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| Re e Imbering the Birth (entena uf
 

S Handy Perinbanayagar) : 28.3, 1899 - 11.12, 1977

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"I do not agree with a word of what you say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it.”
-Voltaire
ISSN 0266 - 44 88 Vol. XVIII No. 5 15 MAY 1999
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Congress in a Pickle 03 News Review 04 Mass Grave Probe 10 Journalist Turns Killer 10 Tamil Groups Fight 11 Pakistan Muzzles Press 11 Rajiv Assassination 13 Jaffna Youth Congress 19 BJP-DMK Alliane 26 Poetry for Progress 29 Classified 30
Sonia Gand pickle in which i the veryhigh le Behari Vajpaye there Would be Would be the CC to come up wit resulted in Pres leaving Vajpaye As the Cong the BJP and its the prospect of Credentials of S only to be expe However, th Self Was as une members Shara the issue withi President, Vice a natural born and in the dolc Over the leader A "very hurt tendering her r response, she anyone doubt n deliberately ke dered. "I came impediment. Th Shocked an widespread car Withdraw there the three leadir State and appe “it was of the fir Gandhi as pres Mrs Gandh that she faced Prime Minister ment itself haS had received ir fered more sec Now the Co new party and Which will be C Same time. But the BJP in the
The initial e down is no mOr head would no forthcoming ele ing those in Ta Manila Congre which party the Coalition will en
 
 

TAM TIMES 3
pngressina Pickle f its Own Creation
hi is back as President of the Congress in India, but the tfinds itself is truly pathetic with splits and expulsions at vels of the party. When the BJP-led coalition under Atal e was thrown out in a confidence vote, it was thought an alternative government installed at the head of which ongress. But the failure of the secular opposition parties h the numbers needed to sustain such a government sident Narayanan declaring another round of elections 2e to lead a Caretaker administration.
ress projected Sonia as its candidate for Premiership, hindu nationalist allies orchestrated a campaign against the "foreigner" heading the country. The Italian christian Sonia became the "big issue" of the day. But that was Cted from the BJP and its allies. Ie revolt against "the foreigner" within the Congress it}xpected as it was self-destructive. Three of its leading ad Pawar, PA Sangama and Tariq Anwar not only raised h the party, but also have proposed that the posts of President and Prime Minister of India should be held by citizen of the country. When the Congress was down Irums, these very leaders pleaded with Sonia to take ship and rescue the party. and upset" Sonia plunged the Congress into a crisis by esignation as President of the party. In an emotional asked her party men., "What have I done that makes ny commitment and loyalty to India?" She said that she pt away from politics after her husband Rajiv was murinto politics on your request and now I have become an ere is no reason for me to continue in office." d dazed by Sonia's sudden decision, there was a mpaign within and without the Congress to get her to signation. The Congress Working Committee expelled ng dissidents and 26 more particularly from Maharastra aled to Sonia for the second time to return stating that m conviction that the continued leadership of Mrs. ident was indispensable." . i is back as president of the Congress amidst reports a security threat to her life. A Congress delegation met Vajpayee requesting more security for her. The governconfirmed that few weeks ago the Intelligence Bureau formation concerning a plot to kill Mrs Gandhi, and ofurity for her. ngress dissidents led by Pawar have decided to form a strike a deal with other parties to create a "third front" ampaigning against the BJP and the Congress at the many believe that Pawar is more likely to link up with unup to the election. uphoria at the time the BJP-led coalition was brought e. Many believe that the Congress even with Sonia at its t be able to recover to score an outright victory at the !ction. The minor regional parties and groupings, includmil Nadu like Jayalalitha's AIADMK, Moopanar's Tamil ss and Karunanidhi's DMK, are in a quandery as to with y should align. The prospects are that another unstable herge which will not be good for Indian democracy.

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4 TAM TIMES
NEWS REVIE
The Provincial Council elections for 5 Provincial Councils (Uva, Sabaraga muwa, Central, North-Central and Wes tern) which were held on April 6 dominated the political debate during the month of April. The PA won all five Councils, albeit with a very small margin. Following this victory, speculation was rife regarding the holding of nationalelections - Parliamentary or Presidential - within the next few months. In the immediate aftermath of the electi ons, there was total confusion as to the Chief Ministerial candidates for the PA. Several key Cabinet Ministers had actively campaigned in the Provinces on the assumption that they would resign from their posts in the Cabinet and take over as Chief Ministers of the Provinces. However, following the announcement of the election results, there was a technical point raised which pre-empted their being sworn in as Chief Ministers, at least in the first instance.
The election campaign was marred by incidents of violence, including four deaths, and by unrelenting sniping between the PA Polls Watch group and the independent election monitoring groups - PAFFREL, the MFFE and the CMEV.
The Election Monitoring Committee collapsed before the election date, with there being serious disagreements among the group. As a consequence, the UNP and the JVP refused to sign a joint statement calling fora violence-free ellection day. The attempt made by the Committee, chaired by President Kumaratunga and made up of representatives of 12 political parties, to recover unlicensed weapons issued to members ofpolitical parties for their protection in the period 1987 to 1989. Police and army officials believe at least 6000 weapons were issued.
Following the elections, political tensions sharpened, with the PA needing coalition partners in each of the Councils in order to carry forward any programme of provincial development. Acrimony between the PA and the UNP also remained high, with little or no hope being visible of reaching any national consensus on any economic or political issues.
On April 7, the Southern Province Provincial Council was dissolved, and
notice of nominati cordingly, the Ret ceived nominations retariats (Kachcher Administrative Dist during the period A on April 29. Forme position of the Sc Council M.S. Ama the ranks of the U the elections over garding the UNP's candidate. The Pre ported to have had widow of slain JV to Solicit her suppo paign in the Southe
Tamil political express their discor tion in the north an the take-over of laI ninsula was a parti attention. At a meet Deputy Mayor of Ja (TULF) Douglas I D. Sidharthan (PL nathan (TELO), a (EPRLF) the parties the take over of 1 Tamils in Walligam, and legally. They als ernment to lift the in Valikamam Nort The insensitivi raised by the Tam once again highlig taken by the Minist tion to appoint a te books for secondar Sinhala and have t Tamil. The non-incl cationists in this pro disturbing in view Ministry had been mistakes, both gram and distortions of h texts for the current The death of Ve dran, a 39 year old killed himself in G March 1999, rather Sri Lanka highlight tion being faced by ers from Sri Lanka i tries. The growing ri asylum and migratic is having a severe of not only the asy
 

15 AY 1999
on was issued. Acurning Officers reat the District Secies) of each of the ricts of the Province, \pril 22 to 12 noon r Leader of the Opouthern Provincial asiri defected from NP in the run-up to a disagreement reChief Ministerial sident was also reIl a discussion with P leader Wijeweera rt for the PA camrn Province. parties continued to tent with the situad east. The issue of nd in the Jaffna pecular focus of their ting attended by the ffna, Mr. N. Raviraj Devananda (EPDP), )TE) A. Adaikaland Premachandran s resolved to oppose ands belonging to am north politically so called on the govban on resettlement h immediately. ty to the problems il community was hted by a decision ry of Higher Educaam to prepare texty school children in hem translated into lusion of Tamil eduocess is particularly of the fact that the apprised of several matical and factual listory in the Tamil t year. eluppilai BalachanTamil refugee, who ermany on the 23rd than be deported to ted the tragic situamany asylum Seekin the western counestrictions placed on on in those countries impact on the lives lum-seekers them
selves but on their families and on the Tamil community as a whole. Although the situation of Tamils returning from abroad continues to be insecure even in Colombo, many liberal states in western Europe have continued with a policy of returning those asylum seekers whose applications are rejected.
The March 30 kidnapping of former Aitken Spence Chairman and now director G. C. Wickremasinghe sent shockwaves through the business community in Colombo and the investigations into the abduction revealed a network linking the underworld and members of the security forces. Mr. Wickremasinghe was stopped by men in police uniform while on his way for golf at the Royal Colombo Golf Club. He stopped his vehicle, believing it to be a routine security check. His wife later on reportedly paid Rs. 20 million as ransom and obtained his release.
In the course of the investigation, Police took into custody a Reserve SubInspector of Police and a Navy deserter. Mr. Wickramasinghe five of the six suspects involved in his abduction during an identification parade.
Lawyers representing the suspects have raised doubts about the manner in which the identifications had been made, alleging that the Police had paraded their clients before some person that they suspected to be witnesses and allowed their clients to be photographed before the formal identification parade was held.
On April 25, thousands of youth from all races and religions participated in a festival of peace organised in Colombo by the Centre for Society and Religion. Activities took place throughout the day, and included a peace march to Viharamahadevi Park and an intercultural festival of peace at which music, song and drama items were presented by Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim youth.
The peace festival is been held to mark the first anniversary of an intercultural multi religious youth exchange programme during which youth groups from the CSR went to various part of the country for an in-depth dialogue with youth in those areas. During those dialogue a deep relationship of trust was built among Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim youth and it was sustained throughout the year through various forms of sharing.
Thirteen rallies and processions were organised for May Day. The PA

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15 MAY 1999
rally and procession was fixed for Colombo while the UNP was to hold its rally in Galle. The other main rallies were of the JVP, the CWG and the CMU in Colombo and the MEP in Gampaha.
Provincial Council Elections
Over 7 million voters went to the polls on April 6, to elect 263 members to 5 Provincial Councils. There were 5942 polling booths, and over 32,000 Police officers and 60,000 public officials were deployed at each polling booth. 12 political parties and some independent groups fielded 2445 candidates for the elections.
The PA won all five Councils. In Uva, the PA won 17 seats while the UNP won 14; in Sabaragamuwa, the results were PA 22 seats, UNP 19 seats; in the North-Central Province, the PA won 19 seats while the UNP won 12 seats; the results of the Central Province were 26 seats for the PA and 23 for the UNP; the NUW won 6 seats; in the Western Province, the PA won 46 seats and the UNP 44 seats. The JVP won 14 seats in all, 2 (Uva) l (Sabaragamuwa) 2 (NCP) l (CP) and 8 (WP). The UNP's candidate for Chief Minister of the Western Province, former Mayor of Colombo, Karu Jayasuriya, won the largest number of preferential votes - 250,179.
Campaign-related Violence
During the campaign, there were many reported incidents of violence, mostly assault and intimidation. At least six people were killed during the campaign, four as a result of intra-party rivalries rather than in clashes between opposing parties. There were seven attempted murders. Other complaints included those of assault, arson, damage to property and abuse.
For example, Police used tear gas to disperse a mob which clashed in front of Hasalaka police station on the afternoon of April 4, following a row over preferential votes between two groups of PA supporters. In the clash at least five men sustained injuries and were admitted to hospital. In another incident a bomb was thrown at the UNP office at Kegalle. One person identified as Arumugam was killed while three others were wounded. An argument between two PA candidates at a propaganda rally of the party held at HawaEliya in Nuwara Eliya resulted in the supporters of one candidate running berserk and damaging two vehicles.
Several incidents of violence were
reported on electic sault and intimida didate for Chief M ern Province, Karl vehicle attacked saulted in Ratmala the JVP’s publici: Weerawansa was incident. Sanjeewa nator for the Cent CMEV was assau fied group while policemen outside Some incident following election supporter was kill sion in Ududumbal 6th while there we houses attacked a Central and North On April 6, the received a total o' election related CMEV's records incidents.
Election Monitor Attacks on Media The Provincia campaign was mar dents of violence versy regarding th porting of such vic dia and several key launched an almo: several key figur Monitoring Electic of which the Fre (FMM) is a const PA established it group, and made tempts to drive a CMEV and the ot election-monitorir and the MFFE.
On March 30 a statement issued retary and Ministe using the CMEV organisation' oft ing reports and of ing foreign fun( Watch also appro. sations that had election monitori the Asia Foundati tions.
On April 5, th issued a joint si Messrs. Godfrey man PAFFRIEL (Secretary, MFFE Saravanamuttu, (

TAMIL TIMES5
1 day, mostly of ason. The UNP canInister in the WestJayasuriya, had his nd Supporters asna on election day; y Secretary Wimal also injured in this Wijesekera, coordial province for the ted by an unidentihe was speaking to a polling station.
were also reported lay on April 6. A PA d in a bomb exploa, on the night of the re several reports of ld set on fire in the Central Provinces. Police said they had 965 complaints of violence while the showed over 1800
ing
l Councils election red not only by incibut also by controe monitoring and relence. The state mef Ministers of the PA st personal attack on es of the Centre for on Violence (CMEV) Media Movement ituent member. The s own Polls Watch several blatant atwedge between the her two independent g groups, PAFFREL
newspapers carried by PA General SecD. M. Jayaratna accfacting as a "branch he UNP, of fabricatobtaining and misusing. The PA Polls ched several organiunded the CMEV's ng exercise, such as on, with these allega
3 monitoring groups atement, signed by Gunatilleke (Chair, Wimal Fernando ) and Dr. Paikiasothy MEV) saying: “We
believe that the participation of citizens in monitoring elections is an essential part of the democratic process and have engaged in election monitoring at the national and local levels during previous elections in Sri Lanka. In the process we have always made it clear that our primary concern is for the safeguarding of democratic freedoms in our country.We have been at the receiving end of criticism for bringing to the attention of the public the various violations of elections laws that have tragically become an integral part of the dominant political culture. Sadly, some of this criticism has taken the form of threats and intimidation directed at CMEV. Our resolve to defend democratic principles remains unshaken. We call upon all members of the public to extend to us their fullest support to strengthen and protect the integrity of the electoral process and democratic governance Sri Lanka”.
The war in the North and East
April 19 marked the fourth anniversary of the launching of Eelam War III and there was a security alert on the basis that the LTTE would launch a major attack on some point of the defence lines. However, this did not materialise. The fact that the LTTE has not launched any big attacks is seen by some to be an indication of their waning strength, while others speculate that the LTTE is beginning to turn its attention to a more systematic diplomatic campaign at the international level. The Sri Lankan security forces continue to suffer from a shortage of human-power and the Defence Ministry announced yetanother recruitment drive to begin in May. In early April, there were clashes reported between the LTTE and the army in Paranthan and also in areas close to the Forward Defence Lines in the Vanni. There were casualties on both sides, but the Sri Lankan army continued to hold on to the territory it had captured in the earlier military operation.
On April 19, the Kilali Naval base which was set up after the Jaffna peninsula was brought under the control of the armed forces in 1996 came under attack by the LTTE. 6 LTTErs were reported to have been killed in this enCOunter.
Meanwhile, the army began to work towards establishing a new camp in the Vadamarachchi East sector in the Jaffna peninsula which has been under LTTE control. Troops were reported to have

Page 6
6 TAM TIMES
landed on the Nagarkovil seacoast and started building bunkers in the area near the village of Mamunai.
In April, the Sri Lanka Navy took delivery of a British built hovercraft and Defence Ministry officials said they would be seeking to purchase more British armaments as the United Kingdom's policy on arms exports no longer bars arms sales to Sri Lanka. The British policy is guided by the principle that they will not issue export licences for the sale of arms to regimes that might use them for internal repression or international aggression, nor where they might intensify or prolong existing armed conflicts or where they might be used to abuse human rights.
Naval firepower was also expected to increase significantly once the 5 Chinese built gunboats purchased in 1998 join the northern and eastern naval units. The deployment of these vessels had been delayed until comprehensive sea trials had been concluded.
Civilian Life in Jaffna
The building of a new army camp in the Vadamarachchi east sector has led to a number of complaints regarding the use of forced civilian labour for military purposes. Reports from the peninsula said that all males from Manmunai had been deployed on April 22 to cut and destroy mangroves on either side of the road to Eluthumadduwaal. Complaints have also been made about the environmental destruction caused by this act, as well as about the use of civilian transport by members of the armed forces in this area.
There were several reports of arrests of young men and women by the army in the Jaffna peninsula throughout the month of April 1999. Among the names recorded were: Vincent Anthonydaas ( 23) of Point Pedro who worked at an ice cream parlour in the town; Navaratnam Ananthagopan (22), and Kaneshamoorthy Thavananthan (24) of Sirupiddy west, Neervely, who were taken into custody near the Atchuvely bus stand. Subramaniam Markandu (31) at his residence in Sangathanai, Chavakachcheri; Mrs. Kannathas Nakenthiraraani of Valvettithurai was detained with her 18-month-old child.
According to Ms. Gowri Suntharalingam of the Human Rights Commission (HRC) there were over 40 others persons detained at the KKS Detention Centre in Jaffna under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). Among the
group are 9 refugee ermen who were ar while they were ol Lanka.
A student, Sella Urumparai, was kill taliatory fire by the attack on soldiers Neervely road. Pu (20) was wounded Navy opened fire a fishing near Manalt On April 16 the believed to be abou found by local resid tween Manatkaad Aalvar Kovil in V The villagers cam while they were di
construction purpos
had been discovere (SLA) personnel wl ordered the civilians asked them to leav lagers had informec and the District Mec of the incident.
In the Vanni
The Bishop of J Soundranayagam, ti on April 16 to discu officials the problen in Madhu, due to o Lanka security for lowed a visit to Jaff Mannar, Rev. Raya Bishop Joseph h the President about ence of the militar Church of Our Lady that this not only e of the over 10,000 who had sought r which is over 350 obstruct religious sacred shrine.
Since 1990, th church had becom ians fleeing the we an Open Relief Cei national mandate of High Commissio (UNHCR).
The security foi they were engaged suing identity cards in the camp at the would leave imme completed.
Meanwhile, th Committee has peti the Mannar Bish

15 MAY 1999
s and 2 Indian fish
rested on March 7 n their way to Sri
thurai Jegan (23) of ed on April 4 in rearmy, following an on the Urumparaishparajah Antony when the Sri Lanka t him while he was hiddi.
: body of a woman, it 30 years old, was lents in the area beu and Valipuram adamaradchi East. e across the body gging for sand for ses. Once the body od Sri Lanka Army no were at the scene to stop digging and e the area. The vill the Grama Sevaka lical Officer (DMO)
affna, Rev. Thomas avelled to Colombo ss with government ns faced by refugees the presence of Sri ces there. This folna by the Bishop of ppu Joseph.
ad earlierpetitioned the continued presy in and around the y of Madhu. He said ndangered the lives } displaced persons 2fuge at the shrine fears old, as well as observances at the
le premises of the e a haven for civilir and functions as tre under the interthe United Nations' ner for Refugees
rces maintained that in screening and isto all those resident Madhu shrine, and iiately this task was
Le Vanni Citizen's tioned the ICRC and op regarding the
whereabouts of 14 civilians who had disappeared after they were arrested at Ilanthaimoddai by security forces engaged in Operation Rana Gosa in March. The relatives of Rajadurai Kenganesan, of No.590 Kilinochchi, have also handed over a memorandum to the ICRC asking them to help them locate him following his arrest by the security forces.
The parents offive youths who were arrested by the Sri Lankan Army on 17, 18 and 19 April from Thaddhanaamaruthamadu, a large refugee centre near the Madhu church, have also appealed to the Bishop of Mannar to help them trace Rajathurai Sasikumar (22), Rajathurai Sivakumar (20), Mahalingam Visvarajan (26), Sathsivam Kannathasan (26), and Seenivaasan Yukenthiran (21), who were arrested by a army official.
On April 12, Amnesty International issued a statement saying that they had been informed of the release of 2 persons - S Tamilchelvam and S Atpudarasa - who had been detained at the "Lucky House' camp maintained by Vavuniya in March. However, 5 others who had been detained along with these 2 are still unaccounted for.
On April 15, residents of Eerataperiyakulam informed the Police that they had found parts of a decomposed body yesterday near the reservoir, about 4 k.m. south of Vavuniya. The police removed the body from the scene this morning and made arrangements for it be identified. Remnants of bodies partly burnt on several tyre pyres were found in the same area by Air Force personnel during a recent cordon and search operation there. They found between 10 to 12 tyres on which there were burnt remnants of bodies. Spent cartridges were also found in the vicinity. There were also reports that more than 25 skeletons had been unearthed in the Kilinochchi area in lavatory pits, shrubs and debris of destroyed buildings. It is speculated that these skeletons are the remains of those people who went to visit their homes when Kilinochchi was under the control of the armed forces and were reported missing thereafter.
On April 18, Sri Lanka Red Cross officials in Vavuniya appealed to Senior Police officials in the area to consider the plight of 4 children who have been left alone after their parents were arrested by the security forces.
Kandasamy and his wife Rajakumari, a school teacher, were arrested

Page 7
15 MAY 1999
by the security forces for alleged involvement with a suspected LTTE member in the army controlled area of Vavuniya. Rajakumari was taken by the Counter Subversive Unit (CSU) of Vavuniya Police with her 14 months old baby, while their 4 other male children, between the ages of 11 and 6, were left with neighbours, who have complained to the SLRC that the children are not eating but crying all day.
On April 25, Sivanathan Kishore, the secretary of the Vavuniya branch of the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRC) was taken into custody by the Sri Lankan security forces, and detained for interrogation at the 'Joseph camp near the Vavuniya town. Mr. Kishore has been working as the SLRC's coordinator for the northern and eastern provinces of Sri Lanka, and had been involved in several negotiations between the LTTE and relief organisations working in the uncleared areas. He was earlier questioned with regard to a visit he made to the uncleared areas with Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena, UNP MP, several months ago. On the 30th, Mr. Kishore, was handed over to the Police
Following an attack mounted by the LTTE on the Uiylankulam check-point on April 16, in which 3 Policemen were killed, the security forces closed down this entry point to the uncleared areas of the Vanni. Over 1,000 people a day used this crossing to travel between the LTTE-controlled area of the northeast Vanni, and the south of the country. Soldiers and police would check the credentials of traders, displaced people, hospital patients and aid agencies and search vehicles before allowing them across. Supplies of essential food, drugs and other requisites also made their way to civilians living in the uncleared areas via this crossing point. Thus, its closure led to great hardships, including shortages of food, drugs and other essential items in the Vanni. Prices ofessential items rocketed in the Vanni as a result, with a litre of kerosene oil being sold at Rs.200/-, a loaf of bread going up to Rs. 15/-, a coconut Rs.32/- and a kilo of flour also for Rs. 32/-. In addition, several deaths were reported, due to the patients not being permitted to travel to the hospitals in the cleared ar
C2S.
The military has announced that it would not re-open the crossing unless it received a guarantee from the LTTE that such attacks would not be repeated. However, following repeated peti
tions from relief ag ligious leaders an tions regarding the Vanni caused by t of transport and Vanni and the soutil lowing reports of o lack of proper me April 30, the milit sick persons to be b der to the hospita SLA has also agre of cement at a tim area about 15 m Mannar.
In the East
At a meeting it representatives of 5 ties resolved to ask ernment to halt its in gramme in Trincom Sinhalese who had around Linganagar resented by R.Ravi leader Douglas Dev organiser "Jegan nickam, the EPRLF Premachandran PLOTE by D.Sid TELO by its leader MP and advisor N. The parties den ment plans as an a change the demogr: the district. They s. theopinion that ins placed Tamils, nu from the Trincoma civil war, "the Go in massive State-a these areas by Sinh
On April 26, killed and seventee when the police lau nate retaliatory at Eravur. This follo" LTTE on 4 Secur defence lines at Era of the morning O Tigers, the majo women cadres hac attack, which had g Eight LTTErs we been killed in this
The MP for Joseph Pararajasir President, Chandr look into this inci plained that it had tise for the securi against LTTE att into civilian areas,

TAM TIMES 7
encies as well as re! civilian organisagrave situation in the his almost total halt ravel between the , and especially folver 10 deaths dueto 'dical attention, on ary permitted some rought over the borin Vavuniya. The ed to allow 25 bags into the Nanaddan les South west of
Colombo in April, | Tamil political parthe Sri Lankan govew colonisation prolalee, and to evict the been settled in and The TULF was repraj, the EPDP by its 'anada MP, its Jaffna |” and A. Rasamaby its leader Suresh and "Wilson, the arthan MP and the A. Adaikkalanaathan
SriKantha. ounced the re-settlettempt to artificially aphic composition of aid that they were of teadofresettlingdismbering thousands, lee district due to the fernment is engaged ided colonisation of hala settlers. three civilians were n seriously wounded nched an indiscrimitack on villages in wed an attack by the ity posts within the vurin the early hours f the 24th. Over 50 ity of whom were participated in this one for over an hour. re reported to have confrontation. Batticaloa District, gham, has urged the ka Kumaratunge, to dent. The MP combecome normal pracy forces to retaliate cks by firing shells
On April 28, representatives of the Akkaraipattu South Citizen's Committee and several leaders of Tamil village committees from the hinterlands of Sri Lanka's south-eastern coast met Minister for Ports, Shipping, Rehabilitation, Mr.M.H.M Ashraffin Kalmunaito urge him that more than 1200 Tamil families evacuated forcibly by the Special Task Force Commandos (STF) from villages in the interior of the south-eastern coast of Sri Lanka, between Tirukkovil and Thambaluvil in 1990 be allowed to resettle in their traditional places of habitation. Among the villages that were abandoned as a result of this forced evacuation were Thangavelayuthapuram, Kanjikudichcha Aaru, Thaamaraikkulam, Udumbankulam, Kombaikarachchi and Kanjirangkudah.
These displaced persons have been deprived of their homes and livelihood for almost 10 years and eke out a living on a monthly government dole of 1200 rupees per family. Mr. Ashrafftold the delegation that he would help the families resettle if the Ministry of Defence gives security clearance for these people to resettle in their villages.
These persons were displaced during the period from June and October 1990.
Human rights groups report that over 40 civilians from the village of Udumbankulam were massacred during this evacuation, while the 1991 report of the human rights body, Amnesty International, says that at least 3,000 Tamil people were killed by government security forces in south-eastern Sri Lanka during this time.
The passenger shipping service between Trincomalee and KKS was suspended in April with no date being given for the re-commencing of this service, which places many persons awaiting transport to the northern peninsula in grave difficulties.
Mass Graves
The excavation of the grave-site found graves near the Duraiappa stadium in Jaffna commenced on April 7 under the direction of the district's Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) S.V. Sri Rajeswaran. Jaffna Additional Magistrate S.A.E Ekanathan wasalso present during the exhumation.
During the exhumation, human skulls and bones were found at a depth of about 2.5 feet from the surface and up to five feet below. It is estimated that remains of about 25 bodies were found,

Page 8
8 TAMILTIMES
including those of 2 children. Among the items recovered from the suspected mass grave-site were a copper bangle and abangle worn by a small child. One of the skeletons was found intact, with its hands tied in front.
The additional magistrate of Jaffna, S A E Ekanathan, postponed further excavation until May 16 on a request made by the Judicial Medical Officer (JMO), Dr.Sri Rajeswaran, who requested assistance from forensic and soil experts, officials from the Criminal Investigation Department and chemical analysts from Colombo to continue with the investigation. The Magistrate asked the Attorney General's Department to make arrangements for Prof. Niriellage Chandrasri (Forensic Medicine), Prof. K.A.Nandasena (Soil science) and Ananda Mendis (Chemical Analysis) to be present in Jaffna on May 16. He also ordered that the skeletons and skeletal remains be sent to Colombo for further analysis. Although the Magistrate proposed to send the skeleton suspected to be that of a female to Colombo for forensic examination intact, the Police officers attending the exhumation, however, refused to do so. The JMO therefore separated the bones of this skeleton and sealed them in a large bag. Samples of the soil were taken from the site of today's excavation were also to be sent to Colombo for examination.
The SLA and the Police took photographs of the grave-site, the skeletons and the human bones and skulls during the excavation. Members of the EPRLF who were present at the stadium gravesite today also took photographs of the site and the proceedings. However, the Additional Magistrate objected to their actions, and seized the film roll from their camera.
Meanwhile, the court charged with investigating the Chenmani grave-site ordered the exhumation of the site to commence on June 16. Jaffna Additional Magistrate, Mr. N.Arulsagaran, ordered that Lance Corporal Somaratne Rajapakse, who made the allegation regarding the mass grave, be produced in Jaffna to enable him to identify the precise location of the site. The Court met in Colombo to receive the report of the soil samples which were undertaken last month. The report by soil experts said that the site from where the soil had been taken was "artificially filled up'.
Further tests to determine the age of vegetation had been ordered. The Jaffna surveyor had also been ordered to chart
out a detailed map of along with a demar from which the bo Kumaraswamy was
Responding to a ney Ratnavel regard of the trial to Colom that according to the Magistrate has juris sittings in Jaffna and as he is both a Magis an Additional Magi, and therefore enjoy diction.
When asked by C date was to be fixed ior State Counsel Ko there were about 60( whose statements h prior to the exhumat Senior State C Kodagoda with D Keerthi Gajanaya Ratnadasa and IP Lir peared for the state. Ratnavel, Mrs. Mah and Manohari Wije the aggrieved party.
Following the u mass-grave sites i Batticaloa, Joseph P. raised the issue of a sites in the Eastern Pi 2 cases he had cited that 148 youth who security forces from Vanthaarumoolai ref tember 5, 1990 we buried at Navalady, of Batticaloa, near Navalady area is n under the 23-2 briga« is that of the 191 civ children below 0 ar women, who were a from the villages of S Panichchaiyadi, F Kokkuvil, a cluster northern outskirts o who were allegedly and buried in the Saththurukkondaan today.
Freedom of Associ
On April 4th, né that the Presidential sued a letter to all tries, calling for all istered under one a said to be for betters ing, plans and expe to this letter, sent un

15 ዘAY 1999
the suspected site, cation of the area dy of Krishanthy exhumed.
request by Attoring the relocating bo, the Court said Judicature Act, the liction to hold the in Colombo both, strate of Jaffna and strate of Colombo s concurrent juris
3ourt as to why the for June, the Sendagoda replied that ) aggrieved parties ad to be recorded ion of the graves.
ounsel Yasantha irector CID SSP ke, SP Deepal hton Ratnayaka apAttorneys-at-law S. eswary Velauthan ratne appeared for
Incovering of two n Jaffna, MP for ararajasingham has leged mass grave'ovince. Among the are the allegation were taken by the the premises of the ugee camp on Sepre massacred and 35 kilometres north Valaichenai. The
bw an army camp le. The second case lians, including 35 ld several pregnant rested by the army aththurukkondaan, 'illaiyaaradi and of villages on the f Batticaloa town, massacred, burnt place where the army camp stands
ation and NGOs
wspapers reported Secretariat had isgovernment MinisNGOs to be re-reguthority. This was upervision of fundnditure. According der the signature of
President's Secretary, K. Balapatabendi, all international and national level foreign-funded voluntary social services organisations and Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) would be required to declare their sources of funding, annual expenditure and amounts of money brought into the country annually. This decision was reported to have been taken at the top-levels of the administration.
Clearance from the Ministries of Defence, Foreign Affairs, Plan Implementation and the respective line Ministry at the National Secretariat for NGOs under the Social Services Ministry would be a prerequisite for the re-registration.
This move is viewed by NGO circles as an attempt by the government to interfere in the independence of their organisations, place them under state supervision, and keep a tab on their finances, sources of funding and nature of activities they are engaged in.
The circular letter which has been sent to all ministry secretaries, chief and district secretaries, government agents and heads of departments justifies this step by saying it will pave the way for better co-ordination and co-operation between the government and these organisations.
The organisations concerned should forward proposed action plans when applying for re-registration, indicating type of activities, operational localities, target groups, number of employees, sources of funding, annual expenditure, amounts of money which will be brought into the country annually etc. in the format provided by the Registrar of National Secretariat for NGOs in the Social Services Ministry, according to the circular. All such organisations operating in more than one administrative district should also be re-registered at the National Secretariat. At the district level, other than NGOs registered at the National Secretariat, the district secretary/government agent will re-register all the other voluntary social services organisations/NGOs operating within the respective district.
A district co-ordinating committee for NGOs will be established in each district. It will consist of district Secretary/government agent as chairman and will have as members, head of district planning secretariat, provincial secretary in charge of the subject of Social services, a representative of the chief secretary of the province, and a social

Page 9
15 MAY 1999
services officer nominated by the chief secretary.
At the divisional level, other than the NGOs registered by the National Secretariat for NGOs at national level and by the district secretary at the district level, the divisional secretary will register all the NGOs within his division. The Registrar of Voluntary Social Services Organisations will appoint the district co-ordination committee in terms of the Voluntary Social Services Organisations (Registration and Supervision) Act No. 31 of 1980 as amended by Act No. 08 of 1998.
Disappearances Commission
During its visit to Jaffna, Point Pedro and Kayts over all day period in March, the 3-member Presidential Commission of Inquiry Into Involuntary Removal and Disappearances has gathered information with regard to some disappearances involving Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) personnel during their deployment in North-East Sri Lanka from July 1987 to March 1990.
The commission headed by attorney-at-law Mrs. Manouri Muttetuwegama and comprising retired High Court Judge, P. Balavadivel and retired Commissioner General of Prisons, H. G. Dharmadasa was able to inquire into about 160 reported cases of disappearance. Several persons who were aware of the events at that time, representatives of 18 NGOs including one foreign NGO and members of the Organisations of Parents and Guardians of Disappeared Persons gave evidence.
The Commission has been authorised to induire into 10, 136 cases of disappearances in the country which were the residue from the Zonal Commissions that had been active previously. The mandate of this Commission dates from April 30 1997.
Commission on Human Rights
The 55th Session of the UN Commission on Human Rights concluded in Geneva on April 30, with the Sri Lankan government committing itself to extend an invitation to the UNWorking Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances to make its thirds visit to Sri Lanka before the end of the year. This came in the wake of consistent lobbying by many national and international human rights groups regarding the need to maintain vigilance regarding the situation of human rights abuse in Sri Lanka. The discovery of 2 mass graves in the
Jaffna peninsula in vided adequate gro mission to urge the ment to permit the
The Sri Lankan ever turned down t the Special Rapport of Expression to V year.
The Sri Lankan stained on the Reso abolition of the de was approved by Many NGOs and g ssed concern regarc government's rece instate the death p criminal offences.
The Asian Hum sion maintained a Geneva with a spec plementation of the of the Presidential C
appearance.
Inter-Parliamenta
The UNP and t ward candidates fo Region Titular Post mentary Union Hun tee. UNP’s Kalu Mahinda Samarasil ernment nominee A to l l votes at the ele sels on April 16. Tł pressure brought or reach a compromis candidate, but this upon by the two Hence a secret ball
Wijeyapala Mend On April 28, thi sued a Writ of Cert findings and recomi the Special Presid that had found for Wijeyepala Mendis of his power as a C matter of exchang Land Reform Com sition of civic disab was recommended
The state was Mendis a sum of Rs costs before the Col of Rs. 20,000 as c. Court.
The judgement tiorari must neces ground that one of Justice F. N. D. signed the interim r

TAML TIMES 9
recent months prounds for the ComSri Lankan governUN WG’s visit.
government howhe request made by eur on the Freedom isit Sri Lanka this
government also abution regarding the ath penalty, which the Commission. overnments expreling the Sri Lankan nt decision to reenalty for selected
an Rights Commisstrong presence in ial focus on the im2 recommendations ommissions on Dis
ry Union he PA both put foror the Asia-Pacific in the Inter Parliaman Rights Committara district MP nghe defeated govnura Yapa with 130 сtions held in Brusnere had been some 1 the Sri Lankans to 2 and field only one had not been agreed contesting parties. ot was held.
is Affair
: Supreme Court isiorari squashing the mendations made by ential Commission mer UNP Minister guilty of the abuse abinet Minister in a e of land with the mission. The impoility for seven years by the Commission. directed to pay 20,000 towards his mmission and a sum sts in the Supreme
explained that cersarily issue on the the Commissioners, ayasuriya had not sport, and stated that
the other two Commissioners should have postponed their report to enable the third Commissioner to express his views on the matter of settlement, since the third respondent had initiated and expressed strong views about the attempted settlement. Their failure to consider his views becomes all the more serious because they have failed to explain their conduct.
The judgement also said that by embarking on an inquiry into an alleged exchange of land belonging to the Land Reforms Commission, the Commission had exceeded the jurisdiction which the Presidential warrant had conferred.
According to the Supreme Court, the inquiry against the petitioner Mendis had failed to reach the minimum standard of fairness demanded of a judicial or quasi-judicial inquiry. They said that it was manifest from the summary of facts that some vital documents and many material items of oral evidence, were ignored and others were misconstrued.
Despite the Court's decision, the UNP remained unclear in its response, with Mr. Mendis not being immediately restored to the positions he held within the party.
Universities in Trouble
Work at all universities came to a standstill from April 28 as a result of the strike by the non-academic staff of universities. No lectures were conducted in any of the universities and examinations were cancelled. Work at the University Grants Commission was also affected due to the strike.
Lectures at the Open University had to be cancelled as employees of that institution also came out on strike. The President of the Inter University Trade Union Federation said they would continue with the strike action until their demands on salary rises and other matterS are met.
Fundamental Rights
A Judicial Officer, Mr. M. Percy Wijesiriwardena, with nearly 12 years experience who had worked in several parts of the country has filed an application before the supreme court of Sri Lanka under section 126 of the Constitution complaining that the three judges acting as members of the Judicial Service Commission have violated his rights to be treated equally before law (article 12 (1)) and to engage in a lawful occu
(continued on next page)

Page 10
10 TAM TIMES
tO Send ObSe
to Mass Grave Pir
Amnesty International on 15 May proposed to the government of Sri Lanka that two of its experts be present at the exhumations of alleged mass graves at Chemmani, Jaffna, scheduled for 16 June 1999. The graves are suspected to contain bodies of scores of people who "disappeared' after being arrested by army personnel in 1996.
The proposal follows an invitation
(continued from page 9) pation (Article 14 (G)), by sending him on compulsory retirement on merciful grounds, without stating any charges against him and without inquiry.
The University Executive Officers' Association filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of the bill titled "University Amendment” gazetted on April 12, 1999.
The petition states that the proposed amendments will undermine the independence of the universities and the academic freedom granted to the universities, by the provisions in the Principle Enactment. Matters such as the appointment and removal of the Vie Chancellor, for example has been taken away from the University Grants Commission entirely, and will, according to the petition, vest unfair and arbitrary authority in the hands of politicians in respect of the administration of the Universities. In addition, the proposed Amendment empowers the Minister to appoint a Member of Parliament ex-officio, to the council of a university, which is the executive body of the university. Death in Police Custody
On April 18, Lionel Ranjith Alias "Rambukkana Thilake” (30) who was in police custody died with gunshot injuries at New Town in the Medirigiriya police area, police said. The deceased had been arrested by police, somewhere in Medirigiriya in connection with a case of assault and attempted murder earlier on that same day. According to police reports, he had been taken to a place near New Town in Medirigiriya to trace some bombs that had been hidden. At that time the accused had taken out one bomb and made an attempt to activate it. The police officials say that they then opened fire in self defence. O
issued by the Minis fairs in March for "i ernmental organiza eign, to send obser' ternational said it be ence of independer help to ensure that t carried out accordin national standards. by Amnesty Interna ka's government fo rensic experts to be cal experts with the far not been grantec The governmen mit observers from i rights bodies and ot ties has been wid would seem that th cided on this cours mendous adverse : been generated aga of the mass graves
Amnesty Interna to both the governm tion Tigers of Tamil main armed opposit the security forces i. of the country, to g of everyone involv tions. It has also urg to protect all wit: Somaratne Rajapak initially revealed th mass graves.
The organizati LTTE follows thre
Journal
Sri Lal Priyanth nalists connected weekley “Lakbima lines recently when he had been abdu 1999, would appear to be "murderer' w ing of at least fiv 1988-89 period wh involved terror cam the JVP.
Wide publicity print and electronic this case alleging th the Armed Services
 

15 MAY 1999
itry of Foreign Afnterested non-govtions, local or forvers". Amnesty Inlieved that the presut observers would he exhumations are g to relevant interA previous request ational to Sri Lanor international foinvited to assist loexhumation has so i. t’s decision to pernternational human ther interested parely welcomed. It he government dee because the trepublicity that has inst it on the issue in Jaffna. tional has appealed ent and the LiberaEelam (LTTE), the tion group fighting in the north and east uarantee the safety ed in the exhumaged the government nesses, including se, the Soldier Who he existence of the
on's appeal to the 'ats by the latter's
leadership in Jaffna to magistrates in the peninsula, Warning them nottoparticipate in the exhumations. In their letters, the LTTE says it wants the investigations to be carried out "by representatives of international human rights bodies, and not by the local courts'. Some expatriate Tamil circles have expressed opposition to the participation by foreign observers such as from Amnesty International on the ground that such participation would lend credibility to the government's effort to investigate the issue.
Amnesty International is concerned that the process of truth, justice and redress - which the relatives of the “disappeared' in Jaffna are still waiting for - is allowed to take its course at the earliest opportunity. Under Sri Lanka’s current judicial system, this means that evidence has to be collected under the supervision of a magistrate. Otherwise the findings will not be admissible as evidence in court. Unlike other countries, such as the former Yugoslavia or Rwanda, the parties concerned have not agreed on an international authority under whose jurisdiction an investigation can be carried out and the perpetrators tried.
The human rights organization has also urged Sri Lanka's Human Rights Commission (HRC) to be present during the exhumations. It believes that “ HRC officers could play a key role by liaising with victims” relatives, by producing a public report on the investigation's findings and making recommendations for any compensation to be paid to relatives of people identified as victims of extrajudicial executions.
Ist, a“WantGMIGrGr"
la, one of the jourwith the Sinhala , who hit the headit was reported that cted on 14 March to have turned out vanted for the killve persons in the en he was actively paign conducted by
was given in both media concerning at senior officers of are responsible for
the abduction of this journalist. Allegations were also made that he was abducted to prevent his investigative journalism in exposing corruption andmalpractices committed by senior officers of the three services and the police.
Following his abduction, the Free Media Movement of which Sri Lal Priyantha has been an active member protested and agitated against the Government for its alleged failure to take immediate action to apprehend the of fenders.
Fellow journalists were baffled to learn that the police investigations into

Page 11
5 MAY 1999
the abduction in March this year of Sri Lal Priyantha have revealed that was the area leader of the JVP in Welipenna police area wanted in connection with five murders committed during the period 1988-99. At that time he was the area leader of the JVP in Welipenna Police area known as "Chukka' His real name is Kulappu Thanthirige Priyanka Jayalal, his date of birth being 20th April, 1970, of Karapagala, Yagirala in Welipenna Police area. In fact he had given his assumed name to Mirihana Police when he made the complaint on 14th March 1999 in order to conceal his proper identity.
Srilal Priyantha who was arrested by the CID on March 14, 1999, was living at No.24, Soratha Mawatha, Gangodawila, Nugegoda under the name of Kulappu Shanthige Srilal Priyantha.
According to the police, evidence is available that he has allegedly committed murders of Sugathadasa Kovis, Principal, Ittapana Maha Vidyalaya on 09. 12.1988, who he decapitated on December 8, 1988 on a classroom table in front of the students at Karapagalla at Welipenna, Matugama, and U.A.B. Ariyachandra, Agricultural Officer in Yagirala on 09.12.1988. His third victim was W. Rohana, whom he allegedly killed on February 10, 1989, also at Karapagalla. His next victim was N.P.Sunil, who was hacked to death on June 28, 1989 also at Karapagalla. His fifth murder was committed on February 5, 1989 and his victim was S.D.- Jayasena.
Welipenna police had conducted investigations into these cases. Witnesses were under the impression that the suspect Jayalal Chukka had been killed by the Security Forces or the Police in suppressing JVP subversion. The Grama Sevaka of the area con
firmed the fact that the suspect Priyanka
Jayalal disappeared from the village during the year 1989 and never returned to the area until he was seen in the TV on 16th of March 1999 being interviewed on his abduction.
Police also said that investigations had further revealed that Jayalal had been involved in another three murders committed during the year 1989 in Welipenna Police area. His father K. D. Nandasena who was also a hardcore JVPer disappeared from the village
Arn Tan1
The internecine Tamil militant gro TELO intensified 1 killing of four P Vavuniya on 15 Ma lieve that this la Vavuniya was in reta ning down on the : TELO cadres near N ping complex in Bar dreds of shoppers w; in amusement and S between the two gro over 15 deaths and c and property valued pees during the past
Colombo DIGT yesterday that polic progress after the sł lapitiya.“We are wo that cannot be reveal of security. We hav PLOTE cadres at Ki cion. We have reco m.m. slugs at the sce rubber slippers left sassins.”
Tension has bee tween these two gi Vavuniya for the las
The recent arrest the latest example attempts by Nawaz S to harass, intimidat
press in Pakistan. An
along with the suspe ted several murders give details of the have been committ Priyanka.
Sri Lal Priyanth ing for “Yukthiya”, tabloids and "Lanka to 1998. He has fol journalism at Natio Maharagama during his real name Priya
 

TAM MES 11
ned Conflict Among hil Groups Intensify
ivalry between the ups PLOTE and ecently with the LOTE cadres in y night. Many betest incident in liation for the guname day of three sajestic City shopmbalapitiya as hunatched the incident hock, This rivalry ups has resulted in lamage to vehicles at millions of rusix months. . N. de Silva said inquiries were in nooting at Bambarking on two clues ed now for reasons 2 also arrested two rulapone on Suspivered five spent 9 ene along with two behind by the as
n building up beoups in northern it six months. SSP
Vavuniya Raja Weerakoon confirmed the four deaths and said tension had eased after Army and Police had deployed additional mobile patrols in the town and thrown in additional barriers and check points around the camps of these two groups. "We have also put up roadblocks and organised ambushes at night. We have called upon both groups to settle their rivalry amicably and peacefully,” he said.
President of TELO and MP for Wanni District A. Adaykalanathan said “these attacks by the PLOTE are due to jealousy because of the progress TELO had made. He said their central committeemembers Kugan and Das accompanied by a businessman Jayakodi had gone to Bambalapitiya in a van belonging to the organisation on a private matter. Subsequently they had visited Majestic City complex to purchase some clothing and were on their way to the van when two or three men had fired simultaneously. Das and Jayakodi died instantly near the sea beach side bend turn off to St. Albans Place, Bambalapitiya. Kugan had got into the TELO van and gone to the party office and then to a hospital where he died.
of Najam Sethi is of the continuous harifs government e and muzzle the yone critical of the
ct having commitin the area. Police murders alleged to ed by the suspect
a had been work“Ravaya' Sinhala deepa" from 1990 lowed a course in al Youth Council, the year 1989 with ka Jayalal.
f's Regime Muzzles Press in Pakistan
pervasive corruption and mismanagement of this government has been targeted. Sethi is the third Pakistani journalist arrested under suspicious circumstances in less than a week.
Hussain Haqqani (of TFT and Jang) was kidnapped on May 4th and is still missing. M.A.K. Lodhi of The News was arrested and interrogated for 2 days from May 2-4. All these illegal actions were taken by the government of Nawaz Sharif without explanation, arrest/search warrants or any valid reasons. All three men had been interviewed before their arrest by a BBC television crew preparing a report on high-level official corruption in Pakistan for the program "Correspondent'.

Page 12
12 AMITIMES
Mr. Rehmat Shah Afridi, another journalist is also still missing.
The repressive Nawaz Sharif regime has unconstitutionally and illegally shut down or hacked The Friday Times Web Site.
On Wednesday, 12 May 1999, the Lahore High Court turned down the petition of habeas corpus for Mr Najam Sethi after three hearings. The Muslim League government had raided the house of Chief Editor, The Friday Times, Najam Sethi, in Lahore at 2.45 am on 8 May 1999, and arrested him without a legal warrant after roughing him up.
May 8 was a Saturday. When the Lahore High Court was moved for habeas corpus by Ms Jugnu Mohsin, Najam’s wife and TFT’s publisher, honourable Justice Faqir Muhammad Khokharadjourned the writto give time for tracing the detenu. The honourable judge thought it fit to ignore the plea that Mr Sethi's life could be in danger. He asked the Punjab advocate general and the deputy attorney general to appear again on Monday, May 10, and designate the authority which had picked up Mr Sethi.
On May 10, the petition was heard again. The advocate general Punjab told the honourable court that he did not know who had arrested Mr Sethi. The deputy attorney general however said that he could only verify that the Federal Investigative Agency (FIA) was not involved. On May 10 newspapers had carried a news item from a state-owned news agency that the arresting authority was Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). (The ISI kept silent throughout the hearing despite appeals from the petitioner).
The same day, as the Punjab advocate general and the deputy attorney general asserted their ignorance in the court, federal interior minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain told a newspaper that whoever had picked up Mr Sethi had done so on the instructions of the government and therefore the government was responsible for the arrest. The honourable court had been moved because the government was refusing to accept that it had kidnapped Mr Sethi without a warrant.
When the honourable judge was informed that the government had committed an illegal act, the deputy attor
ney general protes The honourable juc journed hearing an ing for Wednesday, Even as the sile High Court about t Mr Sethi was deafer resounding with it. mentary affairs, M stated that the "lawcies had in fact arr investigation into h Delhi which, acco damaged the imag declined to give det cause "the case was On May 1 1, PM for a three-day tour On Monday, the d court thought it fittc ing of the writ onc try's top editors' published its strong ner in which an editc up and spirited awa ernment responsible and asked the PM to ally and order the ri It stated that the act and had damaged th government.
The same day, t papers forum, APN and condemned the to lead the journalis campaign to free M in its session, read speech by Mr Seth conclusion that it d act against the law. sentatives decided on Wednesday, wh pus petition was h solidarity.
The legal way ernment was to firs
I wish to payirenew I am sending you a gif Please send an introd
enclose a donation O
of................... Name:
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15 MAY 1999
ed its innocence. ge once again adset another hearMay 12. nce at the Lahore he whereabouts of ing, the Senate was Winister for parliaan Yasin Wattoo, inforcement” agenested Mr Sethi for is conduct in New ding to him, had e of Pakistan. He ails of the case be
sub judice”.
Nawaz Sharif left of Southeast Asia. ay the honourable postpone the heare again, the counorum, the CPNE, protest at the manyr had been roughed ly. It held the govfor the barbaric act o intervene personelease of Mr Sethi. ion was ill-advised he reputation of his
he other top newsS, held its session arrest and vowed ts' community in a r Sethi. The APNS, out the text of the and arrived at the ld not constitute an
The APNS repreEo attend the Court en the habeas coreard, in a show of
to act for the govtown up the arrest,
then produce the accused in court, and thereafter proceed to investigate the case it thought it had against Mr Sethi. The Lahore High Court Bar Association resolved on May 11 that no case pertaining to citizens' rights be referred to honourable Justice Faqir Muhammad Khokhar's court.
Mr Sethi's New Delhi speech was on the The Friday Times web-page on the Internet (till it was hacked into and disabled) and had been read not only in Pakistan but all over the world. What the government didn't do was done by public opinion in Pakistan and the world over. It found nothing offensive in the text of the speech. There was an instant reaction against the government. Had the government followed the legal path, this reaction could have been avoided.
But the legal codes contain laws that no respectable government can enforce in Pakistan without demeaning itself and reducing democracy to a farce. There is a law (PPC Section 124-A) that awards life imprisonment to anyone who opposes the government, there is another law (PPC Section 123-A) that awards ten years' rigorous imprisonment to anyone who expresses or implies criticism of the ideology of Pakistan, whatever that may mean.
The Lahore High Court has dismissed the petition habeas and filing of FIR on the grounds that Article 199(3) of the Constitution could not be invoked against anyone's custody with the ISI. It was however kind enough to observe that Mr Sethi was not an accused So far. The struggle for Mr Sethi's rights will now have to shift to the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
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Page 13
15 MAY 1999
Rajiv Gandhi ASSassina
Curtain DeSCe
D BS Jeyaraj
The curtain has descended at last on the most politically sensational case of the decade in India. The assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi at Sriperumpudhoor in Tamil Nadu by a woman suicide bomber named "Dhanu' on May 21st 1991 had far reaching consequences for the Indian polity in general and the state of Tamil Nadu in particular. It transformed overnight the general mood in India towards the Sri Lankan ethnic crisis. The perceived involvement of the LTTE in the killing and consequent developments caused a paradigm shift in Indian public opinion. The sympathy generated on a national level and the empathy prevalent on Tamil Nadu state level for the suffering Sri Lankan Tamils was gone. Instead there was apathy on a mass and antipathy at an official level. In Tamil Nadu the thousands of Sri Lankan Tamils living as refugees since 1983 found themselves being treated with disdain, contempt and hostility. Gone was the very genuine feelings of fraternal solidarity with which the state had embraced and provided sanctuary to its beleaguered kinsfolk across the Palk Straits.
The entity that was affected most was the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam movement itself. The LTTE had not eroded much of its support in Tamil Nadu even after combating the Indian Army from 1987 to 89. But now it became almost an "untouchable' in politics. The overwhelming debacle of the DMK at the 1991 polls and rousing victory of the AIADMK under Jayalalitha owed much to the feelings of revulsion within the state towards the Tigers. The Indian media dominated by the upper echelons of Indian society both on a caste and class basis came down really hard on the LTTE. The inquiry by the special team of the Central Bureau of Investigation into the assassination resulted in a charge sheet being filed proclaiming the LTTE as the culprits behind the murder. The LTTE itself was banned formally by the congress government led by Narasimha Rao.
The indictment had 41 persons as
the accused. The c as a normal crimina lly sensitive one. commit the murder place. It was also instance of terroris dian state. Of the ac were LTTE leader kharan, LTTE’s inte Amman and womer la. All three of then custody. Subseque claimed as most w; they remain so eve mal demand for e. sent to Sri Lanka. have agreed for the are no possibilities i three. Incidentally two years ago while self has been demo position. Accordin trio had to be broug as there is no provi sentia.
Apart from th named in the indi These included Dhanu, the alleged mind behind the ass Sivarasan, Subha, photographer Hari ter, Amman, Driv Dixon, Nehru, anc Jairaj. The latter w from Vetharanyam mitted suicide whi All others were alle LTTE.
Because of leg hold a single trial in the assassinatio) "bisect' the origin: parts and proceed : tody as the main a was no question o dead, the trio char - Pirabakaran, Pott - were considered a tice to be dealt with The case ho against the other 26 Nailini, Chinna S Shankar, Vijayana
 
 

TAM TIMES 13
On
ase was not treated case but a politicaThe conspiracy to
was given pride of depicted as a pure m aimed at the Incused the first three
Velupillai Piraballigence chief Pottu 1's corps leader Akin were not in Indian ntly they were proanted offenders and n to this day. A forxtradition has been Both governments moment that there of apprehending the Akila died in action : Pottu Amman himted from his earlier g to Indian law the ght to trial in person ision for trial in ab
is three 12 others ctment were dead. the human bomb operational masterassination one eyed
Gundu Shanthan, Babu, Suresh Maser Anna, Jamuna, Shanmugam alias is an Indian national who allegedly comle in CBI custody. ged members of the
gal impediments to against all involved h, it was decided to al indictment in two gainst those in cusccused. While there f a trial against the gedwith conspiracy u Amman and Akila s fugitives from juswhen apprehended. wever proceeded persons. They were hanthan, Murugan, ndan, Ruban, Kana
gasabapathy, Aathirai, Robert Pius, Jayakumar, Shanthi, Vijayan, Selvaluxmi, Baskaran, Shanmugavadivelu, Ravichandran, Suseendran, Perarivaalan, Irumborai, Bhagyanathan, Padma, Subhasundaram, Dhanasekheran, Rajasuriyar alias Rangan, and Ranganath.
All 26 were charged under sections of the penal code as well as the Terrorism and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act or TADA. The proceedings were under provisions of TADA. A special court under a designated judge was set up in Poonthamallee. It was a maximum security court and proceedings were held in camera. The earlier judge was M Siddeque. After he was promoted as High Court Judge, a new judge K Navaneetham continued to hear it. The TADA itself was abolished during this period but the case continued under the TADA procedure. After protracted hearings the trial concluded in Jan last year.
The verdict was sensationally unprecedented. Navaneetham provided a new definition of a hanging judge when he sentenced all 26 to the gallows. Thereafter an appeal was lodged. Senior Counsel Natarajan led the arguments in New Delhi on behalf of the accused. Justices Thomas, Wadhva and Mohammed Quadri who heard the appeal pronounced their verdict on 11 May that virtually overturned Navaneetham's decision to hang " em al high.
The feelings of disappointment in certain circles over 19 persons being set free is apparently laced with a not so explicitly stated view that the Higher Court Judges have been lenient as opposed to the lower court judge.
The truth however is very different. The Supreme Court Judges have definitely not erred on the side of leniency in acquitting the 19 of the conspiracy charge. It was the designated court judge Navaneetham who had pronounced a very harsh and patently unfair verdict earlier. Sentencing all 26 to the gallows regardless of their degree of involvement had been criticised by eminentjurists in India earlier. Since the controversial verdict was subject to judicial review many expected real" justice' to be done. So the supreme Indian tribunal is to be commended for upholding the scales of justice and remedying the judicial travesty committed by Navaneetham.
The controversial decision of Judge Navaneetham in finding all 26 persons guilty of the same crime regardless of

Page 14
14 TAM TIMES
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15 MAY 1999
the diverse nature of their actions relied on a relevant precedent. The case cited was the landmark SC judgement in Ajay Aggarwal vs Union of India. The supreme court held in that case that "each conspirator need not know all details of the scheme' in order to be held guilty under 120B of the penal code. "Conspiracy may be considered to be a march under a banner and a person may join or drop out in the march.” It was on this basis that Judge Navaneetham concluded that all 26 conspirators were collaborators in the common cause of Rajiv Gandhi's assassination. Although minor offences of each individual varied the underlying thread of his judgement was their common involvement in the assassination. The relatively minor offences attracted sentences but the murder of Rajiv and others in the vicinity earned for all 26 the supreme penalty under Indian law. The severity of the sentence jolted even members of the Special Investigation Team probed, assembled all the evidence and presented the case. But the anti-Tiger lobby hailed the judge as a "Daniel come to judgement.”
Now to the embarrassment of Navaneetham and the discomfiture of LTTE phobes the Supreme Court has well and truly exposed the error of the earlier verdict which held all equally guilty of conspiracy deserving the ultimate penalty. It must be noted that the Indian apex court did not completely absolve the 19 of all crimes and of fences. The minor convictions against them under other legal provisions like sec 212 and 216 of the Indian Penal code, section 14 of the Foreigners Act, Section 25 of the Arms Act, section 5 of the Explosive Substances Act, section 12 of the Passssport Act, section 6 of the Wireless and Telegraphs Act etc were all confirmed by the bench. If they had already undergone the period of sentence under those counts, "it is for the jail authorities to release such of those against whom no other convictions and sentences exceeding the said period have been passed” the Bench ruled. As the 19 persons have been imprisoned for more than seven years each pending trial and appeal they were deemed to have served their jail terms. So they were released.
Those sections that are chagrined that 19 people have been allowed to cheat the hangman's noose are now stressing the point that though released
their shorter senter upheld and so the partial.
This feeble atte in minor conviction acquittal from the minds one of the pr ing “Kuppura vilu: Mann Padavillai.” is about a man who trying to save face spite his fall no san his moustache. Lil cates of the death people are now usi device of claiming complete acquittalt This is merely a cation. Most of the sought to deny or acts like Passports Act etc. Their prim clear themselves c which condemned t This was literally a matter of life and most notable outc. therefore is their death sentence. As Supreme Court rul aside the convict passed by the Tria fences under clause and section 5 of T and Disruptive Act Act in respect of were found guilty u by the trial court o This decision is tant because the ori constituted and pro under the TADA which has more d than the infamous rorism act of Sri L sequently abolishe the political compl "certain' verdict a Gandhi's alleged continued underth under which the r heavily weighted a
The Supreme redressed the grave by the lower court victing all of cons ing them to death, by the three learn selves are of part they relate to the a LTTE in killing R striking down the court verdict cond

ces imposed were acquittal was only
mpt to find solace s as opposed to the death penalty reoverbial Tamil saythaalum Meesayil The essence of this fell flat on his face by boasting that dei had rubbed off on cewise those advopenalty for all 26 ng the face saving , that it was not a but partial acquittal. n exercise in obfusaccused never even ight charges under Act or Foreigners ary concern was to if the main charge hem to the gallows. ld metaphorically a death to them. The ome of the appeal reprieve from the alient aspect of the ing was its setting ion and sentence
Court for the of es 3 and 4 section 3 ADA or Terrorism ivities (Prevention) all appellants who nder the said counts f`Navaneetham. all the more imporginal trial court was ceedings conducted itself. The TADA aconian provisions Prevention of Teranka has been subi. But motivated by lsion of reaching a t the trial of Rajiv assassins the case 2 TADA framework ules of evidence is gainst the defence. Court however has injustice meted out n the matter of conpiracy and sentencThe reasons cited 'd justices in themcular relevance as leged motive of the jiv Gandhi. While designated special mning all 26 to the
'AMBLE TIMES 15
gallows the three judge-bench said that provisions of the defunct TADA charging the appellants with “waging war against the nation' were inapplicable in the case. The bench accepted the defence argument that "every criminal of fence even if it is murder cannot amount to waging war under TADA.”
The judges while describing the act of killing Rajiv Gandhi was "an act of exceptional depravity on the part of the accused' ruled that the assassination was not an act of terrorism. Justice Thomas said that anyone critical of the indian governmetn's policy "could not be dubbed as a terrorist.” The judges highlighted the paucity of evidence available to indicate that the LTTE wanted to strike fear or that the conspirators wanted to overawe the government of India as alleged by the prosecution. The presiding judge Thomas noted that "nothing else other than the editorial in a journal of the LTTE and a reported speech of Prabakharan in April 90 is proved in the case either from the utterances of the LTTE top brass or from any writings edited by them that any one of the concerned conspirators wanted to strike fear in the government, either of the centre or of any state."
From the aforesaid circumstances and "in view of paucity of materials it is difficult to conclude that the conspirators intended at any time to overawe the government of India as by law established' or "to strike terror in the people of India'. Said justice Thomas who further stated "if there is any evidence in this case to show that any such preceding act - like advocating, advising, inciting, or prompting the killing of such public servants was perpetrated by any of the appellants towards killing of any police officer who was killed at the place of occurrence (at Sriperumpudhoor on May 21st 1991) it would no doubt amount to disruptive activity'. Judge Thomas however noted that there is no such evidence that any such activity was done for the purpose of killing any police personnel. The judges therefore concluded that they were “unable to sustain the conviction of appellants for offences under sections of the TADA”
The unanimous Supreme Court decision that the killing of Rajiv Gandhi was not an act of terrorism and consequent acquittal of the 19 persons sentenced to death under it is likely to have far reaching impact in the future. Apart from the immediate shot in the arm to

Page 16
16 TAMILTIMES
the pro-LTTE elements there is also another rosy prospect for those sections. The Indian government has through executive fiat proscribed the LTTE as a terrorist movement inimical to the security of India. This decision was not because of Sri Lanka's entreaties but merely due to perceived Indian self-interest. The decision to ban the LTTE itself was predicted on the charge sheet filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation alleging that the LTTE through its "terroristic act' was trying to overawe and wage war against India. The Supreme Court decision will definitely have a bearing upon the longevity of the ban.
The ban proclaimed in 1992 has been renewed every two years in 1994, 96 and 98. On each occasion the LTTE had a chance to urge a reconsideration of the ban through judicial review. It was only last year that the LTTE sought to challenge the ban through legal means. While convincing arguments were presented about the Tigers not posing a security threat to India, the courts extended the ban on the basis of the Rajiv trial. Now that the SC has given a definite ruling on the "terroristic nature' of the Tigers that decision is certainly very likely to exert great influence on the future of the ban dependent to some extent on whether Sonia is in power or not.
The acquittal of the 19 appellants has also warmed the hearts of those yearning for true justice. Many human rights organizations including the Amnesty International had earlier lodged protests and issued appeals over what was clearly perceived as a denial of fundamental justice to these accused.
From its inception it was clear that the special court trial was essentially "Kafkaesque'. The judges both Siddique who presided earlier and Navaneetham who delivered the coup degrace displayed “animus” towards the accused and “Amicus” for the prosecution. The trial itself was held in camera and neither the press nor impartial observers were allowed. By all accounts gleaned from the original judgement and from defence lawyers the case was long on inference and short on facts.
According to police evidence none of the 26 accused were primarily involved in neither the murder nor the conspiracy. All the alleged perpetrators were dead. These 26 only knew the alleged assasins in completely different capacities. 1014 witnesses were said
to be available but o moned. The list of w not supplied to the Instead they were r bers alone. This pre from preparing in a egy towards witness The defence law of who the witness were giving eviden the witnesses were. itself was not accom supportive materials duced later. Intere: self was filed first an in a topsy-turvy d usual procedure.
The charges we filed within one ye Indian law. They w Documents and Su were also not provid the charges. They different times. The were not delivered time. The most uns the allegation by al were subjected to se CBI and that their " obtained under dur confessions were u fore invalid. Beside court their confessic to the grilling sleuth neetham in his hurl mum punishment ha accepting them. If disciplinary inquiry of Navaneetham's ( would like to be in
Critics of the tri flaws: All charges : were essentially ba tial evidence; there roborative witnesse: of the major charg in the investigative questionable. A gli the case of an alle Irumporai from G Pirabakharan. The spired in the earli the assassination of others of the EPR sively proved that t gery fabricated by selves. Irumporaiv the same letter was case against the sa death Sentence imp tham.
The original ind sons charged. Oft

15隔AY1999
nly 288 were sumfitness names were defence lawyers. eferred to by numvented the defence dvance their strat
SCS.
yers were unaware es were, why they ce or how reliable Also the indictment panied by required ... These were introstingly the case itd court named later eviation from the
're not completely :ar as specified in rere filed in stages. pporting materials led concurrent with were submitted at charges themselves to the accused on avoury aspect was 1 accused that they vere torture by the "confessions' were ess. Many of these insigned and theresall 26 retracted in ons allegedly given is. Yet Judge Navay to impose maxiad no qualms about and when a judicial undertakes a probe conduct few judges his shoes. all have cited many against the accused sed on circumstanwas a lack of corto substantiate any es. The CBI’s role process itself was aring example was ged letter taken by undu Shanthan to same letter traner trial concerning Pathmanabha and LF. It was concluhe letter was a forthe police themas discharged. Yet s used in the Rajiv me Irumporai and Josed by Navanee
ictment had 41 perhese Pirabakharan,
Pottu Amman and Akila were in Sri Lanka. 12 of the others including Thanu and Sivarasan the alleged human bomb and operational mastermind behind the assassination respectively were dead. This left the other 26 to face the music. The primary suspects who carried out the killing were dead. The alleged architects who hatched the conspiracy to kill Rajiv were in Sri Lanka. But the compulsions generated in the aftermath of the assassination, a "trial' on charges of murder and conspiracy became a political necessity. Therefore even those who played quite insignificant roles were unfairly indicted with charges of conspiracy and murder.
Many of those charged were people who had clandestinely crossed to Tamil Nadu on LTTE boats. Others were LTTE operatives handling functions like wireless communications and medicine procurement etc. There were also a few ex-LTTE men who were tarrying in Tamil Nadu prior to leaving for Europe. There were others who had associated with Sivarasan and Dhanu without knowing anything of their plans. There was the septugenarian Kanagasabapathy who was trying to find university admission for his grand niece in a Delhi university. Apart from the fact that he was the father of former LTTE leader Radha there was nothing against him. There are tragic cases of women like Selvalaxmi and Shanthi who were arrested because of the alleged complicity of their husbands. There is Subha Sundaram the photo studio owner who was close to the LTTE but in this case had provided a camera to Haribabu the photographer who died at Sriperumbodhoor. There is also the case of Ranganath who provided lodging to Sivarasan in Bangalore.
What is noteworthy in this regard is that the adage the punishment must fit the crime was cruelly violated by judge Navaneetham in his case. That many these persons were guilty of breaking Indian laws is not disputed. Some may have been merely associated with them. Others may have interacted with the actual conspirators and killers without having any knowledge of the conspiracy to kill Rajiv Gandhi. A few might have helped the alleged killers to evade arrest. But that does not entitle a court to tag them all as part of a terrorist conspiracy and impose maximum punishment on these people.
They can be punished in accordance with their lesser offences and have in

Page 17
15 MAY 1999
deed been so penalised. But to have inflicted a sentence of capital punishment on them to fulfil a need necessitated by political compulsions can only be described as barbarically heinous and totally at variance with the India's guiding principle "Sathuameva Jayahe' (Truth will triumph."). Thanks to the supreme court the truth temporarily eclipsed by the special court judge Navaneetham has triumphed.
Those who supported the unprecedentedly harsh verdict of the trial judge were of the view that the maximum penalty would deter similar exercises of this nature. That is indeed laughable for the alleged perpetrators in this instance are the Tigers. At least 25 Tigers committed suicide when accosted by Indian investigators. The premier assassin herself laid down her life to kill. The Black Tiger phenomenon and the cyanide capsule fetish of the LTTE is well known. So the argument that the heavy punishment was to deter the LTTE does not hold water. A more plausible argument is that it was done to intimidate the sympathetic Tamil Nadu population into not entertaining any notions of revolutionary violence.
But the more correct explanation of the harsh verdict was poignantly expressed by the mother of one of those condemned to gallows earlier. "26 families are made to suffer for the happiness of one family.”
The chief of the CBI special investigation team D R Karthigeyan stated proudly to the press that the "CBI has been vindicated by the judgement” when Navaneetham delivered his verdict last year. He has repeated it this time too. But the supreme court verdict has not vindicated the CBI investigation completely. While the CBI was commended for its meticulous investigation and proving LTTE involvement there was criticism for the flimsy evidence on which many of the appellants were implicated in the conspiracy and murder charges. The acquittal of 19 out of 26 on those charges is certainly proof that the CBI was not "vindicated'. As stated earlier what it has done is to go for the jugular in the case of people involved at a lower and distant level because it could not get at those directly involved in the conspiratorial and operational level of the murder. Karthigeyan in an interview has said, "If 18 people could be killed along with Rajiv Gandhi at Sriperumpudhoor why cant 26 hang for it?” The simple answer to
that is "Innocentpeo a crimethat they wei irony is that Karthge a member of a presti panel in India.
Karthigeyan has med that the CBI inv politically influence indulge in third deg all 26 appellants hav were tortured and tha were obtained by lence. Besides there : that arise as to the f inquiry. The mystery gler Shanmugam f committed suicide i unanswered. It is si close relationship bel gress Parliamentaria Rajendran and the L siderable suspicion was silenced to cov links with the LTTE, of the CBI in conc seems to have been t Congress embarrassl out to fix the LTTE : DMK and DK.
A serious flaw in glossing over of Srip Maragatham Chand the assassination epi daughter Latha Priya mental in allowing "I VIP enclosure. It ma not know of Dhanu'. theless they had to be at least. Besides man guished for 8 years had not been compr tent that Maragatha Moopanar too was most comical aspect to crown itself with covery of a suicide alias Kishore comm cording to the CBI DI note praising Karth for the thorough pro choice other than to supposedly referred spectfully even in hi a third grade Koda movie would have d All this howeve account that the LTT cated judicially in Though not classifie is no denying the f has been affixed with People like Subram already braying that

ble cannot hang for enot part of". The yan now retired is gious human rights
also proudly claiestigation was not land that it did not gree methods. But e claimed that they ut their confessions orce and frauduure many questions airness of the CBI of how the smugrom Vedaranyam n custody remains aid that given the ween former Conin of the area PV TTE there is conthat Shanmugam er up Rajendran's The methodology lucting the probe hat of covering up ment and going all and its allies in the
the probe was the perumpudhoor MP rasekhar's role in sode. She and her kumar were instruDhanu' to enter the ay be that they did S intentions nevercited as witnesses y of those who lanand were released omised to the exum was involved. not quizzed. The of the CBI trying glory was the disnote when Dixon itted suicide. Acixon had written a igeyan personally be that left him no ake poison. Dixon to Karthigeyan res dying note. Even mbakkam masala one better. r has to take into TE has been implithe killing now. d as terrorist, there ict that the LTTE a guilty seal now. aniam Swamy are the Indian Army
TAMIL TIMES 17
should go to the Wanni and apprehend Prabakharan. Even though this demand borders on the fringe of lunacy there cannot be any doubt that the verdict places Colombo in a dicey position. What will India particularly an India with Sonia Gandhi at the head do if and when talks are initiated with the LTTE and an agreement is reached with Pirabakharan? Will Pirabakharan himself ever emerge from hiding under these circumstances? In such a situation is a negotiated settlement with an LTTE under Pirabakharan be ever possible or is it a case of prolonged conflict amounting to fight to the finish?
The LTTE being held guilty also casts a shadow over it within the context of the Indian polity. No mainstream party would like to espouse its cause after this even if the ban is removed. Thus it will be more or less ostracised and politically isolated at worst. Even parties friendly towards it cannot do much now. Of course small organizations will continue to support it but neither they nor the LTTE can hope to enter the mainstream. There is the long term possibility that with the rise of the BJP on the one hand and the raking up of the Bofors scandal on the other the "Rajiv image' itself may decline. There is also the possibility of investigations by the MDMA taking a new turn like the so called involvement of Godman Chandra Swamy. All these developments may slowly erode the Rajiv image and thereby reduce the hostility against the LTTE in India. The political fortunes of the Gandhi dynasty may itself wane. All this of course will take a long time and there is no guarantee that it may benefit the LTTE. But a possible advantage in the long term cannot compensate for the short term damage. "For life is a game of short runs and in the long run we are all dead.'
The Supreme Court verdict has in a way “de-politicised” the Rajiv Gandhi case. The verdict however has condemned four to the gallows. The defence lawyers now have to file an application for a judicial review of the death sentence. The SC rejecting TADA also provides them with an opportunity to raise the issue whether a sentence of death pronounced on the basis of TADA procedures is lawful or valid. The mainstay of this argument would rely on Article 21 of the Indian Constitution which says a life cannot (continued on page 19)

Page 18
18 TAM TIMES
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15 MAY 1999
The Jaffma Y0uth COI
and its Legacy
Santasilan Kadirgamar
able to participate in today’s pro
ceedings on this historic occasion. It is in many ways appropriate that this function is organised by the Kokuvil Hindu College Old Students Association. Handy Perinbanayagam found fullfilment in his final years as a teacher in this college. I have observed the devotion and enthusiasm with which you have organised this function not only here but also in Jaffna and London. I have no doubt that his name will be honoured for generations to come at Kokuvil Hindu College. We have to make sure that the ideals he stood for are also passed on to coming generations. It is also appropriate that we meet in this hall.
Handy Perinbanayagam belongs to a great tradition in Indian and Lankan history that has roots in the legacies of the great emperors Asoka and Akbar, the reform and revivalist traditions associated with Rajaram Mohan Roy, Ramakrishna, Vivekananda and Gandhi. This is a tradition that is based on compassion and understanding among persons of all faiths, the pursuit of reality without narrow bigotry, intolerance and violence that is endemic today. Swami Vipulananda of the Ramakrishna Mission was an active participant in the activities of the Youth
consider it a great privilege to be
Congress. Handy P ing a tribute to h 25.9.47) said that whom they turne leadership and gui This is an occ remember not on nayagam and his in bution to this count eration of his comr. the Jaffna Youth C all passed away w tion Mr. Duraising last and vital link v ble generation of l vital contribution t tion, and the social not only Jaffna an country but to the w they rightfully be with distinction. T able contribution tc sia and shaped the generation of men. of the Youth Cong the men of this g come under its inf In 1933 the Stu lege paid this trib banayagam. “Alre our country and m filled with men w followed you, a learned your gre
(Continued from page 7) be taken except under procedure established by law. There is also the option of seeking clemency from the Indian President by way of a mercy petition submitted by the Tamil Nadu chief minister. It must be noted that in the case of Nalini, Judge Thomas did not want to pass death sentence but was outvoted by the others. This was because Nalini is married to Murugan who is also sentenced to death. They have a daughter born and raised in jail till four. Now Srini is living with her paternal grandmother in Australia.
The Sri Lankan Tamils who were acquitted are now lodged in specialse
curity camps. The free. So petitions h ing their release. filed seeking com ful confinement. chances of getting Indian nationals.
legal battles conn Gandhi case will ( ementary justice h Indian Supreme C special court’s inji ted of murder an thank one man f Nedumaran, an o porter who worke funds and co-oo: fence in the inter

AML TIMES 19
tenary Commemoration Lectures
lgreSS
irinbanayagam paym (in the Kesari, he was a person to l instinctively for lance. ision on which we y Handy Perinbaulti-faceted contriry, but a whole gendes that constituted ongress. They have Ith only one excepam. He remains the with that unforgettaeaders who made a o the task of educaand political life of d the Tamils of this hole Island to which 'longed and served hey made a remarkJaffna's intelligentthinking of a whole The indelible stamp gress was evident in eneration who had luence. dents of Jaffna Colte to Handy Perinady many homes in any walks of life are ho have loved you, nd honoured you, it language, caught
Indian nationals are ave to be filed seekCases also may be ensation for wronghere are very good this in the case of Thus it is clear that :cted with the Rajiv ontinue although els been obtained. The urt has remedied the stice. The 19 acquitconspiracy have to r all this. That is P tspoken LTTE supselflessly to collect inate the legal dests of justice. O
your clear accents and made you their pattern to live and to die. Your example is ever a call to the generations to come to live the good life.”(K. Nesiah. S. Handy Perinbanayagam, A Valedictory Tribute)
Personal Reflections
I had the privilege of knowing and interacting with several members of that generation. In fact the name Handy Perinbanayagam as mentioned above was a household word in our time. I heard his name as a child in my Seremban days, during the second world war in Malaysia under Japanese occupation, then the Federated States of Malaya. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose had strengthened the Indian Independence League and had built up the Indian National Army. The cadres of the IIL marched through the streets of the major cities of Malaya shouting GandhijikuJai, NehrujikuJai, Nettajiku Jai. My father, though a pastor of the Methodist Church, was a member of both the Ceylonese Association and the IIL in Seremban. He had been a founder member of the Jaffna Youth Congress in 1924 (then the Students' Congress) and had been the editor of the Ceylon Patriot, a secular weekly (founded in 1861 in Jaffna) which became the voice of the Youth Congress. It was published by the Lankabhimani press.
The paper having ceased publication in the 1930s, the Lankabhimani press continued to provide service to the people of Chavakachcheri and the Thenmaradatchy division under the able managership of Abraham Moses (from Kerala) until the early 1960s. Francis Kingsbury also known as Alagasundra Thesihar, Lecturer in Tamil at the University College, and his successor the first Professor of Tamil in the University of Ceylon, Dr. Kanapathipillai published all their books thanks to the service provided by this press.
The Thirumagal Press published the Eelakesari under the ownership of Mr. Ponniah. He was popularly known as "Eelakesari Ponniah' and a close friend of Handy and Youth Congress members. The Eelakesari, a weekly, for all practical purposes became the voice of the Youth Congress in Tamil, and remains an important and vital source for historical information on this period. In publishing the Handy Perinbanayagam

Page 20
20 TAM TIMES
Memorial Volume through this press the editors consciously acknowledged the support given by this press to the work of the Congress. In addition the Hindu Organ and the Morning Star also gave wide coverage to the activities of the Congress, at times critical but very much positive and fair in their report1ng.
In our Seremban days in the frequent reports of events and personalities in India and Lanka of the 1920s and 30s, we heard stories of the Youth Congress and Gandhi’s visit to Jaffna in 1927. In these narratives the name Handy Perinbanayagam figured prominently. The pictures of Gandhi, C F Andrews, Rabindranath Tagore and Swami Vivekananda found an honoured place in our home.
I myself went to the Vivekananda school to study Tamil, and we participated in festivals in the Hindu temple in Seremban. In my family we have had a long tradition of Hindus becoming Christians and in a few but prominent cases a return to Hinduism. C W Thamotherampillai and his son Francis Kingsbury are notable examples. Hence I need not say how deeply I value this occasion and my presence here. It brings back profound memories of persons and events that shaped our lives.
I once had an interesting exchange with the Revd. Celestine Fernando who was university chaplain in my varsity days and a good friend in later years. He had some harsh words on Some southern politicians who had discarded Christianity and changed religions. I asked him what he thought of Handy Perinbanayagam. He got visibly angry and said that there was no comparison and emphasised that Handy did it with integrity over a period of years.
I myself once engaged Handy Perinbanayagam in a discussion on his religious views and found it enlightening. Without going into further details we would do well to recall what three men who knew him best, Orator Subramaniam, A S Kanagaratnam and N Sabaratnam said on behalf of the Handy Perinbanayagam Commemoration Society. "He was born of Christian parents and as he went through college and adult life he took great interest in the Student Christian Movement. As a thinker he could not agree with the orthodox Christian churches and in time drifted away from them towards the religion of his forefathers. To the end he held that the tenets of Christianity
and Saiva Siddhant, to be regarded as o
We returned to in the very first s Castle' a troop-cal carry the first batc. egorised as war ref Contemporary tim time when our peo dered refugees. Th opened their doors layan returnees. I V lege where the nar nayagam was writ every teacher here h with the Youth Handy's leadership had quit the colleg career in the legal pr fling at parliamenta
lieve in free tho in the inferent which must preva struggle may bel long-drawn out rt syndicate for truth and fig refuse to bow the goyететts от chies often rely o them justice.ogg
At Jaffna Colleg and Saravanapavan, have remained close Several years later by some happy coin my wife was not or of Selvi Thiruchanc ghter, but also a clos also of Orator Subr ter Rathi, presently Orator was the othe who together with ( bers of the YC form memoration Society 1980 the Handy Pe. morial Volume whic tory of the YC and speeches and writin
In the early 197 yagam expressed ar the history of the Y( help him in this ta: time residing in Co elling between Col teaching and Jaffna resided. Housing th major problem in Co
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

15 MAY 1999
were close enough le.' anka in April 1946 ip the "Anundale rier improvised to of returnees, catgees from Malaya. is are not the first ble have been renschools in Jaffna freely to the Mavent to Jaffna Colle Handy Perinbalarge. Practically ad been associated Congress under though he himself 2 to pursue a brief ofession and a brief ry politics.
at those who be ght also believe itality of truth in the endl; the iter, tragic and Sዐዐner 0r later
Those yo live hit for truth and rheads to nobis, priestly hierar a posterity to do
je I met Siddarthan Handy's sons who friends since then. when I got married idence I found that ly a contemporary Iran, Handy’s daua friend of hers and amaniams” daughMrs. Puvanarajan. stalwart of the YC ther former mem'd the Handy Comwhich published in inbanayagam Meh included the hiselections from his gS. 0s Mr. Perinbanainterest in writing . He invited me to k. He was at that ombo. I was travmbo where I was where my family 'n as now being a ombo. He dictated
his reminiscences on the few occasions we met. I have used the notes from these sessions and a later handwritten piece by him in writing the history of the YC. I had to leave for Japan in 1973 in purSuit of my higher education. By the time I returned he was too ill for any further reflection. But I remember one comment he made when I asked for documents hand written or published. He had none and his answer was as follows: "All my life I have practically lived a camp life, moving from place to place, from house to house.” This was true of most members of that generation. Yet we know how well read and educated they were. They did not seek material advancement or the comforts of life that have become commonplace today, but gave all that they had to students, fellow teachers and the community.
Today even the few documents that were preserved have been gradually lost in the never ending war that we have been through. Many of us have lost a life-time collection of valuable books, documents, pictures and audio-tapes painfully collected over the years in our homes in Jaffna at the hands of antisocial elements from a variety of political persuasions, who have scant respect for learning, culture and the pursuit of what is good, true and of lasting value to society.
Sometimes after Handy Perinbanayagam died, a memorial meeting was held at the Vaidheeswara Vidyalayam in Jaffna, at which I had the privilege of speaking representing the younger generation. Orator Subramaniam presided and the speakers included the late Prof. Arasaratnam from Australia. In 1980 we released the Handy Perinbanayagam Memorial Volume at a well attended meeting at the Vembadi Girls' College. Once again Orator presided. That meeting was probably the last occasion when the surviving stalwarts of the YC met under one roof. Senator Nadesan another founder member of the YC was the key speaker. He was so carried away by the occasion and the contents of the book that he held forth for an hour and a half. So much so that the two other main speakers the late Prof. Kalilasapathi and I had to cut down our speeches to a brief five minutes each. I am happy to have been given substantial time to make-up for what I lost on that day nearly 20 years ago! I no longer represent the younger generation. But we do have a message

Page 21
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for them. Today it is about the lives and times of the first youth movement that emerged in Jaffna, and the endeavours of persons who left a lasting legacy of permanent value. What then is that legacy?
The Lasting Legacy
That legacy has to be seen in the context of the events, ideals and achievements of the men and women of the YC generation. Handy Perinbanayagam is best remembered by the gathering here today as the principal of Kokuvil Hindu College, and for the outstanding contribution he made to education and public life not only in Jaffna but in the whole country. I do not intend to dwell on the contributions he made to numerous causes. I focus today primarily on Handy Perinbanayagam as the founder-leader of the Youth Congress and his place in history in this capacity.
The Jaffna Youth Congress originally named the Students Congress was founded in 1924. It remained a potent force in the political and cultural life of the Tamils for over a decade. The YC was primarily Jaffna's response to the Gandhian nationalist movement in India. The influence of the Indian National Congress and Gandhi were felt most in Jaffna.
In June 1924. Handy Perinbanayagam sat the BA examination and assumed duties as a teacher at Jaffna College. Prior to this he and a few friends had planned the founding of an organization for national independence and the Students Congress came into existence in December 1924. From the very beginning the SC had an all-Island perspective, rose above parochialism of any sorts, was committed to national unity, political independence, and the social, cultural and economic betterment of the whole of Lanka. A conscious effort was made to embrace young people of all races, creeds and CaSteS.
The aims of the congress were clearly laid down in the resolutions passed at the very first sessions in 1924. The congress should work for the betterment of the motherland; no distinction be made on religious or racial grounds; annual sessions consist of representatives from all races and creeds; no sectarian issues be raised; members strive to remove the curse of untouchability; cultivate the study of national literature, art and music; and develop
and promote writin in the national lang tory, biographies a CCCS.
It was also resol dhian practices to possible locally m and eschew foreig no resolution was m above resolution in of the national dre ddar. Several mem Congress wore ther rest of their lives. frequently as possi gence among the class, with a few e. cial, cultural and li happened in the sou eafter. Even then it lic consumption S. this class having a for political purpos their domestic life Jaffna and among was no need for a its donning of the buth breakfasts an to temples. A genui tural revival free of place in Jaffna in these men had disc attire, as students, bonfire of western Handy Perinb lated a memorable 1922 he had passe arts and was given of delivering the Jaffna College, tha 100th anniversary the Batticotta Semr of the college.
Handy persiste tional dress. Pri. whom he was deel that he wear suitar to do so. Very ear strated his commi tions. It was, he sion to make. T Lyman Kulathung wore the national part of his life.
Sessions of the Y
Annual sessic were held spread c ferent parts of the sessions were held at Keerimalai in 1 at KKS in 1929, (Thinnaveli) in 1

TAMIL TIMES 21
is and publications ages of fiction, hisd works in the sci
red following Ganpatronise as far as nufactured goods products. Though ade on the dress the plied the wearing is, preferably khabers of the Youth ational dress for the he others did so as le. National resurEnglish educated :ceptions, in its soguistic dimensions th in 1956 and therhappened for pubveral members of dual life style, one es and the other for aping the west. In most Tamils there 1956 upsurge with national dress, kirii high profile visits me national and culhypocrisy had taken he 1920s. Some of :arded their western in the Gandhi led clothes in 1921. anayagam once reevent in his life. In d the London Interthe singular honour brize-day oration at tyear also being the of the founding of inary the precursor
d in wearing the nancipal Bicknell to ly attached insisted d tie. Handy refused y in life he demonment to his convicaid, a painful decie honour went to um who incidentally iress for the greater
luth Congress ns of the congress ver three days indifeninsula. The 1924 in the city of Jaffna, 25, 1926 and 1928, and at Thirunelveli 30.
The seventh annual sessions in 1931 - the year of the boycott - was a colourful and grand affair. The annual sessions were held in a specially erected pandal on the Jaffna esplanade. Srimathi Kamaladevi Chattopadhyaya, the chief speaker and president-elect for the sessions was taken in a procession from the Thattatheru junction to the venue in a carriage drawn by three white horses headed by several bands of musicians and youth clad in khaddar and wearing Gandhi caps. They carried the red, green and saffron flag of the YC symbolising the unity of all communities in the island. The 1931 sessions witnessed the largest ever gathering at any annual sessions. The proceedings began with the singing of “Vande mataram” and renderings of Subramaniya Bharathi's songs of freedom.
The name change from Students Congress to Youth Congress took place at this sessions. In 1931 the YC reached its zenith in moulding public opinion in Jaffna. Sessions were held in 1932, 1933 and in 1934 which was the last well attended sessions. Thereafter sessions and meetings were held periodically until the early 1940s.
Lectures at the annual session and meetings of the YC were delivered by eminent scholars, educationists, writers and persons with cultural attainments. These included prominent personalities from India such as Gandhi, Nehru, Rajaji, Satyamurti, Kalyanasundra Mudaliyar and Kamaladevi Chattopadyaya.
At practically every sessions Sinhalese young men who were to become future political leaders graced the occasion with their presence and speeches. These included D B Jayatileke, P de S Kularatne, G K W Perera, A E Goonesinha, George E de Silva, T B Jayah, Peri Sundaram, E W Perera, Francis de Zoysa(KC), C E Corea, S W R D Bandaranaike and S W Dassanaike. In later years prominent leaders from the left movement such as Dr N M Perera, Dr. Colvin R de Silva, Leslie Goonewardene, Selina Perera and others appeared on the YC platform and frequently interacted with Handy and his colleagues.
Among Tamil participants were many notable scholars, teachers, writers and persons involved in public life. The list consisting of a galaxy of personalities is too long to be included here.

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22 TAM TIMES
Mahatma Gandhi in Jaffna
It was the YC that invited Gandhi to visit Ceylon in 1927. In the south older men took over once Gandhi responded to the invitation. In Jaffna it was Handy and the YC that organized the visit which witnessed the first mass gatherings of people in tens of thousands which according to eye-witnesses were unprecedented and included celebratory scenes of enthusiasm free of divisive and partisan politics, the likes of which were not seen for decades to
COC.
Mahatma Gandhi arrived in Jaffna on the 26th of November 1927 in the Governor's saloon attached to the Jaffna train to be welcomed by a "seething mass of humanity' outside the railway station. In his farewell speech in Colombo, Gandhiji had said, "Somehow or other I feel that I am going to a different place in going to Jaffna.” At his very first meeting in Jaffna he again said, "Having come to Jaffna I do not feel that I am in Ceylon, but I feel that I am in a bit of India. Neither your faces nor your language is foreign to me.” He touched on the burning issues of the time such as caste, prohibition, revival of ancient culture, Hindu-Christian re
lations, the place o great teachers of the ism, problems of a nationalism. His do however to draw att ing millions in Indi the monies I have r and girls - will bea the monies received men. Your money stamp of innocence also to some of ther women who are inr ately perhaps, but b be otherwise.'
Commenting on troversies of the tir that the "purpose o should be to becom contract with one a that happened the much better place t for the broadest to working to that end
I do not expec dreams to develop o to be wholly Hindu tian, or wholly Mus: it to be wholly tole gions working side another.'
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f Jesus among the world, communalping the west and minant theme was ention to the starva. "I know that all eceived from boys r greater fruit than from old and wise 7 comes with the upon it, and it goes millions of men and Locent, not deliberecause they cannot
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Dreams and Visions
Speaking at Gandhiji's 25th death anniversary remembrance meeting Handy Perinbanayagam said, "Gandhiji was in politics then; so were we in Ceylon. Today India and Ceylon are steeped in politics. But there is a difference between the politics of those times and of today. The politics of those days were aspirational. Visions and drams loomed largethen. Today's politics are factional and pragmatic. They are also grosser and grimmer. The postindependence history of the two countries bears witness to this truth.'
Delivering the welcome address at the reception to Shri Jayaprakash Narayan in 1969, Handy having apologised for linking his name with that of the distinguished visitor said, "We dreamt dreams and saw visions. Our dreams and our visions were focused on the freedom of our countries and the rich blessings that it would bring to their peoples.”
The question of communalism figured prominently at the 1928 sessions of the Youth Congress. Nadesan reflected the dominant sentiment in his address. In attempting to meet the argument that the Sinhalese majority is

Page 23
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likely to dominate and further their own position at the expense of the other races under conditions of self-government, Nadesan said that after long years of subjection to foreign rule the chances were that the majority community at the beginning of self-government would use power for narrow and selfish ends; but some years of experience in selfgovernment would teach them that the strength of the nation required that every community in the country needed to be developed to maximum power. He ventured to express the hope that then parochialism would cease and that people would think of the nation first. Selfgovernment, he said, was the only remedy for their ills.
In the 1930s the ideal set before the country by the Youth Congress and nationalists in the South was a free and united Lanka. The Youth Congress was fully committed to a Ceylonese nationalism. When 1956 came it brought to the men who once belonged to the Youth Congress more than to anyone else in the country, a sense of defeat and disillusionment. Handy noted with regret that they had looked forward to “a land teeming with goodwill and blessedness.” He added: "Language which is the bone of contention today was peacefully settled by both Sinhalese and Tamils. Before long however bloodshed, premeditated murder and migration were the order of the day... All this was the vision of an idealist yesterday. What of tomorrow? A peaceful Sri Lanka no longer dreaming of fantasies but wanting the present travail to end is the urgent need.”
The Boycott of 1931 Nailing the Canard
I wish to use this opportunity today to place on record as forcefully as possible, though briefly, one issue on which the YC has been unfairly and in some cases maliciously misrepresented - that is the Boycott in Jaffna of the first elections to the State Council in 1931. A comprehensive piece on this must await another occasion. The following resolution was unanimously adopted by the annual sessions in 1931.
"This Congress holds Swaraj to be the inalienable birthright of every people and calls upon the youth of the land to consecrate their lives to the achievements of their country's freedom.” This was followed by an amendment to the resolution which read,
"And whereas Scheme as emb Order-in-Counc the attainment c gress further ple cott the scheme executive comm and means for cott.” Following an en the leaders of the Y ceeded in persuadir didates and senior a cians in not submitt pers for the four sea well-known historia entists both Sinhale eigners having made of what happened h resented or failed effectively the reall cott and the contex pened. None of the the primary source lish and Tamil, or visit Jaffna and int the Youth Congress the 1980s. These m lightened them on th event. I hope conte will take note and in canard that has bec and again by interes the 20th century hi in this country, fror subsequent events. The years 1924 a remarkable, brig decade in the hist when the Tamils u of Handy Perinbi Youth Congress to perialist position, from British rule, social-disabilities unity rising above ian or parochial iss Handy himself pla “Many respons ers have persist nal significanc and the boycot member I had D Bandaranail conference wh present, he Sug cott was insp motives. The l regard is Mr. H in his biograp wardene, repe body who has noted the pric

TAMIL TIMES 23
le Donoughmore died in the recent
militates against Swarajthis Coniges itself to boyund authorises the tee to devise ways nforcing the boy
lusiastic campaign uth Congress sucg prospective canid seasoned politing nomination pas in Jaffna.Several is and political scise, Tamil and fora superficial study ave either misrepo place on record easons for the boyt in which it hapm chose to go into ; available in Engook the trouble to erview the men of who lived right into len could have enis highly publicised mporary historians ever again repeat a n picked-up again ited parties to vilify story of the Tamils n the perspective of
to 1934 constitutes ht and spectacular ry of this country nder the leadership nayagam and the k a strong anti-imstood for freedom the eradication of and for national communal, sectarues. As late as 1966 :ed this on record. ble Sinhalese lead‘ntly read a commuinto this decision, that followed. I reput the late SWR e right, when, at a re both of us were gested that the boyred by communal test offender in this A.J. Hulugalle, who y of D R Wijeyats the slander. Noatched our lives and that we have paid
for our consistent devotion to the ideal of a United and Free Ceylonese Nation, can accept this view. The boycott was launched because the Donoughmore Reforms fell far short of complete independence.” (A Tribute to CSubramaniam (Orator), The Skanda, April 1966, p.31. Thirumakal Press, Chunnakam) The Daily News, all along a supporter of the Youth Congress and a strong critic of the Donoughmore Reforms welcomed the boycott in Jaffna. Having criticised the candidates in the rest of the country for lack of political principles, the editorial on nomination day commented that the "one relieving feature in this soporific performance is contained in the news from Jaffna...... Public opinion in Jaffna” said the editor, "is a potent thing. Those who defy it do so at their peril. Ever the home of virile politics, Jaffna is determined to see that the public spirit of her citizens is equal to any crisis.” (Ceylon Daily News, 4 May 1931)
The historians who have misrepresented the above boycott failed to grasp the strength of public opinion in Jaffna as understood by the Daily News, which at this juncture brief though it may have been was staunchly behind the Youth Congress.
Philip Gunawardene (who was later to become one of the foremost stalwarts of the left) from London wrote,
“I longed for the day when the youth of Ceylon would take their place by the side of the young men and women of China, of India, of Indonesia, of Indo-China, of Korea and even of the Philippine Islands in the great struggles of a creative revolution against all the mighty forces of old-age, social reaction and imperialist oppression. During the last few years the Jaffna Students' Congress was the only organisation in Ceylon that has been displaying political intelligence ... Jaffna has given the lead. They have forced their leaders to sound the bugle call for the great struggle for freedom - for immediate and complete independence from Imperialist Britain. Will the Sinhalese who always display Supreme courage, understand and fall in line? A tremendous struggle faces us. Boycott of the elections was only a signal. It is the duty of every Sinhalese now to prepare the masses for a great struggle ahead.” (Searchlight, 20

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24 TAM TIMES
27th June 1931).
At the height of the language debate in 1956 when it was becoming fashionable for Sinhalese spokesmen to attack the Tamils as reactionary and as opposed to the national struggle for independence it was Pieter Keuneman who on behalf of the Communist Party of Ceylon put the record straight in parliament. He recalled the role that the Jaffna Youth Congress had played and denied the allegation that was made that the boycott took place because the new constitution granted political power to the Sinhalese ... It was the weakness of the movement in the South that was responsible to a very great extent for the breakdown of the developing national movement in the North.
We have to distinguish between the anti-imperialist purpose of the boycott and whether it was a wise decision in terms of political tactics at that juncture. The latter is debatable. The former is not. There has been a tendency to denigrate the men of that generation on account of the boycott in crass and indecorous language by Scholars, journalists and nondescript contributors to the press who never shared the anti
colonialist nationa the cultural ethos C sequent times. The and the boycott we in the history of a braced a variety of were of lasting valu
A Maker of Men
Handy Perinba from 1931 did not were the sacrifices stand by his convict cal or religious. As put it, ”Handy Peri sentially a make Vaddukoddai via L long story. The pat endless controver proved fertile for b and admirers who doubtful pastime of in terms of victorie the unassailable ide: ways was, he was ab to any vilification. T the Gita, he acted ac tates of his conscien come in the hands C Sabaratnam, "A M
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st aspirations and that era or in subaims were noble only one episode ovement that emims and ideals that
YA ۷۔
layagam's career go smooth. Many he has to make to ons be they politiine of his admirers banayam was es' of men. From |w to Kokuvil is a was strewn with y, and the field oth his detractors delighted in the issessing his worth s and defeats. But list that Handy alle to inure himself rue to the ideals of cording to the dicce and left the outf Providence” (N. aker of Men, the
15 MAY 1999
Builder of Kokuvil Hindu' Homage to Guru S. Handy Perinbanayagam - edited by S Sivanayagam and S Ratnapragasam, Ceylon Printers, Colombo, January 1978)
More touching was the tribute paid by his opponent at the Parliamentary election. Mr K.Kanagaratnam said: "He contested the vaddukoddai seat in the first parliament along with five others including me and lost. I must confess that he was undoubtedly the most qualified of the lot both in point of political knowledge and long training for public service but the party slogans and mass hysteria Snatched the seat from him.' (K Kanagaratnam in S Handy perinbanayagam - A Valedictory Tribute - edited by S Sivanayagam and S Ratnapragasam, Ceylon Printers, Colombo, May 1960)
Liberalism and the Right to Dissent
In evaluating his life and work I do not go into Mr Perinbanayagam's role as teacher and educator, except to make a brief comment. I leave that topic to Prof. Sandrasekeram. The one time members of the Youth Congress in later years were educators in the fullest sense
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Page 25
15 MAY 1999
of that term. They were makers of men. They were also committed members of the NPTA (Northern Province Teachers Association) and the ACUT(All Ceylon Union of Teachers).
I have titled this presentation as the Youth Congress and its Legacies. A liberal tradition persisted in Jaffna and the rest of the island, among the Tamils from the 1920s through the 1980s as the men of that generation passed away one by one. It is a tradition that persists to this day, in the country and within the Tamil diaspora globally. But it persists with diminished strength, as more and more people take the easy option of falling in line with dominant trends and forces. This tradition which stood for liberalism and the right to dissent is rooted in the history of the Congress and is a legacy of their contribution to education and to public life in Jaffna. The Marxist left once dismissed this liberalism as bourgeois politics and culture only to fall back on this tradition with the demise of the Soviet Union.
Orator Subramaniam, A S Kanagaratnam and N Sabaratnam who shared the values of this tradition, apparently bore this in mind when they put together the selections from the writings
and speeches of H. gam in the memor deserve to be transl in Sinhalese and Tau tor should take up t sues he deals with such as "whose sc teachers and school in a democracy.” speeches include with an internation: dhi, Jayaprakash Na Coomaraswamy, to sonalities. His com matters were devas rancour and bittern sense of humour. H to take on powerful in society, includ schools and hierar religions. At the sa hesitate to criticise left who were his pi with whose politic thised. His commen values that are hum permanent. He was tor to the Ceylon T. the ACUT, the Kesa 1940s, the Co-opera occasionally in the
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dy Perinbanayavolume. These ed and published il. Some benefacis appeal. The isange from topics lools", "parents, ” to "a free press His writings and eat personalities stature like Gan“ayan and Ananda lesser known perments on men and ating, but without ess, tinged with a e had the courage men in politics and ing managers of hies of organised ne time he did not the leaders of the rsonal friends and ; he often sympaEs always projected ane, universal and a regular contribueacher - Journal of ari published in the tor in the 1960s and mainstream news
AML TIMES 25
papers.
His views are best summed-up with this quote from one of his writings titled the right to think and speak:
"We have seen that those who believe in free thought also believe in the inherent vitality of truth which must prevail in the end; the struggle may be bitter, tragic and longdrawn out; sooner or later truth is vindicated. Those who live for truth and fight for truth and refuse to bow their heads to mobs, governments or priestly hierarchies often rely on posterity to do them justice." ("The Right to Think and Speak", The Ceylon Teacher - Journal of the ACUT Oct. 1953). In the 1920s and '30s he was a committed anti-imperialist. In the 1940s and '50s he engaged himself eloquently in the debate on the national languages as the medium of instruction, on free education and teachers rights. In the 1950s when the language controversy dominated the headlines his was a strong and determined voice demanding equal status to the Tamil language in the face of the Sinhala only cry. He did this with restraint and dignity refusing to fall in line with the opportunism and emo
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Page 26
26 TAMILTIMES
tional rhetoric that characterised politics on both sides. On the contrary he could have easily joined the bandwagon and entered parliament. In the 1960s and '70s he defended press freedom and made representations to the constituent Assembly.
This liberal approach to politics and the great issues of the times, the capacity to dissent and disagree and put forward alternative proposals, to consistently uphold the fundamental and human rights of the people is the vital and treasured legacy left behind by Handy Perinbanayagam and the generation that belonged to the Youth Congress. This is a tradition that we affirm today. It is a tradition worth preserving. That is the greatest tribute we can pay to that generation of our fathers and teachers. As we honour the cherished memory of Handy Perinbanayagam - teacher, educator, social reformer, statesman, leader and maker of men - I wish to sum up with some words from my work on the Youth Congress at the risk of some repetition. The achievements of Handy perinbanayagam andn the Youth Congress lay in the cultural and educational fields and in the eradication of social disabilities. The elevation of the Tamil language to a place of honour happened in Jaffna as early as in the twenties. The practice of having lectures and meetings in Tamil on not merely subjects of literary interests but on secular and political matters as well, began with the Youth Congress. The young men of Jaffna though English educated restored national customs, festivals and dress to a place of honour in the social life of the community. The uncompromising stand taken on removing the humiliations imposed by caste was one of its major achievements.
Above all out of the Youth Congress came a whole generation of eminentteachers, principals, administrators and builders of schools. Their efforts in the mid-decades of this century made it possibly for Jaffna to enjoy the preeminent position that it occupies in the sphere of education with schools that could be the pride of any nation. They remained a dedicated band of teachers nationalist to the core. Dressed in their spotless white national costume, they were seen and heard on every big occasion in Jaffna. They gave a distinct flavour to public life in Jaffna and brought qualities of integrity and sincerity to several public causes to which they gave of their time and talents. O
BJP
t is all over, it shouting. Whate of the Dravidian nally been cast asi Munnetra Kazhaga Chief Minister Karu decision to join han nal Bharatiya Janata coming Lok Sabha
Well, he does st is yet to take a final he will first consult aries on the issue. Be some fond hopes DMK-TMC-Left Pa come through.
But even if such takes place, it is irre cussions or for the få Dravidian movemer The DMK-apolc sprung into action, E is awash with analy BJP-DMK tie-up, h to communalism the to choose between th B.JP, how such deci the basis of self-inte scheming Left has pl helpless DMK lea camp, how corrupti authority in the form much greater menace can think of and so ( Never does the H enter into the pictu sions. No one raises how the BJP which repudiation of e Dravidian principl thought of as an ally, tingencies.
Now that most D have embraced the for serious introspe movement is believe and its subsequent d a brief recap of the e the DMK's decision When the BJP gc tering on its last leg fered to support it vote. His argument the context of the w port by Jayalalithat vote was taking plac{ votes against the mo rationale, would be i

15 MAY 1999
DMKUnholy Alliance
T N Gopalan
ooks like, bar the ver that remained movement has file by the Dravida m (DMK) with nanidhi's apparent ds with a commuParty in the forthlections. ll maintain that he decision and that his party functionsides there are still that a Congressrties alliance could
a turn-around does levant for our diste of the so-called Lt. gists have already und the local Press lses justifying the ow when it comes re is nothing much e Congress and the sions are taken on rests alone, how a ushed an innocent, der into the BJP on and misuse of of Jayalalitha is a than anything one D. indutva of the BJP re in their discusthe question as to stands for a strong very cherished e could even be whatever the con
ravidian off-shoots BJP, this is a time ction on what the d to have stood for ecline. Before that vents which led to could be in order. vernment WaStOt, Karunanidhi of in the confidence was that it was in ithdrawal of suphat the confidence :. And anyone who tion, whatever the n effect furthering
her interests, a crime, a sin, the DMK could just not afford to commit. "The DMK cannot be seen in any formation in which the AIADMK finds a place," he declared.
Later on the party executive committee even claimed that Jayalalitha had entered into diabolical pact with Sonia by which once the Vajpayee regime was toppled and a new government put in place, the DMK government was to have been instantly dismissed.
“We had come to know from reliable sources that the Congress had agreed to such a proposition and promptly alerted the Left Front leaders. But to our shock they did not seem to care and they went ahead with their agenda of throwing out the BJP government,” the executive said, expressing its outrage, though in rather measured terms. In the circumstances the DMK had been left with little option but to vote with the government.
Besides the Left had hurt his feelings by entertaining the likes of Jayalalitha and Subramaniam Swamy, it is claimed. Karunanidhi himself said that the DMK was not taken into confidence by the Left when it planned its
OWeS.
But then who will buy the argument that the Left could be a party to any scheme to destabilise the DMK Government. They might have miscalculated the possible impact of their action on Jayalalitha's own career or underestimated the credibility they themselves would be lending her by openly associating with her. But then that is their way of expressing their abhorrence for Hindutva.
Still how could one expect them to go to the level of keeping quiet in the face of any attempt to overthrow a democratically established government. Did they not stick their necks out when Rabri Devi's head was on the chopping block despite their strained relationship with Laloo Prasad Yadav in Bihar?
They surely could be justly charged with taking opportunistic stances on quite a few occasions, but then they would have been born out of genuine misapprehension rather than for reasons of vested interests. Whatever it is, the ways of the CPI or the CPM could

Page 27
15 MAY 1999
never be as crassly, as outrageously, opportunistic as those of the Dravidian outfits.
Anyway the DMK's own sanctimonious humbug became unmasked when they went ahead and started hinting at electoral alliance with the BJP. If they had supported the BJP Government solely on the ground that lending a helping hand to the AIADMK, even if indirectly, would only result in the strengthening of Jayalalitha's standing in the public eye, what plausible reason could be there to go in for an electoral understanding with the BJP?
Karunanidhi came up with some convoluted reasoning. The DMK in a BJP-front could act as a bridge between it and the minorities and smoothen its rough edges. Also the BJP, unlike the Congress, respected its allies. Anyway in the name of anti-Congressism the Left and the DMK had joined hands with the Jan Sangh during the Janata Party days and subsequently with the BJP during the time of V.P.Singh.
He conveniently forgot the thundering denunciation of the nexus between corruption and communalism only last year, of the Sangh parivaar's ways during the attacks on the Christians and of the authoritarian approach of the Vajpayee regime when it sought to sack the Rabri Devi government.
More than anything else he would not pause for a moment to reflect on the dangers posed by communalism in a complex mosaic like India's, and in the context of the demolition of the Babri Masjid and its aftermath at that. Not to mention the BJP's ideology is inherently immoral.
Clearly he is scared that a CongressAIADMKalliance could come about in which case he could be on a weaker wicket in a Lok Sabha election unless he is also seen in the company of another national party.
Also for all its bleak record, a friendly media has managed to project Vajpayee as a Mr.Nice Guy, even if he is surrounded by mad mullahs of the Hindu variety. Possibly the BJP could romp home on a sympathy wave and why not make use of it to his own advantage? A defeat for Jayalalitha in the Lok Sabha elections could prove a great morale booster for the Assembly elections to follow in the next two years.
Clearly then his typically parochial, narrow view has blinded him to the larger dimensions of the issues at stake. This then takes us to the question of the
very purpose serv ImOVement.
What was Per sion when he chal hegemony? It has lier in these colun for a broad nontended to ignore among the non-Bra results for all to se Secondly he di evils of the institu against the very ( spoke up for the r But when his ow ued to seek relie treated women as tel, he tended to tu) infractions and c anti-Brahminism a exorcise all the Tamil society.
Finally when h far-reaching socia had taken to parli only did it start 1 compromises in p Karunanidhi anc power to feather th through those day was wreaking hav for Jayalalithas o. had very little to bilising the people proteges but who movement. He fe effectively margin while remainings side.
Interestingly in DMK could ever tion with the Dali credibility.
Pragmatism h of the game and 1 an ideologically chandran could w jor chunk of the besides winningo disciple Jayalali more outrageous mand vast supp Brahmin Tamils.
And there is a wamy, now the l who could bring his fiery pan-Tam wait on someone then go on to sin Vajpayee and his a short shrift to th is history.
Karunanidhi,

TAM TIMES 27
d by the Dravidian
yar EVR’s own vienged the Brahmin been observed earns that in his quest Brahmin unity, he the contradictions hmin castes with the e today.
i thunder against the tion of religion and oncept of God and ghts of the women. n followers continf from religion or no more than chatna blind eye to such ntinued to harp on Is if doing so would vils afflicting the
le was crusading for changes, the DMK amentary path - not making all kinds of ursuit of power but company abused heir own nests. Right s when Karunanidhi voc, paving the way f the future, Periyar say, leave alone moagainst his nominal were destroying the it proud of them for alising the Brahmins ilent on the seamier
either Periyar nor the carry much convicts, so much for their
ad become the name lot surprisingly such 'acuous M G Ramaalk away with a maDravidian vote-bank ver the Dalits, and his tha could do much things and still comort among the non
Vai Ko (V Gopalasader of the MDMK) he house down with il rhetoric who could like Jayalalitha and paeans of praise for lk. How they all gave : Lankan Tamil issue
though, still retained
some vestiges of rationalism and sought to project himself as the only true friend of the minorities in an increasingly bleak situation. It may be recalled here that in the days of the self-respect movement (Suya Mariathai Iyakkam) Periyar allowed Muslim leaders to excoriate the Hindu gods from his platforms. The Muslims remained loyal to the DMK by and large.
But Karunanidhi's performance during MGR's times and the 1998 elections showed the Muslim votes did not matter much. They were clearly expendable in a situation wherein an overwhelmingly Hindu electorate was beginning to look kindly upon the Hindutva.
With a sobered North preferring to keep away from the touchy issue of making Hindi the sole official language and anyway many non-Brahmin youth slowly taking to Hindi, the anti-Hindi plank had lost its edge.
If in 1962, making Chinese aggression as a pretext, the DMK could conveniently jettison the Dravida Naadu demand, the state autonomy war-cry of the early seventies also died a natural death when Karunanidhi found the Centre too powerful for him to tackle and anyway such slogans alone would not bring in votes to him. Also the Dravidian leaders found it profitable doing business with the northerners.
Thus like a cabaret dancer, the movement was shedding its clothes one after another. With finally taking the plunge and seeking to become an ally of the BJP, the DMK stands stark naked, in the inglorious company of the AIADMK and the MDMK. Even such a once fire-spouting PMK which also claims to draw inspiration from Periyar has become an ardent BJP supporter.
Little needs to be said of the original DK whose leader K Veeramani, even when without any electoral compulsions, has little qualms in hailing Jayalalitha as a great revolutionary and chooses to berate the BJP as and when it is convenient to him.
Anna Arivalayam, the DMK headquarters presents a strange sight these days. No, it is not as if the saffronclad, Trishul-wielding Hindu fanatics have started frequenting it. At least not yet.
One entire floor is occupied by the SUN TV owned by the DMK's first family. Jostling at the entrance are those who have some business or other in the SUN TV studio and the DMK faithful.

Page 28
28 TAMILTIMES
Swank cars carrying some of the visitors are a fixture. The uncouth, plebian DMK cadres and leaders squirm and watch, their mouths agape, attractive young actresses, breeze in and breeze Out.
The SUN TV, a highly successful satellite channel, is everything that a Dravidian media should not be. And the floor it occupies is a no-go zone for the DMK-men. But none in the party dare protest.
When this correspondent interviewed Kalanidhi Maran, Murasoli Maran's son and the head of the network, he nonchalantly said: "If you want me to give a lecture for two hours on the Dravidian ideology, I'd willingly do so. But this is something different, business. Strictly so. No place for politics in it. I have told the old guards to lay off, and they now see the merit in my approach.” That is perhaps the epitaph on the Dravidian movement. What Karunanidhi now does is immaterial.
Many believe that the BJP alliance sounds the death-knell of the movement. Nay, it only constitutes a shameless acknowledgement by one of the few remaining pioneers that it had gone bankrupt. O
ADEM TOS
There are no sig ing resolved satisfac ture. What is necess is to stop the war ar tion. How can this get the support of th national Community the Sri Lankan Gove and to start negotiati the support of UNOa munity? Tamils livi world mainly in Tam Malaysia, Australia, Germany, France, Sv Norway, Sweden Ho tries should raise the hold negotiations'. ternationalforum und cratic Tamils Front should be practicall only objective is to and save the innocer starvation, improper millions worth of pro
This organisation national conference ti and to this conferenc leaders from other cor peace in Sri Lanka.
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5 MAY 1999
OCRATCFRONTMOOTED OVETHNPROBLEM,
s of this problem beorily in the near fuary to seek a solution d enter into negotiabe done? We should UNO and the Interto bring pressure on nment to stop the war on. How can we get nd International Comng in all parts of the |il Nadu, Singapore, Canada, USA, UK, vitzerland, Denmark, land and other councry "stop the war and We must form an inera name like “Demo”. This organisation y non-partisan. The stop this useless war it people from death, sanitation and loss of perty.
should hold an intero attain this objective 2 we should invite all mmunities who favour At this conference we
should adopt a resolution seeking the support of UNO and other powers including India, South Africa, UK, USA, Canada, and Europe to bring pressure on the Sri Lankan Government to agree to stop the war. At that stage UNO should order a cease fire and negotiation should be held under the auspices of the UNO. This organisation should publish a book in a diary form bringing out all events from the time Sinhalese leaders and Tamil leaders met in Jaffna and entered into an agreement before the Donoughmore Commission arrived in Ceylon. From that agreement onwards all happenings in the political drama should be tabulated in diary form in English and distributed to all countries in the UNO.
In my view this non-partisan organisation can attain this objective provided we can convince the International Community we are genuine and united to bring about peace in the country.
I shall be thankful to all Tamils to send in their views to Tamil Times and also communicate with me if possible. My address is 936 McCowan Road, Scarborough, Ontario, M1 P3H6, Canada, Telephone: 416 439 6418/Fax:4164399768 - SCHELLIAH, PRESIDENT IMTC, CANADA
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Page 29
15 MAY1999
BOOK REVIEW
POETRY FOR PROGRE
E S P Godson ( E. Sangarapillai), Toronto,
Review by Frank Birbalsingh (Professor of English, York University, Ontario, (
E S P Godson's volume Poetry for Progress consists of thirty-six poems and twenty-seven excerpts from the poetry of a wide range of famous authors. Godson himself is a Sri Lankan Tamil who has lived and worked in several countries most notably in Nigeria, where he was a school teacher for many years. The subjects and themes of his poems which reflect his broad experience, range from personal relationships, family and domestic concerns, to national and international issues and reflections of a religious or spiritual nature.
The mere titles of some poems illustrate the poet's interests- My Mother , My Teachers, To My Students, We owe you much great USA, and Toyou our caring Mother Canada. There is depth of passion in most poems, particularly in those dealing with Sri Lanka which the poet calls Our paradise on earth and pearl of the Indian Ocean, (p17). The effect of continuous civil war has been devastating in Sri Lanka which, says the poet, is now like a beautiful woman raped'. (p17). Godson does not mince words in A Plea for Unity” where he indicts wicked and cunning politicians for causing communal violence in Sri Lanka. His solution for a poly-nation' like Sri Lanka is Mutual love, respect and concern' (p. 17). He counsels:
Let religions and politics be not mixed Let our faiths be private and politics public Let them not clash with one another But show their righteous paths to
people” (p. 18)
Here, as in other poems, the poet's deep sense of patriotism shines through. Perhaps the finest expression of Godson's patriotism can be seen in his
poem, God! Resto inalienable Rights the rich multicult Lanka and pleads ration:
Whither is fled Where is now That kept usal
God Restore c ienable rights
And keep us a separate rooms” (p
The intensity ( poem has been not Poetry Society wh the poet's vigorous mentary of the S reader sympathises triotism and share present and prayer
AS we can see quotations that hav Godson employs diction and an alı idiom that relies of a question and ans tion is often usede in questions, to le ings that are expre and direct statem strengthen convict cerity. In this sens poet avoids much obscurity that is fo poetry. The result expression that is cessible.
But the impre created that the p Progress' are ma ready mentioned, wide variety of t materialism, divis corruption, peace,
75047
EMIERGENCYTRA
eaSe
09566.7636OO
 
 

TAMILMES 29
SS
1998
anada.)
re our Rights - our
where he sketches ural history of Sri with God for resto
all our glories? bur golden past
as a great family?
ur rights - our inal
is good brothers in . 22)
f patriotism in this iced by the London ich commented on feeling. As the comociety states The with the poet's pais his sorrow at the for the future. (p22). even from the brief re been given so far, a generally simple most conversational direct statement or wer format. Repetifectively, especially nd force to the feelssed. Simple diction nt also combine to ion in the poet‘s sinit is notable that the of the difficulty and und in contemporary , in these poems, is ucid and readily ac
ssion should not be )ems in Poetry for nly political. As alGodson considers a emes, for example, on, greed, violence, ove and forgiveness.
As in his political poems, Godson's basic vision is of reality that has been disfigured by human folly; hence the violence, corruption and other negative features. His poem Man has ceased to be man' sums this up succinctly: Man has ceased to be man Reasons are not far to seek They are his lust for power And his lust for wealth” (p.45) Lust for power produces division, disunity, violence and destruction not only in Sri Lanka, but all over the world. It is to counter such destruction that the author has written poems for progress; for his notion of progress' embraces values such as duty, faith, piety and obedience which can overcome the negative values that have created contemporary reality and lead to a more peaceful and progressive future.
One of the clearest statements of progress' appears in the poem To my Students” in which the persona, after a long career of teaching children from more than a dozen nations, spells out the triple gems" of Unity, peace and progress' which he would like to see in the world of the future. But perhaps the best statement of progress" is given in the poem Please Accept this Prayer as an Affirmation of my Faith” where Godson pleads for Unity in diversity, tolerance and compromise” (p. 72). Progress, in other words, will produce unity, universality, brotherhood ofnations. This, after all - a world of peace and brotherhood - is Godson's overriding aim.
In our generation when materialistic values prevail, and self-indulgence is taken to be the highest good, it is at least refreshing to encounter writing that celebrates old values that have been tried and tested - faith, hope, piety, obedience, patriotism, unity, reverence. Where today we glorify individualism and selfishness under the guise of liberty and freedom, Poetry for Progress celebrates loyalty, Solidarity and community. Where today we respect selfgratification and pleasure, Godson asserts the value of duty, self-denial and service. Godson's notion of progress' means spiritual enlightenment and universal brotherhood in a world that may appear disfigured and chaotic, but is, in the end, unified by divine control.
EL
ONLY))))-SRI LANKA
-SOUTH INDIA -SINGAPORE

Page 30
30 TAMILTIMES
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We congratulate the following couples on their recent wedding. Brindhaban (Ben), son of Mr & Mrs Ponnampalam and Thevaki, daughter of Mr & Mrs Ariaratnam on 5th April 99 at the Sri Kanaka Durga Amman Temple, Ealing, West London. Niroopan, son of Dr & Mrs R Thaya Paran of 3 Martingale Road, Billericay, Essex CM11 1SG and Kirijah, daughter of Mr & Mrs V. N. Narendean of 110 Deans Lane, Edgware,
Middx HA89NR on 16th May 99 at Kadwa Patidar Centre, Kenton, Middx.
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OBITUARIES
Mrs Thaiyanayaki Sivalingam, beloved wife of the late Ponniah Sivalingam, retired Chief Clerk of Erlalai South, Chunnakam, youngest daughter of the late Kuddithamby and late Kanagamma, loving mother of Jeyakumaran, Kaladevy, Gnanendran, Dr JeyagoWry, Sureshkumar and Sivasuthan (all of UK); mother-in-law of Ganeshamoorthy, Dr Kumaran, Yogendradevi, Vallinayaki, Malathy and Balasuhanthini (all of UK); sister of the late Sivaramalingam, late
Annrmani Amma, late Puwaneswari, late Thuraisingam, late Shanmu
galingam and Mrs Sethunayagi Sivasithamparam of Australia, beloved grandma of Havitha, Sinduja, Kalyan, Neruban, Rathulan, Pratheeban, Aparna, Geevithan and Abisha, passed away peacefully on 18th April 1999 and Was Crennated On 22nd after
 
 

the funeral service at 24 Sixth Cross Road, Twickenham.
The members of the family thank all friends and relatives who paid their respects at the Chapel of Rest, attended the funeral, sent messages of sympathy and floral tributes and assisted them in several ways during the period of bereaVerment. Contact in UK - son S. Jeyakumaran, 27 Uxbridge Road, Feltham, MiddX. es: O81 755 0287
Vellupillai Kumarasamy (73), Retired Assistant Collector and Additional Landing Surveyor, Customs; beloved son of late Mr. & Mrs. Velupillai, Jaffna, So loved husband of Sarojini (Sydney), loved, admired and missed by his children Nirmala Rasalingham (Sydney), Baskeran (Rayners Lane, London), Shyamala Uthayakumaran (Brisbane) and Dayaharan (Rayners Lane, London), loving father-in-law of Rasalingam (Sydney), Dr. Gnanamanohari Baskeran (Rayners Lane, London), and Uthayakumaran (Brisbane); loving grandfather of Gyaththiri, Gayan (both of Brisbane) and Arjun (Rayners Lane, London), beloved brother of Rajeswari Somasundaram (Nallur), Maheswari Thanabalasingham (Ottawa); belovedson-in-law of Mrs. Sinnadurai (Sydney), beloved brother-in-law of SaththiyapaITE Ratinasabapathy (Kingston, Canada), Satkunadevi Selvaratnam (Colombo), Jeyapathy (Sydney), Dr. Sakunthala Sundaramoorthy (Melbourne), Chandraleela Nagarajah (Jaffna), Shanthini Devamanoharan, Dr. Sushila Ravindrarajah (both of Sydney), Slojana Ganeshakumar (Montreal) and also the uncle of Puvanendran, Jeyarani, Jeyagauri (all of Jaffna), Ran
15 MAY 1999
jan, Thayalan and Vasuki (all of Ottawa) passed away in Sydney on 20th April 1999 and the cremation took place on 22nd April.
The members of the family express their sincere thanks to all friends and relatives, who attended the funeral, sent messages of sympathy, floral tributes and assisted them in several ways during the period of bereavement. - 138 Waverley Road, Harrow, Middx. HA2 9RE Tel 0181 429 0606/37 Mississippi Road, Seven Hills, NSMV Australia. Tel: 612 9676 3889.
Mr. Vaithilingam Nallasegaram, (98), Retired President, Rural Courts; beloved husband of .
Annaluxmy, devoted father of Chitra (Canada), Dr Shanmuganathan (UK), Mahendran (Canada) and Yasotha (USA); father-in-law of Makendran, Dr Nalini Shanmuganathan, Hugette Mahendran and Saravanabavan, brother of late Mrs Thambiah, late Mrs Panchalingam, late Mrs Nagalingam, late Mrs Kandiah, late Mr Rasaratnam, Dr Sandrasegaram, Mr Singaram, Dr Vijayasegaram and late Mr Vanniasegaram, loving grandpa of De vendra, Lakshmi Briscoe, Niranjan, Krishna, Julie, Linda, Indrajit and Meena, great grandfather of Saskia and Daniel passed away peacefully in Canada on the 29th March and the Cremation took place on 1st April 99.
The members of the family thank all friends and relatives who attended the funeral, sent floral tributes and messages of sympathy and helped them during the period of bereavement - Dr N. Shanmuganathan, Chislehurst, Kent UK.

Page 31
15 MAY 1999
IN MEMORAM 30th Death Anniversary BOrr, 14.06. 1914
Rest O6.06.1969 In loving memory of Dr Ethirnayagam Kailasapillai of Pannagam, Jaffna on the thirtieth Anniversary of his passing
away on 6th June 1969.
Greatly missed and fondly remembered by his beloved wife Vadivambal; loving children Dr Sri Ranjan (Colombo),
Uma, Hariharan, Mytheli, Ramani, Rathy (all of UK), Gowri (Toronto, Canada),
Chandramohan, Rohini (both of Melbourne, Australia); sons-in-law Paskara-Moorthy, Tharmakulasingam, Sivakumar, Nithiyananthan, Punniyamoorthy and Thiruneelakandan, daughters-in-law Vimalaranee, Sivayogini and Gomathy and seventeen grandchildren. - 36 New Park Avenue, London N 135NB. Tel: O 18f 8073378.
In loving memory of Mrs Nagammah Kanagasabai on the first anniversary of her passing away on 8th May fg98.
Sadly missed and lovingly
remembered by children Kailainathan, Kathirgamanathan, Mrs Punithawathy Thangarajasingham and Gopalanathan; daughters-inlaw Mrs Poornani Kailai
nathan, Mrs Indra Kathirgamanathan and Mrs Malini Gopalanathan; grandchildren and great grandchildren - 73 Kingston Road, Wimbledon, London SW19 JN
in ever loving memory of Dr. Parameswaran Kandiah Or) the ninth anniversary of his passing away on 12th May 1990.
Sorrowfully remembered by his beloved wife Pathmasany and loving children Thayalan and Anjali -29 Mounston Close, Hartside Grange, Hartlepool TS26 OLR.
گانٹھ
In loving memory of Mrs. Ranjini Geetanjali Thirunavukarasu on the third anniversary of her passing away on 24th May 1996.
Sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her husband Thiruna vulkarasu, Children Poornima and Pradeep; father Mahalingam; mother-in-law Mrs P. Ponnuthurai; sisters Mrs Lalitha DilkuShi Karunakaran and Priyadarshini Damayanthy; brothers Premkumar, Mohanakumar, Ranjitikumar, Nimalikumar and Tilakunmar, brothers-in-law Karunakaran and Balanathan, sisters-in-law Kamalarani, Vijayalaxmi, Nirmala, Yasothara, Nalini, Kamaladevi and Sugirthadevi - M. Ranitkumar, 12 Chase Lane, Barkingside, Essex G6 1BH. Tel: Of 81 554.2095.
 
 
 
 

TAM TIMES 31
A.
ln loving memory of Tham
bidurai Shanmugarajah, Attorney-at-law, J.P., U.M., of Konda vil East, Sri Lanka on the fifth anniversary of his passing away on 5th May
1994.
Sadly missed and fondly remembered by his beloved wife Anandavalli; loving daughter Sharmini; son-in-law Ranjit; loving grandchildren Praveen and Anjana - 102 Loutitt Street, Yellowknife, N.W.T., Canada X1A 3M5.
First Death Anniversary
སྟེ་
In loving memory of Mr. M.P. Ganeshan Who Was the patron and a long standing dedicated member of Tamil Union of Herts who worked and lived in Hemel Hempstead until a year ago when he was called to rest on 3rd May 1998. It looks like only yesterday when the lights went out on one of the shining beacons among the ex-patriate Tamil community in the U.K. It would certainly have caused a dent to the hopes and welfare of the thousands of suffering and needy people in his native motherland for Whom he had endless energy to the end.
Mr. Ganeshan hailed from the pleasant villages in Jaffna, born as the only son of Murugesu Ponnusamy (Kondavil) and Sivasampu Sellamma (Kopay) and the brother of Rajeswari Thiyagarajah.
As a child, he lived in Malaysia with his parents and
後,
then gained his early education in Kopay Christian College and later at Jaffna Central College. Qualified as a Radi. ogapher, he first worked at Jaffna Hospital and then at Colombo, Anuradhapuram, Matara and Badulla until he was appointed as the Senior Radiogapher at the General Hospital in Hemel Hempstead where his family have settled since. As a man full of family pride he went to great lengths to ensure that his Children had the best education possible and was always keen to emphasise the importance of good education to every youngster he came across, yet he retained an abiding interest in the welfare of the needy people in his motherland.
Over the years he was very much liked and respected by his friends for this Concern for others and also for his views and approaches to comforting the orphans and refugees which were simple, straightforward and transparent.
Tamil Union of Herts to which he was like the powering engine was one of the many mediums through which he found answers to his sensitive feeling for others. As a sincere and humble man, he engineered a tremendous amount of relief assistance without for once having the aspiration to put his name or face at the forefront at any gatherings. Intrinsically a kind hearted person who liked to keep a low profile in general, he loved the simple living and despised the creature comforts but on any issues that he believed in he was unrelenting and uncompromising. He fought his illness both silently and bravely to the end. These qualities were to make him the great man that he was among our community.
Great men live forever, so will Mr. Ganesham in Our hearts and minds.
He will be greatly missed by everyone fortunate enough to have known him, his friends, the people for whom he worked tirelessly and above all his wife Shantham, daughters Kirija, Vanaja, son Das, sonsin-law Uthayakumar, Deneshkumar and his loving grandchildren Nilani, Mayan, Byravi, Krishanth and Preshanth. - 19 Gadebridge Road, Hemel Hempstead, Herts. HP1 3DT.
Tamil Union of Herts.

Page 32
32TAMILTIMES
FORTHCOMING EVENTS Jun 1 Feast of St. Justin. Jun 5 South London Tamil Welfare Group (SLTWG) Drop in. Tel 0181 542 3285 Feast of St. Boniface. Jun 6 Feast of St. Norbert. Jun 9 Feast of St. Ephrem. Jun 10 Eekathasi.
Jun 11 Karthigai; Pirathosam, Feast of St. BarnabaS.
Jun 13 Amavasai. Jun 16 Sathurthi. Jun 17 7.00pm to 11.00pm Akademi (South Asian Dance in UK) celebrates 20th Anniversary with Boat Party on the Thames, partying, perfo
Sri Raja Rajeswary Amman Temple, Stoneleigh, Surrey, UK Maha Kumbabishekam
Another brand new Hindu Temple with magnificent South Indian Architecture arose in our midst last month - this time in the leafy quiet suburb of Stonleigh (near Kingston & Epsom), Surrey. Absence of a Tall, Colourful and very conspicuous Gopuram, as seen in South Indian Temples aside, this temple, situated in the back streets of Stoneleigh's shopping parade is somewhat difficult to find But once you locate the temple and find a suitable place to park (the recurring problem faced by almost all temples in this tiny island known as Great Britain) you will find yourself entering a shrine of Sri Raja Rajeswary (Consort of Lord Shiva) in its full glory - a temple into which not only money, but sheer hard work had been poured in. The qualified Sculptors from South India had worked closely with the Temple Engineers and have erected this majestic structure which speaks volumes of our religion, our culture and our rich heritage at a time when it is under threat from all sides. The Temple has Sri Raja Rajeswary Amman as the main deity with Ganesh & Murugan on her right and left respectively. Lord Narayanan, Lord Shiva in his form as Lingam, the nine planets (Nava Grahas) are also enshrined at this Temple. The deity of Vairavar - present in every temple in Sri Lanka and sometimes occupying a separate temple for himself in open lands and street corners finds pride of place in the Stoneleigh Temple complex.
The Consecration ceremonies commenced in late March and concluded with the grand finale (Kumbabishekam) on Monday, 5th April. As it was a bank holiday
many thousands of de
of Britain ( & Europe) sleepy town. Well knc ed scholarly Prie Viswanatha Kurukka Sambamoorthy Sivac Sri Naganatha Sivant many others were in took part and condu together with the resi Swaminatha Sivachat live Natheswaram ing common at Lor, played at this conseCl main consecration C for a further period u! May, when the Maha be celebrated. For de and offerings, the ten ed Or O181 393 8147 W
Bharatha Naty of Sal
Guests at the Croy Ashcroft Theatre - in from 'Croydon High, theatre lovers were as liant perfотатсe ren her Bharatha Natya
April 99. She is Rajes Waran and Su Croydon.
The astonishment w the fact that Saratha gird performed like a s an performer, but realised that it was th! year old A-Level stuc entirely different set of previously with her M in the SChOOS Musica men’ by Bizet.
As an active participa
 
 

15 MAY 1999
mances and refreshments while cruising in a round trip from Westminster to MillenniLm DOrme. Tel 0171267 1456.
Jun 24 Eekathasi; Feast of the Birth of St. John Baptist. Jun 25 PirathoSam.
Jun 18 Shashti.
Jun 26 SLTWG Founder's Day Celebrations. Tel: 0181
Jun 19 SLTWG organises 542 3285. Trip to Hastings. Tel: 0181 542 Jun 27 Feast of St. Cyril of 3285. Alexandria. Jun 21 Aani Uthiram. Jun 28 Full Moon.
votees from all parts descended upon this wn and well respectsts including Sri Il from Navaly, Sri hariar from Madras, frOrn Eastharn ard sited by the Temple, ted the Ceremonies lent Chief Priest, Sri iar.
which is now becomdon Weddings was ation ceremony. The eremonies continue til Sunday, the 23rd Sangabishekham will ails of opening times ple may be contact
Wimal Sockanathan
a Arangetram
tha
"don Fairfield Halls, luding the teachers Dither dramatistS and StOnished at the brildered by Saratha at Arangetram on 4th
the daughter of khanthi of Shirley,
as not only due to - a Croydon school easoned South lindilso because they S very same sixteen ent who thrilled an audience two Weeks zzo- Soprano Voice F Production of "Car
int of the Drama pro
ductions at school including "Hamlet, Saratha also takes part in National Youth Theatre Productions (of Britain's Theatre Land - Shaftesbury Avenue) and is also involved in their latest production into the Woods.
Bharatha Natyam a traditional South Indian Tamil Dance which places emphasis on facial expressions - also conveys the meaning of the song by the dancer's variety of movements of the head, neck, palm, thumbs and fingers. Such portrayal of expressions with the face and by acting was a simple task for this expert dramatist who handled each itern With extreme ease. The Varnam ‘Maye Mayan Sothariye” (Thodi-Aadi) on Goddess Saraswathi was well received. Saratha scored high points on her three Keerthanams and the Patham. The Keerthanam describing the story of God Rama with the nine rasas (moods) was a piece of cake" for Saratha.
Lord Shiva's Cosmic dance was followed by Govindan Kuzhal Osai Kettu' and 'Velan Varuvarodi'. I liked Saratha's dual role play as Murugan and Valli in the grain fields where Murugan comes disguised as an Oldman and teases Valli, and the innocent Valli feeds him with grains and honey and is embraced by the 'old rogue' who fakes a hiccup. Well done Saratha.
Credit belongs to her Guru - Natya Kalai Mani Smt Malathy Jeyanayagam, who trained Saratha for six years. The Guru herself is a disciple of Smt Subathra Sivadasan (of Noopura Kendra) who was the chief guest at the Arangetram. Smt Subathra heaped praises on her student Malathy and grand student' Saratha. Seeing the three generations of super stars on stage together, my belief in the Guru sishya philosophy was further strengthened. It says that if you have your Guru's blessings, you have success permanently on your side. One cannot fail to mention the VOCalist Sai Kalairmani YaSOdha Mithradas, whose melodious voice added colour to Saratha's Arangetram.
- Wimal Sockanathan
Colombo 7 Land for Sale
Dr. C. W. W. Kanangara Mawatte, between Barnes and Horton Place, Total area 7.02 perches at 750,000 Rupees per perch. Contact J.M. Mahadeva, C/Galeon - 11 - 9A, 28042 Madrid, SPAIN.

Page 33
15 MAY 1999
Violin Arangetram of Sharma
The Violin Arangetram of Dhurgshaarna - endearingly called Sharna by all, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Shanmugavadivel and disciple of Mrs Kalaivani Indrakumar took place on 10th April at the Walthamstow Assembly Hall, which was filled to capacity. The accompanying artistes were Mr Muthu Sivarajah on Miruthangam, Mr R.N. Prakash On Gadan and Mr Kandia) Sithamparanathan on Morsing. Rev. Fr. A.I. Bernard, Rector, St Patrick's College, Jaffna was the Chief Guest. Mr Pathmanathan Sutharsan and Miss Kalyani Sivagurunathapillai were the comperes. The evening's proceedings started with a pooja performed by the special guest, Sivakana Pundiť Rarna Naganathasivam Kurukkal, Chief Priest of London Sri Murugan Temple.
Sharna commenced the programme with the Adi thala Varnam in Nattaikurinji and followed it with Adi thala, Tilang raga kirthana Sri Ganesha Charanan' and Adi thala, Arabi raga Kirthana Sadhinchane'. It was clear at this stage that her sense of rhythm was impeccable and that Mrs. Kalaivani Indrakumar had laid the proper foundation for her pupil. Next followed the Suddha Saveri raga, Kanda Chapu thala kirthanai “Thaye Thiripura Sunthari', which she finished with a stunning performance in Katpanaswarams. The next few items Kapi raga, Adi thala kirthana Jega Thotharama', Shanmugapriya raga, Adi thala kinthana “Thanthai Thai lirunthal” and Jhonpuri raga, Adi thala kirthanai Eppo Varuvaro' proved her agility and skill with the instrument and in Katpanaswaram creativity.
in Ragam Thanam Pallavi, in Kalyana Vasantha ragam and Kandajathi Thiriputa thalam, Sharna displayed her mastery of the art, which would have made her Guru proud of the training, she had given to the sishya. The spirit of the audience continued to be held high in the next three kirthanais, "Mattunagar Vaviyile’, ‘Alai Payuthe Kanna'and 'Kuyile Kumaran Vara KooVuvai, This was followed by the presentations, after which she played the Misra Siwaranjani raga Adi thala Thilana “Velava Vadi Velava' and completed the programme with Thirupugal and
Mangalam. It was nance which should sure and satisfaction ents, the Guru and Well donel
Another Strir
Beck Theatre saw ує on 24th April. This Thiruvarur Kothanda On the Violin his first Mr. & Mrs. Ragunat and student of the Tamil Culture.
The programme Varnam, a Lalgudi Je in Bhaudhari raga, and was followed b Sithy Vinayagam ir became clear at this had a clear sense o He had got over his ii was handling the i dence and ease. The two Thiagarajar Sanathana in SathinChene in Arab orate the Raga l Marivera in Kandaci courageous effort a Vithuran carne of W due credit to his Guy
After the inte, Ragunathane ninir another Thiagaraja the tempo of the c half and what fe Thanam Palla Vi in Kandajathi Thiripuc elaboration and the delight to listen to. Alai Payuthe were gested that some ot Venkada Subbariyer of Alai Payuthe wh most arangetrams audience Were er avarthanan' of S Miruthangam and Gadam, in Kandaj of the usual Adi or of them provided e to the debutante.
Mrs. Sivasakthy known Carnatic Vo
 
 

TAMILTIMES33
7 excellent perforrovide a lot of pleato Sharna, her parr Nadha Vidyalaya.
g to the Bow
another Arangetram ime it was Guru Sri pandi who presented pupil Vithuran, son of lan of New Malden, Kingston Institute of
Commenced with a yaraman composition in the Orthodox style y a Deekshidar kriti, Shanmugapriya. lt s stage that Vithuran f nuance and rhythm. litial nervousness and Strument With Confirecital Continued with
pieces, Sarasa Kapinarayani and li. He went on to elabathangi and played lapu thalam. It Was a t an arangetram and ith flying colours with
l,
mission, we had e in Swararanjani, (rithi, which rekindled incert for the Second lowed was Ragam Kharaharapriya and ai thalam. The raga alpana swaras were a The sillarai including well played. It is Suger Krithi Of OOthukadu pe substituted in place ch has had its run at or several years. The ertained by a ‘thani P. Kirupakaran on Sri R.N. PrakaSh Orn hi Thirupudai instead pakam thalams. Both 2elent acompaniment
Sivanesan, the well all and Veena teacher
Curn artiste Was the Chief Guest, Dr. A.M. Dempsey, the Headmaster of Vithuran's school and Mr. Edward Davey, the local Member of Parliament Were the Guests of Honour.
The compering of the show was done quite elegantly and with confidence by Vithuran's sister, Yardini. The entire proceedings moved very smoothly, which was a credit to the organisers. Guru Sri Kothandapani and Vithuran's parents have every reason to be proud of what has been achieved.
- Hindolam. Dr Indra Kumar's Books
Launched in UK
Two Tamil books authored by Dr K. Indra Kumar were launched in the UK recently At a function hosted in East London by the newly formed Tamil Chamber of Commerce, the books were released with Councillor Paul Sathianesan of the Newham Council presiding and Mr Ravi Tamilvanan, Managing Director of Manimekalai Prasuram, Chennai, the publishers of both books attending as Guest of Honour frOn lindia.
"Vinvelliyil Veerakaviyangal" (Epics in Space) had already won the first prize from the Tamil Nadu Government in India and Dr Indra Kumar went to Chennai from London to receive the award personally from Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
The other book "Diana Vanchittara? Vanchikappattara? (Diana - Victim or Victimised?) was very recently published and had already been launched at Chennai and Toronto amid lots of fanfare and publicity.
The above picture shows Mrs Anandi Sooriyaprakash (B.B.C. World Service - Tamil Section) congratulating Dr Indra Kumar after receiving the first copies of the books in the presence of Mr Ravi Tamilvanan (standing) and Poet Aranga Murugaiyan. Mr. R. Gunaratnan Pioneer Industrialist from Jaffna also received a set of first copies.
The two books received very positive reviews and accolades from a distinguished array of Tamil literary figures and Critics in the UK.

Page 34
34 TAMILTIMES
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