The first ever Heroes Day after the death of LTTE leader V Prabhakaran and his movement in the final battle with the Sri Lankan forces was marked by parallel addresses, one by the group claiming to be official LTTE or what is left of it and another by Ram, one of its former intelligence operatives now said to be in Sri Lankan army custody.
The official address, released to the world media through the Net, said:" Let us all pledge oday to continue the struggle for Tamil Eelam, as guided by Veluppillai Prabhakaran, the national leader of Tamil Eelam, and as demonstrated by the relentless determination of the Heroes who fought to the end for our rights".
The parallel address by A Ram, believed to be still in Sri Lanka, blamed the human catastrophe on Prabhakaran.
Tamilnet quoted excerpts from both the address.
The LTTE communiqué said the "sacrifice" made by 30,000 LTTE fighters and the death of over one lakh Tamils in the decades long armed struggle had "kindled the fire of liberation in every Tamil mind".
The address called upon the Diasporas to mobilize international support for the "liberation of their home country".
The address, obviously drafted by supporters of expat leaders K Pathmanathan, now in Sri Lankan Government custody, and Rudrakumaran, said: “We are aware that Tamil people will not accept or forgive structures already formed for achieving the goal of Tamil Eelam and activists deviating at anytime from the goal.” It said “the way Sinhala chauvinism behaved even after causing grave human catastrophe has brought in permanent rift between Tamils and Sinhalese.” The address acccused Colombo of committing serious human rights violations on interned LTTE cadres, especially women and mothers, and urged silent international community to act immediately.
The LTTE said "Sinhala chauvinism" was intolerant even of democratic expressions and actions of Tamils and "it is folly to expect justice from the Sinhala state".
"To ensure security of our people and to bring the human tragedy to an end we are working politically and diplomatically in the international arena. We bear the responsibility of spearheading the liberation struggle in varied forms, considering internal and external milieu.
In the meantime, world Tamils have a duty in the rehabilitation of people and in the restructuring of social institutions long demolished by the Sinhala rulers".
The statement requested all Tamil and Muslim political parties to act in unison "to win our rights". It asked world Tamils to "embrace all, act in unison, seek new avenues and seek new friendships in achieving our liberation".
Tamilnet said the Heroes’ Day functions in the diaspora this year were marked by participants taking an oath for upholding the formation of independent and sovereign Tamil Eelam by placing.
It said the address of A.Ram, "a commander of the LTTE operating in the island", was distributed through the Internet in text as well as in audio forms".
The parallel address, "without any explanation to circumstances or citation of evidences came out with a controversial announcement on the array of heroes", Tamilnet commented.
Ram called upon the International Community to come out with a political solution to the Tamil question and said his organization is prepared for ‘any compromise’ for that.
All countries that helped crush the militant struggle should in the same way help in securing the democratic rights of the Tamil people, the address said, adding that the Sri Lanka government too should commit itself to a permanent solution.
A couple of days ago Ram made a statement accusing LTTE members and activists in the diaspora of being ignorant of current ground realities and for taking political stands not conducive to the welfare of the 12,000 incarcerated cadres of the LTTE and the internally displaced Tamil people.
His statement was in response to a circular sent by LTTE headquarters to media editors that Ram and some other LTTE members are in the 'captivity' of the Sri Lankan military intelligence and are forced to operate on its behalf. IT, therefore, cautioned the Tamil people not to give credence to any address by Ram.
The two addresses when juxtaposed with the last Heroes Day speech by Prabhakaran, show how hopelessly divided the rump of the LTTE has become after the decimation of top leaders.
In his last speech on Nov 27, 2008, Prabhakaran said:" Death, destruction, army atrocities and open prison-life in one's own land, are the unendurable suffering of our people. No measure, however punitive, can withhold their will to resist. Their yearning for freedom remains strong.
Foreseeing that the end game was near, he turned in desperation to India which branded him a terrorist and a proclaimed offender after the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi.
He said:" 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.
"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".
The address showed how clueless he was about the mood in Tamil Nadu. In fact, no less a person than AIADMK leader and former Chief Minister J Jayalalitha raised the pitch in the run-up to Parliament elections on May 13, which coincided with the final phase of the war in Sri Lanka, and accused the UPA Government, of which the DMK was a part, of inaction. Still the people of Tamil Nadu refused to be swayed by emotions and voted with their head.
After the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi in May 1991, this was the first time that Sri Lanka, particularly Prabhakaran was made an election issue in Tamil Nadu and it boomeranged on parties which tried to bail him out in the name of championing the cause of beleaguered Tamils.
No wonder that Martyrs Day went unobserved in Tamil Nadu barring stray posters put up by committed LTTE supporters like Thol Tirumavalavan of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi.
- Asian Tribune -
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