11.4.2008
By Shenali Waduge
The assassinations of Minister Jeyraj Fernandopulle &
Minister Lakshman Kadiragamar are important for several
reasons. Had both been Sinhalese or Buddhists one could
have understood the LTTE's decision to assassinate in
the light of their argument that Sinhalese Buddhists are
against the Tamils & are denying them their right
to self-determination. Then, why would the LTTE wish to
carry out the coldblooded killings of two individuals
who were Tamil? Minister Kadiragamar was a Hindu but Minister
Fernandopulle was a Catholic. Given the present Madhu
controversy & the rumors of LTTE links with the Catholic
Church the death of Minister Fernandopulle is most intriguing.
However, the LTTE's past history of killings is too large
to mention but have included Tamils, Hindus, Sinhalese,
Buddhists, Christians as well as Catholics. Their only
"friends" are those who contribute to their
killing machine. They have so far only kidnapped foreigners
but perhaps it may be only a matter of time given their
capabilities that they may enter international contract
killings as well.
It then baffles any simpleton why powerful nations like
the US, UK, EU, Canada & India choose to designate
the LTTE as a terrorist outfit in their country, accuse
it of forceful recruitment of child soldiers, prepare
countless dossiers on their illicit dealings, declare
the outfit to be the most dangerous more so than the Al
Qaeda but continue to use direct & indirect means
to pressure the Government of Sri Lanka into indulging
in futile peace talks for negotiated settlement –with
a terrorist movement that exists because of their power
to kill?
It becomes all the more puzzling when distinguished &
respected Tamil leaders like Mr. Anandasangaree repeatedly
tells the international community that the LTTE are not
the sole representative or even the representative of
the Tamil people & urge the international community
to help liberate the Tamil people who are presently confined
to areas that the LTTE have illegally & unconstitutionally
declared their territory.
Let us look at some statistics. The Tamil population in
Sri Lanka is said to be 12% of the total population (2.4
million), out of this over 600,000 are presently living
in foreign shores, leaving 1.6million Tamils in Sri Lanka.
The Eastern province comprises a Tamil population of 674,411
& almost 60% (555353 Tamils) are living amongst the
Sinhalese outside of the North & East of Sri Lanka
(Almost one third of Colombo Municipal population accounts
for Tamils) It then leaves a mere 370236 Tamils in the
Northern province where presently the LTTE has a dwindling
stronghold. The LTTE is in fact demanding a separate state
called Tamil Eelaam to rule these 370236 or so people.
Following the North East demerger their demand for the
North & East has been nullified & they have to
make do with insisting only for the Northern part of Sri
Lanka. Thus, it is these 370236 that are in need of liberation
from the LTTE (as the East was liberated from the LTTE)
who will not permit anyone from leaving the area.
Let it also be noted that according to the 1981 census
there were 6659, 3992 & 8683 Sinhalese living in the
Districts of Jaffna, Mullaitivu & Mannar, while the
same census noted that 12958, 3651 & 27,717 Muslims
were living in the Districts of Jaffna, Mullaitivu &
Mannar. What happened to the 19334 Sinhalese & the
44326 Muslims who were living in the Northern Province
prior to the LTTE reign? Was this not ethnic cleansing
of both the Sinhalese & the Muslims by the LTTE? Has
any international authority questioned the LTTE for ethnic
cleansing?
Given that there are only 370236 Tamils living amongst
an exclusively self-declared Tamil area by the LTTE, it
doesn't give any weight to any argument that bases itself
on the premise that the Sinhalese are discriminating the
Tamils especially when over 555353 are living amongst
the Sinhalese. If there were any reason for these Tamils
to feel discriminated they should be scurrying to the
North to join the LTTE. Not one has so far packed their
bags to live with Prabakaran in the Wanni jungles.
It is estimated that the strength of the LTTE is around
10,000 (likely to be far less following the military onslaughts)
however, it is begs to question why the international
community should continue to project the LTTE as the representative
of the Tamil people (2.4million). The LTTE's existence
without arms is also a questionable feature & the
LTTE is well aware of what is likely to become of them
if they do in fact lay down their arms. If unarmed the
LTTE is likely to be more fearful of the Tamil people
& not the Sinhalese. It is perhaps for this reason
that even Prabakaran has to protect himself from his own
cadres with a body guard contingent of over 200 personally
picked tigers.
We hear echoes of international conspiracies in public
forums. Powerful nations that make up the UN Security
Council use issues like human rights, genocide, ethnic
cleansing etc as a tool to justify their actions upon
less powerful countries. Iraq, East Timor, Serbia, Afghanistan
are a few examples. Terrorists like the LTTE feel comfortable
in attracting foreign nations to intervene on behalf of
them using these same issues to force the Government to
halt any offensives against their outfit. However, if
the argument that we are seeing a new neocolonialism taking
place is true, then terrorists like the LTTE should know
better than to think that the international community
are likely to offer their demands on a golden platter
& walk away. Presidential candidate McCain has echoed
that the US presence is likely to remain in Iraq for 100
years more…. An experienced terrorist outfit like
the LTTE must surely realize the dangers of attracting
too much of foreign involvement.
Both Ministers Jeyraj Fernandopulle & Minister Lakshman
Kadiragamar were clear in their messages to the world
– the LTTE is nothing but a ruthless organization
interested in no one but its own existence & merely
riding on the bandwagon of Tamil rights to secure international
support & propaganda for its fund raising. Let not
the deaths of these great men be in vain. If the world
must accept that the reason for US troops in Iraq &
Afghanistan is to annihilate the terrorists & free
the people, then the world also needs to accept that the
LTTE must be annihilated first & disarmed completely
to get on to the next stage of arriving at a consensus
of solving any grievances that the Tamil people may have.