Indian subcontinent may lose 2011 World Cup: Report
30 Nov 2008, 2150 hrs IST, PTI
MELBOURNE: Continuous terror attacks in the sub-continent has cast a shadow over the 2011 Cricket World Cup to be jointly hosted by India,
Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh with the International Cricket Council contemplating of keeping a stand-by venue for the mega-event.
According to a report in 'The Daily Telegraph', the ICC is expected to discuss the issue in its Executive Council meeting in South Africa next week.
The report also stated that if the ICC decides to shift the event, Australia and New Zealand, the co-host in 2015, are the prime contenders for staging the tournament.
Cricket Australia has already started endorsing the idea with chief executive James Sutherland saying safety and security issues surrounding the 2011 World Cup were 'bound to come up' in the ICC meeting.
"It hasn't been talked about but that may well have changed out of this Mumbai incident but one would hope the World Cup and other events that are planned for various places in the sub-continent can go ahead as planned," he said.
"But there will be plenty of things that will need to be planned in the fullness of time."
Sutherland said he did not know if another country had already been put on standby for the 2011 tournament, and was non-committal when asked if Australia would have enough time to prepare for the event if handed over.
"I don't know the answer to that. It's something that down the track would need to be looked at, but we are very keen for it to go ahead where it has already been allocated.
"Let's see how things settle down after the tragic events of Mumbai."
Meanwhile, ICC spokesman James Fitzgerald said the World body is yet to discuss anything on the issue but if the tournament has to be shifted, the decision has to be made at the earliest.
"A decision would have to be made soon if that was to happen because we need a good run in to get the World Cup ready on time," Fitzgerald said.
Cricket playing nations, especially Australia, New Zealand, England and South Africa have cancelled several tours of Pakistan for security reasons.
Australia's Federal Government have even adviced the nation's cricket team to avoid Sri Lanka because of the civil war and Bangladesh for general trouble and the latest to join the list is India, which has witnessed the deadliest terror strike in its history in the financial capital of Mumbai.
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Sunday, November 30, 2008
Their goal is to track down those responsible for genocidal acts in Sri Lanka and bring the perpetrators under trial for war crimes.
Bruce Fein, a former Secretary General under the Reagan Administration in the United States, has formed an organisation named, "Tamil's Against Genocide". Their goal is to track down those responsible for genocidal acts in Sri Lanka and bring the perpetrators under trial for war crimes.
ALSO READ AND VISIT T4J WEBSITE :
http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=779451043735460643
"http://http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=779451043735460643"
PHILLIP ALEXANDER TO CHRISTIAN AMANPOUR OF CNN.
July Riots 1983 Sri Lanka
http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-155225
"http://http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-155225">
viewed 434 times Jaffna and Mannar, Sri Lanka // embed media
Dear Christiane,
Attached is a photo of a woman that had been murdered during the July riots of 1983 in Sri Lanka.
I was happy to see something being done to expose the genocidal acts of organisations and governments and I therefore would like to share with you my family's loss as a result of genocide - the perpetrators of which have gone unpunished.
My name is Philip Martin Alexander. I was born in Melbourne, Australia in 1985 from Sri Lankan Tamil immigrants who arrived to the country in 1981.
My first name, Philip, was named so after my mother's brother who was killed in Jaffna during the July 1983 riots. He walked out of a milkbar after buying some milk and bread and as soon as he came outside, was shot upon by soldiers firing at random on top of a moving Sri Lankan Army truck. He was shot a couple of times around his intestinal area, was eventually taken to hospital, however, by that time it was too late. The loss of blood caused shock and he died alone crying to the nurses and asking them for his mummy. We only came to know about this after he had passed.
My family realised he had gone missing and were concerned that something might have happened to him as they knew he went to buy some bread and that shootings by the army had occurred in that area. So my aunty (my mother's eldest sister) went to the hospital to see if he was there and found that my uncle was administered there and that the Army had taken the body. My aunty knew a General who she was friendly with through her occupation as a sort of hotel concierge (Palm Court Hotel). My aunty contacted him and explained that her brother was killed. He asked, "who did this?" My aunty responded by saying, "your people did this!" He then apologised and said that he can release the body but that the funeral must be conducted under government supervision and that the body must be cremated.
My family were lucky to at least have the opportunity to have their final goodbyes and conduct a funeral. Many Tamils who had lost their loved ones during the riots were not so fortunate. Unfortunetly for my mother, she was unable to go back to Sri Lanka for the funeral as immigration policies in Australia for obtaining permanent residency required her to remain in Australia for some years.
The story of my second name, Martin, comes from my father's brother who was also killed by the Sri Lankan Army in 1984. He was an electrical engineer working in a place called Mannar and was returning from work to his home in Vavuniya. He entered a crowded bus and was standing beside the driver. On the way home, the bus was forced to stop by the Sri Lankan Army. Two soldiers entered the vehicle with rifles. The bus driver, who happened to be Singhalese, pleaded with the soldiers not to shoot anyone. He was the first person they shot, and second was my uncle, followed by the rest remaining in the overcrowded bus. One man at the back of the bus jumped out and pretended to be dead. He then quickly escaped before anyone noticed. It was this man that came in contact with my father many years later and described to him how my uncle had been killed.
What had happened was that the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) had attacked an army barrack close by where many soldiers had died. The soldiers that survived then got together, started drinking todi (an alcoholic drink in Sri Lanka), and then proceeded on a rampage to get revenge. As a result they targeted innocent Tamil civilians.
My uncle, among the many others dead, was tied with rope to the back of an army truck and dragged back to base. The bodies were then hung on trees. My grandfather bravely went to the base to ask for his son's body for a proper burial. They allowed this on 2 conditions: That a document be signed to explain that my uncle had died from natural causes, and that the body be also cremated so that no evidence can be traced back. My family then did this as they had no other alternative.
My father's sisters told us that at the funeral, the government soldiers that were there all spat in my uncle's coffin in disrespect. My father, much like my mother's case, could not go to the funeral for the same reasons.
I share my stories with you, not for any personal reasons, but as examples of what has been going on in that island and unfortunetly continues to go on, even now. There are thousands of stories much like my family's, and in many cases much worse than what I've told you.
I hope that in your segments and in your quest for justice for people all over the world, that you will also take a look at those people suffering in Sri Lanka at the hands of the Sri Lankan Government. Bruce Fein, a former Secretary General under the Reagan Administration in the United States, has formed an organisation named, "Tamil's Against Genocide". Their goal is to track down those responsible for genocidal acts in Sri Lanka and bring the perpetrators under trial for war crimes.
Even though the murderers of my uncles may never be traced, I hope that many of the politicians, and army commanders responsible for genocidal acts today, are brought to justice.
Thank you very much for the time taken to read this.
Kind Regards,
Philip Alexander
Tags: christiane_amanpour
In response to assignment: Ask Christiane Amanpour
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Click to view ShanNalliah's profile ShanNalliah // 2 days ago
Each and every Tamil have a sad story!
When Sinhala people/leaders realise their mistakes and apologise for it and do justice/correct it?
ALSO READ AND VISIT T4J WEBSITE :
http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=779451043735460643
"http://http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=779451043735460643"
PHILLIP ALEXANDER TO CHRISTIAN AMANPOUR OF CNN.
July Riots 1983 Sri Lanka
http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-155225
"http://http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-155225">
viewed 434 times Jaffna and Mannar, Sri Lanka // embed media
Dear Christiane,
Attached is a photo of a woman that had been murdered during the July riots of 1983 in Sri Lanka.
I was happy to see something being done to expose the genocidal acts of organisations and governments and I therefore would like to share with you my family's loss as a result of genocide - the perpetrators of which have gone unpunished.
My name is Philip Martin Alexander. I was born in Melbourne, Australia in 1985 from Sri Lankan Tamil immigrants who arrived to the country in 1981.
My first name, Philip, was named so after my mother's brother who was killed in Jaffna during the July 1983 riots. He walked out of a milkbar after buying some milk and bread and as soon as he came outside, was shot upon by soldiers firing at random on top of a moving Sri Lankan Army truck. He was shot a couple of times around his intestinal area, was eventually taken to hospital, however, by that time it was too late. The loss of blood caused shock and he died alone crying to the nurses and asking them for his mummy. We only came to know about this after he had passed.
My family realised he had gone missing and were concerned that something might have happened to him as they knew he went to buy some bread and that shootings by the army had occurred in that area. So my aunty (my mother's eldest sister) went to the hospital to see if he was there and found that my uncle was administered there and that the Army had taken the body. My aunty knew a General who she was friendly with through her occupation as a sort of hotel concierge (Palm Court Hotel). My aunty contacted him and explained that her brother was killed. He asked, "who did this?" My aunty responded by saying, "your people did this!" He then apologised and said that he can release the body but that the funeral must be conducted under government supervision and that the body must be cremated.
My family were lucky to at least have the opportunity to have their final goodbyes and conduct a funeral. Many Tamils who had lost their loved ones during the riots were not so fortunate. Unfortunetly for my mother, she was unable to go back to Sri Lanka for the funeral as immigration policies in Australia for obtaining permanent residency required her to remain in Australia for some years.
The story of my second name, Martin, comes from my father's brother who was also killed by the Sri Lankan Army in 1984. He was an electrical engineer working in a place called Mannar and was returning from work to his home in Vavuniya. He entered a crowded bus and was standing beside the driver. On the way home, the bus was forced to stop by the Sri Lankan Army. Two soldiers entered the vehicle with rifles. The bus driver, who happened to be Singhalese, pleaded with the soldiers not to shoot anyone. He was the first person they shot, and second was my uncle, followed by the rest remaining in the overcrowded bus. One man at the back of the bus jumped out and pretended to be dead. He then quickly escaped before anyone noticed. It was this man that came in contact with my father many years later and described to him how my uncle had been killed.
What had happened was that the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) had attacked an army barrack close by where many soldiers had died. The soldiers that survived then got together, started drinking todi (an alcoholic drink in Sri Lanka), and then proceeded on a rampage to get revenge. As a result they targeted innocent Tamil civilians.
My uncle, among the many others dead, was tied with rope to the back of an army truck and dragged back to base. The bodies were then hung on trees. My grandfather bravely went to the base to ask for his son's body for a proper burial. They allowed this on 2 conditions: That a document be signed to explain that my uncle had died from natural causes, and that the body be also cremated so that no evidence can be traced back. My family then did this as they had no other alternative.
My father's sisters told us that at the funeral, the government soldiers that were there all spat in my uncle's coffin in disrespect. My father, much like my mother's case, could not go to the funeral for the same reasons.
I share my stories with you, not for any personal reasons, but as examples of what has been going on in that island and unfortunetly continues to go on, even now. There are thousands of stories much like my family's, and in many cases much worse than what I've told you.
I hope that in your segments and in your quest for justice for people all over the world, that you will also take a look at those people suffering in Sri Lanka at the hands of the Sri Lankan Government. Bruce Fein, a former Secretary General under the Reagan Administration in the United States, has formed an organisation named, "Tamil's Against Genocide". Their goal is to track down those responsible for genocidal acts in Sri Lanka and bring the perpetrators under trial for war crimes.
Even though the murderers of my uncles may never be traced, I hope that many of the politicians, and army commanders responsible for genocidal acts today, are brought to justice.
Thank you very much for the time taken to read this.
Kind Regards,
Philip Alexander
Tags: christiane_amanpour
In response to assignment: Ask Christiane Amanpour
Average Rating (0)
Share this on:
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del.icio.us
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1
Click to view ShanNalliah's profile ShanNalliah // 2 days ago
Each and every Tamil have a sad story!
When Sinhala people/leaders realise their mistakes and apologise for it and do justice/correct it?
Urge the European Union to deny Sri Lanka GSP+ trade status due to human rights, humanitarian crisis
Legislative Action Center
PEARL ACTION GROUP IN USA LOBBIES TAMILS AND NON TAMILS TO EMAIL EU MEMBERS:
ON GSP + PLUS CONCESSIONS ISSUES TO SRI LANKA:
http://www.congressweb.com/cweb4/index.cfm?orgcode=PEARL&hotissue=26
REQUEST TO DENY SUCH CONCESSIONS TO A FAILED AND STATE TERRORIST COUNTRY OF SRI LANKA:
Send a Message Select Issue | Tell-A-Friend
Urge the European Union to deny Sri Lanka GSP+ trade status due to human rights, humanitarian crisis
Enter your Contact Information, then click a button to the right.
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Commissioner Catherine Ashton
European Commission
200 rue de la Loi-Wetstraat
B-1049 Brussels, Belgium
SRI LANKA: Human rights, humanitarian crisis demand disqualification of GSP+ status
Dear Commissioner Ashton:
I am writing to call your urgent attention to the escalating crisis in Sri Lanka, and, on the basis of the Sri Lankan Government's continuing human rights violations, to urge you to deny Sri Lanka GSP+ trade status. The Sri Lankan government recently launched a military offensive against areas in the north and east of the island, causing over 300,000 people to flee their homes in fear. Despite the refugees' desperate need for basic humanitarian supplies, the Sri Lankan government ordered all international non-governmental organizations to vacate these regions.
This has further compounded the plight of civilians, and humanitarian and human rights organizations have decried the government's actions. Paul O'Callaghan from the Australian Council for International Development, predicted a "bloodbath" after aid agencies were forced to withdraw. Since then, the government has intensified its brutal military campaign, utilizing indiscriminate aerial bombardment and artillery shelling against Tamil homes and villages. After the Sri Lankan government unilaterally withdrew from the ceasefire agreement in January 2008, Amnesty International released a report condemning the Sri Lankan government and other groups for carrying out violence against civilians. The report accurately foreshadowed that "a pattern of indiscriminate attacks by the Sri Lankan army will intensify and contribute further to spiraling civilian casualties."
The Sri Lankan government's human rights violations are not isolated to territory controlled by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. United States-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) has documented how internally displaced persons in government-controlled areas have been treated inhumanely, with severe restrictions on movement. HRW has sharply criticized Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapakse for becoming "one of the world's worst perpetrators of enforced disappearances." HRW called extrajudicial killings and state-sponsored abductions to be so endemic in Sri Lanka to constitute a "national crisis." The United Nations Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances reported that Sri Lanka had more disappearances in 2006 and 2007 than any other country in the world.
The European Commission launched an investigation on October 18 of Sri Lanka's implementation of human rights conventions, to determine whether to provide Sri Lanka with GSP+ status. Providing Sri Lanka with GSP+ status will increase the financial resources available to the Sri Lankan government to continue its egregious human rights violations. I urge you to consider the escalating atrocities committed by the Sri Lankan government, and disqualify Sri Lanka from GSP+ status.
Sincerely,
[Your name will appear here.]
[Your information will be inserted here]
Prefix Firstname Lastname
123 Street Address
MyCity, St 12345
PEARL ACTION GROUP IN USA LOBBIES TAMILS AND NON TAMILS TO EMAIL EU MEMBERS:
ON GSP + PLUS CONCESSIONS ISSUES TO SRI LANKA:
http://www.congressweb.com/cweb4/index.cfm?orgcode=PEARL&hotissue=26
REQUEST TO DENY SUCH CONCESSIONS TO A FAILED AND STATE TERRORIST COUNTRY OF SRI LANKA:
Send a Message Select Issue | Tell-A-Friend
Urge the European Union to deny Sri Lanka GSP+ trade status due to human rights, humanitarian crisis
Enter your Contact Information, then click a button to the right.
» Preview Message
Contact Information
**United States Activists, Click Here**
* Prefix * First Name
* Last Name
* International Address
* Country
* E-mail Address
Phone
Privacy protection: your contact information will be used only for the purposes of sending your message to Congress. Please email Contact@PEARLaction.org if you have any questions or concerns.
* Required fields
Send E-mail
Click Send E-mail to send preformatted email messages to your legislators.
Message Preview
Commissioner Catherine Ashton
European Commission
200 rue de la Loi-Wetstraat
B-1049 Brussels, Belgium
SRI LANKA: Human rights, humanitarian crisis demand disqualification of GSP+ status
Dear Commissioner Ashton:
I am writing to call your urgent attention to the escalating crisis in Sri Lanka, and, on the basis of the Sri Lankan Government's continuing human rights violations, to urge you to deny Sri Lanka GSP+ trade status. The Sri Lankan government recently launched a military offensive against areas in the north and east of the island, causing over 300,000 people to flee their homes in fear. Despite the refugees' desperate need for basic humanitarian supplies, the Sri Lankan government ordered all international non-governmental organizations to vacate these regions.
This has further compounded the plight of civilians, and humanitarian and human rights organizations have decried the government's actions. Paul O'Callaghan from the Australian Council for International Development, predicted a "bloodbath" after aid agencies were forced to withdraw. Since then, the government has intensified its brutal military campaign, utilizing indiscriminate aerial bombardment and artillery shelling against Tamil homes and villages. After the Sri Lankan government unilaterally withdrew from the ceasefire agreement in January 2008, Amnesty International released a report condemning the Sri Lankan government and other groups for carrying out violence against civilians. The report accurately foreshadowed that "a pattern of indiscriminate attacks by the Sri Lankan army will intensify and contribute further to spiraling civilian casualties."
The Sri Lankan government's human rights violations are not isolated to territory controlled by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. United States-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) has documented how internally displaced persons in government-controlled areas have been treated inhumanely, with severe restrictions on movement. HRW has sharply criticized Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapakse for becoming "one of the world's worst perpetrators of enforced disappearances." HRW called extrajudicial killings and state-sponsored abductions to be so endemic in Sri Lanka to constitute a "national crisis." The United Nations Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances reported that Sri Lanka had more disappearances in 2006 and 2007 than any other country in the world.
The European Commission launched an investigation on October 18 of Sri Lanka's implementation of human rights conventions, to determine whether to provide Sri Lanka with GSP+ status. Providing Sri Lanka with GSP+ status will increase the financial resources available to the Sri Lankan government to continue its egregious human rights violations. I urge you to consider the escalating atrocities committed by the Sri Lankan government, and disqualify Sri Lanka from GSP+ status.
Sincerely,
[Your name will appear here.]
[Your information will be inserted here]
Prefix Firstname Lastname
123 Street Address
MyCity, St 12345
Saturday, November 29, 2008
BBC Audio: Uncovering the abduction and killing of civilians in Sri Lanka
BBC Audio: Uncovering the abduction and killing of civilians in Sri Lanka
http://transcurrents.com/tc/2008/11/post_95.html
"http://http://transcurrents.com/tc/2008/11/post_95.html">
BBC's Roland Buerk reports on the lengths to which the Sri Lankan army and its proxies have gone to ensure victory in their war against the Tamil Tigers:
Gadgets powered by Google
[MP 3 Audio-BBC Crossing Continents~ Featuring interviews with Sri Lankan Ministers Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Keheliya rambukwella, Tamil Parliamentarian R. Sambandan, Father Henry Miller, Human Rights Activist Sunila Abeysekara, TMVP leader Karuna V. Muralitharan and several Sinhala and Tamil civilians]
Reporter: Roland Buerk ~ Producer: Colin Pereira
[BBC Radio 4 - On the ground reporting from around the world which focuses on the human dimension of the big international stories]
http://transcurrents.com/tc/2008/11/post_95.html
"http://http://transcurrents.com/tc/2008/11/post_95.html">
BBC's Roland Buerk reports on the lengths to which the Sri Lankan army and its proxies have gone to ensure victory in their war against the Tamil Tigers:
Gadgets powered by Google
[MP 3 Audio-BBC Crossing Continents~ Featuring interviews with Sri Lankan Ministers Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Keheliya rambukwella, Tamil Parliamentarian R. Sambandan, Father Henry Miller, Human Rights Activist Sunila Abeysekara, TMVP leader Karuna V. Muralitharan and several Sinhala and Tamil civilians]
Reporter: Roland Buerk ~ Producer: Colin Pereira
[BBC Radio 4 - On the ground reporting from around the world which focuses on the human dimension of the big international stories]
No force on earth can stop Tamils from remembering
No force on earth can stop Tamils from remembering
Their Fallen Freedom Fighters
http://www.tamilnation.org/diaspora/canada/081127usha.htm
"http://http://www.tamilnation.org/diaspora/canada/081127usha.htm">
By Usha S. Sri-Skanda-Rajah
Founder member - Justice For Thamils: Toronto - Canada:
Try as they might the Bandula Jayasekeras and the Mahindas of the world – whether Rajapakse or Gunesekara cannot stop Canadian Tamils from paying homage to their fallen heroes, the brave Tamil freedom fighters who died fighting to liberate the Tamil homeland in the island of Sri Lanka. The mass of people who attended the Maveerar Remembrance Day event in Canada on 27, November 2008 is once again a clear signal to all Tamil detractors that their shenanigans won’t work. They must know that any attempt on their part to foil, that which Canadian Tamils hold dear will not succeed. And honoring the fallen freedom fighters is a ritual that all freedom loving Tamils consider to be sacred, that which is religiously performed by them as a bounden duty, a manifestation born out of their yearning to see their homeland, Tamil Eelam free.
The continuing stream of faithful followers saluting their fallen heroes the “Maveerar” was seemingly inexhaustible and endless, which at one point had to be halted by public announcements with the event venue doors being closed to prevent more people entering and an order for at least quarter of the crowd to leave the inside of the building, only due to issues of fire safety and similar such hazards arising from crowds swelling well over capacity at the huge Pearson Convention Center. This massive show of people power is enough to silence the critics and shut any doubters, proving beyond a shadow of a doubt, the implicit faith that Canadian Tamils place in their freedom fighters. No force on earth can stop them from performing this very sacred ritual, be it Bandula Jayasekera, the new Sri Lankan Consul General, doing over time for his pay master, Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapakse and working in tandem with another ultra racist cum Sinhalese chauvinist, Mahinda Gunesekara the honorary president of the Sri Lanka United National Association of Canada, well known to be leading the anti- Tamil propaganda machinery in Canada; or any of their kind, the so called “highly suspect” and “pitifully puny” Canadian Democratic Tamil Association.
Bandula Jayasekera and his co-conspirators had tried hard to stop the many events taking place to honour the Maveerar which is celebrated also as a day of “Tamil Uprising for Freedom” which falls on the day after the much loved and revered Tamil Leader, Velupillai Pirabaharan’s birthday on 26, November. Their bid to prevent the events from taking place by “informing” Canadian law enforcement and intelligence authorities did not have the desired effect. All the events that were planned took place on the scheduled days and at the proposed venues with the blessings of law enforcement and intelligence officers.
Canada is a free country (thank God for it) and truly upholds the Canadian Charter of Rights and on this occasion it was as if the pledge of allegiance to the Charter was renewed yet again. No foreigner or for that matter, no Sri Lankan can come here to Canada and take away the rights of Tamil Canadians on Canadian soil, to honour their own.
Canadian Tamils in their struggle for freedom of their homeland will not break Canadian laws. As much as they would have wished to raise the Tamil Eelam flag and display their beloved leader’s picture, they did not do it. But one thing can be said with certainty. Everyone spoken to, said, they visualized the Tamil Eelam Flag and Their Leader with their mind’s eye and prayed that he would be healthy and alive and lead them to victory. Such is the unwavering faith that Tamils have and there can never be a law to prevent that, no force can stop that which is deeply embedded in the hearts and minds of a people.
As one hears of the mass of people attending similar events taking place all over the Tamil Diaspora, one is heartened but not surprised. Such a profound out pouring of emotion and passion by Tamils unprecedented in terms of any freedom struggles in recent times is reflective of the Tamil people’s genuine yearning to see their homeland Tamil Eelam free; a yearning that’s just and reasonable and should be felt, understood and supported by the rest of the world.
Their Fallen Freedom Fighters
http://www.tamilnation.org/diaspora/canada/081127usha.htm
"http://http://www.tamilnation.org/diaspora/canada/081127usha.htm">
By Usha S. Sri-Skanda-Rajah
Founder member - Justice For Thamils: Toronto - Canada:
Try as they might the Bandula Jayasekeras and the Mahindas of the world – whether Rajapakse or Gunesekara cannot stop Canadian Tamils from paying homage to their fallen heroes, the brave Tamil freedom fighters who died fighting to liberate the Tamil homeland in the island of Sri Lanka. The mass of people who attended the Maveerar Remembrance Day event in Canada on 27, November 2008 is once again a clear signal to all Tamil detractors that their shenanigans won’t work. They must know that any attempt on their part to foil, that which Canadian Tamils hold dear will not succeed. And honoring the fallen freedom fighters is a ritual that all freedom loving Tamils consider to be sacred, that which is religiously performed by them as a bounden duty, a manifestation born out of their yearning to see their homeland, Tamil Eelam free.
The continuing stream of faithful followers saluting their fallen heroes the “Maveerar” was seemingly inexhaustible and endless, which at one point had to be halted by public announcements with the event venue doors being closed to prevent more people entering and an order for at least quarter of the crowd to leave the inside of the building, only due to issues of fire safety and similar such hazards arising from crowds swelling well over capacity at the huge Pearson Convention Center. This massive show of people power is enough to silence the critics and shut any doubters, proving beyond a shadow of a doubt, the implicit faith that Canadian Tamils place in their freedom fighters. No force on earth can stop them from performing this very sacred ritual, be it Bandula Jayasekera, the new Sri Lankan Consul General, doing over time for his pay master, Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapakse and working in tandem with another ultra racist cum Sinhalese chauvinist, Mahinda Gunesekara the honorary president of the Sri Lanka United National Association of Canada, well known to be leading the anti- Tamil propaganda machinery in Canada; or any of their kind, the so called “highly suspect” and “pitifully puny” Canadian Democratic Tamil Association.
Bandula Jayasekera and his co-conspirators had tried hard to stop the many events taking place to honour the Maveerar which is celebrated also as a day of “Tamil Uprising for Freedom” which falls on the day after the much loved and revered Tamil Leader, Velupillai Pirabaharan’s birthday on 26, November. Their bid to prevent the events from taking place by “informing” Canadian law enforcement and intelligence authorities did not have the desired effect. All the events that were planned took place on the scheduled days and at the proposed venues with the blessings of law enforcement and intelligence officers.
Canada is a free country (thank God for it) and truly upholds the Canadian Charter of Rights and on this occasion it was as if the pledge of allegiance to the Charter was renewed yet again. No foreigner or for that matter, no Sri Lankan can come here to Canada and take away the rights of Tamil Canadians on Canadian soil, to honour their own.
Canadian Tamils in their struggle for freedom of their homeland will not break Canadian laws. As much as they would have wished to raise the Tamil Eelam flag and display their beloved leader’s picture, they did not do it. But one thing can be said with certainty. Everyone spoken to, said, they visualized the Tamil Eelam Flag and Their Leader with their mind’s eye and prayed that he would be healthy and alive and lead them to victory. Such is the unwavering faith that Tamils have and there can never be a law to prevent that, no force can stop that which is deeply embedded in the hearts and minds of a people.
As one hears of the mass of people attending similar events taking place all over the Tamil Diaspora, one is heartened but not surprised. Such a profound out pouring of emotion and passion by Tamils unprecedented in terms of any freedom struggles in recent times is reflective of the Tamil people’s genuine yearning to see their homeland Tamil Eelam free; a yearning that’s just and reasonable and should be felt, understood and supported by the rest of the world.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Lanka Cement Company acquires a vessel: Karuna gets an assist.
Cement Company acquires a vessel
Updated on Thursday, November 27th 2008; 21:30 Hrs. SST (16:00 Hrs. GMT)
The Lanka Cement Company secures ownership of a vessel. The Company which was on the verge of closure was revived under the guidance of Senior Presidential Advisor and Parliamentarian Basil Rajapakse and at the behest of the President..
Minister Kumara Welgama said it had already achieved substantial progress.
He said they would be able to secure a better service with the help of this vessel. It will not only undertake transport to the North but will also be able to ship cement imports from Pakistan.
The Cement Company took charge of the vessel at the Colombo Harbour this morning. The vessel has been secured on the basis of payment with the revenue earned and under the personal mediation of Chairman of the Corporation Sisira Paranagama. It was a vessel of the CLK Asia Pacific Company of Singapore.
Minister Chamal Rajapakse, Parliamentarian Vinayagamurthy Muralitrharan and Managing Director of the Singapore Company Stephen Lim were present.
end:
The deal sounds fishy, with hidden profits for a few, immaterial whether this venture would turn profitable or not. Furthermore, whether the ship itself become target of the third naval force in those waters.
Only time would tell.
The insurance companies would not insure the vessel for voages in the War Zone.
Updated on Thursday, November 27th 2008; 21:30 Hrs. SST (16:00 Hrs. GMT)
The Lanka Cement Company secures ownership of a vessel. The Company which was on the verge of closure was revived under the guidance of Senior Presidential Advisor and Parliamentarian Basil Rajapakse and at the behest of the President..
Minister Kumara Welgama said it had already achieved substantial progress.
He said they would be able to secure a better service with the help of this vessel. It will not only undertake transport to the North but will also be able to ship cement imports from Pakistan.
The Cement Company took charge of the vessel at the Colombo Harbour this morning. The vessel has been secured on the basis of payment with the revenue earned and under the personal mediation of Chairman of the Corporation Sisira Paranagama. It was a vessel of the CLK Asia Pacific Company of Singapore.
Minister Chamal Rajapakse, Parliamentarian Vinayagamurthy Muralitrharan and Managing Director of the Singapore Company Stephen Lim were present.
end:
The deal sounds fishy, with hidden profits for a few, immaterial whether this venture would turn profitable or not. Furthermore, whether the ship itself become target of the third naval force in those waters.
Only time would tell.
The insurance companies would not insure the vessel for voages in the War Zone.
Velupillai Prabhakaran - Address to the Tamil Nation : Maaveerar Naal Address
Velupillai Prabhakaran The Tamil Leader on 27th November 2008:
Maaveerar Naal Address
http://www.tamilnation.org/ltte/vp/mahaveerar/vp08.htm
27 November 2008
"..The Sinhala nation refuses to acknowledge the historic homeland of the Tamils. In such a situation, how will it offer a just solution to our people? As the freedom movement of the people of Tamil Eelam we will never, ever allow Sinhala occupation or Sinhala domination of our homeland. Whatever challenges confront us, whatever contingencies we encounter, whatever forces stand on our path, we will still continue with our struggle for the freedom of the Tamil people. On the path shown by history, at the command of the circumstances of today, (வரலாறு விட்ட வழியில், காலம் இட்ட கட்டளைப்படி) we will continue with our struggle till alien Sinhala occupation of our land is removed.At this historic juncture, I would request Tamils, in whatever part of the globe that they may live, to raise their voices, firmly and with determination, in support of the freedom struggle of their brothers and sisters in Tamil Eelam. I urge them from my heart to strengthen the hands of our freedom movement and I ask (உரிமையோடு கேட்டுக்கொள்கிறேன்) that they continue to extend their contribution and help."
English Translation of Address Media Release
Real Audio Video Text of Address in Tamil
[see also தமிழீழ தலைவர் பிரபாகரன் பிறந்தநாளை கொண்டாடும் முகமாக, கோவை மற்றும் திருப்பூரில் காணப்பட்ட சுவரொட்டிகள் and
மாவீரர் நாள் 2008 - National Heroes Day - Around the World ]
English Translation of Address [also in PDF]
My beloved people of Tamil Eelam,
Today is Maveerar Naal – our Great Heroes Day.
On this day of purity we remember and honour our dearly beloved heroes whose supreme sacrifice for the liberation of our motherland continues to fill all our hearts.
It is for us a commemoration day of reverence when we pay homage to our brave and valiant heroes who have transformed our land from one that was for many years subjugated by foreign rule into a defiant land refusing to submit to the will of the alien oppressor.
This is our national day on which we engrave tenderly in our hearts the memory of our great heroes who died and whose sacred aspiration was the redemption of our land so that our people may live in freedom and with self-respect.
Our heroes loved this land deeply. From the moment they fixed their eyes on the redemption of our motherland to the moment they closed their eyes permanently, the sacrifices they made have no parallel in the history of the world. No country but ours had at any time encountered such wonderful dedication as expressed in the actions of our valiant heroes.
It was on this land that our heroes were born. They grew up here and lived here. It was on this land that their footsteps have their imprints. The air they breathed is mingled with this land. From time immemorial, from generation to generation the Tamil people lived on this land. It was this land which our heroes loved deeply. Our heroes died for this land and are at rest in its bosom. The land where they are embedded, belongs to us. It is our own land. But an arrogant Sinhala nation stands adamant and is determined to occupy and conquer this historic land.
All human suffering springs from unbridled desire. Unless one extricates oneself from the clutch of greed, one will not free himself from the fetters of sorrow. With its greed for land, Sinhalam has entered a militaristic path of destruction. It has sought to build the support of the world to confront us. It is living in a dreamland of military victory. It is a dream from which it will awake. That is certain.
My beloved people!
The land of Tamil Eelam is confronted with an intense war as never before. Rearing its head in different parts of Wanni, the war is gathering momentum. As the Sinhala state is committed to a military solution, the war is becoming intense and widespread. The underlying intent of the Sinhala state is to wipe out the national life and resources of the Tamils and subjugate the Tamil nation under alien Sinhala military suzerainty. With this in view, it is executing its war plan at full gallop. Pooling together all its military resources and arsenal, and with all its national wealth to buttress it, the racist Sinhala state has waged a fierce war on our land. Our freedom fighters, have dedicated themselves to unbending resistance against this war of aggression launched by the racist Sinhala state. With various countries of the world buttressing the genocidal war on the people of Tamil Eelam, we are waging a defensive war for the freedom of our people.
Our movement has embarked on a historic journey, hazardous and strenuous. In this historic venture, we have encountered numerous turns, twists and confrontations. We have faced forces much mightier than ours. We have had direct confrontations even against superior powers, stronger than us. We have withstood wave after wave of our enemy attacks. Standing alone, we have blasted networks of innumerable intrigues, interwoven with betrayal and sabotage. We stood like a mountain and faced all dangers that loomed like storms. When compared to these happenings of the past, today’s challenges are neither novel nor huge. We will face these challenges with the united strength of our people.
This land which the Sinhala state is trying to occupy and enslave, has never belonged to it. This land is ours. Ancient Tamil civilisation stood long and firm on this land. Our ancestors lived and belonged here. Our ancient kings built kingdoms and dynasties and ruled from here. On this land where the roots of our nation have sunk deep, we wish to live in peace and with dignity and make decisions on our lives without the intervention of foreign rulers.
From the day that British colonialism was replaced with Sinhala oppression, we have been struggling for our just rights - peacefully at first and with weapons thereafter. The political struggle for our right to self-determination has extended over the last sixty years. During this period our struggle has gone through different shapes, developments and advanced to maturity. In the beginning, it was a peaceful and democratic struggle by our people for justice. The racist Sinhala state resorted to armed and animal like violence to suppress the peaceful struggle of the Tamil people for their political rights. It was when state oppression breached all norms and our people faced naked terrorism that our movement for freedom was born as a natural outcome in history. We were compelled to take up arms in order to protect our people from the armed terrorism of the racist Sinhala state. The armed violent path was not our choice. It was forced upon us by history.
Even though the armed struggle was thrust on us by inevitable needs, yet we wish to stop the war and seek a peaceful resolution to the national question of our people. Our freedom movement is always ready for it. We are not opposed to a peaceful resolution. We have never hesitated to participate in peace talks. From Thimpu to Geneva, under diametrically varied historical circumstances, we have adopted peaceful methods and participated in talks in order to win the political rights of our people.
Although we acted honestly and whole heartedly, to find a peaceful resolution to the national question, all talks were futile. The intransigence of the Sinhala state, its dishonest approach and its faith in military solution were the cause for failure of the talks. Even at a time when we had produced spectacular achievements in battle fields and broken the back-bone of the Sinhala armed forces, we participated in the peace negotiations facilitated by Norway. Bringing the war to an end, we participated with honesty and diligence in the peace negotiations which protracted for six years.
We continued to exercise patience at the military rampages and provocations by the armed forces. It is not that we trusted the racist Sinhala state to respect our people’s fair claims and advance justice, but it was to expose the hypocrisy of the Sinhala state and at the same time to impress upon the international community our commitment to peace, that we participated in the negotiations.
During the peace talks convened in different capitals of the world, there were no attempts to resolve the day-to-day needs of the Tamil people or to negotiate a resolution to the underlying national question. Sri Lanka made use of the opportunity of the peace talks to attempt to weaken the LTTE and hoodwink the Tamil nation and the international community. Using the talks as a masquerade, the Sinhala state made preparations to wage a major war on the Tamil nation. Making use of the cease-fire and the peace environment, the Sinhala state resuscitated its devastated economy and rebuilt its military might that was in shambles. It concentrated on heavy recruitment, refurbishing its arsenal, strengthening the armed forces and conducting military exercises. While the Tamil nation was engaged in peace-building, the Sinhala nation dedicated itself to preparations for war.
Meanwhile, some countries which identified themselves as so-called Peace Sponsors, rushed into activities which impaired negotiations. They denigrated our freedom movement as a terrorist organisation. They put us on their black list and ostracized us as unwanted and untouchable. Our people living in many lands were intimidated into submission by oppressive limitations imposed on them to prevent their political activities supporting our freedom struggle. Humanitarian activities pursued by our law-abiding people in many countries, well within the purview of the law of the land, have been belittled and curtailed. These activities were aimed at providing humanitarian aid to helpless victims of genocidal attacks by the Sinhala Sri Lanka state in Tamil areas. However, these humanitarian activities were branded as criminal activities in those countries. Representatives of the Tamil people, along with community leaders were arrested, jailed and insulted. The explicit bias shown by the activities of these countries affected the talks, in its balance and in its consideration of our status as an equal partner. This further aggravated the racist attitude of the Sinhala state. Sinhala chauvinism was encouraged to raise its head with impunity and inevitably push the Sinhala state further on its war path.
The Sinhala state shut tight the gates to peace and waged its war again on the Tamil nation. The cease-fire agreement facilitated by the international community was abrogated unilaterally by Sinhala Sri Lanka. Strangely no voice of protest was registered by any peace sponsor. Not even as a formality. Nor was any concern expressed. In contrast, some countries from the international community are providing an abundant supply of war materials, military training and expert advice, all for free. This has encouraged the Sinhala state to aggravate its genocidal war against the Tamils with a terrorist audacity .
Today, the Sinhala state has, as never before, placed its trust on its military strength, on military modalities and on a military solution. Its desire to impose its military suzerainty over the Tamil homeland and order a stringent military rule over the Tamils, has increased. As a result, the war has gathered intensity and momentum. In truth, this is not a war against the LTTE as the Sinhala state professes. This is a war against the Tamils; against the Tamil nation. In short, a genocidal war.
This war has affected Tamil civilians more than any body else. By turning the heat of war on our people and by burdening them with immeasurable sufferings, the Sinhala state is aspiring to turn our people against the LTTE. By closing the trunk-line roads, embargoing food and medicine and by suffocating people in tight military encirclements, the government has unleashed barrages of bombardments and shelling. Having lost their private lands and the serene life on them, our people have been reduced to destitution and live as wandering refugees. They have been forced to carry the cross of eternal suffering from birth to death. Struggling with disease and misery, malnutrition, ageing and untimely death, our people are steeped in suffering. With the solitary purpose of breaking the unbending will of our people, the Sinhala state has unleashed waves of oppression on them and subjected them to grievous injustice. A huge economic war has been declared on our people, their economic life shattered and their day-to-day living impaired. In Tamil areas under military control, hundreds of people disappear or killed, every month. In Sinhala areas, disappearance and killing of Tamils have become a normal routine.
Tamil areas under military occupation are encountering an accelerated agenda of genocide, today. Death, destruction, army atrocities and open prison-life in one’s own land, are the unendurable suffering our people have to suffer, as an order of the day. Arrest, imprisonment, torture, rape, murder, disappearance and clandestine burial in unknown graves form a vicious circle in which the lives of our people is enmeshed. Yet, our people have not lost hope. No measure, however punitive, can withhold their will to resist. Their yearning for freedom remains strong. No aerial bombardment can wipe out their determination to attain their freedom. Our people are used to carrying the cross of suffering. They are used to facing destruction and loss, daily in life. This suffering has further tempered their will to be steadfast in their aspiration. With such impetus, the urge for freedom has gathered momentum as never before.
Facing a great confrontation for such a long period, we have sacrificed so much and fought for so long, for nothing else, but for our people to live in freedom; live with dignity and live in peace. We are conducting this struggle with the unrelenting support of the Tamil people, the world over. Besides, our struggle does not contravene the national interest, geo-political interest or economic interest of any outside country. The inherent aspirations of our people do not in any way hamper the national interests of any country or people. At the same time, it may be noted that during the long history of our struggle, we have not conducted any act of aggression against any member state of the international community.
Our freedom movement, as well as our people, have always wished to maintain cordiality with the international community as well as neighbouring India. With this in view, we wish to create a viable environment and enhance friendship. We wish to express our goodwill and are looking forward to the opportunity to build a constructive relationship. Cordially I invite those countries that have banned us, to understand the deep aspirations and friendly overtures of our people, to remove their ban on us and to recognise our just struggle.
Today, there are great changes taking place in India. The dormant voices in support of our struggle are re-emerging aloud again. There are also indications of our struggle becoming accepted there. The positive change in environment gives us courage to seek renewal of our relationship with the Indian super power. The earlier approach and interventions of India were injurious to the people of Tamil Eelam, as well as to their struggle. The racist Sinhala state, with its intrigues, conspired to bring enmity between our freedom movement and the earlier Indian administration. The conflict arising out of this environment aggravated into a major war.
It was because we were firmly committed to our conviction and freedom for our people, that friction erupted between our movement and India. However, at no stage did we ever consider India as an enemy force. Our people always consider India as our friend. They have great expectations that the Indian super power will take a positive stand on our national question.
Not withstanding the dividing sea, Tamil Nadu, with its perfect understanding of our plight, has taken heart to rise on behalf of our people at this hour of need. This timely intervention has gratified the people of Tamil Eelam and our freedom movement and given us a sense of relief. I wish to express my love and gratitude at this juncture to the people and leaders of Tamil Nadu and the leaders of India for the voice of support and love they have extended. I would cordially request them to raise their voice firmly in favour of our struggle for a Tamil Eelam state, and to take appropriate and positive measures to remove the ban which remains an impediment to an amicable relationship between India and our movement.
My beloved people!
No great changes have taken place in the Sinhala political panorama. Politics there has developed into the form of a demonic war. In a country that worships the Buddha who preached love and kindness, racist hatred and war-mongering vie with one another. We can listen only to the throbs on war-drums. No sane voice is being raised either to abandon war or to seek peaceful resolution to the conflict. In Sinhalam, from politicians to spiritual leaders, from journalists to ordinary people, their voice is raised only in support of the war.
The Tamil Eelam nation does not want war. It does not favour violence. It is the Sinhala nation that waged war on our nation which had earlier adopted the path of ahimsa and asked for justice through peaceful means. When the SAARC leaders of our region met in Colombo, we expressed our goodwill and declared suspension of hostility. On the contrary, it was the Sinhala nation that rejected our overture, ridiculed us and continued with the offensive. It is the Sinhala nation that has laid down unacceptable and insulting conditions. It is the Sinhala nation that is continuing with the war.
The Sinhala nation is conducting a major war of genocide against us in our land, the news about which is denied to the outside world. Successive Sinhala regimes have hoodwinked the international community with a series of deceptions. Commencing with the round table conference, the list of deceit has now stretched to include the All Party conference of late. During this period the international community remains cheated. The Tamil national question was also left to drag on with no positive resolution offered. Meanwhile, the Sinhala nation has used its armed forces to set the Tamil land, ablaze. It has wiped out peaceful life on Tamil land, making Tamils destitute, displaced and wandering.
Sinhalam has refused to offer the basic rights of the Tamils, split the Tamil land into two, installed anti-Tamil armed groups in the seat of administration while conducting a tyrannical military rule. It is now continuing with the war, offering to submit its plan to offer a solution only after the LTTE is defeated. Does Sinhala nation want to offer a solution only after the Tamils are suppressed and killed? Does it want to wipe out the true representatives of the Tamils and their bargaining power before offering a solution? The Sinhala nation is refusing to acknowledge the historic homeland of the Tamils. In such a situation, how will it offer a just solution to our people?
When it comes to the Tamil national question, the Sinhala nation is adopting only one policy. It is obviously a policy of suppression. Even the tinge of hope our people had that the Sinhala nation will abandon its path of violence and offer justice, has now evaporated. No political transformation has taken place during the last sixty years in the Sinhala nation. Therefore, hoping it will happen in the future is futile. Our people are not ready to trust Sinhala nation again and get cheated.
It is true Tamil Eelam is a small nation on the globe. However it is a nation with great potential. It is a nation with a characteristic individuality. It has a distinctive language, cultural heritage and history. Sinhalam seeks with its military might to destroy all these. It seeks to destroy Tamil sovereignty and replace it with Sinhala sovereignty. As the freedom movement of the people of Tamil Eelam we will never, ever allow Sinhala occupation or Sinhala domination of our homeland.
Whatever challenges confront us, whatever contingencies we encounter, whatever forces stand on our path, we will still continue with our struggle for the freedom of the Tamil people. On the path shown by history, at the command of the circumstances of today, (வரலாறு விட்ட வழியில், காலம் இட்ட கட்டளைப்படி) we will continue with our struggle till alien Sinhala occupation of our land is removed.
At this historic juncture, I would request Tamils, in whatever part of the globe that they may live, to raise their voices, firmly and with determination, in support of the freedom struggle of their brothers and sisters in Tamil Eelam. I urge them from my heart to strengthen the hands of our freedom movement and I ask (உரிமையோடு கேட்டுக்கொள்கிறேன்) that they continue to extend their contribution and help. I would also on this occasion express my affection and my praise to our Tamil youth living outside our homeland for the prominent and committed role they play in actively contributing towards the liberation of our nation.
Let us all make a firm and determined resolution to follow fully the path of our heroes, who, in pursuit of our aspiration for justice and freedom, sacrificed themselves and have become a part of the history of our land and our people.
Pulikalin Thakam Thamil Eela Thayagam
Media Release
27 November 2008,
Tamil Eelam.
“We have never planned to act against the interests of any country -We wish to renew our good relationship with India” -Tamil Eelam National leader in his annual Heroes’ Day statement on 27 November 2008
The leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), V Pirapaharan, in his annual Heroes’ Day statement said that the LTTE has never stood in the way of the national, geopolitical, or economic welfare of any other country and added that the profound aspirations of the Tamil people too are not harmful to the welfare of any country or its people. He further said that during the long struggle waged by the LTTE it has never planned to act against any country. He appealed to the countries that have banned the LTTE to remove this ban.
He said that though the LTTE adopted the armed struggle, it has always wished to solve the Tamil national problem through peaceful means. He said, “We have never been against adopting peaceful means and we have never hesitated to take part in peace talks.”
He said that trials and tribulations that LTTE faces now are neither new nor insurmountable to the movement and expressed confidence that the challenges will be defeated with the overwhelming strength of the people.
He went on at length on the relationship of the LTTE with India. He said, “Great changes are taking place in India. The voices of support for our struggle that were stifled are again being heard loudly.” He expressed his desire for the renewal of good relationship with India.
Expressing his gratitude to the people of India he said, “Not withstanding the dividing sea, Tamil Nadu, with its perfect understanding of our plight, has taken heart to rise on behalf of our people at this hour of need. This timely intervention has gratified the people of Tamil Eelam and our freedom movement and given us a sense of relief. I wish to express my love and gratitude at this juncture to the people and leaders of Tamil Nadu and the leaders of India for the voice of support and love they have extended.” He also appealed to the Indian government to take constructive actions to remove the ban which remains a stumbling block for the good relationship between India and the LTTE.
He also commended the younger generation of the Diaspora for its earnest contribution for the freedom of the Tamil nation.
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=27599
Chronology:
27.11.08 India is our friend, we are not against any countr..
27.11.07 Propping up genocidal Sinhala State counterproduct..
27.11.06 Sinhala leaders' duplicity of war and peace has le..
27.11.05 LTTE to intensify struggle for self-determination ..
27.11.04 Tamil Tigers will launch freedom struggle if peace..
27.11.03 Pirapaharan's Heroes' day address
27.11.02 LTTE leader calls for autonomy and self-government..
27.11.01 LTTE leader makes special plea to the Sinhalese: '..
27.11.00 Tigers call for "unconditional talks in conducive ..
27.11.99 “Sri Lanka must end oppression for peace” - LTTE
27.11.98 LTTE leader calls for negotiations
27.11.97 LTTE leader delivers Heroes Day address
Text of Address in Tamil [also in PDF]
தலைமைச் செயலகம்,
தமிழீழ விடுதலைப் புலிகள்,
தமிழீழம்.
நவம்பர் 27, 2008.
எனது அன்பிற்கும் மதிப்பிற்குமுரிய தமிழீழ மக்களே!
இன்று மாவீரர் நாள்.
தமிழீழத் தாய்நாட்டின் விடிவிற்காகத் தமது இன்னுயிரை ஈகம் செய்து, எமது இதயமெல்லாம் நிறைந்து நிற்கும் எம்முயிர் வீரர்களை நாம் நினைவு கூர்ந்து கௌரவிக்கும் புனித நாள்.
ஆண்டாண்டு காலமாக அந்நிய ஆதிக்கப் பிடிக்குள் அடங்கிக்கிடந்த எமது தேசத்தை, ஆக்கிரமிப்பாளர்களுக்கு அடிபணியாத அடங்கா மண்ணாக மாற்றிவிட்ட எமது வீரமறவர்களைப் பூசித்து வணங்கும் திருநாள்.
எமது தேசம் விடுதலை பெற்று, எமது மக்கள் சுதந்திரமாக, தன்மானத்துடன் வாழவேண்டும் என்ற சத்திய இலட்சியத்திற்காக மடிந்த எமது மான வீரர்களை எமது நெஞ்சப் பசுமையில் நிறுத்திக்கொள்ளும் தேசிய நாள்.
எமது மாவீரர்கள் இந்த மண்ணை ஆழமாக நேசித்தார்கள். தாயக விடுதலைக்காகத் தமது கண்களைத் திறந்த கணம் முதல் நிரந்தரமாக மூடிய கணம் வரை அவர்கள் புரிந்த தியாகங்கள் உலக வரலாற்றில் ஒப்பற்றவை.
எந்த ஒரு தேசத்திலும் எந்த ஒரு காலத்திலும் நிகழாத அற்புதமான அர்ப்பணிப்புக்களை எமது மண்ணிலே எமது மண்ணுக்காக எமது மாவீரர்கள் புரிந்திருக்கிறார்கள்.
இந்த மண்ணிலேதான் எமது மாவீரர்கள் பிறந்து, வளர்ந்து, வாழ்ந்தார்கள். இந்த மண்ணிலேதான் அவர்களது பாதச்சுவடுகள் பதிந்திருக்கின்றன. அவர்களது மூச்சுக்காற்றும் கலந்திருக்கிறது. இந்த மண்ணிலேதான் எமது இனம் காலாதிகாலமாக,கொப்பாட்டன், பாட்டன் என தலைமுறை தலைமுறையாக வாழ்ந்து வருகிறது.
சிங்களத்தின் கனவுகள் நிச்சயம் கலையும்
எமது இனச் சரித்திரம் நிலைபெற்ற இந்த மண்ணை ஆழமாகக் காதலித்து, இந்த மண்ணிற்காகவே மடிந்து, இந்த மண்ணின் மடியிலேயே எமது மாவீரர்கள் படுத்துறங்குகிறார்கள். அவர்கள் பள்ளி கொள்ளும் இந்த மண் எமக்கேயுரித்தான மண். எமக்கே சொந்தமான மண். இந்த வரலாற்று மண்ணை ஆக்கிரமித்து, அடக்கியாள சிங்களம் திமிர்கொண்டு நிற்கிறது; தீராத ஆசை கொண்டு நிற்கிறது.
மனித துயரங்களெல்லாம் அடங்காத, அருவருப்பான ஆசைகளிலிருந்தே பிறப்பெடுக்கின்றன. ஆசைகள் எல்லாம் அறியாமையிலிருந்தே தோற்றம் கொள்கின்றன. ஆசையின் பிடியிலிருந்து மீட்சி பெறாதவரை சோகத்தின் சுமையிலிருந்தும் விடுபட முடியாது.
மண் ஆசை பிடித்து, சிங்களம் அழிவு நோக்கிய இராணுவப் பாதையிலே இறங்கியிருக்கிறது. உலகத்தையே திரட்டி வந்து எம்மோடு மோதுகிறது. இராணுவ வெற்றி பற்றிய கனவுலகில் வாழ்கிறது. சிங்களத்தின் இந்தக் கனவுகள் நிச்சயம் கலையும். எமது மாவீரர் கண்ட கனவு ஒருநாள் நனவாகும். இது திண்ணம்.
எனது அன்பான மக்களே!
என்றுமில்லாதவாறு இன்று தமிழீழத் தேசம் ஒரு பெரும் போரை எதிர்கொண்டு நிற்கிறது. இப்போர் வன்னி மாநிலமெங்கும் முனைப்புப்பெற்று உக்கிரமடைந்து வருகிறது.
சிங்கள அரசு இராணுவத்தீர்வில் நம்பிக்கைகொண்டு நிற்பதால், இங்கு இப்போர் நாளுக்குநாள் தீவிரமடைந்து விரிவாக்கம் கண்டு வருகிறது. தமிழரின் தேசிய வாழ்வையும் வளத்தையும் அழித்து, தமிழர் தேசத்தையே சிங்கள இராணுவ இறையாட்சியின் கீழ் அடிமைப்படுத்துவதுதான் சிங்கள அரசின் அடிப்படையான நோக்கம்.
தனித்து நின்று போராடுகிறோம்
இந்த நோக்கத்தைச் செயற்படுத்தி விடும் எண்ணத்தில், தனது போர்த்திட்டத்தை முழுமுனைப்போடு முன்னெடுத்து வருகிறது. தனது முழுப் படை பலத்தையும் ஆயுத பலத்தையும் ஒன்றுதிரட்டி, தனது முழுத் தேசிய வளத்தையும் ஒன்றுகுவித்து, சிங்கள தேசம் எமது மண் மீது ஒரு பாரிய படையெடுப்பை நிகழ்த்தி வருகிறது.
சிங்கள இனவாத அரசு ஏவிவிட்டிருக்கும் இந்த ஆக்கிரமிப்புப் போரை எதிர்த்து, எமது விடுதலை வீரர்கள் வீராவேசத்தோடு போராடி வருகின்றனர்.
உலகின் பல்வேறு நாடுகளும் தமிழ் இன அழிப்புப் போருக்கு முண்டுகொடுத்து நிற்க, நாம் தனித்து நின்று, எமது மக்களின் தார்மீகப் பலத்தில் நின்று, எமது மக்களின் விடிவிற்காகப் போராடி வருகிறோம்.
நெருக்கடிகள் நிறைந்த வரலாற்றுப் பயணம்
இன்று எமது விடுதலை இயக்கம் மிகவும் கடினமான, நெருக்கடிகள் நிறைந்த ஒரு வரலாற்றுப் பயணத்தைத் தொடர்ந்து கொண்டிருக்கிறது.
உலகின் எந்தவொரு விடுதலை இயக்கமுமே சந்தித்திராத பல சரிவுகளை, பல திருப்பங்களை, பல நெருக்கடிகளை நாம் இந்த வரலாற்று ஓட்டத்திலே எதிர்கொண்டிருக்கிறோம்.
எமது பலத்திற்கு மிஞ்சிய பாரிய சக்திகளையெல்லாம் நாம் எதிர்கொண்டிருக்கிறோம். வல்லமைக்கு மிஞ்சிய வல்லாதிக்க சக்திகளோடு நேரடியாக மோதியிருக்கிறோம். அலையலையாக எழுந்த எதிரியின் ஆக்கிரமிப்புக்களை எல்லாம் நேருக்கு நேர் நின்று சந்தித்திருக்கிறோம்.
பெருத்த நம்பிக்கைத் துரோகங்கள், பெரும் நாசச் செயல்கள் என எமக்கு எதிராகப் பின்னப்பட்ட எண்ணற்ற சதிவலைப் பின்னல்களை எல்லாம் தனித்து நின்று தகர்த்திருக்கிறோம். புயலாக எழுந்த இத்தனை பேராபத்துக்களையும் மலையாக நின்று எதிர்கொண்டோம்.
இவற்றோடு ஒப்புநோக்குகையில், இன்றைய சவால்கள் எவையும் எமக்குப் புதியவையும் அல்ல, பெரியவையும் அல்ல. இந்தச் சவால்களை நாம் எமது மக்களின் ஒன்றுதிரண்ட பலத்துடன் எதிர்கொண்டு வெல்வோம்.
இந்த மண் எங்களின் சொந்த மண்
சிங்கள தேசம் ஆக்கிரமித்து அடிமை கொள்ளத் துடிக்கும் இந்த மண் அதற்கு என்றுமே சொந்தமானதன்று. இந்த மண் எமக்குச் சொந்தமான மண்; பழந்தமிழர் நாகரீகம் நீடித்து நிலைபெற்ற மண்; வரலாற்றுக் காலத்திற்கு முற்பட்ட காலத்திலிருந்தே எமது மூதாதையர் வாழ்ந்து வளர்ந்த மண்.
இந்த மண்ணிலேதான் எமது ஆதிமன்னர்கள் இராச்சியங்களும் இராசதானிகளும் அமைத்து அரசாண்டார்கள். எமது இன வேர் ஆழவேரோடியுள்ள இந்த மண்ணிலே, நாம் நிம்மதியாக, கௌரவமாக, அந்நியரின் அதிகார ஆதிக்கமோ தலையீடுகளோ இன்றி, எமது வாழ்வை நாமே அமைத்து வாழ விரும்புகிறோம்.
ஆங்கிலேய காலனியாதிக்கம் அகன்று, சிங்கள ஆதிக்கம் எம்மண் மீது கவிந்த நாள் முதல், நாம் எமது நீதியான உரிமைகளுக்காக அகிம்சை வழியிலும் ஆயுத வழியிலும் போராடி வருகிறோம்.
சுயநிர்ணய உரிமைக்கான எமது இந்த அரசியல் போராட்டம் கடந்த அறுபது ஆண்டுகளுக்கு மேலாக நீடித்துச்செல்கிறது. இந்த நீண்ட படிநிலை வரலாற்றில், வெவ்வேறு காலகட்டங்களில் வெவ்வேறு வடிவங்களாக எமது போராட்டம் வளர்ச்சியும் முதிர்ச்சியும் கண்டு வந்திருக்கிறது.
ஆரம்பத்தில் அமைதியாக, மென்முறை வடிவில், ஜனநாயக வழியில் அமைதி வழிப்போராட்டங்கள் வாயிலாக எமது மக்கள் நீதிகேட்டுப் போராடினார்கள். அரசியல் உரிமை கோரி, தமிழ் மக்கள் தொடுத்த சாத்வீகப் போராட்டங்களைச் சிங்கள இனவாத அரசு ஆயுத வன்முறை வாயிலாக மிருகத்தனமாக ஒடுக்க முனைந்தது.
அரச ஒடுக்குமுறை கட்டுக்கடங்காமல் உக்கிரம் அடைந்து, அதன் தாங்க முடியாத கொடுமைகளை எமது மக்கள் சந்தித்தபோதுதான், வரலாற்றின் தன்னியல்பான விதியாக எமது விடுதலை இயக்கம் பிறப்பெடுத்தது.
சிங்கள இனவாத அரசின் ஆயுதப் பயங்கரவாதத்திலிருந்து எமது மக்களைப் பாதுகாக்கவே நாம் ஆயுதமேந்த நிர்ப்பந்திக்கப்பட்டோம். ஆயுத வன்முறை வழியை நாம் விரும்பித் தேர்வு செய்யவில்லை. வரலாறுதான் எம்மிடம் கட்டாயமாகக் கையளித்தது.
சமாதானத்துக்கு எப்போதும் நாம் தயார்
தவிர்க்கமுடியாத தேவையின் நிர்ப்பந்தமாக ஆயுதப் போராட்டத்தை வரித்துக்கொண்ட போதும், நாம் எமது மக்களின் தேசியப் பிரச்சினைக்குப் போரை நிறுத்தி, அமைதி வழியில் தீர்வுகாணவே விரும்புகிறோம். இதற்கு எமது விடுதலை இயக்கம் என்றுமே தயாராக இருக்கிறது. நாம் சமாதான வழிமுறைகளுக்கு என்றுமே எதிரானவர்கள் அல்லர்.
அதேநேரம், நாம் சமாதானப் பேச்சுக்களிற் பங்குபற்றத் தயங்கியதும் இல்லை. சமாதான வழிமுறை தழுவி, எமது மக்களின் அரசியல் உரிமைகளை வென்றெடுக்க, திம்புவில் தொடங்கி, ஜெனீவா வரை பல்வேறு வரலாற்றுச் சூழல்களில் பேச்சுக்களில் பங்குபற்றி வந்திருக்கிறோம்.
எமது மக்களின் தேசியப் பிரச்சினைக்குச் சமாதான வழியில் தீர்வுகாண நாம் முழுமனதுடனும் நேர்மையுடனும் செயற்பட்ட போதும் பேச்சுக்கள் எல்லாம் தோல்வியிலேயே முடிந்தன. சிங்கள அரசுகளின் விட்டுக்கொடாத கடும்போக்கும், நாணயமற்ற அரசியல் அணுகுமுறைகளும் இராணுவ வழித் தீர்விலான நம்பிக்கைகளுமே இந்தத் தோல்விகளுக்குக் காரணம்.
அனைத்துலகத்தை ஏமாற்றவே பேச்சுவார்த்தை நாடகம்
பிரமிப்பூட்டும் போரியற் சாதனைகளைப் படைத்து, சிங்கள ஆயுதப் படைகளின் முதுகெலும்பை முறித்து, படைவலுச் சமநிலையை எமக்குச் சாதகமாகத் திருப்பியபோதும், நாம் நோர்வேயின் அனுசரணையிலான அமைதிப் பேச்சுக்களிற் கலந்துகொண்டோம்.
போருக்கு முடிவுகட்டி, ஆறு ஆண்டுகளாகத் தொடர்ந்த அமைதிப் பேச்சுக்களில் நேர்மையுடனும் பற்றுறுதியுடனும் பங்குகொண்டோம். ஆயுதப் படைகளின் அத்துமீறிய செயல்களையும் ஆத்திரமூட்டும் சம்பவங்களையும் பொறுத்துக்கொண்டு, அமைதி பேணினோம்.
இத்தனையையும் நாம் செய்தது, சிங்கள இனவாத அரசு எமது மக்களின் நியாயமான கோரிக்கைகளை ஏற்று நீதி செய்யும் என்ற நம்பிக்கையினால் அன்று. சிங்கள அரசின் சமாதான முகமூடியைத் தோலுரித்துக்காட்டி, சமாதானத்தில் எமக்குள்ள பற்றுறுதியை உலகத்திற்கு வெளிப்படுத்தவே நாம் பேச்சுக்களில் கலந்துகொண்டோம்.
உலக அரங்கில் பல்வேறு நாடுகளின் தலைநகரங்களில் அரங்கேற்றப்பட்ட இந்த அமைதிப் பேச்சுக்கள், தமிழ் மக்களின் அன்றாட அவசர வாழ்க்கைப் பிரச்சினைகளையோ இனப்பிரச்சினையின் மூலாதாரப் பிரச்சினைகளையோ தீர்ப்பவையாக அமையவில்லை.
புலிகள் இயக்கத்தைப் பலவீனப்படுத்தி, தமிழர் தேசத்தையும் அனைத்துலக சமூகத்தையும் ஏமாற்றுவதற்கே சிறிலங்கா அரசு இப்பேச்சுவார்த்தைகளைப் பயன்படுத்தியது.
பேச்சு என்ற போர்வையில், சிங்கள அரசு தமிழர் தேசம் மீது ஒரு பெரும் படையெடுப்பிற்கான ஆயத்தங்களைச் செய்தது. போர் ஓய்வையும் சமாதானச் சூழலையும் பயன்படுத்தி, தனது நலிந்து போன பொருளாதாரத்தை மீளக்கட்டி, தனது சிதைந்துபோன இராணுவப் பூதத்தை மீளவும் தட்டியெழுப்பியது.
பெருந்தொகையில் ஆட்சேர்ப்பு நிகழ்த்தி, ஆயுதங்களைத் தருவித்து, படையணிகளைப் பலப்படுத்தி, போர் ஒத்திகைகளைச் செய்தது. தமிழர் தேசம் சமாதான முயற்சியில் ஈடுபட்டிருக்க, சிங்கள தேசம் போர்த் தயாரிப்பு வேலைகளிலேயே தன்னை முழுமையாக அர்ப்பணித்தது.
சமாதான முயற்சிகளுக்கு ஊறுவிளைவித்த உலக நாடுகளின் தடை
இதேநேரம், சமாதான முயற்சிகளின் காவலர்கள் எனத் தம்மை அடையாளப்படுத்திய உலக நாடுகளில் ஒரு பகுதியினர் அவசரப்பட்டு அதிரடி நடவடிக்கையில் இறங்கியமை, சமாதான முயற்சிகளுக்கே ஊறுவிளைவிப்பதாக அமைந்தது.
எமது சுதந்திர இயக்கத்தை இந்நாடுகள் ஒரு பயங்கரவாதக் குழுவாகச் சிறுமைப்படுத்திச் சித்திரித்து, தடை செய்யப்பட்ட இயக்கங்களின் வரிசையில் பட்டியலிட்டு, எம்மை வேண்டத்தகாதோராக, தீண்டத்தகாதோராக ஒதுக்கி ஓரங்கட்டி, புலம்பெயர்ந்து வாழும் எம்மக்கள் மீது வரம்பு மீறிய வரையறைகளை விதித்து, கட்டுப்பாடுகளைப் போட்டு, எமது விடுதலைப் போராட்டத்திற்கு ஆதரவாக அவர்கள் முன்னெடுத்த அரசியற் செயற்பாடுகளுக்கு முட்டுக்கட்டைகள் போட்டன.
தாம் வாழும் நாடுகளின் அரசியல் சட்டவிதிகளுக்கு அமைவாக, நீதிநெறி வழுவாது எம்மக்கள் மேற்கொண்ட மனிதாபிமானப் பணிகளைக் கொச்சைப்படுத்தி சிங்கள அரசின் இன அழிப்புக்கு ஆளாகி, மனிதப் பேரவலத்திற்கு முகம் கொடுத்து நின்ற தமது தாயக உறவுகளைக் காக்க எமது மக்கள் முன்னெடுத்த மனிதநேய உதவிப் பணிகளைப் பெரும் குற்றவியற் செயல்களாக அடையாளப்படுத்தி, தமிழ் மக்களின் பிரதிநிதிகளையும் தமிழின உணர்வாளர்களையும் கைது செய்து, சிறைகளிலே அடைத்து, அவமதித்தன.
இந்நாடுகளின் ஒரு பக்கச்சார்பான இந்த நடவடிக்கைகள்; பேச்சுக்களில் நாம் வகித்த சமநிலை உறவையும் சமபங்காளி என்ற தகைமையையும் வெகுவாகப் பாதித்தன. இது சிங்கள தேசத்தின் இனவாதப்போக்கை மேலும் தூண்டிவிட்டது. சிங்கள இனவாத சக்திகள் உசாரடைந்து, எமக்கு எதிராகப் போர்க்கொடி உயர்த்தின. இது சிங்கள தேசத்தை மேலும் இராணுவப் பாதையிலே தள்ளிவிட்டது.
அனைத்துலக நாடுகளின் பாராமுகம்
சிங்கள தேசம் சமாதானக் கதவுகளை இறுகச் சாத்திவிட்டுத் தமிழர் தேசத்தின் மீது போர் தொடுத்தது. அனைத்துலகத்தின் அனுசரணையோடு கைச்சாத்தான போர் நிறுத்த ஒப்பந்தத்தையும் ஒருதலைப்பட்சமாகக் கிழித்தெறிந்தது. அப்போது சமாதானம் பேசிய உலக நாடுகள் ஒப்புக்குத்தானும் இதனைக் கண்டிக்கவில்லை; கவலை கூடத் தெரிவிக்கவில்லை.
மாறாக, சில உலகநாடுகள் சிங்கள தேசத்திற்கு அழிவாயுதங்களை அள்ளிக்கொடுத்து, இராணுவப் பயிற்சிகளையும் இராணுவ ஆலோசனைகளையும் இலவசமாக வழங்கி வருகின்றன. இதனால்தான் சிங்கள அரசு தமிழருக்கு எதிரான இன அழிப்புப் போரைத் துணிவுடனும் திமிருடனும் ஈவிரக்கமின்றியும் தொடர்ந்து வருகிறது.
இன்று சிங்கள தேசம் என்றுமில்லாதவாறு இராணுவ பலத்திலும் இராணுவ அணுகுமுறையிலும் இராணுவ வழித் தீர்விலும் நம்பிக்கைகொண்டு செயற்படுகிறது.
தமிழினத்துக்கு எதிரான போர்
தமிழர் தாயகத்தில் இராணுவ மேலாதிக்கத்தை நிலைநாட்டி, ஆயுத அடக்குமுறையின் கீழ் தமிழர்களை ஆட்சிபுரிய வேண்டும் என்ற அதன் ஆசை அதிகரித்திருக்கிறது. இதனால் போர் தீவிரம் பெற்று, விரிவுபெற்று நிற்கிறது.
இந்தப் போர் உண்மையில் சிங்கள அரசு கூறுவது போல, புலிகளுக்கு எதிரான போர் அன்று. இது தமிழருக்கு எதிரான போர்; தமிழ் இனத்திற்கு எதிரான போர்; தமிழின அழிப்பை இலக்காகக் கொண்ட போர்; மொத்தத்தில் இது ஓர் இன அழிப்புப் போர்.
இந்தப் போர் எமது மக்களைத்தான் பெரிதும் பாதித்திருக்கிறது. போரின் கொடூரத்தை மக்களுக்கு எதிராகத் திருப்பிவிட்டு, மக்கள் மீது தாங்கொணாத் துன்பப்பளுவைச் சுமத்தி, மக்களைப் புலிகள் இயக்கத்திற்கு எதிராகத் திருப்பிவிடலாம் என்ற நப்பாசையிற் சிங்கள அரசு செயற்பட்டு வருகிறது.
பாதைகளை மூடி, உணவையும் மருந்தையும் தடுத்து, எமது மக்களை இறுக்கமான இராணுவ முற்றுகைக்குள் வைத்துக்கொண்டு, கண்மூடித்தனமான குண்டு வீச்சுக்களையும் எறிகணை வீச்சுக்களையும் நடாத்தி வருகிறது.
சொந்த நிலத்தை இழந்து, அந்த நிலத்தில் அமைந்த வாழ்வை இழந்து, அகதிகளாக அலையும் அவலம் எம்மக்களுக்குச் சம்பவித்திருக்கிறது. பிறப்பிலிருந்து இறப்பு வரை சதா துன்பச்சிலுவையைச் சுமக்கின்ற மக்களாக எம்மக்கள் ஆக்கப்பட்டிருக்கிறார்கள். நோயும் பிணியும் உடல்நலிந்த முதுமையும் சாவுமாக எம்மக்களது வாழ்வு சோகத்தில் தோய்ந்து கிடக்கிறது.
வரலாறு காணாத கொடூர அடக்குமுறை
எமது மக்களின் உறுதிப்பாட்டை உடைத்து விடவேண்டும் என்ற ஒரே நோக்கத்தோடு எமது எதிரியான சிங்கள அரசு இன்று எம்மக்கள் மீது எண்ணற்ற கொடுமைகளைப் புரிந்து வருகிறது. பெரும் அநீதிகளை இழைத்து வருகிறது.
உலகில் எங்குமே நிகழாத கொடூரமான அடக்குமுறைகளைப் பிரயோகிக்கிறது. எமது தேசத்தின் மீது ஒரு பெரும் பொருண்மியப்போரை தொடுத்து, எம்மக்களின் பொருளாதார வாழ்வைச் சிதைத்து அவர்களது நாளாந்த சீவியத்தைச் சீர்குலைக்கின்ற செயலிலே இறங்கியிருக்கிறது.
சிறிலங்கா படைகளின் கட்டுப்பாட்டில் உள்ள தமிழீழ நிலப்பரப்பில் மாதந்தோறும் நூற்றுக்கணக்கானோர் காணாமல் போகின்றனர்; கொல்லப்படுகின்றனர். சிங்களப் பகுதிகளில் தமிழர் காணாமல் போவதும் கொல்லப்படுவதும் வழமையான நிகழ்ச்சியாகி விட்டது.
இராணுவ ஆக்கிரமிப்பில் உள்ள தமிழர் பகுதிகளிலே ஒரு மறைமுகமான இன அழிப்புக் கொள்கை இன்று வேகமாகச் செயற்படுத்தப்படுகிறது. சாவும் அழிவும் இராணுவ அட்டூழியங்களும் சொந்த மண்ணிலேயே சிறைப்பட்ட வாழ்வுமாக எம்மக்கள் நாளாந்தம் அனுபவிக்கும் துயரம் மிகக்கொடியது.
கைதுகளும் சிறை வைப்புக்களும் சித்திரவதைகளும் பாலியல் வல்லுறவுகளும் கொலைகளும் காணாமல் போதல்களும் புதைகுழிகளுக்குள் புதைக்கப்படுவதுமாக ஒரு நச்சு வட்டத்திற்குள் எமது மக்களது வாழ்வு சுழல்கிறது.
எமது மக்களின் விடுதலை வேட்கையை அழிக்க முடியாது
இருந்தபோதும், எமது மக்கள் நம்பிக்கை இழக்கவில்லை. சுதந்திர தாகம் கொண்டு, எழுச்சி கொண்ட எம்மக்களை எந்தத் தடைகளாலும் எதுவும் செய்துவிடமுடியாது. ஆகாயத்திலிருந்து வீழும் குண்டுகளாலும் அவர்களது விடுதலை வேட்கையை அழித்துவிட முடியாது.
எம்மக்கள் துன்பச்சிலுவையைச் சதா சுமந்து பழகியவர்கள். அழிவுகளையும் இழப்புக்களையும் நித்தம் சந்தித்து வாழ்பவர்கள். இதனால் அவர்களது இலட்சிய உறுதி மேலும் உரமாகியிருக்கிறது. விடுதலைக்கான வேகம் மேலும் வீச்சாகியிருக்கிறது.
பெரும் போருக்கு முகம் கொடுத்தவாறு, நாம் இத்தனை காலமாக இத்தனை தியாகங்களைப் புரிந்து போராடி வருவது எமது மக்களின் சுதந்திரமான, கௌரவமான, நிம்மதியான வாழ்விற்கே அன்றி வேறெதற்காகவும் அன்று.
எமது விடுதலைப் போராட்டம் எந்தவொரு நாட்டுக்கும் எதிரானதல்ல
உலகத் தமிழினத்தின் ஒட்டுமொத்தப் பேராதரவோடு நாம் இந்தப் போராட்டத்தை நடாத்தி வருகிறோம். அதுமட்டுமன்று, எமது போராட்டம் எந்தவொரு நாட்டினதும் தேசிய நலன்களுக்கோ அவற்றின் புவிசார் நலன்களுக்கோ பொருளாதார நலன்களுக்கோ குறுக்காக நிற்கவில்லை.
எமது மக்களது ஆழமான அபிலாசைகளும் எந்தவொரு தேசத்தினதும் எந்த மக்களினதும் தேசிய நலன்களுக்குப் பங்கமாக அமையவில்லை. அத்தோடு இந்த நீண்ட போராட்ட வரலாற்றில், நாம் திட்டமிட்டு எந்தவொரு தேசத்திற்கு எதிராகவும் நடந்துகொண்டதுமில்லை.
உலக நாடுகளுடனும் இந்தியாவுடனும் நட்புறவு கொள்ள விரும்புகிறோம்
எமது விடுதலை இயக்கமும் சரி எமது மக்களும் சரி என்றுமே உலக நாடுகளுடனும் எமது அண்டை நாடான இந்தியாவுடனும் நட்புறவை வளர்த்துச் செயற்படவே விரும்புகிறோம்.
இதற்கான புறநிலைகளை உருவாக்கி, நட்புறவுப் பாலத்தை வளர்த்துவிடவே சித்தமாக இருக்கிறோம். எமது நல்லெண்ணத்தை வெளிப்படுத்தி, காத்திரமான உறவுகளைக் கட்டியெழுப்புவதற்குக் காத்து நிற்கிறோம். எம்மை தடைசெய்துள்ள நாடுகள், எமது மக்களது அபிலாசைகளையும் ஆழமான விருப்பங்களையும் புரிந்துகொண்டு, எம்மீதான தடையை நீக்கி, எமது நீதியான போராட்டத்தை அங்கீகரிக்கவேண்டுமென அன்போடு வேண்டிக்கொள்கிறேன்.
இந்தியாவுடனான உறவுகளை புதுப்பிக்க விரும்புகிறோம்
இன்று இந்திய தேசத்திலே பெரும் மாற்றங்கள் நிகழ்ந்து வருகின்றன. அங்கு அடங்கிக்கிடந்த எமது போராட்ட ஆதரவுக்குரல்கள் இன்று மீளவும் ஓங்கி ஒலிக்கின்றன.
எமது போராட்டத்தை ஏற்றுக்கொள்கின்ற ஏதுநிலைகள் வெளிப்படுகின்றன. கனிந்து வருகின்ற இந்தக் கால மாற்றத்திகேற்ப, இந்தியப் பேரரசுடனான அறுந்துபோன எமது உறவுகளை நாம் மீளவும் புதுப்பித்துக்கொள்ள விரும்புகிறோம்.
அன்று, இந்தியா கைக்கொண்ட நிலைப்பாடுகளும் அணுகுமுறைகளும் தலையீடுகளும் ஈழத்தமிழருக்கும் அவர்களது போராட்டத்திற்கும் பாதகமாக அமைந்தன.
இனவாத சிங்கள அரசு தனது கபட நாடகங்களால் எமது விடுதலை இயக்கத்திற்கும் முன்னைய இந்திய ஆட்சிப்பீடத்திற்கும் இடையே பகைமையை வளர்த்து விட்டது.
இந்தப் பகைப்புலத்தில் எழுந்த முரண்பாடுகள் மேலும் முற்றிப் பெரும் போராக வெடித்தது. இதன் ஒட்டுமொத்த விளைவாக எமது மக்கள் பெரும் அழிவுகளைச் சந்திக்க நேர்ந்தது.
நாம் எமது இலட்சியத்தில் உறுதியாக நின்ற காரணத்தினால்தான் எமது இயக்கத்திற்கும் இந்திய அரசிற்கும் பிணக்கு ஏற்பட்டது.
எனினும், இந்தியாவை நாம் ஒருபோதும் பகை சக்தியாகக் கருதியதில்லை. இந்தியாவை எமது நட்புச் சக்தியாகவே எமது மக்கள் என்றும் கருதுகிறார்கள். எமது தேசியப் பிரச்சினை விடயத்தில் இந்தியப் பேரரசு ஒரு சாதகமான நிலைப்பாட்டை எடுக்கும் எனப் பெரிதும் எதிர்பார்க்கிறார்கள்.
தமிழக உறவுகளுக்கு நன்றி
காலமும் கடல் கடந்த தூரமும் எம்மைப் பிரிந்து நிற்கின்ற போதும், எமது மக்களின் இதயத்துடிப்பை நன்கறிந்து, தமிழகம் இந்தவேளையிலே எமக்காக எழுச்சிகொண்டு நிற்பது தமிழீழ மக்கள் அனைவருக்கும் எமது விடுதலை இயக்கத்திற்கும் பெருத்த ஆறுதலையும் நம்பிக்கையையும் ஏற்படுத்தியிருக்கிறது.
எம்மக்களுக்காக ஆதரவுக் குரல் எழுப்பி, அன்புக்கரம் நீட்டும் தமிழக மக்களுக்கும் தமிழகத் தலைவர்களுக்கும் இந்தியக் தலைவர்களுக்கும் இந்தச் சந்தர்ப்பத்திலே எமது அன்பையும் நன்றியையும் தெரிவித்துக்கொள்கிறேன்.
இதேநேரம், எமது தமிழீழத் தனியரசுப் போராட்டத்திற்கு ஆதரவாக வலுவாகக் குரலெழுப்புவதோடு, இந்தியாவிற்கும் எமது இயக்கத்திற்கும் இடையிலான நல்லுறவிற்குப் பெரும் இடைஞ்சலாக எழுந்து நிற்கும் எம்மீதான தடையை நீக்குவதற்கும் ஆக்கபூர்வமான நடவடிக்கைகளை எடுக்குமாறு அன்போடு வேண்டிக்கொள்கிறேன்.
எனது அன்பான மக்களே!
சிங்கள அரசியல் உலகத்தில் பெரும் மாற்றங்களோ திருப்பங்களோ நிகழ்ந்து விடவில்லை. அங்கு அரசியல், போராகப் பேய் வடிவம் எடுத்து நிற்கிறது.
போருக்கு குரல் கொடுக்கும் சிங்கள தேசம்
அன்பையும் அறத்தையும் போதித்த புத்த பகவானைப் போற்றி வழிபடும் அந்தத் தேசத்திலே இனக்குரோதமும் போர் வெறியும் தலைவிரித்தாடுகின்றன. அங்கு போர்ப் பேரிகைகளைத்தான் எம்மால் கேட்க முடிகிறது.
போரை கைவிட்டு, அமைதி வழியில் பிரச்சினையைத் தீர்க்குமாறு அங்கு எவரும் குரல் கொடுக்கவில்லை. சிங்களத்தின் அரசியல்வாதிகளிலிருந்து ஆன்மீகவாதிகள் வரை, பத்திரிகையாளர்களிருந்து பாமர மக்கள் வரை போருக்கே குரல் கொடுக்கிறார்கள்.
தமிழர் தேசம் போரை விரும்பவில்லை. வன்முறையை விரும்பவில்லை. அகிம்சை வழியில் அமைதி வழியில் நீதி வேண்டி நின்ற எம் மக்களிடம் சிங்கள தேசம்தான் போரைத் திணித்திருக்கிறது.
எமது பிராந்தியத்தைச் சேர்ந்த சார்க் நாட்டுத் தலைவர்கள் கொழும்பிலே கூடியபோது, எமது தேசத்தின் நல்லெண்ணத்தை வெளிப்படுத்தி நாம் அறிவித்த பகைமைத் தவிர்ப்பையும் ஏற்க மறுத்து, அதனை ஏளனம் செய்து போரைத் தொடர்ந்து நிற்பதும் சிங்கள தேசம்தான். ஏற்றுக்கொள்ளவே முடியாத அவமதிப்பூட்டும் நிபந்தனைகளை விதித்துப் போரைத் தொடர்வதும் சிங்கள தேசம்தான்.
சிங்கள தேசம் ஒரு பெரும் இன அழிப்புப் போரை எமது மண்ணிலே நிகழ்த்தி வருகிறது. இந்த உண்மையை மூடிமறைத்து, உலகத்தைக் கண்கட்டி ஏமாற்ற சிங்கள அரசுகள் காலங்காலமாகப் பல்வேறு அரசியல் நாடகங்களை அரங்கேற்றி வருகின்றன.
வட்டமேசை மாநாட்டில் தொடங்கி, இன்று அனைத்து கட்சிக் கூட்டம் என இந்த ஏமாற்று நாடகத்தின் பட்டியல் நீண்டு கொண்டே செல்கிறது.
கடந்து சென்ற இந்த நீண்ட கால ஓட்டத்தில், சிங்கள அரசுகள் உலகத்தை ஏமாற்றியதைத் தவிர, தமிழரின் தேசியப் பிரச்சினைக்கு உருப்படியான எந்தவொரு தீர்வினையும் முன்வைக்கவில்லை.
மாறாக, சிங்கள தேசம் தனது படைக்கல சக்தியால் தமிழர் நிலங்களைப் பற்றியெரிய வைத்திருக்கிறது. தமிழரது அமைதியைக் கெடுத்து, அவர்களது நிலத்தில் அமைந்த வாழ்வை அழித்து, அவர்களை அகதிகளாக அலைய வைத்திருக்கிறது.
சிங்களம் யாருக்கு தீர்வை முன்வைக்கப் போகிறது?
தமிழரின் மூலாதாரக் கோரிக்கைகளை ஏற்க மறுத்து, தமிழர் தேசத்தை இரண்டாகப் பிளந்து, அங்கு தமிழர் விரோத ஆயுதக்குழுக்களை ஆட்சியில் அமர்த்தி, இராணுவப் பேயாட்சி நடாத்துகிறது.
புலிகளைத் தோற்கடித்த பின்னர்தான் தமது தீர்வுத்திட்டத்தை அறிவிப்போம் எனக்கூறிக்கொண்டு, போரை நடாத்துகிறது. தமிழர்களைக் கொடுமைப்படுத்திக் கொன்றொழித்த பின்னர், சிங்களம் யாருக்கு தீர்வை முன்வைக்கப்போகிறது? தமிழரின் உண்மையான பிரதிநிதிகளை, அவர்களது பேரம் பேசும் சக்தியை அழித்துவிட்டு, எப்படிச் சிங்களம் தீர்வை முன்வைக்கப்போகிறது? தமிழரின் வரலாற்றுச் சொத்தான தாயக நிலத்தையே ஏற்க மறுக்கும் சிங்களம், எப்படி எமது மக்களுக்கு ஒரு நீதியான தீர்வை முன்வைக்கப்போகிறது?
தமிழரின் தேசியப் பிரச்சினை விடயத்தில், சிங்களம் அடக்குமுறை என்ற ஒரே பாதையில்தான் சென்றுகொண்டிருக்கிறது. இராணுவ வன்முறைப் பாதையைக் கைவிட்டு, சிங்களம் நீதி வழங்கும் என எமது மக்கள் வைத்திருந்த சிறிய நம்பிக்கையும் இன்று அடியோடு அழிந்துவிட்டது.
சிங்கள தேசத்திலே கடந்த அறுபது ஆண்டுகளாக நிகழாத அரசியல் மாற்றம் இனிவரும் காலங்களில் நிகழ்ந்துவிடப் போவதுமில்லை, அப்படி நம்பி ஏமாறுவதற்கு எமது மக்களும் தயாராக இல்லை.
ஆக்கிரமிப்புக்கு என்றுமே இடமளிக்கப்போவதில்லை
பூமிப்பந்திலே ஈழத்தமிழினம் ஒரு சிறிய தேசமாக இருக்கின்றபோதும் நாம் பெரும் வலிமை வாய்ந்த ஒரு சக்திமிக்க இனம். தன்னிகரற்ற ஒரு தனித்துவமான இனம். தனித்துவமான மொழியையும் பண்பாட்டு வாழ்வையும் வரலாற்றையும் கொண்ட ஒரு பெருமைமிக்க இனம்.
இப்படியான எமது அருமை பெருமைகளையெல்லாம் அழித்து, தமிழீழ தேசத்திலே தமிழரின் இறையாண்மையைத் தகர்த்துவிட்டு, இராணுவப் பலத்தாற் சிங்களம் தனது இறையாண்மையை திணித்துவிடத் துடிக்கிறது. தமிழரின் சுதந்திர இயக்கம் என்ற வகையில், நாம் எமது மண்ணில் சிங்கள ஆக்கிரமிப்பிற்கோ சிங்கள ஆதிக்கத்திற்கோ என்றுமே இடமளிக்கப்போவதில்லை.
தொடர்ந்து போராடுவோம்
எத்தனை சவால்களுக்கு முகம்கொடுத்தாலும் எத்தனை இடையூறுகளை எதிர்கொண்டாலும் எத்தனை சக்திகள் எதிர்த்து நின்றாலும் நாம் தமிழரின் சுதந்திர விடிவிற்காகத் தொடர்ந்து போராடுவோம். வரலாறு விட்ட வழியில், காலம் இட்ட கட்டளைப்படி சிங்கள அந்நிய ஆக்கிரமிப்பு அகலும் வரை நாம் தொடர்ந்து போராடுவோம்.
புலம்பெயர் இளைய சமுதாயத்துக்கு பாராட்டு
இந்த வரலாற்றுச் சூழமைவில், தமிழர் உலகின் எந்த மூலையில் வாழ்ந்தாலும் எந்தக் கோடியில் வளர்ந்தாலும் எமது தேச விடுதலைக்கு உறுதியாகக் குரலெழுப்பி, எமது சுதந்திர இயக்கத்தின் கரங்களைப் பலப்படுத்துமாறு அன்போடு வேண்டுகிறேன்.
அத்துடன், தங்களது தாராள உதவிகளை வழங்கித் தொடர்ந்தும் பங்களிக்குமாறும் உரிமையோடு கேட்டுக்கொள்கிறேன். இந்த சந்தர்ப்பத்திலே தேச விடுதலைப் பணியைத் தீவிரமாக முன்னெடுத்து வருகின்ற புலம்பெயர்ந்து வாழும் எமது இளைய சமுதாயத்தினருக்கும் எனது அன்பையும் பாராட்டுதல்களையும் தெரிவித்துக்கொள்கிறேன்.
சத்திய இலட்சியத் தீயில் தம்மையே அழித்துச் சரித்திரமாகிவிட்ட எமது மாவீரர்கள் வழியில் சென்று நாம் எமது இலட்சியத்தை அடைவோமென உறுதியெடுத்துக்கொள்வோமாக.
"புலிகளின் தாகம் தமிழீழத் தாயகம்"
(வே. பிரபாகரன்)
தலைவர்,
தமிழீழ விடுதலைப் புலிகள்.
Maaveerar Naal Address
http://www.tamilnation.org/ltte/vp/mahaveerar/vp08.htm
27 November 2008
"..The Sinhala nation refuses to acknowledge the historic homeland of the Tamils. In such a situation, how will it offer a just solution to our people? As the freedom movement of the people of Tamil Eelam we will never, ever allow Sinhala occupation or Sinhala domination of our homeland. Whatever challenges confront us, whatever contingencies we encounter, whatever forces stand on our path, we will still continue with our struggle for the freedom of the Tamil people. On the path shown by history, at the command of the circumstances of today, (வரலாறு விட்ட வழியில், காலம் இட்ட கட்டளைப்படி) we will continue with our struggle till alien Sinhala occupation of our land is removed.At this historic juncture, I would request Tamils, in whatever part of the globe that they may live, to raise their voices, firmly and with determination, in support of the freedom struggle of their brothers and sisters in Tamil Eelam. I urge them from my heart to strengthen the hands of our freedom movement and I ask (உரிமையோடு கேட்டுக்கொள்கிறேன்) that they continue to extend their contribution and help."
English Translation of Address Media Release
Real Audio Video Text of Address in Tamil
[see also தமிழீழ தலைவர் பிரபாகரன் பிறந்தநாளை கொண்டாடும் முகமாக, கோவை மற்றும் திருப்பூரில் காணப்பட்ட சுவரொட்டிகள் and
மாவீரர் நாள் 2008 - National Heroes Day - Around the World ]
English Translation of Address [also in PDF]
My beloved people of Tamil Eelam,
Today is Maveerar Naal – our Great Heroes Day.
On this day of purity we remember and honour our dearly beloved heroes whose supreme sacrifice for the liberation of our motherland continues to fill all our hearts.
It is for us a commemoration day of reverence when we pay homage to our brave and valiant heroes who have transformed our land from one that was for many years subjugated by foreign rule into a defiant land refusing to submit to the will of the alien oppressor.
This is our national day on which we engrave tenderly in our hearts the memory of our great heroes who died and whose sacred aspiration was the redemption of our land so that our people may live in freedom and with self-respect.
Our heroes loved this land deeply. From the moment they fixed their eyes on the redemption of our motherland to the moment they closed their eyes permanently, the sacrifices they made have no parallel in the history of the world. No country but ours had at any time encountered such wonderful dedication as expressed in the actions of our valiant heroes.
It was on this land that our heroes were born. They grew up here and lived here. It was on this land that their footsteps have their imprints. The air they breathed is mingled with this land. From time immemorial, from generation to generation the Tamil people lived on this land. It was this land which our heroes loved deeply. Our heroes died for this land and are at rest in its bosom. The land where they are embedded, belongs to us. It is our own land. But an arrogant Sinhala nation stands adamant and is determined to occupy and conquer this historic land.
All human suffering springs from unbridled desire. Unless one extricates oneself from the clutch of greed, one will not free himself from the fetters of sorrow. With its greed for land, Sinhalam has entered a militaristic path of destruction. It has sought to build the support of the world to confront us. It is living in a dreamland of military victory. It is a dream from which it will awake. That is certain.
My beloved people!
The land of Tamil Eelam is confronted with an intense war as never before. Rearing its head in different parts of Wanni, the war is gathering momentum. As the Sinhala state is committed to a military solution, the war is becoming intense and widespread. The underlying intent of the Sinhala state is to wipe out the national life and resources of the Tamils and subjugate the Tamil nation under alien Sinhala military suzerainty. With this in view, it is executing its war plan at full gallop. Pooling together all its military resources and arsenal, and with all its national wealth to buttress it, the racist Sinhala state has waged a fierce war on our land. Our freedom fighters, have dedicated themselves to unbending resistance against this war of aggression launched by the racist Sinhala state. With various countries of the world buttressing the genocidal war on the people of Tamil Eelam, we are waging a defensive war for the freedom of our people.
Our movement has embarked on a historic journey, hazardous and strenuous. In this historic venture, we have encountered numerous turns, twists and confrontations. We have faced forces much mightier than ours. We have had direct confrontations even against superior powers, stronger than us. We have withstood wave after wave of our enemy attacks. Standing alone, we have blasted networks of innumerable intrigues, interwoven with betrayal and sabotage. We stood like a mountain and faced all dangers that loomed like storms. When compared to these happenings of the past, today’s challenges are neither novel nor huge. We will face these challenges with the united strength of our people.
This land which the Sinhala state is trying to occupy and enslave, has never belonged to it. This land is ours. Ancient Tamil civilisation stood long and firm on this land. Our ancestors lived and belonged here. Our ancient kings built kingdoms and dynasties and ruled from here. On this land where the roots of our nation have sunk deep, we wish to live in peace and with dignity and make decisions on our lives without the intervention of foreign rulers.
From the day that British colonialism was replaced with Sinhala oppression, we have been struggling for our just rights - peacefully at first and with weapons thereafter. The political struggle for our right to self-determination has extended over the last sixty years. During this period our struggle has gone through different shapes, developments and advanced to maturity. In the beginning, it was a peaceful and democratic struggle by our people for justice. The racist Sinhala state resorted to armed and animal like violence to suppress the peaceful struggle of the Tamil people for their political rights. It was when state oppression breached all norms and our people faced naked terrorism that our movement for freedom was born as a natural outcome in history. We were compelled to take up arms in order to protect our people from the armed terrorism of the racist Sinhala state. The armed violent path was not our choice. It was forced upon us by history.
Even though the armed struggle was thrust on us by inevitable needs, yet we wish to stop the war and seek a peaceful resolution to the national question of our people. Our freedom movement is always ready for it. We are not opposed to a peaceful resolution. We have never hesitated to participate in peace talks. From Thimpu to Geneva, under diametrically varied historical circumstances, we have adopted peaceful methods and participated in talks in order to win the political rights of our people.
Although we acted honestly and whole heartedly, to find a peaceful resolution to the national question, all talks were futile. The intransigence of the Sinhala state, its dishonest approach and its faith in military solution were the cause for failure of the talks. Even at a time when we had produced spectacular achievements in battle fields and broken the back-bone of the Sinhala armed forces, we participated in the peace negotiations facilitated by Norway. Bringing the war to an end, we participated with honesty and diligence in the peace negotiations which protracted for six years.
We continued to exercise patience at the military rampages and provocations by the armed forces. It is not that we trusted the racist Sinhala state to respect our people’s fair claims and advance justice, but it was to expose the hypocrisy of the Sinhala state and at the same time to impress upon the international community our commitment to peace, that we participated in the negotiations.
During the peace talks convened in different capitals of the world, there were no attempts to resolve the day-to-day needs of the Tamil people or to negotiate a resolution to the underlying national question. Sri Lanka made use of the opportunity of the peace talks to attempt to weaken the LTTE and hoodwink the Tamil nation and the international community. Using the talks as a masquerade, the Sinhala state made preparations to wage a major war on the Tamil nation. Making use of the cease-fire and the peace environment, the Sinhala state resuscitated its devastated economy and rebuilt its military might that was in shambles. It concentrated on heavy recruitment, refurbishing its arsenal, strengthening the armed forces and conducting military exercises. While the Tamil nation was engaged in peace-building, the Sinhala nation dedicated itself to preparations for war.
Meanwhile, some countries which identified themselves as so-called Peace Sponsors, rushed into activities which impaired negotiations. They denigrated our freedom movement as a terrorist organisation. They put us on their black list and ostracized us as unwanted and untouchable. Our people living in many lands were intimidated into submission by oppressive limitations imposed on them to prevent their political activities supporting our freedom struggle. Humanitarian activities pursued by our law-abiding people in many countries, well within the purview of the law of the land, have been belittled and curtailed. These activities were aimed at providing humanitarian aid to helpless victims of genocidal attacks by the Sinhala Sri Lanka state in Tamil areas. However, these humanitarian activities were branded as criminal activities in those countries. Representatives of the Tamil people, along with community leaders were arrested, jailed and insulted. The explicit bias shown by the activities of these countries affected the talks, in its balance and in its consideration of our status as an equal partner. This further aggravated the racist attitude of the Sinhala state. Sinhala chauvinism was encouraged to raise its head with impunity and inevitably push the Sinhala state further on its war path.
The Sinhala state shut tight the gates to peace and waged its war again on the Tamil nation. The cease-fire agreement facilitated by the international community was abrogated unilaterally by Sinhala Sri Lanka. Strangely no voice of protest was registered by any peace sponsor. Not even as a formality. Nor was any concern expressed. In contrast, some countries from the international community are providing an abundant supply of war materials, military training and expert advice, all for free. This has encouraged the Sinhala state to aggravate its genocidal war against the Tamils with a terrorist audacity .
Today, the Sinhala state has, as never before, placed its trust on its military strength, on military modalities and on a military solution. Its desire to impose its military suzerainty over the Tamil homeland and order a stringent military rule over the Tamils, has increased. As a result, the war has gathered intensity and momentum. In truth, this is not a war against the LTTE as the Sinhala state professes. This is a war against the Tamils; against the Tamil nation. In short, a genocidal war.
This war has affected Tamil civilians more than any body else. By turning the heat of war on our people and by burdening them with immeasurable sufferings, the Sinhala state is aspiring to turn our people against the LTTE. By closing the trunk-line roads, embargoing food and medicine and by suffocating people in tight military encirclements, the government has unleashed barrages of bombardments and shelling. Having lost their private lands and the serene life on them, our people have been reduced to destitution and live as wandering refugees. They have been forced to carry the cross of eternal suffering from birth to death. Struggling with disease and misery, malnutrition, ageing and untimely death, our people are steeped in suffering. With the solitary purpose of breaking the unbending will of our people, the Sinhala state has unleashed waves of oppression on them and subjected them to grievous injustice. A huge economic war has been declared on our people, their economic life shattered and their day-to-day living impaired. In Tamil areas under military control, hundreds of people disappear or killed, every month. In Sinhala areas, disappearance and killing of Tamils have become a normal routine.
Tamil areas under military occupation are encountering an accelerated agenda of genocide, today. Death, destruction, army atrocities and open prison-life in one’s own land, are the unendurable suffering our people have to suffer, as an order of the day. Arrest, imprisonment, torture, rape, murder, disappearance and clandestine burial in unknown graves form a vicious circle in which the lives of our people is enmeshed. Yet, our people have not lost hope. No measure, however punitive, can withhold their will to resist. Their yearning for freedom remains strong. No aerial bombardment can wipe out their determination to attain their freedom. Our people are used to carrying the cross of suffering. They are used to facing destruction and loss, daily in life. This suffering has further tempered their will to be steadfast in their aspiration. With such impetus, the urge for freedom has gathered momentum as never before.
Facing a great confrontation for such a long period, we have sacrificed so much and fought for so long, for nothing else, but for our people to live in freedom; live with dignity and live in peace. We are conducting this struggle with the unrelenting support of the Tamil people, the world over. Besides, our struggle does not contravene the national interest, geo-political interest or economic interest of any outside country. The inherent aspirations of our people do not in any way hamper the national interests of any country or people. At the same time, it may be noted that during the long history of our struggle, we have not conducted any act of aggression against any member state of the international community.
Our freedom movement, as well as our people, have always wished to maintain cordiality with the international community as well as neighbouring India. With this in view, we wish to create a viable environment and enhance friendship. We wish to express our goodwill and are looking forward to the opportunity to build a constructive relationship. Cordially I invite those countries that have banned us, to understand the deep aspirations and friendly overtures of our people, to remove their ban on us and to recognise our just struggle.
Today, there are great changes taking place in India. The dormant voices in support of our struggle are re-emerging aloud again. There are also indications of our struggle becoming accepted there. The positive change in environment gives us courage to seek renewal of our relationship with the Indian super power. The earlier approach and interventions of India were injurious to the people of Tamil Eelam, as well as to their struggle. The racist Sinhala state, with its intrigues, conspired to bring enmity between our freedom movement and the earlier Indian administration. The conflict arising out of this environment aggravated into a major war.
It was because we were firmly committed to our conviction and freedom for our people, that friction erupted between our movement and India. However, at no stage did we ever consider India as an enemy force. Our people always consider India as our friend. They have great expectations that the Indian super power will take a positive stand on our national question.
Not withstanding the dividing sea, Tamil Nadu, with its perfect understanding of our plight, has taken heart to rise on behalf of our people at this hour of need. This timely intervention has gratified the people of Tamil Eelam and our freedom movement and given us a sense of relief. I wish to express my love and gratitude at this juncture to the people and leaders of Tamil Nadu and the leaders of India for the voice of support and love they have extended. I would cordially request them to raise their voice firmly in favour of our struggle for a Tamil Eelam state, and to take appropriate and positive measures to remove the ban which remains an impediment to an amicable relationship between India and our movement.
My beloved people!
No great changes have taken place in the Sinhala political panorama. Politics there has developed into the form of a demonic war. In a country that worships the Buddha who preached love and kindness, racist hatred and war-mongering vie with one another. We can listen only to the throbs on war-drums. No sane voice is being raised either to abandon war or to seek peaceful resolution to the conflict. In Sinhalam, from politicians to spiritual leaders, from journalists to ordinary people, their voice is raised only in support of the war.
The Tamil Eelam nation does not want war. It does not favour violence. It is the Sinhala nation that waged war on our nation which had earlier adopted the path of ahimsa and asked for justice through peaceful means. When the SAARC leaders of our region met in Colombo, we expressed our goodwill and declared suspension of hostility. On the contrary, it was the Sinhala nation that rejected our overture, ridiculed us and continued with the offensive. It is the Sinhala nation that has laid down unacceptable and insulting conditions. It is the Sinhala nation that is continuing with the war.
The Sinhala nation is conducting a major war of genocide against us in our land, the news about which is denied to the outside world. Successive Sinhala regimes have hoodwinked the international community with a series of deceptions. Commencing with the round table conference, the list of deceit has now stretched to include the All Party conference of late. During this period the international community remains cheated. The Tamil national question was also left to drag on with no positive resolution offered. Meanwhile, the Sinhala nation has used its armed forces to set the Tamil land, ablaze. It has wiped out peaceful life on Tamil land, making Tamils destitute, displaced and wandering.
Sinhalam has refused to offer the basic rights of the Tamils, split the Tamil land into two, installed anti-Tamil armed groups in the seat of administration while conducting a tyrannical military rule. It is now continuing with the war, offering to submit its plan to offer a solution only after the LTTE is defeated. Does Sinhala nation want to offer a solution only after the Tamils are suppressed and killed? Does it want to wipe out the true representatives of the Tamils and their bargaining power before offering a solution? The Sinhala nation is refusing to acknowledge the historic homeland of the Tamils. In such a situation, how will it offer a just solution to our people?
When it comes to the Tamil national question, the Sinhala nation is adopting only one policy. It is obviously a policy of suppression. Even the tinge of hope our people had that the Sinhala nation will abandon its path of violence and offer justice, has now evaporated. No political transformation has taken place during the last sixty years in the Sinhala nation. Therefore, hoping it will happen in the future is futile. Our people are not ready to trust Sinhala nation again and get cheated.
It is true Tamil Eelam is a small nation on the globe. However it is a nation with great potential. It is a nation with a characteristic individuality. It has a distinctive language, cultural heritage and history. Sinhalam seeks with its military might to destroy all these. It seeks to destroy Tamil sovereignty and replace it with Sinhala sovereignty. As the freedom movement of the people of Tamil Eelam we will never, ever allow Sinhala occupation or Sinhala domination of our homeland.
Whatever challenges confront us, whatever contingencies we encounter, whatever forces stand on our path, we will still continue with our struggle for the freedom of the Tamil people. On the path shown by history, at the command of the circumstances of today, (வரலாறு விட்ட வழியில், காலம் இட்ட கட்டளைப்படி) we will continue with our struggle till alien Sinhala occupation of our land is removed.
At this historic juncture, I would request Tamils, in whatever part of the globe that they may live, to raise their voices, firmly and with determination, in support of the freedom struggle of their brothers and sisters in Tamil Eelam. I urge them from my heart to strengthen the hands of our freedom movement and I ask (உரிமையோடு கேட்டுக்கொள்கிறேன்) that they continue to extend their contribution and help. I would also on this occasion express my affection and my praise to our Tamil youth living outside our homeland for the prominent and committed role they play in actively contributing towards the liberation of our nation.
Let us all make a firm and determined resolution to follow fully the path of our heroes, who, in pursuit of our aspiration for justice and freedom, sacrificed themselves and have become a part of the history of our land and our people.
Pulikalin Thakam Thamil Eela Thayagam
Media Release
27 November 2008,
Tamil Eelam.
“We have never planned to act against the interests of any country -We wish to renew our good relationship with India” -Tamil Eelam National leader in his annual Heroes’ Day statement on 27 November 2008
The leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), V Pirapaharan, in his annual Heroes’ Day statement said that the LTTE has never stood in the way of the national, geopolitical, or economic welfare of any other country and added that the profound aspirations of the Tamil people too are not harmful to the welfare of any country or its people. He further said that during the long struggle waged by the LTTE it has never planned to act against any country. He appealed to the countries that have banned the LTTE to remove this ban.
He said that though the LTTE adopted the armed struggle, it has always wished to solve the Tamil national problem through peaceful means. He said, “We have never been against adopting peaceful means and we have never hesitated to take part in peace talks.”
He said that trials and tribulations that LTTE faces now are neither new nor insurmountable to the movement and expressed confidence that the challenges will be defeated with the overwhelming strength of the people.
He went on at length on the relationship of the LTTE with India. He said, “Great changes are taking place in India. The voices of support for our struggle that were stifled are again being heard loudly.” He expressed his desire for the renewal of good relationship with India.
Expressing his gratitude to the people of India he said, “Not withstanding the dividing sea, Tamil Nadu, with its perfect understanding of our plight, has taken heart to rise on behalf of our people at this hour of need. This timely intervention has gratified the people of Tamil Eelam and our freedom movement and given us a sense of relief. I wish to express my love and gratitude at this juncture to the people and leaders of Tamil Nadu and the leaders of India for the voice of support and love they have extended.” He also appealed to the Indian government to take constructive actions to remove the ban which remains a stumbling block for the good relationship between India and the LTTE.
He also commended the younger generation of the Diaspora for its earnest contribution for the freedom of the Tamil nation.
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=27599
Chronology:
27.11.08 India is our friend, we are not against any countr..
27.11.07 Propping up genocidal Sinhala State counterproduct..
27.11.06 Sinhala leaders' duplicity of war and peace has le..
27.11.05 LTTE to intensify struggle for self-determination ..
27.11.04 Tamil Tigers will launch freedom struggle if peace..
27.11.03 Pirapaharan's Heroes' day address
27.11.02 LTTE leader calls for autonomy and self-government..
27.11.01 LTTE leader makes special plea to the Sinhalese: '..
27.11.00 Tigers call for "unconditional talks in conducive ..
27.11.99 “Sri Lanka must end oppression for peace” - LTTE
27.11.98 LTTE leader calls for negotiations
27.11.97 LTTE leader delivers Heroes Day address
Text of Address in Tamil [also in PDF]
தலைமைச் செயலகம்,
தமிழீழ விடுதலைப் புலிகள்,
தமிழீழம்.
நவம்பர் 27, 2008.
எனது அன்பிற்கும் மதிப்பிற்குமுரிய தமிழீழ மக்களே!
இன்று மாவீரர் நாள்.
தமிழீழத் தாய்நாட்டின் விடிவிற்காகத் தமது இன்னுயிரை ஈகம் செய்து, எமது இதயமெல்லாம் நிறைந்து நிற்கும் எம்முயிர் வீரர்களை நாம் நினைவு கூர்ந்து கௌரவிக்கும் புனித நாள்.
ஆண்டாண்டு காலமாக அந்நிய ஆதிக்கப் பிடிக்குள் அடங்கிக்கிடந்த எமது தேசத்தை, ஆக்கிரமிப்பாளர்களுக்கு அடிபணியாத அடங்கா மண்ணாக மாற்றிவிட்ட எமது வீரமறவர்களைப் பூசித்து வணங்கும் திருநாள்.
எமது தேசம் விடுதலை பெற்று, எமது மக்கள் சுதந்திரமாக, தன்மானத்துடன் வாழவேண்டும் என்ற சத்திய இலட்சியத்திற்காக மடிந்த எமது மான வீரர்களை எமது நெஞ்சப் பசுமையில் நிறுத்திக்கொள்ளும் தேசிய நாள்.
எமது மாவீரர்கள் இந்த மண்ணை ஆழமாக நேசித்தார்கள். தாயக விடுதலைக்காகத் தமது கண்களைத் திறந்த கணம் முதல் நிரந்தரமாக மூடிய கணம் வரை அவர்கள் புரிந்த தியாகங்கள் உலக வரலாற்றில் ஒப்பற்றவை.
எந்த ஒரு தேசத்திலும் எந்த ஒரு காலத்திலும் நிகழாத அற்புதமான அர்ப்பணிப்புக்களை எமது மண்ணிலே எமது மண்ணுக்காக எமது மாவீரர்கள் புரிந்திருக்கிறார்கள்.
இந்த மண்ணிலேதான் எமது மாவீரர்கள் பிறந்து, வளர்ந்து, வாழ்ந்தார்கள். இந்த மண்ணிலேதான் அவர்களது பாதச்சுவடுகள் பதிந்திருக்கின்றன. அவர்களது மூச்சுக்காற்றும் கலந்திருக்கிறது. இந்த மண்ணிலேதான் எமது இனம் காலாதிகாலமாக,கொப்பாட்டன், பாட்டன் என தலைமுறை தலைமுறையாக வாழ்ந்து வருகிறது.
சிங்களத்தின் கனவுகள் நிச்சயம் கலையும்
எமது இனச் சரித்திரம் நிலைபெற்ற இந்த மண்ணை ஆழமாகக் காதலித்து, இந்த மண்ணிற்காகவே மடிந்து, இந்த மண்ணின் மடியிலேயே எமது மாவீரர்கள் படுத்துறங்குகிறார்கள். அவர்கள் பள்ளி கொள்ளும் இந்த மண் எமக்கேயுரித்தான மண். எமக்கே சொந்தமான மண். இந்த வரலாற்று மண்ணை ஆக்கிரமித்து, அடக்கியாள சிங்களம் திமிர்கொண்டு நிற்கிறது; தீராத ஆசை கொண்டு நிற்கிறது.
மனித துயரங்களெல்லாம் அடங்காத, அருவருப்பான ஆசைகளிலிருந்தே பிறப்பெடுக்கின்றன. ஆசைகள் எல்லாம் அறியாமையிலிருந்தே தோற்றம் கொள்கின்றன. ஆசையின் பிடியிலிருந்து மீட்சி பெறாதவரை சோகத்தின் சுமையிலிருந்தும் விடுபட முடியாது.
மண் ஆசை பிடித்து, சிங்களம் அழிவு நோக்கிய இராணுவப் பாதையிலே இறங்கியிருக்கிறது. உலகத்தையே திரட்டி வந்து எம்மோடு மோதுகிறது. இராணுவ வெற்றி பற்றிய கனவுலகில் வாழ்கிறது. சிங்களத்தின் இந்தக் கனவுகள் நிச்சயம் கலையும். எமது மாவீரர் கண்ட கனவு ஒருநாள் நனவாகும். இது திண்ணம்.
எனது அன்பான மக்களே!
என்றுமில்லாதவாறு இன்று தமிழீழத் தேசம் ஒரு பெரும் போரை எதிர்கொண்டு நிற்கிறது. இப்போர் வன்னி மாநிலமெங்கும் முனைப்புப்பெற்று உக்கிரமடைந்து வருகிறது.
சிங்கள அரசு இராணுவத்தீர்வில் நம்பிக்கைகொண்டு நிற்பதால், இங்கு இப்போர் நாளுக்குநாள் தீவிரமடைந்து விரிவாக்கம் கண்டு வருகிறது. தமிழரின் தேசிய வாழ்வையும் வளத்தையும் அழித்து, தமிழர் தேசத்தையே சிங்கள இராணுவ இறையாட்சியின் கீழ் அடிமைப்படுத்துவதுதான் சிங்கள அரசின் அடிப்படையான நோக்கம்.
தனித்து நின்று போராடுகிறோம்
இந்த நோக்கத்தைச் செயற்படுத்தி விடும் எண்ணத்தில், தனது போர்த்திட்டத்தை முழுமுனைப்போடு முன்னெடுத்து வருகிறது. தனது முழுப் படை பலத்தையும் ஆயுத பலத்தையும் ஒன்றுதிரட்டி, தனது முழுத் தேசிய வளத்தையும் ஒன்றுகுவித்து, சிங்கள தேசம் எமது மண் மீது ஒரு பாரிய படையெடுப்பை நிகழ்த்தி வருகிறது.
சிங்கள இனவாத அரசு ஏவிவிட்டிருக்கும் இந்த ஆக்கிரமிப்புப் போரை எதிர்த்து, எமது விடுதலை வீரர்கள் வீராவேசத்தோடு போராடி வருகின்றனர்.
உலகின் பல்வேறு நாடுகளும் தமிழ் இன அழிப்புப் போருக்கு முண்டுகொடுத்து நிற்க, நாம் தனித்து நின்று, எமது மக்களின் தார்மீகப் பலத்தில் நின்று, எமது மக்களின் விடிவிற்காகப் போராடி வருகிறோம்.
நெருக்கடிகள் நிறைந்த வரலாற்றுப் பயணம்
இன்று எமது விடுதலை இயக்கம் மிகவும் கடினமான, நெருக்கடிகள் நிறைந்த ஒரு வரலாற்றுப் பயணத்தைத் தொடர்ந்து கொண்டிருக்கிறது.
உலகின் எந்தவொரு விடுதலை இயக்கமுமே சந்தித்திராத பல சரிவுகளை, பல திருப்பங்களை, பல நெருக்கடிகளை நாம் இந்த வரலாற்று ஓட்டத்திலே எதிர்கொண்டிருக்கிறோம்.
எமது பலத்திற்கு மிஞ்சிய பாரிய சக்திகளையெல்லாம் நாம் எதிர்கொண்டிருக்கிறோம். வல்லமைக்கு மிஞ்சிய வல்லாதிக்க சக்திகளோடு நேரடியாக மோதியிருக்கிறோம். அலையலையாக எழுந்த எதிரியின் ஆக்கிரமிப்புக்களை எல்லாம் நேருக்கு நேர் நின்று சந்தித்திருக்கிறோம்.
பெருத்த நம்பிக்கைத் துரோகங்கள், பெரும் நாசச் செயல்கள் என எமக்கு எதிராகப் பின்னப்பட்ட எண்ணற்ற சதிவலைப் பின்னல்களை எல்லாம் தனித்து நின்று தகர்த்திருக்கிறோம். புயலாக எழுந்த இத்தனை பேராபத்துக்களையும் மலையாக நின்று எதிர்கொண்டோம்.
இவற்றோடு ஒப்புநோக்குகையில், இன்றைய சவால்கள் எவையும் எமக்குப் புதியவையும் அல்ல, பெரியவையும் அல்ல. இந்தச் சவால்களை நாம் எமது மக்களின் ஒன்றுதிரண்ட பலத்துடன் எதிர்கொண்டு வெல்வோம்.
இந்த மண் எங்களின் சொந்த மண்
சிங்கள தேசம் ஆக்கிரமித்து அடிமை கொள்ளத் துடிக்கும் இந்த மண் அதற்கு என்றுமே சொந்தமானதன்று. இந்த மண் எமக்குச் சொந்தமான மண்; பழந்தமிழர் நாகரீகம் நீடித்து நிலைபெற்ற மண்; வரலாற்றுக் காலத்திற்கு முற்பட்ட காலத்திலிருந்தே எமது மூதாதையர் வாழ்ந்து வளர்ந்த மண்.
இந்த மண்ணிலேதான் எமது ஆதிமன்னர்கள் இராச்சியங்களும் இராசதானிகளும் அமைத்து அரசாண்டார்கள். எமது இன வேர் ஆழவேரோடியுள்ள இந்த மண்ணிலே, நாம் நிம்மதியாக, கௌரவமாக, அந்நியரின் அதிகார ஆதிக்கமோ தலையீடுகளோ இன்றி, எமது வாழ்வை நாமே அமைத்து வாழ விரும்புகிறோம்.
ஆங்கிலேய காலனியாதிக்கம் அகன்று, சிங்கள ஆதிக்கம் எம்மண் மீது கவிந்த நாள் முதல், நாம் எமது நீதியான உரிமைகளுக்காக அகிம்சை வழியிலும் ஆயுத வழியிலும் போராடி வருகிறோம்.
சுயநிர்ணய உரிமைக்கான எமது இந்த அரசியல் போராட்டம் கடந்த அறுபது ஆண்டுகளுக்கு மேலாக நீடித்துச்செல்கிறது. இந்த நீண்ட படிநிலை வரலாற்றில், வெவ்வேறு காலகட்டங்களில் வெவ்வேறு வடிவங்களாக எமது போராட்டம் வளர்ச்சியும் முதிர்ச்சியும் கண்டு வந்திருக்கிறது.
ஆரம்பத்தில் அமைதியாக, மென்முறை வடிவில், ஜனநாயக வழியில் அமைதி வழிப்போராட்டங்கள் வாயிலாக எமது மக்கள் நீதிகேட்டுப் போராடினார்கள். அரசியல் உரிமை கோரி, தமிழ் மக்கள் தொடுத்த சாத்வீகப் போராட்டங்களைச் சிங்கள இனவாத அரசு ஆயுத வன்முறை வாயிலாக மிருகத்தனமாக ஒடுக்க முனைந்தது.
அரச ஒடுக்குமுறை கட்டுக்கடங்காமல் உக்கிரம் அடைந்து, அதன் தாங்க முடியாத கொடுமைகளை எமது மக்கள் சந்தித்தபோதுதான், வரலாற்றின் தன்னியல்பான விதியாக எமது விடுதலை இயக்கம் பிறப்பெடுத்தது.
சிங்கள இனவாத அரசின் ஆயுதப் பயங்கரவாதத்திலிருந்து எமது மக்களைப் பாதுகாக்கவே நாம் ஆயுதமேந்த நிர்ப்பந்திக்கப்பட்டோம். ஆயுத வன்முறை வழியை நாம் விரும்பித் தேர்வு செய்யவில்லை. வரலாறுதான் எம்மிடம் கட்டாயமாகக் கையளித்தது.
சமாதானத்துக்கு எப்போதும் நாம் தயார்
தவிர்க்கமுடியாத தேவையின் நிர்ப்பந்தமாக ஆயுதப் போராட்டத்தை வரித்துக்கொண்ட போதும், நாம் எமது மக்களின் தேசியப் பிரச்சினைக்குப் போரை நிறுத்தி, அமைதி வழியில் தீர்வுகாணவே விரும்புகிறோம். இதற்கு எமது விடுதலை இயக்கம் என்றுமே தயாராக இருக்கிறது. நாம் சமாதான வழிமுறைகளுக்கு என்றுமே எதிரானவர்கள் அல்லர்.
அதேநேரம், நாம் சமாதானப் பேச்சுக்களிற் பங்குபற்றத் தயங்கியதும் இல்லை. சமாதான வழிமுறை தழுவி, எமது மக்களின் அரசியல் உரிமைகளை வென்றெடுக்க, திம்புவில் தொடங்கி, ஜெனீவா வரை பல்வேறு வரலாற்றுச் சூழல்களில் பேச்சுக்களில் பங்குபற்றி வந்திருக்கிறோம்.
எமது மக்களின் தேசியப் பிரச்சினைக்குச் சமாதான வழியில் தீர்வுகாண நாம் முழுமனதுடனும் நேர்மையுடனும் செயற்பட்ட போதும் பேச்சுக்கள் எல்லாம் தோல்வியிலேயே முடிந்தன. சிங்கள அரசுகளின் விட்டுக்கொடாத கடும்போக்கும், நாணயமற்ற அரசியல் அணுகுமுறைகளும் இராணுவ வழித் தீர்விலான நம்பிக்கைகளுமே இந்தத் தோல்விகளுக்குக் காரணம்.
அனைத்துலகத்தை ஏமாற்றவே பேச்சுவார்த்தை நாடகம்
பிரமிப்பூட்டும் போரியற் சாதனைகளைப் படைத்து, சிங்கள ஆயுதப் படைகளின் முதுகெலும்பை முறித்து, படைவலுச் சமநிலையை எமக்குச் சாதகமாகத் திருப்பியபோதும், நாம் நோர்வேயின் அனுசரணையிலான அமைதிப் பேச்சுக்களிற் கலந்துகொண்டோம்.
போருக்கு முடிவுகட்டி, ஆறு ஆண்டுகளாகத் தொடர்ந்த அமைதிப் பேச்சுக்களில் நேர்மையுடனும் பற்றுறுதியுடனும் பங்குகொண்டோம். ஆயுதப் படைகளின் அத்துமீறிய செயல்களையும் ஆத்திரமூட்டும் சம்பவங்களையும் பொறுத்துக்கொண்டு, அமைதி பேணினோம்.
இத்தனையையும் நாம் செய்தது, சிங்கள இனவாத அரசு எமது மக்களின் நியாயமான கோரிக்கைகளை ஏற்று நீதி செய்யும் என்ற நம்பிக்கையினால் அன்று. சிங்கள அரசின் சமாதான முகமூடியைத் தோலுரித்துக்காட்டி, சமாதானத்தில் எமக்குள்ள பற்றுறுதியை உலகத்திற்கு வெளிப்படுத்தவே நாம் பேச்சுக்களில் கலந்துகொண்டோம்.
உலக அரங்கில் பல்வேறு நாடுகளின் தலைநகரங்களில் அரங்கேற்றப்பட்ட இந்த அமைதிப் பேச்சுக்கள், தமிழ் மக்களின் அன்றாட அவசர வாழ்க்கைப் பிரச்சினைகளையோ இனப்பிரச்சினையின் மூலாதாரப் பிரச்சினைகளையோ தீர்ப்பவையாக அமையவில்லை.
புலிகள் இயக்கத்தைப் பலவீனப்படுத்தி, தமிழர் தேசத்தையும் அனைத்துலக சமூகத்தையும் ஏமாற்றுவதற்கே சிறிலங்கா அரசு இப்பேச்சுவார்த்தைகளைப் பயன்படுத்தியது.
பேச்சு என்ற போர்வையில், சிங்கள அரசு தமிழர் தேசம் மீது ஒரு பெரும் படையெடுப்பிற்கான ஆயத்தங்களைச் செய்தது. போர் ஓய்வையும் சமாதானச் சூழலையும் பயன்படுத்தி, தனது நலிந்து போன பொருளாதாரத்தை மீளக்கட்டி, தனது சிதைந்துபோன இராணுவப் பூதத்தை மீளவும் தட்டியெழுப்பியது.
பெருந்தொகையில் ஆட்சேர்ப்பு நிகழ்த்தி, ஆயுதங்களைத் தருவித்து, படையணிகளைப் பலப்படுத்தி, போர் ஒத்திகைகளைச் செய்தது. தமிழர் தேசம் சமாதான முயற்சியில் ஈடுபட்டிருக்க, சிங்கள தேசம் போர்த் தயாரிப்பு வேலைகளிலேயே தன்னை முழுமையாக அர்ப்பணித்தது.
சமாதான முயற்சிகளுக்கு ஊறுவிளைவித்த உலக நாடுகளின் தடை
இதேநேரம், சமாதான முயற்சிகளின் காவலர்கள் எனத் தம்மை அடையாளப்படுத்திய உலக நாடுகளில் ஒரு பகுதியினர் அவசரப்பட்டு அதிரடி நடவடிக்கையில் இறங்கியமை, சமாதான முயற்சிகளுக்கே ஊறுவிளைவிப்பதாக அமைந்தது.
எமது சுதந்திர இயக்கத்தை இந்நாடுகள் ஒரு பயங்கரவாதக் குழுவாகச் சிறுமைப்படுத்திச் சித்திரித்து, தடை செய்யப்பட்ட இயக்கங்களின் வரிசையில் பட்டியலிட்டு, எம்மை வேண்டத்தகாதோராக, தீண்டத்தகாதோராக ஒதுக்கி ஓரங்கட்டி, புலம்பெயர்ந்து வாழும் எம்மக்கள் மீது வரம்பு மீறிய வரையறைகளை விதித்து, கட்டுப்பாடுகளைப் போட்டு, எமது விடுதலைப் போராட்டத்திற்கு ஆதரவாக அவர்கள் முன்னெடுத்த அரசியற் செயற்பாடுகளுக்கு முட்டுக்கட்டைகள் போட்டன.
தாம் வாழும் நாடுகளின் அரசியல் சட்டவிதிகளுக்கு அமைவாக, நீதிநெறி வழுவாது எம்மக்கள் மேற்கொண்ட மனிதாபிமானப் பணிகளைக் கொச்சைப்படுத்தி சிங்கள அரசின் இன அழிப்புக்கு ஆளாகி, மனிதப் பேரவலத்திற்கு முகம் கொடுத்து நின்ற தமது தாயக உறவுகளைக் காக்க எமது மக்கள் முன்னெடுத்த மனிதநேய உதவிப் பணிகளைப் பெரும் குற்றவியற் செயல்களாக அடையாளப்படுத்தி, தமிழ் மக்களின் பிரதிநிதிகளையும் தமிழின உணர்வாளர்களையும் கைது செய்து, சிறைகளிலே அடைத்து, அவமதித்தன.
இந்நாடுகளின் ஒரு பக்கச்சார்பான இந்த நடவடிக்கைகள்; பேச்சுக்களில் நாம் வகித்த சமநிலை உறவையும் சமபங்காளி என்ற தகைமையையும் வெகுவாகப் பாதித்தன. இது சிங்கள தேசத்தின் இனவாதப்போக்கை மேலும் தூண்டிவிட்டது. சிங்கள இனவாத சக்திகள் உசாரடைந்து, எமக்கு எதிராகப் போர்க்கொடி உயர்த்தின. இது சிங்கள தேசத்தை மேலும் இராணுவப் பாதையிலே தள்ளிவிட்டது.
அனைத்துலக நாடுகளின் பாராமுகம்
சிங்கள தேசம் சமாதானக் கதவுகளை இறுகச் சாத்திவிட்டுத் தமிழர் தேசத்தின் மீது போர் தொடுத்தது. அனைத்துலகத்தின் அனுசரணையோடு கைச்சாத்தான போர் நிறுத்த ஒப்பந்தத்தையும் ஒருதலைப்பட்சமாகக் கிழித்தெறிந்தது. அப்போது சமாதானம் பேசிய உலக நாடுகள் ஒப்புக்குத்தானும் இதனைக் கண்டிக்கவில்லை; கவலை கூடத் தெரிவிக்கவில்லை.
மாறாக, சில உலகநாடுகள் சிங்கள தேசத்திற்கு அழிவாயுதங்களை அள்ளிக்கொடுத்து, இராணுவப் பயிற்சிகளையும் இராணுவ ஆலோசனைகளையும் இலவசமாக வழங்கி வருகின்றன. இதனால்தான் சிங்கள அரசு தமிழருக்கு எதிரான இன அழிப்புப் போரைத் துணிவுடனும் திமிருடனும் ஈவிரக்கமின்றியும் தொடர்ந்து வருகிறது.
இன்று சிங்கள தேசம் என்றுமில்லாதவாறு இராணுவ பலத்திலும் இராணுவ அணுகுமுறையிலும் இராணுவ வழித் தீர்விலும் நம்பிக்கைகொண்டு செயற்படுகிறது.
தமிழினத்துக்கு எதிரான போர்
தமிழர் தாயகத்தில் இராணுவ மேலாதிக்கத்தை நிலைநாட்டி, ஆயுத அடக்குமுறையின் கீழ் தமிழர்களை ஆட்சிபுரிய வேண்டும் என்ற அதன் ஆசை அதிகரித்திருக்கிறது. இதனால் போர் தீவிரம் பெற்று, விரிவுபெற்று நிற்கிறது.
இந்தப் போர் உண்மையில் சிங்கள அரசு கூறுவது போல, புலிகளுக்கு எதிரான போர் அன்று. இது தமிழருக்கு எதிரான போர்; தமிழ் இனத்திற்கு எதிரான போர்; தமிழின அழிப்பை இலக்காகக் கொண்ட போர்; மொத்தத்தில் இது ஓர் இன அழிப்புப் போர்.
இந்தப் போர் எமது மக்களைத்தான் பெரிதும் பாதித்திருக்கிறது. போரின் கொடூரத்தை மக்களுக்கு எதிராகத் திருப்பிவிட்டு, மக்கள் மீது தாங்கொணாத் துன்பப்பளுவைச் சுமத்தி, மக்களைப் புலிகள் இயக்கத்திற்கு எதிராகத் திருப்பிவிடலாம் என்ற நப்பாசையிற் சிங்கள அரசு செயற்பட்டு வருகிறது.
பாதைகளை மூடி, உணவையும் மருந்தையும் தடுத்து, எமது மக்களை இறுக்கமான இராணுவ முற்றுகைக்குள் வைத்துக்கொண்டு, கண்மூடித்தனமான குண்டு வீச்சுக்களையும் எறிகணை வீச்சுக்களையும் நடாத்தி வருகிறது.
சொந்த நிலத்தை இழந்து, அந்த நிலத்தில் அமைந்த வாழ்வை இழந்து, அகதிகளாக அலையும் அவலம் எம்மக்களுக்குச் சம்பவித்திருக்கிறது. பிறப்பிலிருந்து இறப்பு வரை சதா துன்பச்சிலுவையைச் சுமக்கின்ற மக்களாக எம்மக்கள் ஆக்கப்பட்டிருக்கிறார்கள். நோயும் பிணியும் உடல்நலிந்த முதுமையும் சாவுமாக எம்மக்களது வாழ்வு சோகத்தில் தோய்ந்து கிடக்கிறது.
வரலாறு காணாத கொடூர அடக்குமுறை
எமது மக்களின் உறுதிப்பாட்டை உடைத்து விடவேண்டும் என்ற ஒரே நோக்கத்தோடு எமது எதிரியான சிங்கள அரசு இன்று எம்மக்கள் மீது எண்ணற்ற கொடுமைகளைப் புரிந்து வருகிறது. பெரும் அநீதிகளை இழைத்து வருகிறது.
உலகில் எங்குமே நிகழாத கொடூரமான அடக்குமுறைகளைப் பிரயோகிக்கிறது. எமது தேசத்தின் மீது ஒரு பெரும் பொருண்மியப்போரை தொடுத்து, எம்மக்களின் பொருளாதார வாழ்வைச் சிதைத்து அவர்களது நாளாந்த சீவியத்தைச் சீர்குலைக்கின்ற செயலிலே இறங்கியிருக்கிறது.
சிறிலங்கா படைகளின் கட்டுப்பாட்டில் உள்ள தமிழீழ நிலப்பரப்பில் மாதந்தோறும் நூற்றுக்கணக்கானோர் காணாமல் போகின்றனர்; கொல்லப்படுகின்றனர். சிங்களப் பகுதிகளில் தமிழர் காணாமல் போவதும் கொல்லப்படுவதும் வழமையான நிகழ்ச்சியாகி விட்டது.
இராணுவ ஆக்கிரமிப்பில் உள்ள தமிழர் பகுதிகளிலே ஒரு மறைமுகமான இன அழிப்புக் கொள்கை இன்று வேகமாகச் செயற்படுத்தப்படுகிறது. சாவும் அழிவும் இராணுவ அட்டூழியங்களும் சொந்த மண்ணிலேயே சிறைப்பட்ட வாழ்வுமாக எம்மக்கள் நாளாந்தம் அனுபவிக்கும் துயரம் மிகக்கொடியது.
கைதுகளும் சிறை வைப்புக்களும் சித்திரவதைகளும் பாலியல் வல்லுறவுகளும் கொலைகளும் காணாமல் போதல்களும் புதைகுழிகளுக்குள் புதைக்கப்படுவதுமாக ஒரு நச்சு வட்டத்திற்குள் எமது மக்களது வாழ்வு சுழல்கிறது.
எமது மக்களின் விடுதலை வேட்கையை அழிக்க முடியாது
இருந்தபோதும், எமது மக்கள் நம்பிக்கை இழக்கவில்லை. சுதந்திர தாகம் கொண்டு, எழுச்சி கொண்ட எம்மக்களை எந்தத் தடைகளாலும் எதுவும் செய்துவிடமுடியாது. ஆகாயத்திலிருந்து வீழும் குண்டுகளாலும் அவர்களது விடுதலை வேட்கையை அழித்துவிட முடியாது.
எம்மக்கள் துன்பச்சிலுவையைச் சதா சுமந்து பழகியவர்கள். அழிவுகளையும் இழப்புக்களையும் நித்தம் சந்தித்து வாழ்பவர்கள். இதனால் அவர்களது இலட்சிய உறுதி மேலும் உரமாகியிருக்கிறது. விடுதலைக்கான வேகம் மேலும் வீச்சாகியிருக்கிறது.
பெரும் போருக்கு முகம் கொடுத்தவாறு, நாம் இத்தனை காலமாக இத்தனை தியாகங்களைப் புரிந்து போராடி வருவது எமது மக்களின் சுதந்திரமான, கௌரவமான, நிம்மதியான வாழ்விற்கே அன்றி வேறெதற்காகவும் அன்று.
எமது விடுதலைப் போராட்டம் எந்தவொரு நாட்டுக்கும் எதிரானதல்ல
உலகத் தமிழினத்தின் ஒட்டுமொத்தப் பேராதரவோடு நாம் இந்தப் போராட்டத்தை நடாத்தி வருகிறோம். அதுமட்டுமன்று, எமது போராட்டம் எந்தவொரு நாட்டினதும் தேசிய நலன்களுக்கோ அவற்றின் புவிசார் நலன்களுக்கோ பொருளாதார நலன்களுக்கோ குறுக்காக நிற்கவில்லை.
எமது மக்களது ஆழமான அபிலாசைகளும் எந்தவொரு தேசத்தினதும் எந்த மக்களினதும் தேசிய நலன்களுக்குப் பங்கமாக அமையவில்லை. அத்தோடு இந்த நீண்ட போராட்ட வரலாற்றில், நாம் திட்டமிட்டு எந்தவொரு தேசத்திற்கு எதிராகவும் நடந்துகொண்டதுமில்லை.
உலக நாடுகளுடனும் இந்தியாவுடனும் நட்புறவு கொள்ள விரும்புகிறோம்
எமது விடுதலை இயக்கமும் சரி எமது மக்களும் சரி என்றுமே உலக நாடுகளுடனும் எமது அண்டை நாடான இந்தியாவுடனும் நட்புறவை வளர்த்துச் செயற்படவே விரும்புகிறோம்.
இதற்கான புறநிலைகளை உருவாக்கி, நட்புறவுப் பாலத்தை வளர்த்துவிடவே சித்தமாக இருக்கிறோம். எமது நல்லெண்ணத்தை வெளிப்படுத்தி, காத்திரமான உறவுகளைக் கட்டியெழுப்புவதற்குக் காத்து நிற்கிறோம். எம்மை தடைசெய்துள்ள நாடுகள், எமது மக்களது அபிலாசைகளையும் ஆழமான விருப்பங்களையும் புரிந்துகொண்டு, எம்மீதான தடையை நீக்கி, எமது நீதியான போராட்டத்தை அங்கீகரிக்கவேண்டுமென அன்போடு வேண்டிக்கொள்கிறேன்.
இந்தியாவுடனான உறவுகளை புதுப்பிக்க விரும்புகிறோம்
இன்று இந்திய தேசத்திலே பெரும் மாற்றங்கள் நிகழ்ந்து வருகின்றன. அங்கு அடங்கிக்கிடந்த எமது போராட்ட ஆதரவுக்குரல்கள் இன்று மீளவும் ஓங்கி ஒலிக்கின்றன.
எமது போராட்டத்தை ஏற்றுக்கொள்கின்ற ஏதுநிலைகள் வெளிப்படுகின்றன. கனிந்து வருகின்ற இந்தக் கால மாற்றத்திகேற்ப, இந்தியப் பேரரசுடனான அறுந்துபோன எமது உறவுகளை நாம் மீளவும் புதுப்பித்துக்கொள்ள விரும்புகிறோம்.
அன்று, இந்தியா கைக்கொண்ட நிலைப்பாடுகளும் அணுகுமுறைகளும் தலையீடுகளும் ஈழத்தமிழருக்கும் அவர்களது போராட்டத்திற்கும் பாதகமாக அமைந்தன.
இனவாத சிங்கள அரசு தனது கபட நாடகங்களால் எமது விடுதலை இயக்கத்திற்கும் முன்னைய இந்திய ஆட்சிப்பீடத்திற்கும் இடையே பகைமையை வளர்த்து விட்டது.
இந்தப் பகைப்புலத்தில் எழுந்த முரண்பாடுகள் மேலும் முற்றிப் பெரும் போராக வெடித்தது. இதன் ஒட்டுமொத்த விளைவாக எமது மக்கள் பெரும் அழிவுகளைச் சந்திக்க நேர்ந்தது.
நாம் எமது இலட்சியத்தில் உறுதியாக நின்ற காரணத்தினால்தான் எமது இயக்கத்திற்கும் இந்திய அரசிற்கும் பிணக்கு ஏற்பட்டது.
எனினும், இந்தியாவை நாம் ஒருபோதும் பகை சக்தியாகக் கருதியதில்லை. இந்தியாவை எமது நட்புச் சக்தியாகவே எமது மக்கள் என்றும் கருதுகிறார்கள். எமது தேசியப் பிரச்சினை விடயத்தில் இந்தியப் பேரரசு ஒரு சாதகமான நிலைப்பாட்டை எடுக்கும் எனப் பெரிதும் எதிர்பார்க்கிறார்கள்.
தமிழக உறவுகளுக்கு நன்றி
காலமும் கடல் கடந்த தூரமும் எம்மைப் பிரிந்து நிற்கின்ற போதும், எமது மக்களின் இதயத்துடிப்பை நன்கறிந்து, தமிழகம் இந்தவேளையிலே எமக்காக எழுச்சிகொண்டு நிற்பது தமிழீழ மக்கள் அனைவருக்கும் எமது விடுதலை இயக்கத்திற்கும் பெருத்த ஆறுதலையும் நம்பிக்கையையும் ஏற்படுத்தியிருக்கிறது.
எம்மக்களுக்காக ஆதரவுக் குரல் எழுப்பி, அன்புக்கரம் நீட்டும் தமிழக மக்களுக்கும் தமிழகத் தலைவர்களுக்கும் இந்தியக் தலைவர்களுக்கும் இந்தச் சந்தர்ப்பத்திலே எமது அன்பையும் நன்றியையும் தெரிவித்துக்கொள்கிறேன்.
இதேநேரம், எமது தமிழீழத் தனியரசுப் போராட்டத்திற்கு ஆதரவாக வலுவாகக் குரலெழுப்புவதோடு, இந்தியாவிற்கும் எமது இயக்கத்திற்கும் இடையிலான நல்லுறவிற்குப் பெரும் இடைஞ்சலாக எழுந்து நிற்கும் எம்மீதான தடையை நீக்குவதற்கும் ஆக்கபூர்வமான நடவடிக்கைகளை எடுக்குமாறு அன்போடு வேண்டிக்கொள்கிறேன்.
எனது அன்பான மக்களே!
சிங்கள அரசியல் உலகத்தில் பெரும் மாற்றங்களோ திருப்பங்களோ நிகழ்ந்து விடவில்லை. அங்கு அரசியல், போராகப் பேய் வடிவம் எடுத்து நிற்கிறது.
போருக்கு குரல் கொடுக்கும் சிங்கள தேசம்
அன்பையும் அறத்தையும் போதித்த புத்த பகவானைப் போற்றி வழிபடும் அந்தத் தேசத்திலே இனக்குரோதமும் போர் வெறியும் தலைவிரித்தாடுகின்றன. அங்கு போர்ப் பேரிகைகளைத்தான் எம்மால் கேட்க முடிகிறது.
போரை கைவிட்டு, அமைதி வழியில் பிரச்சினையைத் தீர்க்குமாறு அங்கு எவரும் குரல் கொடுக்கவில்லை. சிங்களத்தின் அரசியல்வாதிகளிலிருந்து ஆன்மீகவாதிகள் வரை, பத்திரிகையாளர்களிருந்து பாமர மக்கள் வரை போருக்கே குரல் கொடுக்கிறார்கள்.
தமிழர் தேசம் போரை விரும்பவில்லை. வன்முறையை விரும்பவில்லை. அகிம்சை வழியில் அமைதி வழியில் நீதி வேண்டி நின்ற எம் மக்களிடம் சிங்கள தேசம்தான் போரைத் திணித்திருக்கிறது.
எமது பிராந்தியத்தைச் சேர்ந்த சார்க் நாட்டுத் தலைவர்கள் கொழும்பிலே கூடியபோது, எமது தேசத்தின் நல்லெண்ணத்தை வெளிப்படுத்தி நாம் அறிவித்த பகைமைத் தவிர்ப்பையும் ஏற்க மறுத்து, அதனை ஏளனம் செய்து போரைத் தொடர்ந்து நிற்பதும் சிங்கள தேசம்தான். ஏற்றுக்கொள்ளவே முடியாத அவமதிப்பூட்டும் நிபந்தனைகளை விதித்துப் போரைத் தொடர்வதும் சிங்கள தேசம்தான்.
சிங்கள தேசம் ஒரு பெரும் இன அழிப்புப் போரை எமது மண்ணிலே நிகழ்த்தி வருகிறது. இந்த உண்மையை மூடிமறைத்து, உலகத்தைக் கண்கட்டி ஏமாற்ற சிங்கள அரசுகள் காலங்காலமாகப் பல்வேறு அரசியல் நாடகங்களை அரங்கேற்றி வருகின்றன.
வட்டமேசை மாநாட்டில் தொடங்கி, இன்று அனைத்து கட்சிக் கூட்டம் என இந்த ஏமாற்று நாடகத்தின் பட்டியல் நீண்டு கொண்டே செல்கிறது.
கடந்து சென்ற இந்த நீண்ட கால ஓட்டத்தில், சிங்கள அரசுகள் உலகத்தை ஏமாற்றியதைத் தவிர, தமிழரின் தேசியப் பிரச்சினைக்கு உருப்படியான எந்தவொரு தீர்வினையும் முன்வைக்கவில்லை.
மாறாக, சிங்கள தேசம் தனது படைக்கல சக்தியால் தமிழர் நிலங்களைப் பற்றியெரிய வைத்திருக்கிறது. தமிழரது அமைதியைக் கெடுத்து, அவர்களது நிலத்தில் அமைந்த வாழ்வை அழித்து, அவர்களை அகதிகளாக அலைய வைத்திருக்கிறது.
சிங்களம் யாருக்கு தீர்வை முன்வைக்கப் போகிறது?
தமிழரின் மூலாதாரக் கோரிக்கைகளை ஏற்க மறுத்து, தமிழர் தேசத்தை இரண்டாகப் பிளந்து, அங்கு தமிழர் விரோத ஆயுதக்குழுக்களை ஆட்சியில் அமர்த்தி, இராணுவப் பேயாட்சி நடாத்துகிறது.
புலிகளைத் தோற்கடித்த பின்னர்தான் தமது தீர்வுத்திட்டத்தை அறிவிப்போம் எனக்கூறிக்கொண்டு, போரை நடாத்துகிறது. தமிழர்களைக் கொடுமைப்படுத்திக் கொன்றொழித்த பின்னர், சிங்களம் யாருக்கு தீர்வை முன்வைக்கப்போகிறது? தமிழரின் உண்மையான பிரதிநிதிகளை, அவர்களது பேரம் பேசும் சக்தியை அழித்துவிட்டு, எப்படிச் சிங்களம் தீர்வை முன்வைக்கப்போகிறது? தமிழரின் வரலாற்றுச் சொத்தான தாயக நிலத்தையே ஏற்க மறுக்கும் சிங்களம், எப்படி எமது மக்களுக்கு ஒரு நீதியான தீர்வை முன்வைக்கப்போகிறது?
தமிழரின் தேசியப் பிரச்சினை விடயத்தில், சிங்களம் அடக்குமுறை என்ற ஒரே பாதையில்தான் சென்றுகொண்டிருக்கிறது. இராணுவ வன்முறைப் பாதையைக் கைவிட்டு, சிங்களம் நீதி வழங்கும் என எமது மக்கள் வைத்திருந்த சிறிய நம்பிக்கையும் இன்று அடியோடு அழிந்துவிட்டது.
சிங்கள தேசத்திலே கடந்த அறுபது ஆண்டுகளாக நிகழாத அரசியல் மாற்றம் இனிவரும் காலங்களில் நிகழ்ந்துவிடப் போவதுமில்லை, அப்படி நம்பி ஏமாறுவதற்கு எமது மக்களும் தயாராக இல்லை.
ஆக்கிரமிப்புக்கு என்றுமே இடமளிக்கப்போவதில்லை
பூமிப்பந்திலே ஈழத்தமிழினம் ஒரு சிறிய தேசமாக இருக்கின்றபோதும் நாம் பெரும் வலிமை வாய்ந்த ஒரு சக்திமிக்க இனம். தன்னிகரற்ற ஒரு தனித்துவமான இனம். தனித்துவமான மொழியையும் பண்பாட்டு வாழ்வையும் வரலாற்றையும் கொண்ட ஒரு பெருமைமிக்க இனம்.
இப்படியான எமது அருமை பெருமைகளையெல்லாம் அழித்து, தமிழீழ தேசத்திலே தமிழரின் இறையாண்மையைத் தகர்த்துவிட்டு, இராணுவப் பலத்தாற் சிங்களம் தனது இறையாண்மையை திணித்துவிடத் துடிக்கிறது. தமிழரின் சுதந்திர இயக்கம் என்ற வகையில், நாம் எமது மண்ணில் சிங்கள ஆக்கிரமிப்பிற்கோ சிங்கள ஆதிக்கத்திற்கோ என்றுமே இடமளிக்கப்போவதில்லை.
தொடர்ந்து போராடுவோம்
எத்தனை சவால்களுக்கு முகம்கொடுத்தாலும் எத்தனை இடையூறுகளை எதிர்கொண்டாலும் எத்தனை சக்திகள் எதிர்த்து நின்றாலும் நாம் தமிழரின் சுதந்திர விடிவிற்காகத் தொடர்ந்து போராடுவோம். வரலாறு விட்ட வழியில், காலம் இட்ட கட்டளைப்படி சிங்கள அந்நிய ஆக்கிரமிப்பு அகலும் வரை நாம் தொடர்ந்து போராடுவோம்.
புலம்பெயர் இளைய சமுதாயத்துக்கு பாராட்டு
இந்த வரலாற்றுச் சூழமைவில், தமிழர் உலகின் எந்த மூலையில் வாழ்ந்தாலும் எந்தக் கோடியில் வளர்ந்தாலும் எமது தேச விடுதலைக்கு உறுதியாகக் குரலெழுப்பி, எமது சுதந்திர இயக்கத்தின் கரங்களைப் பலப்படுத்துமாறு அன்போடு வேண்டுகிறேன்.
அத்துடன், தங்களது தாராள உதவிகளை வழங்கித் தொடர்ந்தும் பங்களிக்குமாறும் உரிமையோடு கேட்டுக்கொள்கிறேன். இந்த சந்தர்ப்பத்திலே தேச விடுதலைப் பணியைத் தீவிரமாக முன்னெடுத்து வருகின்ற புலம்பெயர்ந்து வாழும் எமது இளைய சமுதாயத்தினருக்கும் எனது அன்பையும் பாராட்டுதல்களையும் தெரிவித்துக்கொள்கிறேன்.
சத்திய இலட்சியத் தீயில் தம்மையே அழித்துச் சரித்திரமாகிவிட்ட எமது மாவீரர்கள் வழியில் சென்று நாம் எமது இலட்சியத்தை அடைவோமென உறுதியெடுத்துக்கொள்வோமாக.
"புலிகளின் தாகம் தமிழீழத் தாயகம்"
(வே. பிரபாகரன்)
தலைவர்,
தமிழீழ விடுதலைப் புலிகள்.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Sri Lankan Stock market at 4-year low; rupee flat: Soon will be devalued more;
Sri Lankan Stock market at 4-year low; rupee flat: Soon will be devalued more;
The market was strong and All Share index WAS around 2,500 points when Mahinda Rajapakse became Prime Minister in April 2004, four and a half years ago.
The market was 2,600 when he became President in November 2005.
Since then the market has crashed over 45%, as well as the rupee has been
devalued against the Euro Dollar and the weak US dollar substantially.
Corporate profits has reduced tremendously on all sectors, including exports
such as Tea, Rubber, and garments. It will get worse when the GSP Plus + concessions
would be withdrawn affecting garment and 100 other exports.
The economy is in great danger of collapsing with defense expenses at 2 Billion dollars, Tourism and industries in the doldrum. The security expenses also has increased as well as Freight and Insurance for imports and exports. -T4J.
Sri Lanka is in a mode of NO CASH, NO HOPE AND NO WONDER?
Stock market at 4-year low; rupee flat
COLOMBO, Nov 25 (Reuters) - Sri Lankan shares fell 1.81 percent on Tuesday, again closing near a four-year low led by negative sentiments triggered by global and local economic woes.
The rupee closed flat at 110 to the dollar, supported by the central bank.
The Colombo All-Share index <.CSE> fell 29.94 points to 1,625.25, its lowest close since Jan. 25, 2005.
It is down 36 percent so far this year and its latest downward spiral has been spurred by poor corporate earnings, high interest rates, a rupee shortage and the global downturn.
“Overall negative sentiments brought down the market,” Hussain Gani, associate director at Asia Securities, said. “Cautious investors traded only in thin volumes.” Analysts said some positive sentiment might return if government forces capture Kilinochchi, the town the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) have declared as the capital of the separate state they want to create for Sri Lankan Tamils. “If Kilinochchi is captured, the market will have an immediate surge as it has dropped to very low levels in the last few days,” a trader said.
Traders said there was speculation government forces had already entered Kilinochchi town but was withholding the announcement of it until Thursday, when LTTE leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran is due to give his annual Heroes’ Day speech. The rupee closed flat as the central bank supported it at 110 per dollar level continuously, dealers said.
The central bank on Tuesday said commercial banks’ statutory reserve ratio would be cut by 150 basis points to 7.75 percent with effect from Friday to ease a rupee liquidity crunch.
Currency dealers said they expected the move would help support the rupee by giving commercial banks enough rupees to buy dollars. The central bank on Oct. 30 allowed limited depreciation of the rupee from 108 a dollar level. The rupee fell 1.8 percent on that day, but the central bank since then has been protecting the currency at 110 by selling dollars through a state bank. Currency dealers say the central bank will be forced to allow the rupee to depreciate, as it is using foreign currency reserves at an estimated rate of $20 million a day to support it now.
The interbank lending rate or call money rate edged up to 18.704 percent from Monday’s close of 18.608 percent.
Restructure to avoid crisis Nivard tells banks
By Uditha Jayasinghe
The banking industry is facing a ‘crisis of confidence’ and need to restructure themselves and find solutions for internal issues to face the crisis ahead, according to Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal.
Speaking at the Seminar on Current Global Financial Crisis and its Implications to Sri Lanka organised by the Strategic Enterprises Management Agency (SEMA), he insisted that Sri Lanka was safe from the gloom and doom predictions emanating from the international markets due to foresight planning, but admitted that there is more to be done.
“The global financial crisis is akin to the tsunami and similarly the rehabilitation process must be done over a long period of time. If there are problems within the banking industry, then they must come forward and suggest solutions to the policy makers. An impetus must emerge from within the industry itself,” he said.
Reiterating the prudent action taken by the Central Bank in early 2007 to strengthen commercial banks, Cabraal went on to praise the government for its foresighted approach.
However, contrary to the optimistic stance by the government, industry pundits insist that consolidation of private banks is essential to combat declining deposits.
Addressing the gathering, Sampath Bank Strategic Planning Senior Manger M. Akmeemena pointed out that a franchise system must be adopted if banks are to attract smaller deposits, which is essential in an economy experiencing slow growth. He also noted that banks face a dilemma in managing multi-delivery channels.
“On one hand, the reason that the Sri Lanka banking industry has managed to escape the global crisis relatively unscathed is its underdeveloped state. Nonetheless, it cannot be denied that Sri Lanka has bigger problems than the global recession to deal with. Domestic banks are largely limited because of contained monetary growth and restricted capital to support risk on assets. We have to face the challenge of creating enough capital for more investment. Even though most blame the hampering tax regime it must be confessed that banks do not create value for investment, which is an even bigger constraint,” he said.
Indicating a detailed graph, Akmeemena compared the efficiency levels of state and private banks and stressed that the latter were not necessarily more competent, despite being commonly considered so. “The need of the moment for any bank is capital infusion, but how can they get it?” he queried.
Suggesting that government policy makers and bankers should join forces Akmeemena called for consolidation of banks. He also cautioned that lowering tax pressure may not be as beneficial a solution as first imagined because profit funneled back presents limited options for bankers. “In Thailand, 157 banks were merged to 55 in just two years. We have been discussing for decades but it has not happened. Now circumstances will force us into it. Banks are dinosaurs. They have not utilised the IT potential of this sector. Conventional banking has failed to penetrate rural masses.”
He further added that if mobile phone operators can earn Rs.2 billion a month from small amounts of Rs.100 and Rs.200 then the banking industry must learn to tap that space as well.
The market was strong and All Share index WAS around 2,500 points when Mahinda Rajapakse became Prime Minister in April 2004, four and a half years ago.
The market was 2,600 when he became President in November 2005.
Since then the market has crashed over 45%, as well as the rupee has been
devalued against the Euro Dollar and the weak US dollar substantially.
Corporate profits has reduced tremendously on all sectors, including exports
such as Tea, Rubber, and garments. It will get worse when the GSP Plus + concessions
would be withdrawn affecting garment and 100 other exports.
The economy is in great danger of collapsing with defense expenses at 2 Billion dollars, Tourism and industries in the doldrum. The security expenses also has increased as well as Freight and Insurance for imports and exports. -T4J.
Sri Lanka is in a mode of NO CASH, NO HOPE AND NO WONDER?
Stock market at 4-year low; rupee flat
COLOMBO, Nov 25 (Reuters) - Sri Lankan shares fell 1.81 percent on Tuesday, again closing near a four-year low led by negative sentiments triggered by global and local economic woes.
The rupee closed flat at 110 to the dollar, supported by the central bank.
The Colombo All-Share index <.CSE> fell 29.94 points to 1,625.25, its lowest close since Jan. 25, 2005.
It is down 36 percent so far this year and its latest downward spiral has been spurred by poor corporate earnings, high interest rates, a rupee shortage and the global downturn.
“Overall negative sentiments brought down the market,” Hussain Gani, associate director at Asia Securities, said. “Cautious investors traded only in thin volumes.” Analysts said some positive sentiment might return if government forces capture Kilinochchi, the town the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) have declared as the capital of the separate state they want to create for Sri Lankan Tamils. “If Kilinochchi is captured, the market will have an immediate surge as it has dropped to very low levels in the last few days,” a trader said.
Traders said there was speculation government forces had already entered Kilinochchi town but was withholding the announcement of it until Thursday, when LTTE leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran is due to give his annual Heroes’ Day speech. The rupee closed flat as the central bank supported it at 110 per dollar level continuously, dealers said.
The central bank on Tuesday said commercial banks’ statutory reserve ratio would be cut by 150 basis points to 7.75 percent with effect from Friday to ease a rupee liquidity crunch.
Currency dealers said they expected the move would help support the rupee by giving commercial banks enough rupees to buy dollars. The central bank on Oct. 30 allowed limited depreciation of the rupee from 108 a dollar level. The rupee fell 1.8 percent on that day, but the central bank since then has been protecting the currency at 110 by selling dollars through a state bank. Currency dealers say the central bank will be forced to allow the rupee to depreciate, as it is using foreign currency reserves at an estimated rate of $20 million a day to support it now.
The interbank lending rate or call money rate edged up to 18.704 percent from Monday’s close of 18.608 percent.
Restructure to avoid crisis Nivard tells banks
By Uditha Jayasinghe
The banking industry is facing a ‘crisis of confidence’ and need to restructure themselves and find solutions for internal issues to face the crisis ahead, according to Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal.
Speaking at the Seminar on Current Global Financial Crisis and its Implications to Sri Lanka organised by the Strategic Enterprises Management Agency (SEMA), he insisted that Sri Lanka was safe from the gloom and doom predictions emanating from the international markets due to foresight planning, but admitted that there is more to be done.
“The global financial crisis is akin to the tsunami and similarly the rehabilitation process must be done over a long period of time. If there are problems within the banking industry, then they must come forward and suggest solutions to the policy makers. An impetus must emerge from within the industry itself,” he said.
Reiterating the prudent action taken by the Central Bank in early 2007 to strengthen commercial banks, Cabraal went on to praise the government for its foresighted approach.
However, contrary to the optimistic stance by the government, industry pundits insist that consolidation of private banks is essential to combat declining deposits.
Addressing the gathering, Sampath Bank Strategic Planning Senior Manger M. Akmeemena pointed out that a franchise system must be adopted if banks are to attract smaller deposits, which is essential in an economy experiencing slow growth. He also noted that banks face a dilemma in managing multi-delivery channels.
“On one hand, the reason that the Sri Lanka banking industry has managed to escape the global crisis relatively unscathed is its underdeveloped state. Nonetheless, it cannot be denied that Sri Lanka has bigger problems than the global recession to deal with. Domestic banks are largely limited because of contained monetary growth and restricted capital to support risk on assets. We have to face the challenge of creating enough capital for more investment. Even though most blame the hampering tax regime it must be confessed that banks do not create value for investment, which is an even bigger constraint,” he said.
Indicating a detailed graph, Akmeemena compared the efficiency levels of state and private banks and stressed that the latter were not necessarily more competent, despite being commonly considered so. “The need of the moment for any bank is capital infusion, but how can they get it?” he queried.
Suggesting that government policy makers and bankers should join forces Akmeemena called for consolidation of banks. He also cautioned that lowering tax pressure may not be as beneficial a solution as first imagined because profit funneled back presents limited options for bankers. “In Thailand, 157 banks were merged to 55 in just two years. We have been discussing for decades but it has not happened. Now circumstances will force us into it. Banks are dinosaurs. They have not utilised the IT potential of this sector. Conventional banking has failed to penetrate rural masses.”
He further added that if mobile phone operators can earn Rs.2 billion a month from small amounts of Rs.100 and Rs.200 then the banking industry must learn to tap that space as well.
‘Beggars on Horseback.’ In modern Sri Lanka it is beggars on A- 320s.
‘Beggars on Horseback.’ In modern Sri Lanka it is beggars on A- 320s.
Rajapakse brothers who are involved in the deal consider this ‘investment’ of Rs 1.1 billion mere peanuts.
Editorial
Probe Viability Of Mihin Lanka
Top executives of America’s three automobile manufacturing giants — General Motors, Chrysler and Ford — flew into Washington last week in their executive jets to plead with the US Congress for a $ 25 billion bailout to prevent their firms going into bankruptcy by the end of the year. Congress refused the plea and asked them to produce a viable plan for the recovery of the automobile industry before risking $ 25 billion of the taxpayers’ money could be considered.
This concern of America’s supreme legislature to safeguard the taxpayers’ money is quite relevant to Sri Lanka in the context of the approval of Rs 1.1 billion by the cabinet last week for the resurrection of the government’s dead duck airline Mihin Lanka which was grounded a little after one year of its operations, having incurred a debt of $ 15 million and was unable to pay the leases for the aircraft it had hired. What those patriotic cabinet ministers whose patriotism seem to effuse through every pore of their bodies should have considered like what the US Congress did was whether the pumping in of another Rs 1.1 billion of state funds with the economy in a perilous state was the need of the moment and basically whether this dead duck could be resurrected.
Was there a plan for the development of the airline submitted to parliament or even the cabinet of ministers? No report indicated such exercises in transparency. Apparently the Rajapakse brothers who are involved in the deal consider this ‘investment’ of Rs 1.1 billion mere peanuts.
The American legislators had also taken umbrage at the auto industry executives flying in their private jets to Washington to plead for $ 25 billion. A Congressman told the auto industry representatives: ‘You don’t fly in executive jets with a tin cup in your hand and ask: Buddy, can you spare me $ 25 billion?’
This example too has parallels in impoverished Lanka. Our President with his large entourages has been flying to many countries with the begging bowl — Iran, China and Japan pleading for economic assistance. And the irony of it all is that at times the loss making Mihin Lanka has been the carrier of our royal expeditionary entourages.
In ancient times they spoke of ‘beggars on horseback.’ In modern Sri Lanka it is beggars on A- 320s. Why on earth this poor country needs another airline defies simple logic and reason. We have a national airline, SriLankan, now at the sole disposal of the government — its major shareholder, Emirates, having given up their role in management. Mihin Lanka is named after Mahinda Rajapakse, not Mahinda the Arahat who brought Buddhism to this country. Mahendra, Mahinda and Mihin are all one and the same name. But whether the establishment of this airline is an ego trip or not, it is run on public funds.
This is the worst time for commercial airlines. Leading airlines such as TWA have closed down. A few weeks ago Italy’s national airline Alitalia was threatened with closure. In India big private airlines have run into deep financial air pockets. But Sri Lanka in a deep economic mire with Rs. 177 billion allocated for an internal civil conflict and now hard put, and with foreign reserves at a low ebb compelling it to cut down on imports, surprisingly votes Rs 1.1 billion to revive a dead duck.
The public will be entitled to know whose enfant terrible this airline is. The interest evinced by the ruling Rajapakse brothers is all intriguing. As reported exclusively in last week’s The Sunday Leader, the Cabinet Memorandum for provision of Rs 1.1 billion had been signed by the elder brother (Loku Aiya) Chamal Rajapakse. The report indicated that some kind of drawing room family drama was enacted at the cabinet meeting with President Mahinda playing at one stage, the role of the devil’s advocate to demonstrate his impartiality on the deal.
The advantages and disadvantages of the aircraft proposed to be leased and that leased earlier were discussed, brother Chamal citing the advantages of the proposed aircraft and brother Mahinda defending the earlier leased out aircraft. After much discussion with loyal yelps from Ministers like Bogollagama and Susil Premajayanth and traditional pot shots taken at Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Rs 1.1 billion for Mihin Lanka and Rs 6 billion for the proposed Weerawila Airport were approved from the budget of 2009.
Mihin Lanka and even SriLankan also seem to be entwined with the trinity of the Vass Gunawardena family. Young Sajin Vass Gunawardena who had developed a close friendship with Mahinda Rajapakse is widely regarded as the God Father of Mihin and his brother Manoj Gunawardena is now the CEO of SriLankan. Father Ajith Vass Gunawardena who was appointed head of the newly created development bank Lankaputhra dumped a colossal Rs. 300 million into Mihin while the Bank of Ceylon was asked and did provide Rs 1.1 billion in overdrafts. Meanwhile Mihin Lanka owes Rs 645 million to the Petroleum Corporation which is now buried under the hedging funds obtained from foreign banks running into millions of dollars. With inflation running around 30 per cent the government has made massive borrowings from international banks such as the HSBC, JP Morgan and Barclays running into millions of dollars.
The state of finances of the country is as chaotic as the traffic at the Colombo North entrance by the Kelani river and the financial stench much greater than that from the mountains of garbage dumped near by. The government is no doubt in a happy state winning the war against the LTTE with Rs 177 billion of funds allocated to it although the casualty figures of our war heroes are not disclosed to the media.
The stench emanating from Mihin Lanka cannot be ignored. It has to be investigated by parliament and even foreign donors to whom we extend our tin cans because it is the people who eventually have to foot the bill for this wasteful extravagance.
Bogollagama bats for Mihin
Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama yesterday defended the bankrupt budget airline Mihin Lanka by claiming that the appropriate question was not whether the airline was mismanaged but whether sufficient capital investment was made in the first place.
Speaking during the committee stage budget debate in parliament yesterday, Minister Bogollagama said the country should be justly proud of the fact that after launching Air Ceylon some four decades ago, Sri Lanka had progressed to the level of launching a second airline.
"It is easy to criticise and condemn. But anyone should know, that a mere Rs. 250 million would not be enough even as an initial investment to launch any airline, budget or domestic. It required more capital and that was not available. Perhaps its failure was largely due to lack of initial capital," he argued.
Bogollagama added that he had traveled with President Mahinda Rajapakse on Mihin Lanka and enthused that no president would ever fly on a budget airline.
UNP MP proposes cut of entire Mihin allocation
UNP frontliner John Amaratunge yesterday called to increase the traditional cut of Rs. 10 on the allocations on Mihin Lanka to Rs. 6,000 million.
Amaratunge opening the committee stage budget debate on Ports and Civil Aviation said the entire allocation for Mihin Lanka should be struck off without token cuts.
He said the loss making airline had crash landed with losses amounting to a staggering Rs.3. 2 billion and charged the contract lacked transparency and accountability.
The MP alleged that the company was illegally formed in the first place and cabinet approval was granted only much later.
"Mihin Lanka utilised government funds like nobody’s business. This included Rs. 250 million from the Treasury, Rs. 1072 million from Bank of Ceylon and Rs. 300 million from Lankaputra Bank."
Amaratunge charged that there was no parliamentary approval for the initial allocation of Rs. 250 by parliament and expressed no surprise that the institute soon had to bite the dust. "Some drew salaries over Rs. 400,000 and there was a vehicle spree."
He added that while the government allocated Rs. 300 million for water supply there was Rs. 6000 million for an airline which was a mistake from the very beginning.
He added that former CEO Sajin Vass Gunawardena mismanaged the entire operation and in two years, the institution collapsed. And the present management also did not inspire confidence given the fact that they too were political appointees with no airline experience. Amaratunge said that it was much better to revive SriLankan Airlines than to invest money on a project that should not have been launched in the first place. It is financially prudent to concentrate on economical routes and operate more flights to such destinations," he said, adding that flying to Rome was a welcome move.
UNP walks out on Aviation Ministry vote
UNP legislators staged a walk out when the vote on the Ministry of Ports and Civil Aviation was taken yesterday evening.
Before walking out, UNP senior John Amaratunge said that a vote was unnecessary as the government had the majority but said the allocation for Mihin Lanka would only go down the drain as the airline would not prove a success this time around either.
The UNP called upon the Chair to record the UNP’s protest with Amaratunge claiming that the party found it impossible to support the allocation for Mihin Lanka.
Rajapakse brothers who are involved in the deal consider this ‘investment’ of Rs 1.1 billion mere peanuts.
Editorial
Probe Viability Of Mihin Lanka
Top executives of America’s three automobile manufacturing giants — General Motors, Chrysler and Ford — flew into Washington last week in their executive jets to plead with the US Congress for a $ 25 billion bailout to prevent their firms going into bankruptcy by the end of the year. Congress refused the plea and asked them to produce a viable plan for the recovery of the automobile industry before risking $ 25 billion of the taxpayers’ money could be considered.
This concern of America’s supreme legislature to safeguard the taxpayers’ money is quite relevant to Sri Lanka in the context of the approval of Rs 1.1 billion by the cabinet last week for the resurrection of the government’s dead duck airline Mihin Lanka which was grounded a little after one year of its operations, having incurred a debt of $ 15 million and was unable to pay the leases for the aircraft it had hired. What those patriotic cabinet ministers whose patriotism seem to effuse through every pore of their bodies should have considered like what the US Congress did was whether the pumping in of another Rs 1.1 billion of state funds with the economy in a perilous state was the need of the moment and basically whether this dead duck could be resurrected.
Was there a plan for the development of the airline submitted to parliament or even the cabinet of ministers? No report indicated such exercises in transparency. Apparently the Rajapakse brothers who are involved in the deal consider this ‘investment’ of Rs 1.1 billion mere peanuts.
The American legislators had also taken umbrage at the auto industry executives flying in their private jets to Washington to plead for $ 25 billion. A Congressman told the auto industry representatives: ‘You don’t fly in executive jets with a tin cup in your hand and ask: Buddy, can you spare me $ 25 billion?’
This example too has parallels in impoverished Lanka. Our President with his large entourages has been flying to many countries with the begging bowl — Iran, China and Japan pleading for economic assistance. And the irony of it all is that at times the loss making Mihin Lanka has been the carrier of our royal expeditionary entourages.
In ancient times they spoke of ‘beggars on horseback.’ In modern Sri Lanka it is beggars on A- 320s. Why on earth this poor country needs another airline defies simple logic and reason. We have a national airline, SriLankan, now at the sole disposal of the government — its major shareholder, Emirates, having given up their role in management. Mihin Lanka is named after Mahinda Rajapakse, not Mahinda the Arahat who brought Buddhism to this country. Mahendra, Mahinda and Mihin are all one and the same name. But whether the establishment of this airline is an ego trip or not, it is run on public funds.
This is the worst time for commercial airlines. Leading airlines such as TWA have closed down. A few weeks ago Italy’s national airline Alitalia was threatened with closure. In India big private airlines have run into deep financial air pockets. But Sri Lanka in a deep economic mire with Rs. 177 billion allocated for an internal civil conflict and now hard put, and with foreign reserves at a low ebb compelling it to cut down on imports, surprisingly votes Rs 1.1 billion to revive a dead duck.
The public will be entitled to know whose enfant terrible this airline is. The interest evinced by the ruling Rajapakse brothers is all intriguing. As reported exclusively in last week’s The Sunday Leader, the Cabinet Memorandum for provision of Rs 1.1 billion had been signed by the elder brother (Loku Aiya) Chamal Rajapakse. The report indicated that some kind of drawing room family drama was enacted at the cabinet meeting with President Mahinda playing at one stage, the role of the devil’s advocate to demonstrate his impartiality on the deal.
The advantages and disadvantages of the aircraft proposed to be leased and that leased earlier were discussed, brother Chamal citing the advantages of the proposed aircraft and brother Mahinda defending the earlier leased out aircraft. After much discussion with loyal yelps from Ministers like Bogollagama and Susil Premajayanth and traditional pot shots taken at Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Rs 1.1 billion for Mihin Lanka and Rs 6 billion for the proposed Weerawila Airport were approved from the budget of 2009.
Mihin Lanka and even SriLankan also seem to be entwined with the trinity of the Vass Gunawardena family. Young Sajin Vass Gunawardena who had developed a close friendship with Mahinda Rajapakse is widely regarded as the God Father of Mihin and his brother Manoj Gunawardena is now the CEO of SriLankan. Father Ajith Vass Gunawardena who was appointed head of the newly created development bank Lankaputhra dumped a colossal Rs. 300 million into Mihin while the Bank of Ceylon was asked and did provide Rs 1.1 billion in overdrafts. Meanwhile Mihin Lanka owes Rs 645 million to the Petroleum Corporation which is now buried under the hedging funds obtained from foreign banks running into millions of dollars. With inflation running around 30 per cent the government has made massive borrowings from international banks such as the HSBC, JP Morgan and Barclays running into millions of dollars.
The state of finances of the country is as chaotic as the traffic at the Colombo North entrance by the Kelani river and the financial stench much greater than that from the mountains of garbage dumped near by. The government is no doubt in a happy state winning the war against the LTTE with Rs 177 billion of funds allocated to it although the casualty figures of our war heroes are not disclosed to the media.
The stench emanating from Mihin Lanka cannot be ignored. It has to be investigated by parliament and even foreign donors to whom we extend our tin cans because it is the people who eventually have to foot the bill for this wasteful extravagance.
Bogollagama bats for Mihin
Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama yesterday defended the bankrupt budget airline Mihin Lanka by claiming that the appropriate question was not whether the airline was mismanaged but whether sufficient capital investment was made in the first place.
Speaking during the committee stage budget debate in parliament yesterday, Minister Bogollagama said the country should be justly proud of the fact that after launching Air Ceylon some four decades ago, Sri Lanka had progressed to the level of launching a second airline.
"It is easy to criticise and condemn. But anyone should know, that a mere Rs. 250 million would not be enough even as an initial investment to launch any airline, budget or domestic. It required more capital and that was not available. Perhaps its failure was largely due to lack of initial capital," he argued.
Bogollagama added that he had traveled with President Mahinda Rajapakse on Mihin Lanka and enthused that no president would ever fly on a budget airline.
UNP MP proposes cut of entire Mihin allocation
UNP frontliner John Amaratunge yesterday called to increase the traditional cut of Rs. 10 on the allocations on Mihin Lanka to Rs. 6,000 million.
Amaratunge opening the committee stage budget debate on Ports and Civil Aviation said the entire allocation for Mihin Lanka should be struck off without token cuts.
He said the loss making airline had crash landed with losses amounting to a staggering Rs.3. 2 billion and charged the contract lacked transparency and accountability.
The MP alleged that the company was illegally formed in the first place and cabinet approval was granted only much later.
"Mihin Lanka utilised government funds like nobody’s business. This included Rs. 250 million from the Treasury, Rs. 1072 million from Bank of Ceylon and Rs. 300 million from Lankaputra Bank."
Amaratunge charged that there was no parliamentary approval for the initial allocation of Rs. 250 by parliament and expressed no surprise that the institute soon had to bite the dust. "Some drew salaries over Rs. 400,000 and there was a vehicle spree."
He added that while the government allocated Rs. 300 million for water supply there was Rs. 6000 million for an airline which was a mistake from the very beginning.
He added that former CEO Sajin Vass Gunawardena mismanaged the entire operation and in two years, the institution collapsed. And the present management also did not inspire confidence given the fact that they too were political appointees with no airline experience. Amaratunge said that it was much better to revive SriLankan Airlines than to invest money on a project that should not have been launched in the first place. It is financially prudent to concentrate on economical routes and operate more flights to such destinations," he said, adding that flying to Rome was a welcome move.
UNP walks out on Aviation Ministry vote
UNP legislators staged a walk out when the vote on the Ministry of Ports and Civil Aviation was taken yesterday evening.
Before walking out, UNP senior John Amaratunge said that a vote was unnecessary as the government had the majority but said the allocation for Mihin Lanka would only go down the drain as the airline would not prove a success this time around either.
The UNP called upon the Chair to record the UNP’s protest with Amaratunge claiming that the party found it impossible to support the allocation for Mihin Lanka.
Exercise of judicial power of the people: Litigation in the public interest
Exercise of judicial power of the people
Litigation in the public interest
By Nihal Sri Ameresekere
As a person actively and committedly involved in litigation in the public interest for quite sometime, even though I am not a professional lawyer, nor purporting to be one, I cannot be a silent dumbhead or spectator to the concepts propounded and opinions expressed by Deshamanya Dr. R.K.W. Goonesekere, in his recent oration at the Colombo Law Faculty (excerpts of which were published in last week’s issue of The Morning Leader), admittedly in the background of the recent judgments of the Supreme Court, which he, himself, has admitted to be ‘popular’ in a recent media interview.
Inherent in such admission of popularity of such judgments is that the people have received satisfaction, consequent to the exercise of their judicial power, which is their inalienable constitutional right.
I refer to the final paragraph of the questionably timed oration, which solely and exclusively hinges on Article 11 of the Constitution, which guarantees, freedom from torture, cruelty, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. If governance of a country is to be solely and exclusively depended on such ‘dicta’ of in Article 11 and it alone, then how can there be space and room, for punishment for offences under the Penal Code and several other statutes, or the ongoing offensive against terrorism?
Basic tenets of development of civilised societies, have been on the foundation, that good conduct of those who conform to expectations of society are recognised and rewarded, whilst those who do wrong or act in bad conduct antithetic to the expectations of society are reprimanded and punished, naturally causing pain of mind and humiliation for such acts, that society deems to be unacceptable.
Protect public property
The exercise and enjoyment of rights and freedoms stipulated in Article 11 and other Articles, is inseparable from the performance of duties and obligations, as stipulated in Article 28 of the Constitution, which, inter-alia, include the obligation on every person to protect public property and to combat misuse and waste thereof.
Hence, would not the rights and freedoms in Article 11 of the Constitution be prohibited from being enjoyed by those who pillage and plunder public resources in blatant violation of the duties and obligations on their part to be performed under Article 28 of the Constitution, which in such circumstances, imposes an injunction prohibiting such persons from enjoying such freedoms? On the other hand, having blatantly and knowingly violated an obligation imposed by one Article of the Constitution, can one seek refuge under another Article of the Constitution ?
The gravamen of the complaint in the said last paragraph of the oration of causing mental pain, suffering, humiliation and affront to dignity, clearly and evidently is in relation to the several recent public interest litigation cases, heard by the Supreme Court and judgments delivered, which are cited just preceding such pathetic complaint.
How is it that such complaint, arises only in relation to those of upper echelons of society, socio-politically powerful and influential, whilst no such complaint , even of a whimper arises, in the case of the many hapless poor people, who are hauled up before courts of law for wrong-doings antithetic to the ‘rule of law,’ sometimes for robbery due to sheer desperate economic compulsions, whilst the rich do so out of sheer ‘greed.’
Plundering of public property
The pillage and plunder of public resources by those socio-politically powerful and influential, abusing power and position, further impoverishing the poverty stricken people, causes not mere mental pain, suffering, humiliating treatment and affront to dignity, but causes them unbearable pangs of hunger and desperation, even leading to suicide; with the denial of their right to basic food, clothing, shelter, health care, education, et al. It would appear that such traumatic pangs of pain of the drown trodden poor, is of no concern whatsoever, but what is of prime and only concern is the mental pain, suffering, humiliating treatment and affront to dignity, caused to those who are taken to task for the pillage and plunder of public resources, which rightfully belong to the poor people of the country, further aggravating their misery.
King can do no wrong
Such medieval ‘phenomena’ was the case during times of disgraceful and despicable ‘slavery’, where ‘slaves’ had no rights, whatsoever, and for them no mental pain, no suffering, no humiliating treatment, and no affront to dignity, which only the masters of the ‘slaves’ supposedly had, on the principle that the ‘king can do no wrong’!
One is reminded of the marquis, whose horse carriage ran over and killed a child of a peasant, and he just threw a few coins, as and by way of compensation for loss of life of the child. There was no ‘rule of law’ enforced, presumably due to the affront to the dignity of the marquis! Such concepts are simply out of time and out of place in contemporary civilised society.
Pillage and plunder of public resources, which rightfully belong to the people, and which are managed on their behalf in trust by governments in power elected by the people, cannot be condoned, whereas on the contrary, such pillage and plunder necessarily have to be condemned, regardless of causing mental pain, suffering, humiliating treatment and affront to the dignity of those who pillage and plunder public resources to unjustly enrich themselves, or those who act in cahoots with them.
Are not those who surreptitiously rob public property in crafty and sophisticated shady deals akin to those who might put their hands and rob the ‘tills’ of poor beggars on the streets?
Economic terrorism
The foregoing is the ‘phenomenon’ of ‘economic terrorism’, impoverishing the livelihoods of the down trodden poor hapless masses, which results in social injustice, social alienation, precipitating misery and desperate conditions, leading to social unrest, insurrection, and now even armed struggle and terrorism. Has not armed terrorism been given birth to by such ‘economic terrorism’, arising from consequential social injustice; whilst armed terrorists take the lives of the people, economic terrorists pillage and plunder the resources of the people?
Article 28 of the Constitution also, inter-alia, mandates, among other obligations, that every person would uphold and defend the Constitution, and protect public property, and combat, misuse and waste of public property. All ‘elected’ and ‘selected’ public officers have made affirmation or oath, under and in terms of the Constitution to solemnly uphold and defend the Constitution. To act otherwise, would it not make a ‘mockery’ of such the affirmation or oath made under the Constitution?
‘Elected’ and ‘selected’ public office is entered upon by persons, only and only upon the making of such affirmation or oath, without which they cannot enter upon such office. Hence, would not the knowing and blatant breach thereof disentitle such holders of ‘elected’ and ‘selected’ public office from continuing to be in such public office? In this context, would it not be sheer tommyrot to rely on ‘terms of employment’ in the contract of employment, since such contract of employment, simply cannot transcend the constitutional mandates?
People supreme
The 1978 Constitution made the people supreme, not merely the elitist rich and socio-politically powerful and influential intellectuals, academics and professionals, but also all the people of this country, yes, the downtrodden masses and minions. It is the sovereignty of all the people, including such masses and minions, that is exercised by the president, parliament and judiciary, acting in trust on behalf of the people.
It is the judicial power of the people that is exercised by the judiciary, including the Supreme Court. The determinations by a Seven-Judge Bench of the Supreme Court on the aborted 18th and 19th Amendments to the Constitution have lucidly dealt with the sovereign rights and powers of the people, being exercised in trust by the executive, legislature and judiciary, and the ‘rule of law’ being the basic premise of the Constitution as cited below:
• "Therefore the statement in Article 3 that sovereignty is in the People and is "inalienable", being an essential element which pertains to the sovereignty of the people should necessarily be read into each of the sub paragraphs in Article 4. The relevant sub paragraphs would then read as follows:
(i) the legislative power of the people is inalienable and shall be exercised by parliament;
(ii) the executive power of the people is inalienable and shall be exercised by the president; and
(iii) the judicial power of the people is inalienable and shall be exercised by parliament through courts."
• "These powers of government continue to be reposed in the people and they are separated and attributed to the three organs of government; the executive, the legislature and the judiciary, being the custodians who exercise such powers in trust for the people."
• "The powers attributed to the respective organs of government include powers that operate as checks in relation to other organs that have been put in place to maintain and sustain the balance of power that has been struck in the Constitution, which power should be exercised only in trust for the people."
• "If there is one principle which runs through the entire fabric of the Constitution, it is the principle of the Rule of Law and under the Constitution, it is the judiciary which is entrusted with the task of keeping every organ of the state within the limits of the law and thereby making the Rule of Law meaningful and effective" (Cited from Indian Judgment)
Hence, when the peoples’ property is being pillaged and plundered, wrongfully, unlawfully, illegally and fraudulently, by those in power and the elitist rich and socio-politically powerful and influential, have not the people a right, to cause the exercise of their judicial power, to protect their property, which is being pillaged and plundered ? How could mental pain, suffering, humiliating treatment and affront to dignity of those persons, who have acted in a perverse manner, be estoppels to prevent the judiciary, more specifically the Supreme Court, from being caused to exercise the judicial power of the people? Would not the alternative be riots, insurrection, insurgency, et al ?
Litigation in the public interest
By Nihal Sri Ameresekere
As a person actively and committedly involved in litigation in the public interest for quite sometime, even though I am not a professional lawyer, nor purporting to be one, I cannot be a silent dumbhead or spectator to the concepts propounded and opinions expressed by Deshamanya Dr. R.K.W. Goonesekere, in his recent oration at the Colombo Law Faculty (excerpts of which were published in last week’s issue of The Morning Leader), admittedly in the background of the recent judgments of the Supreme Court, which he, himself, has admitted to be ‘popular’ in a recent media interview.
Inherent in such admission of popularity of such judgments is that the people have received satisfaction, consequent to the exercise of their judicial power, which is their inalienable constitutional right.
I refer to the final paragraph of the questionably timed oration, which solely and exclusively hinges on Article 11 of the Constitution, which guarantees, freedom from torture, cruelty, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. If governance of a country is to be solely and exclusively depended on such ‘dicta’ of in Article 11 and it alone, then how can there be space and room, for punishment for offences under the Penal Code and several other statutes, or the ongoing offensive against terrorism?
Basic tenets of development of civilised societies, have been on the foundation, that good conduct of those who conform to expectations of society are recognised and rewarded, whilst those who do wrong or act in bad conduct antithetic to the expectations of society are reprimanded and punished, naturally causing pain of mind and humiliation for such acts, that society deems to be unacceptable.
Protect public property
The exercise and enjoyment of rights and freedoms stipulated in Article 11 and other Articles, is inseparable from the performance of duties and obligations, as stipulated in Article 28 of the Constitution, which, inter-alia, include the obligation on every person to protect public property and to combat misuse and waste thereof.
Hence, would not the rights and freedoms in Article 11 of the Constitution be prohibited from being enjoyed by those who pillage and plunder public resources in blatant violation of the duties and obligations on their part to be performed under Article 28 of the Constitution, which in such circumstances, imposes an injunction prohibiting such persons from enjoying such freedoms? On the other hand, having blatantly and knowingly violated an obligation imposed by one Article of the Constitution, can one seek refuge under another Article of the Constitution ?
The gravamen of the complaint in the said last paragraph of the oration of causing mental pain, suffering, humiliation and affront to dignity, clearly and evidently is in relation to the several recent public interest litigation cases, heard by the Supreme Court and judgments delivered, which are cited just preceding such pathetic complaint.
How is it that such complaint, arises only in relation to those of upper echelons of society, socio-politically powerful and influential, whilst no such complaint , even of a whimper arises, in the case of the many hapless poor people, who are hauled up before courts of law for wrong-doings antithetic to the ‘rule of law,’ sometimes for robbery due to sheer desperate economic compulsions, whilst the rich do so out of sheer ‘greed.’
Plundering of public property
The pillage and plunder of public resources by those socio-politically powerful and influential, abusing power and position, further impoverishing the poverty stricken people, causes not mere mental pain, suffering, humiliating treatment and affront to dignity, but causes them unbearable pangs of hunger and desperation, even leading to suicide; with the denial of their right to basic food, clothing, shelter, health care, education, et al. It would appear that such traumatic pangs of pain of the drown trodden poor, is of no concern whatsoever, but what is of prime and only concern is the mental pain, suffering, humiliating treatment and affront to dignity, caused to those who are taken to task for the pillage and plunder of public resources, which rightfully belong to the poor people of the country, further aggravating their misery.
King can do no wrong
Such medieval ‘phenomena’ was the case during times of disgraceful and despicable ‘slavery’, where ‘slaves’ had no rights, whatsoever, and for them no mental pain, no suffering, no humiliating treatment, and no affront to dignity, which only the masters of the ‘slaves’ supposedly had, on the principle that the ‘king can do no wrong’!
One is reminded of the marquis, whose horse carriage ran over and killed a child of a peasant, and he just threw a few coins, as and by way of compensation for loss of life of the child. There was no ‘rule of law’ enforced, presumably due to the affront to the dignity of the marquis! Such concepts are simply out of time and out of place in contemporary civilised society.
Pillage and plunder of public resources, which rightfully belong to the people, and which are managed on their behalf in trust by governments in power elected by the people, cannot be condoned, whereas on the contrary, such pillage and plunder necessarily have to be condemned, regardless of causing mental pain, suffering, humiliating treatment and affront to the dignity of those who pillage and plunder public resources to unjustly enrich themselves, or those who act in cahoots with them.
Are not those who surreptitiously rob public property in crafty and sophisticated shady deals akin to those who might put their hands and rob the ‘tills’ of poor beggars on the streets?
Economic terrorism
The foregoing is the ‘phenomenon’ of ‘economic terrorism’, impoverishing the livelihoods of the down trodden poor hapless masses, which results in social injustice, social alienation, precipitating misery and desperate conditions, leading to social unrest, insurrection, and now even armed struggle and terrorism. Has not armed terrorism been given birth to by such ‘economic terrorism’, arising from consequential social injustice; whilst armed terrorists take the lives of the people, economic terrorists pillage and plunder the resources of the people?
Article 28 of the Constitution also, inter-alia, mandates, among other obligations, that every person would uphold and defend the Constitution, and protect public property, and combat, misuse and waste of public property. All ‘elected’ and ‘selected’ public officers have made affirmation or oath, under and in terms of the Constitution to solemnly uphold and defend the Constitution. To act otherwise, would it not make a ‘mockery’ of such the affirmation or oath made under the Constitution?
‘Elected’ and ‘selected’ public office is entered upon by persons, only and only upon the making of such affirmation or oath, without which they cannot enter upon such office. Hence, would not the knowing and blatant breach thereof disentitle such holders of ‘elected’ and ‘selected’ public office from continuing to be in such public office? In this context, would it not be sheer tommyrot to rely on ‘terms of employment’ in the contract of employment, since such contract of employment, simply cannot transcend the constitutional mandates?
People supreme
The 1978 Constitution made the people supreme, not merely the elitist rich and socio-politically powerful and influential intellectuals, academics and professionals, but also all the people of this country, yes, the downtrodden masses and minions. It is the sovereignty of all the people, including such masses and minions, that is exercised by the president, parliament and judiciary, acting in trust on behalf of the people.
It is the judicial power of the people that is exercised by the judiciary, including the Supreme Court. The determinations by a Seven-Judge Bench of the Supreme Court on the aborted 18th and 19th Amendments to the Constitution have lucidly dealt with the sovereign rights and powers of the people, being exercised in trust by the executive, legislature and judiciary, and the ‘rule of law’ being the basic premise of the Constitution as cited below:
• "Therefore the statement in Article 3 that sovereignty is in the People and is "inalienable", being an essential element which pertains to the sovereignty of the people should necessarily be read into each of the sub paragraphs in Article 4. The relevant sub paragraphs would then read as follows:
(i) the legislative power of the people is inalienable and shall be exercised by parliament;
(ii) the executive power of the people is inalienable and shall be exercised by the president; and
(iii) the judicial power of the people is inalienable and shall be exercised by parliament through courts."
• "These powers of government continue to be reposed in the people and they are separated and attributed to the three organs of government; the executive, the legislature and the judiciary, being the custodians who exercise such powers in trust for the people."
• "The powers attributed to the respective organs of government include powers that operate as checks in relation to other organs that have been put in place to maintain and sustain the balance of power that has been struck in the Constitution, which power should be exercised only in trust for the people."
• "If there is one principle which runs through the entire fabric of the Constitution, it is the principle of the Rule of Law and under the Constitution, it is the judiciary which is entrusted with the task of keeping every organ of the state within the limits of the law and thereby making the Rule of Law meaningful and effective" (Cited from Indian Judgment)
Hence, when the peoples’ property is being pillaged and plundered, wrongfully, unlawfully, illegally and fraudulently, by those in power and the elitist rich and socio-politically powerful and influential, have not the people a right, to cause the exercise of their judicial power, to protect their property, which is being pillaged and plundered ? How could mental pain, suffering, humiliating treatment and affront to dignity of those persons, who have acted in a perverse manner, be estoppels to prevent the judiciary, more specifically the Supreme Court, from being caused to exercise the judicial power of the people? Would not the alternative be riots, insurrection, insurgency, et al ?
Largest Island in the world moves towards becoming an independent nation. Tamils ask why not Tamil Eelam?
Largest Island in the world moves towards becoming an independent nation.
Tamils ask why not Tamil Eelam?
Greenland population less than a 100,000.
By Vote
25 Nov, 2008 07:27:08
Greenlanders go to the polls to decide on self-rule
NUUK, November 25, 2008 (AFP) - Some 39,000 people in Greenland vote on Tuesday in a referendum on self-rule for the Danish territory, a move that could pave the way for total independence for the Arctic island.
Public opinion polls in the run-up to the referendum have suggested that a large majority plan to vote in favour of greater autonomy for Greenland, which was granted semi-autonomy from Denmark in 1979.
Polling stations open at 9:00 am (1200 GMT) and close at 8:00 pm (2300 GMT). The result is expected around midnight (0300 GMT Wednesday).
According to a poll published on the eve of the plebiscite, 61 percent of voters said they would vote "yes" to self-rule and 15 percent said they would vote "no."
A total of 19 percent said they were undecided and five percent did not plan to vote at all. The poll was published in the online edition of the island's biggest daily Sermitsiaq.
If the "yes" side wins, the local Greenland government has the chance to take control of new areas such as natural resource management, justice and police affairs and to a certain extent foreign affairs.
There are potentially lucrative revenues from the natural resources under Greenland's seabed, which according to international experts is home to large oil deposits.
Greenlandic would also be recognised as the island's official language.
The referendum is officially non-binding, but the local government has vowed to respect the outcome even if it goes against greater autonomy.
If the self-rule supporters win, the new status would take effect on June 21, 2009.
Local government chief Hans Enoksen stressed in a radio interview in the final days of the campaign that the referendum "is not about independence."
"Agreeing on self-rule is the only road forward," he said, adding however that he hoped for full independence in the not too distant future.
Like most of the parties in the local parliament, as well as the Greenlandic media, the Social Democratic prime minister has called on voters to "take advantage of this opportunity."
Lars-Emil Johansen, one of two Greenlandic members of the Danish parliament, says he dreams full independence will come by 2021, in time for the 300th anniversary of Denmark's colonisation of Greenland.
"Of course we can be the masters of our own destiny and fly on our own wings," he told AFP.
Not all Greenlanders dream of breaking loose from Denmark however. A fringe movement, backed by a single political party, the Democrats, has emerged as an outspoken critic of the proposal.
"Greenland will never be an independent state," Finn Lynge recently stated, much to the dismay of his Siumut party, which is a leading member of the government coalition and strongly in favour of a "yes" vote in the referendum.
"There are only between 50,000 and 60,000 of us living here in geographically and climatically extreme conditions. With such a tiny population it is impossible to provide the human contributions needed to turn Greenland into a modern and independent state," he said.
With its 2.1-million square kilometre (840,000 square mile) surface, 80 percent of which is covered by ice, Greenland is the world's largest island. It counts 57,000 inhabitants, 50,000 of whom are native Inuits.
In 2007, the territory received subsidies of 3.2 billion kroner (432 million euros, 540 million dollars) from Denmark, or about 30 percent of its gross domestic product.
In 1982, it voted by referendum to leave the European Union, of which Denmark remains a member.
Tamils ask why not Tamil Eelam?
Greenland population less than a 100,000.
By Vote
25 Nov, 2008 07:27:08
Greenlanders go to the polls to decide on self-rule
NUUK, November 25, 2008 (AFP) - Some 39,000 people in Greenland vote on Tuesday in a referendum on self-rule for the Danish territory, a move that could pave the way for total independence for the Arctic island.
Public opinion polls in the run-up to the referendum have suggested that a large majority plan to vote in favour of greater autonomy for Greenland, which was granted semi-autonomy from Denmark in 1979.
Polling stations open at 9:00 am (1200 GMT) and close at 8:00 pm (2300 GMT). The result is expected around midnight (0300 GMT Wednesday).
According to a poll published on the eve of the plebiscite, 61 percent of voters said they would vote "yes" to self-rule and 15 percent said they would vote "no."
A total of 19 percent said they were undecided and five percent did not plan to vote at all. The poll was published in the online edition of the island's biggest daily Sermitsiaq.
If the "yes" side wins, the local Greenland government has the chance to take control of new areas such as natural resource management, justice and police affairs and to a certain extent foreign affairs.
There are potentially lucrative revenues from the natural resources under Greenland's seabed, which according to international experts is home to large oil deposits.
Greenlandic would also be recognised as the island's official language.
The referendum is officially non-binding, but the local government has vowed to respect the outcome even if it goes against greater autonomy.
If the self-rule supporters win, the new status would take effect on June 21, 2009.
Local government chief Hans Enoksen stressed in a radio interview in the final days of the campaign that the referendum "is not about independence."
"Agreeing on self-rule is the only road forward," he said, adding however that he hoped for full independence in the not too distant future.
Like most of the parties in the local parliament, as well as the Greenlandic media, the Social Democratic prime minister has called on voters to "take advantage of this opportunity."
Lars-Emil Johansen, one of two Greenlandic members of the Danish parliament, says he dreams full independence will come by 2021, in time for the 300th anniversary of Denmark's colonisation of Greenland.
"Of course we can be the masters of our own destiny and fly on our own wings," he told AFP.
Not all Greenlanders dream of breaking loose from Denmark however. A fringe movement, backed by a single political party, the Democrats, has emerged as an outspoken critic of the proposal.
"Greenland will never be an independent state," Finn Lynge recently stated, much to the dismay of his Siumut party, which is a leading member of the government coalition and strongly in favour of a "yes" vote in the referendum.
"There are only between 50,000 and 60,000 of us living here in geographically and climatically extreme conditions. With such a tiny population it is impossible to provide the human contributions needed to turn Greenland into a modern and independent state," he said.
With its 2.1-million square kilometre (840,000 square mile) surface, 80 percent of which is covered by ice, Greenland is the world's largest island. It counts 57,000 inhabitants, 50,000 of whom are native Inuits.
In 2007, the territory received subsidies of 3.2 billion kroner (432 million euros, 540 million dollars) from Denmark, or about 30 percent of its gross domestic product.
In 1982, it voted by referendum to leave the European Union, of which Denmark remains a member.
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