11.7.2008
When
forcefully recruited as a child soldier, by the Liberation
Tigers for Tamil Eelam (LTTE) at the tender age of 14,
Sivanesathurai Chanthirakanthan alias Pillayan, never
had the assistance of previous Governments, I/NGOs or
International Organizations to set him free from a world
of bloody violence and gruesome death, to take him back
to his family, back to a civilized society to gain an
education and lead a normal life.
However
15 years on defying all the odds, Mr. Chanthirakanthan
is the Hon. Chief Minister of the Eastern Province of
Sri Lanka following the Provincial Council elections held
in May 2008. With Karuna Amman’s (the former Eastern
Commander of the LTTE) breakaway from the LTTE in 2004,
brought a new lease of life for Pillayan. The Tamil Makkal
Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) was created and after October
2007, he took leadership of the Party with a strong belief
in democracy, peace and development and respect for the
rule of law and pluralism. The transformation from child
soldier to a politician in a democratic system has been
impressive, mainly for having achieved this gigantic goal
with nothing but self motivation, dedication and conviction
to change.
Despite
his traumatic past and continuing threat to his life from
the LTTE, Mr. Chanthirakanthan, boldly stepped forth to
serve humanity having been elected to represent the people
of the Eastern Province, address their needs and safe
guard their wellbeing and future. As Chief Minister, he
has great plans for his people.
He
wants to create a bright future for the every single citizen
of the Province, regardless of their race or religion.
Accessible education (formal, non formal and informal)
for children, youth and adults, language education on
Sinhala, Tamil and English, developed health system accessible
to all and most importantly economic development which
would result in the critically required creation of employment
opportunities.
With
a clear vision for the future Mr. Chanthirakanthan is
confident that the Eastern Province can develop to match
the development of the Western Province. Large project
implementation is not the goal. The goal is to have complete
and efficient implementation of projects which are urgently
required to meet the needs of the people. This has been
accepted to be a practical and timely approach adopted
by the Chief Minister.
Not
forgetting his past he recognizes the importance of providing
opportunities for transformation for the ex-cadres who
have given up arms. To be given a chance to serve in the
society, as most of them were abducted and recruited in
to the LTTE when they were under the age of 18. However
he also understands that this process must take place,
whilst providing for all the others in the Province with
the same opportunities. Each of the three districts, Trincomalee,
Batticaloa and Ampara is dominated by a different ethnic
community; Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims respectively.
However in the Province as a whole the ethnic composition
is finely balanced with each community having one third
of the population. Therefore Mr. Chanthirakanthan maintains
that all citizens of the East must be treated equally
and the TMVP will endeavour to achieve “equality,
social and economic justice, community solidarity and
freedom”.
Mr.
Chanthirakanthan’s journey is exemplary to all the
followers of the TMVP and mostly to the blinded followers
of the LTTE. He stands at present as a survivor of the
brutality inflicted by the LTTE on a young generation
as to a vast majority of the people in the East. He stands
to serve his people, to be instructed by the people. He
now hears only the voice of the Eastern folk. He believes
in a united Sri Lanka.
The
transformation has been successful. However Mr. Chanthirakanthan
must now be given the fullest support, assistance and
guidance he requires to make his vision of a ‘flourishing
east’ a reality. His conduct since entering main
stream politics has been exemplary. He seeks to continue
winning the hearts and minds of all the people of the
East, of Sri Lanka and the International community by
proving his actions are genuine and in the interest of
Sri Lanka, as he truly believes that ‘actions speak
louder than words’.
Courtesy - Asian
Tribune