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  The Liberative Question: A Fancy Footnote     

 By Chandi Sinnathurai

05 August, 2010
Countercurrents.org

In the post-war Sri Lanka and in the diaspora the Tamil National struggle has splintered into multifaceted voices.  The worrying development is that none of these voices represent the deepest anguish of the suffering people.  Yes, the whole world knows now the IDP Tamils need to be re-settled.  The West has shown interest in the humanitarian crisis and hence the Corporate media institutions will pick up on the story.  As timing would have it, The Elders have echoed the following sentiment: 


"The Elders now believe that the Sri Lankan government's domestic conduct, as well as its recent unacceptable treatment of the United Nations in Sri Lanka warrants a firm, public response from its most influential friends – particularly China, India, Japan and the United States as well as the non-aligned group of countries,"  http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/srilanka/India-s-silence-on-Lanka-deafening-The-Elders/Article1-582218.aspx
It is most interesting the US is portrayed in the above statement as one of the influential friends of Sri Lanka.  But the question is when will Colombo buckle under the strain of global media attention into unsavoury matters?  The gut feeling is however, its all part of a big media circus.          


It is in this media vomit, as referred before, the splintered Tamil voices plant their "what you need to hear" sound bites through their own media out lets.  There seem to be neither unified strategy nor a game plan.  This writer has felt for some time that the liberation Quest has been hijacked into a liberation industry.  On a theoretical level it is a heresy.  As praxis, its tom foolery!


"KP" the one -time Tamil tiger arms procurement chief, soon after LTTE*  Talaivar  V Prabaharan's demise, was propped up by various diaspora Tamil quarters as the Global Tamil Leader.  That was short lived  http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article6723884.ece .  But now, while in Sri Lanka's detention, KP has yet again invented himself a new face.  For the Government he is a convenient wedge.  For the Diaspora leading voices, he is a thorn in the flesh!  In his recent interview to the Sri Lankan press, KP claims himself to be a "Reconciling voice."  http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=3201   The suspicion people have is that to whose drum beat KP is dancing. 


Recently, in New Delhi when delivering a lecture, a Sri Lankan terrorism 'expert' has analysed the struggle of the Tamils.  As we said else where, academicians within institutional set-ups become voice of the power.  In the interest of sustainable peace and stability the 'expert' makes an interesting observation below:


The LTTE is acting through three fronts – the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam led by Visuvanathan Rudrakumaran in New York, Global Tamil Forum led by Father S. J. Emmanuel in the U.K. and the criminal faction led by Perinbanayagam Sivaparan alias Nediyawan in Norway. The LTTE leaders, offices and assets overseas are largely intact. The LTTE-controlled diaspora campaign contributions and carefully orchestrated constituency pressure/electoral compulsions compel the U.S., U.K., Norway and a few countries to turn a blind eye to LTTE activities. Although the LTTE leadership in Sri Lanka has been decapitated, the LTTE's global network poses an enduring and a long term threat to the stability and security of the country. The LTTE ideology is intact, its financial infrastructure is operational, and its vicious propaganda machine is impactful. For sustainable peace and stability, the long term ideological and the operational threat posed by the LTTE will need to be carefully managed.  http://www.srilankaguardian.org/2010/08/post-war-challenge-for-sri-lanka.html
  So, the tigerliness boils down to three stripes: 1) Transnational Government/Viswanathan/New York.  2) Global Forum/Fr Emmanuel/U.K.  3) Criminal Faction/Nediyawan/Norway.


No one seem to clarify to this writer whether these fringes are competing voices or are they complimentary streams of a movement.   It is true that the tiger 'institution' has crumpled liked a pack of cards with its very own "authorised official voices."  But these above voices - particularly the 'middle wicket' with Catholic credentials coupled with a criminal gang leader (so we are told) sounds a bit too naughty.  All these fringes are stationed in the West.  That must tell the reader, the West has carefully considered the big picture of the game plan.  These voices are cardboard-cut-outs in the geopolitical game.  But should the countries in which these voices have stationed themselves choose to back them up for their selfish gains, then and only then can they become a real threat to Sri Lanka.  In the end, it all depends whose strategy is working.  It doesn't stop Sri Lanka doing a spinner with its influential friends. 


But do these Tamil voices have a common strategy/goal?  Where do the elected Tamil politicians and their parties fit into this scenario?  After all, the Diaspora cannot dictate terms to the Tamils in the island.  That will not work. 


Lastly, there are intellectuals who are throwing their spanners in the works.  This is an act of distraction.  Some claim the Dravidian Tamils migrated from the main-land South India to Sri Lanka, possibly on foot, many centuries ago.   This "Immigrant" nonsense has no room in post-modern politics.  There are those who say that the Tamils are not Dravidian at all.  None should tell the Tamils how to suck eggs.  However, the unarmed Tamil population could be treated with callous disregard with Sri Lanka military might.  That would be history repeating it self but this time as a farce.  Sadly, the whole lot - the Transnational Government, or the Global Forum or the Criminal Fringe, none can do much about it.  From a distance, they can only be paper tigers.  

When Aung San Suu kyi took up the struggle of her people and to fight it non-violently, she didn't make noises in Oxford.  On the contrary, risking her life, she returned alone to her people.  And the lone woman under house arrest shames the might of the Military junta in Mayanmar. The integrity of Suu Kyi will make the Generals wet their pants!  The credibility of a democratic voice is located within and derived from the people. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aung_San_Suu_Kyi

The Tamil voices lack credibility and do have serious democratic deficit.  

The argument is what does it mean to have "Sustainable peace and stability" in Sri Lanka?  Will the voice of the Tamils in the island be heard loud and clear?    

*Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam