Dear Mr. President,
Torment of a Tamil American
You have shown humanism with fortitude in protecting
minority and underprivileged interests in the United States of America and
in some selected parts of the world. Yet, instead of helping to find a
lasting solution for the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka, the
United States of America is adding fuel to the fire as the chief
supporter of the
Sri Lanka
Government that is determined to annihilate the Tamils. This is not
acceptable.
In a multi
ethnic state, always the majority, of the majority, for the majority, elects
the government.
Hence in such a democratic setup the minority becomes
totally oppressed and suppressed, as their vote bank does not carry any
weight. In Sri Lanka 70% or less are Buddhists and only 30% belong to
Christians, Muslims and Hindus.
Successive Sri Lanka governments have always reneged on promises to
Tamil voters and
President Kumaratunga is no exception.
Furthermore, not all the violent movements in many parts of
the world originated because the persons who started such movements are
fond of killing people or playing with weapons
of destruction or because they believed they could get what they need and
deserve easily.
Since,
better civilized
means are ignored
and violence draws attention, oppressed people display their frustration and
helplessness through violence.
The same thing happened in Sri Lanka. The
large numbers of democratic attempts by Tamils were thwarted with
Sinhala Governments' autocratic wrath.
S. J. V.Chelvanayagam, the Eelam Gandhi failed with his non-violent
strategy.
Young Thileepan
sacrificed his life in Gandhian non-violent protest with no compassion
from the Buddhist government of Sri Lanka. I strongly believe, that element
of human compassion abounds among good Americans and innocent lives are
treated with respect.
The struggle for the restoration of Tamil dignity and honor
in SriLanka by the creation of the nation state of Tamil Eelam is the
outcome of a
democratic process enunciated in the Vaddukkoddai Resolution of 1976.
Tamil Eelam is not an object to satisfy some stray political ambition of a
few but a fundamental imperative for all Tamils in Sri Lanka. Survival of
Tamils is at stake let alone, living with dignity and honor!
The potential for "domino effect" coined by the US Under
Secretary, is no reason for aiding and abetting materially and morally
the
genocide of Tamils. There was no domino effect when India was
partitioned or when India carved out Bangladesh from Pakistan. Why should
Tamil Eelam be the exception?
Therefore Mr. President, the very chance to
regain Tamil existence with dignity and honor
will be missed now only because of 'high tech' military wherewithal and
moral support made available to the genocidal,
uncompromising, Sri Lankan Government by the US bureaucracy and its
allies.
As a Tamil American, I urge you to help the Tamils and the
Sinhalas
find a 'homegrown' solution on their own
without any outside military involvement for the scourge of war thrust on
the Tamils.
If by the involvement of outsiders, aided and abetted by the US,
the military advantage gained so far by the Tamil Freedom forces is
reversed, the sufferings of the Tamils and
loss of
more lives are imminent. Therefore Mr. President, use your good offices
and act promptly to withdraw all foreign military presence in Sri Lanka
immediately.
If everything else fails, I, as a Tamil American has no
other recourse, but to fast for an indefinite period in front of the White
House in Washington DC from July 4, 2000 as my contribution for Tamils to
live with dignity and honor.
Thank you
Ramalingam Shanmugalingam
11373 Ironwood
Road San Diego CA 92131. USA Tel & Fax: (858) 547 0574
Electronic Copy (ec.): California US Senators Dianne
Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham,
California Dist. 51
Addendum
"Re-Torment of a Tamil American", I owe it to the
tamilnation.org browsing
public to communicate my follow up letter to US President Bill Clinton on 4
July 2000.
I still believe that external support is necessary once the
Tamil Freedom Fighters win the war, for recognition of the State of Tamil
Eelam. There is no alternative open to Tamils in Sri Lanka but to take what
belongs to them forcibly... If reports are correct, the Sri Lankan President
is "more flexible" and Tamil Freedom Fighters could join the discussions
with their gun. It is high time the international community also understood
that Tamil Freedom Fighters, regardless of world opinion, will do what they
have to do to live free with dignity and honor in their native land. "Every
man is the architect of his own fortune." So are the Tamils, who have to
fight it out alone inside Sri Lanka. Hopefully, the world will not fault
Tamils once they drive out aliens from their homeland.
The President Of The United States of America
Washington DC
Dear Mr. President
Re-Torment of a Tamil American
I
took the liberty and sent you copies of my appeal, "Torment of a Tamil
American" on June 1, 2000, a copy attached herewith, via E-mail, Fax and
by USPS. I realize the burden of your office and inability to pay
attention to every correspondence you receive.
Nevertheless, it is my duty to inform you that I have
called off the FAST scheduled to start today July 4, a well-fought and
earned Independence Day Anniversary. Happy Independence Day Mr.
President.
I wish and hope that Tamils of Sri Lanka, though
insignificant in number, who also have the same human aspirations and
yearn for the same values our forefathers adopted in the "Declaration of
Independence," realize their goal before this day next year.
As indicated in my appeal, I vowed to go on the FAST if
for Tamils'
"the very chance to regain Tamil existence with
dignity and honor will be missed now only because of 'high tech'
military wherewithal and moral support made available to the
genocidal, uncompromising, Sri Lankan Government by the US
bureaucracy and its allies."
Whether by design or accident, Tamil Freedom Fighters
are able to withstand the heavy aerial bombardment of civilian enclaves
within Tamil territory. ... Tamil Freedom struggle war phase has changed
for the better despite Sri Lankan Government controlled Press reports to
the contrary. I have suspended my FAST program for now and will
undertake such a sacrifice, if necessary, in the near future to ensure
Tamil freedom.
