THE LAST CHANCE TO SAVE THE LIVES

25.08.2008
Mr. V. Prabaharan,
Leader - L.T.T.E,
Kilinochchi.

My dear Thamby,
The Last Chance to Save the Lives

Realizing the urgent need of this hour, I am writing this letter to you. The urgency is due to my concerns for the people of Killinochchi and Mullaitheevu in particular and for those people in Mannar and Vavunia who had been driven into Killinochchi, very irresponsibly by your cadre. It is known well to every single person on this earth the reason as to why these people had been driven into escalating war zone. It is the innocent people who always become human shield. Wherever possible you should have allowed the displaced people to get into safe areas under the control of the government. Whether this letter will reach your hand before you yourself get displaced from your present board is in great doubt. However I am duty-bound to give you a timely advice.

I am perhaps one of the very few who had been constantly predicting that you will never win this battle and been warning you to come back to your senses and to take some positive steps to save our people in Vanni and your cadre for which several opportunities came on your way, you ignored. One of the reasons for it is that you had so much of confidence in your spokespersons all over the world. You never realized that most of them who had lost their credibility in their own land went running to countries in Europe, Australia, Canada and America to take the first place as your supporters. While pretending to be supporting you, they filled their pockets with the money colleted in your name. The offer of 20-30% commission on their collections came as an incentive for them. They pretended to be more Prabaharan than you.

They should have been by your side by this time to give you physical and moral support. If they are genuine they should have realized the grave crisis you are facing at this moment, when your enemy has virtually encircled you. They, some of whom publish some tabloids give false hopes to the Diaspora that you are waiting to round them up after allowing them to get into your area and on that score they have collected large sums of money. They also collected money for the maintenance of displaced persons. Please take my word at least now. Wake up and look around. You will find your enemy is at your door-step. But the people, whom you kept under your subjugation all these days, expect the army to liberate them and soon they will be liberated from you and your cadre who had been very hash on the innocent people, for several years.

Even now it is not too late for you to declare ceasefire unilaterally to lay down your arms and to agree for talks. Declare your willingness to give up your demand for separation and agree for a solution within a United Sri Lanka as recommended by me. I am opposed to a solution under the Unitary System, only because a future Government can take away the powers devolved under a Unitary Constitution. This is exactly what happened for the safe-guards the minorities had in the Soulbury Constitution, within 9 years of its adoption.

Please be assured that your declaration to drop the demand for separation will be a great incentive to the hardliners to come down from their present position and agree to give up the demand for a Unitary Constitution. A large number of Sinhalese will agree for the adoption of a constitution based on the Indian model.

The Sinhalese now know, very well of your tactics of provoking a backlash. The recent murder of a Sinhalese undergraduate at the Eastern University had vicious motive of which the whole world knows. It is by this type of thoughtless acts you lost your credibility and the support of the International Community.

Hence please give up this barbaric tactics and follow my advice to win the International Community. What the Tamil people want today is peace with dignity and equality with all others. The people of Vanni want to live a just and normal life without any harassment or hardships. When they are weeping in silence for their children forcefully taken away from their own homes, they are not in a mood to think of Tamil Nationalism or of Eelam. I hope you will not dispute this claim. My solution is the best and acceptable to a majority of the Singhalese, the Tamils and the Muslims, above all the International Community as well.

I also have the blessing of the religious heads of all religions in Sri Lanka. This is the very last opportunity made available to you to save the people of Vanni and your cadre. You have already scarified over 20,000 Tamil youths as combatants. We shall not forget those who got killed by you, just because they joined other groups by their choice. Please save the lives of the remaining ones for their parents want them alive and not as charred or deface or as chunk of flesh.

Please consider my appeal seriously at this critical juncture. Unlike the opportunistic politicians of the TNA who praise you and live out of Sri Lanka most of the time with their families, I do not want to fool our people and the world. My advice is true and genuine coming from my heart and based on opinion obtained by me from people of all walks of life. Please do not allow our people to perish by keeping them with you under compulsion.

Thanking you.

Yours sincerely

V. Anandasangaree,
President – T.U.L.F.

REPLY TO DR. DAYAN JAYATILLEKA

REPLY TO DR. DAYAN JAYATILLEKA.

I am surprised at the response of Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka to my reply appearing in The Island of 31st July 2008. He has deviated from his original subject of “In defence of Hon. Douglas Devananda” to a new subject. “In defence of devolution within a Unitary State”. Having said all that appeared in his imaginations about me, some of which are far from the truth, he is now trying to explain to me about devolution in a Unitary State, which is a subject discussed or debated almost everyday in the media. Further more I wish to tell him that I have a clear understanding of the difference between a Federal Constitution and a Unitary one. Enough had been also said for and against these two doctrines but my problem is devolution of power in a Unitary State in relation to our country and the problem we face.

I do not want to enter into a debate on this subject either with Dr. Dayan or with anybody else. My ideas are not new. I had been writing all these years very carefully without hurting anybody and without causing embarrassment to anyone or getting into any controversy. I have written hundreds of articles making my views known to the people of Sri Lanka. I had also repeatedly and convincingly given my reasons for holding those views explaining clearly as to why I take this stand. Hardly anyone including Dr. Dayan criticised me all these years for holding views against the Unitary Constitution in relation to Sri Lanka. There was absolutely no need for Dr. Dayan to defend me at any time. Anything good he said about me in the past was spontaneous and in appreciation of my views. It is he who has changed now and not I. Even those writers who had views radically opposed to mine had very politely drawn my attention to their views and to the disadvantages of the system I support, as they understood it. Contrary to this approach Dr. Dayan’s outburst appears to me as something gushing out from his heart due to some sentimental compulsions. Dr. Dayan must be the last person to criticise me for my views, as a journalist, because he knows very well my views for a number of years and had more than once, sincerely suggested to the authorities, that my participation in finding a solution to the ethnic problem, will help. I should have under normal circumstances ignored his reference to me. But unfortunately since Dr. Dayan is now on a very important diplomatic assignment, I had to exonerate myself from his allegations, which the International Community would have believed as coming from the Ambassador representing Sri Lanka. It could also be interpreted as Government views. His unwanted comments had considerably damaged my reputation as a moderate senior Tamil Politician of some standing. Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka should have diplomatically avoided getting involved in defence of Hon. Douglas Devananda.

I wish to tell Dr. Dayan that I do not dispute his right to say any thing in praise of Hon. Douglas Devananda. But he should not have unnecessarily dragged me into this controversy to boost him at my expense. He should know that I could have written much more about him but I did not do so for reasons best known for everybody. Dr. Dayan should know that I am not running after positions but only want to re-install Democracy, which got eroded to a great extent with Hon. Devananda’s entry into Parliament in 1994, with eight others, obtaining a total of only eight thousand odd votes, out of a total of over five hundred thousand votes. Let Dr. Dayan not make things worse by dragging in, His Excellency the President into this mess created by him. I am contended that I have done some good to His Excellency the President by giving him a timely warning. The President is fully aware that Democracy had been kept in pitch Dark in the North, for a considerable period. The people who had lost their democratic rights now want to enjoy all rights

I plead with Dr. Dayan to leave me alone to continue with my task I am engaged in, at very grave risk to my life. I humbly request him to go through a few of the many articles written by me and he is sure to find the answers that he wants. As to who is a moderate acceptable to all can be left to the people to decide. I may be wrong, but I am of the opinion that in fairness to the Sri Lankan society, Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka being a Diplomat should avoid writing anything and calling it as “The views expressed here are the writers personal ones”.

Mr. Stanley Weerasinghe of Pannipitiya wants to know something about me. I request him also to enjoy the liberally of criticising me after reading atleast some of my articles most of which appeared in the form of letters. Only then one will know what I really say and why I say so.

Once again I reiterate that whatever solution found should be within a United Sri Lanka and a permanent one acceptable to all, without leaving room for any future agitation. I love this country as my own where I like to live and breath my last peacefully, which is possible only in a contended society where we all can live as Sri Lankans, enjoying all rights equally with the others and not as Sinhalese or Muslims or Tamils. If I am wrong in yearning for it I many be hanged at Galle Face. I do not want to reply anybody anymore on this subject.


V. Anandasangaree,
President – TULF.

அரச படைகளும் விடுதலைப் புலிகளும் கட்டுப்பாட்டுடன் செயற்பட வேண்டும்

அரச படைகளும் விடுதலைப் புலிகளும் கட்டுப்பாட்டுடன் செயற்பட வேண்டும்

முல்லைத்தீவு வைத்தியசாலைக்கு அண்மையில் இராணுவம் மேற்கொண்ட செல் தாக்குதலால் ஒன்றரை வயது குழந்தையை பலி கொண்டதோடு 18 அப்பாவி பொது மக்களும் படுகாயமடைந்துள்ளனர். அதைத் தொடர்ந்து இடம்பெற்ற இன்னுமொரு சம்பவத்தில் இருவர் கொல்லப்பட்டதாகவும், சில வீடுகள் சேதத்துக்குள்ளானதாகவும் அறிய வருகிறது. இதேபோன்ற சந்தர்ப்பத்தில் ஒரு குழந்தையை அல்லது தமது உறவினர் ஒருவரை இழப்பவர்களாலேயே இந்த இழப்பின் வேதனையை உணர முடியும். இவ்வாறு பாதிக்கப்பட்டவர்கள் யார்? விடுதலைப் புலிகளின் கட்டுப்பாட்டுப் பிரதேசத்தில் அகப்பட்டுக் கொண்டார்கள் என்பதைத் தவிர இவர்கள் சமூகத்திற்கு செய்த குற்றம் என்ன? இவ்வாறு துன்பப்படும் மக்களின் துன்பத்தை போக்கி நிம்மதி பெருமூச்சுவிட வைக்க முடியாவிட்டால் நாம் பௌத்த தர்மத்திற்கு கட்டுப்பட்டு வாழ்கிறோம் என்று எவ்வாறு கூற முடியும்? எது நடப்பினும் யுத்தம் தொடர வேண்டுமென்று வாதாடுகின்றவர்கள் இன்றும் நம் நாட்டில் வாழ்கின்றார்கள். இனப்பிரச்சனை தீர்விற்கு தொடர்ந்தும் முட்டுக்கட்டையாக இருப்பவர்களும் அவர்களே.

துரதிஷ்டவசமாக நம் நாட்டின் நிலைமை இதுதான். இந் நாட்டையும் அந்த நாட்டின் மக்களையும் நேசிக்கும் நாட்டுப்பற்றாளனாகிய நான் ஓர் உயிரைத்தன்னும் வீணாக இழக்க விரும்பவில்லை. நம் நாட்டில் சரியாக கணிப்பிடின் ஒரு லட்சத்துக்கு மேற்பட்டவர்கள் பலியாகியுள்ளார்கள். அரச படைகளுக்கும் விடுதலைப் புலிகளுக்கும் இடையில் நடக்கின்ற இந்த யுத்தத்தில் 50 வீதத்திற்கு மேற்பட்டவர்கள் வடகிழக்கில் இடம்பெயர்ந்து பல துன்பங்களை அனுபவித்துள்ளனர். முறையான உணவு, உடை, இருப்பிடம், சுகாதார வசதி அன்றி வாழ்வதோடு தமது சொத்துக்களை முற்றாக இழந்தும் உள்ளனர். இவர்கள் அனைவரும் அப்பாவி பொது மக்களே. விடுதலைப் புலிகள் தமிழ் மக்கள் அனைவரையும் ஒரு சுற்றுலாவுக்கு அழைத்துச் சென்றதுபோல் ஆகிவிட்டது. இன்று தாம் மக்களுக்கு கொடுத்த வாக்குறுதியை நிறைவேற்ற முடியாது என நன்கு அறிந்தும் உண்மை நிலையை நேர்மையாக மக்களுக்கு தெரிவித்து ஒருதலைபட்சமாக வேனும் யுத்த நிறுத்தத்தை பிரகடனப்படுத்தி, ஆயுதங்களை கைவிட்டு ஜனநாயக பாதைக்கு திரும்ப வேண்டும். அதேபோன்று அரசும் செயற்பட்டு விமானத் தாக்குதலை கட்டுப்படுத்த வேண்டும். விடுதலைப் புலிகள் கட்டுப்பாட்டுடன் செயற்படாத பட்சத்தில் அவர்கள் இழப்பதற்கு எதுவும் இல்லை. ஆனால் அரசாங்கம் தம் மக்கள் எப்பகுதியில் வாழ்ந்தாலும் அவர்களுக்கு பாதுகாப்பு கொடுக்க தவறுமேயானால் அரசாங்கம் தனது மதிப்பை இழந்து விடும்.

மிக விரைவில் கிளிநொச்சியிலும் மக்கள் இடம் பெயர வேண்டிய நிலைமை உருவாகும். ஏற்கனவே பல்வேறு இடங்களில் இடம்பெயர்ந்த மக்கள் பலாத்காரமாக கிளிநொச்சிப் பகுதிக்கு அனுப்பப்பட்டுள்ளனர். பல்லாயிரக்கணக்காக இடம்பெயர்ந்தவர்களுக்கு தங்குமிடம், உணவு, சுகாதார வசதி ஆகியவை செய்யப்பட வேண்டும். அதேவேளை விடுதலைப்புலிகள் தமது இரும்பு கதவை திறந்து மக்கள் தம் இஷ்டம்போல் அரச கட்டுப்பாட்டுப் பிரதேசத்துக்கு பிரவேசிக்க அனுமதிக்க வேண்டும். குடாநாட்டில் இருந்து வன்னியில் பலாத்காரமாக குடியேற்றப்பட்டவர்கள் அனுமதி வழங்கப்பட்டால் தம் சொந்த வீடுகளுக்கே திரும்பிச் செல்லும் வாய்ப்பு உண்டு. அதேபோன்று அரசும் விடுதலைப் புலிகளின் பிரதேசத்திலிருந்து தப்பி வரும் மக்கள் தமது பகுதியை வந்தடைய ஏதுவாக ஆதரித்து உதவ வேண்டும்.

ஆகவே யுத்தத்தில் ஈடுபட்டுள்ள இரு பகுதியினரும் கட்டுப்பாட்டுடன் செயல்பட வேண்டும் இக்கட்டான இக் கட்டத்தில் சில தமிழ் தேசிய கூட்டமைப்பு பாராளுமன்ற உறுப்பினர்கள் வெளிநாடு செல்வதற்கும் தொடர்ந்து பிறநாட்டில் சுற்றுலா செய்வதற்கும் ஏதுவாக அண்மையில் பாராளுமன்றத்தில் மூன்றுமாதகால விடுமுறை கேட்டுப் பெற்றமை கண்டிக்கப்பட வேண்டும்.


வீ. ஆனந்தசங்கரி
தலைவர்-த.வி.கூ

PLEA TO THE LTTE AND THE GOVERNMENT FORCES TO ACT WITH RESTRAINT.

PLEA TO THE LTTE AND THE GOVERNMENT FORCES TO ACT WITH RESTRAINT.

It is distressing to note that due to shelling in the neighbour-hood of the Mullaitheevu Hospital, a child of one and a half years was killed and about 18 civilians including the Government Agent of Mullaitheevu injured; some seriously. In another incident it is understood that due to aerial bombing two civilians were killed along with two others seriously injured. About 10 houses were partly or fully damaged. One should lose a child or Member of his family under similar circumstances, to feel the agony of the loss.

Who are these victims? What harm have they caused to the society except that they are caught up in an area under the control of the LTTE? If we can’t find salvation for these people and give them a breathing space we do not deserve to call our-selves followers of Buddhist Principles. We have people in our country who argue that the war should continue irrespective of what happens and continue to obstruct any settlement. Unfortunately this is the situation. As a patriotic citizen I love my country and its people and I do not want one life lost in vain. We have lost a hundred thousand lives, if properly accounted for.

The on-going war between the Government forces and the LTTE has virtually displace more than 50% of the people from their homes both in the North and the East. They have undergone immense hardships with no proper food, clothing shelter and proper medical care. They have lost almost all their possessions. The victims are all innocent civilians. The LTTE took all the Tamils of the North and the East for a ride. Now knowing fully well that they can’t achieve what they promised, the LTTE must be honest enough to declare a ceasefire uniterally and agree to come to the democratic fold, laying down their arms. The Government for its part also should act with restraint and stop forthwith the air-raids atleast now to avoid civilian causalities. If the LTTE do not act with restraint they have nothing to lose but the Government by shirking its responsibility of protecting its citizens wherever they live, cannot afford to lose its credibility.

Very soon there will be mass scale displacement in Kilinochchi where several thousands had already been pushed in under compulsion. The total number displaced will soon swell to several thousands. All the schools, community centres and vacant buildings available in Kilinochchi won’t be sufficient to accommodate all the displaced ones. Food and sanitation will have to be looked into. The LTTE should now open its iron gate to allow the people to get into the Government controlled areas from all directions. Many people who were squeezed into Kilinochchi from Jaffna if allowed to go into the peninsular, can occupy their own homes there.

The Government itself should open its side to allow the people to escape from the LTTE area to get in to areas under its control. I plead with both parties to the war to act with restraint. I am surprised to see Parliament granting 3 months leave for two Members of Parliament of the TNA to continue their tour or to stay abroad.


V. Anandasangaree,
President – TULF.