Tamil grievances and the east election

“There is one way in which Pirapaharan can save face as well as help the Tamils to save face. He must speak out; tell with which party he has the pact — UNP or SLFP. Will he dare? Only a courageous, strong man can do this. In cricketing parlance this will be the turning point.”
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by S. Thambyrajah

(April 23, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The grievance of the Tamils started with the passing of laws and adopting subtle methods to deprive the minorities of their right to equality in this country. Demand for ‘Eelam’ by the north/east Tamils gave a handle to a powerful minority Sinhala group to start a wave of communal troubles causing irreparable damage to the Tamils. All political parties contributed to this treachery.
Tamil politicians who supported these parties for personal gain are a disgrace. Grievances of the Tamils flow from the suppression by the Sinhalese. Why then did the Tamils suppress the Muslims and chase them out of their homes in the north/east? Coming on TV recently, the President announced proudly that the east was taken back from the terrorists. He said soon the north too would be taken.

Sri Lanka put Ceylon Tea, laboured by the Kallothonis — my ancestor is one of them — on the world map. This was followed by the cricketers of 1996. Judging by the confidence of the President next on the world map will be the elimination of the LTTE, the most powerful terrorist organisation in the world.

According to daily news reports dozens of LTTE cadres are killed every day. With the announcement of the PC elections in the north and east, the charge of a pact with the LTTE has surfaced once again.

There is one way in which Pirapaharan can save face as well as help the Tamils to save face. He must speak out; tell with which party he has the pact — UNP or SLFP. Will he dare? Only a courageous, strong man can do this. In cricketing parlance this will be the turning point.
- Sri Lanka Guardian