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"To us
all towns are one, all men our kin. |
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"To us
all towns are one, all men our kin. |
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Velupillai Pirabaharan: A Profile
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Chapter 2: New Tamil Tigers and Their Activities
Pirabaharan was both the leader and military commander of the � New Tamil
Tigers�. From the very beginning, Pirabaharan himself personally
recruited brave young men committed to self-sacrifice and revolutionary
flavour to the movement. He himself provided them the required military
training and political indoctrination.
(1) First Military Operation
The first military operation of the � New Tamil Tigers' was carried out
under the command of Pirabaharan on July 17th 1975. Alfred Duraiappah,
the then Mayor of Jaffna and S.L.F.P. Jaffna electorate organizer was
the first victim. He was shot dead when he came to worship at the
Varatharajah Perumal Temple at Ponnalai. After the successful operation
the Tamil Tigers escaped in the Mayor's car after snatching the keys
from the driver.
The credit for planning, executing and leading the first operation
successfully goes to Pirabaharan. This incident became a strong warning
signal to those Tamil traitors who wanted to betray the Tamil people�s
liberation struggle. Above everything, this incident gave confidence to
the freedom-thirsty Tamil youths in their long and difficult march
towards Tamil Eelam. Many youths joined the movement in the fight
against internal and external enemies under the able and trusted
leadership of Pirabaharan.
(2) �New Tamil Tigers�
The clandestine movement needed large amount of funds to operate
underground. Therefore, they were forced to rob government owned banks
to finance their activities. Although the Sri Lankan government
collected revenue in the form of taxes from all the people, it neglected
completely the Tamil areas in national development schemes. Pirabaharan,
therefore, felt that it is not immoral to rob the government to finance
the Tamil liberation struggle. So on 5th March 1976, Pirabaharan with
his comrades entered the People's Bank branch at Puthur in broad light
and took away 5 lakhs in cash and 2 lakhs worth of jewelry at gunpoint.
After the murder of Alfred Duraiappah and the bank robbery the government
set up a special intelligence squad in the North. It was created by the
Police Headquarters in Colombo with the sole purpose of completely
wiping-out the New Tamil Tigers. This division commenced its work in
Tamil areas with the help of informants and traitors.
(3) Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
The � New Tamil Tigers'� organization took the new name of Liberation
Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on May 5th 1976. Pirabaharan remained the
political leader and military commander. Some stringent rules and
regulations in force during the time of the New Tamil Tigers were
relaxed and new regulations were introduced with the object of
facilitating the participation of all people in the Tamil Eelam
liberation struggle.
Furthermore, Pirabaharan constituted the organization as an urban
guerrilla movement with the objective of carrying out a long drawn-out
people�s war for the national liberation of Tamil people.
With prophetic foresight Pirabaharan realized that the guerrilla method of
warfare is the only viable option for unarmed and numerically smaller
nation to fight against the military might of the Sinhala chauvinistic
regime. He also correctly anticipated that a guerrilla warfare will be a
fore-runner to a full-blooded armed mass liberation struggle in which
everyone will participate.
By way of explanation Pirabaharan said "Guerrilla warfare is really mass
struggle. It is not in conflict with mass struggle. Guerrilla warfare is
the highest form of mass struggle. When it takes root in the hearts of
the entire populace and reflect their aspirations it becomes a mass
struggle. My object is to achieve this purpose of making all take active
part in this guerilla warfare."
In this liberation struggle, leader Pirabaharan divided the military
activities of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam into three main
divisions.
(1) Eliminating Sri Lanka�s police spies and Tamil traitors who help them.
(2) Crippling the administrative structure of the Sri Lankan police force functioning in Tamil Eelam.
(3) Destroying army troops and camps by mounting covert and overt attacks and bring them under LTTE control followed by setting up civil administration appropriate to the Tamil people through which self-rule is established in Tamil Eelam.
On July 02, 1976 Nadarajah, Manager Petrol depot. from Urumpirai was shot
dead.
On Feb 14, 1977 police constable Karunanithy was shot dead at
Maviddapuram.
On May 18, 1977 two policemen bearing the same name Shanmuganathan were
shot dead at Inuvil.
(In August 1977, the UNP. government successfully carried out a genocidal
attack on Tamils' throughout the island.)
On January 27, 1978 Kanagaratnam, TULF candidate for Pottuvil was shot at
Colombo.
On April 07, 1978 Inspector Bastiampillai, who gained notoriety for
torturing Tamil suspects at the CID office on 4th floor, and four other
police officers were killed in the jungles adjoining Madhu church in
Murungan.
On April 25, 1978 for the first time LTTE issued a statement publicly
claiming responsibility for military operations from the days of New
Tamil Tigers to LTTE totaling 11 military operations.
On May 19, 1978 a �Law proscribing the LTTE� was passed by the Sri Lanka
Parliament. This law gave very wide powers to the army to eliminate LTTE
cadres.
On September 07, 1978 a � New Constitution� was passed by the UNP
government of J.R Jayawardene which relegated Tamil language to 2nd
place.
On December 05, 1978 Rs.12 lakhs was robbed from the government owned bank
at Thirunelveli after killing two policemen.
On July 20, 1979 J.R.�s government passed the
Prevention of Terrorism Act
to strengthen the previous law which proscribed the LTTE. Under this law
a person can be detained incommunicado for 18 months without trial or
charges.
On the very same day of the passage of the Prevention of Terrorist Act, a
state of Emergency was declared in the Northern province. Immediately,
J.R. dispatched his nephew Brigadier (Bull) Weeratunga to the North with
instructions to �Destroy terrorism in all its form� in six months, that
is on or before December 31, 1979.
When the Sri Lankan government under J.R. intensified military oppression
of Tamil people and launched a no-holes barred war to destroy the LTTE
completely; Pirabaharan decided to strengthen and expand both military
and political activities to confront government�s counter insurgency
plans. Towards this end, he decided to suspend all military actions
temporarily during 1979 and 1980 and concentrated all his attention in
strengthening and expanding the Tiger organization.
It was during this period he drafted a full-fledged �revolutionary
political doctrine� through which he intended creating an army of
fighters who were politically conscious. During this period establishing
LTTE branches for the purpose of forging friendly relations with
progressive movements remained one of Pirabaharan�s high priority.
On May 31, 1981 the Sinhala army and police together with UNP thugs set
the Jaffna city on fire.
They burnt to
ashes the Jaffna library considered one of the best in South Asia
that contained priceless collections of more than 94,000 books and rare
manuscripts.
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The Eelanadu newspaper publishing house was also burnt down. The duo who
spearheaded the Tamil cultural genocide were two senior cabinet ministers
known for their chauvinism, Cyril Matthew and Gamini Dissanayake of the UNP
government. Gamini Dissanayake later became the leader of the opposition and
UNP presidential candidate in the 1994 elections. He was killed in a suicide
attack on October 24, 1994.
At this stage, Pirabaharan wanted to make the Sinhala chauvinistic
government to realise the fact that Tamils cannot be cowed down through
state terrorism and violence. So he gave orders to his cadres to mount
attacks against government troops. The attacks gradually became escalated in
frequency and intensity.
The First Attack against the Sri Lankan Army
On October 15, 1981 the Tigers launched their first attack against the Sri
Lankan army by attacking an army truck which came along K.K.S road in Jaffna
town. Two soldiers were killed and their arms taken away by the LTTE. In the
history of the Liberation struggle of Tamil Eelam this was the first attack
on the Sri Lankan army.
On July 02, 1982 four soldiers were killed and three wounded in an attack
that took place at Nelliady. The dead soldiers� arms and ammunitons were
also taken away by the LTTE.
On September 29, 1982 the Tigers exploded land mines to cause damage to
navy trucks coming on the Ponnalai causeway from Karainagar Naval base as a
mark of protest to J.R. Jayawardene�s visit to Jaffna for an election
campaign.
On October 27, 1982 the Tigers attacked Chavakachcheri police station and
killed 3 policemen and wounded three more. During this successful attack
Tigers captured a large quantity of arms and ammunition. Following this
attack many police stations in the North were closed and police
administration became thoroughly disorganized and paralyzed.
On February 18, 1983 two policemen attached to the Point Pedro police
station were shot and killed.
On March 4, 1983 the Tigers launched an attack on a convoy of army
vehicles at Umayalpuram near Paranthan and fought face to face with the army
for an hour. In this encounter one armoured vehicle was damaged and five
soldiers were seriously wounded.
When the Government .Agent of Jaffna wanted to convene a �security
conference� at the Jaffna Secretariat to discuss ways and means of
maintaining peace and security in the Northern region, the LTTE to show
their opposition to the Sri Lankan government bombed and blasted the Jaffna
secretariat building just one hour before the commencement of the
conference.
On May 18, 1983 the government decided to hold local government election
in the Northern province. LTTE leader Pirabaharan appealed to the people of
Tamil Eelam to boycott this election. He issued a clarion call urging all
Tamils to free themselves from the election mirage of the Sri Lankan
government and to reject the government administrative machinery. He further
appealed to all the people to rally around the armed struggle for freedom.
On April 23, 1983 as a warning to all those Tamil traitors who were
supporting the Sinhala chauvinistic government, three UNP supporters were
shot dead by the Tigers. As a result of this military operation, many Tamil
candidates who stood for elections on the UNP . ticket backed away and many
more deserted the UNP.
On May 18, 1983 on local government election day and just an hour before
closing of the poll, Tigers attacked army and police personnel who were
guarding the election booth at Kantharmadam, Nallur and killed one soldier
and wounded two policemen and two soldiers. The Tigers recovered a RPG
automatic rifle from the dead soldier.
Rattled by the successful attacks on the armed forces by the LTTE, J.R.
Jayawardena�s government gave full powers to the army to shoot down any
suspected freedom fighter ( in government parlance terrorist) at any place
and to bury the dead without postmortem examination or judicial inquiry.
At midnight on 23rd July 1983, an assault group consisting of 14 Tigers,
including Pirabaharan, lay in ambush at Palaly road at Thirunelveli. The
assault group�s command was given to Lieut. Sellakkili by Pirabaharan. When
the army convoy arrived at the exact spot, Tigers commenced the attack by
activating the land mines. Thirteen Sinhalese soldiers were killed in this
attack besides capturing some weapons. Pirabaharan alone shot and killed 7
soldiers in this attack.
This attack shook the Sinhala army establishment and they were thoroughly
shaken up. Exploiting the incident as an excuse, the Sinhala government,
which was waiting eagerly for such an opportunity, unleashed racial riots
throughout the island. It was a well-planned pogrom and thousands of Tamils
were brutally murdered. Tamil women were raped. The economic base of Tamils
in Colombo were totally destroyed. This genocide was carried out by
Sinhalese thugs ably aided and abetted by the army, police, cabinet
Ministers, Members of Parliament and yellow-robed Buddhist monks.
Only after this holocaust, the Tamils fully realized that they and their
progeny can never live in peace and security unless they free Tamil Eelam
from the clutches of the Sri Lankan terrorist state and make it an
independent political entity. This great awakening galvanized ordinary
people to join the freedom struggle. Many young men and women fired by
revolutionary fervour queued up to join the LTTE.
Chapter 3 : Tamil Eelam War 1 (August 1984 - July 1987)
Jolted by the
July 1983 pogrom that was engineered and executed by the Sri Lankan
government against the Tamil people, large number of young men and women
joined the LTTE. The ranks of the LTTE swelled many-fold. Guerilla
formations multiplied. Under these conditions, Pirabaharan with the
objective of converting these formations into a uniformed revolutionary
people's army took steps to expand their political and military
activities. So from July 1983 to February 1984, Pirabaharan temporarily
suspended all military operations and instead drew up mass training
programs and expanded both political and military structures.
Thys the turning point in Tamil Eelam freedom struggle commenced with the
genocide of July 1983. During this critical period Pirabaharan stood
like the eye of the storm against all odds, proving himself equal to all
opposition. He easily emerged as the only great leader to take Tamil
people�s liberation struggle successfully forward.
Intervention of India
During these years, the Indian government which was closely monitoring
developments in the island of Ceylon and the direction of the liberation
struggle, especially the political and military maneuvers of the LTTE
leader Pirabaharan, decided to intervene. Prime Minister Indra Gandhi
decided to intervene on the basis of July 1983 pogrom against the Tamil
people.
In July 1983, the Indian government to advance its own geo-political
interests in the Indian ocean, decided to bring the island of Ceylon
under its sphere of influence by applying political and military
pressure.
The Indian government through RAW provided arms and training to the cadres
belonging to the various militant groups fighting for the liberation of
Tamil Eelam. The Indian government strategy was to give extra arms and
money to some of the movements, so that it could manipulate at will the
military balance between them in such a way as to bring the LTTE and its
leader, who took an uncompromising stand on the question of Tamil Eelam
liberation, under its control. If this was not possible then to destroy
the LTTE completely.
Pirabaharan who was sharp enough to see through the Indian government's
machinations drew up his own plans. While accepting Indian government
offers of arms and training, he secretively and without the knowledge of
the Indian government and its spy agency RAW managed to induct supplies
of arms and ammunitions necessary for a liberation war into Tamil
Eelam.
Military operations commenced on 24th February 1984. Under the leadership
of Pirabaharan armed struggle in Tamil Eelam became intensified. Tiger
formations launched systematic and continuous guerilla attacks on the
army and killed hundreds of soldiers. The infuriated army in retaliation
attacked and killed unarmed civilians. Yet the people of Tamil Eelam in
spite of the suffering were highly elated at the unprecedented military
feats of the Tigers under the leadership of Pirabaharan.
On October 24, 1984 Prime Minister Indra Gandhi was killed by her own
bodyguards. Rajiv Gandhi who was an air pilot by profession and the
eldest son of Indra Gandhi was appointed Prime Minister of India. He had
no experience in politics and entertained wrong notions about the ethnic
conflict raging in Sri Lanka. He was ignorant of the dynamics of the
Tamil Eelam liberation struggle, especially about understanding
Pirabaharan. Right from the time of assuming office, he failed to
appreciate the fact that Tamils in Sri Lanka suffered oppression at the
hands of the Sri Lankan government and they have been denied even the
basic rights as a people. Hence he started acting favorably towards the
Sinhalese government and in hostility to the Tamil Eelam freedom
struggle. This attitude created tensions between the Indian government
and Pirabaharan, more precisly between Rajiv Gandhi and Pirabaharan.
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Pirabaharan at the age of 31 married Mathivathani, an under-graduate
student of the Jaffna University in 1984. She is from Punkudutivu, an
island situated off the Jaffna peninsula. They have two sons and one
daughter.
Talks At Thimpu
Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi collected a coterie of �special advisors�
around him by-passing officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in
dealing with the island�s ethnic problem. Especially, he ignored A,P.
Venkadeswaran, foreign secretary of India who was then forced to resign
his office. Rajiv Gandhi�s antagonism towards Venkadeswaran might be due
to the fact he was a Tamil. This led to a situation where Rajiv Gandhi�s
own whims and fancies became India�s official foreign policy.
Right from the beginning of 1985, the Indian government started applying
undue pressure on the LTTE and Pirabaharan to stop guerilla attacks
against the army. It arranged a cease- fire between the Tigers and the
Sinhala armed forces beginning 18th June 1985. Under Indian government
mediation,
negotiations began at Thimpu, the capital of Bhutan. All the Tamil
liberation groups-ranging from the moderate TULF to the LTTE - jointly
enunciated �four
cardinal principles� that should form the basis on which a solution
to the Tamil national problem should be found. The "four cardinal
principles" better known as Thimpu principles in Tamil political
discourse are:
It is our considered view that any meaningful solution to the Tamil national question must be based on the following four cardinal principles:
(1) recognition of the Tamils of Ceylon as a nation;
(2) recognition of the existence of an identified homeland for the Tamils in Ceylon;
(3)recognition of the right of self determination of the Tamil nation; and
(4) recognition of the right to citizenship and the fundamental rights of all Tamils in Ceylon.
The Sri Lankan Government headed by J. R. Jayawardene rejected these
proposals in toto resulting in a stalemate in talks. In the meantime,
the Sinhalese army breached the cease-fire by killing more than 200
Tamil civilians in Trincomalee and Vavuniya. The talks then collapsed
for good when Tamil representatives withdrew. During this time
Pirabaharan was having consultation with his area commanders about the
cease-fire, the talks taking place at Thimpu and future plan of action.
Following the failure of the talks at Thimpu, Anton Balasingham, political
advisor to LTTE, was forcibly expelled from India by the Indian
authorities. This action brought about deep cleavage and sharp conflict
between Pirabaharan and the Indian government. Yet Pirabaharan made
clear the LTTE's stand towards India. He declared "We need India's
goodwill and assistance. At the same we do not like India imposing its
decisions on the people of Tamil Eelam, against their wishes. Our people
have the inalienable right to decide about their own future."
But the Indian Prime Minister and the Indian government failed to
comprehend Pirabaharan�s commitment and his determination to liberate
the people of Tamil Eelam. In October, 1986 the Indian government
pressured the Tamil Nadu Chief minister to confiscate LTTE�s
communication equipment. The Tamil Nadu police arrested Pirabaharan and
other LTTE cadres, took them to the police station and locked them up.
They were treated like ordinary criminals by the police.
Fast unto Death
In this situation, there was a big question mark about Pirabaharan�s next
move. Contrary to everyone�s expectation, the youthful leader of the
armed movement and the terror of the Sinhalese armed forces, commenced a
fast unto death on November 22, 1986. He said that he will not give up
his fast unless and until the Tamil Nadu government hands back the
communication equipment confiscated. His fast unto death caused shock
among all and sundry. Having fully understood the firm determination of
Pirabaharan, the Tamil Nadu government gave in and returned back the
equipment. Reciprocating the gesture of the Tamil Nadu gopvernment,
notably its
Chief Minister M.G.Ramachandran, Pirabaharan ended his fast. Later
at a press conference reporters asked a barrage of questions about his
fast.
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Reporter: " Since you have come out victorious in your non-violent
campaign, why can't you adopt the same method of warfare even in Sri
Lanka? What is the necessity for an armed struggle?"
Pirabaharan: "India is the only country in history which gained its
independence through non-violent means. India understands the sacredness
of non-violent struggle and hence victory for my non-violent Satyagraha.
But Satyagraha will not work in racist Sri Lanka which is bereft of any
humanism or sense of justice. Hence the armed struggle as the only
alternative in Tamil Eelam."
Bangalore Conference
When Sri Lanka President J.R. Jayawardene came to Bangalore to participate
in the SAARC annual conference, Pirabaharan who was in Tamil Nadu was
taken there along with his political advisors to hold talks with him.
Indian government informed Pirabaharan about President Jayawardene�s
proposal to give the Northern province to the Tamils, but divide Eastern
province into three parts among Tamils, Muslims, and Sinhalese.
Pirabaharan rejected this proposal out of hand as completely unacceptable.
He asked � When we are demanding the merger of North and East into one,
how could we then accept the proposal to divide two into four?�
It was at this Bangalore conference that Jayawardene via the Indian
government made an offer to make Pirabaharan the Chief Minister of the
Northern Province.
To this offer Pirabaharan gave a fitting reply �This is a deceptive and a
dubious trap conceived to exterminate the Tamil race. Chief Minister is
a puppet post which the President could dismiss at his own whim and
fancy. It is a post with no substantial powers in which you cannot
render any meaningful service to the people at all.� He rejected the
offer out of hand with the contempt it deserved.
Returning to Tamil Eelam
Pirabaharan realised that as long as he stayed in India, there is bound to
be pressure brought on him by the central and state governments. He can
be even murdered in Delhi or Madras and thereby bring to an end the
armed struggle for Tamil Eelam. On the whole he sensed a lurking danger
to his life as long as he continued to stay in Tamil Nadu. Convinced
that only his return to Tamil Eelam will help intensify the armed
struggle, he returned to Tamil Eelam on January 3, 1987.
While Pirabaharan�s return made the Sri Lankan Government and the army
panic-stricken, confusion gripped the Indian Government and its
intelligence outfit RAW. The Indian government evolved a master plan to
intervene militarily in the war between the LTTE and the Sri Lankan
government. Towards this end India wanted to give indirect military help
to the Sri Lankan army to take on the LTTE. Simultaneously India wanted
to pose off as the �Saviour� of the Tamil people from the genocidal
attacks launched by the Sinhala army.
On May 1, 1987, in his May Day address to the people of Tamil Eelam
Pirabaharan said,
�We have to win our freedom through armed struggle and by shedding of blood. There is no other easy way or alternative left for us. Either we perish as slaves or fight with arms and live as free people. This is our political fate. All of us make a firm resolve on this May Day. That is, an independent Tamil Eelam is the only solution and the ultimate solution to our problem. To secure this goal of an independent Tamil Eelam, let us all fight to the last sacrificing our lives, limbs and souls. Let this be our May Day resolve and proclamation!�
Direct Military Intervention of India in Tamil Eelam
On July 24, 1987, some Indian officials met Pirabaharan in Jaffna and
informed him that Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi wants to meet him and talk to
him on a very important subject. So saying they tried to fly him to Delhi
post-haste.
On the backdrop of this political turnaround, Pirabaharan addressed a
message to the people of Tamil Eelam which read as follows:
�I can assure you that today the Tamils have chosen a leadership which can win for them their goal of Tamil Eelam. I am fully confident that I can carry out this tremendous responsibility vested on my shoulders by you truthfully, sincerely and courageously. I do not believe any ad hoc solution will solve our problem. I am working hard to arrive at a solution which will guarantee permanent peace, bright and prosperous future for all Tamils. I believe that solution is an independent Tamil Eelam. Today, on an official invitation extended by Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, I am leaving Tamil Eelam for India.�
Thereafter, he left for Delhi in an Indian army helicopter sent by the
Government of India. On the way Pirabaharan stopped at Madras and had
talks with the Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran. Nobody knew why he was
invited to Delhi in such a mighty hurry. When he and his advisors
arrived in Delhi they were lodged at the Asoka Hotel.
In Delhi, the Indian high Commissioner for Sri Lanka J.N. Dixit ,
Foreign Ministry Secretary K.P.S. Menon and other officials met
Pirabaharan. They told him for the first time about the proposed �Indo-
Ceylon Agreement.� The officials showed him a copy of the draft
agreement, but took it back immediately. Pirabaharan firmly refused to
accept the draft agreement. Several attempts were made to coax
Pirabaharan into falling in line, but he stood his ground.
Then they told him Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi wanted to see him and talk
to him. But even after the lapse of four days, there was no rendezvous
with the Prime Minister.
J.N. Dixit, former High Commissioner and a key advisor to Rajiv Gandhi
during these political developments has given a clear insight into the
Indian mind-set and the policy options discussed in the corridors of
power in Delhi.
In his book
Assignment Colombo ( Konarak Publishers, 1998), he reminisces candidly:
�My advice to him (Rajiv Gandhi) after the failure of our initiatives at the Bangalore SAARC summit was that India's purely mediatory efforts were not likely to succeed. I was of the view that India had to shift its role from that of a mediator to a peace-maker and the guarantor of such peace if the crisis in Sri Lanka was to be resolved. It was also my considered opinion that the LTTE's insistence on the creation of a separate Tamil state in Sri Lanka, based on ethnic, linguistic and religious considerations, would have far-reaching negative implications for India's unity and territorial integrity too. The LTTE's clandestinely publicised objective of a Greater Eelam would have its impact notably on India but the rest of South-East Asian countries with Tamil populations.
I was convinced that the LTTE's objective of creating a separate political entity, purely on the basis of language, ethnicity and religion, would be a challenge to the plural multi-dimensional democratic identity of India as well as other similarly placed countries in the region. Having seen the LTTE in operations, both in the political and military fields, I also felt that, despite the legitimacy of the Tamil aspirations articulated by it, the LTTE was essentially an authoritarian organisation that relied on violence to settle all differences of opinion.
An example of the mindset of LTTE leadership is provided by a report about a journalist asking Pirabaharan some time during 1986 as to who were his role models in politics and military operations. First came Subhas Chandra Bose in all the power and majesty of his position as the supreme commander of the Indian National Army.
The other name Pirabaharan mentioned was the American actor Clint Eastwood in his personification as the hero who avenged injustice with ruthless violence. I cannot vouch for the total authenticity of this story for the simple reason that this was not said to me. But I am inclined to believe in the veracity of such a response by Pirabaharan, given his intense commitment to the Tamil cause and his personality as a militant leader. My suggestions to Rajiv Gandhi were based on these assessments.�
When they found Pirabaharan will not accept the agreement, the Indian
government immediately brought representatives of the other servile
Tamil Groups who were in Tamil Nadu to Delhi. As to be expected, these
groups without as much as batting an eye lid, readily gave their consent
to the agreement. Then Rajiv Gandhi announced that everyone, barring the
LTTE leader Pirabaharan, have accepted the agreement. Further he
announced that he was flying to Colombo to sign the agreement on July
29, 1987.
Only after these developments Rajiv Gandhi met Pirabaharan. Pirabaharan
pointed out to him the
many short- comings in the agreement. Yet the Indian officials told
the mass media that Pirabaharan has given his consent to the agreement.
However, Pirabaharan issued a press statement denying government�s
claim. In the mean time �black cats� commandos were posted to guard the
Asoka Hotel where Pirabaharan was lodged. It tantamount to a virtual
house arrest and keeping the LTTE leader incommunicado.
Indo - Sri Lankan Pact
Indo - Sri Lanka agreement was signed in Colombo by Rajiv Gandhi and
J.R. Jayawardene on July 29, 1987 without obtaining the consent of the
LTTE leader and the Tamil people. Displaying sheer arrogance as Prime
Minister of a regional superpower and stupidity as a politician, Rajiv
Gandhi signed the agreement with President J.R. Jayawardene, mainly to
safeguard the geo-political interests of India. This he did after
locking up Pirabaharan, who was leading the liberation struggle of the
Tamils with the sole aim of establishing an independent Tamil Eelam, in
a Delhi hotel. Rajiv Gandhi who returned to India after signing the
agreement met Pirabaharan and gave some assurances to him. After
receiving those assurances Pirabaharan returned to Tamil Eelam.
Suthumalai Declaration
LTTE leader Pirabaharan explained clearly the political stand taken up by
the LTTE about the Indo-Sri Lankan Accord
at a
historically important mammoth gathering of several thousands of Tamils
at Suthumalai on 4 August 1987. In the presence of Indian Army
personnel, newspaper reporters and the people of Tamil Eelam he
explained the LTTE position thus:
When the Indian government takes over the arms served as a shield and the only protection of our people, it is also taking over the great responsibility to protect the people of Tamil Eelam. The handing over of our arms only signifies this exchange of responsibility. At this juncture if we do not surrender our arms, a very unfortunate situation will arise whereby we will be forced to clash with the Indian Army. We do not want this unfortunate situation to arise under any circumstances. I am fully convinced that an independent state of Tamil Eelam is the only permanent solution to the problems faced by the Tamil people of Tamil Eelam. I will continue the struggle politically for this goal of Tamil Eelam. In the interest of our Tamil people, circumstances might compel LTTE to take part in the interim council or contest elections. But I will not participate in any election at any time. I want to announce this categorically here and now.�
�Today we are handing over the arms we took for the liberation and emancipation of our people to the Indian Government. From this very moment of surrendering our arms we are also entrusting the safety of our people in the hands of the Indian government.
After this, on the orders of Pirabaharan, LTTE cadres began handing over their weapons to the Indian Army at Palaly Military Camp.
But Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi failed to keep his promises he gave to Pirabaharan. Instead he kept on procrastinating and skilfully inducted the other Tamil traitor groups based in India into Tamil Eelam and directed them to engage in anti -LTTE and anti-Tamil activities.
The Supreme Sacrifice of Thileepan
At this point of time, Martyr Thileepan, with the approval of Pirabaharan decided to undertake a fast unto death to expose the treacherous role India was playing as the supposed �Saviour� of the Tamil people. This was also meant to be the next phase of the liberation struggle.
On September 15, 1987 Thileepan (Rasaiah Paarthipan) who was the LTTE's political wing leader for the Jaffna district commenced his fast over the following demands from the Indian government. (The Indian army was in de facto control of the peninsula during this time)
Theleepan with LTTE leader
�The entire Tamil speaking people in the North and East should rally round the LTTE in this non-violent struggle. We can achieve our goal of Tamil Eelam only by the united and concerted effort of the entire Tamil masses. This is the only way we can show our gratitude to Thileepan for his un-comparable sacrifice and martyrdom in pursuit of our cause.�
Heroic Death of 12 Liberation Fighters
After the death of Thileepan, Sri Lankan navy arrested 17 senior LTTE
cadres, including 2 senior commanders Pulendran and Kumarappa off Point
Pedro coast. They were brought to the Palaly Army Camp and detained.
Pirabaharan registered a very strong protest against this unlawful and
high-handed action of the Sri Lankan government when there was a cease-fire
and a general amnesty in force. He urged Indian as well as the Sri Lankan
governments to release the LTTE cadres immediately.
In the meantime, the hawkish Minister for National Security Lalith
Athulathmudali was insisting that all the arrested LTTE cadres to be brought
to Colombo to face charges. He threatned to resign his cabinet portfolio if
his demand t was not complied with by President Jayawardena.
On account of India�s betrayal, 12 out of the 17 liberation fighters
committed suicide by swallowing cyanide. Pirabaharan issued a soul -stirring
and strongly worded statement to the people of Tamil Eelam. He asked:
�If the Indian government would have demanded the Sri Lankan President Jayawardene to release all those men who were arrested , then these unwarranted deaths would not have taken place. In this respect India has totally failed to honour its commitment, exercise its authority and fulfill its moral responsibility to protect the lives of the liberation fighters and the Tamil people. If India has forsaken this great moral responsibility, then there is no meaning in the Indian Peace Keeping force lingering in Tamil Eelam. Now we have to question their motive for remaining in our soil. Are they staying here to protect President Jayawardene, the Sinhalese Army and treacherous Tamil groups and help them to exterminate the liberation fighters of LTTE? It is an unpardonable crime indeed that instead of protecting our fighters and leaders, India was handing over them to the Sinhalese Army. By this treacherous act. the IPKF has committed an unpardonable crime against the people of Tamil Eelam. Under these circumstances we have decided not to abide by the cease-fire agreement!�
Chapter 4: Indo - Tamil Eelam War
The war between LTTE and IPKF broke out on October 10, 1987. On October
11, Pirabaharan wrote a letter to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu,
M.G.Ramachandran explaining the circumstances that led to the break-out
hostilities. He wrote,
�As a consequence of the unjust and tragic death of our commanders and fighters, violence erupted everywhere in Tamil Eelam. Racial riots broke here and there. India had leveled false accusations against us stating that we were responsible for the violence and we tried to break the agreement. As a result, a conspiracy was hatched in Colombo between Indian Defense Minister Pant, Indian High Commissioner Dixit, and Indian Army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Sunderji n one side and President Jayawardene and National Security Minister Lalith Athulathmudali on the other side. J.R. Jayawardene had announced the banning of LTTE and the nullification of the general amnesty given to LTTE cadres. Indian Defence Minister Pant declared that India had decided to take strong military action against the LTTE.
Following such belligerent threats and unilateral action, the IPKF launched a vicious military attack on the LTTE fighters using tanks and artillery. On the morning of October 10, 1987, IPKF entered the offices of two Newspapers in Jaffna (Eelamurasu and Murasoli) and arrested all the workers. They then dynamited and blasted the machinery and equipment in those offices. At noon, the Indian forces tried to break out from Jaffna Fort into Jaffna town. When we tried to check their advance, the Indian army fired back. The LTTE in turn was compelled to return fire in self-defence.
The Indian army started shelling residential areas using heavy artillery and tanks for hours together. Their attacks increased in intensity and frequency. Because of these indiscriminate attacks, not only the Tiger fighters but also the civilians are dying in their hundreds. It was obvious the Indian Army had orders from Delhi to exterminate the Tigers even if that meant killing large number of civilians. Surrounded on all sides by the Indian Army, we are fighting in self- defence. We bear arms for a cause so that it is nobler to die fighting rather than be captured alive and die in disgrace. �
The war went on with great intensity. It took one long month for the
Indian Army to capture Jaffna peninsula. Pirabaharan himself took
command and led the fighting.
Pirabaharan finally decided that guerilla warfare is the best method to
fight the Indian armed forces. So he withdrew with his fighters into the
jungles of Vanni in Tamil Eelam.
From the Vanni jungles the guerilla war continued. There were heavy
causalities on the Indian side. Unable to confront the Tigers in battle,
they turned their anger against the people and killed innocent
civilians. They killed several women after raping them.
While the war was in progress, Pirabaharan wrote to Rajiv Gandhi on
12/10/1987, 14/10/1987 and 13/01/1988. He informed him that if a
cease-fire is declared and an interim council for Northeast is set up in
accordance with the promise made to him, the LTTE was prepared to hand
over arms. But Rajiv Gandhi wanted to kill Pirabaharan and then
completely exterminate the entire LTTE fighters thus putting an end to
the goal of an independent Tamil Eelam. So far from halting the war, he
inducted more than 150,000 Indian soldiers into Tamil areas to execute
his plan. As a result the war continued unabated.
All the Tamil groups which took up arms to fight for the liberation of
Tamil Eelam turned traitors to the Tamils by forsaking the ideal of
Tamil Eelam. They slavishly sold their souls to the governments of India
and Sri Lanka and played the role of paid mercenaries and Quislings.
But Pirabaharan was the only leader who boldly stood up against Indian
military aggression after rallying around the Tamil people of Eelam,
cutting across caste, religion and regional barriers. While the whole
world stood aghast in wonder, the tiny Tamil Eelam army fought the
mighty Indian army like a ferocious Tiger. Even the Sinhalese people
admired Pirabaharan as a first rate military commander who stood against
foreign invasion. When the war was raging in full fury during the middle
part of 1988, Pirabaharan came to be hailed as the� National Leader of
Tamil Eelam� by the Tamil people in Tamil Eelam and other parts of the
world.
Martyrdom of Mother Poopathy
When
Tamil women unfolded the flag of revolt against the Indian invading
army,
Mother Poopathy of Maddakkalappu in South Tamil Eelam started a fast
unto death putting forward two demands:
(1) Stop the war; and
(2) Start negotiations with the LTTE .
But Premier Rajiv Gandhi who lauds Gandhian non-violent principles
pooh-poohed her fast. Mother Poopathy sacrificed her life and became a
Martyr on April 19, 1988. Tamil Eelam National leader
Pirabaharan issued a statement
eulogizing her noble sacrifice. He said:
"Among the Martyrs who created history by sacrificing their precious lives in the cause of our sacred war of liberation of Tamil Eelam, Mother Poopathy secures an exalted place. She who renounced her life as an ordinary woman, a mother, head of a family and desires sacrificed her very life for the empowerment of her people and the liberation of her race. The war of non-violence she launched against the tyranny of the Indian army had made the land of Gandhiji bow down its head in shame! She did not die as an ordinary human being. Her supreme sacrifice raises her as the symbolic awakening of the motherhood of Tamil Eelam."
National Heroes Day (November 1987)
When Eelam war was raging with fury, every day liberation fighters were
laying down their lives at the altar of Tamil Eelam liberation. On
November 27, 1989 from his dense jungle hideout, Tamil Eelam National
Leader Pirabaharan proclaimed that �November 27� on which day the first
liberation fighter attained martyrdom in the cause of Tamil Eelam will
be commemorated as � National Heroes Day.� He said ,
"Today is a very important day in the history of our liberation struggle.
We have proclaimed this day as the National Heroes Day to remember the
1307 martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the noble cause of
liberating Tamil Eelam. For the first time we are commemorating National
Heroes Day. It is customary for Remembrance Day to be commemorated in
many countries in the world in memory of soldiers who fought and died
for the liberation of their motherland and soldiers who died in battle
defending their countries' freedom.
You know that all these days we have been commemorating days when
individual fighters attained martyrdom. But from this year onwards we
have proclaimed one particular day of the year to remember and
commemorate the death of all the heroes who attained martyrdom. Hence we
have declared November 27 as the National Heroes Day, the day our first
LTTE fighter Shankar sacrificed his life on the battle field. So we have
proclaimed this day as our National Heroes Day.
There is a tradition among our people. It is to give prominence to those
who hold high positions and those who are wealthy. Likewise in our
liberation struggle in order not to separate the leaders and praise
their accomplishments only, we have taken a decision to celebrate
National Heroes Day with the objective of treating every fighter on an
equal footing.
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So by commemorating all the fallen heroes on a sepcified day not only we
treat the leaders as well as the ordinary fighters equally, we also
commemorate jointly all the fighters who laid down their lives.
Otherwise in course of time only the leaders will be remembered and
honoured while the rest will fade into oblivion. So to avoid giving
prominence to a selected few and to remember all on the same day we
decided to celebrate this National Heroes Day.
As far as a Nation is concerned, if it does not honour its heroes,
intellectuals and women it will become barbaric and destroy itself. We
have in our country great intellectuals. When compared with other
countries our Tamil women are highly venerated in our society. At the
same time there was a paucity for brave warriors. But today on this
National Heroes Day we have accomplished a sea change in our society.
Yes we have started to honour our heroes as well."
Talks Between Sri Lankan Government and LTTE
Premadasa who assumed office as the new President in 1988, repeatedly
invited the LTTE to come for talks. Since Pirabaharan too was keen on
ending Indian aggression in Tamil homeland, he decided to accept the
invitation of Premadasa. Due to the clever diplomatic move of our leader
National Leader Pirabaharan, relationship between India and Sri Lanka
turned sour and became hostile. President Premadasa publicly called the
Indian army to quit Sri Lanka.
The situation became a thorough embarrassment for the Indian army which
came on the invitation of the Sri Lankan government to enforce so called
peace. The Indian army withdrew from Tamil Eelam in disgrace in March,
1990 after tasting defeat and humiliation at the hands of the LTTE.
The military challenge posed by the regional super power was defeated by
the LTTE due to Pirabaharan�s superior military strategy and skillful
political maneuvering. The areas vacated by the IPKF swiftly fell into
the hands of the LTTE. The mercenary force created by the Indian army
under the style � Tamil National Army� (TNA) disintegrated and fled
unable to face lightning strikes launched by battle-hardened and
committed LTTE fighters. A majority surrendered to the LTTE with their
arms. Northeastern Provincial council, the illegitimate child of the
equally illegitimate Indo- Ceylon Accord collapsed like nine pins.
Tamil Eelam National Leader Pirabaharan emerged from his hide-out in
Vanni.
Talks between Sri Lankan Government and LTTE continued. At the end
due to the treachery and the deception resorted to by Sinhalese
chauvinism, the peace talks broke off abruptly without finding a
meaningful solution to the ethnic conflict.
Chapter 5: Tamil Eelam War II
LTTE negotiators on several occasions repeatedly brought to the notice of
the Sri Lankan government the excesses committed by the Sinhalese police
and the army. But the government remained cold to these excesses and
this caused relationship between the LTTE and government to become
contentious. On June 10,1990 an encounter took place between the
Sinhalese police and the LTTE over an incident of violation of human
rights committed against a Muslim resident by the Sinhalese police at
Kalmunai. This encounter ended in a full-scale war between the police
and the LTTE.
Although Tamil Eelam National Leader Pirabaharan took immediate steps to
bring the war to an end, the LTTE committed to safeguard the Tamil
people and their homeland was left with no alternative but to confront
the war unleashed by chauvinistic Sri Lankan government and its Sinhala
army. Both were hell-bent on a genocidal war against the Tamils to rob
them of their traditional homeland.
On September 1, 1991, National Leader Pirabaharan met newspaper reporters
of Tamil Eelam and explained to them about the prevailing political and
military situation. He said,
�Many of the army camps which existed when Tamil Eelam war II started,
have now ceased to exist. Because army camps at places like Kokkavil and
Mankulam were destroyed by our LTTE forces, a greater part of Vanni
region had come under our control. With the destruction of Jaffna Fort,
Jaffna town too has been liberated.
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During the fight at Elephant Pass, for the first time we engaged the
Sinhala army face to face in a conventional warfare. We fought with a
numerically superior army and checked its advance for a very long
period. If we get panicky over heavy casualties suffered at Elephant
Pass, we can never hope to continue this war.
We should consider our losses as steps for future growth. During the 43
days battle ( 10/7/1991 to 23/8/199 ) we lost 564 fighters. But on the
enemy side large number of Sinhalese soldiers died during the prolonged
fighting. When compared with enemy losses, ours cannot be described as
excessive. People who are undergoing untold sufferings will naturally
feel alarmed as to what next. However, they must rally around in large
numbers. Losses suffered in battle must be replenised then and there.
People must fully identify themselves with us and understand our
hardships and sufferings.
We are always ready to hold talks with the Sri Lankan government without
any preconditions. But the government should create the necessary
environment for holding such talks. In the island of Ceylon, the LTTE is
only fighting against the Sri Lankan government forces. As such I feel
there is no necessity for the Indian government to get worried about the
LTTE. The hill country Tamils should realize that all their woes are
caused by the continued betrayal by their leaders. The liberation
struggle of Tamil Eelam cannot be destroyed by any kind of weapons or by
any bombings.�
On September 1, 1991 BBC
London correspondent Chris Morris had an interview with the Tamil
National Leader Pirabaharan. During this interview Pirabaharan said,
�First and foremost the Sinhalese people must recognize the basic principles underlying the national problem of the people of Tamil Eelam. They are, recognition of the Tamil Homeland, recognition that Tamil people constitute a Nation and the Tamil people right to self-determination. Only on the basis of this recognition can peace and amity prevail between the two races. We never force our young men to join the fighting force. The truth is because of the oppression of the Tamil people through state terrorism and its impact on our society, our youths are voluntarily joining the LTTE. Many parents bring their children, both boys and girls, to join our fighting forces at our public meetings. We are providing such young children schooling facilities and give them training in various vocations. We never send young children to the battlefront.''
LTTE Women Organization
In the beginning of 1984 for the first time those girls who gave indirect support to the LTTE started to contribute their share in the liberation war spearheaded by the LTTE. With the approval of Tamil Eelam National Leader Pirabaharan they were given training in the use of fire-arms. When the Indo-Tamil Eelam war broke-out on October 10, 1987 they directly joined the war front. Upto now they are fighting bravely accomplishing many feats of valour.
In a message given by the National Leader Pirabaharan related to the Women Wing, he said,
'' Women constitute a majority among the Tamil population. If they continue to lead a servile life, it will be difficult to transform our freedom struggle into a national liberation movement. Realizing this fact our movement gave top priority for women�s liberation. Women were politicised and made to join our fighting forces. By this we ushered in a gigantic revolution among women in Tamil society. A revolution that never took place in the annals of Tamil history has taken place in Tamil Eelam. Women consigned to the kitchen from time immemorial now bear arms and don army uniform. Today the women folk which remained dormant for a long time. Now it has awakened fully and stands as an important arm of a mighty revolutionary force. Our women fighters by their brave accomplishments have proved to the world that they are in no way inferior to men fighters in bravery, sacrifice, and thirst for freedom.�
LTTE Students Organization
The future of a country always depends on its younger generation. Therefore, it is imperative that this generation must be brought up as intelligent, efficient and responsible citizens. To meet that goal, it is very important that we give them proper education. Towards this end LTTE Students Organization was formed on the orders of our leader.
Sea Tigers
When
we trace the growth of the armed struggle, one can observe very clearly
the indispensable part played by the surrounding sea of Tamil Eelam.
Knowing this historical importance, our leader Pirabaharan formed the
�Sea Tigers� as a division of the LTTE in 1984. Today the Sea Tigers
have grown in strength as to pose a challenge to the Sri Lankan navy. On
March 01, 1992 Women Wing of the Sea Tigers was formed. Women Wing�s
feats of chivalry are on par with that of their male counter-part.
Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO)
Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) was formed in 1985. Regarding its necessity Leader Pirabaharan said,
�People of Tamil Eelam are facing two battle fronts. One front is the liberation of our homeland from the invading Sinhalese armed forces. The other front is the production of food to counter the tyrannical economic blockade of the Sinhalese chauvinistic government. Just as the heart regulates the blood circulation and helps the body to conquer diseases, so also the TRO should increase food production which is the life-blood and foundation for the final victory of the liberation of Tamil people. �
The growth of TRO in Tamil Eelam has helped many families to be self-employed with out depending on relief assistance.
Tamil Eelam Economic Development Organization (TEEDOR)
On May 6, 1994, our leader after honoring and giving awards to the best farmers of Tamil Eelam said,
�Tamil Eelam is a fertile land gifted with many natural resources. It possess water, land and human resource potential enough to achieve economic self-sufficiency and development. Nature�s gift of resources must be identified and put to maximum use. Production must be increased to meet the economic needs of the people by careful planning and research. Agriculture and industry are the pivotal bases for economic development and growth. As such we should concentrate our energies on developing agriculture and industry. To achieve this goal �Tamil Eelam Economic Development Organization (TEEDOR) has launched several productive projects. All these activities must be intensified further so that an independent Tamil Eelam will not have to depend on other countries, but stand on its own legs economically.''
Black Tigers � Men of Steel
Black Tigers are men of steel in their determination to achieve their goal of Tamil Eelam. In a statement National Leader Pirabaharan issued to mark the occasion of Black Tigers� Day on July 5, 1993, he said,
�The era of Black Tigers began with Capt. Miller. A fighting force imbued with the spirit of supreme self-sacrifice unheard and unseen in the annals of history anywhere in the world before came into existence in Tamil Eelam.. These Black Tigers are of miracle birth and a class by themselves. They are of gentle heart but with iron will. Their love of humanity is so great they sacrifice their dear lives so that others may live. In the words �Black Tiger� , black stands for iron will and unshakable resolve. Looked at another angle, it can also signify darkness which symbolizes secretiveness and mystery. Hence, the word Black Tiger can have many meanings and many interpretations. It is this secretiveness which is the prime factor for their decisive operational victories. This is an era of Black Tigers. During this era our liberation struggle will assume new dimensions. These warriors who have conquered death will create new history and light the torch for the dawn of freedom of our future generations.�
March 8 Womens� Day
On Mach 8, 1992, on the occasion of
the World Women�s Day in
Pirabaharan
issued a statement. In that statement he said,
�When we talk about
the freedom of women we refer to their freedom from political oppression
and economic exploitation. So our struggle for the liberation of women
is advanced on multi-dimensional fronts viz. national liberation,
societal liberation, and economic liberation. This is not a struggle
against oppression of men over women, but an intellectual fight against
ignorance about male chauvinism. As such this ideological struggle must
have the aim of changing the hearts of men.''
Tamil Eelam Military Academy
In a message to commemorate the first anniversary of the Tamil Eelam Military Academy sent on September 19, 1991 Pirabaharan said
� The Tamil Eelam Military Academy is one of my dreams. A new and younger generation of youths should blossom out as the future architects of my country. This new and revolutionary generation should consist of persons who are able, intelligent, patriotic, brave, sincere and modesty. Only this generation should emerge as the architects, administrators and rulers of our country.�
Chencholai Kids Club
On instructions from leader Pirabaharan, the Chencholai Kids club was
inaugurated on October 23 1991 to take care of girls who had lost their
parents and/or guardians. On this occasion, he sent a message which
read,
�Under the environment of a historic war of liberation we are planting these young seeds at Chencholai campus. It is my desire that these young seeds must take deep roots and grow up one day as an intellectual reservoir of Tamil Eelam I convey my greetings for this revolutionary venture to thrive well and prosper.�
The Tamil Eelam Police Force(TEPF)
On November 1991, Pirabaharan officially inaugurated the Tamil Eelam
Police Force committed to serve the security interests of the Tamil
people. The TEPF came under the direct control and supervision of leader
Pirabaharan. Outlining the activities of the TEPF Pirabaharan said,
 Tamil Eelam Police
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�Members of the police force will always be men of exemplary conduct,
honesty, fairness, and discipline. They will serve as people�s servants
with a high sense of commitment to ensure social justice and social
progress. They will move with people with a spirit of love and dignity
in tune with our culture. They will be completely free of all
anti-social crimes and serve the people with patriotic feeling, all the
24 hours of the day. The aim of our police force is not to catch the
criminals and bring them to courts to be tried, but mainly to work with
all their might to prevent crimes from being committed in the first
place. Thereby they will work towards the goal of building up a
crime-free social order in Tamil Eelam.''
Note - It is important here to remember that the Tamil
Eelam Police force started their training on June 1, the day when the
Sinhalese police set fire to Jaffna Public Library and burnt it down to
ashes.
LTTE Art and Cultural Organization
Our language, art and culture have taken deep root in our soil of Tamil
Eelam for a very long period in the history of the Tamils. Our arts and
cultural heritage are the very soul of our motherland. Keeping this
basic truth in mind the first �Muththamizh Celebration� was conducted by
the LTTE art and cultural organization on July 15, 1992. In a statement
sent to this celebration Tamil national leader Pirabaharan said this,
�Today it has become imperative to transform our liberation struggle into
an people�s struggle in which the entire people of Tamil Eelam should
take an active part and from this very broad base we have to build up
our national resistance movement which has become an unavoidable and
undispensable historic necessity. To fulfill this enormous objective,
the creative activities of our art and literary men should play the most
important part.�
Broadcasting Service �Voice of Tigers
On the first anniversary of the Voice Tigers Radio, Tamil National Leader
Pirabaharan sent his felicitations in which he stated,
� A vicious and malicious propaganda campaign has been unleashed against
us by our enemy, the Sinhalese government, and its mercenary Tamil
treacherous groups. Hence, the Voice of Tigers should stand up and act
as the voice of truth in countering enemy�s false ideological war. The
Voice of Tigers should resound as the war drum of �Sathiya Yuththam�
(�War of Truth�).
Education Development Board of Tamil Eelam
On February 13, 1993, Tamil Eelam National Leader Pirabaharan issued a
statement congratualating the students who came out successful in the
Tamil Eelam General Certificate of Education Examination conducted by
the Educational Development Board of Tamil Eelam. In this statement he
said,
�Education is very essential for the growth of humanity and social
development. In fact it is the root of human development. We never
showed any discrimination between those who opted to dedicate themselves
for the social emancipation of our community and the right of students
to carry on their education. Both are indispensable for the progress and
smooth functioning of our society. Today the combination of education
and war have become a historic necessity. As much as war is an armour
for education, so is education a shield for war. Today in Tamil Eelam,
education remains in a state of neglect.
The Sri Lankan government is willfully neglecting the education of the
children of Tamil Eelam. Our students have to study against heavy odds,
hardships and insurmountable difficulties. In spite of all the hardships
and obstruction when our students prepare for their examinations their
examination are not conducted as scheduled. When examinations are held,
the Sri Lankan armed forces disturb and disrupt the peace. Only after
surmounting such difficulties that our students sit for their
examinations. Under these circumstances our Tamil Eelam educational
development board has successfully conducted the Tamil Eelam General
Certificate of Education Examination which is equivalent to the G.C.E
O/L examination successfully. I commend this effort with all my heart
and also at the same time congratulate all those students who passed
this examination.''
The Law College of Tamil Eelam
In his address at the Law College of Tamil Eelam on January 25, 1993 Tamil
Eelam National Leader Pirabaharan said,
�We are now moving forward to our goal of an independent state of Tamil
Eelam. We must lay the foundation for such a state from now itself.
Because judiciary is the most important arm of the state administrative
machinery we are giving the best training to you, our liberation
fighters. In the administration of justice, the role of judiciary is
important. Only those who possess integrity, morality, compassion and
self-discipline should man the judiciary. In the beginning we created
�Reconciliation Boards�, but you are aware that it committed many
mistakes. The judgments given by this body came for criticism and
adverse comments by the people. Judgments were not rendered in an
un-selfish, impartial and fair manner. A justice system consisting of
members drawn from the LTTE, which has a reputation for discipline and
order, will be the foundation for a strong government and a highly
disciplined society. Only when social justice is nurtured properly can
society rise to new heights.''
Swearing in ceremony of Judges and Lawyers of Tamil Eelam
The following is the address by Tamil Eelam National Leader Pirabaharan at
the swearing in ceremony of the judges and lawyers of Tamil Eelam
Justice Department on August 19, 1993. He said,
�Our people believe fully that if liberation fighters took responsibility
for the administration of justice system, they will ispense justice with
fairness. People think so because they know fully well that their
precious lives for their noble cause of the liberation of their
motherland. Therefore, the people are really happy. At this memorable
occasion when you, the liberation fighters are taking oaths to shoulder
this sacred responsibility, I am confident that you will discharge your
duties with integrity and impartiality to fulfill the great expectation
of the people. It is said that what you learn is like a handful of sand
and what is not learnt is as large as the universe. As such try to learn
much from worldly experience. You will receive sound knowledge of men
and matters only through personal experience. Try to understand the
aspirations of our people, remove all contradictions and mete out
justice to them with partially from a completely neutral stand. Of
course you will meet with difficulties when you discharge your duties
justly and honestly. But never severve from the path of truth and
justice for which have iron determination and strong willpower together
with extreme boldness.�
Taking of Oath by Judges and Lawyers of the Justice Department of Tamil
Eelam
Tamil Eelam National Leader Pirabaharan spoke at the swearing �in-
ceremony of the Judges and lawyers of Tamil Eelam Justice Department
which took place on August 19, 1993. He said,
�Our people fully expect that when our liberation fighters assume the
responsibilities of judges and lawyers, they will weigh the issues and
mete out justice dispassionately and fairly. People know fully well that
our fighters are those who are prepared to lay down their lives for a
noble cause. Therefore, people feel happy when you assume responsibility
for the justice system.
I am therefore confident that you will discharge your duties with
integrity and responsibility in fulfilling the great expectation of our
people. It is said that what we learn is just a handful of sand and what
is not learnt is as large as the universe. On this basis you should
strive to learn from your worldly experience. Only through personal
experience you can acquire full knowledge. You should consider it your
duty to understand the feelings of our people, resolve their
contradictions and dispense justice to them. There will be always
difficulties when you discharge your duties justly and honestly. But
never waver from the path of truth and justice when you perform your
duties. For that you should possess an iron will and courage.''
Kantharuban Arivucholai
On November 13, 1993, National Leader Pirabaharan inaugurated Kantharuban
Arivucholai. In his inaugural address he said, �Mother Tamil, who is the
common mother for all of us, has embraced all these children. All our
fighters are the brothers of these children. They have become an
inseparable part of the LTTE family. Going beyond individual family,
beyond its circle of relations these children will grow up as members of
a much wider family. They will in future become the architects of our
country. The environment in which they are growing up love of their land
and affection for the people will take deep root in their minds. Endowed
with such noble qualities they will receive good education and become
the builders of our nation ready to be of service to our people. On one
hand we are fighting to redeem our land of Tamil Eelam and on the other
hand we are engaged in social programmes and projects to uplift
children. But for all these schemes to succeed, the society must
wholeheartedly co-operate with us.�
Note - Kaantharuban was a youngster who voluntarily joined the movement after he lost his parents and had no one to support him. Later he sought permission from the LTTE leader and became a Black Tiger. He attained martyrdom. Kantharuban had one last wish which he confided to our leader thus �I was an orphan, but you took me into the fold of the LTTE family and made me somebody. Same way please take all the orphans of Tamil Eelam and redeem them from their wretched state of being orphans.� It is to fulfill his wishes that the institution was named Kantharuban Arivucholai.
Permanent and Lasting Peace in the Island
On
September 13, 1994, Mrs. Ananthi, reporter from B.B.C. Tamil Service
interviewed Tamil National Leader Pirabaharan. Responding to a
question put to him, he answered thus,
�We like the talks to take place in an environment of peace and friendly atmosphere. It is the responsibility of the Sri Lankan government to create such a conducive situation. Ordinary Sinhalese masses are not in favour of this war. We know very well that they are yearning for peace. The results of the recent elections clearly prove this reality. We too want peace. We want permanent peace to prevail so that all people could live a normal life.
Today, war is the greatest stumbling block The war must be brought to an end. It is those people who started the war against the Tamils who should come forward to stop the war. The Sinhala Nation should realize that the Tamil problem can never be solved through military means. Only by fulfilling the political aspirations of the Tamil people can a solution be found to end the racial conflict. This can be achieved through peaceful means. This should be made known to the Sinhalese chauvinistic politicians and militarists by the Sinhalese people themselves. We love the Sinhalese people and we are not their enemies. The racial chauvinistic elements are responsible for the contradictions that arose between the Tamils and the Sinhalese people. The Sinhalese people themselves must identify the chauvinist elements among themselves and ostracize them. Only then will permanent peace prevail in the island of Ceylon.''
Valvettithurai was one of the important Northern ports during the period
of the Jaffna Kingdom and even before. It served as a bridge between
northern Tamil Eelam and the port of Kodikkarai in Tamil Nadu. The
people of Valvettithurai are brave sailors who traveled the stormy seas
and amassed great wealth through trade. This sea-port has earned an
indelible fame in the annals of Tamil Eelam. This is because it is the
birthplace of Pirabaharan, founder of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil
Liberation (LTTE), who with popular support of the people is leading the
Tamil Eelam National struggle. He is now unanimously accepted as the
National Leader of Tamil Eelam. He was born in this historic village on
26th, November 1954.
