LTTE'S Rudrakumaran reacts to JDS footage on Headlines Today

1. How do you respond to the Video released by the JDS ?

I am horrified that such a terrible crime against humanity was committed with such casualness by the Sri Lankan armed forces that it seems to be a routine event. However, I am not surprised because this is not the first time the barbarism and the brutality of the Government of Sri Lanka has been on public display. We have seen pictures of small children who were literally hung to death in Vaharai and the explosion of bombs in a woman’s private parts to hide evidence of rape by members of the armed forces. We fear there have been many more atrocities committed. There have been tens of thousands of disappearances and extrajudicial killings of Tamils over the past 25 years, for instance, while this is the first to be captured on film.
We are very concerned about the basic human security of the IDPs in the camps and the former combatants in places unknown. General Sarath Fonseka says that 4-5 suspected combatants are being taken from the camps every day, while Human Rights Watch says that there are “concerns of possible ill-treatment or enforced disappearance” for these individuals removed from the camps without accountability.

2. Does this vindicate the stand by various Human rights groups of massive human rights violations and war crimes in the last phase of what is now being called "Eelam War 4." ?
There is no doubt that war crimes have been committed by the Government of Sri Lanka. How else can one explain the killing of more than 20,000 civilians within the last ten days of the war? In addition to killing tens of thousands outright, the Government deliberately starved 300,000 civilians for months, withheld medical care and deliberately bombed and shelled hospitals, homes, fields, and temples and is holding the survivors in concentration camps indefinitely.
In fact, the carnage committed by the Government of Sri Lanka clearly satisfies the definition of genocide in the Genocide Convention. The intent to eliminate large numbers of Tamils can easily be inferred from the acts themselves.

3. How do you see the Sri Lankan government's reaction calling the footage doctored and saying that its security forces have not committed any war crimes or human rights abuses ?
What else do you expect from this government? The fact they haven’t even offered to have a domestic investigation reveals where the guilt lies.

4. Will this video be now part of your legal campaign?

Definitely this video will be part of the legal campaign to bring justice to the victims. We believe this kind of revelations prick the conscience of the international community. It is appalling to see even after the killing of more than 30,000 people and the detaining of more than 300,000 people in a clear effort to be rid of an entire community, Sri Lanka is still treated as a normal state. The international community’s failure to bring these criminals to justice not only reinforces the betrayal of the international community of the Tamils, but also undermines the rule of law and the integrity of international institutions such as the UN. We hope that the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) will do an investigation on its own, will refer the matter to the Security Council and get the Council’s approval to initiate prosecution in the ICC. India’s support for such action toward justice will be very important.

A Lizard on my Car Window

Touch Down at Sharm el Sheikh

Latest media release from the LTTE

Headquarters,
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
21 July 2009
LTTE officially announces restructure process: Selvarasa
Pathmanathan heads the Organisation
"The Executive Committee of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam,
wishes to officially let our beloved Tamil people and the international
community know that Mr Selvarasa Pathmanathan, who had been
appointed as Head of International Relations by our National Leader, will
lead us into the next steps of our freedom struggle according to the vision
of our esteemed leader", said LTTE's Executive Committee in a press
statement released today.
Full text of the statement by the Executive Committee of the Liberation Tigers of
Tamil Eelam is as follows:

"The Eelam Tamil people are in the midst of a critical and
sorrowful period in the history of the struggle for freedom of our Nation,
Tamil Eelam. No one can deny the fact that we have experienced massive
and irreplaceable losses, losses we would not accept even in our worst
dreams.
Against the backdrop of Sri Lanka's boastful propaganda that the
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam have been annihilated and destroyed, it
is our historic duty to rise up and fight for our legitimate rights ­ a duty
that has been left in our hands by our peerless leader and those martyred
heroes and civilians who have given their lives in defending our soil.
At this historic juncture, cognizant of the new circumstances, we
have set out to take our freedom struggle along new pathways.
Accordingly, we humbly announce to our beloved Tamil people that we
have reformulated the administrative structures of our liberation
movement.

Like all liberation struggles, we will modify the form and strategies
of our struggle according to times and demands. Yet, our ultimate goal of
a free Tamil Eelam does not ever change. In view of this, we, the
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, wish to join hands with our people in
order to take forward our freedom struggle to its next phase. Hon Mr
Veluppillai Pirabakaran was then, now, and shall remain forever, the
leader of Tamil Nationhood.

We are determined to overcome all the hurdles ahead of us in order
to strengthen our actions towards our liberation. We have undertaken a
long, elaborate and deep process of consultation among our members,
including our cadres who bravely fought their way out of the battlefield
and our representatives abroad and in the Diaspora, in order to make
some firm decisions. According to this collective decision, we, the
Executive Committee of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, wish to
officially let our beloved Tamil people and the international community
know that Mr Selvarasa Pathmanathan, who had been appointed as Head
of International Relations by our National Leader, will lead us into the
next steps of our freedom struggle according to the vision of our
esteemed leader.

We have set up a head office for our liberation movement, and
formulated various sector-based working groups and an executive
committee, in order to take our struggle vigorously forward. We shall
share the details of these in due course. We look forward to the support
and wise counsel of the Tamil people in realising our future plans.
If the Sinhala nation and those countries that support it consider
that the Tamil people's freedom struggle has been defeated through the
capture of historical homeland areas of the Tamil people and the
massacre of thousands of Tamil civilians, we shall shatter that illusion.
Let us demonstrate to the world through our actions that the fire of
freedom awakened by our great leader V.Pirabakaran continues to burn in
the hearts of all Tamils, and that only a free Tamil Nation has the power
to extinguish it."

Thank you
Yours Sincerely,
Mr.Suresh(Amuthan), Mr.Ram,
On behave of Executive committee,
Headquarters,
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam

The Headlines Today Interview with LTTE's Selvarasa Padmanathan

1. Q- What are the facts about Mr Prabhakaran's death ?



According to information I have, our leader Vellupillai Pirapakaran has attained martyrdom in the fight against the Sri Lankan armed forces on 17th of May 2009.

2. Were you in touch with Mr Prabhakaran during the final hours? What were the final moments like ?



a. Yes, I had contacts with our leader during the final hours until his communication link was active. My final contact was with Col Soosai who was leading the defensive resistance of LTTE against the Sri Lankan armed forces during the final hours. He described to me in detail what was happening on the ground then. The final moments were full of horrific and brutal attacks by Sri Lankan armed forces. Thousands of our people were killed and injured. There were no medical personnel or facilities to take care of the injured people. People were dying due to lack of medical attention. Col Soosai confirmed to me that our leader was engaging the Sri Lankan armed forces and sacrificed his life for our cause of the Eelam Tamil Nation.

b. What remains of Mr Prabhakaran's family?

We have highly reliable information that our leader’s elder son Charles Antony and daughter Duvaraka were part of LTTE fighting formations and that they also attained martyrdom in the fight against the Sri Lankan armed forces during the final moments. Until now, we do not have accurate information on the fate of our leader’s wife, Mathivathani and their younger son Balachandran.

3. In an interview to Headlines Today Eric Solhiem said that the LTTE was in touch with him in the final hours of the last battle. Were you in touch with other world leaders ?



Yes. I had contacts with some world leaders. For diplomatic reasons we are not in a position to reveal the information on such contacts at this particular point in time.

b. Why did these efforts fail to bear fruit ?


International Community (IC) continued to insist on the LTTE laying down the arms before they took any meaningful steps to stop the war. Our leadership held the view that any process of laying down arms should be linked to an acceptable political solution. Instead of laying down of arms, we were seeking a ceasefire and a political negotiation for a political solution. Unfortunately our position was not acceptable to the International Community on the grounds that our position was not acceptable to the Sri Lankan Government, so no effective measures were taken to stop the war. In the final moments, after seeing the intensity and brutality of the offensive by the Sri Lankan armed forces and the non existence of any kind of medical facilities, our leadership then decided to silence our guns for the purpose of saving the lives of the civilians and the remaining cadres. Our leadership was concerned that if our organisation did not silence the guns, the Sri Lankan government would use it as justification for completing the massacre of our people. The message about silencing the guns was conveyed to me in the evening of the 15th of May. This was a Friday. We were working with the IC around the clock for the next 48 hours to implement an immediate ceasefire, and we got positive responses for our position of silencing the guns from the IC. Though the days left for us were a Saturday and Sunday of the weekend, members of the IC were trying to convince the Sri Lankan government to implement a ceasefire. But the response of the Sri Lankan Government remained negative. Sri Lankan Government and the armed forces were adamant on carrying out the final assault and finishing the final phase of their brutal massacre.

4. Many pro-LTTE leaders in India have criticised you for announcing that Mr Prabhakaran is dead, this includes people like Mr Vaiko and Mr Nedumaran. It is reported that individuals within the LTTE's structure do not accept that Mr Prabhakaran is dead. How do you see this?



The message I brought to the Tamil people was very bad and a sad one. Of course, it also took me many hours to take the message in and accept the reality. Some carders and a large section of Tamil people were in disbelief of the news that I brought out. I understand their state of mind and I am very sympathetic towards them. Their reactions were the result of their emotions. As a responsible liberation movement, we cannot hide the truth from our people. It is also politically wrong to hide the truth from our people.

5. Does your assertion that the LTTE has shunned the path of violence have wide acceptability within the organisation? Is this permanent or does the LTTE retain its right to take up arms later?



The decision of silencing our guns was taken by our leader before his death. We are now moving forward towards a new path. This position has attracted wider acceptance within the organisation. LTTE’s political position is that any political solution for the Tamil national question should be based on the recognition of the fundamental principles of political aspiration of the Tamil people, i.e., recognition of Tamils as a nation, having the Northeast as their historical homeland and that they are entitled to right to self determination. We will continue our fight through political means until these aspirations of the Tamil people are realised. We will stick to this position. If you read the history of the evolution of armed struggles, you can clearly observe that fundamentally an armed struggle has its roots in oppression, occupation and denial of the political means of protest and denial of the democratic rights for fighting for the cause of an oppressed people. This also happened to us and the armed struggle of the LTTE was the historical product of injustice against the Tamil Nation. LTTE has now chosen to take the political path. I would leave the question of another armed struggle towards the rights of Tamil people for the pages of history.

6. What do you have to say to people within the organisation and sympathisers outside who still believe that only an armed struggle is the means to achieve Tamil Eelam?



Our leader had faced tremendous challenges during his more than three decades of armed struggle. He achieved the maximum that he could achieve within the prevailing conditions. He was very committed to the cause. Due to a world order that rotates on the axis of self interest, our armed struggle could not attract sympathy among the world countries. Instead, we have seen that the Sri Lankan Government has utilised the present world order and the geo-political structures to mobilise the entire world on its side. This was the fundamental reason for our military defeat in the recent war. The best option left for us is to be firm on the cause and the principles, and fight through the political means in our next phase of the struggle.

7. a. How do you respond to reports that talk of a split in the LTTE and a power struggle within the organisation?



I deny it. It is true that there were different views amongst us on the issue of announcing our leader’s death. We were not successful in reaching an agreement on the issue. We are now working to resolve the differences through dialogue.

b. What role will you play in the organisation going ahead?

As the head of the Department of International Relation of LTTE, I will lead the political programme and the required international relations for winning the international support for our course. We are planning a restructure of our organisation and will inform the Tamil people and the world when we make it.

c. What role will the new non-violent LTTE play in the future?

LTTE will continue to fight for the political aspirations of the Tamil people based on the principles of Tamil nationhood, homeland and right to self-determination. As we have decided to choose a new path, we are now transforming our organisation for the purpose of continuing our fight through political means. As one of our tasks, we need to work with the IC to remove the ban on our organisation with support of the Tamil Diaspora and fellow Tamils in Tamil Nadu and in other parts of the World. We hope that the IC, especially India and the West, would welcome our new path and reward it by removing the ban on our organisation to open the door for political engagement.

8. Can you tell us about the provisional Transnational government of Tamil Eelam? How will it be different from other governments in exile, which have not been very effective?

A committee has been formed to create a provisional Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam under the leadership of our legal advisor, Visuvanathan Rudrakumaran. There are some conceptual differences between a transnational government and an exile government. I think that the coordinator of the Formation Committee, Mr Rudrakumaran, would be the right person to answer this question further.

9. Will the LTTE consider participating directly in elections in Sri Lanka? You have sought a link up with the TNA, how will this relationship work?

We do not see any rationale or space for participating in the elections in Sri Lanka. Fighting the cause through political means does not necessarily mean participating in the elections. LTTE would not participate in the elections until a political settlement is reached based on the principles of Tamil nationhood, homeland and right to self determination. We do not seek a linkup between LTTE and TNA, but realise the importance for a link up in the political programmes in the Tamil homeland and among the Diaspora. It is too early to comment on how this common understanding would emerge and function.

10. What is your message to President Rajapakse?

Sri Lankan Government may have defeated the LTTE militarily but not politically. The fundamental causes for the Tamils struggle for self- determination remain unaddressed. Over the years since its independence, Sri Lankan democracy has become a strong Sinhala majoritarian dictatorship. Sri Lankan parliament, government and judiciary have been functioning as instruments for establishing Sinhala hegemony over Tamils and Muslims. The recent claim by President Rajapakse that there was only one country and one people in Sri Lanka, without recognising the identity of Tamils and Muslims in that island would lead to dangerous consequences for ethnic harmony there in the future. It is also absurd to make a claim that the island has no majority and minority, but only patriots and non-patriots, and this while ruling the country under Sinhala hegemony. President Rajapakse must understand that Sri Lanka has miserably failed in nation building. Tamils in Sri Lanka and in the Diaspora do not identify themselves as Sri Lankans but as Eelam Tamils. Tamils consider Sri Lankan rule as an alien rule. In this scenario, the only option left for true reconciliation is recognising the Tamils’ political aspirations, Tamils as a nation; their historical homeland in the Northeast, and that they are entitled to the right to self- determination. Now president Rajapakse has very strong popular support among the Sinhala people. If he decides to recognise the political aspirations of Tamil people, chances for strong resistance from the Sinhala people are minimal. If he considers himself as a true leader who treats all communities as equals, then he must prove himself by accepting the political aspirations of Tamil people.

11. How do you view India's role during what is now being called "Eelam War IV"? Do you think India could have done more to save Tamil civilians?

In the recent war, India took side with Sri Lanka firmly and provided full support to Sri Lanka. It is not a secret. Sri Lankan leaders, military commanders and Indian officials openly admitted it. Our organisation and the Tamil people have become victims of this Indian position. Even though we are fully aware how India has contributed for the military victory of Sri Lanka, we do not hate India. We consider Tamil people would be the true and reliable friends of India in its own geo-political struggle with other countries, especially with China. We firmly believe India would realise this one day in the future and support Eelam Tamils struggle for self determination.

If India had decided to do something more to save the civilian lives, it would have stopped the war when Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Mr. M Karunanidhi, and other political leaders called for a ceasefire back in November 2008.

12. Will you initiate direct contact with India? Is there a role India can play in the formation of the proposed Provisional Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam?

Yes. I would initiate direct contacts with India and request to remove the ban on LTTE and seek support for Eelam Tamils political aspirations.

At conceptual level, support from other states is not a precondition for the formation of a transnational government. This is a people based exercise to be carried out at transnational level by the Tamil Diaspora. Of course, there is no doubt that the support from friendly States will strengthen the Transnational Government and the cause for which it would be working for. The committee for formation of the Provisional Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam would seek the support for the Transnational Government from many countries, importantly India.

13. There are some LTTE fighters who are still active in Sri Lanka. They are said to be operating from the forests in the East. Col. Ram is said to be a prominent leader. What information do you have about this group? What will your relation with these groups going ahead?

We have contact with them. They are following our new path by silencing their guns and functioning under my guidance. I am very much concerned about their safety and security since we could not reach any kind of acceptable mechanism for ensuring their safety. I strongly feel that the IC must take more responsibility on this matter.

14. The Sri Lankan government has launched an international campaign against you, seeking your capture. How do you see these efforts? How do you react to the Sri Lankan Government's charges against you?

I have read this news in the newspapers. I have been part of our liberation movement which took arms to fight for the legitimate rights of the Tamil Nation. This struggle has its justification under international law. A military defeat cannot erase the justification of the struggle. I have not done any crime or harm against humanity. Furthermore, I am now leading the process of transforming and developing our organisation as a political organisation. The decision of this transformation is taken for the interest of Tamil Nation, but it would also be beneficial for the Sinhalese and Muslims in the island. It is also important for the peace and stability in the island and indeed the region. I hope that actors concerned on the issue would approach it in a pragmatic way. However, I am ready to take any kind of risk or even to sacrifice my life for the sake of the Tamil cause.

15. What is the truth about Pottu Amman, the Sri Lanka government says he is dead but they have not been able to give any evidence?

According to our information, Pottu Amman has also attained martyrdom on 17th of May 2009 in the fight against the Sri Lankan armed forces.

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

Sri Lankan Army Continues its Air and Heavy Gun Attacks in the NFZ

The sin of silence when they should protest makes cowards of men.

Abraham Lincoln

No IPR RESTRICTIONS. RAJESH SUNDARAM IS NOT THE COPYRIGHTS HOLDER FOR THESE VIDEOS

It Does Not Take A Majority to Prevail

It does not take a majority to prevail... but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men.
Samuel Adams

The Great Indian Diplomatic Farce

On a day when the UN confirmed that over 6,500 Tamil civilians have died in just the last three months, in the conflict zone of North Sri Lanka, the Indian foreign Office had this gem to offer about the Indian foreign Secretary and NSA's visit to Colombo.

=======================================================

Statement by NSA upon return from Sri Lanka

24/04/2009


Foreign Secretary and I visited Colombo today on the instructions of the Prime Minister. We were received by H.E. the President of Sri Lanka. We conveyed the concerns of the Government of India on the evolving situation in Northern Sri Lanka, especially at the casualties caused among Tamil civilians as a result of ongoing operations. We also expressed the Government of India’s concerns about the humanitarian situation as a result of nearly hundred thousand Tamil civilians coming out of the conflict zone since early this week. The President of Sri Lanka was receptive to our concerns. We are hopeful of a positive outcome.

New DelhiApril 24, 2009

Another self-immolation in Tamil Nadu

I begin todays post with some tragic news. A 35 year old Tamil man who set himself ablaze in Tirupur earlyThursday evening, to protest against the killing of Tamil civilians in Sri Lanka and calling for an immediate ceasefire on the Island nation.

Subramani was rushed to a hospital in Tirupur with over 70 percent burns. He succumbed to his injuries in a matter of hours.

In a very political suicide note Subramani, a self confessed AIADMK supporter reportedly said that he was not happy with the DMK's handling of the Sri Lankan Tamil issue.

He is the 15th person to commit self-immolation in the state over the last few months.

INDIA'S SHAMELESS SILENCE

It has been months of the military offensive in Sri Lanka, the Tamil Tigers have lost almost all the territory they held...down we are told to the last handful of fighters.

The Military operation has seen thousands of soldiers die, thousands of rebel fighters are reported dead too.

However, the most distressing aspect of the ongoing military action is the killing and wounding of thousands of Tamil civilians who are stranded in the rebel held areas.

The UN estimates that 4500 civilians have dies in just the last three months, over 12,000 have been injured...the numbers are growing at an alarming rate every day. Yet the international community and more so India are silent.

The Indian foreign minister called for an extended ceasefire and said civilian casualties in the "so called no-fire zone" are "unacceptable."

But even as the Sri Lankan army ignores this appeal and goes in for a final assault into a 7 sq kilometer area filled with at least 50,000 civilians...the Indian government is shamelessly silent. A silence that has emboldened the Sri Lankan government and given legitimacy to its actions.

Governments of the UK, USA, Australia and Canada seem to be doing more...a shame again considering that India is home to over 6.6 crore Tamils.

A shame considering that Tamils hold key positions in the current Congress led government in the center.

Even the prospect of a crushing defeat in the upcoming polls does not seem to sway them into action.

Human Rights groups have called the reckless military action a war crime. When the facts of these dark days come to light India will regret its inaction.

This is the time for India to rise above petty considerations of diplomacy and strategic interest. This is the time for India to stand up and be heard.
Time for it to force a stop to the mindless killing of thousands of Tamil men, women and children

Time for India to tell President Rajapakse that the first priority for any responsible government should be towards its citizens.

A delay in its military offensive against the LTTE by a few weeks will cost much less than the killing of hundreds of its own Tamil civilians.

Any military offensive should start only after all Tamil civilians in the area are evacuated to safety.

The Sri Lankan government says it wants to push ahead with its final assault on the Tamil tigers despite the apparent human cost. It says it will ensure that there are no civilian casualty.

But can the world trust the Sri Lankan army ? 4500 civilians have died already in just the last three months, despite assurances that civilian casualties will be kept at a minimum.

The army blames the LTTE for civilian death, they say the rebels are firing at and killing fleeing civilians. They allege the rebels are using suicide bombers to scare civilians into staying on in territory held by them...for use as human shields.

The rebels deny any hand in the death of civilians...but can a state absolve itself of the responsibility it has towards the safety of its civilians in a conflict zone.

India's silence is a direct signal to the Sri Lankan government to push ahead with the carnage. History will never forgive India for its silence at this crucial hour, too many precious lives have been lost already.

The UN and India must act NOW, to save Tamil Civilians in the Vanni

WAKE UP UNITED NATIONS, INDIA AND TAMIL NADU

These are some distressing videos from the so called " No Fire Zone" in the rebel held areas of the Mullaithivu district of north east Sri Lanka.

Women, children and men battling for their lives in an open air, make shift, fly infested medical facility.

Medicines...even bandages, food and water are in desperate short supply.

The UN says over 4,500 Tamil civilians have dies so far this year ( Over 900 of these are children), and over 9000 have been injured. The numbers of dead and injured are creeping up by the dozen every day.

Weeping mothers, traumatised children and men with an expression of helplessness on their faces.

Should the UN and India just keep quite when it is told that the Sri Lankan government can't consider an extended ceasefire at this time ?

Is the fear of the decimated LTTE regrouping so overwhelming that the lives of Tamil civilians should be put to risk ?

Is it really fair to allow the Sri Lankan army and the rebels to gamble away the lives of over 1,00,000 Tamil civilians ?

Is this not genocide, regardless of who is to blame ?

Should the International media not be doing more to pressure the Sri Lankan government to ease curbs on international journalists visiting the so called "No Fire Zone" ?

Should the UN not take immediate charge of the so called " No Fire Zone" ?

Should the politicians in Tamil Nadu not stand united for this cause and pressure the Union government to snap diplomatic ties with Sri Lanka if it does not end hostilities ?

Should the Indian mainstream media not do more to bring this issue to focus ?

Eelam Politics in Tamil Nadu

The Sad story of Sivanandan

Even as I write this post 48 year old Sivanandan from Karur is battling for his life at the burns ward of the Kilpauk Hospital in Chennai. He has suffered 70 percent burns and doctors say chances of his survival are not very bright.

He was reportedly upset at the the worsening condition of the thousands of Tamil civilians in the conflict ridden North eastern coastal district of Mullaithivu in Sri Lanka.

He reportedly shouted slogans protesting the worsening humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka and the killing of thousands of innocent civilians there before setting himself ablaze.

He is the 14th person in the state to attempt self immolation in the last few months.

The helpless angst in Tamil Nadu

It is reported that over 3500 Tamil civilians have dies and nearly three times the number injured in just the last four months in conflict hit areas of North Sri Lanka. Dozens continue to die and suffer injuries every day.

Food, drinking water and medicines are reportedly in short supply and so are trained doctors and support staff.

It is reported that Children are dying of undernourishment , dead bodies pile up on the road side after each air raid and round of mortar/ artillery shelling.

Independent journalists are not allowed free access to the conflict zone by either side.

The Sri Lankan government blames the Tamil Tiger Rebels for the plight of the civilians, accusing them of holding the civilians as "human shields" and firing at civilians fleeing areas under their control. They promising to "liberate" the civilians and wipe out the last remaining rebel fighters.

The rebels blame the army fire for the civilian deaths. They say the civilians are staying put in areas held by them out of choice...because of fear that they will be beaten and tortured if they fall in Sri Lankan army hands.

And as the two sides dig in for the "final battle" more and more civilians are dying each day.

The Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse, made an official trip to the fallen rebel capital of Killinochi this week. He seemed in no mood to stop his war against the rebels...regardless of the high costs.

Election season in India

All this comes bang in the middle of election season in India.

Tamil Nadu's 6.6 crore Tamils have a deep cultural and historic relationship with the much smaller Tamil community in Sri Lanka. The number of Tamil civilians trapped in the conflict zone is variously estimated between 80,000 and 3,50000.

It is no wonder then that this has become an emotive pre-poll issue. Hundreds have turned up for rallies across the state calling for an end to the war in Sri Lanka and relief for the trapped civilians.

Every political party wants to milk the sentiment.

The ruling DMK led Democratic Progressive Alliance has been accused by the opposition AIADMK led alliance of not doing much to force the central government to end the war in Sri Lanka.

The DMK is a key ally of the Federal government. It's support is crucial for survival of the UPA government at the center.

The opposition says the DMK could have done more to influence and change India's Sri Lankan policy and end the war and suffering of Tamil civilians on the island nation.

The Dynamics of Change

In a surprise move the AIADMK, at one time a bitter critic of the LTTE, has in its manifesto said that Eelam, or a separate state for Tamils in Sri Lanka was inevitable if their genuine aspirations of the Tamil people were not met and if they were not treated with dignity and honour.

This is seen as a radical shift in its stand. Some experts say the party has calibrated its policy in keeping with popular sentiment in the state ahead of the elections. They say allies like MDMK's Vaiko and PMK's Dr Ramadoss have played a big role in bringing about this change.

Vaiko is perhaps the only Tamil politician to have been consistently committed to the Eelam cause over the last two decades. He has even been jailed on many occasions for his support to the Tamil Tiger rebels, a banned organisation in India.

The AIADMK hopes to play a big role in the formation of the next government in New Delhi. The change in its stance at this point is very significant.

The writing on the wall for the DMK is clear.

It has failed to get any significant tangible benefits or relief for the suffering Tamil civilians in Sri Lanka and has failed to convince the central government to cajole the Sri Lankan government to halt the war.

The only option with the DMK government now is to shift the blame on to the Union government.

The wily DMK chief M Karunanidhi has sent the Indian prime minister a late night telegram, asking him to snap diplomatic ties with Sri Lankan if it does not immediately agree to a permanent ceasefire.

Ahead of the elections, the Congress finds itself between a rock and a hard place.

Too Little, Too Late

Karunanidhi's desperate telegram comes just hours after Indian foreign minister Pranab Mukharjee took time out of his hectic election campaign to issue India's toughest statement yet on the issue.

Observers say the timing of the statement is significant. The language used in the statement unlike the ones issued in the past is not guarded and nuanced.

It has clear political undertones and is largely seen as a statement issued to minimise damage for the congress and its allies in the upcoming general elections.

'The Government of Sri Lanka must extend this pause in hostilities to prevent further casualties and enable trapped civilians to leave the area to secure locations. Continuation of precipitate military actions leading to further civilian casualties at this time would be totally unacceptable. While it is incumbent on the LTTE to release all civilians and IDPs under their control, the Government of Sri Lanka cannot be oblivious to the evolving human tragedy and the fate of the Tamil civilian population caught up in the so-called No Fire Zone. There is no reason not to continue with the pause in military actions in the NFZ."

The Sri Lankan government has not responded to the statement so far and is unlikely to end hostilities. Ahead of the polls this leaves the DMK led government in Tamil Nadu particularly vulnerable.

The Indian government can do little to walk its talk on the issue. It is unlikely to heed Karunanidhi's advise to snap diplomatic ties with Sri Lanka.

And as for the civilians in the Vanni, India's latest statement may have come a little too late in the day...and it is also perhaps too little to bring any tangible relief.

Purple Cats in my Whiskey

Rajesh Sundaram

Purple cats race up to the stratosphere...

and come back like spherical raindrops with green beaks.

I discard the beaks and pour them into my whiskey...heaven

Then Proceed to experiment with my sobriety

lay my brain out on a cold steel tray in my dark laboratory

Grey matter, pickled in a deep green squish of sugar, thought and grime

The Sri Lankan Conflict

Restrictions on Media

"Why don't you write about the Sri Lankan conflict again in your blog ?"

I have been asked this question many times since my return from Sri Lanka about a week ago. The answer is pretty clear...the restrictions imposed by the Sri Lankan army and the government have made impartial reporting impossible.

Reports that have been filed featuring interviews with members of the reportedly pro-Tamil Tigers' parliamentary grouping the Tamil National Alliance or using footage from rebel held territories are seen as "anti-military." This despite the fact that they also featured interviews with government ministers and army officials.

I have been told I will not be issued a fresh visa unless I explain my previous reports to the Sri Lankan ministry of defense by submitting details of my reports to them through the foreign ministry.

In my 15 year career as a journalist, I have reported from over a dozen countries world wide. I have never faced such a situation.

I have been reporting the conflict in Sri Lanka since 1999... government controls and restrictions on the media applicable now are the toughest I have even seen.

The Sri Lankan establishment is happiest when foreign journalists limit their reports to briefings given by divisional commanders or the military spokesman during guided tours. They are expected to tow the government line..I am amazed by how many do so without asking any questions.

Sri Lankan journalists have to contend with more than just the displeasure or snub of foreign, defense ministry, and military officials. Killings and beating of local journalists have now become routine. The wide coverage given to these incidents in the Sri Lankan and international media seems to have done little to check the faceless attackers who continue to attack with impunity.

The various police commissions set up by the president's office have not been able to gather much leads into these attacks...probably they are looking at the wrong place. Some say they are not looking at all.

I will, over the next few weeks, seek to write a series of articles here on the current situation in Sri Lanka. I start with the two pictures that describe best the current situation on the island.

( Photo 1: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse with troops in Vakarai;
A civilians being carried to a medical facility after being injured in Shell fire in a rebel held enclave in Mullaithivu district)

Gangaram Temple, Colombo

Passing Through Aminabad, Lucknow