CHENNAI: Days after AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa said LTTE supporters in India were anti-nationals, she received a death threat by airmail on Wednesday. The letter, bearing Malaysia post, is from a person who claims to be the functionary of a pro-LTTE organisation.The undated letter handwritten by V Tamilmaindan, who claims to be the Asian Planning Officer of Ulaga Tamilina Pathugappu Kazhagam, Bangkok branch, with headquarters in Canada, states: “You will be eliminated if you do not change your attitude towards the LTTE and its avowed policy of separate Tamil Eelam. This is the final warning. If you don’t refrain from poking your nose in the Tamil Eelam issue, you will be killed.” The letter cites the assassination of former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto as an example.“We will not hesitate to kill any person, who attempts to eradicate the LTTE or acts against the organisation,” the letter adds.Jayalalithaa’s secretary K T Karthikeyan lodged a complaint at the Teynampet police station seeking additional security for her.Based on a complaint from former minister and AIADMK functionary D Jayakumar to City Police Commissioner R Sekar, the Central Crime Branch has registered a case in this connection. Police sources said the letter reached Jayalalithaa’s Poes Garden residence around 12.30 pm. The Madras High Court has also been informed about the letter. A copy of the letter was submitted before Justice M Jeyachandran, who ordered filing of an affidavit in this regard on Thursday and said that copies of the letter be served on the DGP and the Home Secretary. On October 22, Jayalalithaa said that she continued to be on the LTTE hit list and because of that reason she had been given the security cover of NSG Commando Force as well as Z Plus category.The CoP said police had been directed to investigate into the matter expeditiously. He said the threatening letter was posted from Canada.
Express News Service
Showing posts with label LTTE. Show all posts
Showing posts with label LTTE. Show all posts
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Swamy alleges mala fide intentions behind arrests
www.hindu.com …
Coimbatore: Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy has alleged male fide intentions behind the arrest of Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam General Secretary Vaiko and party’s Presidium chairman M. Kannappan.
Talking to journalists here on Wednesday, Dr. Swamy said the Tamil Nadu government had resorted to a biased and arbitrary enforcement of law. Why the law had not been equally applied against those who spoke in favour of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, he asked, and sought the reasons for not arresting Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi leader Thol. Thirumavalavan, Pazha Nedumaran and others, who had openly supported the LTTE.
“I am not opposed to the arrest of Mr. Vaiko and Mr. Kannappan. But my contention is that the DMK government is unfair in enforcing the rule of law and it was a clear case of political vendetta.”
Referring to the exclusive interview of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, which appeared in The Hindu on Wednesday, Dr. Swamy said there had been a clear understanding from all sides on the need for a political solution, devolution of power and democratic rights. Reiterating the need for a federal constitution in Sri Lanka, with equal rights for the Tamils, Dr. Swamy said that in the absence of the same, he would form a movement for ensuring a federal constitution and equal rights for the Tamils.
Dr. Swamy said his party would field candidates in Jammu and Kashmir and Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections, but not in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh.
The question of supporting the Bharatiya Janata Party would be considered only if that party asked for support. Under such circumstances, the Janata Party would ask the BJP to take a firm stand on crucial issues, including the Ramar Sethu.
Dr. Swamy said the BJP had a feeble stand on the Ramar Sethu issue and pointed out that the project was cleared when the BJP was in power
Coimbatore: Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy has alleged male fide intentions behind the arrest of Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam General Secretary Vaiko and party’s Presidium chairman M. Kannappan.
Talking to journalists here on Wednesday, Dr. Swamy said the Tamil Nadu government had resorted to a biased and arbitrary enforcement of law. Why the law had not been equally applied against those who spoke in favour of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, he asked, and sought the reasons for not arresting Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi leader Thol. Thirumavalavan, Pazha Nedumaran and others, who had openly supported the LTTE.
“I am not opposed to the arrest of Mr. Vaiko and Mr. Kannappan. But my contention is that the DMK government is unfair in enforcing the rule of law and it was a clear case of political vendetta.”
Referring to the exclusive interview of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, which appeared in The Hindu on Wednesday, Dr. Swamy said there had been a clear understanding from all sides on the need for a political solution, devolution of power and democratic rights. Reiterating the need for a federal constitution in Sri Lanka, with equal rights for the Tamils, Dr. Swamy said that in the absence of the same, he would form a movement for ensuring a federal constitution and equal rights for the Tamils.
Dr. Swamy said his party would field candidates in Jammu and Kashmir and Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections, but not in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh.
The question of supporting the Bharatiya Janata Party would be considered only if that party asked for support. Under such circumstances, the Janata Party would ask the BJP to take a firm stand on crucial issues, including the Ramar Sethu.
Dr. Swamy said the BJP had a feeble stand on the Ramar Sethu issue and pointed out that the project was cleared when the BJP was in power
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
BJP has misgivings over relief for Lankan Tamils
http://newstodaynet.com/newsindex.php?id=11800%20&%20section=5
Wed, 29 Oct, 2008,02:44 PM
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Casting some doubts over the ongoing collection of relief fund for Sri Lankan Tamils, BJP State president L Ganesan today wanted to know whether the money would really reach the needy.
Speaking to reporters here, he said the relief materials sent to the tsunami victims in the island nation by the BJP was stopped.
‘Hence we have decided not to collect fund or other things for the affected Tamils. If a positive assurance is given by the authorities, we are ready to do so,’ he said.
Stating that the BJP would find a solution to the Lankan crisis in six months if voted to power, Ganesan said Chief Minister M Karunanidhi had failed to help the ailing people in the neighbouring country even after sharing the power in the Centre for four and half years.
‘At a time when just months are left for the tenure of the Union government, Karunanidhi has made a mockery that his party MPs would resign over the issue.’
The BJP leader said all those speaking in support of the banned LTTE organisation should be arrested.
On the fishermen issue, Ganesan said Pranab Mukherjee’s remarks that the Sri Lankan Navy would no more attack the Indian fisherman showed his ignorance. ‘The fishermen from India are entitled to fish anywhere as per an agreement between India and Lanka,’ he said.
He also said that the DMK should have properly briefed the Centre on the ethnic problem in Sri Lanka, as those in the power were unaware of the issue.
Ganesan said that the Indian government had every right to pressurise Lanka over the issue, as more than one lakh refugees from the neighbouring nation were being fed here.
On the recent remarks by Karunanidhi that the Sethu Samudram Shipping Canal project should be completed soon, the BJP leader said the Chief Minister was not trying to construct a bridge, but to destroy the one constructed by Lord Rama.
Wed, 29 Oct, 2008,02:44 PM
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Casting some doubts over the ongoing collection of relief fund for Sri Lankan Tamils, BJP State president L Ganesan today wanted to know whether the money would really reach the needy.
Speaking to reporters here, he said the relief materials sent to the tsunami victims in the island nation by the BJP was stopped.
‘Hence we have decided not to collect fund or other things for the affected Tamils. If a positive assurance is given by the authorities, we are ready to do so,’ he said.
Stating that the BJP would find a solution to the Lankan crisis in six months if voted to power, Ganesan said Chief Minister M Karunanidhi had failed to help the ailing people in the neighbouring country even after sharing the power in the Centre for four and half years.
‘At a time when just months are left for the tenure of the Union government, Karunanidhi has made a mockery that his party MPs would resign over the issue.’
The BJP leader said all those speaking in support of the banned LTTE organisation should be arrested.
On the fishermen issue, Ganesan said Pranab Mukherjee’s remarks that the Sri Lankan Navy would no more attack the Indian fisherman showed his ignorance. ‘The fishermen from India are entitled to fish anywhere as per an agreement between India and Lanka,’ he said.
He also said that the DMK should have properly briefed the Centre on the ethnic problem in Sri Lanka, as those in the power were unaware of the issue.
Ganesan said that the Indian government had every right to pressurise Lanka over the issue, as more than one lakh refugees from the neighbouring nation were being fed here.
On the recent remarks by Karunanidhi that the Sethu Samudram Shipping Canal project should be completed soon, the BJP leader said the Chief Minister was not trying to construct a bridge, but to destroy the one constructed by Lord Rama.
Pepper MK with telegrams, ask him to quit, says Jaya
First Published : 29 Oct 2008 02:30:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 29 Oct 2008 10:32:02 AM IST
CHENNAI: AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa on Tuesday called upon the people of Tamil Nadu to send in telegrams to Chief Minister M Karunanidhi asking him to quit for staging a farcical drama.In a statement, Jayalalithaa, who mentioned a news item about Gangai Murugan, who got drunk, climbed the scaffolding of a billboard in Nellai and threatened to jump off and commit suicide, said, ``Some people enact various types of dramas to catch attention. Only when they are taught a bitter lesson, they will stop doing it.’’ She said Karunanidhi was “apparently unaware that India could not interfere in the internal affairs of Sri Lanka.’’ “His misconception was cleared by no less an authority than the External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who had come down to Chennai on Sunday to tell him that it would not be possible for India to bring about a ceasefire in Sri Lanka as that would amount to interfering in the internal affairs of that island nation.’’ “Convinced that nothing more could be done for the Tamils in Sri Lanka, he decided not to hand over the resignation letters of all his party MPs, thereby avoiding a crisis for the Centre,’’ she said.She claimed that in return, the Congress would ensure that its MLAs in Tamil Nadu, who sustained Karunanidhi’s minority government in power today, would behave accordingly.Jayalalithaa, calling the whole affair as a drama and a farce, pointed out that ``On day one, when it was reported that Karunanidhi’s daughter Kanimozhi had handed over her resignation to her father and not to the Rajya Sabha Chairman, I had predicted this was how things would shape out. Even Karunanidhi, with all his ingenuity and theatre experience, could not come up with a better script!’’ She said “ Karunanidhi will continue to stage many more such farcical dramas and fool the people who trust him. He should know what the people think and this has to be done, if Tamil Nadu has to survive.’’ “He has to go. And we cannot expect the Centre to do anything about it. For, the persons in power at the Centre are also supporting actors in Karunanidhi’s play,’’ she said.Saying that Karunanidhi had taken nation for a ride, she said he conveniently forgot all about the thousands of Tamils who had been homeless or been displaced by the ongoing war in Sri Lanka.
DMK partners unhappy with 'soft' MK
Express News Service
First Published : 29 Oct 2008 02:53:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 29 Oct 2008 11:39:01 AM IST
CHENNAI: Two days after Chief Minister M Karunanidhi put an end to the question of MPs from Tamil Nadu quitting their jobs on the Sri Lankan Tamils issue after meeting External Affair Minister Pranab Mukherjee, voices of dissent are being raised by various parties in the state, demanding an immediate ceasefire in the island nation.
At a press conference here on Tuesday, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) founder Thol Thirumavalavan said that ensuring a ceasefire was of paramount importance. He said the resignation of MPs should not be given up but deferred until at least the ceasefire is announced.
P Nedumaran, coordinator of the Tamil Eelam Liberation Supporters Coordination Group, demanded convening of an all party meeting by Karunanidhi. Nedumaran said the people of Tamil Nadu were disappointed over Mukherjee’s silence on the demand made at the all party meeting on the cessation of military support to Sri Lanka.
Taking a dig at AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa, he said, “Those who are terming LTTE as terrorists do not know the real history of the 25 year-old liberation struggle’.
Quoting the recent Express survey, Thirumavalavan said 71 per cent of the state’s people favoured LTTE as a sole representative of Tamils in Sri Lanka.
PMK founder S Ramadoss said the revival of support to the Eelam cause in Tamil Nadu has led to some positive steps by Indian Government. After nearly 20 years, Chennai is being involved in the talks that were hitherto held between New Delhi and Colombo.
CPI leader T Pandian has also resented the Centre’s silence on the demand for a ceasefire.
He wanted representatives from Tamil Nadu in relief operations for Lankan Tamils.
---------------------
Thirumavalavan said 71 per cent of the state’s people favoured LTTE as a sole representative of Tamils in Sri Lanka. But he doesn't know that only close to zero percent of Srilankan Tamils in Srilanka supports LTTE.
Perhaps some expatriate Srilankan Tamils want the war to continue (of course not by their participation as they are safely away!) because they have 'invested' in the war either by choice or by force. Pity!
http://www.kanchiforum.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=31807#31807
Express News Service
First Published : 29 Oct 2008 02:53:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 29 Oct 2008 11:39:01 AM IST
CHENNAI: Two days after Chief Minister M Karunanidhi put an end to the question of MPs from Tamil Nadu quitting their jobs on the Sri Lankan Tamils issue after meeting External Affair Minister Pranab Mukherjee, voices of dissent are being raised by various parties in the state, demanding an immediate ceasefire in the island nation.
At a press conference here on Tuesday, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) founder Thol Thirumavalavan said that ensuring a ceasefire was of paramount importance. He said the resignation of MPs should not be given up but deferred until at least the ceasefire is announced.
P Nedumaran, coordinator of the Tamil Eelam Liberation Supporters Coordination Group, demanded convening of an all party meeting by Karunanidhi. Nedumaran said the people of Tamil Nadu were disappointed over Mukherjee’s silence on the demand made at the all party meeting on the cessation of military support to Sri Lanka.
Taking a dig at AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa, he said, “Those who are terming LTTE as terrorists do not know the real history of the 25 year-old liberation struggle’.
Quoting the recent Express survey, Thirumavalavan said 71 per cent of the state’s people favoured LTTE as a sole representative of Tamils in Sri Lanka.
PMK founder S Ramadoss said the revival of support to the Eelam cause in Tamil Nadu has led to some positive steps by Indian Government. After nearly 20 years, Chennai is being involved in the talks that were hitherto held between New Delhi and Colombo.
CPI leader T Pandian has also resented the Centre’s silence on the demand for a ceasefire.
He wanted representatives from Tamil Nadu in relief operations for Lankan Tamils.
---------------------
Thirumavalavan said 71 per cent of the state’s people favoured LTTE as a sole representative of Tamils in Sri Lanka. But he doesn't know that only close to zero percent of Srilankan Tamils in Srilanka supports LTTE.
Perhaps some expatriate Srilankan Tamils want the war to continue (of course not by their participation as they are safely away!) because they have 'invested' in the war either by choice or by force. Pity!
http://www.kanchiforum.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=31807#31807
On the plight of Srilankan Tamils
A must read for those who are interested.
www.uthr.org ...
(published by University Teachers for Human Rights (Jaffna) )
A must read for those who are interested.
www.uthr.org ...
(published by University Teachers for Human Rights (Jaffna) )
Actors don't want new troubles - How convenient for them!
Sure, Sure! Actors want to show they are superior to the political actors when coming to acting!!
Tue, 28 Oct, 2008,03:18 PM
With the State government softening its stand over the Lankan issue by recanting on its resignation threat, the Nadigar Sangam, which has planned a fast on 1 November on the emotive issue, is looking to give the whole thing a different spin.
With the majority of top actors and actresses staying away from the hastily cvobbled up protest stage-managed in Rameswaram a few days back, the Nadigar Sangam-backed protest-fast on 1 November was expected to be a show of emotions and much more.
But with the DMK supremo and Chief Minister M Karunanidhi signalling a change of heart on the issue, the Lankan Tamil matter is off the boil in Tamilnadu.
In the event, the Nadigar Sangam event may turn out to be an event that is high on show but little of substance.
Sources in the Nadigar Sangam confirm emotions and tempers would not flare at the proposed one-day fast organised by the association over the Lankan issue.
'We are going ahead with the day-long fast at the Nadigar Sangam premises only to show our solidarity for the Tamils in the island nation,' the sources said.
Already, the Tamil filmdom is finding itself in a spot of bother after the rabble-rousing rally take on 19 October at Rameswaram.
Led by veteran director Bharathiraja, the rally was attended by directors and producers in large numbers. Representatives from the Nadigar Sangam, though expressd their solidaritry for the rally, did not turn up at Rameswaram.
Tempers flared at the meeting in which angry words were poured at the actors for noting attending the rally. Emotional speeches marked the occasio. Directors Ameer and Seeman, and a few others, crossed the line of acceptability.
Eventually cases of sedition were filed against them and they were arrested by 'Q' Branch police and remanded to judicial custody in Rameswaram leading to a series of protests in Chennai by film associations.
A similar protest organised by Nadigar Sangam for the 'vexatious' Hogenakkal issue ended up in controversy with actors like Sathyaraj spewing venom at their men.
But the Nadigar Sangam event will be decidedly low-key. Sources also said following the arrest of directors Seeman and Ameer, it has been decided that the members of the Nadigar Sangam would stage a silent protest and avoid controversial remarks.
A grand dais has been erected at the Nadigar Sangam for the fast which would be staged between 8 am and 4 pm and over 1000 members of the association are expected to attend. Rumours are doing rounds that both Rajnikanth and Kamal Haasan have confirmed their participation in the fast.
Sure, Sure! Actors want to show they are superior to the political actors when coming to acting!!
Tue, 28 Oct, 2008,03:18 PM
With the State government softening its stand over the Lankan issue by recanting on its resignation threat, the Nadigar Sangam, which has planned a fast on 1 November on the emotive issue, is looking to give the whole thing a different spin.
With the majority of top actors and actresses staying away from the hastily cvobbled up protest stage-managed in Rameswaram a few days back, the Nadigar Sangam-backed protest-fast on 1 November was expected to be a show of emotions and much more.
But with the DMK supremo and Chief Minister M Karunanidhi signalling a change of heart on the issue, the Lankan Tamil matter is off the boil in Tamilnadu.
In the event, the Nadigar Sangam event may turn out to be an event that is high on show but little of substance.
Sources in the Nadigar Sangam confirm emotions and tempers would not flare at the proposed one-day fast organised by the association over the Lankan issue.
'We are going ahead with the day-long fast at the Nadigar Sangam premises only to show our solidarity for the Tamils in the island nation,' the sources said.
Already, the Tamil filmdom is finding itself in a spot of bother after the rabble-rousing rally take on 19 October at Rameswaram.
Led by veteran director Bharathiraja, the rally was attended by directors and producers in large numbers. Representatives from the Nadigar Sangam, though expressd their solidaritry for the rally, did not turn up at Rameswaram.
Tempers flared at the meeting in which angry words were poured at the actors for noting attending the rally. Emotional speeches marked the occasio. Directors Ameer and Seeman, and a few others, crossed the line of acceptability.
Eventually cases of sedition were filed against them and they were arrested by 'Q' Branch police and remanded to judicial custody in Rameswaram leading to a series of protests in Chennai by film associations.
A similar protest organised by Nadigar Sangam for the 'vexatious' Hogenakkal issue ended up in controversy with actors like Sathyaraj spewing venom at their men.
But the Nadigar Sangam event will be decidedly low-key. Sources also said following the arrest of directors Seeman and Ameer, it has been decided that the members of the Nadigar Sangam would stage a silent protest and avoid controversial remarks.
A grand dais has been erected at the Nadigar Sangam for the fast which would be staged between 8 am and 4 pm and over 1000 members of the association are expected to attend. Rumours are doing rounds that both Rajnikanth and Kamal Haasan have confirmed their participation in the fast.
4 killed in attack on TMVP office in Sri Lanka
IANS
First Published : 28 Oct 2008 02:22:19 PM IST
Last Updated : 28 Oct 2008 02:26:16 PM IST
COLOMBO: At least four members of the Tamil Tigers breakaway faction were killed after "unidentified gunmen" attacked them in Sri Lanka's east around midnight Monday, the military said.
Five members of the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Puligal (TMVP) also went missing following the attack at Black Bridge in Chenkalladi in Batticaloa district.
Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said the police were trying to identify and arrest the attackers.
The TMVP is led by Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan alias Karuna, who broke away from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in 2004 and has since sided with the Sri Lankan government.
Karuna was appointed recently as an MP of the ruling coalition of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, after he returned to Sri Lanka from Britain, where he served a nine-month imprisonment for illegal entry.
The pro-LTTE TamilNet website said the LTTE carried out the attack.
"A commando unit of the LTTE attacked a key paramilitary camp of TMVP Karuna faction, killing four operatives and capturing six gunmen from the camp," TamilNet said, adding eight assault rifles were also seized.
The attack came barely two days after the TMVP held a protest rally in the east against the perceived efforts by political parties in Tamil Nadu to stop the military campaign against the Tamil Tigers in the north.
TN should not try to rescue LTTE: Colonel Karuna
COLOMBO: Holding a protest rally in the east against the perceived efforts by some political parties in Tamil Nadu to stop the military campaign against the Tamil Tigers in the north, rebel leader Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan, known as Karuna Amman, Sunday said "there should be no attempt from Tamil Nadu to rescue LTTE".
"We welcome the support from Tamil Nadu for the Tamil people in Sri Lanka, but the political parties and their leaders should not attempt to rescue the Tamil Tiger rebels, who are facing an imminent defeat in the hands of the security forces in the north," Karuna Amman, who now heads the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Puligal (TMVP) said at the rally.
Recalling the 1991 assassination of former Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi in Tamil Nadu, the former rebel commander had warned that "any effort by Tamil Nadu to save LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) would boomerang on them".
The TMVP organized the rally at the Weber sports ground in the eastern Batticaloa town, located some 300 kilometers away from here, amid tight security.
Karuna Amman was appointed recently as the national list MP of the ruling coalition of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, a few months after he returned to the country from Britain, where he served a nine-month imprisonment for illegal entry.
Although media reports said there is an internal problem brewing between Karuna Amman and the party's second in-command, eastern province Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillaiyan, both of them have appeared on the same stage and made the same appeal.
Commenting on the reports, Karuna Amman has stated that there were many parties with "vested interests trying to undermine the progress of the TMVP" in the east.
"The LTTE is not the only enemy we have. There are many others," he said without naming them.
The TMVP protest has come at a time when the president sent his brother Basil Rajapaksa to New Delhi as his special envoy, aiming to clarify on India's stated concern for safety of civilians caught in the war-zone.
DMK, Congress playing politics: CPI, BJP
IANS
CHENNAI: The Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Monday assailed External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi for allegedly using the plight of the suffering Tamil minority in Sri Lanka for political ends.
"The discussions between Karunanidhi and Mukherjee (Sunday) were centred round the crisis that could have arisen due to the resignation of (16) DMK MPs from parliament. Later, for appearances' sake, the duo merely issued open-ended statements around probabilities of the Sri Lankan military establishment's future stoppage of assaults on innocent Tamil civilians and nothing more," CPI state secretary D. Pandian said.
Senior BJP leader Ila Ganeshan said separately: "The threat of the resignation of MPs from parliament was a mere drama aimed at diverting attention of the masses from the urgent issues in Tamil Nadu like the electricity shortage, law and order problems and rising prices. None expected the resignations to be handed over on Oct 29 to the speaker. The suffering Sri Lankan Tamil minority has only served the narrow political ends of the DMK and the Congress."
A decision was taken during a meeting of the ruling DMK and its allies Oct 14 that all MPs from Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Puducherry would collectively resign from parliament if the central government did not take decisive steps before Oct 29 to end the killings of the Tamil civilians in Sri Lanka.
The DMK's 16 Lok Sabha members and four Rajya Sabha members handed over letters resigning from parliament to party president Karunanidhi.
Since Karunanidhi issued several statements to record his appreciation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's attempts to alleviate the sufferings of Sri Lankan Tamils.
The decision to defer the resignation threat emerged after Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa's senior advisor Basil Rajapaksa held talks with top Indian leaders in New Delhi Sunday and assured them that innocent Tamils will not be harmed.
IANS
CHENNAI: The Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Monday assailed External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi for allegedly using the plight of the suffering Tamil minority in Sri Lanka for political ends.
"The discussions between Karunanidhi and Mukherjee (Sunday) were centred round the crisis that could have arisen due to the resignation of (16) DMK MPs from parliament. Later, for appearances' sake, the duo merely issued open-ended statements around probabilities of the Sri Lankan military establishment's future stoppage of assaults on innocent Tamil civilians and nothing more," CPI state secretary D. Pandian said.
Senior BJP leader Ila Ganeshan said separately: "The threat of the resignation of MPs from parliament was a mere drama aimed at diverting attention of the masses from the urgent issues in Tamil Nadu like the electricity shortage, law and order problems and rising prices. None expected the resignations to be handed over on Oct 29 to the speaker. The suffering Sri Lankan Tamil minority has only served the narrow political ends of the DMK and the Congress."
A decision was taken during a meeting of the ruling DMK and its allies Oct 14 that all MPs from Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Puducherry would collectively resign from parliament if the central government did not take decisive steps before Oct 29 to end the killings of the Tamil civilians in Sri Lanka.
The DMK's 16 Lok Sabha members and four Rajya Sabha members handed over letters resigning from parliament to party president Karunanidhi.
Since Karunanidhi issued several statements to record his appreciation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's attempts to alleviate the sufferings of Sri Lankan Tamils.
The decision to defer the resignation threat emerged after Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa's senior advisor Basil Rajapaksa held talks with top Indian leaders in New Delhi Sunday and assured them that innocent Tamils will not be harmed.
Monday, October 27, 2008
TN government denies plans to arrest Jayalalithaa
IANS
First Published : 27 Oct 2008 06:53:29 PM IST
Last Updated : 27 Oct 2008 07:06:48 PM IST
CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government Monday denied the claims of opposition leader J. Jayalalithaa of her impending arrest by the state police. "The allegation is a figment of her imagination and not based on any fact," Director General of Police K.P. Jain said in a press release here. Jayalalithaa, AIADMK chief, said in a statement Sunday evening that she has been informed by top police officials that Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi has ordered her arrest "under any pretext" following her demand for dismissal of the DMK regime for its "anti-national acts". "Stung by my demanding the arrest of Karunanidhi and the dismissal of his government for anti-national crimes for which Marumalarchi DMK leaders Vaiko and M. Kannappan were arrested, the chief minister has exhorted reluctant police officials to immediately arrest me under some pretext or other. I have been informed about this by officials," Jayalalitha said in a statement. "Since MDMK leaders have been arrested after being accused of anti-national acts of supporting the banned Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, for circulating elegies for the deaths of LTTE leaders Tamilselvan and Anton Balasingham using government machinery, Karunanidhi too deserves to be arrested," Jayalalitha said. "As I demanded that this be done by the central government after dismissing the minority DMK regime due to the impossibility of the state police detaining a chief minister, Karunanidhi is planning this vengeful action against me," Jayalalitha added. She also demanded, in her statement, the arrest of film personalities Ramanarayanan, director Bharti Raja and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi leader Thol Thirumavalavan for their anti-national statements in praise of LTTE leader Prabhakaran
First Published : 27 Oct 2008 06:53:29 PM IST
Last Updated : 27 Oct 2008 07:06:48 PM IST
CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government Monday denied the claims of opposition leader J. Jayalalithaa of her impending arrest by the state police. "The allegation is a figment of her imagination and not based on any fact," Director General of Police K.P. Jain said in a press release here. Jayalalithaa, AIADMK chief, said in a statement Sunday evening that she has been informed by top police officials that Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi has ordered her arrest "under any pretext" following her demand for dismissal of the DMK regime for its "anti-national acts". "Stung by my demanding the arrest of Karunanidhi and the dismissal of his government for anti-national crimes for which Marumalarchi DMK leaders Vaiko and M. Kannappan were arrested, the chief minister has exhorted reluctant police officials to immediately arrest me under some pretext or other. I have been informed about this by officials," Jayalalitha said in a statement. "Since MDMK leaders have been arrested after being accused of anti-national acts of supporting the banned Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, for circulating elegies for the deaths of LTTE leaders Tamilselvan and Anton Balasingham using government machinery, Karunanidhi too deserves to be arrested," Jayalalitha said. "As I demanded that this be done by the central government after dismissing the minority DMK regime due to the impossibility of the state police detaining a chief minister, Karunanidhi is planning this vengeful action against me," Jayalalitha added. She also demanded, in her statement, the arrest of film personalities Ramanarayanan, director Bharti Raja and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi leader Thol Thirumavalavan for their anti-national statements in praise of LTTE leader Prabhakaran
It looks like the rain is proving to be Pirabakaran’s blessings!
India, Sri Lanka are ‘genuine friends’: Basil Rajapaksa
IANS
NEW DELHI: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s adviser said Monday after talks with Indian leaders that New Delhi and Colombo were “genuine friends” and that his country would keep civilian casualties in the war against the Tamil Tigers “to the very minimum”.
Basil Rajapaksa also said that torrential rains and flooding had affected Tamils displaced by the fighting in the north and that India had pledged to provide food and medicines for them. He added that UN agencies would visit the war zone to assess the situation.
“Both countries are proving to be genuine friends. This is true for the people of the two countries too,” Rajapaksa told IANS, a day after meeting External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and other officials.
“India has really proved to be a real friend. They are friends of Sri Lanka,” said Rajapaksa, who is also a brother of the Sri Lankan president. “We found they (India) have understood very well our problems.”
His remarks followed extensive discussions on the situation in his country with Indian officials in the wake of mass protests in Tamil Nadu demanding a ceasefire and an end to civilian suffering in the north. The Sri Lankan military says it is advancing towards Kilinochchi town, the political hub of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
India has categorically ruled out the possibility of forcing a truce in Sri Lanka, where fighting has left thousands dead and displaced Tamil civilians who some accounts say number up to 250,000.
On Sunday, after Mukherjee briefed Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi about his discussions with Rajapaksa earlier in the day, the DMK chief declared a virtual end to the crisis sparked by his party’s threat to quit the Indian parliament if a ceasefire was not enforced by Oct 29.
“We also realise that we need to do everything we can do for the safety of civilians (in the war zone). We are discussing (this issue with India),” said Rajapaksa. “We want to ensure zero civilian casualties or at least keep it to the very minimum.”
Providing a gist of his talks here, Rajapaksa told IANS: “There are certain hardships (to civilians). We agree. We want to minimise them. There are no civilians now in Kilinochchi. They have gone deep into LTTE territory, beyond our firing range.
“In Kilinochchi town, no government office is functioning, only the hospital is operational. That too is government controlled. All civilians have moved out. If there are some in Kilinochchi, they are LTTE cadres.”
He disputed the figure of internally displaced people, or IDPs. Most media reports they number up to 250,000 in the north, where the LTTE fully holds Mullaitivu district and almost the whole of Kilinochchi district.
“The whole population (in the region) is 250,000. Everyone is not IDP. By IDPs we mean those we have to give ration to.
“In Mullaitivu people are still in their houses but they have no buying power. For the sake of giving ration, we call them IDPs. Only the people in Mannar and Kilinochchi districts are displaced.
“Now the rains have started, there are floods. People are affected. It is our responsibility. We discussed this with the Indian government. They said they would send 100 tonnes of food and medicines.
“For distribution we will have discussions every week with the Indian high commissioner in Colombo. Sri Lanka will have the distribution network. All UN organizations will visit the area. They will provide us information.”
Crediting New Delhi with having “very good information” about the Sri Lanka situation, Rajapaksa also said that Colombo “understands very well” why there have been vocal protests in Tamil Nadu about his country.
He referred to the problems of the Indian fishing community in passing, saying: “Fishermen don’t care for the international maritime boundary. They go where the fish is.”
Fishermen in Tamil Nadu, separated from Sri Lanka by a strip of sea, have accused the Sri Lankan Navy of firing at them. Colombo at times denies the charge and at times says it will not allow such firing to take place.
Referring to the LTTE, Rajapaksa said his government’s attempt was to “isolate from the (Tamil) people” LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran and his intelligence chief who goes by the nom de guerre Pottu Amman.
“There are a few things the government is doing. Suppose if there are two fishes in a bottle, we can either take the water out or the fishes out. The government is doing both. We want to isolate them from the people. But we are not against individuals or even terrorists. We are only against terror.
India, Sri Lanka are ‘genuine friends’: Basil Rajapaksa
IANS
NEW DELHI: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s adviser said Monday after talks with Indian leaders that New Delhi and Colombo were “genuine friends” and that his country would keep civilian casualties in the war against the Tamil Tigers “to the very minimum”.
Basil Rajapaksa also said that torrential rains and flooding had affected Tamils displaced by the fighting in the north and that India had pledged to provide food and medicines for them. He added that UN agencies would visit the war zone to assess the situation.
“Both countries are proving to be genuine friends. This is true for the people of the two countries too,” Rajapaksa told IANS, a day after meeting External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and other officials.
“India has really proved to be a real friend. They are friends of Sri Lanka,” said Rajapaksa, who is also a brother of the Sri Lankan president. “We found they (India) have understood very well our problems.”
His remarks followed extensive discussions on the situation in his country with Indian officials in the wake of mass protests in Tamil Nadu demanding a ceasefire and an end to civilian suffering in the north. The Sri Lankan military says it is advancing towards Kilinochchi town, the political hub of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
India has categorically ruled out the possibility of forcing a truce in Sri Lanka, where fighting has left thousands dead and displaced Tamil civilians who some accounts say number up to 250,000.
On Sunday, after Mukherjee briefed Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi about his discussions with Rajapaksa earlier in the day, the DMK chief declared a virtual end to the crisis sparked by his party’s threat to quit the Indian parliament if a ceasefire was not enforced by Oct 29.
“We also realise that we need to do everything we can do for the safety of civilians (in the war zone). We are discussing (this issue with India),” said Rajapaksa. “We want to ensure zero civilian casualties or at least keep it to the very minimum.”
Providing a gist of his talks here, Rajapaksa told IANS: “There are certain hardships (to civilians). We agree. We want to minimise them. There are no civilians now in Kilinochchi. They have gone deep into LTTE territory, beyond our firing range.
“In Kilinochchi town, no government office is functioning, only the hospital is operational. That too is government controlled. All civilians have moved out. If there are some in Kilinochchi, they are LTTE cadres.”
He disputed the figure of internally displaced people, or IDPs. Most media reports they number up to 250,000 in the north, where the LTTE fully holds Mullaitivu district and almost the whole of Kilinochchi district.
“The whole population (in the region) is 250,000. Everyone is not IDP. By IDPs we mean those we have to give ration to.
“In Mullaitivu people are still in their houses but they have no buying power. For the sake of giving ration, we call them IDPs. Only the people in Mannar and Kilinochchi districts are displaced.
“Now the rains have started, there are floods. People are affected. It is our responsibility. We discussed this with the Indian government. They said they would send 100 tonnes of food and medicines.
“For distribution we will have discussions every week with the Indian high commissioner in Colombo. Sri Lanka will have the distribution network. All UN organizations will visit the area. They will provide us information.”
Crediting New Delhi with having “very good information” about the Sri Lanka situation, Rajapaksa also said that Colombo “understands very well” why there have been vocal protests in Tamil Nadu about his country.
He referred to the problems of the Indian fishing community in passing, saying: “Fishermen don’t care for the international maritime boundary. They go where the fish is.”
Fishermen in Tamil Nadu, separated from Sri Lanka by a strip of sea, have accused the Sri Lankan Navy of firing at them. Colombo at times denies the charge and at times says it will not allow such firing to take place.
Referring to the LTTE, Rajapaksa said his government’s attempt was to “isolate from the (Tamil) people” LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran and his intelligence chief who goes by the nom de guerre Pottu Amman.
“There are a few things the government is doing. Suppose if there are two fishes in a bottle, we can either take the water out or the fishes out. The government is doing both. We want to isolate them from the people. But we are not against individuals or even terrorists. We are only against terror.
Tamilnadu politics and the LTTE defeat - they are dud as a damp squib!
October 27, 2008 by janamejayan ( http://janamejayan.wordpress.com/ )
Mutual survival resolves the conflict!
NEW DELHI/CHENNAI: For the first time since the conflict in Sri Lanka besieged New Delhi, there were signs on Sunday that the crisis had blownover for the UPA. Pranab Mukherjee’s unscheduled meeting with Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi in Chennai in the evening seemed to have ended on a positive note, with the external affairs minister stating that the DMK chief had assured him that he would not precipitate a crisis for the UPA.
Mukherjee was rushed to Chennai hours after Sri Lanka’s special envoy, Basil Rajapaksa, assured him in Delhi that the authorities were going out of their way to ensure the safety of Tamil civilians in the war-torn island nation. Basil Rajapaksa, who is advisor to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, was sent to New Delhi on Sunday to apprise the Indian government about the situation in the country.
The Mukherjee-Rajapaksa meeting on Sunday may have provided the safe exit passage for Karunanidhi as he was feeling increasingly alienated over the issue in the past few days.
With AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa slamming the DMK for its alleged support to LTTE and Congress keeping away from the human chain organized by the party, Karunanidhi clearly had been cornered.
After his meeting with Mukherjee, Karunanidhi indicated that his party ministers would not resign from the Congress-led UPA government. “The chief minister has assured that he will not precipitate any crisis in the UPA,” Mukherjee said at Karunanidhi’s residence after the hour-long meeting.
Asked about the resignation threat, Karunanidhi said Mukherjee had requested him to postpone any decision in this regard as it would lead to a lot of complications. “I will certainly not create problems for the Centre,” the chief minister said. Specifically asked if he was sending the resignation letters of his party MPs to the Speaker, he said cryptically, “You can infer from Mukherjee’s statement.”
However, the key DMK demand — that India ensure a ceasefire — remains unfulfilled. Mukherjee said: “As we are not a party to the ceasefire, we can’t ask them to (call a ceasefire).” All that he said was there could be no military solution. “During our interaction, both the Prime Minister and I have said there can’t be a military solution. We are asking them to find a political solution,” Mukherjee said.
Karunanidhi said, ” The question as to who will bring about a truce is yet to be answered. Will India lead the talks, or some other countries or some organizations will take the lead has to be decided,” he said, emphasizing that a climate conducive for negotiations would have to be created first. When told that reviving Norway’s facilitation might take time, he said: “It should not take much time.”
Both leaders agreed that the decades-old ethnic conflict could not be solved in a fortnight or five weeks. “We wanted a ceasefire to give effective relief to public,” the DMK chief said, expressing satisfaction at the pace and tone at which the Centre had got Sri Lanka to make a promise that the Tamil civilians would not be hurt anymore in the war against the LTTE.
In New Delhi, Rajapaksa also met NSA M K Narayanan and foreign secretary Shivshankar Menon. As a gesture of goodwill, India has decided to send around 800 tonnes of relief material to Sri Lanka for the affected civilians in the North. Rajapaksa said that the Sri Lankan government would facilitate the delivery.
” Both sides discussed the need to move towards a peacefully negotiated political settlement in the island including in the North. Both sides agreed that terrorism should be countered with resolve. The Indian side called for implementation of the 13th Amendment and greater devolution of powers to the provinces,” the foreign ministry said in an official statement in New Delhi.
Rajapaksa emphasized that the Sri Lankan president and his government were firmly committed to a political process that would lead to a sustainable solution. The two sides also agreed to further nurture the democratic process in the Eastern Province.
During the talks with Rajapaksa, the two sides agreed to put in place practical arrangements to deal with bonafide Indian and Sri Lankan fishermen crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line. As part of these practical arrangements, Indian fishing vessels will not venture into sensitive areas designated by the Lankan government. Further, there will be no firing on Indian fishing vessels.
“It was agreed that Indian fishing vessels would carry valid registration/permit and the fishermen would have on person valid identity cards issued by the Tamil Nadu government,” said the foreign ministry.
India and Sri Lanka also agreed to continue with their discussions, initiated in 2005, on the proposed Memorandum of Understanding on development and cooperation in the field of fisheries.
The following was posted by Dravidadwija in Kanchiforum:
Rajapaksa’s assurance on displaced in Wanni COLOMBO: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has said his government has made arrangements for the safety of the displaced civilians in Wanni once they enter the “cleared areas” from the LTTE controlled territory amid reports of heavy fighting on Sunday. Mr. Rajapaksa gave the assurance when Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) leader V. Anandasangaree called on him at the Presidential Palace on Friday and discussed the situation in Wanni and the political developments in South India. Mr. Rajapaksa briefed the TULF chief in detail the measures to ensure the safety of the civilians displaced in Killinochchi and Mullathivu. He told him the LTTE had blocked those innocent civilians from entering the cleared areas but is creating a wrong picture that the government was to blame. The TULF leader told the President that he had written a letter to Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu M. Karunanidhi on the Wanni situation and urged him to prevail upon the LTTE to let people trapped in the war zone go wherever they wished. In his letter titled “What should be done”, released here on Sunday, the TULF said the Tamil People of Sri Lanka were glad that Tamil Nadu had started showing interest in the Sri Lankan ethnic problem but were disappointed that the concerns of the trapped Tamil people had been ignored. “LTTE is using them as human shield to protect them. The people are also upset and worried that the enthusiasm displayed in Tamil Nadu is showing tendencies of confrontation with the majority community the Sinhalese, with whom the Tamils had been living from time immemorial and will have to live in the future as well. Early solution : “Long before his assassination, Mahatma Gandhi had warned that India and Ceylon can’t afford to quarrel [with] each other, but more than that being immediate neighbours and having several things in common, Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka should maintain cordial relationship between the two.” Mr. Anandasangaree said the decision of the All Party Conference to seek the help of the central government to find an early solution was perfectly alright but it was not the immediate need of our people trapped and kept under compulsion in Killinochchi by the LTTE. The TULF said in the interests of the Tamils, the leaders of Tamil Nadu should forget their political differences and find a solution to the ethnic problem.
Now let’s see what has happened so far.
1. We all know that Pirabakaran has been cornered and has nowhere to go. His ‘fort’ being overrun is only a matter of time.
2. Pirabhakaran’s friends such as MuKa and the sundry Dravidian outfilts have tried their best to pressurize the Govt.of India into relieving Pirabakaran from his check-mate position. They employed such threats as their MPs quitting the parliament and some lower rung vishamis even threatening secession. Poor Vaiko did a oneupmanship on that and landed in jail.
3. The Congress thought it could get away with some initial moral support for it had reconed that the DMK is doing some ‘udaance’ to sooth its ‘Tamil chauvinists’ but did a big ‘jahaa’ when it realized that MuKa might be taking it for a ride.
4. The bravado talks of the DMK and its ilks to carry arms into Srilanka or its talk of pulling the plug on the UPA govt were big but stupid bluffs that were easily called.
5. The talk of secession of Tamils have found no takers.
6. DMK again got isolated with Congress and AIADMK arrayed against it. It still held the trump card of pulling the plug on the UPA which would also be committing harakiri for the Congress in turn would pull out and kill the DMK govt.
7. So Pranab Mukharjee jumps in to cojole Karunanidhi not to be stupid. So this straw of ‘truce’ and ‘negotiated settlement’ are being flown as their new kites. That was enought for MuKa to retreat!
But then what is this ‘truce’ and ‘negotiated settlement’ that is fancied about?
The grapewine talk is that the king of Tigers wants to escape to a safe haven (he seems to have stashed away huge wealth all over the world) and MuKa is prodding GOI to facilitate it!!
So either the ‘fort’ is run over or that the ‘brave’ beast escapes unhurt!! In the meantime his only choice is to hold those very people he swears to represent as hostage. But then we also see that the hostages are making noise in Jaffna. It is only going to get louder!
It is getting curiouser and curiouser isn’t it!
Yes of course, we are curoius too to see how this is resolved.
October 27, 2008 by janamejayan ( http://janamejayan.wordpress.com/ )
Mutual survival resolves the conflict!
NEW DELHI/CHENNAI: For the first time since the conflict in Sri Lanka besieged New Delhi, there were signs on Sunday that the crisis had blownover for the UPA. Pranab Mukherjee’s unscheduled meeting with Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi in Chennai in the evening seemed to have ended on a positive note, with the external affairs minister stating that the DMK chief had assured him that he would not precipitate a crisis for the UPA.
Mukherjee was rushed to Chennai hours after Sri Lanka’s special envoy, Basil Rajapaksa, assured him in Delhi that the authorities were going out of their way to ensure the safety of Tamil civilians in the war-torn island nation. Basil Rajapaksa, who is advisor to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, was sent to New Delhi on Sunday to apprise the Indian government about the situation in the country.
The Mukherjee-Rajapaksa meeting on Sunday may have provided the safe exit passage for Karunanidhi as he was feeling increasingly alienated over the issue in the past few days.
With AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa slamming the DMK for its alleged support to LTTE and Congress keeping away from the human chain organized by the party, Karunanidhi clearly had been cornered.
After his meeting with Mukherjee, Karunanidhi indicated that his party ministers would not resign from the Congress-led UPA government. “The chief minister has assured that he will not precipitate any crisis in the UPA,” Mukherjee said at Karunanidhi’s residence after the hour-long meeting.
Asked about the resignation threat, Karunanidhi said Mukherjee had requested him to postpone any decision in this regard as it would lead to a lot of complications. “I will certainly not create problems for the Centre,” the chief minister said. Specifically asked if he was sending the resignation letters of his party MPs to the Speaker, he said cryptically, “You can infer from Mukherjee’s statement.”
However, the key DMK demand — that India ensure a ceasefire — remains unfulfilled. Mukherjee said: “As we are not a party to the ceasefire, we can’t ask them to (call a ceasefire).” All that he said was there could be no military solution. “During our interaction, both the Prime Minister and I have said there can’t be a military solution. We are asking them to find a political solution,” Mukherjee said.
Karunanidhi said, ” The question as to who will bring about a truce is yet to be answered. Will India lead the talks, or some other countries or some organizations will take the lead has to be decided,” he said, emphasizing that a climate conducive for negotiations would have to be created first. When told that reviving Norway’s facilitation might take time, he said: “It should not take much time.”
Both leaders agreed that the decades-old ethnic conflict could not be solved in a fortnight or five weeks. “We wanted a ceasefire to give effective relief to public,” the DMK chief said, expressing satisfaction at the pace and tone at which the Centre had got Sri Lanka to make a promise that the Tamil civilians would not be hurt anymore in the war against the LTTE.
In New Delhi, Rajapaksa also met NSA M K Narayanan and foreign secretary Shivshankar Menon. As a gesture of goodwill, India has decided to send around 800 tonnes of relief material to Sri Lanka for the affected civilians in the North. Rajapaksa said that the Sri Lankan government would facilitate the delivery.
” Both sides discussed the need to move towards a peacefully negotiated political settlement in the island including in the North. Both sides agreed that terrorism should be countered with resolve. The Indian side called for implementation of the 13th Amendment and greater devolution of powers to the provinces,” the foreign ministry said in an official statement in New Delhi.
Rajapaksa emphasized that the Sri Lankan president and his government were firmly committed to a political process that would lead to a sustainable solution. The two sides also agreed to further nurture the democratic process in the Eastern Province.
During the talks with Rajapaksa, the two sides agreed to put in place practical arrangements to deal with bonafide Indian and Sri Lankan fishermen crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line. As part of these practical arrangements, Indian fishing vessels will not venture into sensitive areas designated by the Lankan government. Further, there will be no firing on Indian fishing vessels.
“It was agreed that Indian fishing vessels would carry valid registration/permit and the fishermen would have on person valid identity cards issued by the Tamil Nadu government,” said the foreign ministry.
India and Sri Lanka also agreed to continue with their discussions, initiated in 2005, on the proposed Memorandum of Understanding on development and cooperation in the field of fisheries.
The following was posted by Dravidadwija in Kanchiforum:
Rajapaksa’s assurance on displaced in Wanni COLOMBO: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has said his government has made arrangements for the safety of the displaced civilians in Wanni once they enter the “cleared areas” from the LTTE controlled territory amid reports of heavy fighting on Sunday. Mr. Rajapaksa gave the assurance when Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) leader V. Anandasangaree called on him at the Presidential Palace on Friday and discussed the situation in Wanni and the political developments in South India. Mr. Rajapaksa briefed the TULF chief in detail the measures to ensure the safety of the civilians displaced in Killinochchi and Mullathivu. He told him the LTTE had blocked those innocent civilians from entering the cleared areas but is creating a wrong picture that the government was to blame. The TULF leader told the President that he had written a letter to Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu M. Karunanidhi on the Wanni situation and urged him to prevail upon the LTTE to let people trapped in the war zone go wherever they wished. In his letter titled “What should be done”, released here on Sunday, the TULF said the Tamil People of Sri Lanka were glad that Tamil Nadu had started showing interest in the Sri Lankan ethnic problem but were disappointed that the concerns of the trapped Tamil people had been ignored. “LTTE is using them as human shield to protect them. The people are also upset and worried that the enthusiasm displayed in Tamil Nadu is showing tendencies of confrontation with the majority community the Sinhalese, with whom the Tamils had been living from time immemorial and will have to live in the future as well. Early solution : “Long before his assassination, Mahatma Gandhi had warned that India and Ceylon can’t afford to quarrel [with] each other, but more than that being immediate neighbours and having several things in common, Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka should maintain cordial relationship between the two.” Mr. Anandasangaree said the decision of the All Party Conference to seek the help of the central government to find an early solution was perfectly alright but it was not the immediate need of our people trapped and kept under compulsion in Killinochchi by the LTTE. The TULF said in the interests of the Tamils, the leaders of Tamil Nadu should forget their political differences and find a solution to the ethnic problem.
Now let’s see what has happened so far.
1. We all know that Pirabakaran has been cornered and has nowhere to go. His ‘fort’ being overrun is only a matter of time.
2. Pirabhakaran’s friends such as MuKa and the sundry Dravidian outfilts have tried their best to pressurize the Govt.of India into relieving Pirabakaran from his check-mate position. They employed such threats as their MPs quitting the parliament and some lower rung vishamis even threatening secession. Poor Vaiko did a oneupmanship on that and landed in jail.
3. The Congress thought it could get away with some initial moral support for it had reconed that the DMK is doing some ‘udaance’ to sooth its ‘Tamil chauvinists’ but did a big ‘jahaa’ when it realized that MuKa might be taking it for a ride.
4. The bravado talks of the DMK and its ilks to carry arms into Srilanka or its talk of pulling the plug on the UPA govt were big but stupid bluffs that were easily called.
5. The talk of secession of Tamils have found no takers.
6. DMK again got isolated with Congress and AIADMK arrayed against it. It still held the trump card of pulling the plug on the UPA which would also be committing harakiri for the Congress in turn would pull out and kill the DMK govt.
7. So Pranab Mukharjee jumps in to cojole Karunanidhi not to be stupid. So this straw of ‘truce’ and ‘negotiated settlement’ are being flown as their new kites. That was enought for MuKa to retreat!
But then what is this ‘truce’ and ‘negotiated settlement’ that is fancied about?
The grapewine talk is that the king of Tigers wants to escape to a safe haven (he seems to have stashed away huge wealth all over the world) and MuKa is prodding GOI to facilitate it!!
So either the ‘fort’ is run over or that the ‘brave’ beast escapes unhurt!! In the meantime his only choice is to hold those very people he swears to represent as hostage. But then we also see that the hostages are making noise in Jaffna. It is only going to get louder!
It is getting curiouser and curiouser isn’t it!
Yes of course, we are curoius too to see how this is resolved.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
T.R.Jawahar's description of DMK's 'Parinaama valarchi'
Kalaingar K’s dilemmas are legendary. At the personal level, no amount of rationalism has been able to settle certain ‘issues’. Disposing of the Marans was easy. But choosing from Azhagiri, Stalin and Kanimozhi and their progeny is turning out to be a tough call even for someone who has handled the mothers of many such dilemmas with ease. Politically too, with elections round the corner, it’s dilemma time again: Have all the bridges ...sethus ... been burnt with Lord Ram’s own party, BJP? Or should the Roman holiday continue? And with the familiar tiger rearing its head again, is there a way out by which he can play protector of SL Tamils without being dubbed anti-national? Trust the ultimate rationalist to come up trumps. Really, arresting Vaiko, the familiar fall guy, had never posed a dilemma to any CM. Having thus established his patriotic credentials, how now to ‘save’ the SL tamils and make the SL army shudder in their military fatigues? Lo, a human chain, that’s it! But from cycle chains, that’s truly a sterling evolutionary growth (parinama valarchi) indeed and a peaceful resolution of the dangerous dravidian dilemma!
Kalaingar K’s dilemmas are legendary. At the personal level, no amount of rationalism has been able to settle certain ‘issues’. Disposing of the Marans was easy. But choosing from Azhagiri, Stalin and Kanimozhi and their progeny is turning out to be a tough call even for someone who has handled the mothers of many such dilemmas with ease. Politically too, with elections round the corner, it’s dilemma time again: Have all the bridges ...sethus ... been burnt with Lord Ram’s own party, BJP? Or should the Roman holiday continue? And with the familiar tiger rearing its head again, is there a way out by which he can play protector of SL Tamils without being dubbed anti-national? Trust the ultimate rationalist to come up trumps. Really, arresting Vaiko, the familiar fall guy, had never posed a dilemma to any CM. Having thus established his patriotic credentials, how now to ‘save’ the SL tamils and make the SL army shudder in their military fatigues? Lo, a human chain, that’s it! But from cycle chains, that’s truly a sterling evolutionary growth (parinama valarchi) indeed and a peaceful resolution of the dangerous dravidian dilemma!
Curbing dangerous tendencies
It was extremely irresponsible of a political leader like Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam General Secretary Vaiko to make a speech with barely concealed secessionist overtones and warn the Government of India that its help to protect the territorial integrity of Sri Lanka would jeopardise the unity and integrity of India itself. Speaking from the same platform, his party chairman M. Kannappan was more explicit in warning the Centre not to force the Tamils in the Sta te to launch a struggle for a separate Tamil Nadu. The Tamil Nadu government has moved swiftly to arrest them and charge them with sedition under the Indian Penal Code and with unlawful activity. Sedition involves speech that would “bring into hatred or contempt or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards the government established by law in India.” To make it compatible with the right to freedom of speech under the Constitution, the Supreme Court has set the bar high on any prosecution for sedition, limiting it to “activities involving incitement to violence or intention or tendency to create public disorder or cause disturbance of public peace.” Under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, any activity that amounts to advocacy of secession is an offence. Mr. Vaiko’s speech will be tested in the courts under both these provisions as the law takes its course.
What is clear, however, is that speeches and activities such as his are wholly unacceptable and politically dangerous. As this newspaper had spelt out in an editorial on October 18, the response of the Government of India and the people of Tamil Nadu needs to take into account certain imperatives in approaching the Sri Lankan situation. In the first place, no comfort should be given to the LTTE, which is a terrorist organisation banned in 30 countries including India. Secondly, the Indian commitment must be to finding a solution that envisages devolution of powers to the Tamil regions within a united Sri Lanka, which would mean giving no quarter to the demand for an independent Eelam. Thirdly, mainstream political parties in Tamil Nadu need to make a sharp distinction between the current military plight of the LTTE and the displacement and suffering caused by the conflict, affecting an estimated 230,000 Sri Lankan Tamils. The right response for the Government of India and the people of Tamil Nadu would be to offer food, clothing, medicines, fuel and other essential goods as well as the logistical facilities required to reach them to the people through the Sri Lankan government whose President Mahinda Rajapakse has declared his commitment to bring their hardship to an end “in a short time.” Meanwhile, there is cause for concern over the activities of some fringe groups in Tamil Nadu who have let their sympathy for a foreign terrorist organisation overwhelm their commitment to India’s own integrity and have indulged in violent acts including against the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission and the railways. The action against Mr. Vaiko will send a message to these groups that the State government is firm in its resolve to contain such dangerous tendencies.
http://www.hindu.com/2008/10/25/stories/2008102556231000.htm
It was extremely irresponsible of a political leader like Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam General Secretary Vaiko to make a speech with barely concealed secessionist overtones and warn the Government of India that its help to protect the territorial integrity of Sri Lanka would jeopardise the unity and integrity of India itself. Speaking from the same platform, his party chairman M. Kannappan was more explicit in warning the Centre not to force the Tamils in the Sta te to launch a struggle for a separate Tamil Nadu. The Tamil Nadu government has moved swiftly to arrest them and charge them with sedition under the Indian Penal Code and with unlawful activity. Sedition involves speech that would “bring into hatred or contempt or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards the government established by law in India.” To make it compatible with the right to freedom of speech under the Constitution, the Supreme Court has set the bar high on any prosecution for sedition, limiting it to “activities involving incitement to violence or intention or tendency to create public disorder or cause disturbance of public peace.” Under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, any activity that amounts to advocacy of secession is an offence. Mr. Vaiko’s speech will be tested in the courts under both these provisions as the law takes its course.
What is clear, however, is that speeches and activities such as his are wholly unacceptable and politically dangerous. As this newspaper had spelt out in an editorial on October 18, the response of the Government of India and the people of Tamil Nadu needs to take into account certain imperatives in approaching the Sri Lankan situation. In the first place, no comfort should be given to the LTTE, which is a terrorist organisation banned in 30 countries including India. Secondly, the Indian commitment must be to finding a solution that envisages devolution of powers to the Tamil regions within a united Sri Lanka, which would mean giving no quarter to the demand for an independent Eelam. Thirdly, mainstream political parties in Tamil Nadu need to make a sharp distinction between the current military plight of the LTTE and the displacement and suffering caused by the conflict, affecting an estimated 230,000 Sri Lankan Tamils. The right response for the Government of India and the people of Tamil Nadu would be to offer food, clothing, medicines, fuel and other essential goods as well as the logistical facilities required to reach them to the people through the Sri Lankan government whose President Mahinda Rajapakse has declared his commitment to bring their hardship to an end “in a short time.” Meanwhile, there is cause for concern over the activities of some fringe groups in Tamil Nadu who have let their sympathy for a foreign terrorist organisation overwhelm their commitment to India’s own integrity and have indulged in violent acts including against the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission and the railways. The action against Mr. Vaiko will send a message to these groups that the State government is firm in its resolve to contain such dangerous tendencies.
http://www.hindu.com/2008/10/25/stories/2008102556231000.htm
Subramanian Swamy’s office ransacked
— Photo: G. Moorthy Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy’s office in Madurai, which was targeted by a mob on Friday. MADURAI: A mob, claiming to represent Tamil Vazhakkaringar Koottamaippu (Federation of Tamil Advocates) and Puratchigara Ilaignar Munnani (Revolutionary Youth Front), on Friday ransacked the office of Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy on Lal Bahadur Shastri Road here.
According to eyewitnesses, the mob, carrying placards and sticks, came in a procession to the office and raised slogans against Dr. Swamy for his stand on the Sri Lankan issue. While a few entered the twin-building office premises through the gate, others scaled the wall. They stoned the building and damaged the lights, nameplate and flag mast. On entering the office, they pulled down the chairs, almirah and telephone, and attacked the Madurai rural district president of the party, S. Purushothaman.
“They were carrying footwear and broomsticks. I was attacked with sticks. Some of them were wearing white shirt and black trousers,” said Mr. Purushothaman. The mob also damaged a two-wheeler parked outside the office. A mobile phone and Rs.3000 kept at the office were missing.
One of the two buildings is used as residence by Dr. Swamy. This building, on the left side, was not targeted. Two persons, including the watchman, sustained injuries in the attack.
The police said the mob had earlier participated in a demonstration at Tallakulam where slogans were shouted against those who opposed the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. The demonstration was organised by Tamil groups in protest against the military action in Sri Lanka.
The Tallakulam police arrested Pandi (58) of Tamil Desiya Iyakkam, Velmurugan and Mayalagu, students of law, in connection with the incident. Cases were filed under Sections 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapons), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 355 (assault), 379 (theft), 452 (trespass) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code along with provisions of Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.
Dr. Swamy said he would file a petition in the Madras High Court on Saturday seeking attachment of properties of the Dravidar Kazhagam till the damage was recovered. “I will also demand dismissal of the State government,” he said, while calling his office from New Delhi over phone.
http://www.hindu.com/2008/10/25/stories/2008102561260800.htm
— Photo: G. Moorthy Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy’s office in Madurai, which was targeted by a mob on Friday. MADURAI: A mob, claiming to represent Tamil Vazhakkaringar Koottamaippu (Federation of Tamil Advocates) and Puratchigara Ilaignar Munnani (Revolutionary Youth Front), on Friday ransacked the office of Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy on Lal Bahadur Shastri Road here.
According to eyewitnesses, the mob, carrying placards and sticks, came in a procession to the office and raised slogans against Dr. Swamy for his stand on the Sri Lankan issue. While a few entered the twin-building office premises through the gate, others scaled the wall. They stoned the building and damaged the lights, nameplate and flag mast. On entering the office, they pulled down the chairs, almirah and telephone, and attacked the Madurai rural district president of the party, S. Purushothaman.
“They were carrying footwear and broomsticks. I was attacked with sticks. Some of them were wearing white shirt and black trousers,” said Mr. Purushothaman. The mob also damaged a two-wheeler parked outside the office. A mobile phone and Rs.3000 kept at the office were missing.
One of the two buildings is used as residence by Dr. Swamy. This building, on the left side, was not targeted. Two persons, including the watchman, sustained injuries in the attack.
The police said the mob had earlier participated in a demonstration at Tallakulam where slogans were shouted against those who opposed the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. The demonstration was organised by Tamil groups in protest against the military action in Sri Lanka.
The Tallakulam police arrested Pandi (58) of Tamil Desiya Iyakkam, Velmurugan and Mayalagu, students of law, in connection with the incident. Cases were filed under Sections 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapons), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 355 (assault), 379 (theft), 452 (trespass) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code along with provisions of Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.
Dr. Swamy said he would file a petition in the Madras High Court on Saturday seeking attachment of properties of the Dravidar Kazhagam till the damage was recovered. “I will also demand dismissal of the State government,” he said, while calling his office from New Delhi over phone.
http://www.hindu.com/2008/10/25/stories/2008102561260800.htm
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Paradox of Indian Secularism - The politics of the alliance of convenience
The fact that the DMK as a minority party is able to rule is because the Congress Party supports it. The Congress Party supports it because DMK supports the Congress to rule Delhi.
The DMK in its two years of rule has earned the reputation of the worst kind of swindlers. If there is an election today they would be roundly defeated.
The DMK support the Congress Party's UPA govt not only for its convenience to rule the state of Tamilnadu but to loot the central treasury through its ministers. The Sethu Samudhram project is a good example. However the UPA rule of the centre is to end shortly and it is conceived that it is facing a certain defeat at the hands of the elctorate in the next election. So the DMK rat is trying to jump the ship.
What can be the best bet for Karunanidhi that can bring down two mangos with one stone? Given its unpopularity caused by its looting resulting in the economic ruin of Tamilnadu it cannot face the people with its 'achievements'. So the DMK and Karunanidhi have seized the near defeat of the LTTE for their survival. So they are appealing for the Tamil pride!
The Congress party went along for a short while in support of the LTTE even though this terrorist outfit has assasinated Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi who was the leader of the Congress Party. But such support is a live wire and could not be held for two reasons: one is that the support to the LTTE is quickly transforming into a Tamil separatist movement in India and second, there is no quid pro quo from the DMK which is ready to abandon the UPA and bring down the Congress Govt of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
So the Congress Party came out demanding that the DMK govt. arrest all those who voice support for the separatist movement! Wow! Brave but stupid demand. Why stupid? Because the perpetrators of separatist cause is the DMK and how can one ask the thief to catch himself?!
The DMK seized the opportunity to arrest its political opponent and MDMK chief Mr.Vaiko and put him behind bars!
The drama goes on!
The DMK in its two years of rule has earned the reputation of the worst kind of swindlers. If there is an election today they would be roundly defeated.
The DMK support the Congress Party's UPA govt not only for its convenience to rule the state of Tamilnadu but to loot the central treasury through its ministers. The Sethu Samudhram project is a good example. However the UPA rule of the centre is to end shortly and it is conceived that it is facing a certain defeat at the hands of the elctorate in the next election. So the DMK rat is trying to jump the ship.
What can be the best bet for Karunanidhi that can bring down two mangos with one stone? Given its unpopularity caused by its looting resulting in the economic ruin of Tamilnadu it cannot face the people with its 'achievements'. So the DMK and Karunanidhi have seized the near defeat of the LTTE for their survival. So they are appealing for the Tamil pride!
The Congress party went along for a short while in support of the LTTE even though this terrorist outfit has assasinated Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi who was the leader of the Congress Party. But such support is a live wire and could not be held for two reasons: one is that the support to the LTTE is quickly transforming into a Tamil separatist movement in India and second, there is no quid pro quo from the DMK which is ready to abandon the UPA and bring down the Congress Govt of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
So the Congress Party came out demanding that the DMK govt. arrest all those who voice support for the separatist movement! Wow! Brave but stupid demand. Why stupid? Because the perpetrators of separatist cause is the DMK and how can one ask the thief to catch himself?!
The DMK seized the opportunity to arrest its political opponent and MDMK chief Mr.Vaiko and put him behind bars!
The drama goes on!
Hindu Munnani’s call to save TN from separatists
Thu, 23 Oct, 2008,02:50 PM.
Hindu Munnani founder-organiser Rama Gopalan has demanded invoking POTA to save Tamilnadu from separatists who were trying to bifurcate the State from the Indian Union.
An MDMK leader had said at a seminar that the LTTE should not have been branded terrorists or enemies of Tamilians, Since, the cadre have taken to arms and not adopted non-violence, they were labelled so.
Not only Tamil Eelam but also a separate Tamilnadu would be born, the MDMK leader had said. A two-hour video show supporting the Tigers was also screened at the meet.
Above all, MDMK founder Vaiko had said Tigers and Tamils were one. Though he does not approve of violence against Lankan Tamils, he had said he was ready to take to arms.
‘ It could not be called violence, it was their rights,’ was what the party leader had wished to convey. And he had called upon the youth of the country to punish anti-Tamils and work for a Tamil Eelam. When film personalities protested at Rameswaram, directors Seeman and Amir spoke on separatism and terrorism and the Centre and the State remained mute spectators.
There is no difference of opinion that Sri Lankan Tamil should lead a life with self-respect and protection. But Tamil Eelam would come and later separate Tamilnadu would be born, Rama Gopalan apprehended.
He said that its was appreciable that a section of the Congressmen had opposed such designs. These separatists are under the impression that Tamilnadu was the Tiger’s headquarters wherefrom they could operate, he added.
In each village there were non-party partisan youth. And that Tamilnadu belonged to the nation, this truth would be proved once again as before, the Munnani leader said.
He also said Lankan Tamilans were killed more by the LTTE than the Sri Lankan military, this cannot be refuted.
As the Hindraf in Malaysia took to non-violence in support of Tamil Eelam they were behind the bars. Where then were a human chain or film personalities rally, he wondered. The Hindraf is full of Tamilians, then why has not the blood of political parties in Tamilnadu boil for their sake, he wanted to know.
The DMK government would not take action on those who support Tigers. It was obvious when the Chief Minister wrote eulogy when the LTTE cadre Tamilselvan died.
Some months back MDMK Velachery Manimaran said he would take to arms for Tamil Tigers and was arrested. But Tamilnadu government released him saying he had become emotional.
Viduthalai Chiruthai activist Vanni Arasu who shipped raw materials for arms- manufacture to the banned Tigers was arrested for it and was released the same day, why all this, Rama Gopalan wondered.
http://newstodaynet.com/newsindex.php?id=11681%20&%20section=6
Hindu Munnani founder-organiser Rama Gopalan has demanded invoking POTA to save Tamilnadu from separatists who were trying to bifurcate the State from the Indian Union.
An MDMK leader had said at a seminar that the LTTE should not have been branded terrorists or enemies of Tamilians, Since, the cadre have taken to arms and not adopted non-violence, they were labelled so.
Not only Tamil Eelam but also a separate Tamilnadu would be born, the MDMK leader had said. A two-hour video show supporting the Tigers was also screened at the meet.
Above all, MDMK founder Vaiko had said Tigers and Tamils were one. Though he does not approve of violence against Lankan Tamils, he had said he was ready to take to arms.
‘ It could not be called violence, it was their rights,’ was what the party leader had wished to convey. And he had called upon the youth of the country to punish anti-Tamils and work for a Tamil Eelam. When film personalities protested at Rameswaram, directors Seeman and Amir spoke on separatism and terrorism and the Centre and the State remained mute spectators.
There is no difference of opinion that Sri Lankan Tamil should lead a life with self-respect and protection. But Tamil Eelam would come and later separate Tamilnadu would be born, Rama Gopalan apprehended.
He said that its was appreciable that a section of the Congressmen had opposed such designs. These separatists are under the impression that Tamilnadu was the Tiger’s headquarters wherefrom they could operate, he added.
In each village there were non-party partisan youth. And that Tamilnadu belonged to the nation, this truth would be proved once again as before, the Munnani leader said.
He also said Lankan Tamilans were killed more by the LTTE than the Sri Lankan military, this cannot be refuted.
As the Hindraf in Malaysia took to non-violence in support of Tamil Eelam they were behind the bars. Where then were a human chain or film personalities rally, he wondered. The Hindraf is full of Tamilians, then why has not the blood of political parties in Tamilnadu boil for their sake, he wanted to know.
The DMK government would not take action on those who support Tigers. It was obvious when the Chief Minister wrote eulogy when the LTTE cadre Tamilselvan died.
Some months back MDMK Velachery Manimaran said he would take to arms for Tamil Tigers and was arrested. But Tamilnadu government released him saying he had become emotional.
Viduthalai Chiruthai activist Vanni Arasu who shipped raw materials for arms- manufacture to the banned Tigers was arrested for it and was released the same day, why all this, Rama Gopalan wondered.
http://newstodaynet.com/newsindex.php?id=11681%20&%20section=6
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Appeal to Tamil Chauvinism is Karunanidhi’s last resort
Congress, AIADMK flay pro-LTTE, secessionist moves
IANS
CHENNAI: The Congress, the main ally of Tamil Nadu’s ruling DMK, and the state’s main opposition AIADMK Wednesday slammed “secessionist moves” by regional parties and the Tamil film industry under the guise of supporting the Tamil minority in Sri Lanka.Congress Legislature Party leader D. Sudarsanam and AIADMK chief J. Jayalalitha decried attempts of organisations and individuals openly supporting the banned Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and demanded their arrest and prosecution.”The Congress calls for stern action against pro-LTTE elements - regardless of their being politicians or media personalities as they have openly begun secessionist moves,” Sudarsanam told reporters after an urgent meeting of Congress legislators.”The National Security Act should be invoked against movie directors Seeman and Ameer for canvassing support for terrorists, espousing separatist causes in India and threatening to start an armed rebellion from a public platform in Rameshwaram Oct 19.”Failure to do so will result in agitations to prosecute persons like Seeman and Ameer who blatantly insulted Congress martyrs (late prime ministers) Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi,” Sudarsanam added.Jayalalitha blamed Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi and Congress president Sonia Gandhi for allowing “secessionist movements” to take root in Tamil Nadu and allowing a free run for terrorist organisations with links to the LTTE for espousing separatist causes.”The LTTE is a terrorist organisation linked to several fissiparous outfits in India and abroad. While local outfits like the banned People’s War Group, United Liberation Front of Assam and at least three terrorist movements in Tamil Nadu are known to be open collaborators with the Tigers, Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence also has an unholy alliance with this outfit,” Jayalalitha said.”While during Karunanidhi’s rule, such movements always manage to take roots, it is surprising that former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi’s widow Sonia Gandhi has tacitly allowed the LTTE to operate freely in India. Rajiv Gandhi’s killers like Nalini (Murugan) have adopted holier-than-thou attitudes and claim to be fighting for their birthright of freedom after assassinating the former prime minister in cold blood,” Jayalalitha added.The AIADMK leader, however, did not react to statements by its main ally MDMK leader Vaiko which termed as “Tamil traitors” all those who opposed LTTE leader V. Prabhakaran’s “fight for the Tamil minority in Sri Lanka”.A few days ago, Vaiko had demanded that apart from immediately stopping military aid, India also cut off diplomatic relations with Sri Lanka.Meanwhile, Karunanidhi issued a statement criticising the Sri Lankan regime for “killing Tamil civilians” and exhorting his supporters to make the human chain protest slated for Friday a success.”Men, women, children are felled cruelly by bullets of those inimical to the origins of Tamil race. Only those with treason against the Tamil nationality in their minds are opposing the spirited defence of the Tamil race’s origins rightful homeland - Eelam,” Karunanidhi said in an open letter addressed to his party workers, writing in Murasoli - the DMK party organ.
IANS
CHENNAI: The Congress, the main ally of Tamil Nadu’s ruling DMK, and the state’s main opposition AIADMK Wednesday slammed “secessionist moves” by regional parties and the Tamil film industry under the guise of supporting the Tamil minority in Sri Lanka.Congress Legislature Party leader D. Sudarsanam and AIADMK chief J. Jayalalitha decried attempts of organisations and individuals openly supporting the banned Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and demanded their arrest and prosecution.”The Congress calls for stern action against pro-LTTE elements - regardless of their being politicians or media personalities as they have openly begun secessionist moves,” Sudarsanam told reporters after an urgent meeting of Congress legislators.”The National Security Act should be invoked against movie directors Seeman and Ameer for canvassing support for terrorists, espousing separatist causes in India and threatening to start an armed rebellion from a public platform in Rameshwaram Oct 19.”Failure to do so will result in agitations to prosecute persons like Seeman and Ameer who blatantly insulted Congress martyrs (late prime ministers) Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi,” Sudarsanam added.Jayalalitha blamed Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi and Congress president Sonia Gandhi for allowing “secessionist movements” to take root in Tamil Nadu and allowing a free run for terrorist organisations with links to the LTTE for espousing separatist causes.”The LTTE is a terrorist organisation linked to several fissiparous outfits in India and abroad. While local outfits like the banned People’s War Group, United Liberation Front of Assam and at least three terrorist movements in Tamil Nadu are known to be open collaborators with the Tigers, Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence also has an unholy alliance with this outfit,” Jayalalitha said.”While during Karunanidhi’s rule, such movements always manage to take roots, it is surprising that former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi’s widow Sonia Gandhi has tacitly allowed the LTTE to operate freely in India. Rajiv Gandhi’s killers like Nalini (Murugan) have adopted holier-than-thou attitudes and claim to be fighting for their birthright of freedom after assassinating the former prime minister in cold blood,” Jayalalitha added.The AIADMK leader, however, did not react to statements by its main ally MDMK leader Vaiko which termed as “Tamil traitors” all those who opposed LTTE leader V. Prabhakaran’s “fight for the Tamil minority in Sri Lanka”.A few days ago, Vaiko had demanded that apart from immediately stopping military aid, India also cut off diplomatic relations with Sri Lanka.Meanwhile, Karunanidhi issued a statement criticising the Sri Lankan regime for “killing Tamil civilians” and exhorting his supporters to make the human chain protest slated for Friday a success.”Men, women, children are felled cruelly by bullets of those inimical to the origins of Tamil race. Only those with treason against the Tamil nationality in their minds are opposing the spirited defence of the Tamil race’s origins rightful homeland - Eelam,” Karunanidhi said in an open letter addressed to his party workers, writing in Murasoli - the DMK party organ.
Monday, October 20, 2008
The changing stripes
By: T R Jawahar
Saturday, 18 October, 2008 , 04:33 PM
He might be on the run and under terminal siege at home, but Veluppillai Prabakaran is having a good run in TN now. The sudden escalation of temperature on the Sri Lankan issue here is really a lifeline to one of the most wanted terrorists of our times. For if the TN blackmail of the Centre succeeds, VP will get a new lease of life. Of course, the people of the State are being fed the familiar alibi of solidarity with Sri Lankan Tamils. Well, of all the cries of woes coming across the Palk Straits, we all know which one is heard and heeded the most here!
After ensuring that no one else remained to fight for the Tamil cause, the supreme tiger has managed to pass muster under almost all the political skins in TN. To their credit, the MDMK and the PMK have never hidden their affinity to the LTTE. The two parties have been too vocal in their support, at times even warranting an extended ban. Thirumavalavan’s Viduthalai Chiruththaigal is extended family, as the name, intentionaly or inadvertently suggests. Its leaders are known to frequent Vavuniya till quite recently right under the noses of the authorities of the two nations. The DK and its breakaway factions have a known history of Tiger riding. Though his voice has been drowned by other megaphones this time, to Nedumaran, VP is the only Tamil that exists in Lanka. It is not difficult to guess where the sympathies of the fledgling DMDK of V’kanth lie; after all the origins of ‘Captain’ is tinsel legend.
No one knows the stand of the BJP. The AIADMK of course, has been steadfast in its opposition to the LTTE. The Left is a new entrant to the Eelam politics in TN. Actually it was the comrades who set the political ball rolling with a fast that eventually fizzled. That leaves the DMK and the Cong. While all the aforesaid outfits have been somewhat consistent in their behaviour, the DMK and Cong have made a virtue of contradictions. These two parties have played a variety of political games on the issue, at times at each other’s throat as antogonists, tangoing often as partners or simply engaging in friendly bouts while under one umbrella. From dare devilry to duplicity all tricks have been on parade. If the SL issue is now a diplomatic and emotional maze it is primarily due to the self-serving antics of these parties.
To the Cong first. To its prima donna specifically. If the LTTE today is less of a menace in the eyes of many, the credit must go in great measure to Sonia Gandhi. She has single handedly engineered a revival of its fortunes here and emboldened all the elements that have laid low for tactical or legal reasons after Rajiv’s death. Rajiv’s murder was a national calamity for it was a revenge killing for a decision he took as PM. It was also a personal tragedy, no doubt to his family and friends. But it was the Congress that mixed that personal grief with politics and made it a heady cocktail that caused cataclysmic convulsions in the nation and in TN.
The party brought down a government in 1997 because it could not support an alliance in which the DMK was a part. It is common knowledge that between 1991 to 1998, Sonia and family have on many occasions expressed displeasure at the tardy progress of investigations into Rajiv’s assassination, particulary w.r.t to DMK. She made a spirited defence of the Jain Commission and dubbed criticism of it as an attempt to divert the investigation. In a virtual direct attack on K, VP Singh and Chandra Shekhar, she said in Amethi in 1999: ‘There are some people in the political arena of the country who facilitated the murder of my husband’. And referring indirectly to G.K.Moopanar’s alliance with DMK, Sonia said:’There are people who are aligning with fans of my husband’s murderers due to the politics of power’. But soon, with the prospect of power blooming before her, the bloody clot thawed and the DMK became the most trusted soulmate. And worse, the PMK and MDMK are part of her bandwagon even without getting off their tiger-mounts! But if political pragmatism can provoke a personal leap of faith of this magnitude, does it not call for a special kind of mindset? But why bother! Dead men, even if they happen to be husbands, tell no tales, much less object!
With that somersault the Cong lost all moral authority to cage the tiger. But the idea looks to be to engage. It was Sonia’s fervent pleas that forced the law of the land to commute Nalini’s death sentence to life. It was a blatant interference with the judicial process, rather a perversion of a judicial verdict that sought to punish the enemies of the nation. This too became a saintly personal affair, as Sonia disposed of what the law had proposed. Very recently, Priyanka’s meeting with Nalini in jail was downright improper and again this too passed under the family’s divine right of passage above law. The clamour for N’s release gained momentum only after that. Given such trends, would it be wrong to expect a shift in India’s Lanka policy at the behest of the super PM? Indeed, Prabakaran has only to say sorry to Sonia by e-mail or SMS for ‘bumping off’ Rajiv, and not just pardon but even Indian paratroopers would be at his doorstep ahead of the Lankan army, for a sensationl airlift. Now, with such soft-hearted saints strutting around dispensing amnesty at random for whatever reasons, can anyone blame petty PMKs and vociferous Vaikos for holding tigers by the tail?
For the DMK, the Sri Lankan Tamil cause and even the LTTE are political bargaining chips. Commitment is subject to self-interest. No wonder, K could shelve self-respect and align with the very party that accused him of complicity in murder. But that’s a petty price. Now he has made bold to sacrifice MPs for Tamil’s sake and Tamils’ sake. That too his own daughter’s own post itself. But then how was the ultimate rationalist, under whose thumb the mighty Congress and the UPA regime lie, unaware of the military aid that the Indian Government is supposedly giving to Lanka? Obviously, the sudden rush of Tamil blood is provoked by other calculations in which SL Tamils figure least. But then with Tamils right under his nose here in TN getting the short shrift thanks to power cuts, traffic jams, inflation etc where is succour for those across seas? In any case, not all Tamils answer to names like A’Giri & K’Mozhi! But if we may suggest, why not quit as CM of Tamils’ nadu rather than exiting distant Delhi?
And as if the legitimate SL Tamil cause has not been belittled and destroyed enough, alternately by Sinhala chauvnists, the LTTE itself and the politics here, another familiar dimension unfolds: filmdom’s protest! We now know the script by heart: The SL Tamil cause will be served as speaker after hails the CM for serving the, er., SL Tamil cause! For the Cine Minister, pardon, Chief Minister, who has appointed himself as the sole arbiter of Tamil identity, that’s ratification enough of his Tamil credentials coming as it does from those who matter most to him. No matter if there are hardly any Tamils in tinseltown!
e-mail the writer attrjawahar@vsnl.net
http://newstodaynet.com/col.php?section=20&catid=30
Saturday, 18 October, 2008 , 04:33 PM
He might be on the run and under terminal siege at home, but Veluppillai Prabakaran is having a good run in TN now. The sudden escalation of temperature on the Sri Lankan issue here is really a lifeline to one of the most wanted terrorists of our times. For if the TN blackmail of the Centre succeeds, VP will get a new lease of life. Of course, the people of the State are being fed the familiar alibi of solidarity with Sri Lankan Tamils. Well, of all the cries of woes coming across the Palk Straits, we all know which one is heard and heeded the most here!
After ensuring that no one else remained to fight for the Tamil cause, the supreme tiger has managed to pass muster under almost all the political skins in TN. To their credit, the MDMK and the PMK have never hidden their affinity to the LTTE. The two parties have been too vocal in their support, at times even warranting an extended ban. Thirumavalavan’s Viduthalai Chiruththaigal is extended family, as the name, intentionaly or inadvertently suggests. Its leaders are known to frequent Vavuniya till quite recently right under the noses of the authorities of the two nations. The DK and its breakaway factions have a known history of Tiger riding. Though his voice has been drowned by other megaphones this time, to Nedumaran, VP is the only Tamil that exists in Lanka. It is not difficult to guess where the sympathies of the fledgling DMDK of V’kanth lie; after all the origins of ‘Captain’ is tinsel legend.
No one knows the stand of the BJP. The AIADMK of course, has been steadfast in its opposition to the LTTE. The Left is a new entrant to the Eelam politics in TN. Actually it was the comrades who set the political ball rolling with a fast that eventually fizzled. That leaves the DMK and the Cong. While all the aforesaid outfits have been somewhat consistent in their behaviour, the DMK and Cong have made a virtue of contradictions. These two parties have played a variety of political games on the issue, at times at each other’s throat as antogonists, tangoing often as partners or simply engaging in friendly bouts while under one umbrella. From dare devilry to duplicity all tricks have been on parade. If the SL issue is now a diplomatic and emotional maze it is primarily due to the self-serving antics of these parties.
To the Cong first. To its prima donna specifically. If the LTTE today is less of a menace in the eyes of many, the credit must go in great measure to Sonia Gandhi. She has single handedly engineered a revival of its fortunes here and emboldened all the elements that have laid low for tactical or legal reasons after Rajiv’s death. Rajiv’s murder was a national calamity for it was a revenge killing for a decision he took as PM. It was also a personal tragedy, no doubt to his family and friends. But it was the Congress that mixed that personal grief with politics and made it a heady cocktail that caused cataclysmic convulsions in the nation and in TN.
The party brought down a government in 1997 because it could not support an alliance in which the DMK was a part. It is common knowledge that between 1991 to 1998, Sonia and family have on many occasions expressed displeasure at the tardy progress of investigations into Rajiv’s assassination, particulary w.r.t to DMK. She made a spirited defence of the Jain Commission and dubbed criticism of it as an attempt to divert the investigation. In a virtual direct attack on K, VP Singh and Chandra Shekhar, she said in Amethi in 1999: ‘There are some people in the political arena of the country who facilitated the murder of my husband’. And referring indirectly to G.K.Moopanar’s alliance with DMK, Sonia said:’There are people who are aligning with fans of my husband’s murderers due to the politics of power’. But soon, with the prospect of power blooming before her, the bloody clot thawed and the DMK became the most trusted soulmate. And worse, the PMK and MDMK are part of her bandwagon even without getting off their tiger-mounts! But if political pragmatism can provoke a personal leap of faith of this magnitude, does it not call for a special kind of mindset? But why bother! Dead men, even if they happen to be husbands, tell no tales, much less object!
With that somersault the Cong lost all moral authority to cage the tiger. But the idea looks to be to engage. It was Sonia’s fervent pleas that forced the law of the land to commute Nalini’s death sentence to life. It was a blatant interference with the judicial process, rather a perversion of a judicial verdict that sought to punish the enemies of the nation. This too became a saintly personal affair, as Sonia disposed of what the law had proposed. Very recently, Priyanka’s meeting with Nalini in jail was downright improper and again this too passed under the family’s divine right of passage above law. The clamour for N’s release gained momentum only after that. Given such trends, would it be wrong to expect a shift in India’s Lanka policy at the behest of the super PM? Indeed, Prabakaran has only to say sorry to Sonia by e-mail or SMS for ‘bumping off’ Rajiv, and not just pardon but even Indian paratroopers would be at his doorstep ahead of the Lankan army, for a sensationl airlift. Now, with such soft-hearted saints strutting around dispensing amnesty at random for whatever reasons, can anyone blame petty PMKs and vociferous Vaikos for holding tigers by the tail?
For the DMK, the Sri Lankan Tamil cause and even the LTTE are political bargaining chips. Commitment is subject to self-interest. No wonder, K could shelve self-respect and align with the very party that accused him of complicity in murder. But that’s a petty price. Now he has made bold to sacrifice MPs for Tamil’s sake and Tamils’ sake. That too his own daughter’s own post itself. But then how was the ultimate rationalist, under whose thumb the mighty Congress and the UPA regime lie, unaware of the military aid that the Indian Government is supposedly giving to Lanka? Obviously, the sudden rush of Tamil blood is provoked by other calculations in which SL Tamils figure least. But then with Tamils right under his nose here in TN getting the short shrift thanks to power cuts, traffic jams, inflation etc where is succour for those across seas? In any case, not all Tamils answer to names like A’Giri & K’Mozhi! But if we may suggest, why not quit as CM of Tamils’ nadu rather than exiting distant Delhi?
And as if the legitimate SL Tamil cause has not been belittled and destroyed enough, alternately by Sinhala chauvnists, the LTTE itself and the politics here, another familiar dimension unfolds: filmdom’s protest! We now know the script by heart: The SL Tamil cause will be served as speaker after hails the CM for serving the, er., SL Tamil cause! For the Cine Minister, pardon, Chief Minister, who has appointed himself as the sole arbiter of Tamil identity, that’s ratification enough of his Tamil credentials coming as it does from those who matter most to him. No matter if there are hardly any Tamils in tinseltown!
e-mail the writer attrjawahar@vsnl.net
http://newstodaynet.com/col.php?section=20&catid=30
Saturday, October 18, 2008
The changing stripes
By: T R Jawahar
Saturday, 18 October, 2008 , 04:33 PM
He might be on the run and under terminal siege at home, but Veluppillai Prabakaran is having a good run in TN now. The sudden escalation of temperature on the Sri Lankan issue here is really a lifeline to one of the most wanted terrorists of our times. For if the TN blackmail of the Centre succeeds, VP will get a new lease of life. Of course, the people of the State are being fed the familiar alibi of solidarity with Sri Lankan Tamils. Well, of all the cries of woes coming across the Palk Straits, we all know which one is heard and heeded the most here!
After ensuring that no one else remained to fight for the Tamil cause, the supreme tiger has managed to pass muster under almost all the political skins in TN. To their credit, the MDMK and the PMK have never hidden their affinity to the LTTE. The two parties have been too vocal in their support, at times even warranting an extended ban. Thirumavalavan’s Viduthalai Chiruththaigal is extended family, as the name, intentionaly or inadvertently suggests. Its leaders are known to frequent Vavuniya till quite recently right under the noses of the authorities of the two nations. The DK and its breakaway factions have a known history of Tiger riding. Though his voice has been drowned by other megaphones this time, to Nedumaran, VP is the only Tamil that exists in Lanka. It is not difficult to guess where the sympathies of the fledgling DMDK of V’kanth lie; after all the origins of ‘Captain’ is tinsel legend.
No one knows the stand of the BJP. The AIADMK of course, has been steadfast in its opposition to the LTTE. The Left is a new entrant to the Eelam politics in TN. Actually it was the comrades who set the political ball rolling with a fast that eventually fizzled. That leaves the DMK and the Cong. While all the aforesaid outfits have been somewhat consistent in their behaviour, the DMK and Cong have made a virtue of contradictions. These two parties have played a variety of political games on the issue, at times at each other’s throat as antogonists, tangoing often as partners or simply engaging in friendly bouts while under one umbrella. From dare devilry to duplicity all tricks have been on parade. If the SL issue is now a diplomatic and emotional maze it is primarily due to the self-serving antics of these parties.
To the Cong first. To its prima donna specifically. If the LTTE today is less of a menace in the eyes of many, the credit must go in great measure to Sonia Gandhi. She has single handedly engineered a revival of its fortunes here and emboldened all the elements that have laid low for tactical or legal reasons after Rajiv’s death. Rajiv’s murder was a national calamity for it was a revenge killing for a decision he took as PM. It was also a personal tragedy, no doubt to his family and friends. But it was the Congress that mixed that personal grief with politics and made it a heady cocktail that caused cataclysmic convulsions in the nation and in TN.
The party brought down a government in 1997 because it could not support an alliance in which the DMK was a part. It is common knowledge that between 1991 to 1998, Sonia and family have on many occasions expressed displeasure at the tardy progress of investigations into Rajiv’s assassination, particulary w.r.t to DMK. She made a spirited defence of the Jain Commission and dubbed criticism of it as an attempt to divert the investigation. In a virtual direct attack on K, VP Singh and Chandra Shekhar, she said in Amethi in 1999: ‘There are some people in the political arena of the country who facilitated the murder of my husband’. And referring indirectly to G.K.Moopanar’s alliance with DMK, Sonia said:’There are people who are aligning with fans of my husband’s murderers due to the politics of power’. But soon, with the prospect of power blooming before her, the bloody clot thawed and the DMK became the most trusted soulmate. And worse, the PMK and MDMK are part of her bandwagon even without getting off their tiger-mounts! But if political pragmatism can provoke a personal leap of faith of this magnitude, does it not call for a special kind of mindset? But why bother! Dead men, even if they happen to be husbands, tell no tales, much less object!
With that somersault the Cong lost all moral authority to cage the tiger. But the idea looks to be to engage. It was Sonia’s fervent pleas that forced the law of the land to commute Nalini’s death sentence to life. It was a blatant interference with the judicial process, rather a perversion of a judicial verdict that sought to punish the enemies of the nation. This too became a saintly personal affair, as Sonia disposed of what the law had proposed. Very recently, Priyanka’s meeting with Nalini in jail was downright improper and again this too passed under the family’s divine right of passage above law. The clamour for N’s release gained momentum only after that. Given such trends, would it be wrong to expect a shift in India’s Lanka policy at the behest of the super PM? Indeed, Prabakaran has only to say sorry to Sonia by e-mail or SMS for ‘bumping off’ Rajiv, and not just pardon but even Indian paratroopers would be at his doorstep ahead of the Lankan army, for a sensationl airlift. Now, with such soft-hearted saints strutting around dispensing amnesty at random for whatever reasons, can anyone blame petty PMKs and vociferous Vaikos for holding tigers by the tail?
For the DMK, the Sri Lankan Tamil cause and even the LTTE are political bargaining chips. Commitment is subject to self-interest. No wonder, K could shelve self-respect and align with the very party that accused him of complicity in murder. But that’s a petty price. Now he has made bold to sacrifice MPs for Tamil’s sake and Tamils’ sake. That too his own daughter’s own post itself. But then how was the ultimate rationalist, under whose thumb the mighty Congress and the UPA regime lie, unaware of the military aid that the Indian Government is supposedly giving to Lanka? Obviously, the sudden rush of Tamil blood is provoked by other calculations in which SL Tamils figure least. But then with Tamils right under his nose here in TN getting the short shrift thanks to power cuts, traffic jams, inflation etc where is succour for those across seas? In any case, not all Tamils answer to names like A’Giri & K’Mozhi! But if we may suggest, why not quit as CM of Tamils’ nadu rather than exiting distant Delhi?
And as if the legitimate SL Tamil cause has not been belittled and destroyed enough, alternately by Sinhala chauvnists, the LTTE itself and the politics here, another familiar dimension unfolds: filmdom’s protest! We now know the script by heart: The SL Tamil cause will be served as speaker after hails the CM for serving the, er., SL Tamil cause! For the Cine Minister, pardon, Chief Minister, who has appointed himself as the sole arbiter of Tamil identity, that’s ratification enough of his Tamil credentials coming as it does from those who matter most to him. No matter if there are hardly any Tamils in tinseltown!
e-mail the writer attrjawahar@vsnl.net
http://newstodaynet.com/col.php?section=20&catid=30
Saturday, 18 October, 2008 , 04:33 PM
He might be on the run and under terminal siege at home, but Veluppillai Prabakaran is having a good run in TN now. The sudden escalation of temperature on the Sri Lankan issue here is really a lifeline to one of the most wanted terrorists of our times. For if the TN blackmail of the Centre succeeds, VP will get a new lease of life. Of course, the people of the State are being fed the familiar alibi of solidarity with Sri Lankan Tamils. Well, of all the cries of woes coming across the Palk Straits, we all know which one is heard and heeded the most here!
After ensuring that no one else remained to fight for the Tamil cause, the supreme tiger has managed to pass muster under almost all the political skins in TN. To their credit, the MDMK and the PMK have never hidden their affinity to the LTTE. The two parties have been too vocal in their support, at times even warranting an extended ban. Thirumavalavan’s Viduthalai Chiruththaigal is extended family, as the name, intentionaly or inadvertently suggests. Its leaders are known to frequent Vavuniya till quite recently right under the noses of the authorities of the two nations. The DK and its breakaway factions have a known history of Tiger riding. Though his voice has been drowned by other megaphones this time, to Nedumaran, VP is the only Tamil that exists in Lanka. It is not difficult to guess where the sympathies of the fledgling DMDK of V’kanth lie; after all the origins of ‘Captain’ is tinsel legend.
No one knows the stand of the BJP. The AIADMK of course, has been steadfast in its opposition to the LTTE. The Left is a new entrant to the Eelam politics in TN. Actually it was the comrades who set the political ball rolling with a fast that eventually fizzled. That leaves the DMK and the Cong. While all the aforesaid outfits have been somewhat consistent in their behaviour, the DMK and Cong have made a virtue of contradictions. These two parties have played a variety of political games on the issue, at times at each other’s throat as antogonists, tangoing often as partners or simply engaging in friendly bouts while under one umbrella. From dare devilry to duplicity all tricks have been on parade. If the SL issue is now a diplomatic and emotional maze it is primarily due to the self-serving antics of these parties.
To the Cong first. To its prima donna specifically. If the LTTE today is less of a menace in the eyes of many, the credit must go in great measure to Sonia Gandhi. She has single handedly engineered a revival of its fortunes here and emboldened all the elements that have laid low for tactical or legal reasons after Rajiv’s death. Rajiv’s murder was a national calamity for it was a revenge killing for a decision he took as PM. It was also a personal tragedy, no doubt to his family and friends. But it was the Congress that mixed that personal grief with politics and made it a heady cocktail that caused cataclysmic convulsions in the nation and in TN.
The party brought down a government in 1997 because it could not support an alliance in which the DMK was a part. It is common knowledge that between 1991 to 1998, Sonia and family have on many occasions expressed displeasure at the tardy progress of investigations into Rajiv’s assassination, particulary w.r.t to DMK. She made a spirited defence of the Jain Commission and dubbed criticism of it as an attempt to divert the investigation. In a virtual direct attack on K, VP Singh and Chandra Shekhar, she said in Amethi in 1999: ‘There are some people in the political arena of the country who facilitated the murder of my husband’. And referring indirectly to G.K.Moopanar’s alliance with DMK, Sonia said:’There are people who are aligning with fans of my husband’s murderers due to the politics of power’. But soon, with the prospect of power blooming before her, the bloody clot thawed and the DMK became the most trusted soulmate. And worse, the PMK and MDMK are part of her bandwagon even without getting off their tiger-mounts! But if political pragmatism can provoke a personal leap of faith of this magnitude, does it not call for a special kind of mindset? But why bother! Dead men, even if they happen to be husbands, tell no tales, much less object!
With that somersault the Cong lost all moral authority to cage the tiger. But the idea looks to be to engage. It was Sonia’s fervent pleas that forced the law of the land to commute Nalini’s death sentence to life. It was a blatant interference with the judicial process, rather a perversion of a judicial verdict that sought to punish the enemies of the nation. This too became a saintly personal affair, as Sonia disposed of what the law had proposed. Very recently, Priyanka’s meeting with Nalini in jail was downright improper and again this too passed under the family’s divine right of passage above law. The clamour for N’s release gained momentum only after that. Given such trends, would it be wrong to expect a shift in India’s Lanka policy at the behest of the super PM? Indeed, Prabakaran has only to say sorry to Sonia by e-mail or SMS for ‘bumping off’ Rajiv, and not just pardon but even Indian paratroopers would be at his doorstep ahead of the Lankan army, for a sensationl airlift. Now, with such soft-hearted saints strutting around dispensing amnesty at random for whatever reasons, can anyone blame petty PMKs and vociferous Vaikos for holding tigers by the tail?
For the DMK, the Sri Lankan Tamil cause and even the LTTE are political bargaining chips. Commitment is subject to self-interest. No wonder, K could shelve self-respect and align with the very party that accused him of complicity in murder. But that’s a petty price. Now he has made bold to sacrifice MPs for Tamil’s sake and Tamils’ sake. That too his own daughter’s own post itself. But then how was the ultimate rationalist, under whose thumb the mighty Congress and the UPA regime lie, unaware of the military aid that the Indian Government is supposedly giving to Lanka? Obviously, the sudden rush of Tamil blood is provoked by other calculations in which SL Tamils figure least. But then with Tamils right under his nose here in TN getting the short shrift thanks to power cuts, traffic jams, inflation etc where is succour for those across seas? In any case, not all Tamils answer to names like A’Giri & K’Mozhi! But if we may suggest, why not quit as CM of Tamils’ nadu rather than exiting distant Delhi?
And as if the legitimate SL Tamil cause has not been belittled and destroyed enough, alternately by Sinhala chauvnists, the LTTE itself and the politics here, another familiar dimension unfolds: filmdom’s protest! We now know the script by heart: The SL Tamil cause will be served as speaker after hails the CM for serving the, er., SL Tamil cause! For the Cine Minister, pardon, Chief Minister, who has appointed himself as the sole arbiter of Tamil identity, that’s ratification enough of his Tamil credentials coming as it does from those who matter most to him. No matter if there are hardly any Tamils in tinseltown!
e-mail the writer attrjawahar@vsnl.net
http://newstodaynet.com/col.php?section=20&catid=30
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