Tamilselvan - beyond the media personality

"His thoughts were always about the liberation of the land and the people he so dearly loved. He longed for a free, honourable and safe life for our people. He was a fire that laboured selflessly and with determination towards the goal."

- LTTE Leader in his message on the loss of his colleague and Head of Political Wing, S.ÿP.ÿTamilselvan

By S. Puleedevan

Although the world knows the late S.P. Tamilselvan, the former head of the LTTE Political Wing, as the leader of the LTTE negotiating team, his capabilities are multi faceted. We can come to understand his contribution to protecting and winning the rights and welfare of the Tamil speaking people by studying other facets of his work in his role as the head of the Political Wing.

Of course his skill as a negotiator is just one of them. The dedicated innovations in the civil administration of the areas under his purview as the political head took most of his time and energy. The appreciation he earned from the people for this was forcefully demonstrated by the heart rendering final farewell given to him by the Tamil people.

As negotiator/spokesperson

Tamilselvan led the negotiating team in 1994-95 under the Kumaratunga presidency. This was just within two years after he took the role as the head of the Political Wing. The experience he gained then polished his skill that was openly recognised by many in the talks that were to follow later. He was, however, already demonstrating the strategist within, when he used this debut to expose the blacked out humanitarian crisis that was already facing the Tamil people.

It was after the 2002 ceasefire agreement that he was truly thrown on the world stage. He not only participated in many negotiations with Sri Lankan government delegations and led many of it, he also met scores of representatives of world governments in and outside the Tamil homeland.

During a month long tour of Europe in 2005, after the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, he met many European government ministers. He skillfully brought out the inhumane actions of the Government of Sri Lanka in denying even humanitarian aid to the tsunami affected people. During this tour he met the foreign ministers of Norway and Finland. He also met the economic development ministers of Germany, Ireland, Sweden, and Italy. Finally he met the deputy president of South Africa.

In these meetings, in addition to the immediate humanitarian crisis facing the Tamils, he also outlined the decades long trampling of the civil and political rights of the Tamil people by the Sinhala dominated Sri Lankan government and enlightened them on the just struggle of the Tamils.

His last appearance as the leader of the negotiating team was in Geneva in October 2006. It is notable that the new Head of the Political Wing, B. Nadesan, also was with him during these talks and made a substantial contribution.

Following these last talks many observers at the talks and the media commented on Tamilselvan's sharp mind. One comment by a Western diplomat, who said that the Sri Lankan government delegation was running like a mouse that was being chased by a cat, reveals the scene and the skill of Tamilselvan. However, the Sri Lankan government delegation refused to accept even the most basic request to open the A9 route to Jaffna to address the humanitarian needs of the Tamil people.

After these talks, the Norwegian facilitators put pressure on Tamilselvan to agree on a date for the next round of talks. The Norwegians even implied that they cannot guarantee the safety of Tamilselvan's delegation to return to Kilinochchi, unless they agree on a date for the next round of talks. Tamilselvan, as well as the present Head of Political Wing, Nadesan, responded to this pressure as follows: "LTTE members never yield to threats and that is how our organisation trains us. We do not put our lives ahead of the freedom of our people."

Minister Erik Solheim, a former Norwegian special envoy to the Sri Lankan peace process said after the death of Tamilselvan, "I have known Mr. Tamilselvan for nearly a decade. Over the years he has become the main point of contact for the Norwegian facilitating team. His leadership as head of the political wing and his many important contributions have been crucial for the peace process, and his death is a great loss."

As head of civil administration

Since he was appointed head of the political wing in 1993, Tamilselvan worked tirelessly to create a strong institutional infrastructure for civil administration.

He created several institutions to address the humanitarian needs of the people. He also gave new life to those that were in existence. His great skill in drawing everyone to work with him and resolve conflicts created a tremendous love and respect for him among LTTE leaders, members, and civilians.

The list of departments that functioned under him with its own heads include, health department that gave primary health services to the remotest areas where other health services do not reach; education department that catered for the most badly affected children - one of its services included organising free after school classes for such children; forestry department that spearheaded forest protection and forest replanting on a massive scale; cultural affairs department to promote arts; sports department that runs sports' training academies and nationwide sporting competitions in soccer, cricket, netball and karate; and radio and television broadcasting services.

The most substantive work he organised for the people is through the social service department through which he set up village development programmes and income generation schemes. Over and above these he also supervised the functioning of the LTTE Peace Secretariat and the liaison office for UN and other international agencies working in the Tamil homeland.

His skill in bringing people together shone through during the leadership he provided for the tsunami rehabilitation and reconstruction. It is well known that this effort was admired and praised by the international media and donors. He also played a role in the creation of the joint structure for tsunami reconstruction. Sadly this was abandoned due to the hurdles placed by the Sri Lankan government.

In his death

The aerial bombing which killed Tamilselvan and five others, was witnessed by many. They know that the location was a civilian area and not a military target. Many analysts continue to express varying views on the effects, internationally and in the island, of the assassination of Tamilselvan by an aerial bombardment.

The LTTE informed the people in the Tamil homeland, the Tamils living all over the world and the international community, of the death of Tamilselvan and five other LTTE members, in a Sri Lankan aerial bombing within a few hours of the bombing. It also announced the replacement for the head of political wing on the same day. The LTTE clearly demonstrated, yet again, that it is running a de facto-government with a strong infrastructural base that can withstand any loss.

What is important to note here is the manner in which Tamil people in the Tamil homeland and living all around the world reacted to his death. At his final rites thousands of people were present, unmoved by the deliberate threats of the Sri Lankan government that flew again and again the same bombers that killed Tamilselvan. The noise of these bombers usually strikes fear among our people because they have seen and heard of so much death and maiming caused by this. Yet at the final rites on November 5 the people stood unmoved, as if to show the world how they felt. One can only hope that the world received that message.

There is no doubt that the assassination of Tamilselvan has only created an unstoppable wave of support for the struggle of the Tamil people. It is worthwhile concluding this article with the comment made by the Head of Intelligence Wing, Pottu Amman:

"Many ask what our response is to the assassination of Tamilselvan. Our response must be to work even harder towards the goal for which he and many others sacrificed their lives."

The writer is the head of the LTTE Peace Secretariats

What will the stars foretell for tomorrow? 

The stars are not shining brightly on Mahinda Percy Rajapakse in recent times.

Not even Mahela Jayawardena playing Down Under has helped the country to come out from the depressed mood like how Arjuna and his boys did to Chandrika Bandaranaike when she was in the doldrums, as she usually was. The only hope appears to be a miracle performed by Murali at Hobart but my bookmaker is not giving favourable odds.

I don't know how astrologers will put it, but Saturn seems to be playing pucks on Mahinda Percy even snatching defeat for Mahinda Percy from the jaws of victory. Take the case of Tamilselvan.

Tamilselvan

There was joy for our leader and even a few crackers were heard in the neighbourhood on the news being received about Tamilselvan and this was particularly welcome news after A'pura. There was jollification in the Rajapakse camp but this was joy among the cheer squads who will cheer come sunshine or rain. Right now what he needs is some kind of pat on the back from those liberal, human right watchers or even the local national or anti- national peace mongers. But they do not like Mahinda Percy and instead have bowled a doosra.

Tamilselvan, they say was no military man but a man of peace - a latter day Gandhi. Whether he suffered that limp of his doing the hop - step and a jump at his school sports meet or in the battle field is immaterial. Didn't he negotiate for the LTTE at international fora? Didn't he charm those western diplomats with his perpetual Teflon smile? And Mahinda Percy had bombed and killed him, they say.

So right now a peace offensive is on in the local and international fields. At home Tamilselvan will be accorded the status of Divangatha Tamilselvan - Divangatha is an honorific for people who go to heavenly abodes on departure from mother earth. Abroad he may even be accorded the status of a Lankan Gandhi with the 80-year-old patriarch Karunanidhi penning paeans about the man.

Now this is certainly not a good situation for our leader who is being battered all round for human rights and attempts are being made to bring down UN human rights monitors to breathe down his neck. He would have expected praise to be forthcoming from those international warriors in the Global War against terrorism but that appears not to be.

Cheers in the south may be at the time of the budget blues but what is needed now is some appreciation from our great white brothers.

Karuna

Karuna who appeared to manna from heaven now appears to have boomeranged on Mahinda Percy. Karuna no doubt was a deadly terrorist and the right arm of Velupillai Pirpaharan.  He recruited children by the thousands for the baby brigades and led the most successful attacks on army camps. With Karuna, Velu seemed invincible.

But Karuna was one who dared to breakaway from Velu and lives to tell the tale. Whether the RAW convinced Karuna, Ranil Wickremesinghe's strategy of putting Karuna and his comrades into lounge suits and sending them west to study federalism that did the trick or he was caught putting his hand into the over sized LTTE tillÿ no one can tell other than Velu and Karuna. But when Karuna broke away it was natural that the enemy's enemy becomes your best friend and so Mahinda Percy and Karuna went into an embrace although this was strongly denied as it should have been.

Under normal circumstances when a leader of a deadly international terrorist movement breaks away the internal community hails him, offers amnesty and absorbs him into an anti terrorist front. But that was not the case with Karuna. He was hounded from the world's leading anti- terrorist nations. Ostensibly this was because he was abducting children to build up his own brigades. But that couldn't have been the only reason because Pirpaharan too continued to do so and received only mild rebukes.

My heretical thesis for this is that Karuna upset the peace applecart. The Donors had nicely formulated the peace process with the LTTE on one side and the government on the other side. Now Karuna creates another LTTE and upsets the entire process for the LTTE's claim as the sole representative of the Tamils is blown sky high and Velu won't negotiate if any other representatives are brought in. Besides Mahinda Percy and Karuna has gone into a clinch. Mahinda who has been stalling on this peace process as much as Velu with Karuna's invaluable assistance drives the LTTE out of the east.

ÿInternational peacemakers such as High Commissioner Dominic Chilcott are furious. The peace process seems irretrievable. Pirpaharan gets tougher and Mahinda Percy and brother Gotabaya are getting cockier. Much of this because of Karuna.

Meanwhile old habits die hard. Karuna can't give up his kidnapping, demanding ransom and even killings, and the world reads the riot act to Mahinda Percy. Karuna the one time messiah becomes and embarrassment.

Bentara Ganga

Now, Mahinda Percy and Rajapakse brothers are all born south of the Bentara Ganga. The Sinhala saying is -  "don't even trust a kitten that has not opened its eyes, if born south of that river." My feeling is that military and political strategists of yore from Sun Tzu of China, Kautilya of Bharat and Machiavelli of Italy may have taken postal tuition courses from these people south of the Bentara Ganga. It appears that Southern kris knives were drawn and now Karuna the embarrassment is in Merry England.

Not so Merry, British High Commissioner Dominic Chilcott who will be red in the face will say pointing out that he is in a prison for illegal immigrants. Why Chilcott will be hot under the collar or red in the face is that his nation, the oldest and best reputed nation for spying and intelligence operations had been tricked by the sons South of Bentara to issue a visa on a fake passport on the request of the Sri Lankan government!  Simply not done, not cricket old boy, he will say but not forget.

Mahinda Percy will have to face the music for misleading Her Majesty's Government, we are told. So once again the stars have done the dirty on Mahinda Percy.

Tomorrow's stars

And tomorrow as the Second Reading of the budget is taken up what will the stars hold for Mahinda Percy. Will his old red cronies in the south do the dirty? The betting is heavy says my bookmaker but won't give the odds.

Perhaps it's not the stars that are at fault. As Julius Caesar had told Brutus : 'The fault dear Brutus is not in our stars, but in ourselves.

A lowly tribune in plea for tribute

Not being scientifically inclined, parasitology was never one of my preferred subjects even at school. Well, not parasitology in the generally understood sense of the word.

However, those who enter the world of media come face to face with parasites of one shape or another, usually ones with two legs. These parasites, like those we were accustomed to study in our early school days, live on others.

How they exist on others depends on how much of a parasite one is.

There is that rare kind of parasite which migrates from one host to another and sometimes even lives on more than one host at the same time.

The worst kind is of course the human parasite. Other parasites can be killed or destroyed in one way or another, usually with pesticides.

The human parasite clings on tenaciously and however much it is exposed for what it is, it will not let go of its host, or more likely its' various hosts, that it milks to the maximum.

These parasites like some politicians, have hides that would make a crocodile skin seem like some cheap upholstery.

Parasitology came to mind when we met as usual at Paradise Club, our favourite watering hole down Duplication Road way.

It was my friend Kelly Kankendiri, from a well known Californian think-tank briefly in Colombo, who broached the subject as he walked into the bar arm in arm with Angie Atheypattu.

"Say Pachoris, what the hell is this all about? You chaps have really exposed that Asian Tribune fellow. Is all that true, I mean his having put all that in writing?"

"Well, Kelly the thing is this. He has not denied it still has he?" I asked.

"Surely that Rajasingham chap who is said to be the editor of this so-called online newspaper, had all the time to deny that he sent such a report or synopsis of the discussions he had with President Rajapakse in Geneva," said Dr Ananda (Andy to some) Ansabage. "Now what does that tell us? If I were not responsible for some of the serious charges made in The Sunday Leader article and had no part in it, I would have promptly denied it in an article in the Asian Tribune. But he has been silent on the truthfulness of that report."

"My friend," butted in Puli Pachchathanni, poet laureate of Pungodativu, "You chaps do not understand the Jaffna mind. He may not have written such a report at all and may have only sent a few paragraphs. But The Sunday Leader article makes him seem like Cassius and Machiavelli rolled into one, a devious character and manipulator who can even swing the president and his advisers round his little finger. He is now revelling in this situation and so he is keeping silent. He is letting the people absorb his new found greatness having claimed to have created Karuna and advised the president on diplomacy."

"But Puli this is not the first time that this Rajasingham fellow has been written about even in Tamil websites. Those reports have certainly not been complimentary of this fellow exposing what he was doing in Thailand before he ran away to Sweden claiming the LTTE was after him," said Kandiah (call me Ken) Vinasapathi formerly of the Ceylon Civil Service. "I know of this man from the days he was working in the Nelliyadi multipurpose co-operative society in Jaffna. It is from there that he vanished and later surfaced in Thailand, according to some people in Jaffna."

"What a shame that the president can spend so much time with this-self glorifying fellow and the government spend tax payers money accommodating him in Geneva," added Kesara Kasalagoda, Royal College and SSC.

"I do not know how many of you have studied the political vagaries of the Asian Tribune," I said. "As a journalist I read many different sources just to get an idea of what is going on and where the different media stand on a particular issue. There was a time when the Tribune supported Douglas Devananda. Then it was Anandasangaree and the TULF. Then it started supporting Karuna when he broke away from the LTTE and it was all about Karuna. Some time later it dropped Karuna and began supporting his No 2, Pilliyan. If there is anyone here who reads the Asian Tribune regularly he would remember that nearly three years ago the Tribune carried many articles about two Tamils called Jayadevan and Vivekananthan who were detained by the LTTE in the Wanni. They were given plenty of publicity. After some time, Jayadevan and Vivekananthan disappeared from the Tribune's radar screen. A couple of months or so later anti-Rajasingham articles started appearing in new Tamil websites accusing him of all sorts of things. Some say Jayadevan was the author of some of the articles critical of Rajasingham. We used to see those articles in various websites including one called Independent SL."

"What concerns me is this. According to your newspaper Rajasingham has made several criticisms about some of our diplomatic missions - in London, Paris, Stockholm, Oslo and possibly others," interjected Pandu Pusvedilla of the Notorious Peace Committee. "The criticisms appear to be based broadly on the fact that our diplomats in these missions would not speak to him or do what he expected them to do. That is hardly valid grounds for wasting the time of the president. Who is Rajasingham to advise anybody on how to run diplomatic missions and what our diplomats should be doing. He is a nobody basically trying to be somebody by bootlicking like that cartoon one website carried with an article about him several months ago."

"There is something more important than all that. In the report he is said to have written he seems to have advised President Rajapakse that he and another person called some Pala and somebody else should go on a mission to India to meet the Indian leaders and talk to them. Who in blooming hell does this upstart Rajasingham think he is?" asked an angry Bandu Bahubootha, university don turned NGO-wallah. "Just imagine Indian leaders giving time to these amateurs trying to play special envoys. Even our ministers and at one time even the president could not meet Indian leaders. What makes this joker think he would be allowed to get even to the tradesmen's entrance?"

"Who is this Pala he refers to?" asked Kelly Kandendiri.

"Ah, that's another story my friend," said Ravi Rateveddah, former MP for Nadagama. "He was President Premadasa's Lake House puppy. He was editor of one of their papers which he turned into a pro-Premadasa rag writing lengthy articles that probably only Premadasa and he read and barked at anybody who said a word against the president."

"Maybe he is looking for a similar role again," said Para Pathiam, the mathematician from Mannar. "It seems these fellows cannot fade away gracefully."

"Some people here who have written for the Asian Tribune say they were not paid for their articles though promises were made," I said

"What beats me is this. Could the president have really been taken in by this clown who thinks Indian leaders are waiting eagerly to listen to the pearls of wisdom of Rajasingham. He would be lucky if he gets a visa to go there.

"Funny thing, the Asian Tribune is published by an institution called the World Institute of Asian Studies. That is what it says on the top of website. What academic/ research work does this body do? Has anybody here seen or read anything by this Institute? This looks like another dubious organisation probably trying to get charity from the Swedish Government," said Kandiah Vinasapathi.