(December, 02, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The 1983 riots against the Tamils and the ensuing civil war led more and more Tamils to move out of the country and seek safe-havens and they were easily manipulated by the LTTE to believe that the Tamil Eelam was the only solution to the Tamil national question. This mass movement of Tamils to the West and Europe attracted the empathy of the international community. In a blistering editorial the Island said in July 1996 “If groups like the tigers are not banned then terrorism will flourish through the generous doles paid out to sympathisers granted asylum status”.by S.M.M.Bazeer
- Leon Trotsky
Photo: Statement of the LTTE claiming responsibility for the blowing up the Avro Flight.The LTTE came forward publicly announcing that they were responsible for the “Blowing up of the Avro 748 Aircraft” at Ratmalana Air port on the 7th of September 1978. The central committee of the LTTE issued a statement in London claiming sole responsibility for the attack. It was Prabakaran, who wanted to compare his movements with the IRA and the PLO and to bring the Tamil struggle to the forefront of the International Community by blowing up an aircraft. By then, the LTTE was a proscribed organization in Sri Lanka. This was however reported by the Aviation Terrorism Research as one of the first major terrorist acts conducted by the LTTE; in that attack only the pilot and co-pilot were injured.
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- TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
Letter Claim /3/78 of 7-8
A LIBERATED STATE OF THAMIL EALAM is the main objective and sacred mission of our Organization. The LIBERATION TIGERS OF THAMIL EALAM, and nothing less, Let this “Blowing up of the Aircraft” serve as a lesson for all the aggressors who are under the illusion that they can barter our ideal or arrest our struggle by doling out concessions, whatever they may be.
We are fully aware that we cannot attain an independent Thamil Ealam through “Blowing up of the Aircraft” alone. But let us declare to the World clearly through this move that the Tamil Nation has not attained freedom by the promulgation of the NEW CONSTITUTION , which is but a whimsically changeable , whitewashed, charter of slavery, for us ostensibly containing questionable concessions.
No other Individuals or Organisation other than the Liberation Tigers of Thamil Ealam has the right to claim this move.
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Once again on the 3rd Of May 1978 , Air-Lanka -Tristar Blast took place at Katunayake Airport and it was identified by Aviation Terrorism Research that the LTTE was responsible for the attack. Five persons were charged under the Emergency Regulations and Prevention of Terrorism Act by the Sri Lankan Prosecution. Among those charged the fourth accused, Maruthanayagam alias Maruthaligham, alleged to be a smuggler, escaped arrest and left Sri Lanka three days before the blast. In the attack 16 people were killed and 41 people were injured, hence the world’s attention turned onto Sri Lanka but India took the lead role to resolve the crisis in vain.
The 1983 riots against the Tamils and the ensuing civil war led more and more Tamils to move out of the country and seek safe-havens and they were easily manipulated by the LTTE to believe that the Tamil Eelam was the only solution to the Tamil national question. This mass movement of Tamils to the West and Europe attracted the empathy of the international community. In a blistering editorial the Island said in July 1996 “ If groups like the tigers are not banned then terrorism will flourish through the generous doles paid out to sympathisers granted asylum status”.
Over the years, the LTTE Supremo Prabakaran’s mission to bring the Tamil cause to the world has been counter productive by his ruthless terrorist activities. The International community has now focused their attention on the LTTE, only to declare them as terrorists in line with other world terror organisations. Prabakaran has once again vowed, in his Hero’s days speech of 2007, which he will never change the stripes of the Tigers and will lead thousands of youths to destruction to achieve Tamil Eelam. The world that he looked to recognise his struggle two decades ago, has drastically changed with the time and tide. Is it still too late for the LTTE to change its stripes? Moreover, is it something practically possible for the LTTE? It transpired in Prabakaran’s Heroes’ Day Speech 2007, that he wants the world to change, without changing himself. This calculated observation reflected in TamilChelvan’s exclusive interview to Tamilnet in September 2007.
“The LTTE therefore, requests the International community not to be carried away by the deceitful programme of the GOSL, and to stop every form of aid , to pressure the government to create an environment for peace ”
In two months, after the interview of Tamilchelvan and one month after his death Prabakaran has come to a conclusion that the international community has already been carried away by the deceitful programme of the GOSL, and ventured to question the morality of the international community.
“Today, the international community is making the same mistake that India made many years ago. Even the countries that are the guardians of the peace efforts succumbed to the deception of the Sinhala State and listed our freedom movement as a terrorist organization. What we find most incomprehensible is the fact that these same nations, which labeled us terrorists, not so long ago fought in defence of their own freedom”
LIFE VS DEATH
Whilst celebrating death of human beings and mayhem the LTTE’s supremo, Prabakaran has also spoken about protection of animal and plant in his National Heroes Day Speech and the following day he was seen as the destroyer of civilian lives in Colombo. It is not paradoxical that he speaks of the protection of plants and animals, but has no concern for the humanity.
“The whole human race is taking up new challenges and has embarked on a united path, seeking answers to many of nature’s mysteries and looking for remedies to incurable diseases. It is seeking to protect the entire globe and its plant and animal lives”
It cannot be simply erased from the record that the Tamil journalist and academics have largely vouched for the LTTE’s atrocities and instilled racial hatred in the minds of the Tamils in the name of Tamil nationalism. It is sad that the renowned journalist S. Sivanayagam , former Editor of Saturday Review, wrote in his Editorial Tamil Nation (15th March 1991) that “In the East, because of the mixed ethnic presence and the increasing number of Muslims “Home Guards” being inducted as terrorist group.” The writer does not condone any violations committed by the Home guards against the Tamils in retaliation of the atrocities committed by the Tamil militia irrespective of their affiliations. The term Muslim terrorist, first coined by S.Sivanayagam, was later picked up by the LTTE and their followers.
Mr. Sivanayagam , a great admirer of Prabakaran, also questioned the word
“Terrorists” and appealed to the Sri Lankan government and the Press in 1996 (Hot Spring Editorial August 1996) that “ the day the Sri Lankan Government and the Colombo Press and the Sinhalese people stop throwing the word “ terrorists” around will be the day when wisdom, dawn and peace prevail in that island.” The word terrorism against the Tigers is no longer under the patent right of the Sri Lankan Government. This was the reflection of his embarrassment to the word “Tamil Terrorist”.
The good and the bad terrorist
The writer cannot understand why some British Parliamentarians and British members of the European Parliament are supporters of an organisation that their own government has proscribed as terrorist organisation under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. It seems that the lives of the British are superior to the lives of the poor Sri Lankans, who are targeted by the LTTE. The violations of human rights and bombing of innocent civilians by the Sri Lankan Government do not justify the killings of the LTTE. Celebrating the LTTE martyrs will be nothing but a glorification of terrorism, will the British Government be complacent with such an act of celebration of any other terrorist organisations?
It is noted that the Europe and the west make their own deliberations as to what kind of foreign terrorism may be overlooked and manipulated for their political agenda. Luis Posada Carriles was charged with the bombing of a Cuban airliner off Barbados in 1976 in which all 73 people on board died. He escaped from prison in Venezuela, his adopted country, whilst awaiting trial. He is called by his enemies as “the bin Laden of the Americas.” Although both Cuba and Venezuela want the United States to extradite Mr Posada, The Bush Government refuses the extradition demand and as a result they are facing accusations of inconsistency in its “War on Terror” policy. This double standard policy of the USA and their allies cast doubt about their credibility in dealing with “terrorism”
The Changing world
In January 1996, when the late Mr. Luxman kadirkamar, former Sri Lankan foreign minister, met Mr. Malcolm Rifkin , the UK Foreign Secretary , he urged the British Government to take a tougher line over the use of Britain as a centre for propaganda and subversion by Tamil Tigers. Luxman Kadikamar also said to an English veteran journalist that there was little chance of a settlement without the elimination of Veluppilai Prabakran , The Tamil Tigers ‘s Commander , whom he likened to a fanatical cult. It has taken about four years and kadirkamar’s life to wake up the British authorities from their deep slumber to realise the danger of the LTTE.
The European Parliament in Strasburg condemned the LTTE in May 1995 for its violent actions and advised its fellow member to tighten controls over the sale of arms to the LTTE. Eventually a decade later, the European Union banned the LTTE as a terrorist organisation. The very same countries who were the guardians of the peace united to make a stand and voice “enough is enough, you are no longer freedom fighters! “
We will celebrate life, whether it’s the life of human being, flora or fauna.
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