Saturday, May 18, 2013

Muslim Organizations in Sri Lanka Join Hands to Form an ICC “Shoora”( Interim Consultative Council )

Latheef Farook-

Friday, May 17, 2013
For the first time almost all Muslim religious, social and cultural and other organizations and groups, buried their differences, and met in one platform under one roof at Wellawatta Miami Reception Hall on Thursday 2 May 2013 to announce the formation of an Interim Consultative(Shoora) Council-ICC.

The main purpose of ICC is to meet the emerging challenges and deal with burning issues facing the community besides seeking to play a role in the overall development of the country.

The need for such a body has been felt for sometimes in view of the continuous moral decadence of Muslim politicians who had become community’s shameful liability Even the others failed to rise up to the occasion to protect the interest of the community.

It was also reminded that such efforts were made in the past and the failure to do so had cost the community a great deal.

Under such circumstance, when the community was left in lurch, the need for a genuine group of people to take over the task of guiding the community was felt badly .This was especially so in the context of fierce anti-Muslim campaign unleashed by a small number of ethno religious fascists aimed at pitting the mainstream Sinhalese against peaceful Muslim community.

The result was the formation of Interim Consultative Council, ICC, aimed at rescuing the community.

In the short term the ICC will seek to deal with challenges faced by the community whose very existence is threatened due to the abrupt rise of anti-Muslim forces with their sinister agendas against the Muslim community. They are suspected to have been backed by powerful local and foreign forces hostile to Muslims.
The organizers explained the purpose, shape and all other relevant details of the ICC which would pave the way for the final consultative council. These details were submitted to the participants for their comments which will be discussed at an open forum early next month.

Some of the main organizations attended the gathering include All Ceylon Jamiathul Ulema, ACJU, Tabligh Jamaath, Thowheed Jamaath, Jamiathe Islami and Thareekas besides professionals, intellectuals, businessmen and others.
In his inaugural speech Yusuf Mufthi of ACJU explained the great importance attached to consultation in Islam in arriving at any decision.

It was also addressed by General Secretary of ACJU Sheikh M,.M.M.Mubarak, Sharia Council President Moulavi Hasbulla, Shaikh Mufti Yusuf Haniffa, Professor M Siddeeq of Peradeniya University, Moulavi A.L.M. Ibrahim, former Ameer of Jamaathe Islami, Ustad M.A.M.Mansoor, Professor A.L.H.M Ibrahim, former Sri Lanka Ambassador to Iran M.M.Zuhair, former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Javid Yusuf, Shaikh I.L.M.Hashim, Shaikh Ismail Salafi, Moulavi A.L.M.Hashim and Mansoor Dahlan.

They all supported the move in one voice as timely .There was consensus that the establishment of such a Shoora council may take time and thus they welcomed the decision to set up an interim consultative council as a prelude to the formation of a permanent Shoora Council.

Dr Musthafa Musthafa, Chairman of Colombo based Abrar Institute, explained the issues, around 132, faced by the community to be tackled. Thus the task ahead is gigantic.However,as the age old Chinese adage says that ”one thousand mile journey begins with a step” the need to start somewhere to reach somewhere was highlighted.
As part of its overall agenda the proposed NSC will be concerned about any threat to communal harmony or any threat to the country by local NGOs, international forces, extremists from all communities besides doing everything possible to ensure peace and harmony in the island.

The NSC will encourage people from grassroots to involve in participatory democracy to overcome issues; the centuries old ethnic politics and decorative political leadership.

Tracing the circumstances which led to the formation of the ICC it was pointed out that it all happened when some dedicated young Muslims from all walks of life belonging to diverse professions and committed to the welfare of the community met around early last January to discuss what could be done to save the sinking community. They met at a time when the racist elements were building up hatred towards the community and destroying communal harmony in the country.

Since then they held meeting after meeting .Following lengthy stormy sessions they prepared a list of names of people who could fit into this agenda. They screened and selected each and every one and finally ended up selecting around 200 people, from different fields, who could play a significant role in guiding the community in the right direction.

Such careful screening was essential, because as Jemath Islami former chief Moulavi Ibrahim rightly said” there are Bodu Sala Senas within our own community .Thus the need to bring together like-minded sincere group which would place the interest of the community above their own interests.

Once the list was finalized they didn’t rush. Instead they formed into different teams and met individuals, groups, associations and personally explained the concept .The overall response has been spontaneous reception. Encouraged by the response and equipped with all relevant details they formed an Interim Committee for National Shoora Initiative.

The Interim Committee absorbed ideas from eight different models and prepared a provisional concept which could be adjusted to suit the need of the time within the framework of Islamic teachings. In doing so it was decided that the NSC will not directly discuss or decide on any matter relating to Shareeah, not overshadow or pose a threat to the existing organizations in any manner and the voluntary interim committee consisting of persons of diverse backgrounds will not opt to be members of the Shoora.

The characteristics of the proposed NSC will be inclusive and participatory, widely represented, consultative, united and coordinated, independent, recognized and accepted, accommodative, assertive, authoritative and able to make decisions binding all.

Some of the qualifications to be members of the NSC include the need to abide by Islamic principles, genuinely committed to the development of the community, will to dedicate time and energy, president/chairman or an authorized member of an organization who has a say in it, locally or internationally recognized person in relevant fields, patriotic and supportive of national development and be apolitical.
COURTESY:latheeffarook.com

Senior referee retires due to Rajapaksa pressure

Saturday, 18 May 2013

Senior referee and former head of the Sri Lanka Rugby Referees Association, Dilory Fernando has decided to quit the game completely due to the increased political interferences in the game.

Fernando’s resignation comes after the referees association decided not to referee any match played by the Science College team coached by Rohitha Rajapaksa this season.

The decision to boycott Science College games was made after the referee at the Science College and St. Peter’s College match was assaulted by Science College players two weeks back.

The referees association had also called on the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union to inform them of the action taken by the Union against the player (Rohitha Rajapaksa) who assaulted the referee at the Navy vs. Police match during the Rugby Sevens Tournament a few weeks back.

It is learnt that the referees association and senior referees have come under pressure from the First Family to stop ‘harassing’ the Rajapaksa sons.

According to sources, Fernando has had enough of all this and decided to quit the game.

Namal sets up rugby team paying millions

Saturday, 18 May 2013

First Son and parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa has set up a rugby team for Hambantota called the Hambantota Sharks to play A Division rugby.

Namal is partnered by Minister Johnston Fernando’s son, Yohan Fernando in this endeavor.

Although a rugby team has a long process to follow before being permitted to play A Division rugby in the country, Namal has paid Rs. 2 million to get the necessary approvals for the team to play league rugby without following any B Division games.

The Rajapaksa sons are currently engaged in trying to hold a monopoly in the rugby field. The Navy Sports Club team is already sponsored by the Rajapaksas and now the Hamabantota Sharks.

According to local rugby players, the harassments faced by the players and referees would increase with the increased participation of the Rajapaksas in the game.

They also pointed out that the Rajapaksas would now start poaching key players from other teams and any refusal would be met with physical threats and harassments.

Matale Mass Grave: Police Failed To Record A Statements From Gota

May 18, 2013

“The standing committee of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) on Rule of Law at its meeting on 10^thMay decided to express its concern on the appointment of a commission regarding the unearthing of the mass grave in Matale, when in fact what is necessary is to proceed under the normal Law of the Country. Commissions of inquiry has throughout our history has been a modus adapted to sweep an issue under the carpet. It is noted that the Police has not yet taken even the most important step of recording of statements from persons who were in charge of security during the relevant period.” says it’s Convener Priyantha Gamage.

Issuing a statement he said today; “The failure of the Police, up to now, to make any progress in the investigations into the multiple attacks on the Udayan Newspaper and its staff is causing grave concern to those interested in protecting the freedom of expression and Rule of Law. This is a serious lapse considering the fact that a large security force is stationed in the area. This has led to much speculation regarding the attackers. Therefore we call upon the authorities in charge of the investigations to expedite the investigative process to bring the culprits before the law and in fairness to all those concerned to make a public statement as to the reasons for the failure to bring those who has committed these criminal acts before the law.”

“The detention of Azath Salley under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and the drama that followed raises a serious question of the use of the Prevention of Terrorism Act to detain persons who are suspected to have committed offences that can be tried under the normal law of the country. What emerges is that this Act which is a piece of legislation that deprives a suspect of a fair trial in keeping with the fundamental rights enshrined in the constitution and the protection that an accused or a suspect is entitled to under the criminal law of the country is being used to harass persons who are critical of the government. This will give rise to a serious situation where dissent will be suppressed and the freedom of speech and assembly be deprived to selected citizens.” the Convener further said.

Deterrent action for Indians found fishing in Lankan waters

Subodh Ghildiyal & Indrani Bagchi, TNN | May 18, 2013

NEW DELHI: The government is planning "deterrent" action against Indian fishermen violating international waters with Sri Lanka, finding that trawlers and ships from this side are the biggest source of confrontation with the Emerald isle.

The decision to slap penalties and even suspend the licences of fishermen who are repeat offenders of the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) stems from their refusal to heed the earlier warnings.

Foreign minister Salman Khurshid spoke to his Lankan counterpart G L Peiris on Friday, seeking the release of 26 Indian fishermen inColombo's custody. In response, Peiris asked for a meeting between the fishermen's associations of the two countries to resolve the issue.

This has Indian government stumped because of Tamil Nadu's rigid attitude, possibly for political reason. The TN government has stonewalled an early meeting of fishermen's association, saying the atmosphere wasn't conducive for it. This has the Centre explore alternative venue for such meeting like Puducherry or Bangalore. PMManmohan Singh has personally weighed in on this with TN CM J Jayalalithaa as has Khurshid and the MEA brass, without any success.

At a recent meeting chaired by the foreign secretary Ranjan Mathai, the view veered towards the fact that Indian fishermen are crossing the IMBL to fish in Lankan waters with impunity. The meet emphasized that Indian fishing boats were routinely transgressing the IMBL, with the Indian Navy pegging the figure at 700-900 every day.

In a bid to enforce discipline, several long-term measures may soon be put in place. Besides deterrent penalty for violators and suspension of licence for repeat offenders, India may extend the "no fishing" period from the current 45 to 60 days and also during monsoons. New Delhi may set up a "no fishing zone" straddling the IMBL and India-Lanka Marine Disputes Authority.

The move to rein in the Indian fishing community seeks to address the major flashpoint between New Delhi and Colombo, threatening the diplomatic detente besides emerging a polarizing issue in TN politics.

In addition, India might take more serious measures like a ban on bottom trawling and use of monofilament and twin fold nets, which are the main culprits from the Indian side. This is not allowed in most countries, but Indian fishermen use these equipment which destroys marine ecology and stop issuing licences to new trawlers from operating in the Palk Straits and the Gulf of Mannar.

Gossip Lanka web site blocked – Anusha Palpita

Popular website ‘ Gossip Lanka ‘ (gossip lankanews .com) has been blocked, stated the Director General of Telecommunications Regulatory Commission Anusha Palpita.
Speaking to ‘ Sri Lanka Mirror’ he stated that it was blocked by the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission under a written order of the Ministry of Mass Media & Information.
However, the administrators of the website yesterday stated that the Sri Lanka viewers cannot access ‘ Gossip Lanka’ due to a technical error.

The administrators further stated that those who wish to view the website can gain access through proxy.

http://www.srilankamirror.lk/news/7363-lanka-blocked-anusha-palpita

Bribery Commission: Ousted CJ denies allegations

SATURDAY, 18 MAY 2013

Impeached Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayke who appeared before the Bribery Commission issued a lengthy statement denying the charges levelled against her.

Sources close to Dr. Bandaranayake said she gave a detailed explanation on how she obtained each and every asset she possessed. She spoke for some three and a half hours giving details of her bank accounts and how she came to own her other properties.

She emphasised that she had accumulated her assets in a legitimate way.

Dr. Bandaranayake was asked to appear before the commission once again at 9.00 a.m. on Monday.

The charges include the non-declaration of assets and liabilities annually and about some 20 bank accounts she held in various banks including nine accounts in the National Development Bank (NDB).

According to reports the Bribery Commission is said to have received a complaint against the then Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake by an yet unnamed complainant. (Yohan Perera)

PS Vice chairman arrested over alleged sexual abuse

SATURDAY, 18 MAY 2013

The vice chairman of the Laggala- Wilgamuwa Pradeshiya Sabha was arrested by the Wilgamuwa police for allegedly entering the house of a widow and attempting to sexually abuse her.

The wife of a deceased soldier had been living in Naminigama Wilgamuwa, and on the day of the incident the suspect vice chairman (UPFA) had stealthily entered her house under the influence of liquor and tried to abuse her. Her screams for help alerted the neighbourhood and the vice chairman sensing danger had quickly taken to his heels leaving behind the pair of slippers he had worn.

She had lodged a complaint at the police station producing the vice chairman’s slippers as evidence. (M. W. Somaratne)

Unmasked at last: mother comes face to face with men accused of raping and killing her daughter in India

Family issues plea for justice in bus rape case that shocked India

The mother of a student who died after being gang-raped on a bus in Delhi came face to face with her alleged attackers for the first time and broke down in tears, pleading: “Please bring justice for my daughter.”

The mother, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was at the court in Delhi with her husband and one of her two sons to testify against four men charged over the attack last December. Vinay Sharma, Mukesh Singh, Pawan Gupta and Akshay Thakur have all pleaded not guilty and face the death penalty if convicted.

Under Indian law, the name of the victim – a physiotherapy student from Billia in Uttar Pradesh state – and the victim’s family, cannot be published.

“We want justice,” said the quietly-spoken mother, dressed in a pink sari and wiping tears from her face as she sat outside the courtroom, having given her testimony. “My daughter went through such a lot of atrocities and we want justice.”

Asked whether she had looked at the men accused of killing her daughter, she said they had been sitting just a few feet away from her. “I saw them face to face.”

The victim’s brother, who went into the courtroom to support his parents, claimed the suspects were smiling. “I wanted to slap them. I had to stop myself. I had to be strong,” the 20-year-old said. “They were shameless.”

International media have been prohibited from attending the proceedings but Indian reporters who heard the evidence said the mother sat in the witness box and recalled how she frantically tried to call her daughter on the night of the assault. “She left the house at 4pm and informed me that she was going to the market to purchase some goods and watch a movie with her friend, Awindra [Pandey],” she said. “When she had not come back at 9pm I made a call but her mobile phone was switched off.”

She said she had tried to call Mr Pandey’s phone but it was also turned off. “At around 11.15pm, I received a call from the Delhi police control room saying that an incident had happened with my girl and she had been taken to Safdarjung hospital,” she added.

The mother said that as her daughter’s conditioned worsened, she and her family flew to Singapore with her for specialist emergency treatment. Her daughter died there on 29 December and her body was later returned to them at Delhi airport.

Questioned by some of the lawyers for the accused, the mother said that on the day her daughter was flown to Singapore, grievously ill, the student was not well enough to talk to her. “My daughter was not able to speak a single word,” she added.

The victim and her friend were attacked after they boarded a private bus following a trip to the cinema to see the film Life of Pi. They had believed the bus would take them towards their homes but in reality it was being driven around Delhi by the suspects, allegedly on the lookout to pick up and rob passengers. The men are alleged to have repeatedly beaten and sexually assaulted her and struck Mr Pandey about the head with iron bars before throwing the pair from the bus, thinking them dead. They lay naked at the roadside for up to 20 minutes before passers-by came to help.

The attack triggered protests in Delhi and elsewhere. Following the outcry, the government has rushed through new laws and tougher punishments designed to protect women.

Six people were arrested in connection with the attack – five adults and a 17-year-old, who is being dealt with by a juvenile court. In March, one of the five adults charged with the attack and accused of being a ringleader, Ram Singh, was found hanged in his cell at Delhi’s Tihar jail. Another of the accused was allegedly beaten and poisoned by prison inmates last week.

Vinya Sharma’s lawyer accused inmates of “beating him on the chest” and poisoning his food, and said he was admitted to Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital on Tuesday after being treated at another city hospital since Sunday.

As she completed her evidence before Saket District Court in Delhi, the mother broke down in the witness box and said: “Please bring justice for my daughter.” The trial continues.

Long-Suffering Rohingya in Bangladesh Face Unacceptable Abuse

Forced displacement, intimidation, and abuse in Kutupalong makeshift camp

June 18, 2009

KUTUPALONG, Bangladesh - June 18 - Thousands of unregistered Rohingya refugees living in the Kutupalong makeshift camp, Bangladesh, are being forcibly displaced from their homes, in an act of intimidation and abuse by the local authorities. The international medical organization Doctors Without Border/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has treated numerous people for injuries, of which the majority were women and children. Furthermore, MSF has witnessed countless destroyed homes and heard many reports of people being warned to remove their own shelters or face the consequences.

"I was working. When I went back to my shelter I found it totally destroyed," said a camp resident. "An inspector was there with nine or 10 people. I asked why they destroyed my house. They showed me a fish cutter and said, ‘If you say anything, I'll cut you.' "

The Rohingya, a Muslim ethnic minority originating from Myanmar, are denied citizenship and suffer persecution and discrimination in Myanmar. Hundreds of thousands have fled to Bangladesh and Thailand.

To date, an estimated 25,000 people have flocked to the Kutupalong makeshift camp hoping for recognition and assistance. Instead of finding help, they have been told that they cannot live next to the official camp, supported by the Bangladesh Government and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Nor can they legally live on adjacent Forestry Department land. They have nowhere to go and no way to meet their basic needs.

"I cannot move," said another camp resident. "If we go to collect wood we will be arrested. If we collect water we will be beaten. If we move our house, where should we go?"

In March, 2009, MSF was alerted to fast-rising numbers in the makeshift camp and conducted an assessment. There were 20,000 people living in dire humanitarian conditions with global acute malnutrition rates above the emergency threshold, 90 percent food insecurity, poor water and sanitation, and no assistance.

"To forcibly displace this group when they are already so vulnerable is outrageous," said Gemma Davies, MSF project coordinator for the Kutupalong makeshift camp.

MSF responded immediately by treating the severely malnourished children, offering basic health care and improving water sources and waste facilities.

"Within four weeks of opening, we had almost 1,000 children in our feeding program," said Davies. "The rainy season has begun and the appalling water and sanitation situation is further deteriorating, increasing the risk of communicable diseases. These people have little to no access to even the most basic of services and they are being forced to flee in fear, with nowhere to turn. The situation is deplorable."

Denied citizenship in Myanmar, hundreds of thousands of Rohingya have fled their homes to seek refuge abroad. Few have been granted refugee status. The majority struggle to survive, unrecognized and unassisted in countries such as Bangladesh and Thailand.

A fundamental solution for the Rohingya, not only in countries where they seek asylum but at their origin, is crucial to restoring the health and dignity of these long suffering people.

MSF has assisted people in Bangladesh since 1992, most recently setting up a basic healthcare program in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, assisting victims of Cyclone Aila and implementing an emergency intervention to assist unregistered Rohingya in Kutupalong makeshift camp, with services also open to the host community.

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Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international medical humanitarian organization created by doctors and journalists in France in 1971. MSF's work is based on the humanitarian principles of medical ethics and impartiality. The organization is committed to bringing quality medical care to people caught in crisis regardless of race, religion, or political affiliation.
MSF operates independently of any political, military, or religious agendas.

Friday, May 17, 2013

Pictures Of The Kuragala Islam Holy Site Demolition

May 17, 2013

“It has also been bought to our notice that a stone inscription dating back to Hijra 300 (over 1200 years old) been Destroyed. Also the Bodu Bala Sena has threatened to bring a statue on the 18 th of this month from Colombo in a vehicle parade and place it there. I would be much thankful to you, if you would give priority to this matter in your busy schedule and intervene to stop causing any further damage to this Holy place of worship.” Azath Salley, the General Secretary of the National Unity Alliance wrote to President.

Azath Salley also wrote to diplomats today. He wrote; “I would be much thankful to you, if you would kindly use your good office with the President of Sri Lanka and bring this matter to his notice on an urgent basis, and help the Muslims of this country to safeguard their historical religious site.”

We publish below the letters in full;

His. Excellency Mahinda Rajapakse

President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

Presidential Secretariat

Colombo. 16^th May 2013

Your Excellency,

Herewith I am enclosing a copy of my previous letter dated 26^th,April 2013 and a copy of the statement issued by Ms.Roshan Aboosally – Trustee of the Dafthar Jailani Mohiyadeen Masjid-Kuragala, Thanjatenne, Balangoda, and some photographs which are self explanatory.

As you are well aware that the Dafthar Jailani Mohiyadeen Masjid-Kuragala is one of the oldest places of worship for the Muslims of Sri Lanka. This place is facing a severe threat from some hard line Buddhists Who want to destroy the heritage site. On my previous letter I brought this matter to your notice, but since there is no action from Your Excellencies government. Now the Holy place has been demolished under the guise of archeological excavation. According to the statement issued by the trustee this has been done despite the assurance given to Muslim worshippers by the Secretary of Defense.

Sometimes back I brought to your notice that some hard line elements are trying to attack the Dambulla mosque and create chaos among the communities, even before that incident took place, but regretfully that time also no action was taken by the government. This time too have brought this matter to your notice almost one month before, but again no action is taken.

There is no doubt, that continuing these type of activities only proves that there is no respect to the sentiments and feelings of the Muslim community which will badly damage the reconciliation efforts by your government to create a peaceful environment.

It has also been bought to our notice that a stone inscription dating back to Hijra 300 (over 1200 years old) been Destroyed. Also the Bodu Bala Sena has threatened to bring a statue on the 18^th of this month from Colombo in a vehicle parade and place it there. I would be much thankful to you, if you would give priority to this matter in your busy schedule and intervene to stop causing any further damage to this Holy place of worship.

Thanking you

Yours faithfully

M.Azath S. Salley

General Secretary

National Unity Alliance

Police Vandalized Shelter-Tents of Displaced Rohingyas

Friday, 17 May 2013

Police vandalized the shelter tents of the internally displaced Rohingyas at Thay Chaung, Sittwe. The tents were used by the displaced Rohingyas came from Kyauk Phyu Township. Police destroyed the tents as the displaced Rohingyas evacuated them ahead of the Mahasen Cyclone.

“Most of our tents were crude and self-made. The government didn’t even help us in making them. We had left the camps ahead of the storm. Meanwhile, Police destroyed our shelters” said a displaced Rohingya from Thay Chaung.

Having issued the warnings on the Cyclone, the central government and the state government left no stone unturned to force the displaced Rohingyas to the nearest possible places towards the sea.

“The places the government planned for the displaced Rohingyas are the nearest to the sea. We are the people against whom genocide is being committed by the government. On top of that, they wanted to kill us in mass by forcing us to the nearest to the places to the sea during the storm. That’s why we refused to move to such places” he explained.

As the displaced people refused to move to the places nearest to the sea, Police and Hluntin (security forces) vandalized their self-made makeshift tents.

“Those police who were said to have come to help us behaved like murderers. That’s why people became afraid when Police come. As expected, Police destroyed our tents in our absence. Even though we had moved to the places nearest to the sea as the government wanted, we would not have had any places to stay either” he exclaimed about their crises.

තවමත් රිදුම් දෙන යුද්ධයේ තුවාල වීඩියෝව

අවසාන යාවත්කාලීන කිරීම : 2013 මැයි 15 බදාදා - 11:09 GMT

Disunity – the bane of Tamil politics

By Maneckshaw-2013-05-14

The Tamil political parties have never demonstrated sufficient unity in the pursuit of a constructive solution to the Tamil question. Alliances were often formed, bringing together Tamil political parties with divergent ideologies under one umbrella. But their political conduct has not resulted in the achievement of their political goals.

It is not just the Tamil political parties but even the alliance formed by the Tamil militants had fizzled out, with the deaths of hundreds of cadres as a result of the rivalries among the Tamil militants.

The first Tamil alliance to be formed was the Tamil United Front (TUF), which later evolved into the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF), a political outfit that shot to fame following the Vaddukoddai Resolution, unanimously adopted at the first convention of the TULF in 1976, which demanded a separate Tamil state.

The first Tamil alliance

The Illankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) led by late S.J.V. Chelvanayagam, the All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC) led by late G.G. Ponnambalam and the Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) led by late Saumyamoorthy Thondaman formed the constituent partners of the TULF at that time. However, Thondaman broke away from the TULF, declaring that he was not in a position to support the demand for a separate Tamil state as he represented the Tamils of a different identity, hailing from the central hills of Sri Lanka.

Later, following the death of Chelvanayagam, an ITAK stalwart from the Eastern Province, C.Rajathurai, too fell out with the new leadership of the TULF. Leading the TULF at that time was Appapillai Amirthalingam. Rajathurai soon joined the J.R. Jayewardene Government as a Cabinet Minister.

Though the TULF had recorded a massive victory with its campaign for the establishment of an Eelam in the North and East during the 1977 General Elections, a political campaign that also raised the late Amirthalingam to the position of Parliamentary Opposition Leader – and the first Tamil to become so – the younger generation that formed part of his following had already decided on a political course of their own, with a new ideological positioning that was geared towards militancy. It was this generation that sought the power of weapons to pursue their political dream and decided to fight for a separate Tamil homeland.

The extremism embedded in the Tamil political scene emerged soon after the 1977 polls, and Tamil militancy began to take wing, which was followed by the infamous 'Black July 'communal riots in 1983.

However, divisions emerged among the Tamil militants as well, though they had a common goal of creating a separate Tamil homeland for themselves.

As the attacks carried out by Tamil militant outfits against the Security Forces increased in the mid '80s, the late Lalith Athulathmudali who handled the Defence portfolio for the Jayewardene administration, had once famously remarked that it was fortunate for the Sri Lankan Government to have serious divisions amongst Tamil militants, given that, had they been united, they (Tamil militants) would have been able to reach their goal of creating a separate state without much difficulty.

The Tamil militants had even formed an alliance in the mid '80s, following the political discussions with the Sri Lankan Government, held in the hilly capital of Bhutan, Thimpu – a political process that was initiated by India.

A coalition of militant outfits

The alliance of the Tamil militants at that time was known as the Eelam National Liberation Front (ENLF), and the militant outfits represented by ENLF during the talks were the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF), Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization (TELO) and the Eelam Revolutionary Organization Students (EROS).

Soon after it was taken, a famous photograph of the leaders of the respective Tamil militant outfits – V. Prabhakaran, K. Pathmanabha, Sri Sabaratnam and V. Balakumar – holding hands, to show the formation of the alliance, was published prominently in the media.

However, this alliance of the militants was short-lived. By then, the LTTE had sought to establish its supremacy and had not only wiped out the cadres of both TELO and the EPRLF but also their leaders – Sri Sabaratnam and K. Pathmanabha – who were gunned down brutally by the LTTE.

The only member in that famous picture of the ENLF alliance to survive was EROS Leader, V.Balakumar. He was also one of the persons who were initially listed as having surrendered to the Security Forces and later reported missing, when the war finally came to an end in 2009.

Ever since Sri Lanka gained independence from the British in 1948, the Tamil political leadership had been clamouring for equal rights and the recognition of their ethno- political identity.

However, neither the Tamil leaders nor their parties had ever shown a united front in the pursuit of securing the political rights for the Tamil community since the time when Tamils began agitating for the recognition of their political rights.

Most of the Tamil leaders from yesteryear belonged to the legal fraternity. It had often been said, that they were carrying out the Tamil struggle with one leg in Hulftsdorp and the other in the Sri Lankan Parliament.

These leaders were shrewd enough to enjoy the best of both worlds – as highly respected politicians representing the North and also as eminent lawyers practicing in the South, while making their political manipulations. Despite Tamil political leaders such as late G.G. Ponnambalam, S.J.V. Chelvanayagam and M. Thiruchelvam expressing their solidarity with the TULF, it was too late. The three leaders did not live long enough to provide the correct leadership or the required guidance.

History repeating itself

History repeated itself when a crucial meeting was held last Saturday (11) in Mannar, headed by the Mannar Catholic Bishop, Rt. Rev. Rayappu Joseph. The meeting was convened for the purpose of reaching a consensus among constituent partners, represented in the Tamil National Alliance (TNA).

The TNA was formed in 2001, with the blessings of the LTTE, when the outfit began engaging in peace talks with the Colombo Government, facilitated by Norway.

The former Tamil militant outfits excluding the party headed by Minister Douglas Devananda – the EPDP – along with the TULF, came together to form the TNA. Several TULF stalwarts such as R.Sampanthan and V. Anadasangaree who were at one time on the LTTE hit list had grown closer to the outfit, through the close association of LTTE's political wing leader at that time, S.P. Tamilselvan.

However, TULF Leader,
V. Anandasangaree, kept away from the LTTE backed TNA following serious differences in ideology, claiming that he was unable to express his views independently. He remained the General Secretary of the TULF.

The TNA since its formation had remained politically stable, winning the majority of seats at the Parliamentary elections and at the local elections in the North and East that followed.

Nevertheless, the TNA had turned out to be a shaky alliance, following the annihilation of the LTTE. The ITAK headed by R. Sampanthan is the premier constituent partner of the five-party alliance and the other political parties such as the EPRLF, PLOTE, TELO and the TULF are insisting that the TNA should register as a political party in order to gain equal importance for all constituent parties and to prepare for success during future hustings.

The ITAK's old guard is of the view that being too flexible within the alliance might cause it to lose its grip over the alliance, as the premier constituent party.

As the proposed Northern Provincial Council (NPC) polls draw closer, the civil society in the North feel that the TNA should not suffer a setback during the Northern polls, similar to the humiliating defeat it suffered during the Eastern Provincial Council (EPC) election
last year.

This compelled the Mannar Catholic Bishop, Rt. Rev. Rayappu Joseph, to take some steps to help stabilize the TNA, and to make the alliance a single strong party. This effort appears to have failed as the ITAK led by R. Sampanthan, appears to have misgivings about registering the TNA as a political party, especially in the light that such a move might diminish the importance of the ITAK as a political outfit.

Though the allies have failed in registering the alliance as a political party, it was agreed at the Mannar Bishop's meeting to work together towards ensuring a convincing victory at the forthcoming NPC polls.

As the Mannar Bishop has called for another meeting with the TNA on 8 June, mostly aimed at dispute resolution to achieve a much higher political goal, the absence of unity among the constituent parties within the alliance is indicative of a greater malady – that even after experiencing severe setbacks and immense loss of lives, the Tamil polity is still unable to learn lessons from the past and to build on those lessons.