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Home > Tamil Eelam Struggle for Freedom > International Frame & the Tamil Struggle > Tamil Nadu & the Tamil Eelam Freedom Struggle > Sri Lanka President Rajapakse respects Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi > Tamils: a Trans State Nation - Tamil Nadu
Tamils - a Trans State Nation
Sri Lanka President Rajapakse respects N.Ram, The Hindu, 29 October 2008
Sri Lanka President Rajapakse respects COLOMBO: �Let me reiterate that my government is firmly committed to a negotiated political solution � based on devolution of power and ensuring the democratic, political, including linguistic, rights of all our Tamil brethren within an undivided Sri Lanka,� President Mahinda Rajapaksa told The Hindu in an interview at �Temple Trees� in Colombo on Monday. �As President of Sri Lanka,� he explained in this tranquil setting, the official residence of former Prime Ministers, �I am absolutely clear that there is, and can be, no military solution to political questions. I have always maintained this. A military solution is for the terrorists; a political solution is for the people living in this country.�
Noting the tardiness of the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) in
coming up with its final proposals, he asserted: �I myself will take charge
of the political process and see it through politically.�
Comment by
tamilnation.org
The
All Party Representative
Committee merry go round? We have been there
for more
than fifty years...
"...Beginning in the mid-1950s Sri Lanka's politicians from the majority
Sinhalese community resorted to
ethnic outbidding as a means to
attain power and in doing so
systematically marginalised the
country's minority Tamils...parties in power seek to promote
dubious conflict resolution only to be checkmated by the respective opposition
which typically claims that the proposed solutions are bound to eventually
dismember the island"
Neil Devotta
in From ethnic outbidding to ethnic conflict:
the institutional bases for Sri Lanka's separatist war, 2005
"...One of the essential elements that must
be kept in mind in understanding the Sri Lankan ethnic conflict is that,
since 1958 at least, every time Tamil politicians negotiated some sort of
power-sharing deal with a Sinhalese government - regardless of which party
was in power - the opposition Sinhalese party always claimed that the party
in power had negotiated away too much. In almost every case - sometimes
within days - the party in power backed down on the agreement..." -
Professor
Marshall Singer, at US Congress Committee on International Relations
Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific Hearing on Sri Lanka November 14,1995
""We Marxists, we proletarian revolutionaries oppose the
division of the country and decentralization. The proletariat
opposes the establishment of a federal system as a form of
decentralization... the proletariat cannot agree to the use of
the federal system to decentralize an existing united
centralized state The north and the east cannot be one
autonomous region...It is equally reactionary to consider the
north and east as the traditional homelands of the Tamil
nationality.. The proletariat needs no official
language... "
The Gospel
According to the JVP
"... In any country the majority community is running the administration. We
cannot prevent that situation. If a minority is ruling the majority that is
a dangerous situation and it is a problem. That is an unrealistic situation.
In any democratic country the majority should rule the country.
This country
will be ruled by the Sinhalese community which is the majority
representing 74 percent of the population...."
Sri Lanka Army Commander Lt. General Sarath Fonseka
On Democracy, 'Multi Ethnic Plural Society' 19 July 2008 in the Sri Lanka State
Controlled Daily News "
Sinhala
Buddhist chauvinism has been institutionalised in Sri Lanka and today it has
become more powerful than the politicians themselves. Indeed
even if the Sinhala politicians seek to settle the conflict,
Sinhala Buddhist chauvinism may try to prevent such a
settlement. This is the political reality that those who are
aware of the Sri Lankan situation are well aware of. This Sinhala chauvinism which was nurtured by Sinhala
politicians for their electoral advantage,
has grown into a
Frankenstein monster which now has the power to destroy and make politicians. This we
understand very well..."
Sathasivam
Krishnakumar, June, 1991
Emphasising that �our military operations are directed exclusively at the
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam� � a terrorist and secessionist
organisation banned or designated as terrorist in more than 30 countries,
including India � he renewed his call to the LTTE even at this late stage to
�lay down its arms, surrender, and enter the democratic political process.�
Comment by
tamilnation.org
"The
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam� banned or designated as
terrorist in more than 30 countries "
"....It is a cruel extension of the terrorist
scourge to taunt the struggles against terrorism with
the label "terrorism".
We support these struggles and call for the liberation of political language
along with the liberation of peoples.
Terrorism originates from the statist system of
structural violence and
domination that denies the
right of self-determination to peoples..."
The
Geneva Declaration on the Question of Terrorism, 1987 "..The most problematic issue relating to terrorism and armed conflict is
distinguishing
terrorists from lawful combatants... States that do not recognize a
claim to self-determination will claim that those using force
against the State’s military forces are necessarily terrorists...The controversy over the exact meaning, content,
extent and beneficiaries of, as well as the means and methods
utilized to enforce
the right to self-determination
has been the major obstacle to the development of both a
comprehensive definition of terrorism and a comprehensive treaty
on terrorism..."
Terrorism and Human
Rights Final Report of the Special Rapporteur, Kalliopi K. Koufa, 25
June 2004 "Throwing a bomb is bad,
Mr. Rajapaksa said that �the military operations directed against the LTTE
are not intended to harass Tamil civilians or cause any harm or hardship to
them.�
Comment by
tamilnation.org
....Father M.X.Karunaratnam,
Sivanesan
Markandu
Suman (25) Pushparaja
Jeyanthan (28), Soosaippillai
Anton (54) ,
Arulvaasagam
Rosani (31),
Charles
Joseph Rosanraj(24),
Masanat
Gilbert Dharsan (22),
Antony
Thadcruze Christine (26),
Mary Angela
(47),
Mohamed Ali Nanthakumar
(26),
Kathiresan
Ganesan, (43),
Kandasamy Manoharan
(28),
Lawrence Mariyaselvam
(32),
Jeyachandran Prathap
(29),
Maiyoor Chandramohan
(27),
Devadas Christy Prasanna
(26),
Balasingham Surendran
(25),
Jesuthasan Jeyasuthan
(25),
Paramsamy Visaharan
(25),
Marimuththu Kumutharaj
(28),
Amirthalingam Alaheswaran
(29),
Pon Ganeshamoorthy,
Manaval Claramma Leela
(75),
Jesuthasan Jude Nixon
(23),
Cyrilappar St.Jude
(22)
Turairaja Vijekumar
(39),
Kodalingham Linganathan
(20),
Abdul Raheem Latheep
(28)
Mary Medaline
(27),
Moorthy Martin (35),
Ann Nilxon (7),
Ann Luxica(9),
Ketheeswaran Yathursan (4 months),
Ketheeswaran Thanushkanth (4),
Palachamy Ketheeswaran (25),
Ketheeswaran
Anex Ester (23),
Abraham Robinson (28),
Sellathurai Amalathas (28),
Kanesh Navaratnam (50) ,
Joseph Anthonymuttu ,(64)
Sinnathurai
Sivanesan (46,
Murugesu Shanmugalingam(72),
S Kantharoopan (29),
Shanmugalingam Parameswari (65),
Ratnam Senthuran (38),
Somasuntharam Maheswary
(60),
Vanniasingham
Vigneswaran,
Thanuskodi
Premini,
Kasinather
Ganesalingam,
Thangarasa,
Shanmuganathan Sujendram,
Thambiraja Vasantharajan,
Kailayapillai Ravindran,
Arunesarasa ,
Satheesharan, .Ramanathan
Ratheeskumar,
Thanuskodi
Premini,
Kasinather
Ganesalingam,
Thangarasa,
Shanmuganathan Sujendram,Thambiraja
Vasantharajan,
Kailayapillai Ravindran,
Arunesarasa Satheesharan,
Thambiah
Jeyarajah,
Major
Kapilan,
Thambipillai Selvarajah,
Ramalingam
Suntheralingam,
Kandasamy
Vaikunthan,
Anthonippillai Soosainather, Thevasahayampillai Jeyakumar
Soosainather,
Subramaniam
Sugirtharajan,
Chandrakanthan Vijayatharson.
Chandragajan
Krishnagobi,
Illayathamby
Ramakrishnan,
Thurairajah
Ravichandran,
Kanapathy Murugesu,
Mariyanayagam Maruthanayagam,
Suppiah Murugan,
Sithambari
Ganesaratnam,
Visuvar Krishnan,
Bojan Renuka,
Bojan Shanuka,
Bojan Arthanageswary,
Tharmarasan Tharmaseelan,
N Kandeepan ,T
Tharmasri,
Soosaithas K Marinthiran,
Sebastiampillai P Ruban,
Selvarajah Uthayarajah,
S.
Thanabalasingham,
Balakrishnan Rajeevmohan,
Parimalarajah Robinson,
Iyathurai Baskaran,
Thangathurai Sivanantha,
Logithasan Rohanth,
Shanmugarajah Sajeenthiran, Manoharan
Rajeehar,
Yogarajah
Hemachandran,
Thambirajah Arulajanthan,
Joseph Pararajasingham,
Jude Sugathy (Theresa) Croos ,
Jude Arokiyathass Fernando,
Emmani Croos,
Emmani Anthonikkam Croos,
Nadararajah Sivakadadcham ,
Dharmaretnam
Sivaram,
Aiyathurai
Nadesan,
Kumaravel Thambaiah and, over the years, thousands more
murdered by
Sri Lanka authorities.
His government was doing, and would do, everything in its power �to
mitigate and resolve the plight of the civilians displaced or affected by
the conflict.�
In addition to ensuring that food, medicines, and other
essential commodities were �within the reach of every one of our Tamil
brethren affected by the conflict,� it would rehabilitate �every civilian
affected by the conflict in a fair and transparent manner.�
Comment by
tamilnation.org "Food,
medicines, and other essential commodities were within the reach
of every one of our Tamil brethren affected by the conflict�.
Really? "There was a mother with two children who had little bread for dinner and
didn’t have anything for breakfast and lunch on the following day. The neighboring
family knowing their pathetic situation gave them little rice on a plate. The
mother asked children to eat it but they refused and asked mother to eat it. It is
wonderful to see love and concern for each other not diminished, amidst such unbearable
suffering and tragic situation of life. These are a few experiences and facts that I got during my short stay in
Jaffna. ..We call ourselves Christians. We proclaim that we follow Jesus who lived
and died for the oppressed. Isn’t it a crime for us to call ourselves Christians and
to live as deaf and blind people amidst our oppressed Tamil brothers and sisters who cry for
freedom to live in peace in their own land and homes? You may not agree with me but
I would say this is a wiping out or slow genocide of the Tamil people from their
own land.....We call ourselves Christians. We proclaim that we follow Jesus who lived
and died for the oppressed. Isn�t it a crime for us to call ourselves Christians and
to live as deaf and blind people amidst our oppressed Tamil brothers and sisters who cry for
freedom to live in peace in their own land and homes? You may not agree with me but
I would say this is a wiping out or slow genocide of the Tamil people from their
own land..."
Jaffna Peninsula: A land
of terror, uncertainty, suspicion and death - A Letter from Fr.
Terence Fernando, February 2008
And a picture speaks a thousand words...
The Sri Lankan President expressed happiness over �the positive and
constructive outcome� of the discussions his Special Envoy, Basil Rajapaksa,
had in New Delhi with External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and senior
Indian officials.
Comment by
tamilnation.org
�the positive and constructive
outcome�... �We have a very comprehensive relationship
with Sri Lanka. In our anxiety to protect the civilians, we should not
forget the strategic importance of this island to India's interests,...
especially in view of attempts by countries like Pakistan and China to gain
a strategic foothold in the island nation...Colombo had been told that India
would "look after your security requirements, provided you do not look
around". "We cannot have a playground of international players in our
backyard."
Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee
24 October 2008
He welcomed India�s decision to contribute, as a gesture
of goodwill, 800 tonnes of relief material for the affected civilians in the
North. He appreciated Tamil Nadu�s offer to make an additional contribution
to this humanitarian endeavour.
Comment by
tamilnation.org
"'India loves to play all sides, and
has always done that,' said Reva Bhalla, an analyst with the
U.S. private intelligence firm Stratfor. 'They can cater
to the
Tamil politicians
and benefit from the Tigers' military capability going down
without taking too much political risk.' Underscoring
India's dual-track approach to Sri Lanka, furious denials
erupted from Colombo and New Delhi last month after two Indian
radar technicians were injured in a Tiger assault on a Sri
Lankan military base. Rajapaksa later said the men were
providing after-sales service to radars India's Bharat
Electronics sold to the military. India has also helped Sri
Lanka intercept Tiger boats, which it considers a threat to
national security..."
C. Bryson Hull in India Rumbles
over Sri Lanka war,
but to what end?,
17 October 2008
"While
India wants to retain its hold in South Asia by helping Sri Lanka with
arms, Sri Lanka would use the same arms against innocent Tamils in the
name of war against LTTE. And neither would India ask Sri Lanka to stop
the attacks. And all this while, the Tamil Nadu government would be
shedding crocodile tears."
Desiya Murpokku
Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK ) leader Vijayakant On Karunanidhi's Farce, 30
October 2008 "DMK கட்சியின் கோரிக்கை அல்ல மக்களின்
வேண்டுகோள்... கருணை
உள்ளம் கொண்டு, கண்ணீர் வடிப்போருக்கு உதவிட முற்படுவதைக் குறைகூறுவதே ஒரு
பெருங்குற்றமாகும். ஆனால்,
இதற்குள் அரசியல் கேள்விகள் அடங்கியுள்ளன... இப்போது நன்கொடை வசூல், தானம் உதவி
என்று தமிழக முதல்வர் தொடங்கி யிருக்கிறார். இவை எப்படி அங்கு போய்ச் சேரும்? யார்
இதை அவதிப்பட்ட மக்களுக்கு வழங்குவது?
மத்திய அரசு, இலங்கைக்குத் தொடர்ந்து
ராணுவ உதவி செய்வதால், இலங்கைத் தமிழ்
மக்களைக் கொன்று குவிக்கத் துணை புரியும்,
டில்லியிடம் மன்றாட மக்கள் தயாராக இல்லை...
மத்திய அரசைக் காப்பதா? இலங்கைத் தமிழ் மக்களைக் காப்பதா? என்பதை முதல்வரின்
முடிவுக்கே விட்டுவிடலாம்.."
மத்திய
அரசைக் காப்பதா? இலங்கைத் தமிழ் மக்களைக் காப்பதா?
- Janasakthi, Indian Communist Party
Official Daily, Editorial, 30 October 2008 President Rajapaksa put on record his respect for Tamil Nadu Chief Minister
M. Karunanidhi, �one of India�s senior-most politicians,� and his
appreciation of Mr. Karunanidhi�s thoughts and proposals for �a just
political solution of the current conflict within the framework of an
undivided Sri Lanka.� He said he would like to convey through the Government
of India his wish to invite Chief Minister Karunanidhi to visit Sri Lanka.
Comment by
tamilnation.org "Today, Tamil Nadu appears headed for revolutionary political changes in a
culmination of a combination of events: For one, the two main
Dravidian political outfits � Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK),
headed by three-time chief minister M Karunanidhi and All India Anna
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), headed by former two-term CM
Jayalalitha � are both reeling under overwhelming outrage among the
Tamil population...The ground reality in Tamil Nadu is that
almost every Tamil � belonging to whatever religion or strata �
has a primary affinity to other Tamil-speaking people of
whatever domicile or religion. .. Dravidian leaders, in their
zeal to get on the right side of Delhi bosses, are seen to be
conniving with New Delhi�s policy of aiding Sri Lankan
government in exterminating Tamils..."
Natteri
Adigal in Merinews, Tamil Nadu Going Eelam Way? 9 October 2008
Asked about the contours of the political solution he had in mind, Mr.
Rajapaksa explained his four �Ds� approach � Demilitarisation,
Democratisation, Development, and Devolution. When the 13th Amendment was
introduced in the Sri Lankan Constitution at the instance of the Indian
government, it could not be implemented in the North and the East because
�there was no political will on either side to implement it.� But as a
political leader, he had announced his government�s �intention of
implementing this for the first time. We have given that assurance to the
Tamil people of my country and to the international community. We are going
to do it. This is not to satisfy anybody. It is my duty by the people of
this country.�
Comment by
tamilnation.org
"The Government of India Act enacted by the British in 1935 was described by the
biographer of Subhas Chandra Bose as 'one of history's most sophisticated attempts by an
occupying power to perpetuate its alien rule and yet appear not to do so'. The 13th
Amendment to the Sri Lanka Constitution is no less sophisticated in its efforts to
perpetuate Sinhala rule of the people of Tamil Eelam and yet appear not to do so.
There are some who may describe the 13th Amendment as a constitutional sleight of hand
par excellence. But, that is to put too fine a point on the matter. The blunt reality is
that those who proclaim that the 13th Amendment is intended to share power between the
Tamil people and the Sinhala people, are, to use a colloquialism, 'trying to pull a fast
one' on the Tamil people. Under the 13th Amendment power will continue to reside in a Sinhala dominated Central
government, within the frame of an unitary constitution. The 13th Amendment is intended to
secure a constitutional frame which will enable a Sinhala majority to manage the Tamil
people more effectively than before. It has created Provincial Ministers who will not exercise executive power but who will
have executive power exercised 'through' them!. At the same time it has created a
Provincial Governor appointed by the Sinhala President who will exercise executive
power in respect of provincial matters - a Provincial Governor who is also the
administrative head of the provincial public service and who has control of the Provincial
Finance Fund. And the 13th Amendment has created a Provincial Council without control of planning,
without control of the provincial budget, without control of police and public order
within the province, without control of disposition of state land within the province,
without control of higher education and whose remaining meagre legislative powers are
subject to the over riding will of the Central Parliament. Finally, the provisions of the
Provincial Councils Act itself may be amended from time to time by a simple majority of
members present and voting in Parliament!"
Thirteenth Amendment to Sri Lanka Constitution
Sri Lanka�s fifth executive President pointed out that his government was
implementing the interim proposals of the All Party Representative
Committee. Within one year of clearing the Eastern Province, local and
Provincial Council elections were successfully held, a Tamil Chief Minister
was in office, and development work had been taken up on a priority basis.
Comment by
tamilnation.org
"...whilst the current landscape in the East is one of humanitarian crisis and endemic human rights abuses, the current focus on human rights issues, which whilst performing the essential task of exposing the authoritarianism and violence of the current regime, is insufficient to capture the cold calculations and reasoning in the intentions of the Sri Lankan State which has once again
returned
to the the logic of Sinhala colonisation.." David Rampton, Lecturer, SOAS, University of London
He would now set up a committee to benchmark the devolution process in the
Eastern Province (against what other Provinces enjoyed). |