கவனிக்க: இந்த மின்னூலைத் தனிப்பட்ட வாசிப்பு, உசாத்துணைத் தேவைகளுக்கு மட்டுமே பயன்படுத்தலாம். வேறு பயன்பாடுகளுக்கு ஆசிரியரின்/பதிப்புரிமையாளரின் அனுமதி பெறப்பட வேண்டும்.
இது கூகிள் எழுத்துணரியால் தானியக்கமாக உருவாக்கப்பட்ட கோப்பு. இந்த மின்னூல் மெய்ப்புப் பார்க்கப்படவில்லை.
இந்தப் படைப்பின் நூலகப் பக்கத்தினை பார்வையிட பின்வரும் இணைப்புக்குச் செல்லவும்: Tamil Times 1999.08

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WOLXVIII No. 8 ISSN 26-4438 5AUse
 

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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."
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ISSN 0266 - 44 88 Vol. XVIII No. 8 15 AUGUST 1999
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ASSASSINATION OF NEELAN TIRUCHELVAM
CONDEMNATION AND TRIBUTES
"Oh for the touch C
"I would like to exp glorify death, whetl celebrate life and a life, which is the mo become meaningles
c
"The assassination suffered by people different from the o need for the Govern with all the concern should be brought t
"This is truly one o over the world. I am an rights." - Dr. "The assassination great loss to our nat
"The human rights lost a voice that rai homage we can pay ety where all the pe
-
"Neelan was a persc vering political con manism. His was a v of scholars, thinker South Asia.'
"This crime has sile but it must not sil Thiruchelvam’s lea
"I strongly conden elected Member of work in which Dr. Sri Lanka’s ethnic whose life and wo the rule of law, the solution to the war
“With his death, a hope that this trag lasting peace in Sr.
“Neelan did not ta prestigious seat of world. He chose to belief that he could from childhood. A international comr evilness of destroy by death the voice within our country will inspire us to S
- Pro
 
 
 

TAMILTIMES 3
a vanished hand and the voice that is still' -Tennyson *
ess my strong morai opposition to this measure..... We cannot er in the battlefield or otherwise. We, on the other hand, must 2 fiercely committed to protecting and securing the sanctity of tfundamental value without which all other rights and freedoms ” - Dr Neelan Tiruchelvam in Parliament on 15.6.99 during a ebate on the government's proposal to reimpose capital punishment.
of Dr. Tiruchelvam is sadly reminiscent of the series of attacks who were envisaging a democratic peace process in any manner le proposed by LTTE. This cowardly act underscores the urgent ment of Sri Lanka to expedite the peace process and negotiations 2d parties as soon as possible. The perpetrators of this ghastly act justice." - International Commission of Jurists, Geneva
f the greatest tragedies to ever hit the human rights community lost for words to describe this tireless giant of the cause of hum(Willy Mutunga, Executive Director, Kenya Human Rights Commission of this humble, intellectual and refined son of the country is a ion." - The Venerable Baddegama Samitha Thera
community is in mourning today, Sri Lanka and the world have g loud and strong in defence of human rights..... The greatest Tiruchelvam is to continue his work to build a strong civil sociople of Sri Lanka can live in peace and enjoy their human rights." Mary Robinson, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
nofextraordinary talent, great intellectual refinement and unwanmitment for democracy, pluralism, secularism, justice and huoice ofreason which compelled attention and inspired thousands s, activists and political leaders not just in Sri Lanka but all over
- From a statement by a Group of Indian intellectuals
nced the voice of a man who was committed to the path of peace, ence those in Sri Lanka who have the courage to follow Dr. d.' - Canadian Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy
in the political murder of this highly respected, democratically Parliament. It is all the more regrettable in view of the dedicated Tiruchelvam had been engaged to achieve a political solution to conflict. Dr. Tiruchelvam was a man of principle and courage k epitomised the principles of peaceful ethnic co-existence and very principles which must form the basis of a just and lasting in Sri Lanka.” - Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer
owerful voice for reconciliation in Sri Lanka has been silenced. I dy will spur efforts to find an end to the fighting and to build a Lanka.' - President Bill Clinton & First Lady Hillary Clinton
ce the easy path and make an illustrious career for himself in a earning or an international organisation in some other part of the live and work in Sri Lanka with Sithie and the boys in the deep make a contribution and impact on the world that he had known hd for that he paid a terrible price...let everyone including the unity recognise in this ultimate act of violence the hypocrisy and ng precious lives in the name of freedom. Let those who censored of this gentleman of peace and the extremists of all communities and outside understand that Neelan's voice, his vision, his life y no to the hypocrisy, the hatred and the violence.” essor Savithri Goonesekera, Vice Chancellor, University of Colombo, in her funeral oration at the Kanate Cemetery in Colombo

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4 ALTIMES
NEELAN TRUCHE
ASSASSINATIO
Widespread Condemnat
Member of Parliament and internationally renowned constitutional lawyer, human rights and civil society activist Dr. Neelan Thiruchelvam, was killed on Thursday 29th July when a suspected LTTE male suicide bomber threw himself against the car he was travelling in, and set off a bomb. The incident occurred near his office at Kynsey Road in Srilanka's capital city, Colombo.
Thiruchelvam's assassination came a few days after the government of Sri Lanka made known its intention to carry through Parliament in the near future, the proposed constitutional reforms which include devolution of powers to the regions.
The son of former Local Government Minister M. Thiruchelvam QC, Dr. Neelan Thiruchelvam had his education at Royal College, Colombo and entered the University of Peradeniya from where he obtained a law degree. He obtained a doctorate in law from Harvard University and has been highly recognised by the international legal fraternity.
Thiruchelvam has been widely regarded as having played a prominent role in the drafting of the Constitutional Reform Package of the Peoples’ Alliance (PA) administration presently before Parliament.
Dr. Thiruchelvam played a prominent role in promotion and protection of Human Rights in Sri Lanka. He also assisted in an evaluation of the Draft Constitution of Kazakhstan in September, 1992 and also reviewed it. He participated in an early review of the Constitution making process in Ethiopia in November, 1992. He was a co-chairman of an international evaluation team on the peace structures in South Africa constituted by the National Peace Secretariat and International Alert. At the time of his death, he was Chairman of the London-based Minority Rights Group.
The condemnation of Dr Tiruchelvam's assassination and the glowing tributes paid to him has been unprecedented and widespread both within Sri
Lanka and internat The UN Secre Annan, US Preside the UN High Comn Rights Mary Robin tional condemnatic A UN Statemen of Secretary Gene its spokesman M Silva said “The S shocked to learn of Dr. Neelan Tiruchi tively involved in c and who had tireles rights and contribu a political solution Lanka.' The staten retary-General conc rorism in the stron that “There could to Tiruchelvam’s m an end to the sense long-Suffering coul
US President statement issued o) sassination from Herzogovina, whe a summit on the Ba and his wife were dened” by the tr. Neelan Tiruchelv; said: “Hillary and saddened by the tra Thiruchelvam at th in Sri Lanka toda deepest condolenc family.
"Neelan Thiruc stitutional lawyer advocate who wa well-respected far l He devoted himself ful and just solutio flict that has caused in Sri Lanka.
“Hillary was de meeting with Mr. T her 1995 visit to S death, a powerful v tion in Sri Lanka h hope that this trage to find an end to build a lasting peac Statement by M

15 AUGUST 1999
LVAMI N
ion
ionally. tary General Kofi ent Bill Clinton and nissioner for Human son led the internaon and the tributes. tissued in the name ral Kofi Annan by anoel Almeida de ecretary General is the assassination of elvam, who was aconstitutional reform sly defended human ted to the search for to the conflict in Sri ment said “the Seclemns this act oftergest terms.” adding be no better tribute emory than to bring less violence in that ntry.”
Bill Clinton, in a n the day of the asSarajevo, Bosniare he was attending lkans, stated that he "shocked and sadagic death of Dr. am. The statement were shocked and gic death of Neelan e hands of terrorists ly. We extend our es to his wife and
helvam was a con
and human rights s well-known and peyond his country. to seeking a peacen to the tragic conso much bloodshed
reply moved by her hiruchelvam during Sri Lanka. With his oice for reconciliahas been silenced. I 'dy will spur efforts the fighting and to xe in Sri Lanka."
sr. Philip T. Decker
of the US State Department stated: "It is with profound regret that we learned of the murder of Dr. Neelan Tiruchelvam on the streets of Colombo. Dr. Tiruchelvam was a respected academic and constitutional law expert, the Director of the International Centre for Ethnic Studies and a member of Parliament representing the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF), a moderate Tamil political party. He was killed by a suicide bomber on his way to work. Several bystanders were also injured.
"The attack appears to be the work of the terrorist LTTE, who have been waging a separatist war in Sri Lanka's north and east for more than 16 years. The United States has long urged the LTTE to cease its terrorist activities, to stop immediately the killing of noncombatants and civilians and to seek peaceful means of pursuing its political ends. We designated the LTTE as a foreign terrorist organisation in 1997.
"The United States has always supported, and continues to support, a peaceful resolution to the conflict through negotiations among all parties. we believe the Government of Sri Lanka has put forward realistic and sincere proposals for constitutional reform that could help towards this end.
"The United States extends its sincere condolences to Dr. Tiruchelvam's family, friends and associates, and to the other victims of this bombing and condemns in the strongest possible terms this outrage.
"Dr. Tiruchelvam had many friends and colleagues in the United States. He freely shared his knowledge and conviction of the possibility for a peaceful resolution to Sri Lanka’s ethnic conflict. He had taught at Harvard and was scheduled to teach there again this autumn. So, we in the United States also share the terrible sense of loss of his family and country.”
Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs in the US State Department, Karl F. Inderfurth, in a message of condolence to Sri lanka's Professor G. L. Peiris, Minister of Justice, Constitutional Affairs, Ethnic Affairs and National Integration on July 30 stated: "I was greatly saddened to learn of the murder yesterday of Neelan
Tiruchelvam. I know you worked closely with Neelan for years, especially since 1994 in the Special Parliamentary Committee as you formulated the devolution package. So, his untimely death must be a great blow to you.

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15 AUGUST 1999
While I did not have the long and close association with Neelan that you did, I was fortunate to meet him several times during my visits to Colombo. Each time after talking to him, I felt Sri Lanka, with people like Neelan, could find a way to resolve its ethnic difficulties peacefully.
"On behalf of the United States, I wish to express my condolences to you personally and to Sri Lanka for the loss of such a champion of peace and harmony. Neelan had a long association with the United States, as a Fulbright student, law student and teacher. We too are diminished by his death.”
Speaking at a memorial for Dr. Neelan Tiruchelvam, Karl F.Inderfurth acknowledged that the Tamil leaders who have been assassinated by the LTTE"is a very long list, and tragically Neelan's name is now at the end of that list and almost certainly there will be other tragedies in the future." But Mr. Inderfurth asserted,"The fact is that those who are trying to kill, will not win. They will lose and the legacy of Neelan and others will prevail. There is no question that that will take place." Mr. Inderfurth, who described Dr. Tiruchelvam as an "enormously special person said that his "legacy extends far beyond Sri Lanka itself. I think the fact that he has touched so many Americans at the very highest levels of our Government, the messages from the President and from the First Lady are reflective of a feeling, that not only Sri Lanka, but the world has lost a very good man, a man of peace." He said Dr. Tiruchelvam "serves as an example and it's something that I think we will look back on with great sadness, but also with a recognition that this was a life to inspire, that his vision lives, and that we will all be influenced by it for a long time to come."
The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson condemned Dr. Tiruchelvam's murder as "a direct attack on efforts to bring about reconciliation and build a culture of peace and respect for fundamental rights” in Sri Lanka. She said that she was "saddened and shocked" by Tiruchelvam's murder and described as "one of the leading advocates of a negotiated settlement to the armed conflict in Sri Lanka', Robinson said: "The human rights community is in mourning today. Sri Lanka and the world have lost a voice that rang loud and strong in defence of human rights."
Pointing out t headed up the Inter Ethnic Studies, an or to bringing the diff of Sri Lanka togethe “The greatest hon Tiruchelvam is to c to build a strong civ the people of Sri peace and enjoy the Professor Asbj way, the senior-mos member of the UNS the Prevention of I Protection of Minori Sub Commission wh in Geneva on the da wasassassinated sai situations where the caused by hegemol State, but where la lem is the behaviou sition groups which groups. The most ob is that of Sri Lanka doubt that grave er the Sri Lankan Govi decades after indepe guage policy of “Si its inability to preve violence against Ta "I myself tooku mission the violat which the Governn ble. However, as a r lation of their mino one of the Tamil gro an intransigent hard which cannot conte price. The governm mended its way, eve position by some p community, and i policy of devolution minority all the righ demand.
"The Tamil Tig it, however, and is c sible to reasoning. of the devolution Neelan Tiruchelvan expert on ethnic rel competent and cons tives of the Tamil c brutally murdered suicide bomber, qu stigation of the lead Tigers. Let me str Lankan Governmer ahead with the de which 'will be a mil tive ethnic relation. for similar situation

TAM TIMES 5
hat Tiruchelvam lational Center for ganisation devoted rent communities , Robinson added, lage we can pay ontinue his work l society where all anka can live in ir human rights.” Dorn Eide of Nortand longstanding ub-Commission on biscrimination and ties, addressing the ich was in sessions y Dr Tiruchelvam d: "There are some initial problem was lic policies of the er the main probr of militant oppoturn into terrorist vious case in point 1. There can be no tors were made by ernment in the first indence, by the lannhala only' and by nt extensive group mils. p in this Sub-Comions in 1983 for ment was responsiesponse to the viority rights, at least ups developed into line terrorist group mplate peace at any ent of Sri Lanka has nagainst strong oparts of the Sinhala s now pursuing a which will give the its it can justifiably
ers want nothing of ompletely inaccesThe main architect package was Dr. l, a world renowned ations and the most tructive representaommunity. He was by a brainwashed te clearly at the inership of the Tamil ongly urge the Sri tnevertheless to go volution package, estone in construcand a good model sin other countries,
This will also be the best way to honour Dr. Tiruchelvam who made the ultimate sacrifice for the Tamil cause and for the wider cause of peaceful group accommodation.”
Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said, "I was deeply shocked to learn of the tragic assassination in Colombo of Dr. Neelan Tiruchelvam. Dr. Tiruchelvam was a member of the Sri Lankan parliament representing the Tamil United Liberation Front. He was also the Director of the Colombo-based International Centre för Ethnic Studies and of the Law and Society Trust and was a good friend of many Australians who have worked and lived in Sri Lanka.
"I strongly condemn the political murder of this highly respected, democratically elected member of Parliament. It is all the more regrettable in view of the dedicated work in which Dr. Tiruchelvam had been engaged to achieve a political solution to Sri Lanka's ethnic conflict. Dr. Tiruchelvam was a man of principle and courage whose life and work epitomised the principles of peaceful ethnic co-existence and the rule of law, the very principles which must form the basis of a just and lasting solution to the war in Sri Lanka.
"This senseless act of violence seems to have been the work of the Lib-. eration Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). I call once again on the LTTE to step off the path of terrorism and urge all parties to work for a lasting political solution to the conflict in Sri Lanka.
"I also reaffirm the Australian government's position that it will not have any dealings with groups or individuals that do not unreservedly condemn such acts of wanton terrorism and dissociate themselves from violence as a means to further political aims.
"I extend my deepest condolences to Dr. Tiruchelvam's family and to his many friends and associates."
Condemning the assassination, Canadian Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy said, “This crime has silenced the voice of a man who was committed to the path of peace, but it must not silence those in Sri Lanka who have the courage to follow Dr. Thiruchelvam's lead.”
"Canada expresses its sympathies and condolences to Dr. Thiruchelvam's family and colleagues, and we call on the Government of Sri Lanka to undertake a vigorous and rapid investigation

Page 6
6 AML TIMES
of this crime and to bring those responsible to justice.”
Canadian Secretary of State for the Asia-Pacific Region Raymond Chan also expressed regret over the loss of Tiruchelvam: "During our meeting in Sri Lanka, in June 1995, Dr. Thiruchelvam and I discussed a wide array of societal and governmental problems that he was trying to address through his work at the ICES. His contributions to civil society in Sri Lanka will be sorely missed.”
The Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka, in a statement issued said that "India strongly condemns the killing. This was an act of wanton terrorism'. The statement further said, “he had dedicated his life to finding peaceful, constitutional and democratic solutions to difficult issues.'
“We were shocked to learn this morning of the brutal killing of Dr. Neelan Tiruchelvam, member of the Sri Lankan Parliament, an eminent lawyer and distinguished leader of the Tamil United Liberation Front,” a foreign Ministry spokesman said.
The Indian national daily, “The Hindu’” in an article headlined "Murdering Democracy in Sri Lanka' observed that Sri Lanka and indeed South Asia has much to mourn in the brutal and senseless assassination Dr. Neelan Tiruchelvam who had dedicated his entire life to the struggle to end the ethnic crisis. "It is grotesque and cruel irony that a person of such an enlightened democratic conscience - a stellar presence in the Sri Lankan Tamil political firmament - should have been felled by the fascist and murderous LTTE, who claim that they are the authentic political representatives of the Sri Lankan Tamil people”.... “The LTTE has betrayed the democratic aspirations of the Sri Lankan Tamils and the peace process has suffered a tremendous blow from which it will be very difficult to recover.
“It is time for the Sri Lankan Tamil people and political groups outside the sinister shadow of the fascist LTTE to come to terms with the cold reality that until the LTTE is subdued and put beyond the pale of any negotiating process, the struggle to build democracy in Sri Lanka will be held hostage by the group of murderous delinquent hiding out in the jungles of theNorth-East.”
The Times of India in its editorial stated , "Now, with the devolution package about to be tabled in the legis
lature and signed in ger of losing its pos As President Kum Tiruchelvam's kilir LTTE intends to el ate Tamil leadershi on the Tamil popula only be war withou tion, the LTTE has essentially fascist o in a time-wrap, wh in the welfare of Ta The Embassy ( public of Germany with profound sorr assassination Dr. N on the morning ofJ Dr. Tiruchelvam pai for the values he de butions to national tion-building will b the future, the emb adding that "the E close friend'.
A later statemen sman for the Germa “News of the terra which recently clai constitutional law. activist and membe parliament, Dr. Nee man held in high es and abroad, has bee mans too with shocl sympathy, and that ernment, go out to ones and political fri lost a gifted and exp who worked commi ately for peace and tion within your co rejecting the very now killed him.
“The Federal demns this brutal n other recent bomb of the LTTE, in the terms.
“Dr. Tiruchelv firms once again pressing ahead de peace process in Sri ror and military cla: the conflict in your to all political force in Sri Lanka is thus that they put an end do everything in thi reach a peaceful pol conflict.'
The Embassy lombo in a message of Sweden wishes t

5 AUGUST 1999
to law, it is in danition i its own land. aratunga Says, Dr. ng indicates that the minate the moder) to impose its will tion. The result can |t end. With its ac2xposed itself as an rganisation, caught ich has no interest mils.'
if the Federal Resaid it had received ow the news of the eelan Tiruchelvam uly 29, 1999. It said d the Supreme price fended. His contriintegration and nae cruelly missed in assy release stated mbassy has lost a
tissued by a spoken government said, orist bomb attack, med the life of the yer, human rights r of the Sri Lankan lan Tiruchelvam, a ;teem both at home in received by Gerk and disgust. Their of the Federal Govthe victim's loved ends. Sri Lanka has erienced politician ittedly and passioninternal reconciliauntry, consistently iolence which has
Government Conmurder, which, like attacks is the work strongest possible
am's murder conthe importance of :cisively with the Lanka. Acts oftershes cannot resolve country. My appeal is and social groups all the more urgent, to the civil war and air power to swiftly itical solution to the
of Sweden in Cosaid "The Embassy o convey its deeply
felt sorrow at the assassination of Dr. Neelan Tiruchelvam. The tragedy is immense and overwhelming.
"Dr. Tiruchelvam was highly respected for his commitment to human rights and democracy. Dr. Tiruchelvam was a man of outstanding human qualities and his talent, academic achievements and deep knowledge of constitutional law are profoundly valued. “We offer our heartfelt sympathies and condolences to Mrs. Tiruchelvam, his sons, members of his family, the Government and the people of Sri Lanka.” The Delegation of the European Commission to Sri Lanka was "shocked to learn of the senseless and cowardly assassination of Dr. Neelan Thiruchelvam by a suspected LTTE suicide bomber on Thursday. We strongly condemn this terrorist act which can
only make it difficult to find a peace
ful solution to the ethnic conflict in this country. The delegation of the European Commission expresses its sympathies and condolences to the family of Dr. Thiruchelvam.'
The World Bank Country Director for Sri Lanka Mariana Todorova in a statement issued said Dr. Neelan Tiruchelvamos death would be a tremendous blow to reconciliation efforts. “We extend our sincere condolences and heartfelt sympathy to the family and friends of Dr. Neelan Tiruchelvam for their sudden loss. A man of great integrity and vision, his all too sudden departure is a tremendous blow for Sri Lanka and its reconciliation ef. forts. Dr. Tiruchelvam has been associated with the Bank for a long period of time in promoting ethnic cohesion and his work has been highly regarded. His advice will be greatly missed in the days ahead, both within Sri Lanka and in the international community at large, as the struggle for peace continues.
"The greatest tribute we can pay Dr. Tiruchelvam is to rededicate ourselves to the achievement of peace and ethnic reconciliation in Sri Lanka. Dr. Tiruchelvam has been a wonderful source of hope and inspiration to us all, and we will miss both his professionalism and friendship very much indeed.”
Amnesty International strongly condemned the assassination of Member of Parliament (MP), Neelan Thiruchelvam, and paid tribute to him as a politician who contributed greatly to his country.
The statement issued on 29 July said, “Neelan Thiruchelvam, a member

Page 7
15 AUGUST 1999
of Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF), was killed on his way to work at the International Centre for Ethnic Studies when a suicide bomber threw himself at his car. His bodyguard and driver were wounded.
"The nature of the attack suggests it could be linked with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), in which case it constitutes a clear breach of international humanitarian standards.
"A constitutional lawyer, Neelan Thiruchelvam entered parliament in August 1994 as a member of the TULF, a moderate Tamil party. He was a member of the parliamentary select committee on constitutional reforms, which devised an autonomy devolution package for north-eastern Sri Lanka. The package was aimed at settling the 16year-old armed conflict between the Sri Lanka Government and the LTTE, who are fighting for a separate Tamil state called Eelam in north-eastern Sri Lanka. The LTTE, who were not consulted at the initial stages, have opposed the peace plan.
"The attack comes amidst speculation that a new constitution, which would include the devolution package, could be presented in parliament within the next two months. Progress on the devolution package, which requires a two-thirds majority vote in parliament, has been slow due to the withdrawal of support for it by the opposition United National Party (UNP) in October 1997. "The LTTE have recently stepped up their intimidation of MPs and public officials. In May this year the Tamil Tigers ordered government employees in Jaffna to abstain from work on Tuesdays and Fridays. This order was subsequently withdrawn. In June, five MPs from different political parties, and who represent Sri Lanka's eastern Batticaloa district, were ordered by the LTTE to restrict their public activities. In 1998 the LTTE was held responsible for killing two mayors of Jaffna Town.”
The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) expresses great shock over the assassination of Dr. Neelan Tiruchelvam, a prominent constitutional lawyer and moderate opposition member of parliament, Dr. Tiruchelvam's was murdered in a bomb explosion. The advocate was a strong believer in constitutional reforms and actively supported the devolution process as one of the means for ending the ethnic and political conflict that has devastated the island for many years.
Dr. Tiruchelvar human rights activi parliamentarian. H of the Internationa Studies in Sri Lank reform process whi ported is likely to ment next month. constitutes a setbac
process.
“The assassina helvam is sadly rei ries of attacks suff were envisaging a process in any ma the one proposed b ardly act undersco for the Governme expedite the peace tiations with all th as soon as possibl of this ghastly acts justice.”
U.S. Commit condemned the LT ing of “human righ lator' Dr. Tiruche USCR Staff “who deeply saddened b It said "the LTTE of Neelan Tiruchel cause he pursued a theirs, is shameful. sadly, symptomati fairs in Sri Lanka. I the killing of Dr. another disturbing long and unhappy flict in Sri Lanka.” According to U tive that “Sinhal Lankans and their ways to resolve til dialogue, not viole The London(Freedom of Expre: said, “Dr. Tiruche suicide bomber ha the Liberation Tig (LTTE), who are f pendent Tamil stat Lanka. The LTTE campaign of intimi silence the moder those who seek to a minority grievanc democratic means killing is but then line of killings o whom the LTTE ceived as being op as Article 19 has d ports on Sri Lanka

TAM TIMES 7
was an outspoken it and a well known was also the head
Centre for Ethnic . The constitutional ch he strongly supcome up in ParliaThis assassination c to the entire peace
tion of Dr. Tirucminiscent of the se:red by people who
democratic peace nner different from y LTTE. This cowres the urgent need nt of Sri Lanka to process and nego2 concerned parties e. The perpetrators hould be brought to
tee for Refugees "TE"S “brutal' killts activist and legislvam,and said the
knew Neelan are y his tragic death." 's presumed killing vam, apparently bedifferent path than Such intolerance is, c of the state of af. thas to end.' It said Ciruchelvam "is yet instalment in the history of the con
SCR, it was imperaese and Tamil Sri bolitical leaders find he conflict through nce.” based Article 19 ision) in a statement vamos murder by a s been attributed to ers of Tamil Eelam ighting for an indein north eastern Sri have long waged a dation and killing to te Tamil voices of ddress longstanding S through peaceful, Dr. Tiruchelvam's ost recent in a long Tamil politicians uppear to have perposed to their cause ocumented in its re
"Dr. Tiruchelvam was a widely respected lawyer, academic and civil society activist both locally and internationally. He had worked for many years, under successive governments to try to find a peaceful, political solution to the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka. He aspired to the creation of new constitutional form for the state that would provide redress for serious minority grievances while also accommodating the aspirations and protecting the rights of all ethnic groups in the country. Dr. Tiruchelvam was also a staunch defender of the right to freedom of expression and as a member of both the Parliamentary Select Committee on the Legislative and Regulatory Framework relating to Media, he advocated strengthening constitutional protection for free expression and other human rights. “Dr. Tiruchelvam’s violent and sudden death represents a most grave assault on basic values of free expression, human rights and democratic participation.”
The Geneva-based International Service for Human Rights in its statement said, “With great shock, the International Service for Human Rights, received the news of the brutal assassination on July 29 of Dr. Neelan Tiruchelvam, Director of the Colombo based International Centre for Ethnic Studies. The killing was apparently committed by a suicide bomber, member of a terrorist organisation in Sri Lanka.
"Dr. Neelan Tiruchelvam is wellknown to us in Geneva, where we always appreciated his genuine commitment as a human rights defender, and his higher expertise in human rights issues, in particular in the protection of minorities.
“The International Service for Human Rights condemns the targeting of human rights defenders all around the world, particularly during internal conflicts, as is currently the case in Sri Lanka. Not only Governmental forces and paramilitary groups linked to agents of the States, but also all nonStates actors have to respect the basic standards of humanitarian law and international human rights law. We cannot and shall not accept that terrorist organisation represented here, at the UN in Geneva, would enjoy the same full-scale impunity which is increasingly reigning over its inter-governmental world'
Director of the Washington based Human Rights Watch, Mike Jendr

Page 8
8 AMILTIMES
zejczyk said, "we were appalled to learn of the killing of Neelan Thiruchelvam, a life-long campaigner for human rights and a tireless advocate for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict in Sri Lanka.'
Alan Phillips, Director of the International Director of Minority Rights Group said "Dr. Neelan Tiruchelvam, the Chairman of Minority Rights Group, was assassinated on Thursday 29 July, by a bomb attack in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
"Neelan Tiruchelvam has paid a terrible price for promoting peace and justice. He was constantly in danger yet he steadfastly and quietly promoted the rights of Tamils and other ethnic minorities.
"He leaves many friends in the human rights community world-wide, who will ensure that his work continues from strength to strength and minority rights are achieved through peaceful dialogue, Minority Rights Group will always remember Neelan and celebrate his work.
"Internationally he was highly regarded as a legal scholar. He was wellknown for his creative human rights work, he joined the Minority Rights Group's International Council in 1994 and this year was elected as its International Chairman. He was seen as quiet, unassuming and thoughtful though he held deep-seated views on the need to promote human rights and minority rights by constructive dialogue. He was totally committed to redressing the injustices suffered by ethnic minorities and in particular by Tamils in Sri Lanka, through peaceful but radical change. He used his scholarship, with a doctorate from Harvard in Law, to promote better conditions for Tamils and other ethnic minorities in international fora and was considered a major human rights figure in international circles including the United Nations.”
Kenya Human Rights Commission's Executive Director, Dr. Willy Mutunga, said of the assassination of Dr Tiruchelvam, “this is truly one of the greatest tragedies to ever hit the human rights community over the world.” Dr. Mutunga also said, “he was always full of vitality and introspective zeal and stated that we, no matter what our differences, could live together if we tried hard enough. I am lost for words to describe this tireless giant of the cause of human rights."
Professor Amita Shastri of the
D escribing the as its MPS and le man and dasta United Liberation F said: "The brutal at tion of Dr. Neelan T ber of parliament h. shock to the party, th the country.
"Dr. Neelan Th
moderate who work
to bring about con through a paradigm try's constitutional with the country's r cultural and multi-li “His untimely d loss to the Tamil sp to the country, and 1 his demise would be “The TULF StrO assassination as an tardly act. Nothing ( achieved by such se "The tragic de; Thiruchelvam once the urgent need to political resolution tional conflict.
The President K. after the assassinati assassination of Dr.
vam, Vice President
San Francisco State fornia, USA, states: the deepest sorrow at the cruel assassin Tiruchelvam, MP a on 29 July 1999. peace and non-vio tirelessly, despite t self, for a peaceful land's conflict. His to expand the right available to all indiv whatever group the untimely loss of th telligent and gifted an unbearable voic who knew him anc of working with hil calculable loss to th harmony and co-op and for a greater hu at large."
 

15 AUGUST 19
sassination of one aders as “an inhudly act' the Tamil ront in a statement hd cruel assassinahiruchelvam memas come as a great le Tamil people and
iruchelvam was a ed with dedication stitutional reform shift in the counstructure consistent nulti-ethnic, multingual character. eath is an immense eaking people and the void created by e difficult to fill. ngly condemns the inhuman and dasconstructive can be inseless killings, ath of Dr. Neelan again emphasises evolve a peaceful o the country's na
umaratunga shortly on said, "The cruel Neelan Thiruchelof the Tamil United
University of Cali"This is to express and condemnation ation of Dr. Neelan nd PC in Colombo He was a person of lence who worked he dangers to himsolution to the isconstant effort was s and opportunities riduals in Sri Lanka, y belonged to. The is brave, warm, inhuman being leaves not only in those i had the privilege m; but is also an inhe search for ethnic eration in Sri Lanka manity in the world O
Liberation Front (TULF), earns my unreserved condemnation. Dr. Thiruchelvam had won the affection, and respect of not only the Tamil-speaking peoples but also all the communities in our country. He was a distinguished academic who had earned the plaudits of a broad spectrum of the international community.
Knowing full well the threats and dangers to his life, he carried on an untiring and inestimable effort through many years to find solutions to the ethnic crisis that we continue to face. Dr. Thiruchelvam has been tragically lost to our country and society at a decisive period in our political life, when his services would be most needed.
There is no doubt that history will record with much respect the services that Dr. Thiruchelvam rendered both nationally and internationally. All who are able to ascertain good and evil will treat this dastardly assassination with the contempt it deserves."
The message issued by the Inter Religious Alliance for National Unity said: "We in the Religious Alliance for Peace are greatly distressed by the news that Dr. Neelan Thiruchelvam has been assassinated. Dr. Neelan Thiruchelvam has stood up for the rights of all the people and also worked very hard for just negotiations and a political settlement of the ethnic problem in our country.
He is much respected as a man of great learning and integrity both in our country and abroad. Our country has lost a great national leader who has been devoted for the cause of a just peace and reconciliation. We condemn this cruel murder, which can only harm all people in ourcountry.”
"The Liberal Party is deeply shocked and greatly saddened at the brutal murder of the Dr. Neelan Tiruchelvam, M.P. We unreservedly condemn this brutal and cowardly act and the coldblooded perpetrators of this heinous crime. Dr. Tiruchelvam was a tireless worker for ethnic harmony and peace in our country and Sri Lanka has lost one of her finest and best. His tragic death is a great loss to all Sri Lankans who earnestly desire peace,” the secretary general of the Liberal Party Harim

Page 9
15 AUGUST 1999
Peiris said in a press release,
"Dr. Tiruchelvam’s brutal murder clearly reveals the threat that peace holds for those whom, compromise and peace is undesirable. While awaiting the outcome of official investigations, Liberals believe the LTTE responsible for this dastardly crime."
The Communist Party of Sri Lanka in its message said: "We are shocked to learn of the brutal killing of the TULF Member of Parliament Dr. Neelan Thiruchelvam. He shone both as a legal luminary and a leading social scientist who headed the International Centre for Ethnic Studies. But, in our view his main contribution was in the area of politics.
“A true defender of the rights and interests of the Tamil people he worked hard to bring about a political solution to the ethnic problem and restore national unity. In Parliament he made many valuable contributions particularly in the areas of human and democratic rights and the law.
"He was widely respected by all who associated with him both for his gentlemanly qualities and for his intellectual disposition. Whilst mourning the passing away of this patriotic son of Sri Lankan, the
Communist Party of Sri Lanka strongly condemns his assassination.
The National Peace Council condemns the assassination of Dr. Neelan Tiruchelvam, MP, by a suspected LTTE suicide bomber. We are shocked and grieved by this cruel act which has deprived Sri Lanka of one of its most outstanding leaders.
“Dr. Tiruchelvam was unique in combining political, academic and civil society activism with humanism and distinction. He strengthened the moderate mainstream of political life. He was a dynamic personality who tried to forge a mainstream political consensus regarding fundamental reform of the Sri Lankan polity.” contribution through his knowledge and expertise would have been immeasurable and irreparable.
The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress and the National Unity Alliance strongly condemn the killing of Dr. Neelan Tiruchelvam P.C. and Member of Parliament. Dr. Neelan Tiruchelvam's untimely demise is an irrecoverable loss to the entire nation.
The Tamil Speaking people will miss his experience and scholarship especially at the time when Sri Lanka is
trying to work out a tion to the ethnic pro Tiruchevam’s death not only a political but also an able law ity on constitutional elvam was a modera believed until his la Sri Lankan Tamil ar nities could live in p Dr. Tiruchelvam during the crucial d SLMC had with th sulted in the recogn political identity for volving power.”
Statement issue Kenneth Fernand lombo said: “I am g the news of the de Thiruchelvam. He friend of mine for ol admired him both f tion as a constitutio his integrity of char
“He has firmly all people in our cou race or religion. He to the cause of a jus ment of the ethnic c try. He has constant us who have been making efforts.
“His loss is a se democracy and free I condemn this da strongest terms.
"The Christian ( headjoins me in this sorrow to his family a whole.'
Minister of Jus tional Affairs, Prof shocked and sadde the untimely and tr friend and Parliame Neelan Tiruchel van when his cherished tion of a durable, j peace for all Sri La hand, is all the mor “His untiring ef political settlement nic conflict were to with the presentati tional Bill to Parlia securing peace and bled land.
"It is difficult to all that Neelan was, in a few short sente things to many peo band and father, a l

TAMITMES 9
n acceptable solublem. In Dr. Neelan he country has lost leader with vision yer and an authoraffairs. Dr. Tiruchte Sri Lankan who st breadth that the d Muslim commueace and harmony. played a key role iscussions that the e TULF which retion of the Muslim the purpose of de
i by The Rt. Rev. o, Bishop of Co(eatly distressed by ath of Dr. Neelan has been a close ver 35 years. I have or his great erudinal lawyer and for acter. upheld the rights of ntry irrespective of was totally devoted it negotiated settleonflict of our counly encouraged all of involved in peace
vere blow to peace, dom in our country. stardly act in the
community which I expression of deep and our country as
tice and ConstituG. L. Peiris: "I was ned at the news of agic demise of my ntary colleague Dr. 1. His loss, at a time dream - the realisaust and honourable nkans - is finally at e poignant.
orts to seek a viable of our nation’s eth:ventually bear fruit on of the constitument, a first step to stability in our trou
attempt to capture all that he stood for, nces. He was many ple: adevoted husoyal friend, a distin
guished lawyer, an academic and intellect of renown, a tireless champion of his people's cause and a skilled orator both in Parliament and at public fora.” Statement by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party: “We of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party were deeply shocked and surprised to hear of the killing in cold blood of Dr. Neelan Tiruchelvam MP a great son of Sri Lanka of recent times.
Dr. Tiruchelvam who was a politician, a lawyer, a constitutional expert and a human rights activist was a thinker of world repute. We know that Neelan of pleasing appearance, with moderate views and unassuming qualities accepted that the only alternative was peace among the various sections of the people in the march towards one country and one people and the sharing of power within one country and was one who always worked for it.
The Sri Lanka Freedom Party while condemning the brutal process of decimating at various times the Tamil National Leaders within and outside the Tamil United Liberation Front re-emphasises that a political solution is the only way to end the crisis within the country.
“We hereby express our profound sorrow of our party to all the members of the family of Dr. Tiruchelvam and to all members of the Tamil United Liberation Front on this sad occasion.”
Statement by Batty Weerakoon, General Secretary, of the Lanka Sama Samaja Party said: "Neelan Thiruchelvam's death at the hands of assassins is a blow to us all. In a multi-cultural society as in Sri Lanka he brought pride to the nation as a whole and to the more localised culture into which he was born. His conscious sense of belonging to the wider political culture that encompassed the nation as a whole is what a narrow totalitarian mindset like that of the LTTE could not cope with.
The resultant consequence to him appears to be the inevitable fate of all Tamil intelligentsia that will not surrender to the LTTE through accommodation or silence. We saw this in the assassinations of several Parliamentarians in the more recent years. We saw this in the deaths of others too, as of Sarojini Yogeswaram, the Jaffna Mayoress.
To gloss over these deaths as the fate of romantics, as some Tamil intellectuals have recently done, is moral and spiritual cowardice. These so-called intellectuals have opted out of the essential conflict and adopted different de

Page 10
10 TAMILTIMES
grees of accommodation in respect of the LTTE. Neelan Thiruchelvam spurned this kind of posturing. He stood his ground and fought for his positions through always in his own erudite and gentle manner.”
Statement issued by Mr. S. Thondaman, M.P., President, Ceylon Workers' Congress said: "On my own behalf and on behalf of the Indian Tamil community I extend my heartfelt condolences to the family of Dr. Neelan Tiruchelvam and the colleagues in the Tamil United Liberation Front on the tragic death of the Vice President of the TULF, Member of Parliament and eminentacademic personality Dr. Neelan Tiruchelvam who became yet another innocent victim of a suicide bomber.
Dr. Tiruchelvam had been a close friend of mine from his younger days and has had a close association with the Ceylon Workers' Congress in a wide ranging area of legal and political interests where his Constitutional expertise had been readily made available when needed.
The outrageous manner in which his life had been snuffed out once again brings home the point that violence in whatever guise is not the path to peace and prosperity in our county. It highlights the need for all parties to strictly adhere to a moral code of conduct that innocent and harmless people are not targeted for elimination.
If this cruel and unfeeling regimen is not halted, Sri Lanka will end up bereft of the cream of its intelligentsia and personalities of leadership calibre leaving in its wake families - dependants - stranded in a situation of helplessness. I take this opportunity to urge all concerned to follow the path of non-violence and adopt the strategy of negotiation to redress their grievances.”
Statement by Rev. Duleep Fernando, Chairman of the National Christiam Council said: “The National Christian Council of Sri Lanka (NCC) expresses its shock and dismay at the brutal assassimation of Dr. Neelan Tiruchelvam, Member of Parliament. Dr. Tiruchelvam was an internationally renowned constitutional expert, a brilliant academic, a thoughtful and eloquent parliamentarian and committed peace activist. For over two decades he played a vital, often unobtrusive role in conflict resolution and the quest for peace with justice. The tragedy is that Dr. Tiruchelvam had so much more to contribute to this country in all these
spheres.
Hedecided to St. work for peace with way and in the manr appropriate and rig person of his outsta have acquired a po eminent universities
The treacherous helvam, who was a cellence is a clear i responsible, seeking democratic space av uine articulation of minorities. This wou ing the conflict furtł NCC always conde lence and extra judi ieve one's objective vocally in condemn act and calls upon t from such acts in th The National Ch think of no greater than for all those w his untimely death t selves to the strug struggle for which N supreme sacrifice.
The Council ex condolence and syn Niruganan and Mith In a press state Nanayakkara MP Tiruchelvam’s assa other grave blow to t racy of our country. loss to the intellect will be felt internatio person of the Minc based in London he of no small internati His contributions in rights and his numt velop the ideas and mocracy here and at ing monument to hi
The convulsive to by state repressic essary background in most such other c his tragic death our the ultimate triumpl become renewed a eloquent tribute wi memory.”
Statement iss achandran, Secreta said: "We are deeply Dr. Neelan Tiruche list MP from the TU sinated by an LTTE the heart of Colomb

15 AUGUST 1999
ay in Sri Lanka and justice in his own erhe believed was ht, even though a hding ability could sition in the most
in the world. killing of Dr. Tirucstatesman par exindication of those to close whatever ailable, for the genhe problems of the ld only lead to makher intractable, The mns the use ofviocial means to achs. It stands unequiing this cowardice he LTTE to refrain e future. ristian Council can tribute to Neelan, ho are shocked by o rededicate themgle for peace, the Neelan has paid the
presses its deepest mpathies to Sithie, ran Tiruchelvam.' ment, Vasudeva said: "Dr. Neelan ssination is yet anhe political democIt is an unbearable ual world. His loss nally. As the Chairority Rights Group occupied a position onal responsibility. the field of human rous efforts to deinstitutions of debroad will be a last
s memory. violence given rise on created the necfor this tragedy as cases. In the face of indomitable faith in n of democracy has nd that is the most e can offer, in his
ued by K Premry of the EPRLF pained to hear that lvam, the National ULF has been assassuicide bomber in ). With his untimely
demise the Tamil people have lost another talented and dedicated intellectual, who unlike many others chose to remain in this country and offered his vast knowledge and experience to be utilised in the search for a reasonable and just solution to the National Question of Tamils in Sri Lanka.
Dr. Thiruchelvam was greatly respected not only in Sri Lanka but also internationally for his academic knowledge and deep commitment to human rights and for his strong beliefin democratic and peaceful means in resolving political conflicts. The main aim of the perpetrators of this cowardly act is to physically eliminate the moderate and democratic leaders so that the claim for sole representative of the Tamil people by the dictatorial leadership of LTTE could be achieved. The Tamil people are, once again made to bang their head in shame for allowing the emergence of such a brutal and barbaric force from amidst our community and for tolerating all the crimes perpetrated in the name of liberation.'
The Movement for Inter-Racial Justice and Equality (MIRJE) in a press statement said: "We condemn with disgust the assassination of Dr. Neelan Tiruchelvam who emerged from the Tamil Community as a much-learned intellectual. He was deeply committed establish ethnic peace and worked resolutely for the resolution of the ethnic conflict. His assassination clearly demonstrates the forces rearing its head to resistandblock all avenues available for consensus resolution to the national question. It also characterizes the barbaric fascist terrorism which is gradually destroying the Tamil Community. Neelan Tiruchelvam worked with selfless dedication to realise the much cherished peace in the island. He has given us the message of hope to work for peace without giving into any form of extremism. He worked untiringly to obtain the support of all opposition parties to expedite the bringing of the Draft Constitution to the Parliament, whilst leaving room for amendments and check the declining confidence of the Tamil Community in the government. He has paid with his life for this dedicated effort.
Once Swami Vivekananda said "anybody who dedicates his/her logical intellect to the cause of peace and not for the bullets in the battle field is a messenger from God” as Neelan has always been to us.

Page 11
15 AUGUST 1999
We salute him' The Catholic Bishops' Conference in a statement said: "We pray that at least this brutal killing would touch the conscience of our political leadership and that of the militant groups to provoke a more firm and determined effort to seek out jointly a political solution." The Bar Council of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka unanimously passed the following resolution at its meeting held on 31st July, 1999: "The Bar Association of Sri Lanka expresses shock and horror at, and unreservedly condemns, the brutal assassination of its member Dr. Neelan Tiruchelvam, President's Counsel and Member of Parliament.
The Bar Association of Sri Lanka conveys its deepest condolences to the wife and sons of the late Dr. Tiruchelvam and to the other members of his family.”
Dr. Jayadeva Uyangoda and Dr. Kumari Jayawardena on behalf of the Social Scientists Association issued the following tribute:
“It is with deep shock and outrage that the Social Scientists' Association (SSA) condemns the brutalassassination of Dr. Neelan Tiruchelvam, parliamentarian, scholar and civil society leader. With this killing, political forces of ethnic extremism have silenced a voice of reason and sanity.
Dr. Tiruchelvam, in his intellectual, political and activist life gave expression to a range of key values and ideals that are essential for the re-building of Sri Lankan society torn asunder by a multiplicity of crises of which the ethnic conflict is most intractable manifestation. He was uncompromising in his commitment to ethnic reconciliation, inter-ethnic peace, pluralist democracy, human rights, social justice and decency in public affairs.
His was a mind of considerable intellectual energy and perseverance which shined under conditions of darkness and barbarism. It is no exaggeration to say that the terms of Sri Lanka's contemporary discourse of democratic political reform were largely germinated in his creative mind and his tireless interaction with all those who shared with him the ideals of a decent, peaceful world. Dr. Tiruchelvam earned much praise and some wrath for this singular contribution he made to enrich the political and constitutional thinking of Sri Lanka.
With the untimely demise of Dr.
Neelan Tiruchelvan Sri Lanka have lo bridge-builder. Sol of its most creative ist thinkers. We p league who has alv ing presence amon Let this tragic peace and modera ment for the resus forces committed t ation."
The Women ( in a statement saic Tiruchelvam not hi us celebrate his mu way of life even as ing. As with the grc that swept Israel in sassination of Ytsa sassination of a til campaigner for pe mony become a ti bloody armed conf Sri Lanka for six Neelan's death resu peace and justice th; by the senseless c) talk and acts of thos lence to save or de Tamil, Sinhala or c
Some of India intellectuals have their shock and ou sination of TULF scholar Dr. Neelar The signatories issued in Delhi incl historian Romila losopher-activist S cial scientist Ashis cer Chandralekha Nayar.
Their statemer ply shocked at t Neelan Tiruchelva ber reportedly of ducted in a manı LTTE. We unresel cruel and senseles "Neelan was a nary talent, great it and unwavering p for democracy, p. justice and humar of reason which and inspired tho
 

TAMILTIMES 11
, all communities of t a truly visionary h Asia has lost one lemocratic-reformy tribute to a colays been an inspir
death of a man of ion become a mocitating of political national reconcili
oalition for Peace "Let Dr. Neelan ve died in vain. Let ticultural vision and we mourn his passundswell for peace the wake of the ask Rabin, let this as
ace and ethnic harurning point in the lict that has plagued een years. Let Dr. scitate the voices for at have been silenced uelty and mindless e who advocate viofend nations be they ther.
“The Women's Coalition for Peace condemns the LTTE killers of Dr. Tiruchelvam, but notes that neither the LTTE nor the Tamil people have amonopoly on violence and extremism. Those who advocate the tyranny of a Sinhala majority and are willing to speak and act violently to this end are mirror images of the LTTE's ruthless intolerance, and disrespect for different cultures and opinions. Dr. Tiruchelvam's death should serve as a warning of the proliferation ofa culture of intolerance and ethnic extremism in Sri Lankan society today. Neelan was killed because he worked actively towards bringing about a just political solution to the armed conflict through devolution and power sharing among Sri Lanka's diverse communities.
“The Women's Coalition for Peace urges all parties in the conflict to move forward and constructively with the work of devolution for which Dr. Tiruchelvan was killed, so that a lasting and just peace might be gained in Sri Lanka - an island that until recently was famed for its multiculturalism and the peaceful co-existence of diverse cultures and religious traditions. Women's Coalition for Peace.' O
dia’s Intellectuals
demn ASSaSSinai
's most prominent jointly expressed rage over the assasparliamentarian and
Tiruchelvam. to a short statement ude world renowned Thapar, Hindu phiwami Agnivesh, som Nandy, famed danndjournalist Kuldip
tsaid: "We are deele assassination of m by a suicide bomthe LTTE and coner characteristic of vedly condemn such
violence.
person of extraorditellectual refinement blitical commitment Lralism, secularism, sm. His was a voice ‘ompelled attention sands of scholars,
thinkers, activists and political leaders not just in Sri Lanka but all over South Asia.
“We in India who had the privilege to know Neelan have always admired him for his outstanding work on conciliation, peace and political devolution in Sri Lanka, his fierce opposition to ethnocentric nationalism, chauvinism and militarism, his efforts at promoting South Asian Solidarity and his great courage as well as immense personal charm.
"Neelan was eliminated by forces of extreme intolerance because they cannot coexist with democracy, reason and human values. His death only underscores the importance of fighting such forces in our entire region and of reaffirming our commitment to what Neelan stood for.
“We send our deepest condolences to Seethi, their two sons and Neelan's countless friends and admirers'.
The statement was signed by: (continued on next page)

Page 12
12 TAM TIMES
A Champion of a Ju and Gentle Societ
Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu
Yet another brutal murder and this time of one of the most articulate and effectivespokespersons ofliberalopinion in this country. Internationally recognised as such, Neelan Tiruchelvam was much more than the eloquent embodiment of moderate Tamil opinion. His vision and commitment was to a just and gentle society in which both political culture and structures would Secure the diversity and pluralism of its peo
(Continued from page 16)
Romila Thapar, Ritu Menon, Kamla Bhasin, Praful Bidwai, Veena Das, Ambrose Pinto, Abha Bhaiya, Miloon Kothari, Sayeeda Hamid, Maya Daruwala, Kuldip Nayyar, Seema Mustafa, Swami Agnivesh, Kamal Chenoy Mitra, Prabir Purkayastha, Imrana Qadeer, Dunu Roy, Chandrelekha, Sadamanda Menon, Kalpana Kannabiran, Vasanth Kannabiran, K. G. Kannabiran, Sudesh Vaid, Kumkum Sanghari, Smitha Kothari, Rajni Kothari and Ashis Nandy. O
ple. Neelan's was th and reason on any n human rights, law a nicity. His contribu tellectual and politic immense.
His name will all with the pursuit of this country through ment incorporating c antees. That this wa article of faith for N his life for it. In his qui way, he was convin sine qua non for the conflict even if there garding its impleme1 It is indeed espec a time at which the d als are expected to b liament, Neelan will fine its vision and bri plain its design and d onnecessary amendm authority and intell which he alone comm
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15 AUGUST 1999
voice of tolerance umber of issues of d society and ethion was at the inll levels and it was
vays be associated eace and unity in a political settleonstitutional guars possible was an eelan and he gave iet and determined ced that his was a resolution of the were problems retation. ially tragic that at evolution propose pesented to parnot be there to depader purpose, exetail and elaborate ents with the quiet lectual brilliance handed. There will
be no greater tribute to Neelan than the acceptance and implementation of a constitutional settlement to the ethnic conflict founded on the principles of democratic governance. Neelan knew that this was not only desirable but absolutely necessary for a just and durable peace.
His unshakable conviction in this respect was anathemato his fascist killers and to their propagandists who sustain a climate of conflict and of fear and loathing through talk of treason and treachery. Within the Tamil community from which this murder was sprung, it is time to resolve and to realise that so much and too many of great value are being destroyed by this senseless bloodletting. Liberation cannot be soaked in blood and guts and steeped in hate, if it is, in turn, to be of value.
All the ideas he espoused, the institutions he founded and nurtured and the politics he civilised are now confronted with the profound challenge of his ghastly death. He knew that the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil was for good men to do nothing. And the community of the sensitive of which he was so distinguished a member, now have many, many more miles to go before they can sleep... O
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Page 13
15 AUGUST 1999
“ANY man's death diminishes me because I am involved in Mankind," wrote the metaphysical poet John Donne. The ongoing ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka continues to exact a heavy human toll. In my personal capacity as a Sri Lankan Tamil and in my professional capacity as a journalist writing on the ethnic strife, I have lost count of the number of people related or known to me who have encountered violent deaths. But no man's death as a result of the war in northern Sri Lanka has diminished me as that of Neelan Tiruchelvam on July 29.
Neelakandan Tiruchelvam, wellknown as Neelan or Dr. Neelan, strove ceaselessly to achieve a peaceful solution to the Tamils issue. He dedicated himself to that cause with a sense of purpose, although he could have easily pursued a lucrative academic or professional career as a lawyer in Sri Lanka or abroad. He chose to remain in Colombo through very trying circumstances and pursue his vision of a lasting political settlement where all communities, including that of his own, the Sri Lankan Tamils, coexisted with justice, dignity and peace. His death is an irreparable loss to the country in particular and humanity in general.
I had a close personal relationship with Neelan. He was my friend, philosopher and guide. He was greatly instrumental in moulding my career. It was Neelan Tiruchelvam who facilitated my initial journalistic links with The Hindu and Frontline. Although I have been living abroad for the past decade, I have been in constant touch with him. I was perhaps one of the last persons to speak to him on that fateful day. I spoke with him until 8.40 a.m. He was killed at 9.15 a.m. Tiruchelvam is no more! I shall miss him sorely.
Generally known as Neelan or Dr. Neelan the 55 year old politico academic was certainly one of the leading intellectuals in South Asia. The first Sri Lankan to obtain a Ph D in law from the prestigious Harvard University Neelan was acknowledged as one of the foremost Constitutional experts in the world let alone Sri Lanka. According to the apologists of his assassins Neelan whose services were eagerly sought after by international academia had to be eliminated for playing a constructive role in constitution making in his
نلد AT
EAN
own country. Th sulted in various tellectual inputwa lent segment of hi a 'poisonous weec cated.
July 27th 19 which Alfred D Mayor of Jaffna i was killed by the was hailed by so singular achieven in political libera Duraiappa, the al the then Sirima B ment, was depic weed that had to Tamils were to w under the sun. Thi Velupillai Prabak an interview with of his earliest inv military encount tion of Mayor Du has flown since have been 'weed Tamil Eelam see1
aS eWC.
Now after 24 later Neelan Ti killed. Once aga are being parrote is tremendous. as they are by t pseudo-national position to behc will come when and large will w the killing of N great tragedy ar ous loss encom munity.
The killing national and in precedent was c Bill Clinton wh ately a condole of himself and Clinton. The lat sonally a few y Sri Lanka. App pressed her gre
 

TAMITMES 13
man who was conlobal fora for his inperceived by a viruown community as that had to be eradi
'5 was the date on raiappa, a former n northern Sri Lanka Tamil New Tigers. It he quarters then as a ent that would usher tion for the Tamils. eged collaborator of andaranaike governted as a treacherous
be destroyed if the in their rightful place current LTTE leader charan stated once in India Today' that one folvement in a major »r was the assassinaIraiappa. Much blood and many more lives 'd out but the goal of nselusive and distant
years and two days uchelvam has been n the familiar chants d. This loss however hose Tamils blinded e scorching glare of sm may not be in a ld this. But the time the Tamil society by ke up and realise that lan Tiruchelvam is a l the resulting grievasses the entire com
hocked and horrified rnational opinion. A lated by US President n he issued immedi:e message on behalf he first lady Hilary rhad met Neelan perirs ago when visiting ently Neelan hadimy a point emphasised
by Clinton. It was a rare occurrence indeed when the US president chose to extend a specialo sympathy message over the death of a man who was neither a head of state nor a cabinet minister at least. Later the first lady sent a private message of sympathy to his grieving widow Sithie.
Apart from Clinton, the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and the UN Commissioner of Human Rights Mary Robinson also issued special messages. The UN Sub-Commission on Prevention ofDiscrimination Against Minorities suspended usual proceedings to pass a special resolutio condemning the assissination of Neelan. Most diplomatic representatives in Colombo issued statements. Human Rights organizations such as Amnesty International and Article 19 too criticised the kill1ng.
The LTTE in its customary fashion has neither claimed credit nor denied responsibility. Yet two factors point significantly to the involvement of the Tigers in the murder. First, the human bomb has become the trademark of an LTTE-type assassination. The second and more important factor is the consistent hostility displayed by the LTTE towards Neelan Tiruchelvam. Tigercontrolled media organs in Sri Lanka and abroad have been attacking him for nearly four years now. Tamil politicians and newspapers in Colombo, seeking to curry favour with the Tigers, too have followed suit. As for LTTE propaganda, Neelan Tiruchelvam has been the most revilled Tamil politician and the pet object of hate. The LTTE's poet laureate, Puthuvai Rathinadurai, writing under the pseudonym Viyaasan, has constantly referred to him as a throgi (traitor), who clings to President Chandrika Kumaratunga's munthanai (free end of the saree) and who must be destroyed. The LTTE had been preparing the ground for the assassination. This is the method it has usually adopted: first it would denigrate Tamil politicians thereby creating a hostile climate and building up mass ill-feeling towards them, and then strike. Now, the LTTE-controlled media have started its second phase of the campaign. While the "official" LTTE has remained silent, its minions in the media have resumed their attack on Neelan

Page 14
14 TAM TIMES
Tiruchelvam, describing him as a traitor. The Tiger mouthpiece in Canada, "Muzhakkam' (Thunder), for instance, has published a diatribe, which accuses Neelan Tiruchelvam, among other things, of intending to “implement the devolution package during his visiting professorship tenure scheduled for this autumn/fall.'
The LTTE and its supporters have been critical of the constitutional reforms proposals, known generally as the devolution package, which seek to find a solution to the decades-old ethnic strife. It was the legal, constitutional and political expertise of Neelan Tiruchelvam that contributed to the formulation of the package. While Sinhala hardliners accuse him of promoting separatism by trying to push through the devolution package, the LTTE and its cohorts accuse him of betraying Tamil interests. These contrasting allegations made by the hawks on both sides are proof enough that Neelan Tiruchelvam was on the right track in seeking a negotiated settlement that would provide maximum devolution. The criticism of Neelan Tiruchelvam by pro-LTTE Tamil sections and the silence of the "official' LTTE show clearly who was behind the assassina
Ironically, the Sinhala sections, which had earlier maintained that the package was detrimental to their interests, now state that the LTTE killed Neelan Tiruchelvam because he was trying to promote a package that was harmful to the interests of the Tamils. It is not difficult to discern that beneath the veneer of professed sympathy, the Sinhala sections want devolution denied and a hard line adopted against the LTTE. It would be doubly ironical to abort the devolution exercise on the pretext of the death of a person, whose political passion was to see it through. Various theories are afloat about the motive and timing of the killing. While the most common one is that it is a signal to the proponents of devolution to abandon the process, others believe that it is part of an overall assault on the TULF itself. Another view is that the Tigers feared that Neelan Tiruchelvam would indulge in international propaganda against them during his tenure at the Harvard University and so launched a pre-emptive strike.
Neelan Tiruchelvam himself believed that the LTTE would not deploy a suicide bomber but only use a gun
man/woman to ki human bombs wer portant and high-pl Rajiv Gandhi and F perhaps a manifest that he considered lesser importance.
used suicide killer spector of Police
deen in an abortive inia and another to Revolutionary L (EPRLF) para-mil in Batticaloa, it be Tigers had reache tion wherein relati
victims too had be
In that sense, it v Neelan Tiruchelva geted by a suicide The murder of it obvious that th ing the remainin though these leader out, calling upon begin negotiations assessment arises in of hindsight alone. Tigers revised their TULF's changed seem resolved to v viable politicalenti through methods c sion, exclusion an tion. This decision t leadership appears a few months ago. " indirect complimer an indicator of th insecurity and par true feelings of the The LTTE has t irritated by the TI TULF's role in for lution package and port to the Chandri gime bestowed up greater acceptance also found that de of the Tigers that ol as the sole represel people, it was TUL bal approval. Neela self contributed g hancing TULF's in diplomats, journali mental organisatior LTTE did not rea own actions it was the international c fusal to examine faults resulted in bitter hatred towar

15 AUGUST 1999
1 him. He felt that ;meant only forimofile targets such as . Premadasa. It was ation of his modesty himself a target of But when the LTTE to target Chief InMohammed Nilabbid in Mount Lavkill Eelam People’s iberation Front's tary leader Razeek came clear that the d a desperate situavely less important 'come their targets. was inevitable that m too would be tarkiller. Tiruchelvam makes e Tigers are targetg TULF leaders, sare, day in and day the government to with the LTTE. This ot from the wisdom It appears that the strategy because of perceptions. They vipe out TULF as a ty. They will do this f co-option, expuld, finally, eliminaostrike at the TULF to have been made This is in a sense an ut to TULF. It is also e LTTE's political anoia regarding the
Tamil people. become increasingly ULF. It found that mulating the devoits issue-based supka Kumaratunga reon the Government and credibility. It spite the insistence ly they be regarded tative of the Tamil F that enjoyed glon Tiruchelvam himreatly towards ennage among foreign sts, and non-governs (NGOs). What the ise was that by its being alienated from ommunity. This reand reappraise its he cultivation of a 1S TULF.
The Tigers appear to have decided to strike really hard at TULF. The objective was to make it cease as a functional entity. This approach was paralleled by a similar hardline approach against other Tamil groups. Several stalwarts of the People 's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation (TELO) and the EPDP too have been killed. In deference to a "final request' by the LTTE, several junior members of these groups have broken ranks and joined the Tigers. Also, many of these groups are riddled with internal divisions. There have also been many inter-group clashes. They have also indulged in several human rights violations against the Tamil people. Their stock among the Tamils is at an all-time low, and in the eyes of the Tigers they pose no political threat.
But TULF, with its slogan of “unarmed democracy', is a different prospect. So the LTTE is determined to do two things. One is to create conditions in the North-East that would make it difficult formembers of TULF to contest elections there. Secondly, render the party defunct or at least dysfunctional. On the other hand, the Tigers may promote pro-Tiger independent groups to contest in that area. For this to happen, TULF has to go. And this is what is happening now.
The MPs from Batticaloa district have been asked to refrain from attending public functions and are also barred from meeting people. When the TULF MPs remonstrated by wondering how they could prevent voters from coming and seeing them, the Tigers said: "In that case we will come along with the people and meet you in the way you deserve to be met.” The Tigers also issued a notice that the public should keep away from TULF because they may suffer harm. The MPs of Batticaloa are in Colombo now. The LTTE also issued an ultimatum that all TULF branches in Amparai district should be dissolved and that announcements to the effect be made in the newspapers before August 10.
In June, Sri Lankan investigators apprehended an LTTE member from whom information was extracted about the presence of a 10-member LTTE suicide squad in Colombo for specific purposes. Among the targets were TULF MPs R. Sambandan and Neelan Tiruchelvam, and former MP and current senior vice-president V. Ananda

Page 15
15 AUGUST 1999
sangary. On July 2, the Internal Intelligence Department of the National Intelligence Bureau issued a specific warning to the Defence Ministry about the threat to the trio. On July 13, the threat was conveyed by Defence Secretary Chandrananda de Silva to Sambandan.
Neelan Tiruchelvam himself was away in Bellaggio, Italy on a Rockefeller fellowship between June 18 and July 18 when this information surfaced. He was informed of this upon his return on July 19. Since his life has been under threat for quite some time, he was not unduly perturbed. In any case, he was scheduled to be in the United States from late August until December for the Harvard University lecture on “Ethnicity, Constitutionalism and Human Rights'.
Besides, whenever I cautioned him about his safety he had a fatalistic expectation about death. "No one can prevent it when it happens, we just have to go on doing what we have to do,” he told me once. He also seemed to have
to die. “There are countless vehicles in Colombo now. There is a traffic jam at every junction. All security measures
become a mockery None of the polic safety will be ab How tragically pI words. The lone a ily between vehicl fic snarl at Rosem himself up.
The killing of at this juncture wa overall campaign to political oblivion. . ripple effect of th tainly affect Tamil devolution packag Secret that TULF's bo relied heavily Neelan Tiruchelví entire parliament perks to the party certainly a death office.
There is also a factor that may ha Tiger antipathy. Ni one of the few T. spurn a “request”1 should support a though the LTTE Neelan Tiruchelva traitor with whom
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fmy car is held up. 2 assigned for my to do anything.” phetic were those sassin slipped eassheld up at the trafad Place and blew
|eelan Tiruchelvam perhaps part of an terrorise TULF into At the same time, the
killing would cerittitudes towards the 2. It is also an open presence in Colomon the resources of m. He donated his ry allowances and . Thus his death is plow to the party's
nother little known ve contributed to the celan Tiruchelvam is amils who dared to by the LTTE that he hd work for it. Al
attempts to portray mas some sort of a it would never have
any interaction, there was a time when it solicited his services. It was politely rebuffed.
The Tigers have also used statements and pronouncements made by Neelan Tiruchelvam withregard to the ethnic crisis when it suited them. It was Neelan Tiruchelvam who kept the TULF flag flying in Colombo between 1983 and 1989. Almost every foreign journalist interviewed him. Neelan Tiruchelvam would in his cautious, gentle manner make profound observations that vividly highlighted the Tamils' plight in Lanka. His international credibility was so great that almost every comment made by him received wide publicity and had a great impact. The Tigers then would quote and cite these in their own propaganda endeavours.
This situation, however, changed in the 1990s. Neelan Tiruchelvam was virtually blacked out in the LTTE media. His endeavours in and outside Parliament to alleviate the sufferings of the Tamils were deliberately ignored. Instead he was always portrayed in a negative light and depicted as a "demon' collaborating with the Govern(continued on next page)
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Page 16
16 TA' TEMES
Neelan: A Great and No
of the Country & the
Professor Savithri Goonesekere
n a voice choked with emotion, Professor Savithri Goonesekere, Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo delivered this eulogy to Neelan Tiruchelvam at the General Cemetery, Kanatte on July 31:
"We are present here this afternoon to pay our last tribute and collectively grieve for our friend, Neelan TiruchelWall,
I first met Neelan and Sithie as fresh faced young and eager students at the Department of Law of the University of Ceylon, Peradeniya. My husband Raja Goonesekere and our friends Ranjith and Yvonne Amarasingha forged with them from that time a friendship that has stretched over three decades. We as young teachers and they as young students experienced those Shangri-La days of Sri Lankan campus life. We shared a common intellectual tradition, a world of scholarship and friendship, and eventually became trusted and very dear colleagues and friends. So Neelan and Sithie passed with honours and accolades through the groves of academic and came into our homes and hearts. Over the years they shared ourjoys and successes; they were always there for us in times of sorrow and pain. It is not easy for any of us gathered here to confront the anguish of his loss.
For Neelan me; ent things to each o ished and adored hu Kinsman; a friend; a legislator; a med: statesman. To refl marvel at the ma touched the lives (
with his intellectual
and understanding sense of commitme scholar and the int tional repute radi cheerfulness at all amonghis most enc helped him have t bound him to the r who he encourag throughout his life. beloved Sithie, Ni tended beyond then
Neelan's intelle country, in the regi ally is well docume would trivialise his many accolades and over the short span and political career, to pay tribute to that cial unique facet Neelan was above a ticulate thinker, to was the very life h
(Continued from page 15) ment against the Tamils.
Although he knew that the Tigers targeted him, he did not criticise them. He never speaks harshly to anyone, not even to his worst enemy. In the case of the LTTE, Neelan Tiruchelvam had tremendous sympathy for its cadres although he was totally against its overall objective and methods. He was of the opinion that these youth were sacrificing their lives needlessly for an impractical and unattainable goal.
One instance of his magnanimity and integrity was when he told the Canadian national daily The Globe and Mail that the LTTE chief in Canada, Suresh Manickavasagam, was likely to be "interrogated aggressively" if deported. This remark by him was ofgreat value to Suresh Manickavasagam’s
lawyers in obtain against the deportat his detractors accu rating, Neelan Ti fought for the Tan uncompromising a pendent in that. On not that of a rabbl showman. His was the-scenes approa hue.
The brightests litical firmament is ing is a tragedy b Tamil people will realise that the assa Tiruchelvam is not to his family, frient ers, but an overwh encompasses the whole,
 

ant so many differfus. He was a cherisband and father; a a valued colleague; ator; a reformist, a ect on his life is to nner in which he )f so many people, sensitivity, vibrance , and his profound nt and caring. The electual of internaated humility and times. These were learing traits which ime for others and many young people ed and supported His devotion to his ggy, and Mithi exn and to all of us. :ctual stature in the on, and internationinted and known. It life to mention the recognition he won of his professional I would rather like other and very speof his personality. ll a brilliant and arwhom scholarship e breathed. Despite
ing an injunction ion order. Although se him of colaboruchelvam always nils” rights. He was nd fearlessly indely his approach was e-rouser or a cheap the quiet, behindch of a democratic
ar in the Tamil pono more. His killeyond belief, The take some time to ssination of Neelan only a personal loss ls, party and admirlming tragedy that community as a O
15 AUGUST 10
all the demands on his time, he would read the many books in his library, reflect on what he read, and then emerge with a flow of creative ideas that would be difficult for most of us to absorb and articulate. Sterile scholarship was not for Neelan. He represented that great intellectual tradition which recognises that thinking and ideas have no relevance and meaning unless they can contribute to the well being of people.
It is I think for this reason that Neelan did not take an easy path and make an illustrious career for himself in a prestigious seat of learning or international agency in some other part of the world. He chose to live and work in Sri Lanka with Sithie and the boys in the deep beliefthathecouldmake a contribution and impact on the familiar world he had known from childhood. And for that he paid a terrible price.
It is almost impossible to believe that Neelan and Sithie, with all the choices available to them, decided to live in this country and work hard for the peace, ethnic and religious harmony that they had seen shattered over and over again from the time of their own childhood and youth. Neelan was a Hindu Tamil by birth and tradition, and yet above all, a symbol of that vision of ethnic and religious tolerance and peace that we so desperately need to realise in this country today. I would like to pay my last tribute to this great and noble son of our country and the world from a translated piece of "Subasithaya':
"It is futile to have a hundred
children lacking in goodness; Yet a single child of goodness
and Wisdom is the greatest treasure, A hundred stars together cannot lighten
the darkness Yet a single full moon can shed light in a
darkened WOrld." Neelan shone brightly and uniquely as a great son of Sri Lanka; a statesman of peace, integrity and idealism in the midst of adversarial politics, and as a cherished family man, and friend and kinsman.
Everyone, including the international community must recognise in this ultimate act of violence the hypocrisy and evilness of destroying precious lives in the name of freedom. Let those who censored by death this gentleman of peace, and the extremists and hate-mongers of all communities with our country and outside, understand that Neelan's voice, his vision and his life (continued on next page)

Page 17
15 AUGUST 1999
An Intellectual and an Institutio
Dr Radhika Coomaraswamy
A FEW days before his death, Dr. Neelan Tiruchelvam gave a memorial lecture for one of Sri Lanka's leading lawyers. Before the doyens of the legal community, he spoke of the Tamil epic Silappadikaram and, using its symbolism, analysed modern constitutional law, including the concepts of the unitary state, democracy and human rights. According to those present at the lecture, this was Tiruchelvam at his best, weaving cultural symbols with the cold face of the law, giving it life and meaning. They said that it was a supreme moment of triumph, a brilliant presentation by one of South Asia's leading jurists. The speech also highlighted Tiruchelvam's twin interests and the motivating forces of his life - the law and the love for South Asian culture.
Tiruchelvam was the son of one of Sri Lanka's leading lawyers and Tamil politicians. From a young age he was trained in the law by his father. He excelled in the law school and then went on to do his Master of Laws (LLM) and SJD at the Harvard Law School, where he was a Fulbright scholar. He formed a life-long attachment to this institution and often went back to teach for a semester or two. The Boston Globe carried the grief-stricken statements of his colleagues at the Law School, including the Dean, upon hearing the news of his death. On September 17, the Law School will have a special commemoration to celebrate the life and work of Neelan Tiruchelvam. Close family members have been invited to be present on the occasion.
This tribute by one of the world's leading law schools highlights the fact that Tiruchelvam was first and foremost a scholar. His political activism was a result of deeply held beliefs arising out
(Continued from page 16) will inspire us to say "No" to the hypocrisy, the hatred and the violence.
Sithie, Niggy and Mithi, and all of us will not say goodbye to Neelan and everything he stood for. His life, his ideas, his vision of goodness, sanity and harmony will and must resonate today and into the next century and millennium that he did not live to see.' O
of his scholarship a He was a voracious many commitment to read the many b hensive library. W about Tiruchelvam was that from its v. multi-disciplinary. a socio-legal study Throughout his car history, anthropol political science. H stant dialogue with ers of South Asia, to Gananath Obe them around him ideas infused the search that he set u
Tiruchelvam's terest was constitut his concern for hur most of his work, all aspects of con skills in this area \ ternationally and h draft constitutions Ethiopia. It was hi tutions should be strumental, and tha sent the moral firm ety. It is this attitud involvement in Sr in constitution draf Not all his ideas w tried his best to pe after government strengthen the cha tal Rights in the C a genuine scheme O only way to meet t Tamill-speaking pe and the East. His he could persuade ernments to do the ten criticised and r. closest to him kne tude stemmed from persuasion and dia way forward, not r armed conflict.
It is in the area Tiruchelvam mad and it is human rig the world who wi most. The researc. up, the Internation

TAM TIMES 17
nd his love of ideas. reader. Despite his , he found the time boks in his comprehat was fascinating 's approach to law ry inception it was His first thesis was of Kandyan Law. eer he read books on ogy, sociology and le carried on a conthe leading thinkfrom Ashis Nandy vesekere. He drew and their work and institutions of rep in Sri Lanka. primary area of inional law. Although nan rights animated he was interested in stitutional law. His were recognised ine was asked to help in Central Asia and s belief that consticonsensual, not init they should reprenament of the socie that motivated his i Lanka's exercises ting since the 1970s. ere accepted but he ‘rsuade government that they should pter on Fundamenonstitution and that folevolution was the he aspirations of the 'oples of the North dealistic belief that Machiavellian govright thing was of diculed. Only those w that such an attihis belief that moral logue were the only ancour, bitterness or
of human rights that 2 his greatest mark hts activists all over Il miss his work the h institutions he set al Centre for Ethnic
Studies (ICES) and the Law and Society Trust, became important fora for human rights research and activism. Scholars and activists from all over the world, especially those from South Asia, gathered at regular intervals at these institutions to dialogue and discuss strategies of action. The two institutions have produced a plethora of books, articles and manuals on every aspect of human rights. Their journals and newsletters carry the latest developments and analyses on human rights questions in Sri Lanka and the rest of the world. Tiruchelvam was deeply concerned about the human rights situation in his own country; he was also passionately interested in the fate of Aung San Suu Kyi, for whom he sponsored a resolution in the Sri Lankan Parliament. He was concerned among others about indigenous people, the Chakma tribal people of Bangladesh, military rule in Pakistan and women's rights in Afghanistan. He fought all these causes and actively worked for the protection of human rights at the international level. -
Tiruchelvam's commitment to human rights made him an integral part of international civil society. The outpouring of griefin statement after statement from well-known human rights groups and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the special commemoration meeting held in the premises of the United Nations in New York, testify to this fact. Their response to his death was captured at the sub-commission session of the Human Rights Commission when Mary Robinson, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Chairman Aisborne Eide made special references to Tiruchelvam in their opening presentations.
Tiruchelvam was also elected Chairman of the prestigious Minority Rights Group in London. The Group's commitment to his vision is so deep that it has opened a Website on his life and work. While academics continue to mourn him, it is human rights activists who have already made his name internationally famous. He will be another martyr in their cause and another reason for their increased activism against all forms of barbarism and intolerance.
Tiruchelvam's interest in the law was not limited to the Constitution. With his wife Sithie, he developed one of the foremost law firms in Sri Lanka, Tiruchelvam Associates, which is the

Page 18
18 TAMILTIMES
leading law firm in the field of corpo- cal issues of power rate and commercial law. Tiruchel- equity. It engaged i vam's interest in this area was also from ied devolution, fei the perspective of the underdog. He was policy, land settle very interested in the law's regulation ment equity. Public of the economy and in developing ne- he encouraged re. gotiating skills so that Third World hard. countries could deal with multination- His rapport with als. When he was a director of research extraordinary. He at the Marga Institute, he spent a great them feel special. H deal of time doing research into inter- put in the 24-hour national contracts and the need for in- his work. He inspir creasing the bargaining power of Third encouraged them to World countries. He was inspired by Ruwanthie Chicker the New International Economic Order he taught them that and the need for a legal framework for between a dream a poverty alleviation. will power to make Tiruchelvam's other abiding inter- of young people fi est and passion was South Asian cul- all over the world h ture. While the love of law came from the ICES and the La his father, the love of South Asian cul- in the last 20 years. ture was inherited from his mother, Tiruchelvam’s de Punidham Tiruchelvam, an extraordi- press, phone calls nary woman who was involved in pouring in. Many w Tamil cultural life and social service. for the man who ha Tiruchelvam's interest in cultural stud- their first research ies as a whole made him focus on eth- couraged their natu nicity as a phenomenon. He set up the who was alway sw ICES, which has now gained world- responsibility. His 1. wide reputation. A large part of the cen- and the enormous tre’s programme was related to politi-, sponse is partly ow
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sharing and ethnic projects that studeralism, language nent and employ:ations emerged as earchers to work
young people was made each one of e expected them to lay that he put into ed them with ideas, read books and, as said at his funeral, the only difference nd reality was the it happen. Dozens om Sri Lanka and ave passed through w and Society Trust When the news of ath hit the world and e-mail came ept uncontrollably d often given them idea, who had enural creativity, and illing to give them egacy is worldwide
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15 AUGUST 1999
of these young people. I am certain they will not allow Tiruchelvam's name to be forgotten.
Many of the young people and interns who came to the ICES were feminists, who were drawn to its feminist research programme. Tiruchelvam was particularly interested in feminist theory and its contribution to legal paradigms and he closely followed their work. When he died, the news was contained on all the leading feministe-mail networks with special tributes, a rare privilege for a man in a very woman's world. His last act at the centre was to encourage me with words and ideas to deal with some of the long-term issues raised by the problem of women, ethnicity and armed conflict, a lecture I was to give in Geneva as part of an ICES lecture series. He had inaugurated this lecture series against all odds to correspond with the meetings of the U.N. Working Group on Minorities. He was delighted when Mary Robinson agreed to chair this meeting, put together by a Third World NGO. He read my script in detail and gave me extensive notes, as he had done throughout my working life. He was the "safety net” for many people and many insti
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tutions. Despite his severe commitments, Tiruchelvam gave every research colleague and intern his full attention, read their work and made detailed suggestions. That is how seriously he took the world of ideas.
Tiruchelvam's interest in ethnicity was not only political but cultural. He pushed the ICES to organise cultural events. He loved films and, as a result, the centre organised a South Asian Documentary Film Festival for many years. Contemporary films were screened at the ICES. He invited musicians and dancers from different parts of South Asia to give demonstrations and lectures. Leading exponents of Kathak, Bharatanatyam and Carnatic music have passed through the portals of the ICES Colombo.
Tiruchelvam’s interest in culture was not limited to specific events; it vasalso abouteveryday life. Ifa visitor came from abroad, he or she was given the typical “Neelan tour". They were taken to the Gotami Vihara, where the chief priest often showed them the George Keyt paintings. They were then taken on a tour of the Dutch remnants of the Fort area and, finally, at dusk, they were taken to the temple in Dehiwela, with the Buddha with the Sapphire Eyes. The priest would light the lamp near the eyes of the Buddha and after that sight, enlightenment always had a special meaning.
His love for culture was not merely confined to the culture of Sri Lanka but of entire South Asia. He collected books and compact discs on all of South Asia. He loved South Indian bronzes; Moghul miniatures and the Sakyamuni Buddha adorned his office. He would hold conferences in the ancient cities of South Asia and before he went to these cities he would study their history and culture. At the conference he would give all the participants a guided tour of the monuments and places of worship. Nothing made him happier than discovering the history and culture of South Asia.
Tiruchelvam and his wife were generous to a fault; they were hospitable to everyone. Tiruchelvam had time for every human being who came to see him - rich or poor, strong or weak. He would go to extraordinary lengths to help people. If he believed someone's story he would leave no stone unturned in his effort to help them. A young couple was weeping in a corner at his funeral house. I asked them their name. They said they were Wijesinghe. They
said that for ever call Tiruchelvam hundreds of such mother and her m He would alway and he always c tions and solutio
Despite his Tiruchelvam was lieved that idea: practice. For this friends and famil of politics. He tr ideas he had for ( multi-culturalism involvement in p tically joined an constitutions an tried to influence He was instrume Official Languag of the legislation fice. He greatly man and the Hul sion and was hel Equal Protection Since his fath politician, Tiruch through the Tam Front (TULF). cerned about the aspirations. He i ment to act with r the war. He, was ated solution. Bl being non-viole his energies into and creating hur in government a Tamil politi lvam and it wa killed him. He w caring for indivi the war and eme. would voice strc was done in pr government age affected areas ances about the population. Sev on the telephone the powers that successful buth believing that d were the only w have lost a pow lated their griev cratic fabric of His involvi encouraged ma activities. He v parliamentary c pendence of the in the primacy

TAMILTIMES 19
problem they would Ir advice. There were eople, including my ny widowed friends. have time for them me up with suggesS. »ve of scholarship, also a man who beshould be put into against the advice of , he joined the world ed to ensure that the onstitutional law and were sustained by his blitics. He enthusiasy attempt to change ethnic politics. He constitution drafting. ntal in setting up the es Commission; much was drafted in his of issisted the Ombudsman Rights Commising to prepare a draft Commission. rwas a leading Tamil elvam entered politics ıil United Liberation He was deeply conTamil people and their mplored the Governestraint in conducting always for a negotiit being a pacifist and it to the core, he put drafting constitutions han rights institutions well as civil society. cs nurtured Tiruches Tamil politics that uld spend a lot of time dual Tamil victims of gency regulations. He ng criticism (even if it vate) and helped the its in the various warrticulate their grievneeds of the civilian 'ral hours were spent pleading his case with le. He was not always never stopped trying, alogue and discussion y forward. The Tamils rful voice that articunces within the demori Lanka. ment in political life y of his civil society as a great believer in mocracy and the indeudiciary. He believed f electoral politics. At
the ICES, he inaugurated a programme of elections monitoring for all of South Asia. The ICES brought together leaders of civil society and he took them to monitor elections in Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, India and even Sri Lanka. When the process of constitutional drafting was on, he gathered all the leading intellectuals of the region at seminars and discussions to get their inputs into the process. He was passionately committed to non-violence and a democratic process. That was more important to him than ethnic ideology. He used the democratic process to further the interests of the Tamil-speaking people but he was interested in all aspects of democratic life. His institutions of civil society were actively engaged in ensuring that his democratic vision would have concrete manifestations.
Several people believed that Tiruchelvam was the most brilliant product of his generation. He was not only an ideas man. He created dynamic institutions both in civil society and in the government. His commitment to institution-building was unparalleled in South Asia. He was a creative, imaginative person who was also blessed with a practical, analytical mind. His death must not end with the triumph of mediocrity and barbarism in a country often filled with despair. It is important that his legacy be continued and that those whom he relied upon help make his vision a reality.
With the death of Tiruchelvam, the world has losta man who dreamed impossible dreams and made them a reality. Sri Lanka has lost a democrat and a peace-maker, the Tamil people have lost a man who deeply cared for their security and their aspirations; his colleagues have lost their inspiration and his commitment to excellence; his friends have lost his generosity and nurturing ways and his family has lost a loyal and caring husband and father. We are all poorer without him. As a columnist recently wrote: "We always kill the best.” But in responding to his killing we must heed the views of his son Mithran. When a reporter of The New York Times asked him what his father would have felt about the assassination, Mithran replied that his father would not have been angry, he would have only been sad. O (Dr. Radhika Coomaraswamy is United Nations Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women and Director, International Centre for Ethnic Studies, Colombo.)

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20 TAMILTIMES
Jehan Perera
he month of July has become like the “ides of March' of Shakespeare's Rome. "Beware the ides of March." This year's July had almost come to an end without an abominable crime when it happened. A suicide bomber blew up the car carrying one of Sri Lanka's most distinguished offspring, Dr.Neelan Tiruchelvam.
Dr. Tiruchelvam was unique in combining political, academic and civil society activism with humanism and distinction. He strengthened the moderate mainstream of political life. He was a dynamic personality who tried to forge a mainstream political consensus regarding fundamental reform of the Sri Lankan polity. But above all, he was a very fine human being who intended no harm to others and embodied the higher human qualities.
It was during the fearsome period of the JVP insurrection and the Premadasa Presidency, that I frequently called his son Nirgunan to obtain some information about political developments at the national level. Nirgunan was then in his midteens, old enough to know what his father and colleagues were talking about, and young enough to share those secrets with a friend. I remember Niggy, as he was known, once starting to say something deservedly nasty about a politician, then stopping himself. "My father has told me not to speak ill of others,” he said. True to this precept, neither did I ever hear Neelan Tiruchelvam speak ill of others.
Dr. Tiruchelvam was one of the least pushy and most refined intellectuals this country has ever produced. He was not a populist. He worked behind the scenes. He was pre-occupied with designing institutions and frameworks within which a multi-ethnic and plural society could be governed, efficiently and equitably. Thanks to the efforts of a few people like him, today the country is moving forward, even if slowly, to a new constitutional framework. In this framework the distinct identities of the different peoples inhabiting this land can be given political ex
pression while th united. Hopefully, be able to get aw; ugly realities.
In the past sev pecially the last tw have faced tremen the Sri Lankan st hoodlums and fro ganisations. The ci community leaders they want peace, b with justice'. This been directed agai But the cruel n Tiruchelvam demo has also to be dire the LTTE. There W ing Neelan Tiruch exception of the Ta the local voice of c horrid crime has b The most debi the Tamils is some which existed amo a relatively short p the JVP period an dency. Those who COTTO T2SS CV nagging fear that watching, and mig for murder.
But even at the halese society reta space for dissent a funerals of Vijaya Lailith. Athulathml expressions of pub the barbaric assas cratic leaders. The Sinhalese never h phenomenon of a claimed to their “s
The claim to sentative' is incom racy. On the contra to centuries ago, w the “divine right ( But that is an age never be revived e cion by terror anc at this altar of a de Tiruchelvam was
 
 
 
 

15 AUGUST 1999
e country remains the country will then ay from the present
eral decades, buteso, the Tamil people dous violence - from ate, from Sinhalese n Tamil militant orommon cry of Tamil in Sri Lanka is that
ut it must be “peace
cry has invariably nst the government. hurder of Neelan instrates that this cry :cted elsewhere - at as no justice in killelvam. But with the lmil militant parties, ondemnation of this een muted. litating fear among :what similar to that ng the Sinhalese for eriod of time during d Premadasa presistood out from the an a little bit felt a “big brother" was ht target him or her
worst oftimes, Sinlined sufficient free nd conscience. The Kumaratunga and dali were massive lic revulsion against sinations of demodifference is that the ad to deal with the political force that ole representative.” pe the “sole reprepatible with democry, it is a throwback hen the doctrine of of kings' prevailed. hat is dead and can xcept through coer
force of arms. It is ad past that Neelan illed, the latest in a
long line of leaders of the Tamil people felled by the LTTE.
It is time that the LTTE realises that its claim to be the "sole representative” of the Tamil people is also not practical and does not promote Tamil interests. For instance, there are certain interests that can be better represented in Colombo, by Tamil parties which have their representatives in Colombo, than by the LTTE which is isolated in the Wanni jungles. An example would be the food crisis in the Wanni. Other examples would be in designing a constitution that safeguards Tamil interests and in obtaining foreign mediation.
Ironically, Neelan Tiruchelvam stood for two of the very fundamental ideas that the LTTE has put forward as being pre-requisites if they are to engage in negotiations with the government. LTTE spokespersons have called on the rival Sinhalese political parties to reach agreement among themselves before talking to them. Neelan Tiruchelvam was a strong campaigner for a bipartisan government-opposition approach to a political solution. He was personable enough to be welcomed to the home and hearth of those at the highest level of national politics on every side of the divide.
In addition, Neelan Tiruchelvam was a strong campaigner on the issue of foreign mediation, which the LTTE leader Velupillai Prabakaran himself called for last year. The presence of many foreign dignitaries at his funeral, and the statements of condolence from US President Clinton and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan showed the immense credibility he had with the international community. By killing him, the LTTE has weakened the totality of forces that could help to bring about a solution favourable to peace with justice for the Tamil people of Sri Lanka.
While the LTTE may be by far the most powerful force battling for the Tamil cause, they are not the only force. There are others also, including even Sinhalese, and it is necessary to harness all their support to achieve success. Those who seek peace with justice in Sri Lanka from the podium and the pulpit would be failing in their duty if they do not call the LTTE to account for the assassination of Dr. Tiruchelvam. It is in the interests of all the peoples of this multi-ethnic and plural society that the LTTE responds to this call.o

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15 AUGUST 1999
The Man with the Qu: of a Mahatma
Dr. S. Narapalasingam
lthough there have been many Gandhis among the dead and living, there has been only one Mahatma Gandhi. Mohandas Karamchan Gandhi earned the title Mahatma for his high-mindedness, wisdom, selflessness and firm belief in peaceful method of winning justice and freedom for all the oppressed people in India. He stood against all forms of oppression that denied justice, equality and freedom to any group separated by caste, gender, ethnic origin, race, language, religion, culture, or region. He opposed violent methods for achieving any goal even if it was just and deserving. He also believed firmly in the unity of all Indians. In short Mahatma Gandhi symbolised the essence of being great.
The principles and practices that Dr. Neelan Tiruchelvam followed in his public and personal life and the goals he has been striving to achieve through peaceful means make him fit to be described as having had the qualities of a Mahatma. The tributes that were paid by eminent leaders and international organisations worldwide soon after the news of his killing by a LTTE suicide bomber on July 29 also affirm this title to Neelan. He was not a head of state and was not even holding an influential position to have attracted so many tributes which customarily given to such notables.
Unlike Mahatma Gandhi who was killed by the bullet fired by a Hindu fanatic at a prayer meeting, Dr. Neelan Tiruchelvam had to die in the most gruesome manner that no civilised human could consider as just another casualty in the ongoing war. Neelan himself did not think the LTTE would waste a suicide bomber to eliminate him. But alas his end came in the same manner as that of another Gandhi, the Indian Congress Party leader Rajiv Gandhi,
Like Mahatma Gandhi, Neelan Tiruchelvam had no long-term political ambition, he was only interested in finding an acceptable and implementable political solution to Sri Lanka's ethnic problem that would be fair and
just to all the ethni would alay their f date their aspirat nounced long befo that his only intere ber of Parliament v difficult and challe intention was to col career that was intel occupation on con and work on a wid lated to human free velopment.
Neelan obtaine gree (L.L.M. 1970 Laws (S.J.D. 1973) tigious Harvard S. scholastic achieve highly respected pe academic world. He positions in Sri Lanl universities of Har was also a Fulbrig 1971. He was asso man Rights Prog Edward Smith Visit as visiting lecture close links with th Cambridge Univers a one-month Rock Bellagio, Italy at til and had accepted ship at Harvard. H assignment in Hal time.
Some major name as a author, c tor include, Ideol tice - A Socio-Le Ethical Dilemma Asia (1982), Judi cieties (1987), Hu From Socialism to Democracy and H and Civil Disobec Neelan was ku in many countrie expert and human ety activist. His was based on hum values, pluralism sity, Being a sin Cern Was not Or Tamils but also

groups and which irs and accommoons. He had an: his assassination t in being a memas to assist in this ging exercise. His tinue his academic upted with his prestitutional reforms range of fields relom and human de
d the master's de) and doctorate in from the most pres:hool of Law. His ments made him a rson throughout the had held academic ca and at the famous vard and Yale. He ht Fellow in 1969ciated with the Huramme as its first ing Fellow and later r. Neelan had also e Faculty of Law at ity. He had taken up :feller fellowship in he time of his death visiting professor2 was to take up his vard in two weeks
forks carrying his o-author or as a edigy of Popular Jusgal Inquiry (1982), of Development in iary and Plural Sogary in TransitionCapitalism (1991), man Rights (1996) ence (1997).
own to intellectuals as a constitutional ights and civil sociolitical philosophy n rights, democratic ld respect for diverre altruist, his confor the minority other groups who
TAM TIMES 21
did not enjoy equal rights either for political or social reasons. His expertise in constitution drafting was globally recognised. He was invited to evaluate and review the draft the constitution of Kazakhstan. He was cochairman of the International Evaluation Team on the peace structures in South Africa. Neelan also won international fame as a promoter of the role of civil society as a democratising instrument ofgovernance and was invited by many countries to deliver lectures. He had been an international observer in many countries, including Chile, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Hungary, Ethiopia, Bangladesh, South Africa, Nigeria and Nepal. He enhanced his expertise on conflict resolution through shared experience with scholars and practitioners from Northern Ireland and other countries afflicted by internal unrest,
All these achievements seem to have been irrelevant and indeed a disqualification for honour to those who believe in achieving their political goals through the promotion of ethnic hatred and the use of brutal force against anyone considered to be a hindrance to their strategy of achieving a separate Tamil state. To them those who is try to build bridges across the ethnic divide and restore peace in the war-torn are "traitors' to the 'cause.
When the second world war started, Mahatma Gandhi persuaded the Indian Congress which was spearheading the non-violent freedom struggleto suspend all acts of non-cooperation against the British rule and support the British people. He declared, “we do not seek our independence out of Britain's ruin." This was the attitude of Mahatma towards a country that was far away from India and whose government at that time had no intention to grant self-rule. He would have given advice on foreign policy matters had any member of the British government approached him. He had no inhibitions to discuss with them even unofficially and in fact had no enemies although he did not agree with the views and methods used by the rulers or even fellow countrymen like Chandra Subhas Bose, who abandoned Congress and formed the militant Forward Bloc.
Bose had a fiery temperament and advocated violence to overthrow British rule. He and his followers did in fact joinforces with the Japanese and fought against the British, while Gandhi was sincerely sympathetic to them when

Page 22
22 TAMLTIMES
their allied military strength was being challenged in Europe and in the Far East. Gandhi's stand was based on justice and truth without any modicum of hatred colouring his attitude and vision. Neelan Tiruchelvam had the same quality that made him to mix with other political and ethnic groups and discuss freely matters of importance not only to the Tamils but also to other communities and to the country at large without sacrificing his basic principles and aims.
Gandhi during the freedom struggle had many friends among British civilians and politicians. No one dared to accuse him of unfaithful to the aspiration of the people he was leading. Who else only the bigots would think that Neelan by associating with Sinhalese scholars, politicians and human rights activists was unfaithful to the Tamils. Gandhi worked tirelessly to unite the Hindus and Muslims and never identified himself as exclusively a Hindu. On many occasions he claimed to be a Christian, a Muslim, a Buddhist and a Judaist as well.
The greatness of Neelan is also evident not only from his commitment to non-violence, social justice, racial and gender equality, humanism and humanitarianism but also from his own personal life as he chose a Muslim lady to be his lifelong partner. The final rites were performed according to the Hindu practice by his two sons at the General Cemetery, Kanatte on July 31. He was a faithful Hindu to the very end and had practised in his private life too what Mahatma Gandhi had preached several years ago. His respect for other religions while he followed his own was in the true spirit of Hinduism. The fact that two persons of different faiths have lived happily under one roof also illustrates his broad-mindedness.
Neelan never spoke ill of others. He was a humble and a soft-spoken person, dedicated to the noble principles to which he was committed. Neelan never hated any individual or group, although he was aware that the LTTE would one day gun him down for his efforts towards finding a political solution to the ethnic conflict within a united Sri Lanka. He hoped to achieve this by creating the appropriate legal framework for devolution and participatory democracy that would also provide the solid foundation for national reconciliation and achieving lasting peace. Neelan's commitments to hu
man rights, multi-pa pluralism were also apparently went ag goal and their chosen ing its aim.
Despite these fu ences, he wanted t negotiate with the L couraged third party the negotiating proc without the prospect maturely as happe 1995. LTTE” S anoth rival two main politi agreement among t talking with them pursued by Neelan vigorously for a bipa a political solution.
The National Ch. its statement conder nation noted: “The t of Dr. Tiruchelvam, man par excellence tion of those respo close whatever demo able for the genuine problems of the mino only lead to making intractable."
The tribute pa Savithri Gooneseker of the University of C on July 31 at Kanatt of his extraordinary should know to app ness. She Said: “Nee a brilliant and artic whom scholarship w breathed. Despite al his time, he would re. in his library, reflect and then emerge wi tive ideas that woul most of us to absorb a ile scholarship was r represented that gre dition which recogn and ideas have no rel ing unless they can well-being of people Neelan was well and particularly thos ion without studying but from propagand In this category are t think that Neelan net of a powerful agency in prestigious univer in the US! This is r but shameful exhibi It appears that thes want to use rationale

15 AUGUST 1999
rty democracy and well known. These ainst the LTTE's method of achiev
Indamental differhe government to TTE. He also enmediation to get ess move forward of collapsing prened in 1990 and er proposal for the cal parties to reach hemselves before was also actively . He campaigned rtisan approach to
ristian Council in mning the assassireacherous killing who was a statesis a clear indicansible seeking to cratic space availarticulation of the prities. This would the conflict further
id by Professor e, Vice Chancellor olombo to Neelan e revealed another quality that many reciate his greatlan was above all ulate thinker, to 'as the very life he l the demands on ad the many books t on what he read, th a flow of cread be difficult for und articulate. Sterlot for Neelan. He at intellectual traises that thinking evance and meancontribute to the
ahead of our time e who form opinthe relevant facts a and blind faith. hose who seem to eded the influence to get assignments sities like Harvard not just laughable tion of ignorance. e persons do not or look ahead but
like to live behind the times with their prejudices intact.
Neelan's murder as mentioned by "Cat's Eye' in The Island of August 4 is reminiscent of the tragic event that occurred when Greece was invaded by Romans. While the ruthless Roman forces invaded Greece, Archimedes continued to draw his mathematical designs on the ground, seemingly oblivious to the horror that surrounded him. A Roman soldier, came over, looked at the design, could not understand its meaning so he just chopped off Archimedes” head.
Neelan Tiruchelvam's capacity for work would have astonished those who read the tributes that were published in the local and foreign press. He was a lecturer in law at the university in Colombo and was admitted to the Bar in 1968. After his father's death, he was also managing his firm - Tiruchelvam Associates. Besides being a leading member of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Constitutional Reform, he also served in various Consultative Committees on Justice, Finance, Planning and Ethnic Affairs. In all the commissions and committees he served, he had played a key role. As member of the Law Commission, he helped in upgrading and modernising many areas of Sri Lankan Law.
He devoted much of his time in the recent past on constitutional reforms and on the enactment of the Equal Opportunity Law for preventing social and gender discrimination. As a member of the Parliamentary Select Committee on the Legislative and Regulatory Framework relating to Media, he advocated strengthening constitutional protection for free expression and other human rights.
In 1994, he became a member of the International Council of the London-based human rights organisation - Minority Rights Group International. He succeeded Sir John Thomson as chairman of Minority Rights Group's council. In the United Nations working group on minorities, he was instrumental in establishing an annual debate on key minority issues.
The contributions he made in Parliament in recent years went a long way to influence opinion among the Sinhalese to accept power-sharing and devolution for resolving the ethnic conflict. Neelan did not refrain from criticising the government when he felt that there were fundamental mistakes. He

Page 23
15 AUGUST 1999
was highly critical of the lack of governance in the country and violations of human rights. He appealed for greater political responsibility from all parties. His aim was to design institutions and frameworks within which multi-ethnic and plural society could be governed efficiently and equitably,
Neelan also believed in institution building. His work as a director in the International Centre for Ethnic Studies which he helped to create and in the law and Society Trust focused on this aspect too. His contributions towards strengthening public accountability institutions such as the Human Rights Task Force, the Human Rights Commission, the Office of the Ombudsman and the Official Languages Commission have come to light now. At the time of his death, he was involved with others in the human rights community in setting up an Equal Rights Commission.
Equally important was his contributions that went to project an image to the world that the Tamils were not another bunch of extreme nationalists resorting to violence to assert their authority. The international community has already branded such groups who want to replace modern civilised ways of living by their own brand of authoritarianism as fanatics. With the demise of Neelan a void has been created that will be hard to fill. Without the determination and wisdom of Neelan, it is difficult to see how the community could be saved from being in a perpetual state of conflict with the state. When can we produce an expert of Neelanos calibre having the same concern for human rights, social justice, democratic values, collective rights of all groups and their peaceful co-existence? Probably the present thinking is that we do not need such liberal men and women. If this is the case, what kind of society can we expect in the near future. How will an inward looking jingoistic society prosper in the modern world'? Surely, these questions cannot be dismissed as trivial and have no significance for society's political, economic, social and cultural advancement. The wide condemnation of the killing of the highly respected Dr. Neelan Tiruchelvam by the international community should open the minds of those who have pursued the disastrous strategy of achieving their political goal through hatred and violence. O
En L
Secretary, Civil Right
mong Neelan Aိiññāfit nary generosi Where others w Neelan would be would react with sponse would be tive, and never on himself and his fe all the more acut private.
Neelan alway in people and foi dwell on the bad. overlook unsavo son’s past, Neelan tive elements in th would at times ex to him. "Neelan, get....” would be anSW er to Our rem just that quiet smil ality, unfailingly ate, gave a speci contribution to pu It would take tempt to do justic bution to the cau This was except quality, its quanti
mention just som
involved in cons merely in Sri Lan in Kazakhstan). terest in election he participated in the world. He ci human rights ins great gift of invo work, young peo moved a resoluti support of Aung restoration of den for which he se both sides of the F concerned with w Neelan was 2 the Civil Rights as 1982 he was ol CRM's public n Free Elections a which was full to ers were Bishop I singhe, S. Nades:

TAMILTIMES 23
ormity of Neelan's oss is Shocking
Suriya Wickremasinghe : Movement Jt. Secretary, The Nadesan Centre for Human Rights Through Law
Tiruchelvam's rare s was his extraordiy of mind and spirit. ould be indignant, sad. Where another anger, Neelan's repain. Deeply sensie to hold forth about elings, his pain was for being borne in
looked to the good und it distasteful to Where we could not ury things in a perwould seek outposieir present role. This asperate those close how could you forthe refrain - and the onstrances would be e. His gentle personkindly and consideral dimension to his blic life. a whole book to ate to Neelan’s contrise of human rights. ional as regards its ty and its range. To e examples - he was titution-making not ka but elsewhere (eg He had a special inmonitoring in which several countries of eated and nurtured |titutions and had a lving others in their ple in particular. He on in Parliament in San Suu Kyi and the hocracy in Myanmar, ured backing from Iouse. He was deeply "omen's rights. in active member of Vovement. As early he of five speakers at leeting on Fair and the YMCA Forum overflowing. The othakshman Wickremen QC, FrTissa Bala
suriya and Senior Attorney H.L. de Silva. Neelan's last visit to CRM was for a meeting of persons committed to the unconditional abolition of capital punishment.
Just three days later, on 15 June 1999, he wound up a speech in Parliament with an earnest plea against the proposed reimposition of the death penalty. "Sir, I would like to express my strong moral opposition to this measure', he said, and then proceeded to briefly and lucidly enumerate arguments against it. Earlier in the same speech, Neelan gave voice to his anguish at what was his main preoccupation, the terrible consequences of war on ordinary people, and the need "to bring an end to the human suffering, the displacement, the destruction and the senseless loss of lives both of combatants and of civilians'. He went on to Say:
"We cannot glorify death, whether in the battlefield or otherwise. We, On the other hand, must Celebrate life and are fiercely committed to protecting and securing the sanctity of life, which is the most fundamental value without which all other rig-hts and freedoms become meaningless." Throughout the years Neelan's contribution to CRM, and to The Nadesan Centre for Human Rights Through Law of which he was a founder member, was vital and consistent. He would participate in our meetings and discussions, send us his suggestions, respond to queries for information or advice, and readily undertake to speak to others in furtherance of our concerns. He was always, despite a myriad other demands on him, ready to give of his time and attention to discuss a problem. Neelan would, moreover, go out of his way to express his appreciation of an initiative he felt was praiseworthy, thus providing important encouragement to those more
directly responsible.
When I consider how sorely Neelan will be missed by CRM and the Nade
(continued on next page)

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24 TAMILTIMES
Neelan Tuchev A Politica Tribu
Dr. Jayadeva Uyangoda
Dr. Neelan Tiruchelvam, a politician with formidable intellectual power and personal charm, was assassinated on July 29 at a relatively young age of fifty-five. It is a cruel irony in Sri Lanka that many politicians, particularly Sinhalese and Tamil, live with an acute awareness of the fact that they are less likely to die a natural death. Dr. Tiruchelvam was not unaware of the threat to his life; but he did not expect a suicidebomber to be "wasted' on him. On that count, this consummate politician and political strategist proved himself wrong.
The culpability of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in this brutal act of political violence is not in doubt. It is a sad stroke of fate that the life of this noble man of non-violence and peace was snatched away in the most gruesome manner. Neelan may have felt the pain of his death, perhaps, for a flash of a second. But, Sri Lanka is certain to suffer, for years to come, the severe pain of his departure from the political and intellectual world. Neelan was the most active person in Sri Lanka in a range of spheres - constitutional and legal reform, peace, conflict resolution, and democratic institution-building, civil society and legal and social science scholarship. He was the main political link between Sri Lanka's Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim communities; the bond that held together Sri Lanka's human rights community and a key link between Sri Lanka and the international community. He was also the only parliamentarian who could initiate an all party-dialogue for a political consensus to settle the ethnic conflict. In that sense, he had more
(Continued from page 1 l)
san Centre I am dismayed. And then when I think how comparatively small apart of Neelan's life were to these two institutions, the enormity of the loss this shocking and contemptible assassination has caused to the whole human rights community, and to so very much else besides, is delineated in its stark magnitude. O
than the necessary tials to be on the LT The week in whi sassinated also mal anniversary of Sri La The anti-Tamil riot began on July 23 of on July 29. Those v ecuted the decision July 29, 1999 may been aware of this ertheless, it provide to why Neelan was a particular day.
There is another completes the politic which this killing occ was rife in Colombo Bandaranaike admin ning to place before constitutional propos The devolution prop part of the draft cor the core political is: conflict within a sem work. By presentin ment, the Kumaratur was obviously seeki political momentum vals - the United Nat in parliament and thi tlefield. It is no secre vam has been the n politician involved in draft-constitution, sp olution proposals. H ved as the key politic effectively mediate negotiated settlemen flict. And indeed, th transcended narrow politics to such an e he alone, symbolizes possibility, however been, for a national ( flict resolution and p
Therein, indeed, of Neelan, the politi the real meaning of applied to someone irreplaceable". It is void created by the Neelan Tiruchel van cause of his formid

15 AUGUST 1999
, te
minimum creden"TE-hit list, ch Neelan was as:ked the sixteenth nka’s “Black July”. s of 1983, which that year, peaked who made and exto kill Neelan on or may not have coincidence, Nev
S SOe aSWe as ssassinated on that
development that :al context against :urred. Speculation that the Chandrika istration was planparliament its draft als in mid-August. osals, which form 1stitution, address sues of the ethnic i-federalist frameg them in parlianga administration ing to gain a new over two of its riional Party (UNP) LTTE in the batthat Dr. Tiruchelhost active Tamil the framing of the ecifically, its deve was also perceial actor who could a consensus for a tto the ethnic conis quiet man had ethno-nationalist xtent that he, and l in his person the listant it may have OSeSS O CO
ECC ies the uniqueness cian. Therein lies that cliche when fter death: "He is lifficult to fill the assassination of l, not merely beable intellect, his
capacity to strategize political manoeuvres, or his powerful inspiration to colleagues and friends. Neelan is irreplaceable because, to my knowledge, he is the only contemporary Sri Lankan Tamil politician who had the capacity and commitment to re-conceptualize Tamil politics in democratic emancipatory terms within the framework of a pluralist Sri Lanka. Perhaps, most of Neelan's friends were unaware of this. But his enemies knew it. While his enemies in extreme Sinhala nationalism pilloried him in the press, his enemies in extreme Tamil nationalism cut his life short.
Neelan's intellectual and political life was intertwined with the path of post-colonial Sinhala and Tamil nationalisms in Sri Lanka. Although Neelan was six years older to me, we belonged to the same generation of Sri Lankans whose biographies were shaped by the idiosyncrasies of Sri Lanka's post colonial state. I come from a rural Sinhalese-Buddhist family of the socially marginalized and Neelan belonged to an urbane family of Colombo's elite - the contradictions of which are so vividly captured in Shyam Selvadurai's recent novel, Cinnamon Gardens. But, our biographies intersected at the site of Sri Lanka's postcolonial nation-state. I was beneficiary of the Sri Lankan state's social welfarism and a victim of its blindness to aspirations for political emancipation among social margins. Neelan was a beneficiary of the Sri Lankan state's liberalism and a victim of its blindness to emancipatory desires among ethnic minorities. When we met as intellectual colleagues in the late eighties, we had a lot of notes to compare.
I had grown up - away from the politics of radical agrarian authoritarianism and he had transcended the politics of ethno-nationalist exclusivism. We were searching for an intellectual framework within which equality, social justice and ethnic as well as social pluralism could be inscribed as emancipatory impulses in a democratising project, Neelan was the first Tamil politician I met who had developeda conceptual apparatus to critique not only Sinhala nationalism for its majoritarian hegemonism, but also Tamil nationalism for the limits of its emancipatory politics. He believed that the discourse of ethnic victimology, so central to all streams of Tamil nationalism, could not offer an emancipatory future for Sri

Page 25
15 AUGUST 1999
Lanka's Tamil community. Tamil nationalism, as he thought, had to be reinscribed through a new framework of ethnic inclusivism and pluralism. He anticipated Sinhalese nationalism too to find this auto-critical politics of reflection. I am not sure whether Sinhalese and Tamil nationalisms are yet ready for such an excruciatingly painful exercise in critical self-reflection. In that I find some meaning in the rationally inexplicable killing of Neelan.
It is in this context that one has to understand and assess his intellectual and political practice. He maintained a live dialogue with the democratic forces of all ethnic communities and the democratic community abroad, because he was not a nationalist in the Sense of Tamil nationalism with which we are so familiar. He created and nurtured the International Center for Ethnic Studies and the Law and Society Trust primarily to set in motion an intellectual dialogue so that the Sri Lankan intelligentsia, through research, reflection and debate, would re-define the terms of their political debate. He actively took part in the exercises of drafting consti
tutions and laws, that political struc were necessary to and political praç and pluralism ens fundamental reali tion-state. He wan accountable to its That is why he able share of his in resources ofhis le ate and strengther the Human Rights man Rights Comm the Ombudsman a guages Commissi death, he was activ ing legislation fc and non-discrimi forts of Neelam r realisation that in Sinhalese or Tam and limited agenc phrase Neelan's held the view, whi that contemporar whether majorita can only highligh of a community; i litical emancipati
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ecause he believed ures and institutions facilitate the social ices of democracy uring diversity as a y in the modern naed to make the state )wn citizenry. devoted a considerellectual energy and al knowledge to creinstitutions such as Task Force, the Huission, the Office of nd the Official Lanon. At the time of his ely involved in draftr equal opportunity lation. All these ef:flect his intellectual ationalism, whether il, had only a dated a. If I were to paraIolitical thinking, he ch I shared with him, ethno-nationalism, ian or minoritarian, t the felt grievances t cannot provide poon to the community
TAMILTIMES 25
it represents.
In life as in death, Neelan has been described as a “moderate Tamil politician.” Knowing Neelan for a few years, I find this expression most insulting to the foremost democratic political thinker who the Sri Lankan Tamil society has ever produced. In a way, it is a pity that he had neither the time nor leisure to write a book on political and constitutional theory in the way Roberto Unger, his colleague at Harvard did. But, Neelan, the busy lawyer and active politician, knew his Roberto Unger, Benedict Anderson, John Rawls, Amarthya Sen, Norberto Bobbio, Avishai Margalit and to mention an old name, Hannah Arendt well. He also knew his Marx and Foucault. That is precisely why he was not a nationalist, but a citizen of the world. And Sri Lanka's extreme nationalism, whether Sinhalese or Tamil, can hardly tolerate a citizen of the world. In Neelan's tragic death, I find the mirror image of my intellectual friends and myself. O
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Page 26
26 TAMILTIMES
Neelan's Death, A Great
to Tamils and Count
Professor K M de Silva
"The deep pain that is felt at the death of every frienc from the deep feeling that there is in every individualso is inexpressible, peculiar to him alone, and is, therefo,
and irretrievably lost"
On July 15, 1989 two Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) Members of Parliament, including its leader Appapillai Amirthalingam were shot dead by an LTTE assassination squad. M Sivasithamparam, the deputy leader escaped with severe injuries. Neelan Tiruchelvam was expected to be there on that occasion but was either late for the meeting or had decided not to go, and thus narrowly missed an encounter with the LTTE's assassins. Now just over 10 years later the LTTE assassinated him, using a human bomb for that purpose, a technique of eliminating intended victims that they had perfected, since the early 1990s, and the use of which has become their grisly trade mark, locally and regionally.
We in this little island have grown accustomed to violent deaths, including those of close friends. The photographs I saw of the mangled remains of Neelan Tiruchelvam's car are among the saddest memories of my life. He had been a very close friend for over 20 years, a very generous and compassionate human being.
At the time of his assassination Neelan Tiruchelvam was a distinguished public figure, in the prime of his life. He was a respected Member of Parliament. He first entered Parliament in 1982, and was there till the latter half of 1983; thereafter he returned to Parliament in 1989 and remained a MP till the time of his death. The pages of Hansard will show that his speeches were consistently among the most thoughtful delivered in Parliament over that period. He was a director of the International Centre for Ethnic Studies (ICES) since 1982. There were other institutions of which he was either the head or the live wire, such as the Law and Society Trust located close to the Colombo office of the ICES.
On the international scene he was a regular participant at the conferences held in Aspen, Colorado, by a distin
- S
guished group of pub of the western worl member of the Lond Rights Group forma chosen Chairman of tors less than a year a one of the key figur tion of the draft cons current government h introduce toParliame This present trib is not meant to be NeelanTiruchelvam' cian. That will be d date. My concern is some aspects of his c intellectual life of Sr When I first met 20 years ago he was lawyer intent on co practice with the wo searcher at the Marg lombo, specialising ir on society and vice v Harvard had left hir happy about the teac University of Colom College. Even at th Tiruchelvam had h TULF. His father, a later TULF lawyer-p only member of that TULF ever to ho in a Sri Lankan go 1968). Theelder Tiru in 1976 and did not li career in public life from the late 1970s death on 28 July 19 us togetherfor the f work on the Preside on Development Cou were appointed mem a nominee of his part nee of the President. In 1981 we were Ford Foundation spol held in a game park : tres or so from Nair problems of ethnic
 

ly soul arises nething which e, absolutely chopenhauer
lic figures, mainly d; he had been a on based Minority ny years, and was its board of direcgo. Locally he was es in the preparatitution which the as endeavoured to nt since 1995. ute to his memory an assessment of s role as a politione at some later principally with reative role in the i Lanka.
Neelan just over an earnest young imbining his law rk of a senior rea Institute in Cothe impact of law "ersa. His years at m profoundly unhing of law in the bo and at the Law at stage Neelan s links with the Federal Party and olitician, was the party and of the ld Cabinet office vernment (1965chelvam had died ve to see his son's plossom as it did o the time of his 9. What brought rst time was our tial Commission ncils of which we pers in 1979, he as / and I as a nomi
both invitees to a sored conference ome 200 kilomebi to look at the
conflict in the
15 AUGUST 1999
world. This conference eventually provided us with an unexpected opportunity to build a research institution; one of its by-products was a decision taken to establish a research institute for the study of ethnic conflict with funds provided by the Ford Foundation. After much discussion it was decided to look at Sri Lanka as the possible location for such an institute. The Sri Lankans at the conference worked as a team to convince others at the conference that we could build a world class research institute.
Among the preliminaries to the establishment of such an institute was to secure the support of the then government to locate it in the island, a task that was assigned to me, while the legal issues involved including discussions with the Ford Foundation in Delhi, were handled by Neelan with his customary thoroughness. At a meeting held in Trincomalee later that year, the decision to establish the International Centre for Ethnic Studies (ICES) in Sri Lanka was confirmed. Neelan Tiruchelvam was one of those who persuaded me to accept the position of Executive Director of the ICES and Chairman of its Board of Directors and with that began twenty years of close and friendly association. He and I were the two Sri Lankan directors at the foundation of the ICES, the others being from the US, Nigeria and India. The peculiar feature of the ICES is that it has two units, one in Kandy and one in Colombo, a convenient division of labour which accommodated the wishes of the two Sri Lankan directors.
Our work at the ICES, since its establishment in 1982 was conducted against an unpropitious background of a worsening of Sri Lanka’s ethnic conflict - the riots of 1983 among other episodes - the Indian intervention and its unintended and unforeseen consequences and the second JVP insurrection, all of which brought in their wake pressures and tensions that could have torn the institution apart. Dealing as we did with topics and issues which were intrinsically controversial and divisive one could have expected sharp differences of opinion to develop into equally sharp divisions within the management committee that ran the ICES under the general direction of our international Board of Directors. There were, of course differences of opinion stemming from differences of outlook and ap(continued on next page)

Page 27
15 AUGUST 1999
Neelan-AFeminist
Cat's Eye
Assassination too often targets the very besta society has produced, a person who has symbolized humanity at its finest, a person who had a vision of a better society free of all the horrors of racism and religious and ethnic tension. The most notable examples that come to mind are the slayings of Abraham Lincoln, Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King; their lives inspired people all over the world, but the manner of their deaths still reverberates in the conscience of humankind. We kill our best.
In Sri Lanka, where terror and assassinations have occurred so often, the killing of Neelan Tiruchelvam has jolted our conscience more than ever before. For he was much more than a member of parliament and political leader; he was a leader of civil society, an intellectual, a jurist of repute, a champion of human rights and the rights of minorities and above all an indefatigable worker for peace in Sri Lanka. Many of the tributes to him have highlighted his contributions and his great achievements in institution building and in promoting peace and democracy. Cat's Eye pays tribute to Dr. Neelan while recalling aspects of his contribution to gender equity - a point
not noted in the o While many ( Sri Lanka society gender equity, onl come out boldly struggles. Neelan We recall his search programm Centre for Ethnic issues including t on violence again his sympathy for and his backing on these themes; for individual fem ing them to curre and showing inter recall his persister ing the issue of detention and re en’s groups to lobi recall his invitati demics for discus; (on the Irish pea whom was from Coalition for Pea Because of N ment and suppo major programn Governance in S and Religion in Sc nal research and
(Continued from page 26)
proach but all of us took care, not to allow these differences to undermine the institution which we were in the process of building. But all our efforts at restraint would have been to no avail if Neelan had been an abrasive personality.
Neelan Tiruchelvam was an extraordinarily busy person whose work and business took him to all parts of the world. However busy he was he always had time for his colleagues in the ICES and in the discussion of their problems. Neelan's untimely death is a grievous loss to me, personally, and to our institution.
Throughout the two decades of my association with him I found him a colleague whose judgement could be trusted, and an unfailing source ofencouragement during periods of trouble,
national, institu Nationally, the pl gotiated terminat in the north and e more difficult tha is no one in the Sri Lanka, eitheı or abroad, with t of qualities - phy age, strong conv soft tones, perso) high order and a his dealings - th convincing voi search for nation
At the time without a doubt, public figure of Lanka's Tamil c not something th the Tamil comm try; the whole co his assassination

TAMILTIMES 27
her tributes. istinguished men in
theoretically accept 7 a few are active and to support women's was one of the few. support in all the re's at the International Studies on women's heir current research st women. We recall feminist legal theory or scholars working we recall his support inist scholars, directnt books and articles est in their work. We .cc in parliament raisAung San Suu Kyiôs minding local womby for her release. We
on to two Irish aca
sions and public talks ce process), one of the Irish Women's
CC, Neelan's encouraget, the ICES has run hes on Women and (outh Asia., Women uth Asia, doing semivork in this area. The
ional and personal. ocess of peaceful neion of the current war ast will become even they are now. There Tamil community in living in the island, he same combination sical and moral courictions expressed in al integrity of a very ense of fairness in all at made him such a e in the despairing
l reconciliation. )f his death he was, he most distinguished mis generation in Sri mmunity. His loss is at can be confined to nity-the whole counntry is diminished by O
ICES along with the Law and Society Trust have been major arenas where feminist scholars have gathered to discuss their work. Recently, the Law and Society Trust put forward an initiative for an Equal opportunity Commission which included gender equity as one of its main tenets. Not only have special research projects on gender been incorporated in the work of his institutions but he insisted that all major programmes at these institutions contain a gender component, Among his closest friends were women who are leading feminists.
When his death was announced, tributes came pouring in from all over the world and were included in all the major feminist networks. He always listened to women's voices and incorporated many of their ideas in his work. He was particularly interested in the conceptual aspects of feminist theory and its contribution to scholarship in various fields. He was an avid reader of the Cats Eye and made many references to its analysis in public. Once when he was left out of a woman's conference that interested him, he asked pointedly, "Why have I not been invited? I am also a feminist'.
Well Neelan, we are proud and honoured to have counted you as one of us. We will be inspired by your work and when peace comes to this land we will help build some lasting monument in your name.
To many people in Sri Lanka, Neelan was known as only a politician, portrayed negatively by interested parties in the petty politics that govern Sri Lankan life. But he was much much more than a politician. Neelan loved ideas, and he was an avid reader. People marvelled at the fact that despite his extraordinary commitments in terms of time, he had read the latest newspapers, journals, the internet and books not only in the law but also other disciplines. He even had time for fiction. Those who work with him recall fondly that he had ten ideas a day and that the institutions he built could only implement three or four. His boundless energy and his constant attention to the voices of young people made him an inspiration to many. He pushed their energies to the edge and made all of them feel that they could reform the world, all that was needed was will power and hard work. These young people were not only Sri Lankans of
(continued on next page)

Page 28
28 TAMILTIMES
(Continued from page 27) all ethnic communities but from all over the world. Their outpourings of griefwere so clearly evident for those who manned the phones and e-mails at his respective institutions but also at the Tiruchelvam household.
Neelan was the kindest of men. He would never say no and he would go to extreme lengths to help family, friends and even strangers. His limitless generosity combined with that of his wife, gave sustenance to scholars, activists and politicians.
Despite his love of other disciplines, the law was his first love. He was a brilliant lawyer and it is significant that his last public speech was in memorium for another lawyer before the community of those interested in the law. His love of constitutional ideas was not a petty partisan exercise. He studied Constitutions as living embodiments of the moral firma-ments of a society. He felt deeply about these issues and he wanted to structure a noble and just society. His interest in this subject had made him research far and wide and he was killed just weeks before he left Sri Lanka to teach law and local government at Harvard University, his alma mater. The Boston Globe carried the reactions of griefstricken colleagues and friends at Harvard, including the Dean of the Law School. His death reminds us of Regi Siriwardene’s poem the Roman Soldier. While the ruthless Roman forces invaded Greece, Archimedes continued to draw his mathematical designs on the ground, seemingly oblivious to the horror that surrounded him. A Roman soldier, came over, looked at the design, could not understand its meaning so he just chopped off Archimedes” head..
And what of the perpetrators? When does impunity end? CATS EYE has always been and continues to be for a negotiated settlement to
Anot ha
eelan certain wanted his d ethnic tensic the ethnic divide
Yet another vic sanity has been sile of nihilism. Nee. short in height, bu and tall in the mid ing polity and a d ety, is no more. Hi ning blow to the p as well as to the s forces in Sri Lanka storing peace with tice in the face of ance and the cult c
That Neelan killed by a suicic make it difficult e to deflect responsi Of course, as to whi the LTTE, given th it used in the assas: Tiruchelvam, wou ously is another m On the other ha have been all that o been, for instance, an assassin. Given lence which has ei ety in a vice-like g violence are many tives. But where th identified as the p is meaningless to b
the ethnic conflict
third party mediatic a settlement shoul punity for human and war crimes by
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EMERGENCVTRAVE
 

15 AUGUST 1999
her Voice of ReaSOn S been Silenced
Kethesh Loganathan
y would not have :ath to exacerbate ns, further widen
ice of reason and nced by the forces an Tiruchelvam, t standing straight st of a fast decayisintegrating socis demise is a stuneace constituency :cular, democratic committed to reequality and jusjingoism, intolerf violence. Tiruchelvam was le bomber would ven for the LTTE blility from itself. ether a denial from e modus operandi sination of Neelan uld be taken seriatter. nd, this would not bvious had Neelan gunned down by the spiralling viombraced our socirip, the sources of . So are the moe LTTE has been erpetrator, then it e looking for mo
with or without n. However, such | not contain imrights violations tither side. O
tives. It really does not matter. Suffice it to say the LTTE will eliminate anything and anyone who stands in the way of its perceived "manifest destiny' as the sole repository and representative of the Tamil nation and statehood.
Neelan Tiruchelvam who sought to advance the project of constructing a multi-national Sri Lanka based on co-existence and a just peace therefore, in the eyes of the 'sole' beholder, was a “traitor' and a "collaborator'. This seemingly simple logic is what drives the LTTE.
So, should the LTTE be condemned or not? The mainstream Tamil media, while condemning the heinous act, maintained its habitual stoic silence in not naming the "Name'. There were however, some exceptions. The English and the Sinhala media, on the other hand, have not only condemned the LTTE, but have gone further and also condemned the Tamil people for failing to do so. This has also become the "talking point' amongst the Colombobased (and Kandy-based) intelligentSla,
It must be said at the outset that silence in the face of LTTE terror is not acquiescence. Neither is silence in the face of 'state terror'. The Tamil and the Sinhala peoples have experienced both forms of terror and have, often, borne it with a deafening sound of silence. But, silence in such situations is often a manifestation of helplessness, hopelessness and collective fatigue - not one of consent or approval.
L
))))-SRI LANKA
SOUTH INDIA

Page 29
15 AUGUST 1999
To posit the case that the Tamil people have, by their silence and failure to turn up en masse at Neelan's funeral, condoned the assassination of Neelan Tiruchelvam, is untenable. It is as untenable as blaming the Sinhala people for not having protected their Tamil brethren from the state-sponsored July 83 pogrom or for not rising against the JVP terror that was unleashed in 1988-89 and which required a sustained campaign of counter-terror to quell it. In any case what is the mode of dissent from the Tamil people that would be acceptable to those who demand it? While Tamil political parties could issue statements or intellectuals could write articles for the print media or appear on "talk shows' in the broadcast media, how do the Tamil people express dissent against a dictatorial regime like that of the LTTE?
It also needs to be noted, in the specific case of Neelan's assassination, that given the security blanket in Colombo city, a typical Tamil in Colombo, irrespective of whether he or she is a resident or displaced person, would have thought it over ten times before ultimately deciding to stay at home - or, go to a temple nearby. As a matter of fact, the Ramakrishna Mission Hall at Wellawatte was packed to capacity, at the time of Neelan's funeral, with a predominantly Tamil audience to hear a discourse on a system of healing of ailments arising from stress, anxiety and psychological trauma. This then is the prevailing tragic reality.
But, what clearly cannot be accepted and should be challenged and confronted politically, ideologically and morally is any attempt at justifying and condoning such heinous
crimes against hu and opinion-maki the ethnic divide. should not be he moral bankruptcy Another aspec ognized as a realit not have a popular hehad nopretensi tician; nor woulc being tagged with list. The vast ma people could not LTTE would sent to assassinate som ther a "political' of Amirthalingam ary like Pathman functionary of a 'S mould of Alfred head of a despise tary like "Razeek In fact, it was a messages and con ing from world p Bill Clinton and pouring in that, community begar son Neelan was, 1 the LTTE felt thi ternational statur the enormity of th the LTTE in ass must also be conc does enjoy signif the Tamil people largely from the ible and an effecti within the Tamil the LTTE enjoys reaction to the fi Governments, in one, to resolve th a manner that is and, most import Hence, what 1
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lanity by the elite son both sides of The broad masses d hostage to the of their elite. that should be recis that Neelan did mass base. In fact, nsofbeing a polihe have enjoyed he label of a popuority of the Tamil nderstand why the a suicide bomber eone who was neigiant in the mould and a revolutionabha, nor a Tamil inhala' party in the Duraiappah or the Tamil para-mili
fter the condolence demnations, comrsonalities such as Kofi Annan started perhaps, the Tamil to realise the perhe extent to which "eatened by his in2 and standing and le blunder made by assinating him. It eded that the LTTE icant support from , although it stems absence of a credve alternative from olity. What support is also an emotive ilure of successive luding the present e ethnic question in ust and equitable - antly, peaceful.
he Tamil people re
TAM TIMES 29
ally expect from the LTTE is to secure for them their identity, security and socio-economic progress by negotiating a just, honourable and a durable setttlement. What the vast majority of the Tamil people do not want is for the LTTE to engage in an
endless bloody war that shows no
signs of abating and with an entire generation (and future generations) being condemned to deprivation, destruction and death.
Similarly, what the ruling PA government, the UNP 'alternate' government, the emerging “third force”, the JVP, and the Sinhala extremist NMAT/SVV should recognise is that they simply cannot continue to carry out their adventurist, partisan politics in the name of the Sinhala people. Vast sections of the Sinhala people are clearly for peace (as a recent opinion poll revealed) and may not be averse to even supporting substantial autonomy for the North-East provided, of course, such a settlement guarantees permanent peace and the unity of the country. Ultimately, attributing blame and advocating retribution is not the solution to the bloody war and the ethnic strife that has drenched both sides of the ethnic divide with blood. By the same token, the perpetrators will have to come to terms with peace or go the way of their victims. Neelancertainly would not have wanted his death to exacerbate ethnic tensions, further widen the ethnic divide or intensify internecine conflicts.
May Neelan Tiruchelvam attain the peace that he so desperately wanted others to enjoy. May his soul merge with divinity and bless this troubled and blood-soaked land of OS. O
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All other Countries: £20,00/US$35,00
Pos Code............Tel. No...................................
Deleteing whichever is inapplicable
(BLOCK CAPITALSPLEASE)

Page 30
30 TAM TIMES
CLASSIFIED ADS
First 20 words to each Word 60p charge for Box No. £3. (Wat 17 1/2% extra). Prepayment essenta
The Advertisement Manager, Tamil Times Ltd, PO Box 121, Sutton, Surrey SM13TD hone: 0181-644 0972 FAX: 0181-241 4557
MATRMONIAL
Jaffna Hindu brother seeks educated groom for pretty sister, 32, 53" Dental Surgeon working in Sri Lanka. Send horoscope, details. M 1122 c/o Tamil Times.
Jaffna Hindu uncle seeks partner appreciative of traditional values for nephew, 32, 5'8", British citizen, house owner, professionally qualified in financial management and in active practice. Send horoscope, details. M 1125 c/o Tamil Times. ఖళ్ల
Jaffna Hindu uncle seeks partner for extremely pretty niece, British citizen, bank employee, 27, slim, fair with young son by previous marriage now dissolved. Send horoscope, photograph (returnable), details. M 1126 C/O Tamil Times.
Jaffna uncle seeks professional bride in UK for nephew, 30, M.Sc. (Computer Engineering) working as software engineer in UK, Mars eighth house. Reply with horoscope, details. IM 11:27, C/o Tamil
TimeS.
UK Doctor seeks groom for pretty niece, 28, in employment in Colombo. Willing to migrate. Send horoscope, details. M 1128 C/o Tamil mother-in-law of Shymal irnes. Yoganathan, Shobana Rav
OBITUARIES
Dr Chelliah Mylvaganam, retired Consultant Surgeon of Sri Lanka, Zambia and the West Indies, beloved husband
OBTU
Mrs. Rohini Wijeyadever dram, beloved wife of th late Mr. Chelvadurai Duk Wijeyadevendram; daught of the late Mr. S. Thill iampallam and Mr. Annammah Thillaiampalau (Boston); loving mother Surendran (UK), Subathr Yoganathan (Boston), D Ravindran (New Jersey Vasundra Pathmarajah, Ra Chandran, and Yasodi Ravindran (all of California
Jaffna brother seeks pretty Pathmarajah, Bhavani Harich
educated bride for London Computer graduate brother, 37, settled and employed as system Engineer in UK. Send horoscope and details with photograph. M 1129 c/o Tamil
irreS.
Two Houses in Jaffna For Sale
Two houses (5 and 4 bedrooms) in excellent Condition in Chundikuli, for sale with vacant possession.
Telephone (+613) 9801 9764 (Melbourne, Australia)
Ravindran, precious grandm Rajiv, Janaki (Boston), Laks Kavitha, Meera, Anjana, An Vickram (California); dear sis ham, Manonmani Vyravanade mathy Balasingham, Srikanth, thimany Chanmugam and Sn niece of Mr. S.R. Senthinatha Senthinathan, passed away ( fornia, USA.
The members of her fan friends who attended the fun messages of sympathy anda od of bereaVement. - W. Suren Two Mile Ash, Milton Keynes, 569 567/T. Sripathy, 31 Alba, O1890 Tel: 781 729 0968/ VV
AV, K9, Lancaster CA 93536
 
 

of Indra; the loving father of Dhushyanthy (Sri Lanka), Kaushalya (UK), Ajantha (Sri Lanka) and Shobhana (USA); father-in-law of Kumar Boralessa (Sri Lanka), Peter Jeyaraj (UK), Charmaine (Sri Lanka) and Dr Ravindran (USA), most beloved and precious grandfather of Shamilka and Dhinuka (Sri Lanka), Pravin and Pramila (UK), Shalindra and Amrit (Sri Lanka) and Lakshmi and Raman (USA) passed away peacefully on 29th July 1999 at 30/16 Longden Place, Colombo 7, Sri Lanka and was cremated on Saturday, 31 July 1999 at the General Cemetery, Kanate, Where he was laid to rest, The members of his family thank all relatives and friends who paid their respects who attended the funeral, sent messages of sympathy and tributes and assisted them in several ways during the period of grief and sorrow. Contact Tel. 587339 & 595201 (Sri Lanka), 0181 642 O870 (UK), 732 506 9036 (USA)
JARY
a, Surendran, Subbiah ndran, Dr. Canagaratnam andran and Satkunananda other of Amrit, Vinod (UK), mi, Raman (New Jersey), litha, Prasanna, Arun and ter of Pavani Manickasingn, Sivaramalingam, Kanthian, Sripathy, Sritharan, Sengananathan (all of Boston); n and sister-in-law of Sivam on 4th August 1999 in Cali
ly thank all relatives and ral, sent floral tributes and Sisted them during the peridranathan, 8 The Approach, BuCKS MK88BJ. Tel 01908 mont Road, Winchester MA Harichandran, 2346 West Tel: 661 Z220263.
5 AUGUST 1999
IN MEMORAM
Mr Mayilvaganam Velummayilum J. P., U.M., Attorneyat-law and former Chairman, Urban Council, Point Pedro, Sri Lanka passed away on 31.8.89 and the tenth anniversary of his demise falls on 3.8.99.
Sadly missed and fondly remembered by his loving wife, children Thayanandarajah (UK), Nithianandarajah (New Zealand), Mayilvaganarajah (UK), Chitra (Colombo), Anandarajah, Krishnarajah and Jayanthi (all of Madras); grandsons Cameron, Ewan and Atharson; Son-in-law Kamaleswaran (Colombo), daughter-in-law Sumitra (UK) Devi (New Zealand)) relatives, friends and a host of grateful constituents - "Hillcroft, 14
Howards Wood Drive, Gerrards Cross, Bucks SL97HN.
In loving memory of Mr Apputhurai Gunaratnam of Point Pedro, Sri Lanka formerly Divisional Superintendent of Post Offices, Sri Lanka on the ninth anniversary of his passing away on 28.8.90.
Sadly missed and fondly remembered by his loving wife Rani; children Thirukumaran (Australia), Vasuki (Sri Lanka), Devaki (Australia), Sutharsan (UK) Saratha Devi (Australia); continued on page 31

Page 31
15 AUGUST 1999
continued from page 30 Vasanthi;
grandchildren
Ashvini, Yathurshini, Prushoth,
sons-in-law Ravindran, Radhakrishnan, and Sashikanth; daughter-in-law
IN MEMORAM
Mr Selvarajah Kiritharan, Engineer, London; also of "Notary Walawu, Thunnalai North, Karaveddy, Sri Lanka passed away suddenly on 22nd August 1996 and the Third anniversary of his passing away falls on 22nd August 1999. “Though Times, Passed, Kiri, Your memories of love, should bear Your Affections, would ever Be Written in our hearts'
Affectionately remembered by his loving parents, Mr Naganather Selvarajah, Mrs Kamalakumari
Teli O181 422 4627.
Mayurikka and Mayuran. - 67 B, St Anns Road, London N15 6NU Tel 018 1 8025601.
Selvarajah of London; loving brother and family Mr Selvarajah Muraleetharan and Dr. (Mrs.) Sukaniya of 3 Clarendon Road, Melbourne, Australia, loving sisters and family Mrs Subathini Ramesh and K. Ramesh of University, Thanjavur, Mrs Shanthini Shanmuganathan and S. Shanmuganathan of 1238 Greenford Road, Greenford, Middlesex, UK, loving sister Miss Sharmini, Law Faculty, Colombo, loving grandmother, uncles, aunties, nephews, nieces and other relatives and friends - 28 Bridgewater Road, Alperton, Wembley, Middx HAO 1AJ.
Mr Edward Somakander Pomniah (Soma) - An Appreciation
Mr Edward Somakander Ponnjah affectionately known as Soma among his relatives and friends passed away in UK an year ago, after a long and fruitful life of four score and six years. He spent his early years in Colombo and was educated at St Joseph's College, where he excelled in Science and Mathematics. He won a gold medal for having ranked first in the island at the Junior Cambridge Examination held in those times. He graduated in Science from the University of London and began to teach in Holy Trinity College, Nuwara Eliya, Later he joined the staff of Jaffna Central College, where he showed his prowess as
an excellent mathe, couple of years as á Labour Departmen from where he re Commissioner of L Vice in the Labour mostly in the hill co, of Badulla and Hatt Industrial Relations after by leading tı Thondaman and 1 was very fair and ment of disputes, s ular With Western p Harvey during his
During his retiren he served as Regi Academy, affiliatec Jafna.
He was a person ity, a librophiliaca possessed a smal rare books ranging ophy and was ac bridge. He had a relatives Who lov much devoted to band and a caring Of his best to Oth which Providence These nostalgic th a verse which the speaks, Don't grieve for
an in God's rea
 
 

TAMILTIMES 31
FORTHCOMING EVENTS Sep 1 Karthigai. Sep 2 Shri Krishna Jayanthi. Sep 3 Feast of St Gregory the Great. Sep 4 South London Tamil Welfare Group (SLTWG) Women's Front meets. Tel: O181542 3285. Sep 5 Eekathasi. Sep 7 Pirathosam. Sep 8 Feast of the Birthday of Blessed Virgin Mary. Sep 9 Amavasai. Sep 11 SLTWG drop in. Tel: 0181 542 3285. Sep 13 Vinayagar Sathurthi. Sep 14 Feast of the Triumph of the Cross. Sep 15 Sashti; Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. Sep 17 Feast of St Robert Bellarmine. Sep 18 Puradathy Sani (1). Sep 19 Feast of St Januariusl 6 p.m. Skanda Varodaya College O.S.A. presents Melisai Malai' & Dinner at Waltharn Forest Theatre, Lloyd Park, Winns Terrace, Walthamstow, London E17. Tel: 018 1 814 2365/651 6729/07322407376 Sep 21 Eekathasi; Feast of St
Mathew.
Sep 22 Pirathosam. Sep 24 Full moon. Sep 25 Puradathy Sani (2); S.L.T.W.G. Drop in. Tel: 0181 542 3285. Sep 27 Feast of St Vincent de Paul.
Sep 28 Feast of St Wenceslaus. Sep 29 Karthigai. Sep 30 Feast of St Jerome. At Bhawan Centre, 4A Castletown Road, London
W14 9HQ. Te: O171 381 308.6/4608. Sep 2 (for one Week)
Exhibition of Bengali Art in cooperation with Bromley-byBow Centre. All Welcome. Sep 3 7.30pm Shri Krishna Jayanthi. Bhajans, puja and prasad. All Welcome. Sep 13 Ganesh Chaturthi. Bhajans, puja and prasad. All WelCOne.
Sep 17 Onam Festival. Malayalees of the UK. present Onam Evening. Tel: Kerala Bha Van Tel 0181688 6216. Sep 18 7. 15 p.m Hindustani Vocal by Nawab Siraj Ud Dhawla.
matics teacher. After a a teacher, he joined the as a Labour Officer, tired as an Assistant abour. During the serDepartment, he served Intry plantation districts on. He was an expert in and Soma was sought ade Unionists like Mr te PeriSunderam. He 9quitable in the settlerikes and became popanters such as late Mr eriod of office. ent from public service, rar Curn teacher at the to St John's College,
pfgreattalent and abid VOracious reader. He library of very selective from science to philospt in playing contract de circle of friends and i him deeply. He was is family, a loving husather, He loved to give s and to enjoy his life rovided in full measure. ughts prompt within me beloved departed Soul
e, for now I am free, n that's made for nine
Be not burdened with sorrows or tears, I have found eternal peace and have no fears My life has been fuli, and 1 savoured much, Good times, good friends, and Loved ones cherished. And now tho’’ unseen, with you I’m in Eternal Touch.
W. T. Ratnalingam (S.L.A.S.)
Retired Director, Ministry of Textiles, Sri Lanka.
Sadly missed and fondly remembered by his wife Nellita (Bubby) and loved ones. - 79 Sydney Road, Sutton, Surrey SM12O.J. Tel 0181 643 8087
Tear Drops 1999
The Medical Institute of Tamils presents its fourth Tear Drops programme at 6 p.m. on 30th October 1999 at Thurrock Civic Hall, Blackshots Lane, Grays, Essex.
The aim of this programme is to obtain funds to be distributed among the needy victims of War, especially Children. It is proposed to donate half of the proceeds to the Annai llam project, a charity based in Kilinochchi to benefit the war victims of Vanni. The rest of the proceeds will go to fund jointly with SCOT, an orphanage in Trincomale. Young artistes are invited to participate in the programme of music, drama and thought provoking speeches.
The Guest Speaker would be Sister Continued on page 32

Page 32
32 TAMILTIMES
Continued from page 31 Christobelle, Director of the Annal llam Project.
Those interested in taking part in the programme are kindly requested to contact any one of the following.
Dr Kukathasan Tel: 01277 632749 Dr Poologanathan Tel: 01708 443433 The programme is supported by Western Jewellers, Tooting.
Prof Vithiananthan Remembered
The tenth death anniversary of the late Professor Suppiramaniam Vithiananthan, Tamil scholar, community leader and first Vice Chancellor of the University of Jaffna was observed at a public meeting held at the Scarborough Town Hall in Canada on 15th May 1999. Many scholars, past students, admirers of the professor and grateful members of the public filled the hall to CapaCity,
The function commenced with an exhibition of the life and achievements of the late professor. Prof. K. Theivendirarajah, the Chairman of the organising committee of the function welcomed the gathering and Mr Sami Appathurai chaired the meeting. Kavignar Kandavanam spoke on the great service rendered by the professor to the community and posterity and launched the book titled "Vithianantha Sudar". A well documented video presentation highlighting some of the achievements and memories of the late professor brought flashback memories of the World Tamil Conference held in Jaffna and several other events that took place in various parts of Sri Lanka before and after his demise, Several scholars and public men from various parts of the world contributed to this "Wonderful memory lane'.
Mrs Selvan Sridas thanked all those Who had contributed generously towards the campaign to donate books to the Jaffna University library in memory of the late professor. Over 750 books were donated in this campaign.
Earlier on 8th May, on the 75th birth anniversary of Prof Withiananthan a speech contest was held in three divisions, in which the competitors delivered speeches highlighting his valuable Contributions
and those winning Were selected. Th places Were prese the others Mvere ay төөiting.
Mr S. Kanagaratn lytical outlook on the the revival of the Cu, tion of the Tamils. cluded with a vote Nanby Vithianantha
Dr Ravi S. Heads Urolo
Dr Ravi Sockanatha, Urinary Physician a Hospitals NHS Tru Primary care Phy responsibility for Mec elected Chairman of of the Association of The main airm of the the high standard of c primary and seconda NHS by education, te formance monitoring
Parosha C Quest for H
The evidence is hear are appalling - anc brought to book. The in former Yugoslavia but the search for jus UK born, London-ba, Chandran has just r nonth stint With the
for the former Yugo Where she has beel
 
 
 
 

the first three places se Winning the first fed gold medals and arded plaques at this
m presented an analate professor's role in ure and higher educaThe proceedings conof thanks by Mr Arul
.
pckanathan gy Committee
S. n, a specialist Genitothe Leeds Teaching st and a part time sician with special lical Urology has been the Ethics Connittee Shared Care Urology, society is to enhance linical practice in both try care urology in the aching, audit and per
handran's uman Rights
breaking, the crimes
the guilty must be atrocities committed tre well documented, ice is just beginning. 2d barrister Parosha turned from a threenternational Tribunal lavia in the Hague helping to examine
15 AUGUST 1999
evidence collected by United Nations investigators working in Bosnia. She had to study horrific details of mass graves, the systematic killing of children, rape and torture.
"What is so shocking is the extent of the brutality that human beings can commit against each other. The type of crimes are really acts you cannot imagine people are capable of it really makes you reflect on life and how lucky you can be just by virtue of where you were born' she states. Despite the horrors contained in the statements and photographs, Parosha does not flinch from the challenge and relishes the huge significance of the work she and a team of legal eagles from around the world, have been doing.
"The United Nations War Crinnes Tribunal is the first international Criminal Court since Nuremberg. It is setting an example to the world that the appalling violations of people's human rights and freedoms will not go unpunished" she asserts.
In just a few short years, Parosha, whose parents Raj and Qudsia Chandran are GPs in Nottingham, has become one of Britain's leading experts on human rights law. So much so, she has been Commissioned to write a book on the Human Rights Act 1998, designed to be a practical guide for lawyers and judges. Keep it up, Parosha and make the world a safer place to live in.
Vedanta Teacher Visits London
We in the west constantly receive news via the media regarding suicide bombings, nail bombings and kidnappings. If each and every one of us understood the Vision of Vedanta the Science of Life unfolded by ancient Rishis and detailed by innumerable great thinkers, we can have a peaceful life. This is the message propagated by a Sathu from Tamil Nadu, who was in London recently, Swami Tatwananda, a fluent Tamil speaker draws inspiration from great masters like Swami Chinmayananda and Swami Dayananda Saraswathi. He has been engaged in Vedanta for the past 22 years all over the world.
Swani conducted a series of lectures in UK at the Croydon Tamil Community Centre. In his lectures, Swamiji explained
continued on page 33

Page 33
SAUGUST 1999
continued from page 32 the values enunciated in the Sacred lore that brings about a healthy individual. He lives in an Ashram in Madural, Tamil Nadu, managed by a registered Trust - Vedanta Foundation. Further details may be Obtained from Madural 539845/UK 44 18i 689 7503/ Lyon (France) 33 478 082342.
Wimal Sockanathan.
Inthuja's Bharatha Natya
Arangetram
inthuja daughter of Mr and Mrs Ganeshararaj of Kalubowila, Dehiela and pupil of Guru Nalayini Rajadurai of Thirumalai Kalamantram, Bambalapitiya had her Bharatha Natya Arangetram on Sunday, 11th July 1999 at the Ramakrishna Mission Hall, Wella watte before an appreciative audience.
The Chief Guest was Mr Sundaram Divakalala, Secretary, Ministry of
Vazhuvoor Style Bharatha Natya Classes
by Mrs. Nandini Suthahar, daughter and pupil of well known teacher, Kalabooshanam Mrs. Thiripurasun-dari Yoganantham. For particulars please contact: Kalaimanram, 139 Lynton Road, Rayners Lane, Harrow, Middx A29NH. Te: O1814227O31.
Education, Cultural De North East Province Honour Was Prof S Faculty of Educat Colombo. The Speci Fr. Maria Xavier, Mrs and Mr. R. Sivagurun,
The first half of the traditional items of Jatheeswaram, Sabiħ Thanjasee Raga and, interval Inthuja did a nance of two Keerth and Pakeswary ar Thilana and Manga, was well received by
Secombe The Tamil Dramr
The Secombe Theatre hosting a Tamil Dram three plays by the T Society (TPAS) September 1999 at second time that an E senting a Tamil Dral was When Paul F Hounslow presented Sате group.
TPAS will stage thre Vaarpugal, Peyarv Kuru Vun Seeda Vaarpugal is an ad most popular plays originally staged in J: aCClaimed the mOSť til of the time. It wa stag Sri Lanka and was th recorded, televised a times in Sri Lanka. tion of the play, dire and is being staged UK. Peyarvur depic Jaffna in 1995. P. Seedarkalum is a d lection of Short st famous ltalian pries and enacted by 32 Tamil SChool.
TPAS is a leading London and has pe times in several part
 
 
 

TAMILTIMES33
velopment & Sports, and the Guest of Chandrasegaram, on, University of
Guests were Rev. R. Sivagurunathan than. rogramme were the Mallari, Alariippu, an and a varnan in lathị Thala. After the scintillating perforanams in Mohanam d Concluded with am. Inthuja's debut he audience.
atre Presents a Festival
in Sutton, UK will be a Festival presenting amil Performing Arts
on Sunday 18th 6.30pm. This is the nglish Theatre is prena Festival, the first Robson Theatre in a performance by the
e plays viz.: Kannaadi r and Paramantha "kalum. Kanaadi Iption of one of the of this century, was ffna in 1978 and was ought-provoking play ed in several parts of e first play ever to be nd broadcast several his is a new producited by Mr. Balendra Dr the first time in the is the exodus from ranantha Kuru Vun amatisation of a Colries written by the
Veera Ma Munivar children of the Brent
amil theatre group in formed around 2000 of the world. Despite
being an amateur group, it has suceeded in maintaining their momentum in this sector of the entertainment field for many years.
Mrs Rohini
Wijeyadevendram — Eulogy
Rohini Wijeyadevendram, oldest of ten children, was born in Manipay, Sri Lanka in 1925. She had her preliminary education at Chundikuli Girls' College and subsequently at Ramanathan College, Jaffna. Her formative years were spent at Thirunelvely North, Jaffna.
At age 20, she married Duke Wijeyadevendram, who retired as Deputy Director of Small industries, Colombo, in 1975. Her father's premature death prompted her to take the added responsibility for caring for her siblings as a foster parent at age 22. Driven by her deep devotion and endless dedication to her family, she succeeded in guiding their lives and in securing suitable spouses for them. She mothered Six children and life's roulette wheel dealt her an early hand of widowhood in 1980. Her persistence and perseverance in her children's matrimonial affairs ensured success in establishing their lives. They are well settled in the US. She established her home in Boston with her youngest daughter Yaso in 1982. During the past two decades she was in Constant Communication With all Of her kith and kin around the world and offered sincere advice for their well being, when it was required. Being aware of the matrimonial predicament of first generation immigrants of Sri Lanka, she selflessly strove to promote marriages within her community. She was gifted with a remarkable memory for names and this talent aided her immensely in her pursuits.
She was afflicted with an incurable malignant metastatic disease in early 1998. Undaunted She continued the fullness of life travelling extensively to meet her family and friends and utilised her skills in bringing people together. She exhibited extreme tolerance for pain and silently endured her physical and mental distress until her denise.
She lead a humble and simple life and She will be remembered for her labour of love, compassionate ways and constant Concern for the welfare for the near and dear.
May her soul hasten towards union with the Lord.
Positions Vacant
Junior/Semi Senior Required by a busy liford firm with interesting client base. CV in own handwriting to: Vinny Vignes, Chartered Certified Accountants, 93 St. Andrews Road, Ilford Essex
Gf 3PE.

Page 34
34 TAMILTIMES
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Recital of new and old film, and other songs. This will be directed by Mr. Sarangan Sri Ranganathan, who had staged excellent recitals with famous Indian and Sri Lankan artistes. He was honoured by the Sri Lankan government with the title of Vaathya Visarath'. For this night he will be playing the keyboards and will be accompanied by his band, consisting of a guitarist and drummer. The singers for this event will be:
Kana Kuyil Sripathy Nadeen Gregory Kana Kuyil Yogakiri Lavanya Thilakam Krishna Thavam Inthu Pathmabaskaran M. Sathiamoorthy Sinthu Pathmabaskaran Date: 19th September 1999. Time: 6.00pm Venue: Waltham Forest Theatre, Lloyds Park, Winns Terrace, London E17 Donations: Family (2 Adults, 2 Children) £20.00 Adults: £10,00 Children. Under Twelve: E5.00 (All Charges Inclusive of Dinner) Dr. V. Yogendran S. Nimalananda R. Vimalendran
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738O8 LONDONW6 ORR
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