By R. Sampanthan –
R Sampanthan MP
Shri Narendra Modi,
Prime Minister,
Prime Minister’s office,
New Delhi,
Dear Prime Minister
I write to you as the leader of the Tamil National Alliance, the political formation in Sri Lanka democratically elected at different levels of government, to substantially represent the Tamil people particularly of the North East in Sri Lanka.
We extend to you on behalf of the Tamil People is Sri Lanka our warmest congratulations on your resounding victory at the recently concluded elections to the Loke Sbha and on your appointment to the high office of the Prime Minister of Bharat – India. We extend to you and to your government our very sincere best wishes for the successful discharge if your onerous responsibilities.
We look forward to working closely with you and your government to further strengthen genuine ties between Sri Lanka and India and also to ensure violence doesn’t recur in Sri Lanka, and that all Sri Lankans are able to carry on their lives in territories they live in, based upon equality and justice.
Following the anti Tamil program of 1983 Sri Lanka accepted India’s offer of its good offices, to bring about a final and acceptable resolution of national conflict in Sri Lanka. This has been a continuing process though at times interrupted. India has and continues to play a role.
With the elimination of the armed conflict in May 2009 violence came to an end every opportunity came about to bring a permanent end to the conflict based upon equality, justice and genuine peace.
Both during the armed conflict and after its conclusion, the Sri Lankan government made commitments to both India and the International Community to bring about an acceptable political solution. Unfortunately, this commitment has not been honoured.
The Sri Lankan Government on the contrary is aggressively persuing an agenda which:-
- Prevent thousands of displaced Tamil families from occupying thousands of acres of fertile valuable land both in North and East historically occupied by these people for residence and livelihood, in violation of commitments made by the Sri Lankan Government to both the Supreme Court and Parliament, and thus subjecting these Tamil families to extreme deprivation.
- Is vigorously settling persons from the majority community with state aid on lands in the North and East so as to change substantially the demographic composition of these areas.
- Is desecrating and destroying ancient sites of religious and cultural importance to the Tamil Hindu People in the North and East so as to radically alter the ethnic cultural identity of the said territories.
- Is impending and obstructing the overwhelmingly democratically elected Provincial Government of the Tamil National Alliance in the Northern Province form functioning.
- Is continuing to violate the fundamental and human rights of the Tamil people in the North and East so as to deny them equality before the law and relegate them to the status of second class citizens.
- The excessively disproportionate and oppressive presence of the military, particularly in the North and also in the East, construction of substantial housing facilities for the military, the grave inconvenience and disruption caused to civilian life, the gender based violence, the involvement of the military in agriculture, farming, fishing and in commercial activity have a serious and adverse impact on civilian life.
These actions of the Sri Lankan Government undermine all efforts towards reconciliation, permanent peace and harmony, and further create an environment that could promote hostility which the Tamil people certainly do not desire. We also submit that these actions of Sri Lankan government are clearly indicative of lack of genuine commitment on the part of the Sri Lankan government to evolve an acceptable political solution.
We consider it our duty to bring these matters to your notice at the earliest possible opportunity. We do so in the belief that an honourable peace based upon justice and equality must prevail, and that Bharath’s – India’s role would ensure that. We request that an opportunity be afforded to us to meet with you and others in Government at your earliest convenience.
With our warmest regards ad very best wishes.
Yours Very Sincerely
R. Sampanthan
Member of Parliament, Trincomalle/ Sri Lanka
Leader, Tamil National Alliance
Vibhushana / May 24, 2014
The silly man seems to miss a few things.
First of all he does not represent “Tamil People of Sri Lanka”. A number of different formations be it central, western or eastern areas represent Tamil speaking people.
The Ethno nationalism this party represent, the ideology that created the violence and political turmoil for 3-decades remains. Not only do they remain, they win elections glorifying and promoting the violent actions it produced.
This is the only reason Tamils in the north suffers.
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Ram / May 24, 2014
Was he not appointed by Prabhakaran as the ‘Sole Representative’ ?
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Banda / May 24, 2014
When most voters and Hindus in particular voted for BJP led alliance throughout India, Tamil Nadu Tamils (majority by far are Hindus) gave them just one seat out of 37 or 18.6 percent of votes. And that is, 3.0 percent less than BJP got in 2009.
67% of Tamils in Tamil Nadu chose to vote for one time separatist party DMK and its arch rival but its offshoot AIADMK.
This shows that Majority Tamils had not noticed or not bothered about the swing that favoured Modi through out India. It shows that Tamils only concern is to establish Eelam in Sri Lanka.
For the last so many years Jaya, Karuna, and other Eelam backers blackmailed Manmohan Singh government to vote against Indian friendly, Sri Lanka. Today, Sambandan and the old combine knows they cannot blackmail Modi and his government, so they are trying to fool him with lies. Only stupid doesn’t know that Tamil goal is Eelam and the natural extension of Eelam is Tamil Nadu.
Beware India!
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Jayantha Hewawithana / May 24, 2014
Please note that the Tamilnadu Tamil Hindus aren’t Rednecks like the Northern Hindus, Western Hindus and BJP allied Hindus. They are a people only democratically vociferous not politically humbugs.
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Native Vedda / May 25, 2014
Jayantha Hewawithana
Banda has a reading problem.
Just because Modi people chant Bhagwan ki Jai Banda believes Hindu Tamils should not be allowed to chant Aro Hara.
He is prepared to follow where the saffron clad thugs lead him to.
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Silva / May 25, 2014
Banda,
“..For the last so many years Jaya, Karuna, and other Eelam backers blackmailed Manmohan Singh government to vote against Indian friendly, Sri Lanka. Today, Sambandan and the old combine knows they cannot blackmail Modi and his government, so they are trying to fool him with lies. Only stupid doesn’t know that Tamil goal is Eelam and the natural extension of Eelam is Tamil Nadu. Beware India!..”
Hah! Modi must be trembling in fear that they would create an Elam in SL! Alas, your pathetic brain! Do you think Modi would be a modaya like Mara to believe the lies and act on lies? On the other hand even though your pakis mole cannot understand, creating an Elam here would give Modi the chance to win the whole vote bank in TN! And given the obstinate, extremist and ambitious nature of Modi he will definitely be inclined to splint a part of this country and attach it to TN thereby commanding popularity from Indian racists just like you fools here who were used by MARA to fulfil his megalomaniac and empty political aspirations by creating and cementing an irreversible ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka through internationalizing the issue and not doing anything to solve it. If Modi facilitates the creation of Elam, it is you stupid bastards and MARA and the gang who are responsible for it.
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Javi / May 25, 2014
No Conversion like the Jewish faith – You never tell the RSS what Hindus of the deccan should do and how to capture votes in a multiethnic Hindustan before you came into existence because your ancestor were or are `hora oru` perhaps a Muslim mercenary . Even more you are untouchable schedule cast banda buddhist the servant- keep that pol mudda on- it Phrw!!
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Amarasiri / May 24, 2014
Dear R Sampanthan MP
“We extend to you on behalf of the Tamil People is Sri Lanka our warmest congratulations on your resounding victory at the recently concluded elections to the Loke Sbha and on your appointment to the high office of the Prime Minister of Bharat – India. We extend to you and to your government our very sincere best wishes for the successful discharge if your onerous responsibilities.”
“on behalf of the Tamil People is Sri Lanka ….”
Why only Tamil People?
What About the Native Veddah People, who are the Original Inhabitants in the Land of Native Veddah? Why? They are not people? They are low-caste?
What bbout the Sinhala People, Muslim-People, Malay-People, Portuguese People, Dutch People, English, people, who all are fellow Paras, just like the Tamils, in the terminology of Native Veddah?
Shri Narendra Modi,Prime Minister,Prime Minister’s office,
New Delhi,
Dear Prime Minister
Amarasiri Applauds you and Thanks you for NOT Calling him “His Excellency”, like so many Para-Sinhala and other Shills in Sri Lanka calls the President of sri Lanka.
Mr. R Sampanthan MP, I may disagree with you, but I do appreciate you NOT calling “His Excellency” , the Prime-Minister Elect of India. Please spread the word.
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K.A Sumanasekera / May 24, 2014
Instead of bending over to Vaiko and Jayalalitha, PM Modi has put the boot in their butts.
India has 1.2 Billion inhabitants. The TN population doesn’t even amount to 50 percent of the 0,2 Billion.
If PM Modi can’t have the freedom to even invite the closest neighbour whose great majority of inhabitants are direct descendants of North Indians,how can he be a strong PM of the second most populous country.
What if the Saffron Army doesn’t want any Leaders of the Muslim countries to attend?.
Tamil Nadu is now totally under the spell of the LTTE proxy Vaiko who still believes that his Leader Prabakaran is still alive and well.
Ms Jayalalitha’s unashamed cowing to Vaiko to stop the SL Leader’s attendance is a good example that the LTTE will soon be calling the shots there .
Does PM Modi want to encourage them?.
Vellala CM in North Srilanka , had an excellent opportunity to show the new PM that he is not a follower of Vaiko.
But he goofed it.
Most probably this LTTE proxy Leader of the TNA read the riot act to him.
And this is is a silly cover up.
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Amarasiri / May 24, 2014
K.A Sumanasekera and Avatars,
“If PM Modi can’t have the freedom to even invite the closest neighbour whose great majority of inhabitants are direct descendants of North Indians,how can he be a strong PM of the second most populous country. “
direct descendants of North Indians,??? Another lie. he data , the DNA Data, does NOT support this statement. However, agree that the people of Lanka, except the Native Veddah, are Paradeshis, Paras, as per terminology of Native Veddah.
What the DNA data supports is
direct descendants of South Indians, Kalla-Thonis, Hora-Oru or Illegal Boats.
In addition,
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AVB / May 25, 2014
You said ” neighbour whose great majority of inhabitants are direct descendants of North Indians” @#¥@#%
What had been the population in Lanka 2500 years back? 50,000 people or perhaps 100,000 people. Any guesses ? Your history book says 700 North Indian thugs arrived in Lanaka 2500 years back. For an argument, even if you isolated Lanka and neglect the closest sea strip of 22 km from South India, how the mix of 700 North Indians and 50,000 natives would create North Indian decadents? . Having said this, I also believe this “Sinhalese=North Indian descendent” is possible and it has happened in 18~19 million Sinhalese KA Sumenasekara’s minds…. Perceptions are the reality..
Sinhalese physically have South Indian genetic features, but in their mind, they think they are North Indians.. Who are North Indians? Do these Sinhalese Sumanasekara’s knows anything about North Indians or South Indians?
Anyway, British and some German scholars who found Mahawanse (1830?) and translated it into German &English did this miracle in Moda Sinhala Minds !!
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Tamodaya / May 24, 2014
Tamil losers still don’t get don’t they?
Modi and Mahinda both rejected Tamils. Get over it.
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Fathima Fukushima / May 24, 2014
This is damn racist.
Then why Tamils are living in Colombo?
If Tamils in Colombo leave, Sinhalese and Muslims can leave the north. Not otherwise.
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rhahan / May 24, 2014
Fathima Fukushima:
How did you escape from your mental hospital?
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Reader / May 24, 2014
We Ceylon Tamils need some fresh thinking. Sampanthan is a bit outdated. Here’s why.
Mr. Sivathasan had written several articles on Modi in the last few months. Several commentators had cautioned that the Sri Lankan state is lobbying Narendra Modi’s party through the likes of Subrahmanyam Swamy and the broader Tamil Nadu Brahmin lobby. Colombo had through Hindutva backchannels convinced the BJP that Tamil nationalism in Sri Lanka was a Christian construct intended to destabilize South Asia – Sri Lanka and India in particular – as part of a neocolonial and Christian evangelist rear guard action.
Several cautioned that while Mahinda Inc was reaching out proactively to the BJP, the TGTE and the GTF were no where to be seen. This is now witnessed with Mahinda Rajapakse being the first head of state to congratulate Narendra Modi’s victory and Narendra Modi inviting Mahinda over and above the objections of Tamil Nadu political parties for his inauguration. I will not be surprised if Modi were to visit Colombo this year.
Simply put, the Sri Lankan Tamil cause is of no concern to Narendra Modi. Not once in his election campaign did he allude to it. The links with India will get us no where. Our interests are better served by the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and West Europe. India will not help and neither should we depend on them.
Sampanthan has outlived his usefulness with his repeated appeals and reliance on New Delhi. Its time to pass the baton to a different person, one would grasp that changing geopolitical dimensions.
Mahinda’s lobbyists speak the language of Hindu Buddhist unity in India while they decimate Hindu tradition and history within Sri Lanka. The BJP has fallen for the bait and is therefore to be discounted as a reliable ally of the Tamil population, our Hindu traditions notwithstanding. Jettison New Delhi. Focus on the Atlantic.
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aratai / May 24, 2014
Reader,
You need to look at the other side too….
Lankan Tamil issue is still active at world stage. If India keep out of it, who will take charge? China? Pakistan? US? UK?
Modi’s India, unlike Congress India (involved since 1983 anti-tamil riots) , have to get involved. Maybe not politically but economically will try to bring Lanka under its wings.
:-)
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jansee / May 25, 2014
Aratai:
Reader is right in the sense that New Delhi (ND) has been playing politics with the lives of SL Tamils. Except for the Vajpayee admin initiatives, every other ND led govt had used the Tamils as pawns for their ultimate endeavours. This had not gone unnoticed in Tamilnadu (TN) nor the diaspora. But, as is often acknowledged, damned if you do, and damned if you don’t is the unceremonial relationship with ND.
The same cannot be said of the TN factor. Despite the overreaching of political overtones at times, by and large, the leverage TN has and had asserted remains the main trump card but in the absence of or limited central power, the pressure asserted somewhat has fallen on deaf ears, particularly during the last stretch. It has never been a secret that Manmohan Singh (MMS) and the gang wreaked havoc with their duplicity. While voting for the UNHRC resolutions, they insidiously insisted on a watered-down resolution and having voted, immediately despatched a letter to MR, literally telling him that “we are still on your side”. The price the Congress paid is colossal – 38 out 39 of its candidates even lost their deposits, not to mention that its presence in TN has become a faded and distant memory.
While a BJP led ND would want to believe that it can decide and execute on its own any issue related to SL, especially with holding a majority on its own, such a move will face the wrath of an unforgiving TN when the need arises for the BJP to seek out TN later. All the indications are that Modi will not want a thorn constantly in his flesh and would wish to resolve the SL issue as soon as possible by insisting on a maximum possible devolution package along the lines of a full implementation of the 13A and perhaps a plus. MR is certainly not going to play his game with an incensed Modi who views other local and global matters dominating his plate. It will be true to say that what will be played out from now on will be entirely in the hands of MR. The games he played with MMS will pave a dangerous path for him and SL. As I said earlier, Modi has more important local and global issues to handle and he will not and won’t have the time to play a cat and mouse game with MR.
The legacy of MMS, if there is one, will be scathing on him. He proved to be the worst and the most disastrous PM India ever had. He destroyed the meaning of that position by sitting on it as a lame duck and in the process destroyed the Congress party. He was certainly not of PM material and even the besieged Narashima Rao fared a lot better.
Of course, the international pressure, particularly from US, Canada and the UK, had gone a long way to appease the concerns of the Tamils. The Cameron SL visit and his bold initiatives plus Canada’s firm stand should be singularly cited as making that leap from an otherwise lacklustre year-after-year drama. What the ND led Congress meant to the Tamils had been abundantly demonstrated by its latest abstention in the UNHRC. The fate of Congress in TN was sealed on the day Salman Khurshid became the FM. That Karunanidhi may possibly still be the CM if he had not “betrayed” the SL tamils would not have been lost on him. Literally speaking, he dug his own grave.
Your ignorance in the assessment and understanding of R Sampanthan the person is deplorable. Being the point man on the ground, Sampanthan had essentially turned the tables on the SL regime and if there is one person MR would not like to meet if he wants his way, it would be RS. It was the West that abandoned the Tamils in that most critical and crucial hour and in a way contributed to the mass murder and massacre of Tamils by the regime. If there is a future for SL tamils, it has to be and will be RS. Of course, there will overwhelming support and contribution from external parties and factors, but nonetheless the point man will be still RS. That is the unshaken belief I have in him.
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Mallaiyuran / May 24, 2014
Sampanthar is with India. Sonia was not with India. This makes Sampanthar look like an object-less person. When an Indian leader comes to power in India, who is with India, certainly they will have a lot to hear from Sampanathar. That time his image will change.
If Modi is an Indian leader, soon Sampanthar will have something to do actively. Now he looks like out lived his useful age, but when the path is opened his experience will count. It is not Sampanathar, nobody could have done anything on the international area with the anti-Tamils feeling Sonia was showing from that regional powers throne.
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Agnos / May 24, 2014
So tell us the specifics of what you want Samapanthan to do differently?
Simply dreaming is not enough.
India is a big country and the BJP will have its hands full with a lot of Indian issues. If you want to get their attention, it has to be through leaders who have authenticity and hve people’s support. Vaiko can shout but if he cannot get elected even in his local constituency, then who is going to take him seriously.
TGTE and GTF are diaspora lobby groups that have no authenticity.
Sampanthan and Wigneswaran on the other hand will be taken seriously because there is proof that the people on the ground are behind them. Give them the space to handle India in the best way they can.
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Agnos / May 24, 2014
Moreover,yours is the kind of bad and illogical thinking that took the LTTE to destruction. The diaspora’s lobbying power with the West is exaggerated. The West can apply certain amount of pressure on human rights; but though the West ignored Indian suggestions at the last UNHRC sessions, India is far more important to the West than any Tamil diaspora or even SL as a whole.
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Reader / May 25, 2014
The TNA should cultivate Indian journalists.
Mahinda Rajapakse’s administration has done so already. I can give you the roll call of media personnel in the Daily Pioneer, Indian Express, the Hindu, pro BJP sites such as Niti Central.
The TNA should also cultivate Indian think tanks, bar associations, opposition figures, the BJP, the RSS (and yes – the latter matters, even if you disagree given who you are, not to mention its own dinosaur like mentality).
The TNA should cultivate individual Chief Ministers, BJP or otherwise. The TNA can not put all its egss in the central administration’s basked – the Congress of yesterday and the BJP of today. Its needs to have a wider outreach in Mumbai, Kolkata and New Delhi. It can perhaps also buy time in an Indian news channel with a weekly ‘eye on north Ceylon’ program.
Sampanthan, who seems to be your buddy, is cliched. Its time for a broader set of three to four spokespersons, Wigneswaran included, and not a mono voice in the Indian arena. That mono voice has been articulate in the past, I concede, but is now old and tired.
I do not disagree with you on the TGTE and the GTF, on Vaiko and the Tamil Nadu fringe groups.
I would suggest you read Lanka Web – a Buddhist website some of whose ‘journalists’ are featured in the Indian press speaking of the ‘Christian construct’ that Tamil Eezham is and how Hindu India better be beware. All the while, they negate the Tamil Hindu presence in Ceylonese history within Ceylon with their spurious theories.
Do you know that Mahinda Inc has a strong spokesperson within the ruling BJP – Subrahmanyam Swamy? Who do we have? Lets find that individual! I would say – cultivate Amit Shah or Rajnath Singh!
And for heaven’s sake tone down your self-righteous smug Jaffna Christian arrogance (I presume you are one given past haughty comments of yours but if I am wrong on your religion I will concede my error in that one)!
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Agnos / May 25, 2014
The TNA doesn’t have the resources to do what you are suggesting.
The only articulate public speakers are Sampanthan, Sumanthiran and Wigneswaran. How often can they fly to New Delhi when there are so many issues at home?
Maybe they should find some diaspora speakers and reps from their international branches.
Anyway, why would Amit Shah or Rajnath Singh be interested in SL Tamil issues? Even the Hinduism practiced by us ( I am agnostic-atheist, but my family is Hindu), Saivism, is not exactly the same version as North Indian Hinduism. And given the LTTE’s murder of Rajiv Gandhi in India, even pro-BJP people have been unsympathetic to SL Tamil plight.
Because of MGR, Amirthalingam had the ear of Indira Gandhi, and I remember she at least once invited him on the same flight from Madras to Delhi, and talked about SL Tamil issues on the flight. Those days are gone. The situation now is different. The TNA has to effectively distance itself from the LTTE first. They are on that path but not there yet.
And I wouldn’t take LankaWeb seriously. They publish the likes of HLD Mahindapala and Nalin de Silva. Subramaniam Swamy has been a joker in recent years. He is not strictly speaking part of the core BJP though he joined them very late in the game.But Indian media gives him prominence because he is provocative and articulate, with good academic credentials, which helps with sensational journalism.
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Reader / May 25, 2014
This is exactly why we need the ‘non-LTTE’ diaspora funds to be channeled, outside the TGTE and the GTF, and earmarked for activities such as what I recommend. There are articulate Tamils both in Ceylon and overseas. The TNA should avail of such Tamils to help.
We need to frame Ceylon as central to the Chinese strategic vision of encircling India. We need to present Mahinda Rajapakse as playing a duplicitious game. India, a nation keen to register its presence in the Indian Ocean and project is naval power, should be made concerned. Jaffna and the Northern Province assume an importance quite disproportionate to its population and area in such a scenario.
Colombo is against the Sethu Samudram project as it would bring Indian naval vesseals right up to Sri Lanka’s north west coast. The Hindu right in India opposes it (unless the design and alignment were to be modified) as it reportedly bifurcates the Sethu bridge of legend. But that project has strategic value not just to India’s southern flank but to North Ceylon as well.
With non LTTE diaspora resources, we need to effectively package and brand our cause as key to the overall Indian defence interest. We need to win allies outside of Tamil Nadu in that regard.
I would like to present North Ceylon as Tony Blair had envisioned Northern Ireland – a region of equal legitimate concern to both the United Kingdom and to the Republic of Ireland with the latter having a valid political stake in the internal matters of Ulster. The parallels are there. The Union Jack does not regularly fly at the Stormont and neither should the Lion Flag in North Ceylon.
While I detest Lanka Web and the maverick Subrahmanyam Swamy, they unfortunately have been doing their homework in the corridors of power in India while we have not. Its time to call the Buddhist bluff.
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Agnos / May 26, 2014
Reader,
Your arguments are contradictory; first you said Sampanthan should look to the Atlantic as India won’t help, then you are saying you can make the Northern Ireland parallel case with the new Indian Govt.
I have said it before–anything beyond Federalism within a united Sri Lanka is not realistic. So, while SL Tamils will need Indian help, they can’t allow India to exploit them, and repeat the bitter experiences with the IPKF.
You should contact the local TNA branch where you live (if no branch is there, contact the TNA folks in SL) and give any concrete suggestion to them.
Now that Sushma Swaraj is the new EAM of India, people should ask her about the assurances that MR made to her about going beyond the 13th amendment. She had said MR gave her a clear assurance and there was no question of backtracking on that.
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Ram / May 26, 2014
So you would like Indian journalists to become TNA lapdogs and cease being the watchdogs they want to be. There are lots of those around, especially in the West whose job is merely to propagate the wishes of the government of the day, for which reason they are paid handsomely.
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Srikanth / May 24, 2014
reader,
“Our interests are better served by the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and West Europe.”
Obama will not be there much longer. Republicans will not support us. EU will not be bothered after next year. They have many other regional issues to deal with. UK is a total mess. So your suggestion wouldn’t be effective either.
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Amarasiri / May 24, 2014
Reader
“This is now witnessed with Mahinda Rajapakse being the first head of state to congratulate Narendra Modi’s victory and Narendra Modi inviting Mahinda over and above the objections of Tamil Nadu political parties for his inauguration. “
Tamil Nadu can have demonstrations in Chennai. LTTE can join them with Vaikko. North Indians think that the South Indians are Dravidians, Dark, low-Caste, and need not take into account seriously. They can make noise, and a few will burn themselves up or commit suicide, like the JHU Monk Para-“Haraka”, Cattle who burned himself up in Kandy last year.
Tamil Nadu, Population of 75 million, (5 times the Sinhala Population in Lanka, the Land of the Native Vedda), where as India’s population is 1, 237 million, and that is 6.06% of India’s Population.
Mr. Modi and BJP knows their math well.
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Amarasiri / May 25, 2014
Dear Reader,
You say:
“Our interests are better served by the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and West Europe. India will not help and neither should we depend on them.”
What interests of United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and West Europe and India can be served by the Tamils or by the Sinhala? That is what they are looking at.
What have the Sri Lankan Tamils to offer besides LTTE terrorism? It is a trade. You offer something valuable to them, and they offer something valuable to Tamils or Sinhala.
Is this what the Tamils can offer the Christian West neo-Colonialists?
a Christian construct intended to destabilize South Asia – Sri Lanka and India in particular – as part of a neocolonial and Christian evangelist rear guard action by the west?
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Anpu / May 24, 2014
Thank you Mr Sampanthan
Keep on doing the good work.
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punchisingho / May 24, 2014
The above comments give a clear picture on how Sinhalese look at the issues of the Tamils.When Sambandan or somebody else says that the Tamils have been deprived of their rights ,Sinhalese lose their temper and begin to attack the leaders of the Tamils.
I wish to warn the chauvinistic Sinhalese that unless the issues of the Tamils are not addressed by the government here international community will intervene to help the Tamils someday.
May be that day will come in five years or ten years or in twenty years.
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wickrama / May 24, 2014
The day came many years ago.
They started taking away Tamils from Sri Lanka. Only 9% left now.
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Venus / May 24, 2014
Vibhushana, Ram, K.A Sumanasekera, Tamodaya, Fathima Fukushima,
Look at the same old gobba ponna talks that you have dumped here, which have been a trade mark of you over the years. With each measured and calculated step Tamils have taken towards asking for justice, recognition and equality you herd of ponna pigs reared by moda Mara for meat squeal in the most mongol manger to announce your piggish presence in these forums which are meant for constructive and intelligent exchanges. Enough is enough now, and we are awaiting a massive onslaught of attacks by the Indian military on the beggars of this country like MARA and the donkeys who raise their sarongs and bend over to Rajapakshas. Oh Modi, please replicate the “zero casualty humanitarian operation” yet again on this island!
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Robert / May 24, 2014
Vijeratnam, you are still fun at pinching fat water balloons.
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Thondamannar / May 24, 2014
What !! Sampanthan is experiencing a Gripe again?
Leader of the Tamil National Alliance, the political formation in Sri Lanka democratically elected at different levels of government, to substantially represent the LTTE in Parliament & now Tamil people particularly of the North East in Sri Lanka…………. NEED TO BE SHOWN THE PTA……….. its high time
Punchisingho………… Can you list out the rights for consideration?
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essie / May 24, 2014
Mr Sampanthan may not represent all the Tamils in Sri Lanka, but he tells the truth re present conditions ins th North and East.
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kautilya / May 24, 2014
Once again, the TNA, too deeply rooted in the pre-Prabhakaran mind wrap (or, in fact, the rigid mindwrap of Mr. V. navaratnam who wrote “Ceylon in Cricis in the 1950s, insisting on irriconcillable differences etc) , has lost a great opportunity to show even a token of good will. After it came to power, TNA has chosen the path of token demands which emphasize an Eelamist point of view rather than an attempt to build bridges.
If the NTA wishes to achieve its agenda, it has to work adroitly, cleverly, and build some bridges to earn the good will of the Southern masses (and indeed some Tamils living in the south). As long as the majority looks upon this minority with deep suspicion, nothing will be achieved. The military option failed, and given that the attempt to yank out the government in place and shew in the UNP or Chandrika, even with Western and Tamil-Nadu help simply will not happen, what alternative does the TNA have, except to attempt to convince the south that it has a just cause?
I am myself not convinced that the TNA is very truthful, given its past record.
Even its demands for accountability seems to exclude its own sins. let us say the present government is ready to overlook those sins, as it has done for KP and Karuna etc. But the TNA is not ready to admit its own sins. There were two elections (including the one where Ranil got defeated with the connivance of the TNA) where the TNA leaders backed the LTTE; Not long ago the TNA backed Fonseka. Recently, Mr. Sampanthan and Mr. Wigneswaran have both hailed Prabhakaran as their hero. So they are wooing the local-tamil militant fringe and the moneyed militant-Diaspora and not realistic politics.
So the south will be very suspicious of them and will want to keep the army in the North until they feel that the can ‘trust” the TNA. Exaggerations cannot help. If some TNA MPs go on claiming that there are 150,000 army men or 200,000 soldiers or what ever in the North, we also should expect another factor of four support personnel, since an army cannot be maintained without a lot of support personnel (supplies, services, equipment storage, etc, etc). So, such a large “militarization” should be visible (like in the Falklands, where there are two British soldiers to every civilian), even without satellites etc. This is just not true. In fact we saw more highly visible security personal/military in Boston on the Boston marathon day held just recently.
My estimate is that there are about 12,000 army plus about 50,000 para-military (i.e., ancillary supporting staff) in the Northern peninsula. This puts out to not more than 60,000 personnel currently, compared to about 100,000 in the Jaffna peninsula in 2009 (excluding south of Iranamadu). Thus there has been, roughly a 30-33% reduction, consistent with the numbers presented by Lalith Weeratunga in Geneva, as well as UN reports and evaluations by Indian journalists. This gives us a maximum ratio (including army ancillaries) of about one army-associated person with about 20 civilians, or even more civilians if you include the population in the southern Vanni districts and not just north of Iranamadu. if you exclude ancillary army personnel, and include only armed soldiers, there is even fewer army per civilian.
So the TNA, like the TULF and then the LTTE, will continue to miss opportunities while nursing their own hubris. The improvement is that the TNA has nor capacity for what the LTTE did, viz., the LTTE not only missed opportunities, but proceeded to kill or attempt to kill the southern politicians like Premadasa or Thiruchelvan or Chandrika who tried to understand and sponsor the “tamil cause”.
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Mallaiyuran / May 25, 2014
“If the NTA wishes to achieve its agenda, it has to work adroitly, cleverly, and build some bridges to earn the good will of the Southern masses (and indeed some Tamils living in the south). As long as the majority looks upon this minority with deep suspicion, nothing will be achieved.”
What is TNA’s agenda?
What will happen if the southern mass is convinced or the suspicion removed from the southern mass? Will the Southern Mass appoint a useful government for Tamils and as usual, elect a rotten government for them? When was the first time or last the southern mass elected a useful government for themselves?
The military option failed, and given that the attempt to yank out the government in place and shew in the UNP or Chandrika, even with Western and Tamil-Nadu help simply will not happen, what alternative does the TNA have, except to attempt to convince the south that it has a just cause?
Military option failed to fix whose government? Are talking JVP could not fix the Lankan government for southern mass? Is it because the TNA did not convince southern mass in 1958, carried out communal trouble? We don’t have to convince southern mass to have our land and our own government. We are in the process of convincing the world on that. It may be difficult for you understand; But the King is rushing to fly to India not to convince southern mass; he does not care of southern mass anymore; but to convince India. Sampanthar is trying only to match what king is trying doing. Sampanthar does not want to waste his time on convincing the southern mass while King is rushing to convince Modi, in India.
I am myself not convinced that the TNA is very truthful, given its past record.
You may say that but you will not be able show one single time TNA tearing off a signed pack. You will not be able to produce one single incident TNA cheating anybody.
Even its demands for accountability seems to exclude its own sins.
If you did not know so far, self-incrimination is not allowed in legal procedures. TNA need not include its sin. If TNA is bringing in a lawsuit, it is the opponents’ responsibility to defending them and counter suing TNA. TNA is a political party. If its opponents back off from taking TNA to international courts and make to include its sin, TNA will not include its sin. It’s time for southern mass to face international inquiry on behalf of leaders it elected, instead of telling funny accusation.
Army count in Jaffna is 3:1. The entire Royal Army has leaves the Tamils land.
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sach / May 25, 2014
TNA has cheated and wronged others.
TNA has been the LTTE proxy and sadly continue to be. There are many other priorities in North, devolution is not one of them. Even it is remember you already have 13 amendment.
TNA and even wiggie the nut, is popularising LTTE and stirring up tamil nationalism. Just like the tamil politicians did before LTTE. Many have written about the actions of SL govern pre LTTE, how ever little research has been done on the actions of Tamil leaders. SL gover and even those who seek fair play and justice should look into that as well.
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Navin / May 25, 2014
kautilya:
On the issue of accountability, TNA should answer whether there were any plans to address accountability for LTTE atrocities on Sinhala civilians under its ISGA had it been institutionalized by either CBK or Ranil. At the time entire Tamil polity was very happy to have an LTTE lead administration in the North. Its terrorist past was not an issue. Accountability was unheard of. Yet, now the Tamil position is accountability is required before anything can happen on reconciliation front. It shows quite well their duplicity.
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s.sandarasegaram / May 24, 2014
sampanthan’s letter indicates his frustration after protracted negotiations with the SL leadership and the resulting realization that
it is totally impossible to convince it to grant anything to the tamils. everybody including reasonable Sinhalese, india and the international community understand this. mr.s does not have any other alternative and hence the reason for taking the risk of writing to the newly elected Indian PM.
please notice the well meaning muslim leadership generally supports the government has started moving towards outside inter. agencies to
keep them informed about the plight of muslims in SL. do you think they have not approached any muslim countries so far?
-soma
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wickrama / May 24, 2014
Venus,
justice, recognition and equality ? You mean 1/3 of the land , 2/3 cost line and 50% university spots for 9% ?
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Native Vedda / May 25, 2014
wickrama
“justice, recognition and equality ? You mean 1/3 of the land , 2/3 cost line and 50% university spots for 9% ?”
Why not?
If you have problem with it just agree on population ratio. Let them go away, you keep the rest.
Is there a problem now?
Remember the island belongs to my people.
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Off the Cuff / May 27, 2014
Dear NV,
Re “Remember the island belongs to my people”
And who are your people? The Separatist Tamils?
Kind Regards,
OTC
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Politcal Analyst / May 25, 2014
Sinhalese racists have never learnt a thing. There is no alternative now but to resume what Rajiv Gandhi stopped by merely dropping parippu. India must invade this country of jokers who are unable to govern the affairs of their country and give a forced solution to solve this ethnic problem. First the war criminal army led by a megalomaniac must be crushed and destroyed. Then a 13A type of solution must be forced. Besides, India has all the more reasons why they must not have an unfriendly regime/country must exist in their backyard. This is exactly why Russia has invaded and attached Ukrainian states. India must do the same thing. I am sure Modi will soon act on this.
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Manoharan / May 25, 2014
When India invaded, the tamils have to fight them because they were inhuman and had no understanding of our problems. Just read Rajan Hool (University teachers-Jaffna) account of the IKPF atrocities. Prabhakaran had to take up arms against the Indians.
Each time India Invades Sri lanka, its armies have to come over tamil areas and it is the tamils who suffer most. And when they go back, they once again go over the tamil areas. We suffer twice.
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Messanger / May 25, 2014
Manoharan,
Really? Since when are monkeys doing politics here? Remember there is no JR today to hoodwink and divert Indian war machinery towards their own, instead we have a truant uneducated rogue with his criminal family bungling everything on the land from the far away peasant’s issue to the core issue. I am really amazed at how your matimol brain works, just like that of your MARA. Next time before you write take an x-ray or something to check the presence or absence or gray matter inside your head. Whom do you think the Indian army would be after this time-the LTTE? Take a deep breath and a good look at the landmarks around you including the North and the South Poles lest you will hit yourselves against trees and culverts in your flight when the Indians are chasing after you!
There would be no ground troops operation initially. They will deal severe blows from air and cripple all the critical supplies, services, strengths and military machinery of your country. You all will be living under bunkers and gullies and culverts. And you could still be very brave, sing hosannas to your stupid king, be very patriotic, very racist-very Buddhist too! carry on with your proud Sinhala history while still hiding under bushes!
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sach / May 25, 2014
what makes you think india is gonna bomb SL because you want? :)
such anti lankan forces! Even SLA bombed LTTE when they were amidst Tamils.
And you want IA to bomb SLA among tamils? ok!
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Native Vedda / May 25, 2014
Manoharan
You have great sense of History. I envy you.
“When India invaded, the tamils have to fight them because they were inhuman and had no understanding of our problems.”
Whether Hindians are inhuman or not it should be discussed as a separate issue. With the same token of intelligent you should ask yourself another question whether Sinhala and Tamil army (LTTE) are part of the civilised world. Do you find any difference among Sri Lankan armed forces, Tamil army (LTTE) and Hindians? Please let us know your findings.
Tamils didn’t fight against Hindia, it was VP and his LTTE which started the fight for different reason. He fought a war against Hindia to preserve Sinhala/Buddhist sovereignty and the Tamils didn’t benefit from the war. In fact Tamils lost and Sinhalese/Buddhist state gained.
“Each time India Invades Sri lanka, its armies have to come over tamil areas and it is the tamils who suffer most. “
There was no Indian army before 1947.
When Cholas invaded this island about 1000 years ago its army ransacked Anuradhapura. Was it a Tamil kingdom and was it ruled by Tamils over a large Tamil population?
The stupid Tamils suffered last time when IPKF arrived because the Sri Lankan armed forces who were supposed to defend this island were found hiding behind their women folks and VP’s fat bottom.
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Off the Cuff / May 27, 2014
Dear NV,
Re “The stupid Tamils suffered last time when IPKF arrived because the Sri Lankan armed forces who were supposed to defend this island were found hiding behind their women folks and VP’s fat bottom”
The Wisdom of Pontificating in Ignorance!!!
The Sri Lankan forces were CONFINED to barracks by the same Indo Lanka Accord that stopped a successful operation against terrorism that would have ended terrorism in 1987 instead of 22 years later, in 2009. It is this same accord that allowed the IPKF to come to Lanka.
Please read the following extracted from the Indo Lanka Accord.
“2.9 The emergency will be lifted in the Eastern and Nothern Provinces by Aug. 15, 1987. A cessation of hostilities will come into effect all over the island within 48 hours of signing of this
agreement. All arms presently held by militant groups will be surrendered in accordance with an agreed procedure to authorities to be designated by the Government of Sri Lanka.
Consequent to the cessation of hostilities and the surrender of arms by militant groups, the army and other security personnel will be confined to barracks in camps as on 25 May 1987. The process of surrendering arms and the confining of security personnel moving back to barracks shall be completed within 72 hours of the cessation of hostilities coming into effect” (emphasis mine)
It’s Absolute Stupidity to blame the SL forces for respecting the Indo Lanka Accord.
Kind Regards,
OTC
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sach / May 25, 2014
Many tamils are stuck in the 80s mentality.
India doesn’t have to force 13 A, it is already in place.
Russia invaded Ukraine to save their interests. India doesnt need to as MR govern very well cover up indian interests.
There is much larger corporation between india and SL on defence matters. If SL wants they can support india more by letting TN thieves to rob your fish, again the losers will be tamils.
The best bet for you is get out of your egoistic attitude, chase away LTTE fellows like ananthi and sivaji, leave pro ltte mentality and coperate with the gov.
SL gover at this moment, would like to corperate with NPC, take that opportunity by being coorperative with MR. Crying and always trying to hang to a north indian saree wont help u.
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Native Vedda / May 25, 2014
sach
“Many tamils are stuck in the 80s mentality.”
No they are mostly stuck in 1948, 1956, 1961, 1977, 1983, 2009, …. whereas the Aryan Sinhala/Buddhists are stuck in prehistoric Mahawamsa mindset.
In your case you are stuck in middle of nowhere.
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Off the Cuff / May 27, 2014
Dear NV,
Re “No they are mostly stuck in 1948, 1956, 1961, 1977, 1983, 2009, …. whereas the Aryan Sinhala/Buddhists are stuck in prehistoric Mahawamsa mindset”
The often repeated Tamil Separatist mantra!
Where was this Mahavamsa mindset before 1939? The Mahavamsa, the Sinhalese and the Buddhist existed during that time too.
It is significant to note that though Communal Clashes did not occur for over a century prior to 1939, inter Tamil riots erupted repeatedly for over 60 years!!!
The riots of 1871, 1923, 1929 and 1931 were ALL Tamil Tamil Riots?
Your hackneyed, Puerile Argument, cannot be used to explain those riots. Blaming Sinhales/Buddhist/Mahavamsa is a POST GGP phenomenon. The propaganda of Tamil Racist Separatists.
The First Tamil/Sinhala race riots of the 20th Century took place in 1939 soon after the Tamil Racist and Founder of the All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC), Mr G. G. Ponnambalam (GGP) delivered a Hate Speech attacking the Sinhalese and the Mahavamsa at a public meeting in Nawalapitiya.
Tamil Lawyer and founder of the ACTC, Mr G.G. Ponnambalsm is the Father of Political Racism of Modern Sri Lanka.
Kind Regards,
OTC
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Dawn Dale / May 25, 2014
This is such a racist letter. I really feel for the tamils of SL – they have worse luck with their leaders – 1st praba and now this idiot. We Sinhala SLs are doing marginally better in comparison with MR but not much- at least MR doesn’t dance to a tune of a group living in another country.
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Native Vedda / May 25, 2014
Dawn Dale
“1st praba and now this idiot.”
First Praba (Psychopath)with whom you are deeply in love and you terribly miss him too.
He may be, but he his own idiot not yours, therefore why don’t you bugger off.
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TamilsAreDodos / May 25, 2014
Keep begging to MR, Modi and Navi and see what you will get. Nothing!
That is why Tamil boys took arms and died for nothing.
Keep doing the same mistake.
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M.Sivananthan / May 25, 2014
Tamils and a section of Sinhalese are still the boot lickers of Catholic/Christian churches.
They expect UK/USA will salvage them but their LTTE was destroyed completely. Indian Tamils support the enemies of India and SL Tamils support the enemies of Lanka.
These Tamils cannot do anything except going to the west and endup as dish washers.
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Native Vedda / May 25, 2014
M.Sivananthan
“These Tamils cannot do anything except going to the west and endup as dish washers.”
Just like you except they don’t bark.
Whats wrong with dish washing?
Don’t you think its a better job than charging 10-20% and stealing state coffers through variety of white elephants?
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anshul / May 25, 2014
In my opinion Modi not going to interfere in Lanka’s internal matters. policy would be Tamils n Sinhalese should solve their problems on table not by guns. India eyeing only on economic interest want peaceful relations with all neighbors. what New Delhi wish Colombo’s support for India on international platforms.
Only caution SL needs not to fall into China’s Lap blindly that will make them sandwich between two.
From
Anshul
New Delhi
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jansee / May 25, 2014
anshul:
Where do you think Modi is going to get support from in the Rajya Sabha? From Sri Lanka. Are you referring to the guns by the Sinhalese military because at the moment they are the only ones parading with their guns in the Northern province?
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