Many around the world say Prabhakaran is Alive

Shiv in Colombo sent me this picture of him watching me on Headlines Today.

Death

I know you've come to kill me. Shoot, coward, you're only going to kill a man. - Ernesto Che Guevara (just before he was shot and murdered)

J Jayalalitha Offers Hope

AIADMK chief J Jayalaitha has emerged as the champion of the Sri Lankan Tamil cause in Tamil Nadu this election season.

Her criticism of the UPA government at the Center for its failure to prevent the deepening humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka and the continued killing of Tamil civilians there, turned the issue into the central campaign theme in the state.

There is considerable anger in Tamil Nadu at the Indian government's inability to stop the killing of Tamil Civilians in the conflict zone in Sri Lanka. The UN estimates that over 6500 Tamil civilians have been killed in Sri Lanka in just the last few months.

Many in the state feel,thousands of lives could have been saved and many injuries prevented if the Indian government had done more to pressure Sri Lanka to announce a humanitarian ceasefire.

They feel by providing arms, training and logistical support to the Sri Lankan security forces, India encouraged the Sri Lankan government to continue with what is now being described by the UN as a "bloodbath."of civilians. Dozens of civilians continue to die every day even now.

Jayalalitha's promise to send the Indian army to Sri Lanka to "create Tamil Eelam" too was seen by many as a ploy to cash in on the popular sentiment against the continued military action in Sri Lanka.

Her opponents call her an opportunist. They say she has embraced the cause only for quick electoral gains and that she will forget about it the minute the polls are over.

But Jayalaitha is seen as a politician who keeps her word, and that is the reason why her campaign has been so successful.

Talking to journalists after casting her vote on the 13th of May she reiterated her stand on the Sri Lankan Tamil issue.

It is expected that her alliance will win a majority of the seats in the parliamentary polls in the state. Experts say she will play a big role in the formation of the next government at the center.

For the suffering people of Vanni and for crores of Indians concerned about their plight Jayalalitha offers hope.

Comrade Prachanda's resignation Letter