There are multiple sources of propaganda against the LTTE in the
world today. Among these two sources can be clearly identified. One
comes from the Sri Lankan government spearheaded by the ministry of
foreign affairs headed by an incompetent man who tries to give the
impression that he is a Tamil.
But unfortunately, no self-respecting Tamil would like to
associate with him with the exception of Tamils quislings. The other
source of venom comes from certain individuals behind certain
influential newspapers and magazines located in Tamil Nadu. The
second source is much more dangerous and pernicious in comparison to
the one that emanates from the Sri Lankan government. These
individuals in Tamil Nadu and who are ethnically Tamils do not see
an eye to eye with the LTTE.
They have close rapport with certain sections with the ruling
circles in India and Sri Lanka. In Sri Lanka they have full access
to information normally not available to other journalists. In Sri
Lanka they conduct interviews with individuals in the establishment
but not with the representatives of the Tamil people. LTTE's points
are totally embargoed in the publications. Among these individuals
there is a former academic who writes from time to time about South
Asian affairs. He is considered as a specialist on Sri Lanka and
very aptly qualified to write on the ethnic conflict. But
unfortunately, his writings leave much to be desired for. He has
praise for the Sri Lankan regime and condemnation for the LTTE.
Lately he has suggested that the Sinhalese parties should stop
quarrelling with one another so that the peace process should be
embarked on. For him the key to peace in Sri Lanka is not the
government's negotiation and settlement with LTTE, but Sinhalese
political parties closing ranks. So in his mind, LTTE does not
figure at all in the peace process. While he talks about the
necessity for the LTTE to come to the negotiating table, but in the
final analysis he says that LTTE cannot be trusted. He travels quite
frequently to Sri Lanka on the invitation extended by the
government. Some time back he with some others were taken on a
helicopter tour of Jaffna by the army. Naturally he came back and
wrote a glowing piece about conditions in Jaffna under the
administration of the government. Also he has the habit of urging
other countries to ban the LTTE on the basis that it has been
already banned in Indian and the U.S. Once can say he is quite like
Neelan Tiruchelvan. Once he even lied about LTTE being banned in
Malaysia. A Malay proverb which says "Gajah di depan mata tidak
boleh di nampak tetapi kuman di sebarang laut boleh di nampak" (you
can't see an elephant in front of your eyes but can see a tiny speck
across the sea) best captures the orientation of this individual.
There is another prolific writer and commentator on the ethnic
conflict. Unlike the above he has little pretensions about the
conflict. His arguments are straight to the point. He does not hide
his disdain and contempt for the LTTE. He argues that the LTTE's
adventurism in wanting to create an independent state is a mere
dream. This is the reason why he suggests that LTTE should go for a
lesser demand-an objective short of a separate state. He castigates
overseas supporters of LTTE for hallucinating about Eelam. Recent
victories earned by the LTTE in the battle fields are dismissed as
pyrrihic.
He is of the opinion that sooner or later LTTE will be overwhelmed
by the superior Sinhalese forces. Furthermore, a separate cannot be
achieved simply because there would not be enough Tamil population.
While this writer is very well informed of the day to day affairs of
Sri Lanka and occasionally contributes some good articles, but his
hatred for the LTTE is phenomenal. Therefore such a state of mind
does not allow him to take a more objective assessment of the
situation. Anyway, he like the earlier one has close rapport with
the Sinhalese establishment and perhaps this has predisposed him to
view the whole situation from an official perspective. Needless to
say, the suffering of innocent Tamils at the hands of Sinhala
racists seems to be of no concern to him. For him every Tamil is a
tiger.
No other person in Tamil Nadu is more venomous towards the LTTE than
the leader of the above-mentioned persons. He is a LTTE-hater and
Tamil himself. A very powerful person by virtue of his media
position and has very strong connections with politicians both in
India and Sri Lanka-politicians who cannot wait for the day when
LTTE will be totally wiped out. He sees in Kumaratunga a democratic
president powerfully imbued with peace mission. He has been so
enthralled by the peace initiatives of her that he has nothing but
praise for her. He has refuses to acknowledge or write about all the
misdeeds performed by the murderess Kumaratunga. He has refuses to
allow his publications to comment upon the rapes, murders, and
abductions committed by the Sri Lankan army against innocent Tamils.
He thinks Kumaratunga is a magician all set to drive out the evil
spirits from the land. His publications hero-worship the those
allegedly slain by the LTTE.
Neelan Tiruchelvan was his hero. Pages after pages were devoted to
lament the loss of a great Tamil intellectual who was on peace
mission. Did his publication ever, ever, comment objectively on
Chenmani graves, the hundreds and hundreds of innocent Tamils who
have been eliminated, young women and girls who been brutally raped
and murdered. Or why is he silent on the brutal murder of Kumar
Ponnabalam who tore to shreds the masks of Kumaratunga and her
cronies.
These individuals being safe in Tamil Nadu and being Tamils
themselves have done a great damage to Tamil people in Sri Lanka.
Are these individuals afraid that if Eelam goes one day it might
drag Tamil Nadu along with it? Or do they think that Eelam might
rupture the unity of India? To think along these lines is
preposterous if not silly. The very fact that the creation of Eelam
might assist India has been lost upon them.
The vast Sinhalese racists and Tamil traitors are no friends of
India. Given the chance, they might bring Pakistan into the country
to hammer the Tamils. It is because of India geo-political position
that Sri Lanka dares not even contemplate having an illicit affair
with Pakistan. Recently Pakistan was the first country to
congratulate Kumaratunga on her election victory and for
successfully standing up against terrorism. A classic case of a
world renowned terrorist nation backing the Sri Lankan government in
its fight against "terrorism".
It is unfortunate except for certain individuals and political
parties, the Indian government has not taken a favourable view
towards the LTTE. Why this is so remains a complex matter. It was
Rajiv Gandhi's stupidity leading to his assassination that soured
relations between India and LTTE. India is reluctant to get
involved.
However, within the establishment there are individuals in high
positions sympathetic to the LTTE. They know very well that LTTE
will always be an ally to India. More than this, the majority of
Tamils in Tamil Nadu are close to the Tamils in Sri Lankan.
Historical, cultural and religious connections that have spanned
thousands of years cannot easily be terminated by short-term
political calculations. India has to seriously review the situation.
It cannot take a hands-off policy when it comes to Sri Lanka. It has
to commence its analysis from the fundamental premise that Eelam
would be a friend of India.
However, given the free-wheeling nature of democracy in India, there
are groups who will be opposed to the efforts of the LTTE. They
might even put spanners in India developing a more cordial
relationship with the LTTE. The individuals mentioned are not mere
journalists writing for their livelihood. They are ruthless agents
of the Sri Lanka government specifically out on a mission to
repudiate and eventually provide the pre-conditions for the
annihilation of LTTE. But time and again, LTTE has shown its
resilience in meeting heavy odds. It is the military arm of the
Tamil national liberation movement. It has the undivided support of
Tamils in Sri Lanka and overseas. This is something that the our
journalist friends cannot possibly contemplate.
Notwithstanding the vicious nature of propaganda from Tamil Nadu
from a selected few, the vast majority of Tamils in Sri Lanka, India
and other places are united behind the emergence of an independent
Tamil Eelam in the near future. The historical process leading to
the formation of Eelam cannot be stopped but the possibility of some
delay is quite inevitable.
