Punchir nied by attorney Ms. when he gave himsel trate, Colombo, Jaya kkara. Mr. Punchinila nus his beard, has Mahara Prison unde conditions,
Previously, the oti ing former Ratnapu Ratnatilleke and Pu guards had surrendel Colombo Magistrate. The Magisterial in of MP Nalanda Elaw stable Jayasena is no Ratnapura Magistrate istrate Arjuna Ranasir two principal accus Punchinilame have as shifted to another
Court, preferably fear for the safety of are taken to Ratnapu no decision in this re. In the meantime, a has been sparked c Constitutional Affairs complaining to the Ch of the role played by t in the Surrender of P. bodyguards.
A press release f istry said that the Mi his deep concern ab factory developme "Firstly, the irregulars the Surrender of th Susantha Punchinila which was presided Magistrate, Jayantha
 
 

es capsized. nt dated 13 March luggage have been ea where 130Tamils ape to India during a .The luggage is now ) relatives of the deam police in Mankuession of the items }rs and next-of-kin of ecover their belong
O
a Punchinilame, one }cts in the Nalanda case, surrendered to mbo on 20 February. ride search instituted ollowing eye witness g that identified him with gun in hand at ent. Dilan Perera MP a when he was shot unchinilame as one he incident. ilame was accompaDeemani Baddewella f up to Acting Magisantha Dias Nanayame, who is now mibeen remanded at r maximum security
ner suspects includra Mayor Mahinda nchinileme's bodyed to Court before a
quiry into the deaths ela and Police Conw proceeding in the s Court before Magghe. Lawyers for the d Ratnatilaka and ced that the case be
Solombo, since they their clients if they a. There has been ard so far.
judicial controversy f with Justice and Minister G.L.Peiris f Justice in respect eacting Magistrate hohinilame and his
m the Justice Minster had conveyed ut certain unsatiss in this regard. uation surrounding principal suspect ne last Thursday ier by Acting Fort bias Nanayakkara,
TAM TIMES 7
Attorney-at-Law. The Self-same Attorney was the Counsel who accompanied two of Punchinilame's security personnel when they surrendered to court last week"
According to the Minister, this was "unseemly and improper and gives rise to an inference of conflict of interest which could have serious repercussions with regard to the public faith in the judicial process.
"Secondly, the manner in which another principal suspect, Mahinda Ratnatilleke, surrendered to the Fort Magistrate last week gives rise to certain important questions which should be answered immediately. The surrender to a Magistrate in a zone far removed from the scene of the incident, the timing of the surrender (around midnight), the question how the Magistrate was informed of the impending surrender and what steps were taken on receipt of such information, are all questions which necessarily arise in this context. The method and manner of the surrender may lead to charges of collusion and conspiracy which could irreparably damage the prestige and the independence of the judiciary, a calamitous occurrence which we all should endeavour to prevent."
Three Dead in Another Plane Crash
Another Sri Lankan military plane crashed during take-off at an air base near Colombo on 21 February killing three persons and injuring 36 others. The Russian-made AN-32 plane with 59 passengers, including a four member crew, veered off the runway before crashing into a marshy patch at Ratmalana airbase, 11 km (seven miles) south of Colombo, around 10.45 a.m. (0.445 GMT), according to a military spokesՈՅՈ,
Following the crash, Sri Lanka's air force has temporarily grounded its remaining four Russian-made Antonov-32 transport planes to carry out safety checks. The latest crash Was the third incident involving an air force plane this year. In January, a Chinese-built Y-12 airplane went missing off northern Sri Lanka while on a surveillance mission. its crew of four was never found. A few days later, an Israeli-built Kfir fighter jet fell into the sea shortly after taking off from an air force base at Katunayake, north of Colombo, due to suspected mechanical failure. The pilot ejected to safety. Also in January, an unmanned air force drone, used for reconnaissance was lost over the northern Jaffna peninsula, 320 km (200 miles) north of Colombo.
Air Vice-Marshal Anslem Peiris, the

Page 8
8 AMIL TIMES
air force chief of staff, told reporters at the site that the plane was on its way to Palaly, a key military base in northern Jaffna, and the crew had decided to abort the flight just as it was about to take off. No reason was given as to why the crew decided to abort the flight. The plane, which cracked in the middle, was removed in two Sections to a hangar for investigations. Denying that the plane's loss was likely to affect the ongoing military operations, Peiris however admitted that the air force had lost several planes in the recent past, "We don't foresee any major problems. We have enough planes to see us through." He said the air force had two British-built Avros, nine Chinese-built Y12 aircraft and 11 Russian-made M-17 transport helicopters that could be used to ferry troops and Supplies to key northern bases till the AN-32's are pushed back into service.
Analysts in Colombo said that the loss of so many aircraft in such a shot time represented a serious loss to island's relatively small airforce. The airforce has lost seven transportplanes, one transport helicopter, two fighter aircraft and one unmanned drone since the War resumed in April 1995 after a 100-day truce was broken by the LTTE.
ICRC Help to End Tamil-MuslimViolence
The International Committee of the Red Cross(ICRC) said on 28 February that it had initiated talks between the minority Muslim and Tamil communities in Sri Lanka's east in an attempt to end communal violence there.
Sri Lankan police have launched a nation-wide crackdown on unlicensed guns to in an effort to curb the rising tide of political violence in the context of the forthcoming local elections. As the launch commenced, the government offered a one-week amnesty 26 February for persons to surrender illegal firearms and explosives, after warning that illegal ownership could bring the death penalty.
More than 1,000 police and army personnel have been conducting the raids on people suspected of possessing illegal firearms, Mohammed Nizam, deputy inspector-general of the police, crimes branch, told the press,
The crackdown came after the government of President Chandrika Kumaratunga announced recently it planned to tighten laws to bring gun-carrying political activists to justice.
"We have already taken into custody a number of unauthorised firearms and several people who had them in their pos
i Policielaunch GIGrac
The ICRC said arranged a meeti community leaders tary leaders of the gers of Tamil Eela took place on 27 Batticaloa district a recent communal C "For the first tin ers of the Muslim LT TE leaders in th want to help boths lems and allay fea ICRC spokesman give details of the Muslims and three killed in clashes in month, according it Astatementissi litical head of Battic ing Tamill-Muslim t Said that there Was fort among military ing affinity betweer Muslims and fre ing made by Sri Lal in the past few mor Vocative incidents military forces to ti harmony, Most ri shelled a Muslim vil put out word it was Similar stage-mana expected in the ful tween Tamils and Continues to harde cal head emphasis and Muslims to W. stand these siniste building on the st exists at present."
session"Nizam sa people have volur large number of ur he added.
The defence r body found posses oran offensive wea thority could face jail term of up to 2C ed with the offence for bail. "These reg Nizam said, "We a lic and those who there are strict gu and punishment' them is severe."
Nizam said it w exact figures of th people in police cu eration was still C tinue our program thorised gun is in Politicians anc Lanka own a large
 
 

15 MARCH 1997
a statement it had g between Muslim ndpoliticalandmilirebel Liberation Ti(LTTE). The talks ebruary in eastern er several deaths in ashes. e since 1990, leadommunity met with à east:"it said, "We des todiscuss prob's and tensions" an aid. He declined to talks. At least eight Tamils have been atticaloa district this cal Sources. led by the LTTE's poaloa-Amparai followlks on 27 February "mounting discomcircles about growTamils and Antic efforts were behka to sabotage this. ths a number of prolave been'staged'by y and generate dise cently, Sri Lanka age and immediately the Work of the LTTE. ged incidents can be ure as empathy beMuslims in the East in. The LTTE's politied the need forTamils ork together to withefforts and continue rong friendship that
O
d. "Upon hearing this, tarily surrendered a authorised firearms."
inistry said that anysing guns, explosives pon without lawful auhe death penalty or a years. People chargwould not be eligible ulations are not neW" e reminding the publossess firearms that laws in this country }r those who violate
as not possible to give e number of guns or tody because the op. "We intend to conhe until the last unau-ustody," he said.
political activists in Sri lumber of guns, many
of them unlicensed, to guard themselves against possible attack upon them.
With only about 750 weapons voluntarily handed over, the government's amnesty for the surrender of illegal weapons was extended until March 15, the Defence Ministry said on 5 March. About 17Ofirearms have been seized since police launched a nationwide crackdown to curb political violence ahead of March 21 local government elections, it added. O
A JVP delegation including Propaganda Secretary Winal Weerawansa, met with officials at the US embassy in Colombo this week. Reports say that the JVP's meeting with US officials in Colombo meant to re-assure them of the movement's commitment to democratic politics.
The JVP delegation has also informed the US embassy officials that the human rights of their members were being violated, and urged the US embassy to bring the matter to the attention of the international community. The JVP alleges that its members islandwide are being subjected to heightened surveillance and harassment in the run-up to the local government elections.
Political observers in Colombo say that the JVP's visit to the US embassy is a sign of a major change in its politics. In the past, the JVP which portrayed itself as arch enemy of American imperialism, shunned any link with US offi. cials.The only known instance in the pas was in 1988 when Prins Gunasekera, ; lawyer and then described as prominer JVP supporter and lawyer, was accom, panied to the airport by the Political Affairs officerat Colombo's American embassy when Mr. Gunasekera fled the Country,
Meanwhile, on February 19, the Supreme Court held that the "purported expulsion' of JVP MP Nihal Galappathty from the Sri Lanka Progressive Front was invalid. Thus Mr. Galappaththy will continue as the sole representative of the SLPF in Parliament. O
"In the arts of peace, Man is a bungler... I know his clumsy typewriters and bungling locomotives and tedious bicycles: they are toys compared to the Maxim gun, the submarine, torpedo boat. There is nothing in Man's industrial machinery but his greed and sloth; his heart is in his weapons. This marvelous force of life which you boast is a force of Death; Man measures his strength by his destructiveness."
- George Bernard Shaw, Man and Superman

Page 9
15 MARCH 1997
IN BRIEF
CRACKDOWN ONLLEGAL VIDEO PARLOURS: The Sri Lankan government is to impose heavy penalties under Emergency Regulations on illegal video pardours and jackpot centres in and around Colombo. Officials said on 13 March that the regulations have become necessary as these parlours and jackpot centres have been enticing young schoolgirls and boys as revealed in recent police raids. In certain areas it is reported that girls and boys are paid large sums of money to participate in pornographic films.
Under the Emergency Regulations, the fine for those displaying pornographic material in video parlours or those operating ackpot centres will be fined Rs 100,000 (1,800 US dollars) or an imprisonment term extending from 2 to 10 yea- rs. The regulation also permits the confiscation and destruction of equipment found on the premises.
According to the police, already 130 persons have been arrested from 104 Such places which violated these prohibitions. These include 25 video parlours and 79 jackpot centres.
ULLATIVU BATUE FILM:The LTTE has been showing to the public in the Vanni area under their control and abroad a film of the "Mullaitivu Battle" in which it overran amaor military camp killing over 1200 troops and taking away a large quantity of weapons. In London and many western capitals, the film has been shown in cinemas hired for the occasion during weekends attended by expatate Tamils.
in a statement issued from its London office on 19 February, the LTTE said, "Film footage of last July's Mullaitivu battle in which the TTE overran amassive SriLankan miliary base is now available to the people of Tamil Vanni. Operation "CeaselessWaves" is depicted here in all its military splendour from the planning stage to its actual conduct. The footage - which also shows Sri ankanair-seareinforcementsbeing meticuously repelled-illustrates decisively that the TTE is today a highly disciplined and proessional army in its prime. It also makes diculous Sri Lanka's insistence that the LTTE is reduced or spent force. The LTTE Tras always been open about its military osses as well as Successes. The release of such video footage to the public demonstrates an openness in military matters ashich contrasts sharply with the Sri Lankan government's regular concealment of miliany news and casualty figures from its own
bopulation."
NEW MNSTER FOR BUDOSIST AFFAIRS:The Ministry of Buddhist Affairs will soon come under the purview of Prime Minsaer Sirimavo Bandaranaike. At present it s under the President. This is a step that Tras been taken following the conflicts that "ame arisen between the President and sen
ior members of the Bu Cent months.
The resignation, it eight Chief monks fron sory Council of Buddhi the growing tension be and some leading sec clergy. The relative in President, sources say for the Buddhist prelate sidelined by the presen
LTTE RECORDS CO MEMBERS: "Students gravitating to the LTT numbers. Every day thi of new recruits, with
(Mullaitivu) currently ge rate of new cadres. T| among students seems has to be secured fror before any meaningful e the TTE said in a state
ary.
PEACE-WEEK iN SCH try of Education has de March 3 - 10 as the "Pea is. Events organised on Peace Education unit of cation are aimed at pr and Solidarity amongs teachers of different eth
The absence of soc teraction among Sinhala students in Schools is s specialists as a majorar year, the Minister of Edu setting up of separate multi-ethnic areas in the
Meanwhile, the Pres sidering plans to introdu to the school curriculum
JAPAN AID FOR LAN Japan is to provide a 38 lars loan package for
Lanka. Among the projec cations network expan: Colombo metropolitan
million US dollars. Abo dollars will be spent to
weli system C, a multi pu North Central province. tion dollars will be spent industry leadership and motion in the country. To c of the Baseline project i of 28 million US dollars balance 79.1 million US on transportand the Kalt ply project for the Colom from Colombo said. Las vided some 333 million Lanka under a similar lo
WAVUNYAKILLINGS: killed by unidentified ass come from the North. O body of 32 year oldman niya. He had been shot days later, Soosai Laksh was found dead near
Vavuniya. He had also be gled. Some reports indica
 
 

TAMIL TIMES 9
dhist sangha in re
last December, of the Supreme AdviAffairs highlighted Neen the President ons of the Buddhist |ccessibility of the was a major reason to feel ignored and government.
ITINUED RISE IN in Tamil Vanni are 's ranks in record re arrives a stream Puthukudiyir-uppu herating the highest le general opinion to be that freedom occupying troops lucation can begin." ment on 19 Febru
IOOS: The Minisclared the week of ce Weekforschoothe initiative of the the Ministry of Eduomoting interaction tudents and school nic groups. ial or personal ina,Tamil and Muslim een by educational ea of concern. Last cation deplored the ethnic schools in country. ident's office is conсе реаce education
KAN PROJECTS: 5.9 milion US dolsix projects in Sri its, a telecommunision project in the area will cost 128 ut 36.8 million US upgrade the Mahapose project in the A sum of 114 milor small and micro entrepreneur proOmplete phase two Colombo, a sum will be spent. The ollars will be spent Ganga watersupbo region, reports t year, Japan proUS dollars to Sri n package.
eports of persons ailants continue to
February 21, the was found in Vavund strangled. Two man, youth of 22, he CWE store in 2n shotandstrane that he had been
an inmate of a transit camp in Vavuniya.
Over the past year there have been several incidents of shooting, abduction and murder in and around the town of Vavuniya which have gone unsolved. This is at least partly due to the heavily militarised situation in the town with several armed Tamil groups being actively involved in policing the area, in addition to the presence of the Police and the army.
WB PROVIDES AID FOR ROADS: The World Bank and the Asian Development Bank have agreed to provide 87.72 million US dollars to Sri Lanka to help it upgrade its road network islandwide, Transport Department sources in Colombo said. The aid will be mainly to improve the country's infrastructure facilities so as to attract foreign investors. Although Sri Lanka carried out an open economy from 1977, it has failed to meet the requirements of foreign investors. Many foreign investors complained that the Sri Lanka's road network islandwide was undeveloped, the sources added. There are over 12,000 kilometres of roadway islandwide but most of them were constructed 50 years ago and required to be rehabilitated.
PADAVIYA ARMYPOSTATTACKED: The LTTE in a statement issued on 5 March said, "Five Sri Lankan soldiers were killed yesterday when the LTTE simultaneously attacked an army post and a roadblock at Padaviya, east of Vavuniya. Sri Lankan troops fled from the scene without resistance leaving the dead behind. The LTTE suffered no casualties and captured rifles, pistols and other accessories. The Padaviya positions attacked were part of a string of army camps strategically placed by Sri Lanka to create a physical barrier between northern Tamilterritories and eastern ones."
UK SUPPORT FOR REHABILITATION: The British Government has granted 4 million pounds sterling to support Oxfam and Save the Children Fund's (SCF) Relief and Rehabilitation Programme (RRP) in Sri Lanka, a statement from the Overseas Development Administration Division of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said on 5 March,
This money will be used over the next four years to assist up to 200,000 people most affected by the ongoing civil conflict in Sri Lanka. The programme concentrates on meeting the needs of women, children and the most disadvantaged people in society, whatever their ethnic background. Funds will be used to reduce Suffering by meeting immediate relief needs such as Water and shelter, as well as providing for the longer term by helping community organisations to cope with living through conflict. RRP will assist in rebuilding basic infrastructure, improving access to health services and education and
promoting agricultural production.
The programme is implemented by Oxfam & SCF with the support and co-operation of the Government of Sri Lanka, intemational and local aid agencies, and many community based organisations. A further contribution of,500,000 has been agreed to (Continued on next page)

Page 10
O TAMIL TIMES
THE TAMIL-MUSLIMD PAOTOP FIOTION
by Sathya
The unstable Tamil-Muslim relations in Batticaloa-Amparideteriorated further with the killing of a Muslim homeguard at Oddamavadiand retaliatory attacks against Tamil civilians by Muslim mobs. The cycle of violence reached acrescendo when mortar shells were fired into Muslim villages in the vicinity of Valaichenai from "unknown" quarters, The ICRC mediated a meeting last week, between local LTTE leaders and representatives of the Muslims, amidst much publicity. According to an ICRC press release, its main concern "were the civilian victims and would endeavour to ensure that both communities mutually understand each other and live peacefully, as they have been doing in the past".
The LTTE, in turn, issued a press release signed by "Geethan"the Political Secretary for Batticaloa-Amparai, stressing on the need formutual trust and understanding between the Tamil and Muslim communities. While accusing "third parties" with vested interests in creating Tamil-Muslim discord, a pointed reference to the security forces, the press release went on to emphasise that anyone who turns their guns against their struggle is an enemy - irrespective of whether that person is a Sinhalese, familor Muslim. The LTTE statement also called on the Muslim community to extend their unstinted
(Continued from page 9)
support the International Committee of the Red Cross's work in Sri Lanka. This will be paid in two instalments of,250,000, in March and July of 1997.
The total British aid to Sri Lanka in 1995/ 96 was 14.6 million, of which 6.5 million was provided through the Commonwealth Development Corporation (CDC).
RICHARD DE ZOYSA REMEMBERED: February 18 marked the 7th anniversary of the death of journalist Richard de Zoysa. The Working Journalists' Association held a seminar at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute, which was adodressed by journalists and by D.E.W. Gunasekera, present Chairman of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation. Another seminar was held at the Public Library, Colombo.The Movement for Peace Freedom and Democracy organised a public meeting at Hyde Park in Colombo, which was addressed by Batty Weerakoon and journalist Sunil Madhava Prematilaka, among others. Dr. Manorani Saravanamuttu, mother of Richard de Zoysa, participated in all three events.
The ruling People's Alliance also marked February 18 with a one-page advertisement in the newspapers pointing to its human rights record and pledging"Richard, we built the World of Human Freedom you desired. We commitourselves to strengthening it further.
support and co-operati The initiative taken the Tamil-Muslim divide ensuring that civilians laudable. Similarly, the LTTE, taken at face ve forward. However, it is r tory of ethnic relations i forward to be followed wards. Hence, it is imp a closerlook into them Tamil-Muslim relations ince, if the process of c tained.
The traditional ar. Tamils and Muslims in overlap - demographica This is particularly so caloa and Amparai. M. ges are in turn surroundC lim villages. Commerc rod-tenant relations in a own ethnic identities a actions. Accord and c and confrontation, ge characteristic of Tamilis part and parcel of soc aeaS.
The common bond economic inter-depen ties. But this did not p eas of conflict and dis| commerce and tenurial tion a heavy dose of stemming from cultura religion. This was the r So how did traditic lations, based on "confl biosis, deteriorate to th blood-letting and orgie other? Was it inherent Muslim relations or wá nipulation of vested ir answer this problem, to take a short trekba Towards the endo Ponnambalam Ramana the Ceylon Branch of ciety that the Muslims c “ethnologically"Tamil. of this Columnist to er Suffice it to say, toda) Muslims in the Eastern tify themselves with th speaking people" whic the Federal party durir pass the Muslims in th a common Tamil ident and other Tamil politic since ceased using the ing" and, refer, instead lim peoples in public S in negotiations relating the unit of devolution now out of the vocabul ism. The fact that Ge

VIDE:
I?
on to their struggle. | by ICRC in bridging and, in particular, in are not affected, is response from the lue, is a major step Iot unusual in the hisn Sri Lanka for a step by two steps backrative that one takes ulti-faceted nature of in the Eastern Provlialogue is to be sus
eas of habitation of che Eastern Province lly and economically, in the case of Battiuslim and Tamil villaled by Tamil and Mus:e as well as landlogriculture have their S Well as class interliscord, coexistence nerally speaking, is Muslim relations and ;ial existence in these
age, traditionally, was dence and linguistic reclude localised arpute in the sphere of relations, not to menethnic stereo-typing diversities based on eality then. nal Tamil-Muslim reicting unity" and symepoint of unleashing s of violence on each and intrinsic to Tamills it the artificial materests? In order to t may be necessary ck in time. f the last century, Sir atham claimed before he Royal Asiatic Soif the North-East, are, It is not the intention ter into this debate. , the majority of the Province do not idenle concept of"Tamilsh was advanced by Ig the 50's to encome project of moulding ity. In fact, the TULF a parties, have long term "Tamil-speakto the Tamil and Mustatements as well as to the vexed issue of "famil-speaking" is ary ofTamil nationalethan, the Political
15 MARCH 1997
Secretary of the LTTE in Battilitical Secretary of the LTTE in Batti-Amparai, told the Muslim representatives that necessary steps would be taker after consulting the "elders" in the adjoiningTamil villages is also indicative of LTTE's perception of the Muslims as the "other".
Equally untenable is the claim made by Lalith Athulathmudali in an address before the Razick Fareed Foundation in 1986, that for the Muslims"Tamil is the language of religion, Sinhala is the language of commerce and English is the language of education" and that the Muslims had been "treated with tolerance" by the Sinhalese. But as Quadri Ismail, a journalist Cum academic, rightly pointed out "That statement can of course be disputed; but the point is in the subtext. To the Tamils who resist Sinhala hegemony, it says: accept our hegemony and we will stop trying to exterminate you. And to any Muslims who may have difficulties with continuing to accept Sinhala hegemony; if you don't, we will treat you like we have treated the Tamils. The threat, though implicit, can nevertheless be read in this passage. And helps explain why, the Muslim elite consistently feared the same Sinhala state it collaborated with" (Cited in Unmaking the Nation, p86, SSApublication, 1995).
The militarisation of the ethnic conflict, particularly following the anti-Tamil riots of 1983, witnessed the formulation of a twopronged politico-military strategy by Colombo. Firstly, the creation of state-sponsored Sinhala settlements, comprising largely of convicts, in the Weli Oya area; and secondly, the militarisation of the Tamil- Muslim divide through the arming of Muslim in the Eastern Province.
The above brought about a violent backlash from the Tamil militant organisations. While, the main targets were the Sinhalese "border villages", there were sporadic clashes between newly formed Muslim militias, armed by the Sri Lankan security- intelligence apparatus, and the Tamil militantorganisations. Since the armed combatants tended to come from the same village or area, these clashes invariably began to manifest itself in primordial loyalties. There were instances of Muslim members of lami militant organisations leaving and joining the Muslim militias and, inevitably, being coopted as informants by the intelligence agencies. This further undermined mutual trust and understanding between the Tamil and Muslim communities.
The subsequent brutal attacks against worshippers in Mosques in the East and the dastardly policy of "ethnic cleansing" leading to the forced expulsion of Muslims from Jaffna and Mannar by the LTTE, following the outbreak of the Eelam War 2 in June 1990, took Tamil-Muslim relations to the edge of the volcano. Violence aside, what is relevant is that the LTTE branded the Muslims as "fifth columnist". OtherTamil militant groups, which later joined the political mainstream, were themselves notaverse to perverse forms of ethnic cleansing. The perception that Muslims were collaborators was, indeed, convenient to settle festering localised conflicts and ethnic prejudices.
Coming back to last week's ICRC-me
(Continued on page 29)

Page 11
15 MARCH 1997
PEACE PROCESS THE NEED FORA COMPLET BYSTAGE APPROACHT T|+|E|M|(IMETIMI[}(E(I)
By V Ambalavanar
... BACKGROUND
(1) Unity
We all know that the earth on which we are living is round. Therefore, if two persons travel in opposite directions, they should meet again somewhere on the earth. Many years ago, our Geography teacher explained this with the aid of a small globe. Such travel could be North to South, East to West or any different direction. Some of us may have studied this a long time ago, like me. Others may have studied this recently. Many may have forgotten about it. Others may still remember this, Why cannot those of us who live on an earth like ours find consensus from seemingly opposing viewpoints? If We could successfully achieve consensus from seemingly different positions, most of our problems could be easily resolved. in Sri Lanka, like in many developing countries, the joint family system prevailed for a long time. In a changing world, where the young family units preferred to have greater independence so that they could have more responsibilities andauthority, the joint family system started to change. The tradition of pooling all the resources together and younger family units receiving allocations from the head of the joint family for their individual needs changed gradually to accommodate greaterfreedom of operation for the younger families. However, the desire to get togetherfor common benefits still remain in our family system.Thus, in the interest of family unity, we have learnt to accommodate greater freedom and flexibility of operation for individual family units. If we can Successfully adopt new arrangements in our own homes, there is no reason why we cannot adopt new arrangements in running our Government.
(2)The Mandate for Peace
The Presidential elections held in November 1994 confirmed in an emphatic manner the wish of the people to end the war, bring about peace to the country through negotiation and abolish the Executive Presidential system. In the Presidential election campaign, one of most striking posters which appeared in all
CornerS of the Cour ing the photograph Candidate with a w peace). Avast maj lieved that peace w achieved and the through which it wi
The candidate polled a total of 4,7 nst 2,715,283 vote date of the United other four candidat poli even 151,706 v invalid votes. In terr candidate of the against 35.91% po didate. The manda very clear. Further, 96.35% of those W district voted for p high percentages v districts of Battica (85,30%), Digamaç malee (71.62%), Gampaha (64.74% vides aclear indica minority communit People's Alliance tc the country through
The LTTE did the people, especi Muslims. In 1994, th previous Governme War without achievi the responsibility c bring about peace The people did nic blame others and i should be clearly ur ernment and others
(3) Need for Chan in the Form of Go
The populatio around 8 million wr ence about half present population i that figure. Our Gro has increased more during this period. expenditures of th shown increases sir in the case of the G uct. Such changes ties and sectors whe

TAM TIMES 11
ES: DENO
FCT
try was the one showof the PAPresidential hite pigeon (symbol of ority of the people beas very close to being PA was the vehicle be achieved. f the People's Alliance 09,205 votes as agais polled by the candiNational party. The es put together did not which is the number of ns of percentages, the °A polled 62,28% as lled by the UNP Cante for peace was thus it was also noted that ho voted in the Jaffna eace symbol. Similar Nere witnessed in the loa (87.30%), Vanni iulla (72.36%), TrincoColombo (64.82%), ) and so on. This proation that the national ies looked up to the bring about peace to negotiation. hot seek the Votes of lly the Tamils and the he people rejected the nt which continued the ng peace. Hence, itis if the Government to through negotiation. t give a mandate to htensify the war. This lderstood by the Gov
ges
ernment h of Sri Lanka was en we got independa century ago. The s more than two times SS Domestic Product than a hundred times Recurrent and capital e Government have hilar to that witnessed ross Domestic Prodin the several activire the people and the
Government have to interact mean that we also need to have a form of Government that will facilitate close interaction. hence, there clearly exists a need to create major Government focal points away from the centre.
In the above background, the creation of Governmental institutions at the Provincial Council's system have put forward two major arguments against it.
The first one has really emerged from the way the system got introduced as an alternative to separation. It is unfortunate that a system that could have been easily justified on the basis of catering to the need for a Governmentcloser to the people got introduced in the above manner, and thus was branded as a move towards separation by those who fail to understand the need for such a system in a changing situation.
The second major argument against the Provincial Councils is based on costs. The origins of this reasoning are difficult to trace. However, if we note that the ProVincial Councils are institutions which cut across the line of authority from the centre that a sizable section of the central political and administrative authorities have been unhappy about, then it will not be difficult to understand the problem better. An explanation for the unhappiness with the Provincial Councils stems from the uncomfortable situation of lack of Suficient authority which many top political and administrators at the centre have to face. Rectification of such situations calls for either duplication of staff and infrastructure which adds to the costs or the creation of positions in the Provinces, Districts and Divisions, the holders of which are subject to dual control by the centre and the Provinces,
Now that the opposition has come in these forms, it will be desirable to take note of them and work out a basis on which they could be countered. Devolution which places the responsibilities and authorities in a more compatible manner in the Provinces or Regions not only brings Governmental centres closer to the people but also eases the pressures of the type referred to at the centre.
Even at the centre, people's wishes were carried out in a shared manner by the Parliament and the Senate during the first two decades after independence. The first move towards concentration of political power at the centre took place during the period 1970-1977 when the Senate was abolished. Further concentration of power at the centre, this time in the hands of the Executive President, took place in 1978. As stated earlier, the PA promised to abolish the Executive Presidential system. While considering changes to the Executive Presidential system, it is therefore relevant to bring to focus the need for a second chamber like the Senate, though different in composition,

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12 TAMIL TIMES
to ensure that the Parliament itself will not become a body where power is over-concentrated. If such a change takes place, the people will have the Senators, as a second set of representatives, to act as a counterweight whenever Parliament tends to become too authoritarian,
(4) Attitudes of Political parties
Despite the initial objections, the political parties have gradually accepted the changes introduced to take the Government closer to the people. For example, the Sri Lanka Freedom party which originally opposed the Provincial Council's System has since accepted the system. We are also witnessing situations where the Government Party at the centre and the controlling party at the Provincial Council turn out to be different. The party rivalry and the confrontation attitudes developing from time to time between the centre and the provinces have brought to focus the need for more clarity in terms of powers as well as subjects,
The most vociferous opponents of the Provincial Councils are the smaller parties among the majority community, and certain individuals from the same Community holding narrow nationalistic views. Opposition to the system also comes from certain sections of the clergy who feel threatened in the changed situation. Similar attitudes could be seen among certain professional groups, who, like sections of the clergy, feel threatened.
As regards provision of more mechanisms for exercising people's wishes at the centre, the PA is for the abolition of the Executive Presidential system. However, the sense of urgency pledged during the election campaigns of 1994 does not appear to be evident now. The Second chamber similar to the Senate does not appear to have much support among the parties represented in the Parliament except the parties of the national minorities.
I DIEWOLUTION
(1)Weaknesses of Decentralisation
Reference was made to taking Government closer to the people and the ProVincial Councils in the earlier Section.The attempt to take the Government closer to the people through the Provincial Councils and the Divisional Secretariats Could be best described as decentralisation efforts. The Governments which introduced and operated them during the initial seven years, in fact believed in a centralised system through a Presidential form of Government. It is therefore, not surprising that the exercises took the form of decentralisation and not devolution.
All those who are against the Presidential System should also realise that the real need at the moment is not only a
shift away from the but also a move aW. based Centralised St jor youth insurgenc South of Sri Lankac five years provide
this. The unfortunat District Councils oft North-East Provincia uthern Provincial C vious Governmenta Provincial Council a wa Provincial Coun Government clearly nesses of the decent introduced through cil's System. Even s blems faced by Me with the Decentralis long period it has bei be largely attributec of the decentralisati
(2) The Devolution
of the Gov ert
The present Go the devolution packa a move to solve the the time it was annot mments on the del have appeared in th been discussed ind ings. However, ther ture which is Worth n ns of the majority co at the package as al ration and hence m tions viewed the pac
When the Gover legal draft in Janual fore, not surprisingt package going befo Select Committee.T ties which supportec to be living in hope mittee process coulc some of the change legal document. The has maintained the make its views know mittee to help evolve
Under the bac above, if the politica significant progress the revised package is necessary conce concerned should ir made to view the pa a devolution packa process could be ut nic problem then we ut it and try to lool and features that W on of the Ethnic pi that the Tamils are a ningful devolution pí approval and imple lution package will in diversity.

15 MARCH 1997
Presidential System y from the Colombo ucture. The two maes witnessed in the uring the last twenty nough evidence of experiences of the he early eighties, the Council and the Souncil under the prenod the North Central nd the Sabara gamucil under the present bring out the weakalised arrangements the Provincial Counme of the major prombers of Parliament ied Budget over the an in operation, could to the weaknesses on process itself.
Package
ment rernment announced ge in August 1995 as Ethnic problem. From unced, numerous Cotails of the package he media. It has also etail in several meete is one striking fea|oting. Certain sectiommunity have looked halternative to sepaany of their contribuckage with suspicion.
nment annouficed the y 1996, it was thereofinda watered down re the parliamentary he Tamilpolitical parthe package appear that the Select Combe utilised to reverse s made in the revised United National Party a position that it will wn in the Select Com2 devolution of power.
:kground described parties wish to make on devolution through , anattitudinal change rning the package. All the first instance, be ackage objectively as ge. If the devolution lised to solve the Ethshould be happy abok for those elements ill help in the resolutioblem. To the extent nxious to have a meaackage in position, the mentation of a devohelp to achieve unity
UNITS OF DEVOLUTION (1)The Present Position
Ironically, the devolution package and the revised legal document have not defined the units of devolution. It may be noted that the way the Subject has been approached to date has contributed to this sad situation. An objective analysis is necessary to help arrive at a consensus. Under the Thirteenth Amendment to the present Constitution, nine Provincial Units have been defined. The merger of the North and East has been brought about by the late President J R Jayawardena using powers under the Emergency Regulations. We all know that this merger has continued during the time of the late President R Premadasa and DB Wijehunge, his successor. Even after more than two years of the new Government's term of office, the merger is still remaining. Up to now, the merger has thus been in effect for over nine years.
(2) Larger UnitsThan Provinces
There appear to be misgivings among certain sections of the majority Sinhalese community that devolving powers to Provincial, Regional or other units will pave the way for separation. If this fear is not to be aggravated, the definition of new units of devolution should be such as to convince them that the creation of larger units than the existing Provinces is in fact a uniting process. This will become acceptable if the resolution of the North-East problem in this process will also allay fears of separation.
(3)The DifferentViews on the Merger of the North and East
Several different views on this matter have been widely discussed for many years in the past. A careful examination of the arguments for and against the merger brings out the contrasting views held by leaders of the majority and minority communities. The majority of Sinhalese leaders have been opposed to the merger. The Tamil leaders have been of the firm view that the merger should be left undisturbed.The Muslim leaders have been insisting that Muslim identity should be preserved and their rights, safety and security guaranteed.
(4) The PositionTaken by the Government and Others
in the Election Manifesto and in the Package of August 1995, the People's Alliance Government has indicated that boundaries of the North-East Province will be adjusted to resolve the 'merger' issue The Tamil politicians and intelligentsia have been consistently insisting that the Northern and Eastern Provinces where Tamils have been living for generations should remain merged in any solution to the ethnic problem. The present Muslim leadership has been insisting that the Muslims should be provided with a sepa

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15 MARCH 997
rate region. The Government has now left the mater to the Select Committee in Parliament to decide how the issue is to be resolved,
(5) Promotion of Unity and the Relevance of Larger Regions
in the above background, if national unity is to be promoted then the desirable thing to do is to create larger and multi-ethnic Regional Units in place of the existing Provincial Units and make them work properly and effectively. The ordinary people should also be properly informed by the leaders that the attempted system is to move away from the Provincial Units and create multi-ethnic Regional Units. In order to achieve this, the proposed package should contain provisions for the merger of two or more Provinces. Initial mergers could be Western-Southern, Northern-Eastern, North CentralNorth Western, and Central-Sabaragamuwa-Uva. While attempting to do this, it will not be prudent to waste time with major changes of Provincial boundaries (certainly not changes on ethnic basis). The creation of such multi-ethnic regions and the proper functioning of Regional Units will gradually make people realise that We are all children of the same motherland.
We must realise that We should strive for unity in diversity under the present circumstances. The successful resolution of the several issues also depends on Our patience and tolerance. As time passes by and when wounds are healed, there will be possibilities of further mergers as the country is put on the accelerated development path. We should learn from the emerging trends in the World in the form of unions of Countries belonging to regions for common benefits. The success of the above approach depends particularly on the leaders of the majority community,
(6)The Case of the North and East
If we are to look for ConsenSUS and work towards unity and reduction of overhead costs, then we should go for "Regional Units' which are greater than or equal in size to the corresponding "Provincial Units'. In what follows, some options are discussed briefly, keeping the objectives of consensus, unity and costs as overriding criteria. Since the Regions other than the North-East Region have not generated much controversy, the options are confined to some possibilities in the North-East Region. This has been developed to inform the Sinhalese Public in particular that the merger of the North and East is not as badas many Sinhalese leaders make it out to be. On the Contrary, if the Sinhalese wish to preserve unity, they should promote the merger and work for the success of a multi-ethnic North-East Regional Unit instead of looking out for other options which will lead to divisive tendencies. Certainly a Tamil
majority North-E
far better than th
fict. (a) Continuatio Temporary Mer Tamils includ tants are asking native to separatic reduce militancy multi-ethnic Regi will be almost imp Unit to either pave or organise arme notice of the centr, as duplication ol would be kept to a
(b) Continuation After Excising A and Attaching itt itto Uva
There may be to either make simi or Create separate ity groups. (eg Sinh North-East and M. plantation Tamils).
(c) Adopting Optic Modification to C Region for the Mu Chances of Con Fragmentation on Crease. There will b ethnic based units e try also. Overhead (
(d) Separate Regio Fast
Fragmentation c crease. Besides the Unit in the North the tation for two more U. nated by Tamil spea Consensus is diffic ing in increased se Overhead costs will under Option (a).
Considering the Option (a) is the be only achieve 'Unity pave the way for gre; understanding amo will be living in multiGroups which advoc ficult to make the si they claim the cent over the years. By ag the Muslims will no Will of the Tamils b for enhanced press second stage referre Sure could be exert the Region simult proper arrangemen tain their identity. Th country could cha rather than destruct ing in parts of the c From the pointo jor communities, a mr

Regional Unit is also rolonged violent con
f the Present
as a Permanent ex-militants and milithis as a viable alterIf implemented, it will
a great extent. In a
al Unit such as this, it sible for the Regional he way for separation struggle without the Overhead costs such stablishment costs ninimum.
f the Merger para Electorate Uva aridattaching”
ressures from others ar arrangements and/ units for other minorlese elsewhere in the Islims as well as the
in (b) with a Further reate a South-East slims sensus will decrease. ethnic basis will ine more pressures for lsewhere in the councosts will increase.
ns for the North and
in ethnic basis will inpredominantly famil re is likely to be aginits in the East domiing representatives. it to achieve resultparatist tendencies. be higher than those
above, it is clear that tone which will not Diversity' but also er co-operation and g communities who thnic environments. te this Willfindit difne mistakes which has been making being to the merger, inly gain the goodalso pave the Way es by them in the to below. This presat the Centre and eously to secure hat will help mainfforts of the entire e to constructive efforts as prevailtry at present. ew of all three maed North-Eastwill
TAMIL TIMES 13
mean that the united decision of their ASsembly will have greater chances of acceptance by the centre. A single community cannot have dominance over others because of the combined strength of the other two. Through the process, the dominance of militant groups will also recede because such groups will have little to quarrel about. The threat of central intervention rather than actual intervention will be a deterrent to any serious violations of law and order.
IV ATWO STAGE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS ON DEVOLUTION AND RELATED MATTERS
(1) The Process Which Reflects the Principles of Devolution
It could be reckoned that the present devolution package that is before the Select Committee of Parliament is one which has been prepared mainly at central level. We could consider this to be Stage 1. After obtaining the necessary approval by Parliament,
Regional Units which are greater than or equal in size to the corresponding Provincial Units could be set up and allowed to function for One or two terms.
While ensuring the above, Stage 2 in the decision-making process should be set in motion where the respective Regional Units are given the opportunity to prepare detailed reports about the way their Units should function to cater to the Region's aspirations and needs. Such reports should be submitted to the Devolution Commission, the details about which are given in a later section of this paper. After discussing these reports, a consensus could be arrived at to Cater for the aspirations and needs of the Regions with reference to changes that are necessary to the Devolution Package as well as the unit or units of devolution. The Devolution Commission should examine the reports in detail and report to Parliament about the improvements to the devolution package. While going through this process, the specialities of individual Units should also be adequately looked after. The reporting process should adhere to previously agreed schedules. Parliament should examine in detail all these reports and make final decisions to complete Stage 2.
By this process a solution which is satisfactory from the point of view of the Centre as well as the Regions could be achieved. If necessary, the process could be confined to only certain thorny issues. During this five or ten years, the wounds of the past are likely to disappear as the country progresses on the development path. In this manner, there is room for further changes through Stage 3, Stage 4 etc. to suit the circumstances.
Having taken note of the relevance of devolution for Sri Lanka to cater to the increases in population and production and

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14 TAMILTMES
the expansion of Government activities as well as the growing discontent in the South with the centralised structure based in Colombo, We have Suggested the appropriate units of devolution and the stage by stage approach that may be adopted to bring about the changes to accommodate the Regional aspirations more explicitly in the decision-making process on devolution. It is now useful to discuss in Some detail the relevance of what has been said so far, to the peace process itself and see what additional steps are needed to help the process. Since we are a country where four major religions guide our individual and collective thinking and actions, let us dwell a little on What the religions Say.
V EXPENSES AND DESTRUCTION
(1)Violence and Religions
Violence hurts and sometimes kills people. It also leads to loss of property, When violent means are adopted to solve problems it leads to more and more violence. The end result is misery to not only the victims of violence but also to those who resort to violence and Several others who are totally unconnected with the process adopted to solve the problems.
History tells us that Emperor Asoka conquered Kalinga with the might of his army despite the advice of the Buddhist clergy that the war would only lead to misery and therefore should not be fought. At the end of the War he saw for himself the horrors of the war. He went through the experience of witnessing the mother of a dead soldier preferring to die of thirst rather than drinking the water provided by the Emperor whose hands were soiled. Moved by this shocking experience the Emperor embraced Buddhism to serve mankind.
Hindus are knowledgeable about the Malabharatha which was shown in the year 1995 over a popular TV channel every week. Yuthishthira asked Lord Krishna to request Dhuryodana to provide at least five houses for him and the brothers to live peacefully. Dhuryodana refused to concede even this request. The resulting war led to the destruction of not only the Gouravas but also everyone else of significance even on the side of the Pandavas, except the five brothers. This was witnessed by us in the Weekly program referred to above.
Sri Lanka was fortunate to receive Emperor Asoka's son Mahinda and daughter Sangamitha as emissaries through whom the majority of the people became Buddhists. The other major religions followed by the people of this country are Hinduism, Christianity and Islam.The fundamentals of all these religions are against violence and war as a means to Solve problems. Yet we have foundourselves in
the midst of a War-lik last thirteen and a majority of us who fo ched by one or the c referred to above ha up in this mess with
The questions th: selves at this stage following the ideals spective religions di and a half years? If n of not following the the situation faced by ter the war on Kaling a situation like the Mahabharatha War' promptus to turn our aspect which also w the discussion in the
(2) Loss of Life
It has been estim Conflict has resultec 60,000 lives. This is a lives per year up to 1 have witnessed sor confrontations in this year history of viole capita income is a Rs. 35,000 per annu of 60,000 persons, at least Rs. 2.1 Billi capacity per year. lf persons at the rate of Will be an additiona 175 Million Worth c every year which cum the nearest and di 60,000 persons to da loss of at east 5,00 year because of the be many times the f The loss is simply in terms. In addition the are partially and perr a result of the confl loss of earning capa
(3) Expenses on W. Our defence exp Government Budge Rs. 25 Billion per yea up to 1994. Since th about Rs. 50 Billion also militant and exspend money on arr expenditure by such never be estimated reckoned to be half a the Government Bud additional Rs. 12.5 country's resources penses on war-like a Since 1994 this cou much higher levels. (4) Relief, Reconstr and Rehabilitation
The Governmer Rs. 10 Billion every y struction and rehabili

15 MARCH 1997
e situation during the half years. The vast llow the ideals preaother of the religions we also been caught no end in sight.
at we should askourare, "Have We been preached by our reuring these thirteen ot, What are the Costs m? Are we close to y Emperor Asoka afa or are We closer to e aftermath of the ?” These questions attention to the costs ill have a bearing on rest of this paper,
hated that the violent in the loss of over approximately 5,000 994. Since then, we me of the bloodiest S thirteen and a half nt conflict. Our per bout US S 600 or Im. Through the loss We have to date lost on worth of earning We continue to lose 5,000 per year, there loss of at east RS of earning capacity mulates over time. For earest, the loss of ate and an estimated 0 more persons per violent conflict will igure quoted above. calculable in money are are persons who manently disabled as ict with consequent
city.
ar-Like Activities enditure through the et has been about rduring recent years en it has shot up to per year. There are militant groups who ns, etc., if the annual groups, which can with any certainty, is is that spent through get, we find about an Billion Worth of the going to meet exactivities every year. ild have gone up to
’uction
it also spends over
fear on relief, recontation. Relatives and
friends of the affected people as well as Non-Governmental Organisations also spend on relief, reconstruction and rehabilitation. The extent is again not easily quantifiable. The contribution of the NonGovernmental Organisations is known to be very high. Considering the further fact that we still have joint family connections and the vast majority of relatives as well as friends are very considerate in helping their nearest and dearest when in need, the resources spent on relief, reconstruction and rehabilitation outside the Government system could be reckoned as at least a further amount of over Rs. 10 Billion per annum. Since 1994, this would have gone up considerably,
(5) Foregone Economic Benefits and Potential Dangers in the Future
Restrictions imposed on economic activities such as fishing, farming, transport, industry, etc. and the destruction of productive resources in the affected areas and elsewhere in the country lead to loss of production and income. Even if this is placed at a modest figure of 5% of the national product, the resulting figure is over Rs. 2.5 Billion. The military hardware and ammunition which are being purchased by both sides are being used for destructive purposes in the North and East. Even long after peace is achieved, if we manage to do so, thousands of unexploded bombs, mines and the like are going to remain in the North and East hidden under the soil and in all Corners of the areas which are being used as hide-outs by the combatants. They, as well as the youth who have been used to the gun culture as a way of life over several years are going to be a potential source of destruction for the people who have to live in such areas in the future,
(6) Liberation
It is often claimed that these violent confrontations are inevitable where non-violent methods have been frustrated. AS noted earlier, about 60,000 persons have died so far as a result of the violence. In addition, Lakhs of people have been displaced. Recent flow of information from areas like Jaffna which are claimed to have been liberated by the Government Security Forces indicate that the violence inflicted on the people by the Security Forces has been on the increase Over time. The liberation that comes out of all this violence include 'liberation of the soul from the body', 'liberation of the limbs from the body', 'liberation from property and other belongings', 'liberation from day to day food', 'liberation from education, jobs and culture', 'liberation from family ties and relatives', etc. We should not forget the quantum of resources needec to rectify the adverse effects of such "liberation' resulting from violence. For how long can the country afford to divert valu. (Continued on next page

Page 15
15 MARCH 1997
By Dr R Sivamohan
he other day I told a knowledgable person, "You Know, Marx has said that materialism, in practice, economics, is the basis of everything".
To that he replied"Jesus has said that you shall not live by bread alone." There is a lot of meaning in my friend's reply,
An understanding of the meaning of this friend's reply should enable one to compare and contrast a Society centred around technology with a society centred around morals.
Fully developed societies centred around technology are found in the west, As Mr Gorbatjev recently said at the UN these societies have run their course. It has come to an end. It has shown that it can support only one third of its population - it can give prosperity to only one third of its population. There is a need in the west therefore to think of alternatives. Mr Gorbatjev also stressed the need to
build Societies centred around morals and
ethics.
Other desirable characteristics of the society centred around morals should be that this society permits recycling of its resources, enables lifelong education and shows permissiveness. As Bertrand Russell said a society must be where persuasion through arguments, not propaganda, is adopted as the means of convincing. It must also be a society where observation and induction, not intuition, are encouraged.
In many of the developing countries,
(Continued from page 14)
able resources towards destructive purposes?
(7)Turning Point
The sooner those who are engaged in violence or promote it, and those who directly or indirectly help such violence realise its damaging and counterproductive consequences, and do away with them as a means to solve problems the faster will a solution to the ethnic problem and consequent development of the country be achieved. If the people and their leaders examine matterS Such as those referred to above and understand the benefits of meaningful devolution of powers, then unity in diversity will be achieved and become a major turning point in our search for a solution to the ethnic problem.
(To be continued in next issue)
“the story of the huma to its essentials; as around the basic rec In such countries, a ciety should ensure life expectancy, a higi infant mortality rate intake. Education, ad adequate food and sh trenched in the funda individuals.
Manx wanted to el tional stereotypes. Eac ue not any one occup ve himselfin manyari man to becorne the f Vidual.
Schizophrenia is a ness one can get in th Where he is so thorou his real nature. Schiz which gives a twisted ds of suffering with de ties with concentration rest lead to Schizop men from humanity, derstand the meaning talism are the causes Man shal! not be a pri he shall be free and b riety of activities and t As a well known S said the meaning off that man makes no un tments to any organi: to movements or org. or States, are conditi principles and consci Professor Mills, fro that Marx believed in therefore infreedom a ons and consequence Einstein has discu of freedom in a remar that one should not c dom to maintain a la health but also have velop his spiritual pov lectual and artistic po sciences help to main good health. Freedom instruction or freedom is essential here to sp achieved in Sciences i the physical quality of To develop the int. tic powers one needs not Work all his awake food and other basic
 

TAMIL TIMES 15
h history is reduced result, it revolves uirements for life". norally centred sohat there is a high | literacy rate, a low and a high calorie quate health care, elter should be enmental rights of the
iminate all occupa:h human is to pursation; he is to involpas. He wanted hully developed indi
psychological sicke capitalist Society ghly alienated from ophrenia is a state reality. Long perioep worries, difficuland difficulties with nrenia. Abstracted mis struggle to unof work under capifor this suffering. soner of anything; e engaged in a vahereby feel young. ocial Scientist has reedom should be conditional commiiation. All loyalties anisations, parties )nal upon his own nCe. m Columbia, Writes uman reason and s one of its conditiS. ssed the meaning cable way. He says nly have the freeng life and good he freedom to deers such as intelvers. Advances in ain a long life and of expression and of communication ead the advances order to improve
an. llectual and artisee time. One canedtime just to find Iecessities of life.
Advances made in technology should provide the man with adequate free time so that he can develop his artistic and intellectual powers. A 6-hour working day is something worth the working class fighting for.
Einstein says that in addition to the above-mentioned freedoms one should also have inward freedom. That is one should be spiritually liberated. Originality in thoughts characterised by the independence of thoughts that are free from authoritarian and social prejudices is of paramount importance, Unphilosophical routinising and habit should reflect in ones thought.
Another evil of capitalism is sexism. The sexism and the use of it in consumer industry through advertisements should be abolished. The advertisements exploit the woman's body to self things. One good example is the car industry. Cars are of ten associated with beautiful Women in the advertisements. Beautiful Women in minimal clothing standing in sexist postures behind glittering products is common in many advertisements.
It is not to say that the advertisements are bad. The advertisements should be both true and arouse curiosity. Moreover they should be informative. The sexist use of a woman's body in advertisements is degrading, especially to women. A woman's body is not any of a businessman's business.
The advertising industry leads the young females to get the idea that the purpose of being a woman is fulfilled by just being an object and a surface. Capitalism which is fundamentally a surface based method tries to capitalise on a woman's body by portraying it as just a surface. Such attitudes finding roots in the minds of the young women, can scarcely be a means of liberating the women from male domination.
Can we have a fully developed morally centred society in this world? Will the capitalists and those who misuse the power permit it? Even the sections of the hierarchical priesthood are after power. Can we achieve a fully developed morally centred society in this world without a radical change in the social structure? it is for example possible to revolutionise a University against the inconsiderate and power hungry Dean and his few followers. The students of that University can be made to understand the real natures of the Dean and his followers.
Leon Trotsky illustrates this task of bringing about a radical change in the sociał structure With the interference Of the midwife in labour pains.
Leon Trotsky also writes that a radical change in the social structure takes place only when there is no other way out. The masses advance and retreat Several times before they make up their minds to the final assault. O

Page 16
16 TAMIL IMES
THE CHOICE IS BET NEGOTATED SOLU OR UNENDING W.
By Dr. S. Narapalasingam
hether by coincidence or design, W the two articles in the T of February 1997, the first written by
K.A.Anandan of the USA, and the second by Devanesan Nesiah constitute a debate the former has called for on "The Choice for famils" in the present situation. Devanesan Nesiah's "Crisis in Sri Lanka: Is there a Way Out?" would appear to provide the realistic choice for the Lankan Tamils.
In joining this debate, the aim is to make the point quite explicit by relating the suggestions made by DNto the various concerns raised by KAA, which inter alia focus on the inadequacy of the draft devolution proposals of the Government, the collaboration with the government of the Tamil parties committed to a peaceful resolution of the ethnic conflict, while the LTTE is engaged in a war against it and the presumed isolation of the atter in a political settlement of the conflict,
The opportunity is also taken to present the view on the two opposite approaches indicated by KAA and DN.The former Wants the Tamils not to support the devolution proposals of the Government, while the latter emphasises the importance of obtaining the approval of all parties, including the UNP even though this may require initially to settle for a devolution scheme less in scope than presented in August 1995 by the Government. As a senior civil Servant who has been in charge of civil administration at the central and provincial levels, he has no doubt taken a cautious and pragmatic view emphasising the importance of an effective implementation strategy in a negotiated settlement of the conflict. In the negotiation process, he thinks that the emphasis should be more on a broad consensus among all the major parties including the LTTE and their commitment to effective implementation of the widely agreed proposals than on the superficial extension in the scope of devolution.
Government's Proposals
KAA has drawn attention to the analysis of the Government's devolution proposals contained in a document published by the Tamil information Centre in London and has concluded that these do not meet the aspirations of the Tamils. The
TIC's publication, "S tion Proposals - Aug ary 1996, A summ. ment's devolution pre tions for the mino, known to have been known Tamil universi visit to London, inter Concerns from the S plied dependency of centre for personal property, higher edu ploitation, developme tion of the proposal continuous presence nated by the Sinhale. region is one of the m tified in this docume
The complete lac
from the many com analysis contained it Resolution of ethn compromising the u states requires mutu different groups, fo pared to trust the oth tement of the con pressure is impossi force is applied to ment, it will not last fears expressed ab plementation of the are genuine, the con age "has been delib campaign purpose government to conv community that the nanimous and that Sonable" is indicativ tude towards a neg the conflict. Without raised by the TC w Such a firm conclu mistrust and preju In sum, the latter tonomy for the Nort separation. DN has aim as unattainable able that the goverr ever consider divis an option." It is also
 

15 MARCH 1997
WEEN TION AR
?l LANKA: DevoluIst 1995 and Janury of the Governposals and implicaity communities", authored by a well | don who was on a lia, deals with Tamil andpoint of the imthe regions on the security, security of :ation, resource exnt and implementas. The likelihood of of the army domiSe in the North-East ajor objection idenht. :k of trust is evident
ments seen in the h the TIC document. c conflicts Without nity and integrity of altrust between the ne group is not preer, a negotiated Setlict without outside ple. Even if external ring about a settlevery long. While the but the effective imlevolution proposals :lusion that the packerately designed for of the Sri Lankan nce the İnternational government is magne Tamils are un reaof the negative attitiated settlement of liscussing the issues th the Government, on only reflects the ce of the rejectors. vants complete au-East region - virtual sponded to such an 'since it is inconceivment of Sri Lanka will on of the country as nrealistic to assume
that external intervention will beforthcoming to coerce Sri Lankan government to concede to the demand of such a division of the island. V−
India has made its position very clea on this matter and in fact from its own interest would prefera federal system not very dissimilar to its own. Despite the rhetoric of some Tamil ultra-nationalistic groups and individuals in Tamil Nadu, there is no prospect of the State government, even if it wanted to, directly intervening in the conflict of Sri Lanka. In the context of the historical memories of south Indian invasions of the island in the distant past, even the mere expressions of support to Sri Lankan Tamils by the Tamil parties and leaders in South India have only served to deepen the distrust of the Sinhalese with regard to the aspirations of the Lankan Tamils, The siege mentality of many Sinhalese gets reinforced by any visible ties with the Tamils in South India.
Tamil analysts have failed to recognise the difficulties the Sinhalese leaders face in using politically sensitive words and phrases in a devolution Scheme, albeit the result of chauvinistic politics of past governments. For example, the TIC document accuses the Government for its reluctance "to call the Regional Arrangement as Regional Government." What is important for the vast majority of the Tamil people living in the North-East region of Sri Lanka (not those expatriate Tamils living comfortably in the West) is the substance contained in the devolution package and the guarantee of implementation and not thenomenclature used to describe it.
If the conflict is to be resolved through a negotiation process as indicated by Nesiah, then it is imperative that Tamil leaders and others too, who are interested in liberating the suffering people from their miseries in the short and longer terms, understand the concerns and difficulties of those Sinhalese leaders whose participation in it is vital to a solution.There has been a lot of argument over the politicised words and phrases used by both sides and the avoidance of an emphasis on semantics rather than substance Would Certainly facilitate a negotiated settlement.
It is very unfortunate that some Sinhalese intellectuals have joined forces with Sinhala Buddhist chauvinists and Set up a private commission of inquiry to identify the grievances of the Sinhalese foi over 200 years and recommend remedial measures at this juncture. There cannot be any doubt that this commission has been set up at this point in time with the primary purpose of undermining the government's devolution proposals. The real enemies of peace are those who incite communal hatred and encourage other

Page 17
15 MARCH 1997
fellow members of their community to fight by exhibiting their fervour for narrow nationalism through inflammatory utterances andacts vithoutputing theirown lives as well as of their family members at risk.
DN is quite forthright in stating that the only alternative to a negotiated settlement is continued violence with indefinitely prolonged and increasing Suffering." Any negotiation has to be for devolving powers to the people in a manner that addresses their main concerns and gives confidence for a secure and better future in Sri Lanka. Those who reject this proposition are condemning the unfortunate people remaining in the North-East, who have suffered enough to be the sacrificial lambs. KAA's view to reject outright the devolution proposals without considering the consequences of this action for the afflicted people in the North-East (not the expatriate Tamils) is like prescribing a drug to cure a patient without knowing its side effects over the long term, let alone its effectiveness in the treatment.
Responsible leaders know that giving up even long cherished goals at a given historical conjuncture do not mean surrendering completely the legitimate rights of their community they profess to lead. The then leaders of the DMK in Madras did not think so when they gave up their agitation for an independent Tamil state. KAA and others with similar views need to be reminded of the consequences of the stand taken by the then Tamil leaders on the eve of Sri Lanka's independence insisting on not less than the "fifty-fifty formula" for sharing power. The fact that Arafat the acknowledged leader of the Palestinians entered into the peace process with Israel through the Oslo accord does not mean that he has betrayed the cause of his people though he may be accused of doing so by those extremists who, like Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice may demand the pound of flesh without even having the hope of obtaining an ounce of it.
Colaboration with the Gov't
KAA laments: "President Chandrika Kumaratunga clearly intends to finalise these proposals for approval by Parliament and a national referendum in the text few months. in this effort She Wants to get the support first of the Colombobased Tamil parties represented in Pariament and later of Tamil voters in a naonal referendum." He has also given five reasons why "a number of Tamils, apparently including the Tamil parties in Colobo, who believe, in varying degrees, that re President should be supported.” According to his judgement these are unsound and concludes, "any possible benefit to the Tamils from supporting the Govenment's strategy would be limited and arsient at best and the pain and sufferof the Tamils will not ease because
the Warwill continu KAA thinks tha "Colombo-based Tá interested in findin themselves and he rating with the Gov "that the Sinhalese them little politicals Once they have use pose of claiming legi internationally." The Mr.S.Thondaman W cal space and resou try Tamils through c past and present go both the power of his political skill to raise dition of the people level they had livedf eign Sri Lanka. They long distance to get living standards of otl even the progress a tainly not transient) w possible through oth tational politics with a ces on one side, givin tion that they are op every government in C ineffectual and foolha All the Tamil part Parliament (including have given up the arr not objected to the LT the Government and ment that will enable live without fear of los property and prosper V inations and inhibitior or indirectly by the ce in fact most of these publicly expressed th LTTE should be brou ating process to achie UNP Wants the LTE tiation process. But it ing to be the sole re entire Tamil people thi all Tamil groups and any negotiation, polit manitarian work in the What KAA advoc. frontation with the go Tamil parties, the con: a short-sighted strate considered. The UNP" ernment's devolution known. A change of go gs the UNP back to pc pave the way for sep improvement in the c« tution package. Co-C Tamil parties with the helped in many ways thy of the Sinhalese | minded Sinhalese lea tant in the short term ated Settlement and ( for the peaceful coSinhalese, Tamil and N in Sri Lanka.

the leaders of the il parties" are only a political role for e they are collabornment. He warns eadership will give ace and resources I them for the purmacy internally and eader of the CWC s able to get polities for the hill counlaboration with the arnments. He used rade union and his the economic conom the deplorable r decades in sovermay have to travela iny where near the er communities but hieved so far (cerOuld not have been rmeans. Confron|Tamils joining forgrise to the percepposed to any and olombo has proved rdy. ies represented in | other groups that ned struggle) have TE negotiating with reaching a settlethe Tamil people to sing their lives and vithout any discrimis imposed directly Intral government. Tamil groups have view that that the ht into the negotife peace. Even the to enter the negois the LTTE claimresentative of the t wants to exclude the others from cal and even huNorth-East. tes is direct conernment by all the equences of Such Jy have not been stand on the govroposals are well ernment that borinver is not going to ration or for any tent of the devoeration of some Government has » win the sympaople and broaders. This is imporreach a negotier the long term xistence of the slim communities
TAMIL TIMES 17
Colombo-based Tamil Parties
KAA has used the phrase "Colombobased Tamil parties" to stress that they do not support the LTTE in its confrontation with the Government to achieve its goal. Surely he cannot expect any Tamil group that is threatened with physical extermination to support the LTTE. in the politics of the LTTE, there is no room for any other Tamil group or party which has a different idea as to the Solution to the ethnic conflict. Even before the other Tamil groups gave up militancy as a political we apon, they were being eliminated phys cally in the north-east. That is why many of these groups became "Colombo-based". It is immaterial where a group is based, as long as it can contribute to bring about a peaceful settlement and put an end to the killings and suffering of the people. If Tamil individuals and groups living in comfort in western countries can pontificate as to what the solution to the problem facing the Tamils should be, the "Colombo-based Tamil parties" should have a better and more legitimate claim to do so.
None of the non-LTTE Tamil groups has claimed that it alone has the sole right to "liberate" the Tamils. Nor any group is unconcerned about the plight of the Tamils. In fact, all of them want to see an early end to the suffering of the Tamils in the North-East. Anyone following closely the events in Sri Lanka knows the contribution made by some of the Tamil members of Parliament in drawing the attention of the government and the world at large to specific cases of misconduct by the army and the suffering of the people living in the North-East, under the intolerable conditions created by both sides. They may not have achieved the desired degree of success in alleviating the suffering of the people, but without them the situation Would have been far Worse.
DN has stated that in resolving ethnic conflicts, negotiating with a minority ethnic militant group need not imply recognising it as the sole representative of the ethnic group concerned. It should be left to the people in the North-East to decide freely who should represent them in the elected regional and national assemblies. The presumption that one-party rule is best for the people in the North-East has no legitimacy at the present time. The people so far did not have the opportunity to express freely their decision on this vital question. Nor can any of the “Colombo-based Tamil parties" claim that it represents the majority of the people in the North-East. The point that should not be missed here is that the group whose Support is critical to any settlement cannot claim that other organised groups must renounce any right to serve the people either during the negotiation process or after reaching a settlement. It is, of course, a different matter if any group obstructs the process merely to deny any

Page 18
18 TAMIL TIMES
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Page 19
15 MARCH 1997
role for others and to assure its authority over others.
Third-party Facilitation
KAA wants the readers of the TT and others to request the leaders of the "Colombo-based Tamil parties" to support the call of people like Dr. Kumar Rupesinghe, "first for an end to the isolation of the north from the South and the restoration of free humanitarian access to food, medicines and other essential supplies, to be followed by an abatement in the level of conflict and by resumption of negotiations between the Government and the TTE with third-party mediation or facilitation." It is strange for KAA to presume that the leaders of these parties are so insensitive to the plight of the Tamils that they need to be pushed to alleviate the suffering of the Tamil people in the NorthEast. At least he has recognised that they can performa useful role in bringing about an end to the human loss and suffering and not to isolate the north from the South. However, he has not thought it necessary to request the LTTE leadership to create an environment to facilitate "an end to the isolation of the north from the South and the restoration of free humanitarian access to food, medicines and other essential supplies" without surrendering and to start negotiating with the government. (The approach proposed by DN requires the participation of the UNP and other groups in the negotiation process.) There is a credibility problem here as not only the government but also the international community has blamed the LTTE for breaking the peace talks unilaterally and resuming the war in April 1995. The peace effort was not given an adequate chance and certainly not in terms of the gradual and steady progress sought through the process envisaged by DN. The sincerity of the government in restoring the conditions mentioned by KAA can be put to the test, if a cease-fire is declared and observed. This is what is needed from both sides in the first instance. In an interview with Lakshman Gunasekara (T Tof January 1997), Dr. Rupesinghe has stated that "it is important for both sides to remember that it is civilians who must sustain the society which both sides are claiming to protect. Thus, the more you involve civilians in the war, the more you lose the war. The impact on the civilian population will only perpetuate the hate perceptions and conflict between the communities" it is important that both sides should neither put conditions on nor interfere with the distribution of humanitarian aid. Unfortunately, this was not evident during the period of the cessation of hostilities (early 1995) when the much needed humanitarian assistance could have been provided to the civilian population unconditionally without linking it to the military aspects of the conflict. Both sides must take responsibility for neglecting the civilians and
using them as paw KAA and other fluential Tamil expal to the TE leader Dr. Rupesinghe's a ing among the Sinh leadership of the LT in this situation, it wi negotiation process onstrates its since count such steps wo a sign of weaknes these will reveal its The governm third-party mediatio to the Minister of F Comes an interferent irs." In the interview noted: "Peace in a the two warring parti ing to resolve the c intention sets the ag national need. In the Country has enough age the process. If ties feel the need fo litator, then they will ties to become invo Mediation is based O sent. Then there is r ference or impositio The rejection oft or facilitation is influe tion that the LTTE h militarily since the s re-occupied much of ce and are in control the two provinces, ex land. Since the med to the re-occupied ar. litical success cannc restriction, the Govel tionally helped the side of the ethnic di government propaga LTTE may be we spent force. Seven m cess of Operation Ri re-capture of Jaffna, the Mullaithivu milita 1996 killing nearly 14 turing their weapon: lions of rupees. Withi ccess of Operation E LTTE did not offer any ruary 6, 1997 the latt neous attacks on Va in Batticaloa and or base in Trincomale (January 9) it had ta Paranthan, in which a 223 soldiers died. Da TTE has been Wea rebels have demons strike at will and infli to the Government. will only sustain the of all the people in Sr calculation was ma 1995, when it broke and resumed hostili

S in the War.
particularly the iniates should appeal hip also to heed to vice. There is a feellese leaders that the E cannot be trusted. helpin initiating the if the LTTE too demty early. On no acld be considered as s. On the contrary, moral strength.
nt has ruled out because according oreign Affairs "it bee in our internal affaDr. Rupesinghe has :ountry depends on es themselves wantonflict. That political |enda. It becomes a Sri Lankan case, this competence to manhe two warring parr a third party facinvite such third parlved in helping out. n invitation and conno question of interነ!” hird-party mediation inced by the percepas been Weakened ecurity forces have the Northern provinof the other areas of cept the Vanni heartia is denied access eas, any claim of poit be verified. By this nment has unintenxtremists on either vide to spread antinda. ak now but is not a onths after the sucfiresa that led to the the LTTE attacked ry base on July 18 00 officers and cap: Worth several milWeeks afterthe Sudibala in which the resistance, on Feber mounted simulta(unativu army base the China Bay air 3. A month earlier ken on the army in cording to the army spite the claim that (ened militarily, the rated their ability to t significant losses Sontinued violence tolerable suffering Lanka. Similar misle by the LTTE in off the peace talks es hoping that its
TAMIL TIMES 19
goal could be achieved by force.
Without public support it will be impossible for the Government with its limited manpower resources to control, maintain and secure the re-occupied areas against guerrilla attacks. There will not be any winners but only is sers in this war. How many more lives should be lost, how long the people should endure the suffering and billions of resources wasted before the leaders and their backers, many of whom are not directly affected by the war come to their senses and give up their strategies of achieving their illusions? If the intention of both sides is to continue the war indefinitely, the Tamil people will be the greater losers. Time will not be on their side, in this event, the Tamils will be losing their numerical strength and the opportunity to share power equitably with other ethnic groups in Sri Lanka. Political Consensus
DN's approach has the merit that it avoids further losses and the undue and unnecessary suffering of the people, while progressing towards a political Solution acceptable to all groups. It deserves serious consideration by all interested in ending immediately the carnage and the distrust between the different communities. In essence his idea entails a twotrack approach. Except for the LTTE, the mainstream political parties have not rejected the thirteenth amendment to the present constitution. Its full potential for devolution has not been utilised. There has also been some unfounded Criticism in its provisions pertaining to the independent status of the Provincial Councils. For example last year the Supreme Court ruled that so long as the Chief Minister of a Province and his/her Board of Ministers command a majority in the Council, the Provincial Governor cannot dissolve the Council, except on the advice of the Chief Minister,
The UNP is less likely to reject the proposal of the previous Parliamentary Select committee (1992/1993) under the chairmanship of Mangala Moonesinghe, which takes the thirteenth amendment forward towards allaying the concerns of the minorities. ASDN has quite aptly pointed out, the absence of an implementation strategy besides other deficiencies in the central administration arising mainly from the lack of will on the part of politicians and senior bureaucrats"virtually annulled devolution." In the first fast track, the movement should be to get the suitably amended proposal based on the above two schemes, Where a broadconsensus already exists implemented strictly according to the mutually agreed principles supporting it. This could be the start in the negotiation process and also Would serve to validate the Will and the sincerity of all the mainstream political parties in finding a permanent solution to the national problem.
(continued on next page)

Page 20
20 TAMIL TIMES
Direct Talks Between Govt
with Third Party Mediation
by S.K. Gajanan, USA
ferent perspectives of the crisis in Sri Lanka appeared in the February 1997 issue of the Tamil Times -"Crisis in Sri Lanka - Is There a Way Out?" by D. Nesiah and "The Choice for Tamils" by K.A. Anandan.
The article by Mr. Anandan makes a cogent, and indeed, compelling argument against Tamil support for President Kumaratunga's "War for Peace" strategy. It is grounded in the reality of Tamil historical experience, which is well summarised there, the reality that the LTTE cannot be, and should not be, excluded from any solution to the war in Sri Lanka and the reality that the devolution proposals proposed by the Government are seriously deficient. It also makes the valid point that success of the Government's strategy will not result in "a political settlement which will truly ensure that Tamils will have their own space in Sri Lanka where their physical security, economic welfare and ethnic and cultural identity will be ensured." Nor will it end the sufferings of the Tamils except temporarily, because
T timely articles which ofertwo dif
(continued from page 19)
In the second slow track, the negotiation process should involve appraisal of the effectiveness of the agreed implementation strategy, taking promptly the remedial measures needed to solve the implementation problems and at the same time considering the necessary changes in the scope of devolution with the view to arriving at a final Solution. As mentioned by DN, this process in time, depending on the developments in the first track, could change the political environment so much so that the sceptical or reluctant parties may decide to abandon their reservations or withdraw their earlier positions. The prerequisite for the success of this approach is the rebuilding of trust between the different communities, which in turn depends, inter alia, on the speed and efficacy of the progress made in the first track. On no account should Such confidence building measures receive a low priority. This is the common challenge that confronts reasonable persons in all the communities, who are interested in the welfare of all the people in Sri Lanka. They cannot afford to fail in this. The LTTE and the Tamil people must recognise the wisdom that lies in following this approach. O
of a continued ma Sinhalese security f East.
What Anandanh "War for Peace" stra ing for a number of underlying military c LTTE will be reduced tent and localised g being realised. Secor ponent, namely "win minds" of the Tamil pi Government control aster - with massive tions by the securit those people more t Second political com egy, namely the "de has run into serious
the failure to achiev sive military advanta as anticipated, is pro dous drain on the e not be sustained for lic or politically. Fifth, signs of doubt amon tries, who have beef ive of President Kum viability of her warfo depth of her commi as opposed to a m most importantly, abc Commitment to hum:
Human Rights Situ
in regard to the cerns, there have be velopments. First is partment report for 1 practices in Sri Lanll ruary 1997. There of the human rights ernment. it notes th tion of the human rig curity forces, and hig tiates that “impunit) ble for human rights problem." The deter in all categories of v cial killings, disap mass arrests and it rapes. Impunity wa those categories. Si report reflects a m
 

15 MARCH 997
TE a Must
sive presence of roces in the North
is missed is that the egy is already failreasons. First, the omponent that the to a relatively impoJerrilla force is not d, one political Coming the hearts and ople brought under s turning into a dishuman rights violay forces alienating han ever. Third, the ponent of the stratvolution proposals" difficulties. Fourth,
e a quick and decige against the LTTE, ving to be a tremenxonomy, which canng, eitherfinancially here are emerging g the Western coungenerally supportaratunga, about the peace strategy, the tment to a political, ilitary solution, and ut the Government’s an rights.
ation
human rights con2n two important dethe U.S. State De996 on human rights a, published in Febort is highly Critical record of the Govmarked deteriorahts record of the sehlights and substanfor those responsiabuses remained a oration was reported olations, extra-judiearances, torture, 2gal detentions and noted also in all of Inificantly, this year's jor turnaround from
the previous year, when the State Department complimented the government for its human rights record to such an excessive degree that it evoked an unusual and sharp rebuke from Amnesty International. The current State Department report, while continuing to emphasise the human rights violations by the LTTE, also notes for the first time some important improvements - no reported attackson civilians during the second half of 1996 and the ending of restrictions on the movement of civilians from LTTE-controlled to Government-controlled areas. Ironically, it is the government that now stands accused of placing barriers on the movement of Tamils seeking safety from the conflict.
The second development on the human rights front is the very recent report (March 1997) of the U.S. Committee for Refugees (USCR) mission which visited Jaffna and the Vanni with Government approval in November 1996. The report comments extensively about the pervasive fear of disappearances and rapes in Jaffna and of the plight of the hundreds of thousands of displaced Tamils in the Vanni who have not only been displaced many times over by the military attacks but have also been forced to Survive in the most difficult circumstances, with only very limited supplies of essentials, especially medicines. While commending the Government for assuming the responsibility for relief to displaced people, even in TTE-controlled areas, the USCR notes that the Government has deliberately kept relief supplies very low, by simply refusing to acknowledge the presence of up to 200,000 of the displaced Tamils in the Vanni. In addition, the Government has refused approval to NGOs who wished to provide their own supplies, especially medicines. The report also criticises the detention of Tamils in so-called "welfare centres" in Vavuniya in appalling conditions, and the forcible interdiction of Tamils fleeing voluntarily to India to escape the Wa.
The essential fact is that more information on the gravity of the human rights violations by security forces is filtering through, despite the continued efforts by the Government to conceal them through restrictions on access to the north-east. More information is also becoming available on the "Scorched earth" tactics of the military in the Vanni, including the indiscriminate use of aerial bombing and heavy artillery, and the burning of ready-to-harvestrice crops, which seem aimed at pushing more displaced people into Government detention Centres. Finally the insensitivity of the government to the human rights violations by its forces and consequent sufferings inflicted on Tamil civilians has reached outrageous proportions. Two recent examples are the

Page 21
15 MARCH 1997
Government's decision to make the Defence Ministry responsible for investigating the hundreds of 'disappearances' in Jaffna and the failure of the President Kumaratunge to condemn or at least to express regret for the Krishanthi rapemurder.
A particularly tragic but pertinent aspect of the human rights situation in the north east, referred to in both the State Department and USCR reports, consists of the murderous activities in Vavuniya and the east of anti-LT TE groups collaborating with the army. The State Department report lists the military wing of the PLOTE, the Mohan Group and the Rasheek Group,
Nesiah's Approach
The article by Mr. Nesiah takes a very different approach from that of Mr. Anandan. First it is an avowed exercise in hope even to the point that it conflicts with "reality in some respects. Second and more important in this context is that it represents what may be called a "moderate"Colombo-centric perspective on the crisis, in terms of the political and military power dynamics as seen there. It is of course different from the "extreme" Sinhala dominant VieW.
At a general level, he is, of course, right in expressing despair about the downward spiral experienced by Sri Lanka, that war does not solve problems, that there should be a negotiated Solution based on a national consensus, with the UNP, SLFP and LT TE at the core. One would also agree with his proposition that we should not be trapped in recriminations over past mistakes and that thenegotiation process, once started, could generate its own dynamic in terms of expanding options, and participation. Moreover, he is absolutely correct in stressing the need for effective implementation of any agreement that is worked out, and in emphasising that it is the government which must take the major initiative and in creating the climate for a settlement.
However, problems arise when he tries to apply these general propositions to the Sri Lankan situation. While not wanting to sound unduly negative, there are some important concerns arising from his Colombo-centric view which are discussed below. For the current purpose its 

Page 22
22 TAMIL TIMES
THE SPECTRE OF BO AND THE GHOST OF
by G.Ramesh
hen Robert Vadra had a quiet W Kashmiri Hindu wedding with Priyanka Gandhi at Delhi last month, India's first family could not invite two of its close friends - Ottavio Quottrocchi and his wife Maria. An invitation for Quottrocchi would have been too costly for the Gandhi family. Well, Quottrocchi, who led the Italian multinational Snam progetti in India formore than three decades, and his wife had been named by the Indian Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as recipients of the Bofors bribes, following the receipt of the Bofors bribery papers from Swiss banks. However, the man who got the Swiss authorities to reveal the names, prime minister, HD Deve Gowda, was being welcomed by Sonia Gandhi to the marriage function. Immediately, the Congress(I) made two demands: that its support to the united front government at the centre led by Deve Gowda would no longer be conditional - the support would be "issue-based"; and that the real recipients of Bofors kickbacks should be named Wait a minute, was not the same Congress(I) in power when the bribes were given and also when Quottrochhi and Bofors agent in India Win Chadha managed to sneak out of the country ?
The Bofors gun deal was more than India's Watergate scandal. They had been part of Indian political mystique for the last ten years - it had made and finished presidents, prime ministers and their governments, army generals, ministers, po
litical parties and ne One was spared and Self or herself. The C ated a language of p agents and commi arose such as payol ing up charges and W Bofors gun deal assu as a mere arms deal way in which the en dian public sphere fe zers boomed and bo When Olaf Par Rajiv Gandhi of India that the Indian army bers of Swedish 155 at a cost of Rs 1,472 ( ed to dispense with On the face of it, it w But the decade-long Central Bureau of Inv finally established, w cently revealed Swis Guotrocchi and Mari in India Win Chadha, and Son Harsh ChaC bribe recipients.
The story doesn't other players in the g Pitco and Moresco a Counts which are exp anytime. And the bri nd, are much more mate of Rs 64 crore a ed notjustin snowly across the globe
Both in and Out of
(continued from page21)
climate should be that the humanitarian needs of the people in the north-east are met and that human rights violations by security forces are ended. He also conspicuously fails to mention the need to end Government sponsored Sinhalese colonisation in the North-East.
At the end Nesiah is realist enough to recognise the odds against a purely internal resolution of the War. However, surprisingly, given the overall circumstances, he offers only a highly tentative and qualified support for a third-party mediation or external assistance.
ls there then a way out? Obviously there has to be, but not on the basis of a totally Tamil-centric or even a moderate Colombo-centric view of the Crisis and its solution. Even if it were not willing to acknowledge it, an objective assessment of the present situation would show that the Government's war for peace strategy is failing and that direct negotiations with the
LTTE involving thirdp cilitation are inevitabl the government mus in creating a proper
tions. These steps s suggested by Mr.K. They deserve repea isolation of the north cluding open press a and the restoration
manitarian access to other essential suppli lations of human righ now border on genoc ernment has an obli most of these unde concerning human ri tarian law of intern steps should be follo panied after substa been made by subs without any precon range of issues, incl arrangements.

15 MARCH 1997
ORS RAUW
vspaper barons. No no one spared himeal has also generblitical stealth - from ssions new Words fs, kickbacks, windhat not Hence, the mes significance not but because of the tire spectrum of inapart as the howitOmed and boomed. ne of Sweden and decided, in 1984-85, would get 410 num
| mm howitzer guns
:rore, they also agreCommission agents. as a great decision. probe by the Indian 'estigation (CBI) has ith evidence from res bank papers, that a and a Bofors agent wife Kanta Chadha Iha were among the
end there. There are Jame. The fake firms also have Swiss acected to be revealed pes, it has been fouthan the initial estiind have been Stash
Switzerland, but a
government, Rajiv's
arty mediation or fae. AS Nesiah States, t take the first steps climate for negotiahould be like those umar Rupesinghe. ting: an end to the east from South, inccess and free travel of unrestricted hufood, medicines and es andan endto vioits. These violations ide. Indeed the govgation to implement r international laws ghts and the humanial conflicts. These wed, or be accomntial progress has tantive discussions ditions on a whole Iding future political
O
stock reply to questions on Bofors would be: "Neither myself nor any member of my family has received any consideration from Bofors". This was in reply to depositions in Swedish courts that the recipients were all Indians. While in power, he reacted predictably by getting his minions to allege that, as a Third World leader, he was being destabilised by Western powers. He kept making weird scoring shots by stating that if non-Indians had received bribes, especially for industrial espionage, it was okay! When hemmed in, he set up the joint parliamentary committee (JPC) only to legitimise the cover-up! The JPC, after interrogating Bofors officials and others, came to the laborious conclusion that the Bofors had paid out only foreigners While the opposition members boycotted the JPC, the lone dissenting note was written by Aladi Aruna, now Tamil Nadu law minister. This note, coupled with revealations made by Geneva-based journalist Chitra Subramaniam, brought out that Win Chadha of the Svenska and industrialist GP Hinduja of Pitco were the possible recipients.
Chitra's real find was the AE Services, which was clearly not an agent but a front outfit brought in late for receiving a kickback on behalf of someone powerful enough to clinch the deal early enough. Chitra also found damaging revealations from the diary of Martin Ardbo, head of Bofors when the deal was signed. Ardbo gone to London four times to meet Hinduja to manage the cover-up after the news of the bribes broke out. The Ardbo diaries put Rajiv Gandhi really on the mat. The entries referred to Major Bob Wilson, the frontman of AE Services, "Q's involvement becoming a problem because of his close relationship with R", "Wilson's meeting with the Gandhi Trust Lawyer". The diary entries also spoke of one N.
It was like the script of a B-grade Bombay Hindi thriller of the early sixties. All the non-Congress(I) parties reacted by concluding that Q was Quottrocchi, N was Arun Nehru and R, you know who, Rajiv feebly suggested that the entries were not authentic. The Swedish government, in the meantime, sent a fax message to the CBI insisting that the entries and documents exposed by Chitra were indeed true. He didn't speak much after that, except insisting occasionally that neither he nor his family ever received any kickback. Arun Nehru, who went along with V P Singh to the Janata Dal and was part of the National Front government at the centre, quietly parted company with VPS and later quit active politics. He chose to keep silent on the Suggestion that he had been kept out of the deal after some crucial phase.
The more intriguing fact was the sudden exit of Rajiv's close friend Arun Singh from the all-important post of minister of state for defence at that time. Lt Gen Krishnaswamy Sundarji, the then army chief who deposed before the CBI earlier this month on the events before the setting
(continued on page 25)

Page 23
15 MARCH 1997
SAMANS AND DE TANIMLIL, NADU OLDA
by G.Ramesh
Tamil Nadu witnessed two birthdays in February - of besieged AIADMK supremo and former chief minister Jayalalitha and DMK heir-apparent and Chennai mayor Muthuvel Karunanidhi Stalin, who is a future contender for the state's top post. Jayalalitha turned 49 and Stalin 46. That both celebrations Were marked by personal religiosity could not be missed. Jayalalitha, recovering after recurrent back problems, made it a point to visit the famousVadivudai Amman temple at Tiruvotriyur in the northern outskirts of Madras. And Stalin, after cutting a huge cake modelled after the Rippon Building housing his corporation office, made a public display of politely accepting he prasadam sent by Bangaru Adigalar, a Madam head-cum-education don Whose Adi Parasakthi peetam is strategically located on the Madras-Tiruchi highway, attracting Tamils from across the world.
Yes, Bangaru presides over an empire of educational institutions, ospitals and a substantial cadre-base, He is the Dravidian answer to the Brahmins'Kanchi Acharyas whose mutt is also strategically located on the Madras-Bangalore highway. Bangaru's political power is awesome and he hobnobs with all Dravidian leaders including Karunanidhi whom he hugged publicly after the DMK assumed office. Bangaru's chief disciple was none other than Dr Visalakshi, wife of V R Nedunchezhian, perhaps the only survivor of the five founders of the DMK. And worse, young Visalakshi and Nedunchezhian had got married in the "self-respect" way those days.
Dr.Visalakshi's about-turn and the two birthdays signify the new matrix of religion in Tamil Nadu - religion is not mere, or no longer spirituality; it is not even just folkish or popular stuff; it is no longer evil or anti-science; it need not be attacked the way Stalin's father Karunanidhi once used to do in his film dialogues and lyrics. Rather, religion is neutral; it is benevolent; it spreads and catches up; it is kitsch, a mass phenomenon, combining well with professional education, computer graphics and good intentions like world peace and elimination of AIDS,
Over the last two decades, such mass religion has seen phenomenal rise in Tamil Nadu, right under the nose of Dravidian regime which otherwise started out professing avowed atheism. Karunanidhi, one of the last of the Surviving Dravidian titans, occasionally reminisces about those heady years in the forties and fifties when party ideologues
invoked Mazzini af cently discussed Robert Ingersoll.
Karunanidhi tal he was a participar against Brahminis Ramaswamy term all evil in the subc for reform, Periyar compromising icon the gods of the Sa rationalist-empir sphere. Periyar Dravidian mantlef of the movement who was trying to b and Saivist monism and Maraimalai, he in denouncing all whose writings hac Karunanidhi in this to bring al folk dei of a singular godh have loved to have Maoists the statue: the eventuality of those very classe liberate from they have stopped him
During these ye on to exploitthe em fic sphere in theatr film. Annadurai ai past-masters in th rose to the occasic nesse. Actors like MGR set many a h logues of Karuna brand of rationalis Successful runs, I convert even quite However, this p Came to an end Wanted to enter the fifties. In having to of power, the DMK religion as a live, fc public sphere. DM Annadurai and Kaf a new solution cor clarative statement devan (There is b race), a takeoff frc Tirumoolar, and Ez kanbom (Maywes the poor), an imitat dhi's invocation of ! This shift in the more than tactical to be seen as more mick or ploy. It was turn. The DMK was
 
 
 
 

TAMIL TIMES 23
nd Garibaldi and innoBertrand Russel and
«espride in saying that it in then relentless War m which Periyar E V ed the fountainhead of ontinent. In his quest sursued the path ofunoclasm in dealing with nskritic pantheon and icism in the public simply usurped the om earlier ideologues ke Maraimalai Adigal slend Western science n. Interestingly, Periyar owever, were together olk gods. Maraimalai, j been nationalised by year's budget, wanted ties under the regime ead; but Periyar would blasted a la Chinese s of even folk gods; but having to antagonise s whom he wanted to oke of Hinduism must in his tracks ars, the DK-DMK went ergence of a new pube, oratorical stage and Td Karunanidhi were is task and the latter bn with aplomb and fiSivaji Ganesan and eart afire with the diaanidhi. The DK-DMK m and empricism had managing to Secretly a few Brahmins. hase seemed to have at the time the DMK electoral arena in the manage the equations K had to contend with ilk phenomenon in the (ideologues including unanidhi had hit upon ning up with fresh des: Onre kulam oruvane ut one God and one om Tamil siddha saint
haiyin sirippil iravainaik
ee God in the Smile of tion of Mahatma Ganthe Dariidra Narayana. DMK's language was or ideological. It has than an electoral gimS as much a linguistic to change drastically
to get accommodated to a new public sphere. For once and ever, the above proverb-like statements resolved a basic contradiction, just as every proverb does. At the everyday level, the shift allowed one and all to join the party, and well, in due course, even get to worshipping its leaders
With its rituals reaching a practicable level, the DMK was to become the new Tamil religion, by imitating and without having to drastically substitute the older ones. In this new religion, invocation of the Tamil Mother was to replace the mandatory prayers and elaborate, fiery and eloquent speeches and action-scenes by the new gods were to replace the bhakti songs. And who else, but Annadurai, Karunanidhi and MGR Would become fit for these roles. The three are simply gods for the Dravidian cadres; their stories are silly to the core: for the DMK, the lineage is Anna and Kalaignar, with MGR being the renegade or estranged brother; for the AIADMK, it is Anna and Thambi MGR, Karunanidhi being the usurper and betrayer. And, never mind, Periyar, who set out to destroy religion altogether, is ritually invoked as the Super-patriarch-God by not only Dravidians but ideologues of all hues: for them, Periyar is the godly beacon light and others are just human aberrations
The late scholar Burton Stein told this writer a few years ago that he sometimes Wondered whether the Dravidian movement was getting to practise an altered form of bhakti religion. His point came as no shock to me. Annadurai has Edhayum Thangum lcdhayam; MGR, alive or dead, is lodhaya Deivam (meaning the Deivam dwelling in the heart of Annaduraias well as those of MGR fans); Karunanidhi, who once gloated over his being called Karikal Chozhan or Mujib-ur-Rahman of Tamil Nadu, is now Vazhum Desvam or Kann Kanda Deivam to his cadres. An invitation printed by an enthusiastic temple officer in Madurai described Karunanidhias Vazhum Deivam recently. Karunanidhi shuddered in disagreement and got the officer transferred; but in the ultimate analysis, he can be seen to be enjoying the rituals even as he chides them.
Thus, in today's Tamil Nadu, politics imitates religion; and religion, in turn, has become a mass affair by imitating politics. Every leader of any consequence is getting deified as statues in public junctions. The very categories of religion and politics seem to go for a Swirl. Every new leader is on his/her way to becoming a mass living deity: Jayalalitha is dhaya Deivam (Goddess of the heart) and PuratchithThalaivi(revolutionary leader); G K Moopanaris Makka Thalaivar Peoplesoleader); Stalin is Ezhu Gnayiru (rising sun) and laya Suryan (youthful sun); Vai Gopalasamy is Puratchip Puyal (revolutionary storm); Dr Ramadoss is Tamizhinap Poraali (fighter of the Tamil

Page 24
24 TAMIL TIMES
nation); and KVeeramani, the chairman of the trustee of Periyar, is, believe it or not, Tamizhinath Thalaivar (leader of the Tamil nation), declaring himself to be a rival for the mantle of both Karunanidhi and Veluppillai Prabakaran
Of course, unlike his north Indian counterparts, Karunanidhi describes himself as an atheist and steers clear of visiting heads of Mutts or performing pujas. He avoids attending religious rituals of marriages and attends only reception events (which may be a bigger and more absurd ritual). He is keen to put down communal problems with an iron hand, as was discovered by the BJP and the Jehad Committee during the spate of clashes in Coimbatore and Tiruppur. Also, Karunanidhi has always viewed temple robberies with concern, as more than mere law and order problems, since he thinks that temples are great cultural treasures; he recently lamented that in his hometown Tirukkuvalaithere was only one person playing Nadaswaram in the Sivan temple
Does all this make up a contradiction ? is Karunanidhi going soft on religion ? Why is he tolerating a lot of religiosity in his own party, among his Udanpirappugal 2 Doesn't he know the dangers of religion, esoteric, folk or mass-based, some people ask. It would be easy to term Karunanidhi's current stand as a betrayal of Dravidian ideals or a reconciliation with Tamil religious practices. However, the process of it all is far more complex than that. It is evident that Karunanidhi has contributed to the erection of many a new deity including himself. It is necessary to recall here a Crucial scene in the film Parasakthi whose dialogues were penned by Karunanidhi (the scene itself is a takeoff of a similar scene in Annadurai's Velaikkari): the protagonist Gunasekaran confronts the statue of Kali in a temple. Later in a court of law which indicts him, Gunasekaran states his stand: "Koit Koodathu Enru Sollavillai. Koil Kodiyavargalin Koodaram Agak Koodathu Enruthan Sonnen" (I did not say that the temple is evil. What I said was that the temple should not become the fortress of evil forces).
Note not the literal meaning of the above sentence, which Karunanidhi never tires of quoting (the latest occasion was a few days ago when he addressed a meeting of the committee to supervise renovation of Tamil Nadu's temples chaired by him), but its alliterative power: Ko, Koo, Ko, Ko, Koo, Koo. Ils it nota kind of chanting ? With the result that, in the course of history, this chanting has overlapped, if not replaced, the earlier chanting of mantrams; more curiously, the new pujari (shaman) has not only mimicked the earlier one but also has himself become one of the new mimic-Gods
The only question left is the possible reconciliation of the Dravidian regime with
here just does n to the Woes שחך
Tamils in the ver have taken refuge, aw of their own native isla Jayalalitha or Karunar in the post-IPKF peric ter the Rajiv assassir Tamil refugees have b ite whipping boy of the day. Any time it is un any quarter especially upon to establish its pi it simply pounces on gees, and the publica accept even the most made by the governm
in the latest devel three of them have be tody under the Unlaw vention) Act allegedly procure medical Supp banned organisation i with them altiger cadr doctor charged with cc rest. Maravanpulavu running the prestigiou: Kanthalagam in Chen leader of the now de Liberation Front (TEL Rasanayagam, a Lar based in Australia an India on a brief visit young medical docto city were arrested wh engaged in discussion Muralidaran in an Malinidevi had been l
According to the p prised, Pandian, triec pill, but the police es
its contemporary pol
Stream and mass no MGR, the earlier Go ing that but. He had alr for Karunanidhi to fol haps a matter of time
attempts the same. that soon if the BJP
the centre, His atten invite the Wrath of Pel on to brand him not ju but as a betrayer of D Yes, if Gods are noth adorn the mantle of v punishment. Never mimic-Gods, ever pe rations!
 

15 MARCH 1997
EST OF LANKAN : LS INTAMIL NADU :
T N Gopalan
t seem to be any of the Sri Lankan f land where they ay from the horrors nod. Whether under idhi, in Tamil Nadu, d, and more So aflation, the Lankan ecome the favourgovernment of the der pressure from when it feels called atriotic credentials, the hapless refutarge too willingly outlandish claims ent in this regard opment of its kind, en taken into cusful Activities (Prefor "conspiring to lies to the LTTE, a n this country." And 2 and a native Tamil laborating with the Sachidanandam, s publishing house, nai, Eelavendan, a funct Tamil Eelam F), Mrs Malinidevi kan Tamil emigre who had come to and Mr Sridhar, a r, practising in the en they were found s with Pandian alias apartment where odged. olice, on beingsurto SWallow a small corts acted in the
ar opposite: mainth Indian religion. , was already tryady set the course low. And it is perbefore Karunanidhi le may have to do captures power at pt then is sure to yarists who will go stas an aberration 'avidian principles. aroes, they have to Ilains. It is a sort of re Gods, or even mitted to be aber
O
nick of time to retrieve the "deadly capSule" and he was rushed to the hospital where he recovered in time. And seized from the conspirators" was some LTTE propaganda material, including 17 pictures of Prabhakaran, lists of medicines and Indian currency to the tune of a hundred thousand rupees.
Following the interrogation of Pandian, the police came to know that there were a couple of other Tiger boys too operating in the state, one of them in touch with his Jaffna high command through a wireless set. However Pandian's associates could not be traced.
Subsequently A S Mani, editor of Netrikkan, a Tamil weekly, was also arrested for allegedly procuring the LTTE cadre a cellular phone. Significantly no journalist organisation cared to protest the arrest of one of their own tribes on such a trivial charge. (That Mani's credentials as a journalist leave a lot to be desired is a different story altogether.)
The courts routinely deny bail to anyone accused of being in collusion with the Tigers. The learned principal sessions judge A Ramamurthy, for instance, smelled something fishy in Dr Sridhar's prescribing medicines at the instance of an LTTE cadre. The very act of interaction with a member of a banned organisation laid him open to charges of conspiracy.
Incidentally this is the first time in Tamil Nadu that procuring medical supplies for a Lankan militant group is termed a crime.
Those who delude themselves, into believing that there is a groundswell of sympathy for the Lankan Tamil cause yet again in Tamil Nadu might be disappointed to know that there has been little public reaction to the arrests. Both the English and Tamil Press faithfully reproduced the police version. While the saving grace perhaps was the absence of any patriotic hysterics, few cared to question the justness or rationale of the state government’s action.
Both Sachidanandam and Eelavendan are familiar figures in media circles but there was no overt expression of sympathy, leave alone any denunciation of the arrestS.
Sachidanandam, though an uncompromising Eelamist, has not been known to be a Tiger drum-beater. If anything, on occasions, he has denounced the LTTE

Page 25
15 MARCH 1997
ways. Certainly he has always tried hard to mobilise public opinion in favour of the suffering Tamils in the island and sought to interact with politicians across the spectrum. Whatever his personal commitments or even dealings with the Tigers, the arrest of the soft-spoken Sachidanandam did come as quite a shock to those who knew him well.
This correspondent and others of his ilk who have never been admirers of the LTTE had felt similarly grieved in 1991 when veteran editor Sivanayagam was hauled up for associating himself with a pro-Tiger English journal. Ultimately the poorman was deported. There were some muted protests but to no effect. One can only hope that a similar fate does not overtake Sachidanandam.
Eelavendan is, of course, a self-proclaimed champion of the Tigers, and he never misses out an opportunity to justify and glorify the LTTE. Still it is difficult to conceive of him as a saboteur. While nothing much is known of Mrs Rassanayagam, the young Dr Sridhar has not had any track record of anti-national acti vities.
lf such are the bio-data of the arrested, the charge itself Smacks of sheer vendetta or, at least, Cussedness. When even the Red Cross and similar organisations are allowed to take medicines to the Tigers by the Lankan government itself, how could doing so from this soil be described as a crime?
Besides it is common sense that the
medicines procured to take care of the ne of displaced Jaffnait told miseries in the such argument will, nanidhi who is out to Credentials at every and thus forestal a government's dismi charge of encourag Tigers.
Karunanidhi kno nandam and Eelave has enjoyed some c to the Chief Minister asSume that the arre: without his knowled that he has not reac perhaps sees the ar. those who were ci PMK's rallies and cc he has rarely bothe| Costs of his throne-S But then why wo the public at large a hook, line and sinker bull story when it c. "Well, it might be an part of the governmei know what the Tige point of time. When ti this soil", mow down F company so ruthles thinkfora moment wł Out of their actions porter, the DMK, or 6 avengeful group rarel
(continued from page 22)
up of the JPC, is convinced that Rajiv's prime ministerial office was involved in a messy cover-up affair; and that Arun Singh quit in disgust after telling Sundarji that the cover-up was being done to save "one man's skin".
The retired general went on to state that he had recommended scrapping of the Bofors gun deal as soon as the bribery reports made it to the Swedish radio. However, the then defence secretary SS Bhatnagarhad asked him to write that the cancellation would jeopardise India's national interests. He had refused to do it and had sent a fresh note saying the very opposite. Rajiv's office had lapsed into silence afterwards, says Sundarji.
The general further damned Rajiv by fresh disclosures: on Sundarji's recommendation, a senior defence ministry of ficial had sent a cable to Bofors threatening to cancell the deal if the names of the bribe recipients were not not disclosed. Bofors, at that point, seemed willing to come clean but this was not liked by Rajiv, as subsequent events were to prove. Bofors officials were made to stay back in Sweden till they were summoned by the JPV. And, the general stunned everyone by revealing that the the senior defence official was reprimanded by Rajiv himself,
Now it is clear that Quotrocchi was
the key recipient on ices. He was so po' Narasimha Rao's tim got to interrogate hir government had mad appealing in Swiss C Services' papers to b With all the reVea flow, there are the fol (a) Guottrocchim kickback after using links to swing the dea (b) The AE Servic up by Arun Nehru or : ceive kickbacks on b or the Congress(I). W Rajiv fell out, Quottro to manage the mone
Any which way, Stands to lose from a the ever-hanging sp Quottrocchi took the trying to protect a a enough. If Rajiv took half of the Congre Quottrocchi as a fror young visionary leadi century, but a typica tor. Worse. Or, if Rajiv and failed in the Cov has betrayed friend C ting him chased out the Congress(I) to w ess. Unforgivable.

TAMIL TIMES 25
by the Tigers also go lds of the thousands s, now sufferingunWanni jungles. No owever, sway Karuassert his "patriotic" vailable opportunity ny possibility of his sal yet again on a ng and abetting the
'S Wellboth Sachidadan and the former Onsiderable access Even if one were to tS had been effected je, the fact remains ted since either. He estS as a Counter to ying wolf over the nferences. But then ed about the larger aving actions.
uld he bother when e willing to Swallow any kind of cock and oncerns the Tigers. overreaction on the nt. But then you don't 'S are up to at any hey can kill Rajiv on admanabha and his sly, not pausing to hat Would be the fallon their main supven on themselves ly has any long-term
behalf of AE Servwerful even during e that the CBI never n though the Swiss e it clear that he was purts to prevent AE e Sent to India. lations and more to lowing possibilites: ight have taken the his Gandhi family in favour of Bofors. es account Was Set Omeone else to rehalf of either Rajiv en Arun Nehru and cchi was brought in
he ghost of Rajiv 'esh encounterWith ectre of Bofors. If money, Rajiv was
family friend. Bad
the money on be
s(I) using friend man, he is not the ng India to the 21st party fund collec
collected the Cash
r-up operation, he Jottrocchi and getf India and getting aken in the procO
vision, they can be trusted to do the most unexpected thing at the most unexpected time... given such a situation, the government of the day has little choice but to crack down on them... you allow them to procure medicines now, they will move on to guns before long...". Such was the typical liberal reaction.
Mr P Nedumaran and other hard-core LTTE supporters did go on a day's fast to protest the arrests. The People's Union for Civil Liberties organised a poorly attended hall-meeting and demanded the release of the arrested Lankans - their demand did not include LTTE cadre of course - and also immediate supply of medicines to the beleaguered Tamils.
The speakers including poet inquilab especially came down hard on the government for the arrest of Dr Sridhar, "How could prescribing medicines and even furnishing a list of possible suppliers by itself constitute a crime?"they wondered and also pointed out that even under the Unlawful Activities Act procuring medicines could not be termed a Crime.
Be that as it may barring those two token protest actions, the people at large tended to ignore the arrests as of no consequence. The judiciary, for its part gladly bought the argument that interacting with a banned organisation was a serious violation of law and hence merited imprisonment and prosecution.
The Tamil nationalists as also liberals frequently argue that when the RSS and other right-wing communal groups were banned in the wake of the demolition of the Babri Masjid, their members were not taken into custody. They moved about freely, addressing public meetings and making provocative Speeches. No one was barred from interacting with the leaders of the banned organisations. Why apply a different standard in the case of the LTTE alone? They ask.
Technically they are in the right. But the “patriotic sections aver that all said and done no foreign organisation daring to liquidate "our leader" can be allowed to operate from this soil. Those who say so might be downright hypocrites, or possibly they underestimate the dangers posed by the communal elements. Still the unfortunate ground reality is that such are the prevailing perceptions, and no politician dares say or do anything against Such views.
What is the way out then? To keep the LTTE angle back-stage and seek to mobilise public opinion on the single agenda of the continuing sufferings of the Lankan Tamils in the island could help open up more space. But no one is listening.
However, the larger question is whether the sectarian stress on the LTTE's exclusivity could really stoke up Tamil nationalism in a big way - in a situation of increasing rich/poor divide with unpredictable consequences for the country. O

Page 26
26 TAMIL TIMES
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Page 27
15 MARCH 1997
Book Review
ABOOK TO REFLECT ANDR Sri Lanka: Lost Opportur
by Ketheswaran Loganathan (Centre for Policy Research & Analysis, Faculty of Law, University of Colom
Review by Prof. Bertram Bastiampilla Former Senior Professor of History & Political Science, University of
This is a book that offers refreshing reading and provokes the reader to reflect, and regret, Ketheswaran critically reviews the abortive past endeavours to resolve the enduring ethnic conflict that is wrecking and ruining the "paradise isle", Sri Lanka.
He takes the reader through a long but pointless journey of futile discussions, incomplete negotiations and broken promises which has ultimately led one nowhere. The travails of the genesis of a "nation" which never succeeded in becoming an inclusive nation is incisively traced and analytically recounted.
The time during which a just dispensation could have been made when "Tamil civil society" in the initial post-independence years" was primarily conciliatory", and there was no "demand for federalism and regional autonomy" was vainly allowed to slip by,
The authorproperly identifiesthe"Sinhala Only" Act as the measure that triggered discontent and disillusionment among the Tamils which later escalated following the commission of one folly after another. A request for the use of Tamil by "the Tamil speaking minority" was considered to be only as "what the communists and communalists want" by a leading but vitriotic educationist who was in the forefront to thwart any solution meant to meet the difficulties that the Tamil speakers had to contend with when they were suddenly rendered illiterate and required to use for official purposes a language alien to them,
Asane and sensible Solution Was denied and there commenced the passive agitation of the Tamils which was suppressed by violent retaliation from some extremist elements of the majority community.
Later on, as the author recapitulates, began the marginalisation of the Tamils so as to eclipse them from the politics and the economy of the island. State sponsored colonisation resulted in a rise in the population of the majority community in the Eastern Dry Zone by about five
times from 1949 to 19 This trend, accordi manifested itself "in ch representations and electoral constituencie of the Tamil polity-part ern Province". Eventu, result of such heady a Lanka Society was rer Ketheswaran rema cal when he examines - Chelvanayagam pact, ing to the pressure of treme personalities, th 1958, and the unsucce. erations" undertaken th The author takes a Senanayake - Chelvana and the foiling of it bec vide the country" as a ments obstinately and ded. Thence began th toward self-destructio ety became sadly clea Thereafter KetheSW lineates the relationship stitutional reforms in th ergence of the cry for T rightly discerns the grie merical minority comm and then originated int tancy, The author arriv clusions about the da wrought in Sri Lankan "The education policy, ately labelled as 'stanc was severely unfair to He appropriately quotes the views of de Silvato strengthen h Throughout the study, tresses his usually vali and acceptable conclu sustaining evidence fr personalities and learn who knew much about the conflict.
Ketheswaran's lan lead him to make candi evaluating the Tamil res Constitution he unhesi
 

TAMIL TIMES 27
EGRET ties
ho, December 1996)
olombo
59. g to Ketheswaran, anges in electoral redemarcation of s, to the detriment cularly in the Eastally the disastrous tions was that Sri tapart. ins lucid and logithe Bandaranalike its abrogation owintolerant and ex9 shameful riots of ssful"Salvage Opnereafter. critical look at the yagam agreement ause it could "DifeWirrational ellerrationally conclue painful "march n”: the rift in Soci
and Surer. aran saliently debetween the con70's and the emLmil Eelam. As he vances of the nuunity aggregated xTamilyouth milisat cogent connages that Were society owing to most inappropriardisation' which
mi students. nd supportively Professor C R s understanding. etheswaran butgeneralisations ions by quoting n contemporary Commentators he intricacies of
Jage and style observations. In nse to the 1972 ingly describes
it as "High Voltage Nationalism," and in connection with the 1977 General Elections he distinguishes “Political Demagoguery." A dispassionate well-argued study is made of the "1978 Constitution and Tamil Question" and in the process he uses interesting and relevant evidence. Ketheswaran sticks to a strict chronological order as he proceeds to recapitulate the sad events that aCCounted for the incremental worsening of relations between the majority Sinhalese and the minorityTamils. The anti-Tamil riots of 1983 not only severely damaged inter-ethnic relations, but worse, it led to a militarisation of the communal conflict that had plagued the island since independence in 1948.
As the author notes the situation deteriorated so as to make India a sanctuary for Tamils who fled to survive violence, and more importantly made India a mediator in an external issue indicating the failure of the Sri Lankan authorities to solve aproblem that was created by them, and now confronted them as a monster. Yet, at the end, the writerpungently states "talking stopped and fighting intensified". But however the myopic practices of the larger lot of Sri Lankans led, as the author convincingly concludes, to an "internalisation of External Mediation" following the Indo-Lanka Accord and the 13th Amendment Ketheswaran cites diverse Sources and furnishes the reader with a full and well-probed account.
He exhibits a firsthand understanding of the events and times; a brief but catastrophic period in contemporary history. Negotiations in these years fizzled out and left the country in a worse position than ever before,
Ketheswaran sees in the sequel thereafter a missed opportunity to be lamented as having been "so close and yet so far". The account focuses on the proceedings of the Select Committee headed by Mangala Moonasinghe.
Ketheswaran Loganathan writes objectively and with muted emotion. He has assiduously consulted several sources and clearly used his findings to advantage so as to present ably in a forthright and lucid manner his considered conclusions, cogently and forcefully.
He dissects the clumsy handling of sensitive issues and diagnoses the causes for the repeated failures of leaders who had to face the formidable problems posed by the continuing conflict which has cost the country immensely.
The valuable nine appendices in his book are highly informative and usefully enhance our understanding of Kethes waran's study. Many are the lessons to be learnt from his easy to read book so as to steer clear from pitfalls and stem a march to folly if one has to handle adroitly a national question of cardinal importance; it still is not too late to do so, affirms the writer.
(Courtesy of "The Sunday Times")

Page 28
28 TAMIL TIMES
APPRECIATION
MANONIMANY SUBRAMANIAM (P
The life of my mother was not different from that of many mothers of her generation from Jaffna. Herformal education did not go beyond the fifth grade in Tamil. The enormous sacrifices and toils made on behalf of her children were also not exceptional. The tribute paid here is, therefore, a tribute to all mothers, whose sacrifices contributed to the economic advancement of their offsprings. Indeed, they played a key role in the enhancement of the family incomes and savings, which enabled many to construct decent houses and acquire the basic facilities which by the then prevailing standards were luxuries. The landsca- pe of Jaffna that emerged and which my generation admired and cherished until its destruction recently washrough the sweat, tears and prayers of many mothers.
There are many things in life that one learns outside the formal educational system, which cannot be learnt even from the prestigious universities in the world. In this respect, consider my mother as a learning institution not found elsewhere. The home in which her authority was supreme was a revered place. She laid down the rules to be observed at all times and she had her ways to deal with the miscreants. Difficult cases
needed the assistance of the God. She
would appeal to Him to drive some sense into their minds and mend their incorrect ways. Whether it was the power of the Almighty or the sight of her desperate plight seeking God's interventi- on, often she achieved her desired results.
She was the youngest daughter of a trader in the Jaffna bazaar, who sold only dried chillies from one of the many small stalls in it. He was well known not solely as a trader but as one whose advice was sought by many on various matters ranging from astrology to native medicine. She was never shy to disclose the occupation of her father and the difficulties their parents went through to educate her brothers and feed the family. She was very proud of his hardwork and attachment to the family. She too like her brothers must have had the yearning and determination to learn despite the many household chores she had to perform daily, for remember her teaching me the English alphabet. Like many other subjects, she must have learnt the alphabet from others. in so far as her priorities were concerned, the first, second and third priorities were educating the children. Hadshe had the opportunities to a formal education, there would certainly much to write about her academic achievements.
My father, the eldestina family of seven children at the time of his marriage was employed in FMS (Malaysia). His salary was the main source for providing the means for educating his brothers and ke- eping the kitchen hearth in Urumpirai (Jaffna) burning. The sacrifice of my mother started from that time. My father died in Malaysia when
was just completing and the youngest bro was the eldest of S and two giris. I had lo ing in Malaya due to tion in the 1940's an with my younger bre there. My mother sogood health and men severe shortage off father got the courag for the return of bette er's encouragement My parents neve tling permanently in eagerly looked forwa mother country. They about what their hom Secure one in the lan must have thought t older boys early to th for their eventual set from Malaya would b What we witnes desperate to emigra Would not have flasi dreams. The major cl faced after the early c to take care of her si: to Ceylon, without a had to depend chief savings and inves therefrom. She hadt the two girls married was employed. Her seem a miracle in th economic condition food subsidies no do mined efforts to prov future for the childre Her determinatic she not only built so ings but also physica constructingit, des hardships faced by citizens is typical of pendent personality friend, which still re mant she had been the Thenmaratchchi her own home, rath her "castle". The we
 

15 MARCH 1997
DOAMMAH)
my college education
ther was justa toddler. ix children - four boys st four years of schoolthe Japanese occupadl was sent to Ceylon - ther to be educated mehow kept all of us in tally strong, despite the bod during the war. My je to survive and hope rtimes from my mothand moral Support. er even dreamt of seta foreign country and rod to their return to their | never had any doubts eland was. They had a d they were bom.They hat by sending the two he homeland, the base tlement after returning e strengthened. snow when many are te to foreign countries hed even in their Worst hallenge that my mother lemise of my father was ( children on her return ny steady income. She y on the meager family ment income arising provide dowries to get which she did before accomplishments now context of the present s. Free education and ubt helped in her deteridea better and Secure
Ո, n to live in the home that ely out of her own savilly helped the ma-Sons ite the known risk and er along with her fellow her courage and indeThe letter written by a ain describeshoW adain refusing to move to area preferring to die in rthan be chased out of ak and frail lady in her
eighties was forced against her wishes to join the so-called historic exodus from Jaffna that followed the retake of the area by the military. Many of us fear-ed that her wish to die in her own home might not be fulfilled. She had throughout her life placed faith in God and He did not let her down, as she returned with the help of friends to her home when Thenmaratch-chi too was taken over by the security forc-es. Being a true believer, she attributed all the achievements and successes of her ch-ildren also to the powers of God.
During my overseas assignment in West Africa, succeeded in persuading her to join me and my children. I hardly realized then, the people and the way of life that she was going to miss. She very soon described herself as a prisoner in an alien Social and cultural environment and had to take her back to her homeland. It is still fresh in my mind the reply she gave me when described the difficult economic conditions in Jaffna. She told me that a person did not live by food alone and if there were hardships in Jaffna, she would prefer to suffer the same along with all other people there. She missed the sound of the temple bell, all the poojahs in the adjacent Ganesh temple, those dropping in for help and advice and indeed the old ladies with whom she gossiped and shared her concerns. A lesson that learnt from this experience was that unless people want willingly to live in a different social environment, it is difficult to force them into it. Those who departed before her were more fortunate in that they did not witness the destruction of their precious assets, the loss of their loved ones and untold suffering. They did not die without hope and with their expectations not fulfilled, in so far as safety and security of all members of their families are Concerned. Even occasional visits by those living far away were important for them to keep the family bonds firm. Family units are now split and members of even one family are scattered in many countries. Even at the time of death, not one among their children, grandchildren and great grand children could be around. Nor could anyone be present to cremate the dead.
This is what happened to my motherand I am sure there are many others who would have been in the same plight unable to pay the last respects to such deserving persons, whose sacrifices are not comparable with those of their progenies considering their achievements that benefitted the succeeding generations. Their contributions must not be forgotten by the community and should be recorded in the history for the present and future generations to pay homage to them.
The lady who overcame many challenges in her life and gave support and encouragement to others in their difficult times passed away on 28th January 1997 in her home in Koddady, Jaffna. She was 83 at the time of her death. She will be missed not only by her children but also by many who knew her as Pooamma, the name given by which her favourite niece (presently in New Zealand) more than six decades ago.
S. Narapalasingam

Page 29
15 MARCH 1997
By Gamini Navaratne
write the way I write Because I am a Journalist
do not owe an explanation But I do wish to get the record straight For there appears to be much misunderstanding Among a small coterie; They can't distinguish between a concubine (Member of the kept media) And a porcupine (the kind that Stings when necessary)
In the "Dark Days" of 1970-77, There arose a great leader Who fired the People's imagination With visions of a brave New Lanka, A Land flowing with milk and honey, Where people can lead a life of peace, Where Liberty and justice shall prevail in the true democratic spirit.
After 34 years in the wings He got his chance in Seventy-seven To do the wonderful things he always said He would do for his Motherland.
After six years at the helm How far are we from the Promised Land Of course, there has been DEVELOPMENT;
The results are patent in every part of the country."
As the propaganda-wallahs repeatedly Say, But the Development has been lop-sided, As the critics continue to insist, The main problems remain unsolved, Many now not knowing how to subsist
On the other hand, What were promisec Bribery, corruption, Thrive as never befo More Ominous, the a persists As people's rights ar We are inside, notou door Sosaymany oppone
Who compare Sri La Germany Yes, "free and fair" el But what is the use State power remains in a single hand!
Down the ages, Dissent has been the Of much reform and In religion, science, te arts; The Buddha was the Noble hero and reforn Who pointed the way To countless millions,
But in “Buddhist Lank To say "No" or ask "W Even venerable heads For refusing to comply
From vantage positior From privileged positi Politicians may indulg fancies
May even victimise op Assassinate reputatio The hapless victims n
(continued from page 10)
diated talks between the local leadership of the LTTE and representatives of Muslims of Oddamavadi, the reminderby the LTTE delegation that anyone that wields weapons against their struggle is an enemy and the call to the Muslim people to extend their unstinted support to their struggle is, indeed, ominous. What does the LTTE expect of the Muslims as proof of their "unstinted support"?
On the other hand, the Muslim community are being increasingly driven to seek the protection of the security forces, hence, making the allegations of "fifth columnists"a self-fulfilling prophesy.
The temptation on the part of the security-military apparatus to pour oil on troubled waters and the past experience of preying on the fears of the Muslims by arming Muslim youths and directing them against Tamil civilians, if repeated, can only lead to the further rupturing of Tamill-Muslim relations in the Eastern Province and the upward spiralling of violence.
The tendency on the part of the Tamils
in the Eastern Provint their"protectors" from ards and of the Musli nkan security forces from the LTTE, must aggravate matters,
What is required people to people con building measures inv lim sections of civil so ude vigilance against relations - in particul bloodletting and, if ne committees that includ This can only be broug Muslim villages forgin ing collectively respor safety and security,
Mediations betwe Muslim representative sure from civil society despite, ICRC's good professions of good c So, is the Tamil-N Fiction? It is both.
(Courtesy C
 

o be banished... aste and nepotism...
thoritarian trend
whittled away, side, Dictatorship's
hts.
ka to Hitler's
ctions are held, hey ask,
ntrenched
progenitor rogress chnology and the
greatest dissenter, her, to Nirvana
a", it is now a "crime" hy!"
get bashed
t
'S, DnS, 9 in whims and
ponents, hS, ay have none to
e to see the LTTE as the Muslim homeguns to see the Sri Laas their "protectors" ease. This can only
hen is an authentic act and confidencelving Tamil and Musety. This should incliny moves to disrupt r, vigilance against essary, self-defence Tamils and Muslims, it about by Tamil and closer links and beible for each other's
LTTE and the local alone, without preswill not go very fartentions and LTTE's duct.
'slim divide Factor
Weekend Express)
TAML TIMES 29
appeal to s But a wrong is a wrong. Whoever does it, And the Journalist's job is to expose it, If necessary, even tell the world; Why the world? At times and in certain situations, International public opinion is a great redeemer,
For instance, in Seventy-one, It forced the authorities To curb police and army excesses, Remember, it was the foreign Press That exposed the Manampericase?
At a time when in "Dharmista Lanka" Life is tending to become "nasty, brutish and short:", Jaffna's situation could have been worse If not for international concern,
Politicians when in the opposition Crave foreign publicity for the rulers' misdeeds,
“You’re tarnishing Sri Lanka's image!"
In other countries, Journalists take the lead
In the fight for Human Rights. In our country, they take a back seat, Many by compulsion, others by inclination, And sing the hosannas of the rulers While they remain silent Even as their own rights get eroded
They forget that, between 1970-77, Opposition politicians shouted from the rooftops, "Press Freedom is the essence of Liberty, The source of all other Liberties, Suppress, restrain or control it, Then autocracy rears its head."
Citing US and Indian precedents, prized Then they said "it is a prized privilege To speak one's mind, Although not always with perfect good taste,
On all public institutions."
They were for "the unfettered interchange Of ideas for bringing change, Political and social, Desired by the People."
Debate on public issues, they said, "Should be uninhibited, robust and wide Open,
That it may well include vehemently caustic, And sometimes unpleasantly sharp, Attacks on government and public officials For they recognised "the occasional tyrannies
Of governing majorities...”
Now it must be perfectly clear To all those who have asked, Or wondered, Why I write the way write, Neitherpelf nor position Can ever make me change, Northreats of any kind.....
(Saturday Review, 4 June 1983)

Page 30
30 TAM TIMES
*
MARMONIAL
Jaffna Hindu brother, professional engineer and Canadian citizen, working in Canada, seeks educated vegetarian groom for his slim, fair, strict vegetarian science graduate sister, 32 years, 5'3", teaching Physics and Computers at Colombo. Please telephone 613 547 5940 (Canada).
Jaffna Hindu brother seeks good looking bride, 25 to 30, for graduate (Mathematics & Computing) brother, 34, permanent UK resident in employment.
Please send horoscope and
photo (returnable). M 920 C/o Tamil Times.
US Hindu parents seek professional bride (US preferred) for MBA, East West culture son, 28, holding responsible position, horoscope immaterial. Details, photo please, M 921 C/o Tamil Times.
Jaffna Hindu parents residing in Norway seek bridegroom between 30-35 for daughter, 27, Norwegian citizen. Prepared to sponsor if in Sri Lanka or elsewhere. Send horoscope, details. M 922 C/o Tamil Times.
Seeking professionally qualified partner, 39 to 45, for Christian spinster doctor in UK employment. Christians, Catholics considered. Please give all details in first letter. Divorcees, widowers not consi
dered, M 923 C/o Tamil Times.
Jaffna Hindu parents seek groom for daughter, 35, gradu
ate teacher in Sri Lanka, Mars "
afflicted, willing migrate. Send horoscope, details. M 924 co Tani Tirnes.
Jaffna Hindu parents seek bride for son, 28, 5'6", COmputer engineer in excellent UK employment. Send horoscope, details. M 925 C/o Tamil Times.
Mother seeks educated Hindu partner for MBA professional son, 33, working in Canada. Please send details. M. 926 C/o Tamil Times.
CLASSIFIED ADS
First 20 words 10. Each additional word 60p.
Box No. 3 (vat 17 's extra) Prepayment essent
The Advertisement Manager, Tani Times Ltd. PO Box 121 Sutton, Surrey SM13TD 0181-644 0972 Fax: 0181-241. 4557.
OBITUARIES
Mrs. Samathanaranee Arnold dearly beloved wife of the late Rev. J. V.J. Arnold (Pastor J. D.C.S.I.), loving mother of Jeyaranee, late Rajan, Balan, Sunthari, Kirupa, Vathana and Chandran; mother-in-law of Yogam Lyman, Path mini, Vimala, Leslie Somanader, Ranjana, Sathyan Kadirgamar and Thevamanohari; much loved Sister of late Mr. M.R.M. Jebaratnam and late Rev. J.M.
Singanayagam passed away peacefully to be with her Lord on the 22nd of February 1997.
Her funeral service was held at her residence in Manipay on the 23rd of February.
Thanks giving services were held in Melbourne and at the C.S.I. Church, Colombo.
The members of her family thank all friends and relatives who attended the services and sent messages of sympathy. - "Peacelyn', Uduvil Road, Manірау.
Dr. Chelvathamby Perumal Pillai, Chairman/Managing Director, Agriculture Industry Consultancy Service (AICS); President, lA WID and retired FAO/UN Official; beloved husband of the late Gnanambikai Perumal Pillai; loving father of Ravi, Usha, Jeeva and Ranjit; loving father-in-law of Shanthi, Desmond, Michael and Vasuki, everloving grandfather of Rajesh, Shahila, Meera, Arun and Arjun passed away peacefully on Sunday, 2nd March in ColOmbo. Cremation took place on 5th March 1997.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

15 MARCH 1997
he members of the family press their deepest gratitude d thanks to all relatives and inds who assisted and supted them during the time of 'ir bereavement and those o attended the funeral and nt messages of condolence. 8 Boileau Road, Ealing, Lonn W5 3A.J. Tel: 0 181 997 14.
IN MEMORAM
in Loving Memory of Our Beloved Daddy Mummy
'onnampalam Wemalaranee anagaratnam Kanagaratnam Orn: 11. 10. 1908
107, 1923
Rest 23, 1982 313.90
Gently with love your memory s kept /our affection and kindness We will never forget You both are always in our houghts And for ever in our hearts.
Remembered with love and affection by sons Sara, Brem and Dubsy; daughters-in-law Lalitha and Shyamala; and grandchildren Janarthan, Mehala, Uthistran, Arani and Anuja. - 19 Huxley Place, Palmers Green, London N135SU. Tel 018 1 886 5966.
!
ln loving memory of Dr. Sinnathamby Selvarajah, Retired R.M.P., Kandermadam, Jafna on the Fifth Anniversary of his passing away on 25.3.92.
"Love and memories last for ever.
Sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his wife Thanaluxmy, children, son-in-law, daughters-in-law and grand Children. - 6 Birchwood Close, Blackwood, Gwent NP2 1 WX.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
March 29 6.30pm Asian Education & Fine Arts Trust presents Carnatic Vocal Concert by Shanmuka Priya & Hari Priya Subba Ram at Winston Churchill Hall, Pinn Way, Ruislip, Middx. Tel: O181 904 7387/ 930 3811.
April 2 Ekathasi.
Apr. 3 Feast of St. Richard; Krishna Ekathasi. Apr. 5 Feast of St. Vincent; PirathOSam. Apr. 6 6.30pm Carnatic Vocal Recital by Priya Sisters at Highgate Murugan Temple Hall, 200A Archway Road, London N65BA. Tel 0181 348 9835. Apr. 7 Amavasai. Apr. 10 Chathurthi; Karthigai. Apr. 11 Feast of St. Stanislaus. Apr. 12 Shashdi. Apr. 13 12.30pm S.C.O.T. presents Tamil New Year Lunch and 20th Anniversary Celebrations at Victoria Hall, Ealing TOVV Hall. Tel 0181952 7249. Apr. 14 Hindu New Year. Apr. 16 Feast of St. Bernadette. Apr. 19 6.30pm Tamil Association of Brent Conducts Tamil New Year Celebrations at Brent Town Hall, Forty Lane, Wembley, Middix. Tel: 01818686485. Apr. 20 Pirathosam. Apr. 22 Full Moon. Apr. 23 Feast of St. George. Apr. 25 Feast of St. Mark. Apr. 29 Feast of St. Catherine. May 3 6.15pm Kokuvil Hindu College O.S.A. (UK Branch) presents Variety Entertainment at Claremont High School Hall, Claremont Avenue, Kenton, Harrow, Middx. Tel: 0181 578 3159/761 O358.
At Bhawan Centre, 4A Castletown Road, London W14 9HQ. Te: O171 381 3086 4608. Apr. 13 6.00pm Kuchipudi Dance by Yasoda Rao from India. Apr. 26 7.00pm Carnatic Vocal by Sivasakthi Sivanesan. Apr. 27 6.00pm Bharatha Natyam by Nina Rajarani.
Kancheepuram Kurai Sarees, Silk Verties, Shawis & Pavadais
Please Phone Mrs Sita Venkatraman
O1812O3 1786 Fax: 0181 203 6619

Page 31
15 MARCH 1997
The Vembadi Old Girls' Association Dinner-Dance took place at the Ryde Civic Centre, Sydney on 22nd November 1997. Guests started arriving at 7.00pm and were served with drinks and short-eats. The well known Sri Lankan band Amits' provided the music. At 8.30, the school anthem and the Tamil anthem were sung with great gusto by the Old Girls assembled and the President of the O.G.A. Mrs. Devi Balasubramaniam welcomed the guests. She said that the Committee had worked very hard to organise the function, so that Old Girls could meet and relive their fond memories of Vembadi. She said that whatever profits were made would be banked in Sydney and remitted to the school back at home whenever there is a specific request. She thanked the committee, the advertisers, the caterers, the band, the compere, the Ryde Civic Centre and all those present for their wonderful response.
The guests took to the dance floor till 930 when dinner was served. During dinner there was a Souvenir Draw and a Lucky Door Prize Draw and dancing continued with Baila music and songs followed by the Macarena. The dance floor was packed with people having a great time. There was a coffee break at 11.15, folllowed by the raffle draw and a vote of thanks by the secretary Mrs. Shantha Fonseka and dancing continued till 1.00am. The function was a great success and most guests wanted to know when the next Dinner-Dance was going to be held.
The Tamil Senior Citizens' Association of Sydney organised a Thai Pongal Festivall on 11th January at the Homebush Public School Hall. The programme included Music, Dances, Flute and Veena recitals by members, their children and friends. The hall was packed with members, their friends and well-wishers. At the end of the programme various tasty dishes including sweet 'Pongal" were served.
On Australia Day - 26th January - the Senior Citizens set up a free food stall in Strathfield Park as part of the celebrations and it was greatly appreciated by the local population.
CANADAN
NEWSLETTER
Weather: Here in Toronto, it is cloudy and mild. Blistering wind with intermittent light snow seems to be the order of the day. Elsewhere in the country, the temperature is above seasonal norm.
Five Years Residence Requirement: A recent directive from the Federal Minister for Citizenship and immigration stipulates that application for Landed Immigrant Status can only be made after a period of five years from the date the refugee sans i.D. arrives in Canada. Exception however is made in the case of the Somalis and Afghans on the ground that there are no governments in these countries. There are
about 15,000 refu Afghans number 7 and the Sri Lankan Of the balance. 7 when they make th
status after five yea
in an additional f Convention Refug (UCRCC). Their tra as they have to pa Security Clearance yet another 2 to 3
are in a no-win Si migration insists or obtained prior to ar
Armed Tamil, Pul the Street: Armed between Tamil at recently near an Et Kipling and Finch
extremely worrying activity among Tam Communities. What kind of armoury tha disposal of these ya
A Tri Mr. Mohand
it is indeed a great pay tribute to Mr M Colleague, a very uished economist : man being. Mr. San Was known to his f joined the Asian December 1970. T. and expertise eat throughout the Asia. quently in 1977, the Commission for A which is based in B Services of Mr. San activities, for an init However, due to tribution to furth ESCAP sought the Sideration to extend another three years. to the Asian Develd was among other t ble for the publicati entitled. "The Devel Was One of the Ba. This publication whit mic performances member Countries amines their future to an invited audien ists World Wide at á Cides with the Ban April.
The famous Le Kahlil Gibran has Sa “You give but liti your possessions. it is only when yo that you truly give
Sammy has alwa self to his colleague community.
He was instrumet Staff Association o ment Bank. He wC gave of his time a
 
 

TAMIL TIMES 31
Jees in this class, the 00, the Somalis 6,800 Tamils Constitute 1,400 his class of refugees 2 application for landed rs residence have to fill Drn - Undocumented ee in Canada Class Vails do not end there, S another hurdle - the - which should take years. These refugees uation as Canada liman identity document riving in Canada.
jabi Youths Take to confrontation erupted ld Punjabi teenagers bicoke high rise in the area. It indicates an escalation of gang til and sub continental is more shocking is the at seems to be at the Putih gangs.
bute to las K. Samuel
privilege and honour to Ohandas K. Samuel, a dear friend, a distingand an exemplary hunuel or 'Sammy' as he "iends and colleagues, Development Bank in he quality of his work "ned him recognition -Pacific region. ConseEconomic and Social Asia-Pacific (ESCAP), angkok, requested the uel to help expand its ial period of one year. Sammy's valued con2ring its objectives, Banks favourable ConSammy's services for Shortly after his return pment Bank, Sammy, nings, made responsion of an annual report pment Outlook' which nk's flagship projects. h analyses the econoof all the developing of the Bank and ex}rospects is presented 2e of leading economSeminar which COin's Annual Meeting in
banese philosopher id:
le when you give of
I give of yourself
's freely given of hims, friends, family and
tal in establishing the the Asian Developrked hard and freely ld money to resolve
inconsistencies that were perceived to exist between the Bank's Personnel poliCies and practices. I am personally aware that he always graciously declined offers of financial contributions from his colleagues who stood to benefit substantially from the Success of Sammy's efforts. His wise Counsel was always sought by friends and Colleagues. Even after his retirement in January 1995, whenever Sammy visited the Bank, his colleagues would be seen to eagerly invite him into their offices for advice on a variety of matters.
Besides his selfless service to the Bank, friends, colleagues and community, he was also an exemplary family man. He was a devoted son to his mother, a kind and caring brother, a doting father to his lovely children and a very dear and loving husband to his beloved Utaiwan. In fact my wife and l have always thought of Sammy and Utaiwan as caring and loving to each other and to others and wish we could always be like that.
in our culture we equate a selfless person such as Sammy to a great tree which by nature, not only provides sustenance to all but also shade to those who live near it and to passers by. Today the life of such a great and noble tree has COme to an end.
We know that Sammy has ascended to the finest place ever. We consider our encounter with Sammy as a truly enriching experience. The highest tribute we can ever pay such a noble human being is to emulate his example.
Dr. Sri B. Sri-Skanda-Rajah,
London. Saturday, 08 February, 1997.
Shobana's Natyam Skill
It is unfortunate that a visiting Bharatanatyam artiste had to be introduced to our London Tamil audience via her appearance in films. True, this young artiste Shobana Chandrakumar of Madras sponsored by Sangamam a local arts group, has appeared in some Malayalam films, and incidentally related to the former film star Padmini. But in her own right Shobana is a frontline Bharatanatya star, trained by the well known Chitra Visveswaran. Her performance on the Logan Hall stage on 18th January was a model which contained every classical element prescribed by ancients. The programme was the usual pattern but the variety of Adavus and detailed Abhinaya sequences showed the dancer's training and involvement. Nattuvangam was by Srikala Suresh, another

Page 32
32 TAMILTIMES
Chitra Visveswaran product, and music was by Girija Ramaswamy, a postgraduate of Madras University, Mridangam by Perunkulam Sundararaman and flute by SrinivaSan.
It is a pity that our aspiring dance students and teachers were not seen to watch this programme. The admission rate could have been more wisely structured to attract wider audience. The sponsors deserve congratulations.
The Triumph of The Trio
The Triple Arangetrams - two Veenas and a Mirudangam - of two sisters and their brother, Children of Sri and Snt Chandrapalan took place at the Greenford Town Hall on 29.9.96. The eagerness, interest and dedication of the family to commit time and effort and encourage the youngsters to perfect the art forms was indeed laudable.
The two sisters Pirabalini and Bruntha, students of Smt Sivatharini Sahadevan were the stars on the Veena and their brother Senthouran, student of Sri Muthu Sivarajah was the star on the Mirudangam, Both Gurus are from the London Tamil Centre.
Right from the commencement of the repertoire, the youngsters were full of confidence and their performance mirrored this. With a customary Varnam, Viriboni in Bhairavi Ragam they proceeded to execute various Ragas and Thalas in varying rhythm and subtlety. The Trio have a keen interest in Tamil language and l have heard young Bruntha sing before and there is no doubt that the basic knowledge of religion, culture, language and musicology has enabled all three of them to understand and appreciate the instrumental intricacies of Indian music.
guidance of their Guru played the Veena with utmost ease. They had mastered the finger and hand movements well and their playing brought out the details of the Ragas, Swaras and the lyrics of the individual items they were rendering, obviously because of their knowledge of vocal music. Senthouran with his able Guru by his side was equally at ease and immersed himself in the whole programme like a professional with many years of experience behind him. Only the soft and non interfering guidance of his Guru reminded us that this was an Arangetram. The Thani Avarthanam, Jugalbandi performed with Sri Bhaskaran. On Ghatan and Sri Kandiah Sithamparanathan on Morsing was composed with many Tala variations and performed it perfectly. The traditional manner
of teaching by both doubt been the found tion of excellence.
Sri Karaikudi Krishr dangam Virtuoso an Packiarajah, an emine Sri Ratnam Niththya Tamil Centre praised their masterly perfc Gurus for their tireless Ponnambalam compe well with her good co diction of Tamil.
We should look for ters performing again Soon, as I know that packed up their instr. day.
Dr. (Smit) ||
KaVadi F in Seyc
Large crowds of dev sidewalks of the road sakthi Vinayagar T Seychelles on the mc watch and enjoy them moving step by step Nathaswaran music. Thai Poosam, an imp celebrated in many Seychelles.
Devotees watched ing of sharp silver n body, the cheeks and devotees who carried Kavadis. While large C Colourful saree-clad milk on their heads t Lord Murugan and the vadis, buckets of splashed all over the 1 of the procession coc types of infection.
Tamil Storytel
Ealing Road Library Storytelling sessions alternate Saturdays
from 9.30 to 10.30ar
The storytelling wi West London Tamil meniran, the Library Manager, who orga, Cessful Tamil Bazaa year said: "We are v rate with the Tamil Tamil mother tongu that the story tellin young children to growing collection books.
 
 
 

15 MARCH 1997
Peir Gurus has no tion for the execu
moorthy, the Miru
Smit Saraswathy ?t musicologist and anthan of London the youngsters for nance and their 'eaching. Smt Arasi ed the programme nmand and perfect
tard to the youngsand hope they will mOrne Of therm have ments after the big
Manju Sivanathan.
estival helles
otees thronged the S around the Nava9mple in Victoria, orning of 23.1.97 to ulti-coloured Kavadi
to the Tha vil and
The occasion was Drtant Hindu festival Countries, including
notionless the pierceedles all over the he tongues of seven the colourful Alagu owds witnessed the adies carry pots of fulfil their VOWs to males carry PatkaInneric-water were ad to keep the path and to ward of all
ing Sessions vill be hosting Tamil
or young children on Om 8th March 1997
be performed by the :hool. Yamuna TharCustomer Services sed the highly suc
and Bookfayre last ry happy to CollaboSchool in promoting
teaching and hope
will encourage the orrow the library's of Tamil children's
*ஃ.x x * x x
రోశ భ%. . . XXXX, ..., :X
Unni Krishnan Excels
Tamil Orphans Trust in London should have been pleased at their effort in inviting the youthful Carnatic vidwan Unnikrishnan for their fund raising programme on 9th February at Brent Town Hall. (South London friends would remember his surprise appearance on the stage of Kalabhavanam in mid 1995). Already acquainted through a film hit in Malayalam, a full house attended and enjoyed the brilliant performance of Unnikrishnan with his expert accompanists. The selection of compositions, elaboration of the main ragas and the swara formulations were some
thing to be admired from this youthful
master, V. Ramamurthi on the violin, S. Ranganathan on the mridangam and A. Shankar on the Gatam did a splendid job. The presence of Unni's young wife with her Tambura was glittering.
Although the concert was brilliant by itself, the decorated canopy of the auditorium swallowed most of the reverberation essential for music concerts. The Orphans Trust is to be congratulated for this concert, but as a matter of courtesy some one should have spoken complimenting the performance. Instead, permitting a frivolous and ill mannered babble on the stage is deprecated.
- Sivapatha Sundaram.
Dance Debut of Dakshayi
The Bharatha Natya Arangetram of Dakshayi daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Danapathy of East Ham and disciple of Natya Visharatha Annapoorani Sathyamoorthy took place at the Thurrock Civic Hall, Essex on 23.11.96. Being a devotee of Sri Sathya Sai Baba, she chose his birth date for this auspicious event. Smt Annapoorani is the Director of Sri Meenakshi Bharata Natya Pathi in East Ham and Dakshayi is the third student to have her graduation under this talented and dedicated teacher.
Dakshayi should be commended for her swift footwork and stamina, which was very noticeable in the Varnam 'Samiyai' in

Page 33
15 MARCH 1997
Poorvikalyani Ragam and the Thillana in Kadanakuthookala Ragam. She also excelled in the Dasavatharam and the patham on Goddess Ahilandeswari in Ragamalika composed by Sri S. Sathyamoorthy. The Chief Guest Mr. R. Pathmanathan, President of Saiva Munnetta Sangam (UK) highly complimented this multi talented young lady.
The orchestra for the evening consisted of Nattu vangam: Smit Annapoorani Sathyamoorthy, Vocal Smt Ambika Thamotheram, Mridangam: Sri Muthu Sivarajah, Veena. Smt Gomathy Subramaniam, Flute: Sri P. Gnanavarathan and Morsing: Sri K. Sithamparanathan.
Yogaratnam Wins Award
Mr. Visuvalingam Yogaratnam of Hereford has been presented the William Hunting Award which is given annually in recognition of the best Clinical article by a practising veterinary surgeon in the "Veterinary Record". Hispaper Analysis of the causes of high rates of carcase rejection at a poultry processing plant' was chosen as a winner in this year's award. The picture of Mr. Yogaratnam receiving the award of a Silver medal and £250 from Mr. R.M. Stephenson, the President of the British Veterinary Association appears above.
Vina Arangetram of Yamini and Vahini
܂ܢ\اثر N/ WYمحمد ؟ Aノ/\ است The Vina Arangetram of Yamini and Vahini, daughters of Mr. & Mrs. Paramesan and students of Smt Sivasakti Sivanesan took place on 26.10.96. They did their Guru proud that day and it was a privilege to have as chief guest Dr. Basu, acting director of the Nehru Centre, and Mrs. Basu as well as Guests of Honour including Dr. M. N. Nandakumara, Mrs. West from Tiffin Girls' School, Mrs. Saraswathi Pakiaraja and Mrs. Dhanadevi Mitradevi, a renowned violinist from Canada.
Yamini and Vahini were beautifully supported on Mrdangam by Vidwan M. Balachandar, happily in rhythmic accompaniment by Vidwan R.N. Prakash on Ghatam and Selvi Devaki Gnananandha providing Tambura sruti. Yamini and Vahini opened a rich and varied programme with Vanajakshi in Kalyani followed by Vandenishamam in Hamsadhvani provid
ing the artistes a cha musical fireworks. Th charatna piece by Tya performed the com Charanas excellently. Mysore Vasudevach, principal item before playing was Superb a Kalpanasvara dexterc After the interval Ya to fresh highlights in and Pallavi. After a re na and Tanam they p superbly to be follo passages and Svá Kalyanavasantam anc Malai poludinile was lightful praise of Godd janani, in Ratipatipr found himself 'singing bam nerkayil and Thi altogether wonderful After speeches the pe cluded with Tiruppuka SuCCess to Yannini and
&
The Late s. ال Advocate
in June last year the Adelaide, Australia, Advocate, after heart Son of S. Sabaratnar the grandson of S. known as Headmaste the Methodist Tamil South. The death was knew him.
His mother was frc and so Jeyam (as he friends) had his e Drieberg College, Ch he went to Jaffna Co and passed the Lond amination-in-Arts. Late College and passed ( He set up practice in the family was well kn
in Course of time, practice. As a lawyer, integrity, for his ability and his sound and lu law. He was also know and generosity, as his
He built his hous College, and so we be Mrs. Jeyasingham w. and many were the ha we spent after the we Jeyam was widely r literature, history, pol stimulating conversati
 
 
 
 
 
 

TAMIL TIMES 33
nce to display some 2re ensued the Pangaraja in which they plex Svarasahitiya Another piece from anyar followed, the the Interval. Their nd their passages of PuS in the extreme. mini and Vahini rose their Ragam Tanam ally excellent Alapaerformed the Pallavi ved by Ragamalika ra that included | Mohanam. Kalki S' followed by the deess Minakshi, Jagajiya. Your reviewer along to it! Thunlana rounded off an debut performance. rformance was Conland Mangalam. All Vahini in the future
Dr. John R. Marr.
eyasingham,
're passed away in
S. Jeyasingham, surgery. He was the n (Postmaster) and Sinnathamby, wellr for a long time of
School of Puloly mourned by all who
m Chavakachcheri, was known to his arly education at avakachcheri. Then lege, Vaddukoddai, Dn intermediate Exr, hejoined the Law ut as an Advocate. Point Pedro, where OWr. he built up a good he was known for his as a Cross-examiner cid exposition of the in for his helpfulness
clients will testify.
2 opposite Hartley "came close friends. as a good hostess, opy Friday evenings 2k'S WOrk WaS Over. ad in many fields: tics etc. He was a onalist, but forthright
in the expression of his views. Like many young idealists of his day, he was a Communist in politics. It was generally believed that young Communists were trained by the Party in the Arts of Debate. Many who heard Jeyam explaining the many virtues of Communism realized how good a debater he was.
While his friend, P. Kandiah, Contested Parliamentary elections, Jeyam took part in Local Government. As Chairman of the Kaddaively Village Committee, he ran a model administration. He was unsparing in the condemnation of wrong and dealt firmly with offenders.
During the late eighties and nineties, when things became unsettled in the North-East, and the Law Courts were not functioning and outspokenness became a hazard, he lived with his daughters in Brunei and Australia. In 1995, when the Jeyasinghams came to the U.K. for their niece's wedding, we met several times, Talking of his operation, he said, "I must have the operation. I am not afraid to die, but my wife will miss me, though our daughters will do all they can."
He passed away on 3rd June, 1996 and the funeral took place at the house of his Cousin T. Vijayaraj, in Adelaide. Our sinCerest sympathies to his wife, Thevi (Darwin, Australia), to Vathanie (Brunei), and Jeyanthie (Nigeria) his daughters, and their families.
K. Pooranampillai.
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Page 34
34 TAMIL TIMES
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