S. A. Iniyabarathy
Tamil United Liberation Front
London
14.01.2008
Mrs. Mathivathany Prabaharan,
Political Head Quarters,
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam,
Kilinochchi.
Dear Madam,
Although I am displaced from Sri Lanka and presently living in London, I am of the opinion that I could express my heartrending anxiety and mental suffering plight as I am much concerned of our people in Sri Lanka and due to patriotic feeling. Hence I venture to write this letter to you. Moreover, since you have learnt various aspects being a mother of three children and got yourself involved in people’s service, it is another reason which prompted me to write this letter.
In view of the presently prevailing precarious circumstances, we are forced to look back our past experiences, the path we had crossed, etc. If we think over the struggles of the Tamils, we could observe that it had taken place only up to 1987. We consider that the armed struggles which had taken place thereafter are concerned with the high ranks of Liberation Tigers and because of their power hungery motive. Any liberation struggles should always have the main interest of the people. But on contrary, it could be observed that the ongoing armed struggle is only concerning to enhance the Liberation Tigers military wise for warring activities.
When Indo-Sri Lanka pact was signed in 1987, all armed movements including Tigers had expressed their decision to switch on to democratic path. The speech delivered by the leader Prabaharan at Suthumali, for the first time, before the people, is in confirmation of this stand. If that rare opportunity was appropriately harnessed, we could have avoided the losses of several lives. The number of lives of heros lost at that time was 631. During that time, the Indian Government looked at the Sri Lankan Government as rivals and the Tamil as pals. The Indian Government in the best interest of the well being of the Tamils of this country, while providing best security and protection to Tamils, deployed their Peace keeping Force at the boundaries of Tamil areas.
Provided that golden opportunity was best utilised by the Liberation Tigers with balance mind and peacefulness, disregarding their false pride, in the interest of Tamil community, loss of valuable lives could have been avoided. Hundreds of intellectuals, thousands of heros, thousands of those who had difference of opinion, lakhs of general public, millions worth of property, could have been saved from irreparable losses. We do accepts with much heartburning that errors have taken place.
The leaders who were instrumental for Indo-Sri Lankan Pact such as M/s Amithalingam and Yogeswaran were assassinated. Moreover, the Indian Prime Minister Rajive Gandhi was assassinated by suicide bomber in Tamil Nadu of his motherland. In fact this tragic incident was accepted as a sorrowful incident by your husband at a press conference during the year 2001. However, we too take it as a granted as a lamentable tragic incident.
Thereafter, we had the second opportunity for the solution of our ethnic conflict after the General Elections of 1994 on assumption of power by M/s Chandrika Bandaranayake Kumaratunga. That was the ethnic solution package put forward by Prof. Neelan Thiruchelvam with regard to the Constitutional Amendment. A perusal of the solution package, would unequivocally reveal that it consisted of all aspects for the solution of the basic problems of the Tamils in this country. This is not only my contention but also that of political advisor of the Liberation Tigers who had openly divulged this fact at a time. On a belated opportunity, the Political Advisor of the Liberation Tigers openly disclosed this fact at a media conference during 2001. It is crystal clear the Liberation Tigers had lost this golden opportunity also owing to their power hunjer. It is very unfortunate that they assassinated by setting a suicide bomber Prof. Neelan Thiruchelvam, who volunteered to draft this solution package of our ethnic conflict. It is needless to point out at this juncture that this Constitutional Wizard is one who played vital role in drafting the political constitution of various countries including South Africa. Hence we take it for granted that it is also an unfortunate incident and forget same.
Subsequently, as a major progressive move a Ceasefire Agreement was signed with the mediation of Norway. At that moment we all jointly and unitedly expressed our willingness that a negotiated settlement to this problem had to be arrived at with the negotiation with the Liberation Tigers only. In the pretext of political activities, they entered the areas controlled by the Sri Lankan Army stage by stage. Offices were opened for political activities in such areas. Participated in number of rounds of negotiations. The Tamils observing this process dreamt to continue a livelihood of peacefulness. They commenced breathing peacefully. They lived with freedom of movement for few years. This cannot be either disputed or forgotten. The Liberation Tigers who came forward to perform political activities, but what have they done? Murdered the Tamils who had difference of opinion, forcibly demanding ransom from Tamils, who underwent untold suffering consequent to the war, in the pretext of Tax Collection. What have the Liberation Tigers achieved by going up to Geneva for peace talks? It was only the behest of them to entrust the interim self ruling authority which was drafted jointly by great intellectuals like Siva Pasupathy. It could be observed from the draft put forward by them that it did not contain an democratic aspects or reasonable outlook. So, by putting forward such an unrealistic demand, it could be contended that it was ... sinisterly motivated attempt of Liberation Tigers to disturb the peace talks.
When our respected Leader Late Mr. M. Sivasithamparam, leader of the Tamil United Liberation front, delivered his last speech in parliament he said thus “the presently attempted endeavour for peace with the mediation of Norway is the best and last chance and therefore both parties should make the best use of this rare opportunity”. The reason for my highlighting the contents of this speech is because of the fact that consequent to the wrongful decisions of the Liberation Tigers to harness such golden opportunities, the deplorably affected lot are those youths living below poverty line and the innocent general public. Even after the losses of the lives of thousands of heros, hundreds of intellectuals, lakhs of general public and the losses of assets worth billions, it is alarming to observe that your husband is still continuing to recite that the “thirst of Tamil community is the homeland of Tamil Elam”, repeatedly in deceitful manner. This act is similar to the attempt being adopted by mothers calling the moon “come, come moon running, come without halt, come carrying jasmine flowers” thus distracting the attention of babies in feeding them.
He knows very well that “Tamil Eelam” is not feasible. Our community would attain an honourable livelihood only if he brings down the “Kavadi” which he had lifted. If he rejects same, it would result in paving way to doom our community thus utterly wasting the sacrifices made by our community so far. We are not decrying your erection of homes ( affection abode) for elders. But we are unable to assimilate your activities of constructing grave pits in the name of “Thuyulum Illam” i.e. sleeping abode for heros for those tender youths who were forced to involve themselves in armed struggles for the liberation of our people.
Please refrain from burying the tender aged children in the name of war. Just thinks for a minute regarding the mental plight of the parents of those children. Besides, numerous young mothers are turned into widowhood, thousands of children are rendered to orphanage consequent to indiscriminate killings of several young familied persons in the name of traitors. Are you not repenting over these atrocities? Is it not the fact that you are also a mother of who gave birth to three children? Kindly just think of your mental agony if similar adverse consequences befell your beloved children or husband. You could realise such suffering and agony only then. I am also annexing herewith a copy of journal published in London for your perusal. When the photo of the crying son of Late Mr. T. Maheswaran M.P. is appearing, you should come forward to halt this horribles war at least after seeing this photograph.
What is the sin committed by these tender children? Their life and all the future New Year day have been created into much sorrowfulness. Why all these tragedies? It is not a question by whom this murder was committed. The pictures of these nature clearly exhibit the paramount importance of bringing a halt to such terrible murderous culture which are the causes for such tragic incidents. Recently Mr. Nadesam, the Political Wing Leader of the Liberation Tigers made his comments that they possess the capability and capacity of protecting the Tamils from the clutches of Sinhala Army. We are at a loss to understand this statement. Lakhs of Tamils are already residing in areas coming under the control of army. According to the above statement of Mr. Nadesan the doubt arises as to whether the Tamils who are living in Vanni areas only Tamils.
If the Liberation Tigers refrain from their military activities in the areas controlled by the army, then the Tamils could live peacefully. By uttering such foolish statements and engaging themselves with competitive attacks, no solution could be achieved for the basic problems of the Tamils. Hence if you or the Liberation Tigers have the genuine interest on Tamils and their wellbeing, you should come forward to involve yourself in feasible attempts.
We, therefore, reiterate this stand.
Thanking you,
Yours Sincerely,
S. A. Iniyabarathy,
Tamil United Liberation Front
London Branch,
UK.
