Usha S Sri-Skanda-Rajah
It’s a great step in the right direction; the fact that the Tamil people will be the architects of the Tamil Eelam Freedom Charter and will be contributing towards “developing” and drafting it, is a heart warming thought. Tamil Eelam must be governed by its people, in that there is no doubt; how will it be governed is as important a question that must be addressed and there is no better time than to do it now and do it right.
Here then is a truly forward looking initiative; the Tamil people have been given an opportunity to reassert their rights through this Freedom Charter. Prime Minister Visuvanathan Rudrakumaran, reiterated, the Charter, “whilst taking the Vaddukoddai Resolution forward and at the same time drawing inspiration from Britain’s Magna Carta, the Freedom Charter of the African National Congress (ANC) as well as the Palestinian National Charter,” will enshrine clearly enunciated principles of international law, a conclusion that can be arrived at, after looking at the survey questions designed to obtain the people’s inputs.
It goes without saying the Charter will show a great unity of purpose. In the words of the TGTE Minister for Political Affairs Thayaparan Thanikasalam, it will be a “major soft power tool to demonstrate that the Tamil people are united in purpose, and are irrefutably bound by principles of international law through this Freedom Charter, containing the rights and freedoms that are recognized and respected by the international community and the United Nations.” Thayaparan was insisting, demonstrating unity of purpose through the Charter is an important factor, one that will determine international acceptance and support. The Minister, one of the leading proponents of the Tamil Eelam Freedom Charter project was talking about the importance of the Tamil speaking people coming together through this Freedom Charter to enhance their soft power.
The “question of how Tamil Eelam will look like is most critical,” Thayaparan sought to explain, because the “question of Tamil Eelam itself is an already established fact,” he said, one that can be further validated in a referendum.
I have to agree with the Minister. This is the time to envision how Tamil Eelam would unfold, and to determine the fundamentals required for a model Nation State.
As Tamils make their ‘Freedom Demands’ known through the survey, the prospect of finally taking some concrete steps towards reinforcing the rights of the North East Tamil people to restoring an independent and sovereign Tamil Eelam is exciting after the unimaginable setbacks of the past.
Not merely reflecting on the thought of freedom but being called upon to articulate the rights that should be contained in the Freedom Charter is an exhilarating experience, enslavement on the other hand being excruciating. It’s time that the Tamil people held captive in a highly militarized North East enjoyed the kind of rights and freedoms that the Freedom Charter will guarantee.
The question as to whether the Tamil people want a referendum, is in the special survey that the TGTE wants all Tamil speaking people to answer: “Do you believe the outcome of a referendum would decide the permanent political solution to liberate the Tamil people, and for them to live in peace with dignity and security as a Nation?” the survey asks.
The TGTE has always maintained that the people of Tamil Eelam and the Tamil Diaspora are two sides of the same coin, so the question as to who should vote in a referendum is also an important one and is another question that’s asked in the survey.
The survey itself has been well crafted. With 35 questions the survey can be accessed online on www.tamileelamfreedomcharter.org : “With clearly enunciated principles, the eventual promulgation in the international arena,” of the Freedom Charter, “is a credible way of realizing our freedom,” the portal states. Those enunciated principles are articulated in this question posed in the survey, for instance: “Do you support the principles of justice, freedom, sovereignty, self determination, human dignity, and the right of peoples to exercise them?” the survey asks.
A question on the territorial integrity of the Tamil Nation State is an important one in the present context when the Rajapaksa government is bent on manipulating the demographic composition of Tamil Eelam through intense Sri Lankan state sponsored colonization both through establishing Sinhala settlements and appropriation of private and state land for army cantonments and military centered developments as opposed to people centered, for example, corporate and agricultural initiatives undertaken by the Sri Lankan military. The three concepts of the right to self determination, homeland and nationhood upon which Tamils base their claim, hinges on reasserting the territorial integrity of Tamil Eelam.: “Do you agree that the 8 Districts namely Amparai, Batticaloa, Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mannar, Mullaitivu. Trincomalee and Vavuniya in the NorthEast mentioned in the Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA) Proposal constitute the geographic description of Tamil Eelam?” the survey asks.
There are many questions in the survey that relate to human rights, social, civil, political and cultural rights and principles of democracy including the protection of those rights; international law principles that should and would take its rightful place in the Charter. This augers well for the future of Tamil Eelam and illustrate how important such rights are to Tamils: “Do you agree that every law, regulation, rule, order, or decision in Tamil Eelam shall conform to internationally accepted standards of human rights protection? Do you agree that there shall be an independent Human Rights Commission, with assistance from international human rights bodies to facilitate the rapid establishment of an effective system for protecting human rights and to ensure compliance with all such human rights obligations?” the survey asks.
Another question close to my heart that I was pleased to see related to article 27 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights that guarantee the civil and political rights of individuals, including the right to life, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, electoral rights and rights to due process and a fair trial: “Do you agree that minority rights guaranteed in Article 27 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights cannot be changed even with a two-third majority and referendum in Tamil Eelam?” the survey asks.
That the people of Tamil Eelam would not tolerate impunity by its own governments and that all actors will be open to international scrutiny is reflected in this Question: “Should Tamil Eelam accede to the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court?” the survey asks.
The question: “Will the establishment of Tamil Eelam contribute to regional peace and stability?” is a critical question because of its strategic location, and would and should elicit a resounding yes. Most of the questions had space allocated for comments which allowed the respondent opportunity to make additional points and recommendations. Further, the survey asked for “any other rights/matters related to freedom that you can think of, not mentioned in this questionnaire and should be included in the Freedom Charter,” and wanted the respondent to list them.
With much respect and credence given to human rights, justice, democratic values and fundamental freedoms, the Tamil Eelam Freedom Charter will reflect a model Nation State.
Drafting the Charter is a huge responsibility before the Tamil people and their ability to participate fully in this endeavour and work in concert would ensure its success. The promulgation of the Tamil Eelam Freedom Charter on May 18, 2013 will be an important milestone for the Tamil people in their journey towards freedom and should be celebrated.
The survey can be found online on: http://tamileelamfreedomcharter.org/?p=35
Usha S Sri Skanda Rajah
Chair TGTE Senate
Anpu / March 16, 2013
Excellent as always. A pdf version of the survey would be useful.
“The survey can be found online on: http://tamileelamfreedomcharter.org/?p=35 “
Link should be http://tamileelamfreedomcharter.org/?page_id=15
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thangadurai sivakumaran / March 16, 2013
Is this the same socalled charter Prabakaran scorned over.. And thus created a New Charter which the LTTE and the entire western Tamil Entity Backed which includes the socalled Prime Minister Visuvanathan Rudrakumaran backed 100%.. Hmm in that charter to sum up If you dont toe the Line you will be considered as a Traitor and executed.. What a joke and the East where most Tamils cant stand this socalled Prime Minister and Now the Muslims who out number the Tamil population..Just like Prabakaran later came to realise this socalled copy and paste charter is a joke and the Ground reality is different from the 70’s to now. That is the truth.
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S.Thiagarajah / March 19, 2013
This charter TGTE says is based on Universal or may be on UN charter and includes the best Human Rights chaeter of Canada.
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S.Thiagarajah / March 19, 2013
This charter is based on UN charter of rights and drawn from the Western Powers.
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Native Vedda / March 16, 2013
Usha S Sri Skanda Rajah
I wonder why this charter wasn’t drafted when VP was alive and killing his own people?
When did the Tamils begin their journey towards establishing civil and political rights of individuals, including the right to life, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, electoral rights and rights to due process and a fair trial?
I wonder whether Usha S Sri Skanda Rajah truly understands the philosophy, politics and practices of these noble ideas?
Magna Carta was an agreement between the king and his barons and landed gentry which had nothing to do with the peasants.
By the way does this charter include VP’s political ideas/thoughts? If it does could we have his political, socio economic thoughts and how these ideas have been enshrined in this “Freedom Charter”.
I am bit thick please bear with me.
Usha S Sri Skanda Rajah
Could you help us to draft a freedom charter for my people.
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Usha S Sri-Skanda-Rajah / March 16, 2013
Native Vedda
My good old friend,
Why don’t you check it out, it won’t cost you anything…
Best Wishes
Usha
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Native Vedda / March 16, 2013
Usha S Sri-Skanda-
“Why don’t you check it out, it won’t cost you anything…”
Check it out what, how, where, when?????????????
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Native Vedda / March 19, 2013
Usha S Sri Skanda Rajah
Why is TGTE maintaining a deafening silence on the attacks of Sri Lankans in Tamilnadu by Tamils hooligans.
Is it to silence the peaceful democratic protest of many students which is gaining steam.
I wonder these attacks on Sinhala tourist are orchestrated by Indian state through its agent provocateur to undermine student’s legitimate and democratic demand for an independent international investigation into war crimes in Sri Lanka.
Please note your silence indicates your collaboration with Delhi which many people believe undermines the legitimate demand by the decent students.
Speak up against the random attack on Sinhala tourist in Tamilnadu and attacks on Muslims by BBS.
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S.Thiagarajah / March 19, 2013
I think Tamils began their journey from the time the sinhalese took away the clause from the sonstitution granted by the British Empire to protect the tamils
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Ben Hurling / March 16, 2013
Dear Usha
Will this so called “Freedom Charter” apply to Tamils in their true homeland, Tamil Nadu? Where 60 million Tamils live. By far the largest population of Tamils.
Is it a bit too early and silly to talk about Tamil Ealam in South India just yet, Usha?
Funny, how tables turn all of a sudden. Isn’t it, Usha?
“PM Rudra” was busy keeping Tamils under VP’s Jackboot for so long. Now that VP is nomore, same Rudra now dishing out a so called “Freedom Charter” for the same Tamils in Sri Lanka.
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thangadurai sivakumaran / March 16, 2013
Very true.. Prime Minister Visuvanathan Rudrakumaran the socalled was the same guy who refuse to step in and ask the LTTE leaders to release the Tamil civilian Human Shields.. (wikileaks) because he values the freedom well its good to have a good laugh.. I see these fools have outdone the Kollywood Comedy movies.
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Usha S Sri-Skanda-Rajah / March 16, 2013
Your comments mean you haven’t read my article – Tamil Eelam is composed of 8 districts in the merged NorthEast (1987)of the island of Sri Lanka. Please read my article. Thank you
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Ben Hurling / March 16, 2013
Dear Usha
Only when we truly free ourselves from the shackles of extreme Ethno Nationalism, shall we be truly free as equal human beings. Can you handle it? Or are you forever burdened by the perverted version of Tamil nationalism that you are married to via TGTE and “PM Rudra”?
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S.Thiagarajah / March 19, 2013
Rudra Kumar is talking about the Tamil Ealam in Sri lanka, not in TamilNadu.It of course will apply to the 80 million tamils in the World as they do not have a Government of their own.
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Native Vedda / March 16, 2013
Ben Hurling
I have already asked Usha to help draft a freedom charter for my people.
You too can request her for a Sinhala/Buddhists freedom charter. Please feel free to ask her, I am sure she will oblige.
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Patta Pal / March 16, 2013
Its a great exercise in building a “Dreamland” so that some who crave to call a place their home, even it if it is in the Ether can anchor their desires.
Lets get real, this is not going to help, BUT hinder the Tamil’s rights in Sri Lanka, by such nonsensical perversions. Help those who need your help within Sri Lanka, then you may have some legitimacy.
First set up a detox section for Tamil youth in Jaffna. Those of you have not been there lately will not know that half the Tamil youth under 25 are alcoholics, thanks to the SL Army practice of only allowing alcoholics free passage at night without detention. Further free money from relatives who have fled, makes these kids unemployable and not wishing to work either! It is a huge social problem, which by a clever method as outlined above has reduced the BOYS sperm count so much that their reproductive prospects are also questionable. All part of the cynical ploy of the SL Govt. to reduce the Tamil population to a negligible number, and you Diaspora pontificators are talking about nation building in the mind!! You are must be ashamed of yourselves calling your self Tamil!
A lot needs to be done today, not in the future. In the future there may be no Tamils except in Tamil Nadu. In Sri Lanka they would have been immersed into Sri Lankan culture, and in the West to Western ones with intermarriage etc. so stop blowing the last post and get on with what is needed on the ground.
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S.Thiagarajah / March 19, 2013
You may be right when you say,there wont be any Tamils in Sri lanka as Genocide would have killed all the tamils.
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / March 16, 2013
Please note that the Lebara Foundation run by the succesful ‘ Lebara’ telephone card company ( London, UK) has done the following for the war-affected Tamils in the north:
1. Built a 50 house village in Maniam Thottam in Jaffna ( Lebara village ) for the houseless.
2. Built a modern library complex in Kilinochchi ( Lebara library ).
The Lebara telephone card company was founded and is managed by three Tamils from the north – Leon ( Le), Baskaran (Ba) and Rathesan ( Ra).
This is the type of tangible help we need from the Diaspora. The Lebara Foundation and these three great Tamils, deserve our thanks and applause. Incidentally they are also helping the Sri Lankan Tamils in Tamil Nadu, in a very substantial manner. I hope the TGTE will take note of this.
Dr. Rajasingham Narendran.
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Native Vedda / March 16, 2013
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
If Lebara telephone card company is doing all these good work why do the Tamils need Sri Lankan state and its rulers.
Let Lebara run North East instead of the state, its institutions and its rulers who are supposed to be doing the work for the Tamils.
If Lebara can do a better job the three of them should form a junta and run area.
When you meet the clan next time around please tell them to back off and withdraw all its state institution from North East as it happen the Tamils have found good partners who seem to deliver projects, from their own pockets, instead pocketing public money.
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Anpu / March 16, 2013
Native Vedda
Exactly for that reason we asking for devolution/fedaral setup/eelam…
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Rambler / March 16, 2013
ANPU
When we have enemies like you we don’t need friends. You have let the hobbling Tiger out of the bag by showing what everybody knew already anyway: Northern Provincial Council – Northeastern Provincial Council – Northeastern Tamil State – Tamil Eelam – Pan Tamil Nadu. LET’S ROLL !
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Native Vedda / March 16, 2013
Rambler
Do I have to constantly remind you that this island once belonged my ancestors?
You can have your petty quarrels away from my ancestral land and in your homeland India, Bihar or Tamilnadu.
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Rambler / March 16, 2013
Vedda
GO TO HELL.
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Native Vedda / March 16, 2013
Rambler
“GO TO HELL.”
You mean Sri Lanka?
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JULAAMPITYE AMARAYA / March 16, 2013
TO
Usha S Sri Skanda Rajah,
T G T E ,
ANPU, AND
EEEELAAM LOVERS.
Pirapaharan Tried that so called Devolution / Federal setup / Eeelaam and
Raised A WHITE FLAG and GOT IT.
AND PUT THOSE INNOCENT KIDs with his youngster IN VELLAI MUIKKAAL AND NANDHI KADAAL.
So why Did Not YOU PEOPLE Were So LATE to join them.
Because
You all want Others to do it,
You Selfish Pariah Dogs Type Jackals.
Still We hear Deads are Crying At Their Killing Fields in Mulaithivue, Thunukkai, SAmpoor, Waakarai, Kokadcholai And Evan in Kithuluthuva, Digampathaha,Aranthalaava too.
Why not try a Freedom struggle Tamilzer Nadu in India.
Siri Sabarathinam and Uma Mukundan Tried it with Rajiv but your Sun god gave them chances to try RUSSIAN ROULETTE and they All won.
Just one more chance, Try it In Tamilzar Naadu in India Not in ILANKAI [Sri Lanka].
Karunanidhi and Jayalalitha are anxious to help you people.
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Citizen / March 17, 2013
Dear Native Vedda,
Lebara will do and still wanted to offer services to the Tamils. But what is the guarantee if they go to Sri Lanka. I personally knew Ratheesan, an aeronautical engineer, who is the master brain behind this foundation. He has helped people even in Africa. He has helped several schools and temples. Remember he has won six Awards for becoming within the first 100 best entreprenaur in the UK. He went to UK as a refugee at the age of 15 and later pursued his higher studies. He has given every national a place in his establishment. Should there be normalcy in Sri Lanka, you can see how he develops the North-East. He wanted everyone to work and come up in life. As Dr.N.Rajasingam said he helps everyone who wants to come up in life. There is also a project of 101 roomed 4-star hotl at Mamallapuram undertaken by Lebara Group in collaboration with Taj. In Tamil Nadu he bought a land of 500 acres and settled about 3,000 Sri Lankan Tamil refugees. Moreover, he had even financially helped Rahuman’s Charity.
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Native Vedda / March 17, 2013
Citizen
I congratulate Lebara team for building a successful business model and their philanthropic activities. We should welcome such people and their contribution to overall humanity, if it is done out of goodness of their heart.
My comment is aimed at the Sri Lankan state.
Should we need a state when things can be done by people outside the state. In fact on many occasions the state deliberately holds back development, progress, …. philanthropy and curtail most people from unleashing their full potential.
We can find many reason for such behaviour of the state, its institutions and its rulers, one important factor is that the state is structured on undemocratic parochial bigotry.
Therefore my comment to Dr.Rajasingham Narendran was aimed at the state’s deliberate attempt to demotivate and destroy every initiative by people outside the establishment. The state is the great barrier to progress and development. Hence my suggestion to rollback the state.
I have no intention of belittling Lebara or for that matter any other do gooders.
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / March 17, 2013
Native Veddah,
This is what I have been advocating for a long time. We have to do do what we can by ourselves, with our resources. This will complement what the government is doing in terms of infra-structure development. It is a partnership of sorts, without political overtones. The Lebara represents what the community and the Diaspora are capable of doing from within. The State represents the external input. Both efforts are not exclusive of each other. They are complementary and that is how it should. The school system in Jaffna developed because of the partnership of the state, the churches and Hindu revivalist movement. Although they were not planned to be complementary activities, they ultimately delivered what was needed- high quality education.
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
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Native Vedda / March 17, 2013
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
The state has a monopoly on violence and destruction. Therefore the state has a great responsibility to do everything to rebuild or reverse the destruction. The war was imposed on the innocent people by the actions or inaction by the stupid state and its successive rulers.
My point is this, where the state cannot provide the basic needs of the people, then the state should be rolled back and let the individuals or NGOs replace the functions of the state, particularly sack all the inertia driven bureaucracy and send the members of peasant army back to their paddy fields.
Sri Lankan state is a burden on the people irrespective of their race, religion, or region and not an enabling institution. Therefore its time it is replaced.
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / March 17, 2013
Native Veddah,
I have to disagree with you. It is the state that provides free medical care from birth to death and free education from grade 1 to the Universities. One cannot deny the positive role of the government in the daily lives of all people in Sri Lanka. Most of us would not be what we are or where we are, if not for the free education system. Our quality of life is much better than those of many of our neighbours, because of this government input. Further, the destruction brought about directly and indirectly to infrastructure during the war is a curse yet bedevilling the Tamils. Both parties are responsible for this. The government forces bombed buildings and destroyed property. The LTTE blew up roads , bridges and tank embankments. The LTTE dismantled the railway lines and looted factory equipment. The LTTE destroyed the electricity distribution system and stole the cables and wires. The LTTE also laid mines indiscriminately and in large concentrations over vast extents of land. The government has demined and restored the infrastructure to a considerable extent. However, the lives of the people has to be rebuilt. This is where the community and the Diaspora have to contribute.
Dr. Rajasingham Narendran
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Native Vedda / March 17, 2013
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
I beg to differ.
How did Sri Lanka manage to arrive at point where war was inevitable or was it?
Lets not boringly dwell on the history of the island after it effortlessly received its independence on a silver platter.
A cursory look at state’e history, its achievements are dwarfed by its failures. The state is not fit for its purpose.
The state always put the cart before horses forcing the cart to pull horses. The priority for the state, its institutions and its rulers has always been Sinhala/Buddhistisation of my ancestral land forgetting the diversity of its people. Herein lies the central failure.
You are proud of Sri Lanka’s achievements. I am not, in fact I am mourning about the forgone development, progress, peace, prosperity and loss of lives and dignity as people.
Stupid Tamils and stupid Sinhalese passively take whatever is given to them and never demand the best out of the state and its rulers.
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / March 18, 2013
Native Veddah,
I can agree with you on factors that precipitated the destruction and the LTTE phenomenon, with some blame being also laid on the shortsighted , sloganeering Tamil politicians of those days. The same stupidity afflicts Mahinda’s. government and almost all Tamil politicians today. If this trend continues we may not live to see. Thirty more years of lost development and human progress.
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
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Citizen / March 17, 2013
I agree with you.
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S.Thiagarajah / March 19, 2013
Yes Tamils are grateful for your help but your resources are limited very much less than that of a Government.Thats why TGTE is trying to establish a Government for the Tamils,so that that Govt, will look after everything for the tamils like Sri Lanka.
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S.Thiagarajah / March 19, 2013
Thank you for your help but your resources are limited to look after all the Tamils.So TGTE is doing that to look after all the Tamils.
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Park / March 16, 2013
Sri Lanka is a multi ethnic, multi cultural society. From time to time we have had issues between communities, only because the ruling parties have added fuel to the fire. But Sri Lanka cannot be and never be divided and there is no place for Tamil Eelam. If TGTE is interested in the Tamils then they have to register as a political party and contest Presidential, Parliamentary and Provincial elections and work within the united Sri Lanka to help Tamils.
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S.Thiagarajah / March 19, 2013
You are right,there is no question of separation.Tamils are asking for their Kingdom taken over by the Sinhalese in 1940s,like Pakistan.If Tamils had a leader like the great Mohammed Alli Jinnah,Tamils would have got back their Kingdom at that tine.
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Waran Vaithilingam / March 16, 2013
Great Article by Mrs.Usha Sriskandarajah, thank you for your explanation on Freedom Charter. Very well explained. Those who thinks Freedom Charter has to do with PM Rudra or Vellupillai Pirabaharan does not know what they are talking about. Right of Self Determination is a collective wish of Tamils, it is NOT S.J.V.Chelve nor VP nor PM Rudra’s personal wish, they are mere custodians of the struggle at the given period. Understand this we Tamils did not pull put the right to Self-Determination out of the air. 1975 Vattokottai Conference declared it, 1977 General election and the subsequent elections there after given people mandate to it. Sinhalese do not understand it yet? Or you do not want to respect the collective wishes of the Tamils?
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Rambler / March 16, 2013
WARAN VAITHI
C’MON MAN, 1975 Vaddukoddai Resolution has no mandate from the Tamil people, though desperate Tamil nationalists try to piggyback it on the results of subsequent parliamentary elections. You know people have to elect their M.P.s whether they like the resolution or not. This is Jaffna legal brain that can only impress G.G. Ponnan fans. Anyway looks like you are making efforts to improve your English since we met last time. Keep up the good work. How is the weather in Toronto? How is Tim Horton’s “double double”? Say Hi to Harper.
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S.Thiagarajah / March 19, 2013
So put up the resolution to the people now.
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JULAAMPITYE AMARAYA / March 16, 2013
hoooooooo;
GRATE ARTICLE AND A VERY NICE DAY DREAMS of
Usha Sri Skanda Rajah AND TGTE.
OH WAKE UP. you numskulls, bloody morons.
Those buffaloes are sold in wholesale.
and cyanide capsules were taken by all hierarchies ordered by LTTE.
we do not want another Draculas here in Sri lanka to suck innocent’s blood.
Jump to the Sea where you reside and die,
then Tamils in Sri lanka may live peacefully.
still they are suffering because of you morons put them in So called EEELAM FIRE PIT.
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S.Thiagarajah / March 19, 2013
very nice
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Waran Vaithilingam / March 16, 2013
Dr.Rajasingham , what the phone company has to do with Freedom Charter article ?, Are you a sales man for the LIBRA ?. Who gave you Doctorate degree? Did you know you; get zero marks if you write uncalled answer for your Doctorate exam? Are you really a Doctor or You are like Dr.Mervin Silva ?
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / March 17, 2013
WV,
If you do not see the connection, or refuse to see it, you never will. Vituperation is the last resort of the stupid!
Dr. Rajasingham Narendran
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S.Thiagarajah / March 19, 2013
I dont think Tamils will accept his request because he is asking for money from others.If that is the case TGTE has to establish a committeee.
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Rambler / March 16, 2013
USHA AUNTY, who fancies she is the new ADELE for aging Tiger Romeos, is having one of her paroxysmal attacks.
These self-serving and self-elected (with the help of their shady hangers-on) are insulting our intelligence by perversely invoking Britain’s Magna Carta, the Freedom Charter of the African National Congress (ANC) as well as the Palestinian National Charter. It’s a sacrilege for fascists like the TGTE to invoke truly oppressed people’s struggle for liberation. Nothing more needs to be said about these cunning and unconscionable Jaffnese than the apt words with which DBS concludes his recent and excellent article:
“Diaspora LTTE Activists Posing as Human Rights Champions”
Here’s straight from the horse’s mouth:
“The LTTE and pro-LTTE elements abroad lost considerable power and clout after the military defeat of the LTTE in 2009.Internal dissension and factionalism has caused much damage to the movement. A striking example of this is the pronounced antipathy displayed by the one –time Tiger media flagship “Tamilnet” towards the Transnational Tamil Eelam Government of its self – styled Prime Minister Visuvanathan Rudrakumaran.”
“Gone were the days when the LTTE could mobilize thousands of flag waving demonstrators at short notice in important Western cities. A large number of Tiger media organs have ceased to operate. Fund raising has not completely dried up but has certainly dwindled. Many “benami’s holding or managing property and enterprises owned by the LTTE have begun “appropriating” them or selling them and running off with the money.”
“Hilarious too was the overnight transformation of many “educated” Tiger supporters with high academic and professional qualifications. These people who justified every action of the LTTE including the assassination of those with different opinion have now become champions of human rights. They shamelessly align themselves with reputed human rights organizations like Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and International Crisis Group and talk of human rights.”
“In Tamil folklore and everyday usage, there are many sayings and references about the tiger. “Pasuthhol porthiya puli” is one such descriptive phrase, which means the tiger covered in a cow’s skin or hide. Metaphorically, this alludes to something fiercely dangerous portraying itself as harmlessly docile-an equivalent of the English idiom “wolf in sheep’s clothing.”
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Native Vedda / March 16, 2013
Rambler
““Diaspora LTTE Activists Posing as Human Rights Champions”
If a Human Rights Champion poser could become a alleged war criminal is it too much for war mongers changing their strips?
Changing one’s mind is not a crime but if the change is not for better is the issue.
You should be welcoming the stupid Tamils’ change of heart and mind and let them be part of humanity. I hope they do.
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Rambler / March 16, 2013
Vedda
You have no right to talk about Tamils’ change of heart as you have made all of them stateless by your mindless gibbering.
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Native Vedda / March 16, 2013
Rambler
My name is Native Vedda and not mere Vedda. Address me properly please.
“You have no right to talk about Tamils’ change of heart as you have made all of them stateless by your mindless gibbering.”
I am surprised.
So if I continue with my mindless gibbering do I have any chance of making the Sinhala/Buddhists stateless? Good idea.
I want my ancestral land back from both Tamils and Sinhalese, this could work.
Thanks for your novel idea.
If the rest don’t leave what shall I do to ethnically cleanse them?
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S.Thiagarajah / March 19, 2013
TGTE is trying to regain the lost Tamil Kingdom.
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Native Vedda / March 20, 2013
S.Thiagarajah
“TGTE is trying to regain the lost Tamil Kingdom.”
I am trying to reclaim our lost ancestral land. Do you have any problem with our claim?
Please spit it out.
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justice / March 16, 2013
Tamils need to live as free and equal citizens in every sense of the word,in their own homes, pursue their lives and livelihoods without restrictions/harassment,posess their lands as before,vote in free and fair elections and be governed by their own representatives, and not by a military regime.
Is this too much to ask?
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Rambler / March 16, 2013
Justice
Okay, now you are talking.
You have described exactly what the Tamils had before they went off the rails because of FP/TULF/LTTE-TNA. Tamil racists thought “Sinhalaya modaya” and can be bamboozled into conceding 1/3 of the land and 5/6 of the coast to 1 million people (the other million is out of northeast) out of the 21 million people as a separate, sovereign state of Tamil Eelam. In Tamil there is a saying, “loosing one’s Amude in the greed to get a silk Vetti.”
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Dickie Bird / March 16, 2013
Who ever you may be excellent work Lebara…..May you grow in strength.
CT is a good way of self promotion. Do not abuse it or conduct in such a manner to bring more misery.
So… Rudra is blowing Hot & Cold with the same breath and what does Usha do? trying to differentiate his breath??
Get a life Usha. Draw up a charter save the Jaffna Youth of alcohol abuse and save the Jaffna virgins who are promised marriage by the wife serching diaspora who destroy their Virginity and disappear…
There are lot of simple things to be done in the North & the North seeks simple solutions and not Charters..
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / March 17, 2013
Dickie Bird,
Thanks for the largely positive comment. The Lebara Foundation is quietly doing getting about its work. I first heard about it a year or more back through an AlJazeera documentary. The Lebara commercial entity operates in the UK and the Charity does its work in Tamil Nadu and the north of Sri Lanka. Please do not look at a gift horse in the mouth! I don’t see any reason for self promotion in Sri Lanka and India, as the business entity does not operate in these countries. Further the foundation does not publicise its work. Very few in the north are aware of what they have done.
I came to know of their work within the past week and highlighted it here to emphasise what could be done to help the war-affected Tamils here, instead of what the TGTE , GTF and the BTF are trying to do .
Dr. Rajasingham Narendran
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S.Thiagarajah / March 19, 2013
Mr Ratnasingham if you can help without expecting anything in return please go ahead.Your job is to help not to talk badly about others.Also Tamils are tired of giving money as they were misused,so please dont ask for money.Also please do not plant things against independence of tamil Ealam, in the minds of people.Then your help will be treated as Bribe..
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / March 20, 2013
S.Thiagarajah,
Who is talking badly of others? I am against the concept of Eelam. However, I want the Tamils to be equal citizens in everyway in this country and be yet Tamils. I am for a united Sri Lanka and stand for a solution based on meaningful devolution, power-sharing or a combination of the two.
There is no ambiguity about this. You and those like you have the right to pursue what you think is right. You can seek the lost Kingdom or the Kingdom lost! But pause a bit to think whether this is what the Tamils here want or need in their current circumstances.
Make your case for Eelam, but do not try to condemn my right to advocate my case against it. If people are changing their minds, because of what I write, my persistance has paid off. Who is bribing you to advocate your cause? Why should you assume that I am being bribed to advocate mine?
Tamils are tired of giving money to whom? How many Tamils gave money to help the war-affected, other than their relatives? Many Tamils paid the militant movements and the LTTE, relucatantly, either because of coertion or because they thought it was an insurence premium to safeguard their relatives from harassment and predation!
I however recognise that you are an honest man who believes in what you advocate- an independent Tamil Eelam- and is not afraid to proclaim it in public. There are many who write and comment here, who do not have the courage or honesty to do so.
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
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S.Thiagarajah / March 26, 2013
Sir,Mr.Rajasingham,i have been following the Sri Lanka politics since the 1958 riots when I went to Jaffna in a goodship due to fear of killings by the sinhalese.They will never ,ever give anything to the Tamils.Any rights or anything else to the tamils.They will go on talking for ever,may be now till they complete their Genocide of tamils.So your solution for this hour or any hour does not make sense.We can only talk from the experiences of the past.There is only one solution ,the Two Nation solution.Mind you Tamils are not asking for separation,they are asking for their Kingdom like Alli Jinnah asking for his Kingdom.It is possible that Sinhalese will try to use some Tamils to do their work ,by giving bribes or giving positions or by threat or by other means.They have been doing this since independence but it never worked from the fact the problem is still there.Unlike what you said about support for Two Nations,support is enormous from what we saw during the struggle.Almost ninety nine percent of the 80 million tamils in the World from South Africa to Newzeland supported it.The two nation solution is natural.Tamils also want to live like sinhalese as independent people or like any other race.Live and let others live.If you want to help Tamils,please do without expecting anything in return.This is from Lord Krishna.
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Jeyam / March 16, 2013
Waran said it well. Usha, very well written article explaining the Freedom Charter. Some of these people don’t even know what they are talking about, some are being paid by the SL govt. and the others are so ignorant. I feel sorry for these people.
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JULAAMPITYE AMARAYA / March 16, 2013
TO JEYAM,
2 nd time my answer to you people, [
from a buddhist Sinhalese].
HAROOO HARAA,
KADAUL PAARUNGALE, EIVENNAGAL SAEYIYARA, EINDA ANIYAAYAM
ENGADE MAGELEKU.
Usha S Sri Skanda Rajah,
T G T E ,
ANPU, AND
EEEELAAM LOVERS.
Pirapaharan Tried that so called Devolution / Federal setup / Eeelaam and
Raised A WHITE FLAG and GOT IT.
AND PUT THOSE INNOCENT KIDs with his youngster IN VELLAI MUIKKAAL AND NANDHI KADAAL.
So why Did Not YOU PEOPLE Were So LATE to join them.
Because
You all want Others to do it,
You Selfish Pariah Dogs Type Jackals.
Still We hear Deads are Crying At Their Killing Fields in Mulaithivue, Thunukkai, SAmpoor, Waakarai, Kokadcholai And Evan in Kithuluthuva, Digampathaha,Aranthalaava too.
I saw my own eyes, how they suffered and still suffering for others sins.
YOU PEOPLE’S SIN THEY PAID AND STIIL PAYING.
NO SHAME ON YOU??????//
Why not try a Freedom struggle Tamilzer Nadu in India.
Siri Sabarathinam and Uma Mukundan Tried it with Rajiv but your Sun god gave them chances to try RUSSIAN ROULETTE and they All won.
Just one more chance, Try it In Tamilzar Naadu in India Not in ILANKAI [Sri Lanka].
Karunanidhi and Jayalalitha are anxious to help you people.
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Jeyam / March 16, 2013
Dickie, What are you doing about these simple things that can be done in the North?
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Native Vedda / March 16, 2013
Jeyam
Tricky Dicky has other important matters that he is guilty of neglecting his duty to his own people.
There are tens of thousands of members of armed forces whose heads are screwed up either witnessing war crimes or committing themselves. Already four hundred of them had committed suicide and some of them have committed homicides. They need support.
Tricky Dicky and fellow war crime deniers rather spend their time with screwed soldiers than wasting their time being pain in our necks.
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JULAAMPITYE AMARAYA / March 16, 2013
One of my friend’s daughter is psychological counselor and do free counseling with an Ingo. .
She says most of her Patients are members of armed forces and their families who come with pathetic stories.
see what is happening to the nation,
when the rulers of a country done to it’s people.
So these DICKS, Ducks and PIGS cannot understand what is happening around them and just HOWLING Only.
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Native Vedda / March 16, 2013
JULAAMPITYE AMARAYA
This is Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan Syndrome.
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mohamed fazly ilyas / March 16, 2013
Are you qualified journalist or a member of the TGTE. If your comment is as a journalist, i am afraid you should re-thing the ethics of journalism, since you are just promoting another war against innocent citizens of Srilanka. Your so called TGTE charter is like butter applied to a stale slice of bread.But if you are a member of the TGTE your statement is akin to promotion of a War!
Well. why can’t you. people like you who have cushioned jobs with guaranteed paychecks and cosy round tables and plush offices living at the expense of some gullible members of the Tamil diaspora(as you call it)who equally are adapt to protect their Visas’a and the foreign passports to prosperity, would always like blood to flow in this peaceful island so that you will live on.
Why not come in person to the Island and fight your new eelam War/Charter personally on soil. Never know the kind of wolves in sheep clothing you may find here to help your cause.
‘You live by the sword,you die by the sword’ remember that
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Rambler / March 16, 2013
Mohamed
Don’t you know USHA AUNTY is a member of the non-existing senate of the non-existing TGTE of non-existing Tamil Eelam. And her non-existing qualification is her non-existing brain full of real shit.
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mohamed fazly ilyas / March 18, 2013
Rambler, like her many of her kind have a clot in their brains, which blind the reality. If i may quote Helen Keller…. ‘ the only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision’.
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S.Thiagarajah / March 19, 2013
How can she come to your place as the country is full of murders,rape and abductions.
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mohamed fazly ilyas / March 23, 2013
Tell me place or even a corner in any country where these evils don’t exist. i’ll be glad.Mr. Thiagarajah, are you a true resident of mother lanka or a dual citizen with some other color passport.
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S.Thiagarajah / March 26, 2013
Sir you are safe as a Muslim,but think of us .During one of the riots they asked me what is the time,i could not say correctly in sinhalese.Ohh they assaulted me left and right.Now they will kill me.Genocide.Anyway you are ok ,live happily.
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Native Vedda / March 16, 2013
Rambler
” is her non-existing brain full of real shit”
How could non existing brain hold real shit?
Too much of abstract conversation.
Could you translate it into simple English.
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Rambler / March 17, 2013
Native Vedda
Don’t you know there’s something called “poetic License”?
This is a way of expressing the idea that if her non-existing brain is full of shit, if she does in fact have a brain it would be shit hell.
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Native Vedda / March 17, 2013
Rambler
Thanks for introducing me to such highly intellectual concepts. Sounds very pompous.
Where should I apply to obtain one?
I can use it when I write something that I don’t understand.
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mohamed fazly ilyas / March 18, 2013
Native Vedda, have you ever heard what a ‘ figure of speech means’.
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Naga / March 16, 2013
By the time the Eelam Charter gets universal approval there will be no separately identifiable geographical territory left in Sri Lanka for Tamils to create their dreamland of Eelam.
Eastern Province will soon become “Kelakistan” where Muslims are the dominant community now. They already control the Eastern Provincial Council and at the rate the Muslim politicians are changing the demography of the East, Tamils will soon be reduced to the third racial community numerically.
As for the Northern Province, Mannar district will soon be a Muslim majority district at the rate Minister Rishad Badiuddin is settling Muslims from other parts of the country in that previously Tamil dominated district. Parts of Vanni will be be separated and joined up with North Central Province thanks to the planned as well as unplanned settlements of Sinhalese.
Soon nothing will be left to constitute geographical description or identification of Tamil Eelam. Tamils will not be able to claim Northern and Eastern provinces as their geographical habitat or identifiable geographical area of control which is one of the essential conditions for the claim of a separate state under the principles of international law.
TGTE can proclaim the Tamil Eelam Charter in May 2013 but they have to establish that separate state of Eelam over the waters of the Indian Ocean. They will not have a land mass left in Sri Lanka to found their stupid dreamland of Eelam.
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Native Vedda / March 17, 2013
Naga
“By the time the Eelam Charter gets universal approval there will be no separately identifiable geographical territory left in Sri Lanka for Tamils to create their dreamland of Eelam.”
To the contrary, Israel is a living proof albeit in a state of insecurity.
Former USSR continued to change demography of the entire union with Russian internal migration/colonisation since its formation. When Soviet the union collapsed so did its social engineering. Most Russian colonisers were forced to leave and settle in Russia proper, amid chaos.
I believe you will take note of these exceptions to the norms.
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Lester / March 17, 2013
The Sinhalese will have to deal with either Muslims or Tamils. Much better to deal with Tamils, as they are clearly intelligent and also culturally similar. The optimum solution is to give Tamils a federal solution and entice the Tamil diaspora to reinvest their money in Sri Lanka. The situation that we see at present is very unfortunate. Particularly with the East turning into a new Saudi Arabia.
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Dubdoc / March 17, 2013
‘Tamils are clearly intelligent’
Where did you find this? From your own pocket?
So the Muslims are less intelligent?
What an insult to our Muslim brothers an sisters.
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Lester / March 18, 2013
Hi Dubdoc,
Not from my own pocket, but from Microsoft, which invested first and foremost in South India . The Indian economic miracle is really a South Indian miracle. You can see the statistics for yourself:
North India vs South India
Per Capita Income
North =$214.81
South =$347.16
Literacy Rate
North = 53%(well below national average)
South = 74%(well above national average)
Per Capita expenditure on Public Earth
North =$2.34
South =$3.23
Proportion of households with electricity
North = 49%
South = 74%
It is no accident that most of India’s Nobel Prize winners are from the South, and that most of the millions of engineers it produces annually are from the South.
Sri Lankan Tamils could do the same thing for Sri Lanka, given sufficient space and monetary rewards.
It is my opinion that Muslims do not have much to contribute to Sri Lanka’s economic growth. They have not made any major contribution to the real GDP growth of Sweden, Germany, England, or the USA, despite being present in large numbers. Or just compare Singapore and Malaysia. Singapore is a first-world nation and Malaysia is a —– toilet.
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mohamed fazly ilyas / March 18, 2013
Lester, some vision you have. how much dealing was done in the name of peace by the various politicians in the past 30 years.A terrorist whether Tamil,Sinhalese or Muslim does not understand the meaning of peace or respect.If they are intelligent and culturally the same, they should understand that this island is an unitary state. There should be no room for Federalism or an EElam.
Pray, on what judgement you say that east is turning to a Saudi Arabia? If so, please watch out for your neck!
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Native Vedda / March 18, 2013
Lester
“Much better to deal with Tamils, as they are clearly intelligent and also culturally similar.”
The Sri Lankan state has already dealt with Tamils and the final settlement was signed on 19 May 2009. The proof of Tamil intelligence was evident in Mullivaaikkaal. We do not want further proofs.
If the Muslims want Saudi Arabia let them have it including its medieval justice.
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S.Thiagarajah / March 19, 2013
You are sadly mistaken Naga,TGTE is asking for the Tamil Kingdom.So all those sinhalese colonizations are illegal.UN Has to declare that.
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Citizen / March 17, 2013
I think the TGTE is on the correct path.
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mohamed fazly ilyas / March 18, 2013
Citizen, Yes. on its path to eternity.
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monkey / March 18, 2013
Idiotic person, there is no such thing as tamil eelam! wake up from your nightmare of your own creation!
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S.Thiagarajah / March 26, 2013
What,who told you ,there is no such think as Tamil Kingdom.That means are you going to say there is no such Kingdom like Pakistan and there was only India.The Tamil Kindom existed from time immorial and ruins of tamil Kingdom is in Anuradhapura.
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Senguttuvan / March 18, 2013
I have said this before and want to repeat it here. You may agree or not with the TGTE but don’t make the mistake of under-estimating them.
Earlier, I gave you the examples of ANC (Mandela/Sisulu)the PLO and the Mindanao rebels, who were also taken lightly at the outset. TGTE are going about matters legally and with the concurrence of leading State agencies in many countries. Usha S engages appropriately and with finesse, when necessary. For a body of recent existence, more than one single sovereign country is ready to recognise them.
Fortunately, it is understood GoSL sources have been in discussion with them for sometime. There is nothing to feel shy about this. This is the road to go. The coming into being of TGTE can only be averted by
due and early empowerment to the majority of the Tamil people in the NEP.
Senguttuvan
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Lester / March 18, 2013
Yes, give the Tamils a federal solution and all these political problems will fade away. Unfortunately the politicians have brainwashed the majority of Sinhalese into believing federalism is equivalient to seperatism. Exhibit A: former propaganda minister Goebbelstilleke, who thinks power sharing under the Thirteenth Amendment is superior to federalism.
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Citizen / March 19, 2013
Agreed. If there is Federalism in Sri Lanka, by now Sri Lanka would be a paradise. Instead of sending the Sri Lankan girds as housemaids, Sri Lanka will importing housemaids from Indonesia and Phillipines. Sometimes we use to think how Sinhalese were fooled by some selfish politicians. There was a time when JR, Dr.N.M.Perera, Edmund Samarakoddy insisted on Federalism for the unity and prosperity of the country. Communal-minded politicians spoilt everything and that wasa curse on Sri Lanka. Mark my word, if only the Sri Lankan politicians declare that Federalism is the most suitable form of government, all the Western democratic countries will join and praise Sri Lankan leaders.
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Donald J Gnanakone / March 19, 2013
Senguttavan, Are you saying that TGTE is secretly negotiating with the GOSL behind the backs of the Tamils? The Co-Founder of TGTE is KP and he is in Killinochchi closely working with Major General Udaya Perera and Gota R.
Anyway your assertions on TGTE in the first part is incorrect and misplaced. They have a long way to go in building credibility and integrity. I have been in this not for 30 years but 40.
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / March 18, 2013
In a lighter vein, has anyone noticed the rather close resemblance between Usha Sri-Skanda- Rajah and Sharmini Serasinghe- one a Tamil and the other a Sinhalese ? Both are also in their own ways espousing the cause of the minorities.
Dr. Rajasingham Narendran
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Native Vedda / March 18, 2013
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
“one a Tamil and the other a Sinhalese ?”
Genetically both are stupid Tamils and descendants of South India.
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I.M.S. MANIVANNAN / March 20, 2013
Let’s do it , 21st century is Tamil’s Century.
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Native Vedda / March 20, 2013
I.M.S. MANIVANNAN
“Let’s do it , 21st century is Tamil’s Century.”
Please let me know who assigns these periodisation and on what basis.
Was there a Veddah Century before?
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Mango / March 20, 2013
Could the saintly Mrs Sri Skanda Rajah explain how the TGTE and its allies abroad have helped Sri Lankan Tamil refugees still living in squalor and poverty in Tamil Nadu, almost 20 years after arriving there? These poor people have lost their homes, possessions, livelihoods and subsist on UN and Indian govt handouts.
Yet the wealthy, powerful Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora appear to forgotten their plight. Why? Is it a caste issue? Are these refugees insufficiently glamorous to be used for their cause?
I think the world (and Eezham Tamils) demands answers! Why not use the millions held by the LTTE to help these unfortunate people?
p.s I’m waiting with bated breath for a report from our valiant human rights defender, the Paris-based Mr Kirubaharan, for his stories from the UN Human Rights frontlines.
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Senguttuvan / March 20, 2013
Manivannan – “21st Century is a Tamil century” is a load of rubbish.
It is another self-deceiving crowd who went along these lines who are now looking for escape routes denying all their mis-adventerous follies – here and in many countries. Tamils have been
humble even whey they were conquerors in history many times covering many areas. Simplicity in thought, dress and demeanour is synonymous with education and primordial culture. Allow others to call you in complimentary terms – if need be so.
Senguttuvan
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