Tigers and leopards

(January 19, Chennai, Sri Lanka Guardian) Viduthalai Chiruththaikal Katchi (Liberation Leopards Party’s supremo Thirumavalavan started a fast unto death for the sake of Sri Lankan Tamils (read LTTE) without police permission.

All the pro-LTTE outfits including the PMK supported his initiative, even while advising him to break his fast.

But there must have been some cue some where as they inulged in violence across the State damaging public properties, attacking public transport.

His party cadres have so far burnt down a dozen buses, apart from stoning hundreds of buses and other vehicles.

They were seen roaming with weapons such as wooden logs, petrol bombs and swords, stopping the buses on the middle of the road and burning them. Some of them have even looted collections from the bus conductors.

The DMK government, fearing that it would be dubbed anti-Tamil, didn’t bother either to arrest the fasting leader or control the unruly mob.

The government, however, after the fast was given up, has issued through the police a shoot-at-sight order! Farce and irresponsibilty don’t come better packaged than this.

Thirumavalavan has been quite vocal in support of the LTTE right from the beginning. His support has turned more vociferous with the advent of the DMK government in 2006, as he became its alliance partner.

Recently, his party staged a rail-roko agitation, during which its cadres burned down two carriages of a stationed train in Madurai.

The government didn’t take any action against him and even when the opposition MDMK leader Vaiko was arrested for speaking in support of LTTE, the State left its ally Thirumavalavan untouched.

It is speculated that the pro-LTTE parties of Tamilnadu are desperate to bail it out by calling for a ceasefire in Sri Lanka, and hence they are terribly upset with the Centre, which has remained passive over the Sri Lankan Army’s operations against the LTTE.

These parties are also upset over the ruling DMK government’s opportunistic continuance in the Central government without bringing any pressure to bear upon the UPA.

Though Thirumavalavan has ended his fast after three days on the compulsion of PMK leader Ramadoss, the pro-LTTE parties are likely to up their ante in the next few days.

While the PMK is contemplating to go on an ‘indefinite hartal’, the CPI has announced State-wide demonstrations and the VCK may increase its violent protests. Thirumavalavan has openly stated that he would work towards the elimination of Congress from the state.

The stand taken by Thirumavalavan and the protests planned by PMK leader Ramadoss may rock the DPA boat in Tamilnadu, as indications are there for the exit of the VCK from it.

As reports from Sri Lanka clearly show the imminent decimation of the LTTE, the DMK may not worry much about the exit of VCK from DPA, but at the same time, it may ask PMK leader Ramadoss to prevail upon Thirumavalavan to make him understand the situation.

On the other hand, the Congress may also put pressure on the Chief Minister to take actions against Thirumavalavan.

As long as the support of the Congress is there for the DMK, the government will be safe.

But what is needed is the safety of the people and public properties and the government has a huge responsibility to ensure their safety and security.

The pro-LTTE parties and outfits may attempt to take the state to ransom in their desperation and the state government has to deal with them effectively. The leopards here must be tamed at the beginning itself.

(Editorial of an evening paper based in Chennai, the News Today) - Sri Lanka Guardian