While traveling in the bus, sipping a cup of coffee at the office cafeteria or while walking alone, it reverberates in my mind. Is everything over?

This thought is unbearable and overwhelming. At times, I have to control my tears and emotions looking at the ignominity of my fellow Tamils at the hands of Sinhalese. Tamils are slaughtered by the Sri Lankan army with the total support of India. The pictures and videos are disturbing. I avoided the websites such as puthinam which had horrendous images of the people caught in the cross fire. Videos of people suffering in the shell attacks are all over the Tamil websites. Tamils from Tamil Nadu, Malaysia, Canada, Britain, France, Swiss, Germany and USA have done whatever they can. They explained to every representative of the congress. Sent emails and faxes with lots of information about the crisis. It made some difference in the places like USA which to some extent respects the views of the people. Britain appointed special envoy and tried to bring the issue to the UN Security Council. But unfortunately China and Russia have blocked the issue from being debated in the council. It is now a known fact that China and Russia are acting on behalf of Sri Lanka in vetoing the discussions at the UN Security Council.

The feeling of “Is everything over?” is not about the rebels getting crushed at the hands of the Sri Lankan forces which is backed by India, but is about a legitimate insurgency for the right to self determination being brutally silenced. Victory at any cost for Sri Lanka, Elimination of LTTE at any cost by India – is the driving force behind the war. Meanwhile a country such as China which has ambitions to become the global power is trying to compete and grow its sphere of influence in the changing global dimensions.

Amidst the power play of the global powers, people like me and million other Tamils all over the world are watching the events helplessly. The pain of being powerless when we are brutally crushed by the global powers can’t be explained in simple words. There were sleepless nights. There were days when I could not concentrate on work, just staring at the computer monitor with the mind pondering over the events in Vanni and Mullaitheevu. There were moments when I just avoided visiting Tamil/Sri Lankan websites. I resigned to the fate of the Tamils. I tried to divert my depressing mind by watching movies and songs. But it has not been easy. Also, it does not last long. My hand will automatically go to the websites again in the hope of seeing any better news.

This utter sense of desperation and depression has driven many to severe extremes such as self-immolation, starting with Muthukumar and nearly 20 others from across Tamil Nadu, London and Malaysia. Now I understand that the sense of being powerless is what drives one to the extreme. No one should be suppressed and brutalized by force. People should not be ruled by the power of guns, fighter jets, artillery and multi barrel rocket launchers. There is inherent anger in the Tamil minds which can take any shape in the coming days.

******************
Tamils cutting across the different nationalities shared the grief and anger. Tamils could not avoid the feeling that they are orphans without a single government they can call as theirs. For a community which is six times bigger than Sinhalese in its population, there is no country that will support their existence. Makes me think, If only they had a nation of their own, may be things might have been different. However the reality is that the entire Tamil community is powerless as Periyar – the leader of the self respect movement once rightly said – Tamils are slaves.

When Sri Lankan Tamil political leaders approached the Indian Tamil leaders in the 60’s when the oppression started, Periyar had asked “How can one slave help another slave?”.

Tamils had to beg the western powers for their intervention. Their legitimate demands have to be propagated through propaganda for which they did not even have the media power, not even in Tamil Nadu – their home state, where media is ruled by a different class.

While Eelam Tamils have a complete different sense of feeling which I can’t explain as I am not an Eelam Tamil, Tamils from Tamil Nadu have to watch various dramas enacted by the Indian and Tamil Nadu governments. I have never witnessed such dramas anywhere in the world to fool the people. The officials and politicians would condemn the war in the media and would supply arms and intelligence to the Sri Lankan Army through the back-door. The duplicity shown by the Indian government and different Tamil Nadu political parties were a real nightmare for the people of the state. In fact many believe that India is the main cause for the setback to the Tamil Struggle. India is seen as the culprit for the sufferings of the innocent Tamil civilians. Indian National Security Adviser M.K.Narayanan is seen as the man behind the Tamil’s miseries.

M.K Narayanan – Indias National Security Adviser

Though the Tamil Nadu political parties duplicity and lip service to the Tamil cause was disappointing initially, I see that it has created a sense of anti-Indian mood in the hearts and minds of the people of the state. The silent wave of change in the people’s mood was sensed by the “Voice of Rajapakse” in Tamil Nadu Mr.P.Chidamabaram. He did a Volte-face and started letting out his crocodile tears for Eelam Tamils. But it’s too late Mr.Chidamabaram !!!

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I hold an Indian passport, so I carry the identity of an “Indian”. But I am starting to feel that this identity is just a ceremonial or legal one that exist in the paper. I am starting to loose the sense of being an Indian in my mind. I feel strongly to shed my Indian identity and proclaim my Tamil identity. I don’t feel that this is something I am forcing onto myself, but rather a natural outcome of the recent developments. This Tamil identity will keep reminding me the sense of betrayal, the sense of brutalization by the global powers of South Asia. The ordeal suffered by my people will keep me focused in opposing the forces of India, China and Sri Lanka. I guess, this is the only natural outcome of this whole episode. Whether this was planned and meant to be this way – I am not sure.

There is a sense of helplessness, disappointment, grief, anger and much more words beyond the realms of the English language dictionary. This disappointment and anger will not die in our minds and hearts. It’s going to reverberate for the rest of our life. It will have its impact even in the next generation. I am going to tell my kids and grand-kids about the brutality of Sri Lanka and the betrayal of India. It is going to drive me and millions of Tamils for the rest of our life.

Written by me for Kalugu.com

My Article for Kalugu.com

If you have to turn the whole world towards you, you don’t have to hit at the governments or the armies. Hit at the most powerful Multi-National Company. The whole world will look at you. This is not my theory, but that’s the reality in this capitalist world.

For the past few weeks, the news headlines were dominated by the pirates of Somalia. Stories were flooding in the Television channels, newspapers and websites about the Pirates menace. US Navy, European Navies and even the Indian Navy are fighting out the pirates in the Gulf of Aden – one of the important trade route between Asia and Europe.

India, which could not save its own fishermen from the Sri Lankan Navy in the Gulf of Manner near Tamil Nadu’s coastline, is fighting out the pirates in the Gulf of Aden thousands of miles away from its coastline. When hundreds of Tamil Nadu Fishermen perished at the hands of the encroaching SriLankan Navy, India turned a blind eye towards the problem. But it was quick to fix the problem of its elite business class.

Read more…

]]> http://sasikum.wordpress.com/2009/04/26/the-pirates-of-somalia-and-the-mnc-robbers/feed/ 0 Sasi pirates http://sasikum.wordpress.com/2009/04/25/software-engineers-arrested-in-alangudi-%e2%80%93-sivaganga/ http://sasikum.wordpress.com/2009/04/25/software-engineers-arrested-in-alangudi-%e2%80%93-sivaganga/#comments Sat, 25 Apr 2009 22:16:09 +0000 Sasi http://sasikum.wordpress.com/?p=62 ]]>

13 Software professionals  were arrested in Alangudi near Sivaganga for campaigning against P.Chidambaram. Unconfirmed news from an email source says.

“IT’ians for Eelam Tamils” is a Chennai based consortium of Software professionals  who  support Eelam Tamils. This consortium had led several agitations, hunger strike against the Genocide of Tamils in Tamil Eelam.

In an effort to defeat Congress in Tamil Nadu, various Tamil organizations are campaigning against Congress. IT professionals are part of this campaign in Sivaganga to consolidate the educated People in favor of Tamil Cause.

IT Professionals are the right candidates to tear the Intellectual mask of P.Chidamabaram. Hence the congress led Central Government and its DMK Servants in the state are resorting to arresting the Software Professionals.

Putting the IT professionals Career at Risk and threatening them seems to be the main aim of the Government. This news if true has to be opposed by all the IT professionals. They are not terrorists. They are performing their Democratic rights in the So-called Democratic Country India.

I request all the IT Professionals to come out in Support of our Friends.

It’s indeed a Nightmare to watch the various dramas enacted by the TamilNadu Chief Minister Mr. Karunanidhi in the recent months. Celebrated as a Tamil Leader until recently, many had lost their respect on him in the past few months.  To add more salt to the recent wounds Karunanidhi’s speech about Alexander the Great and King Porus and comparing it with Rajapaksae and Pirapakaran is totally unwarranted. It now appears that he has lost even his functioning brain cells. May be age has taken its toll on him?

It is a known fact that Karunanidhi will stoop to any low level to just stay in Power. His family interest’s takes precedence over the People’s or his fellow party men’s Interest. Unfortunately Tamils did not have any other alternative but cling on to this selfish politician as Ms.Jayalalitha could not even be trusted.

Unlike Karunanidhi, the LTTE Leader Mr.Pirabakaran and Tamil Tigers are known for their Bold and Uncompromising tradition. Whether it is right or wrong is a different matter. But they prefer to die on their feet than to live on their knees. It’s their tradition to swallow cyanide than to surrender to the enemy. This cult culture is ingrained in the minds of the Tigers and was practiced in the last decades over and over again. There are many examples. Kittu one of the commanders of the LTTE blasted his ship and went down with that sinking ship when surrounded by the Indian Navy.

During IPKF period when the mighty Indian army was in pursuit of Mr.Pirabakaran, he orderd his body gaurds to burn his dead body after he swallows the cynide capsule. He was not even ready to give his dead body to the enemies. During those time there were always few Body guards carrying Petrol cans with them to carryout Mr.Pirabakaran’s order.

Mr.Pirabakaran and the LTTE might be down on the war front. But they will never let their tradition and self respect go down. In fact it brings the best out of them. They will go down fighting unlike Karunanidhi who over the years has trashed all Dravidian principles to just stay in Power. Unlike Karunanidhi who has brought all his sons, daughters, grand-sons and grand daughters to politics through Backdoor, Pirabakaran’s Son Charles Antony is fighting in the front lines along with the other LTTE Members as an Ordinary Soldier.

So, Mr.Karunanidhi don’t even have to shed his crocodile tears on respect for Pirabakaran. Pirabakaran knows how to take care of his self respect. It is Mr.Karunanidhi’s respect which is at stake. He himself has compromised his Tamil leadership position to stay in Power. He is now being looked as a Traitor who compromised the Eelam Tamils interest to safe guard his minority government.

NDTV made a huge fuss yesterday regarding Vaiko’s Speech about Bloodbath in Tamilnadu. They claimed it as an election time speech. Pranoy Roy even compared it with Varun Gandhi’s speech. That’s the ignorance of these people about Tamilnadu Politics. During Election time every thing has to be election rhetoric. Vaiko has been making such speeches for years and this is not the first time he said these words.

More than Vaiko, these channnels which are starved of Sensitive news have to catch on something to keep saying it 24×7

I sent a feedback to NDTV. I know it will be trashed. But i thought i have to register my protest and blog it here. I sent an email in a polite language. Here is the letter

Dear Sir,

As your Channel Name suggests, you are a New Delhi Television Channel who knows nothing about what’s happening in Chennai. Vaiko did not voice the issue for getting votes. He voiced it for the Plight of Sri Lankan Tamils and also out of Frustration due to Indian Government’s tactical support to Sri Lanka in its Genocidal war against Tamils.

You have to get Opinions about TamilNadu Affairs from the different sections of Society instead of just getting from the Hindu Editor Mr.N.Ram. Mr.Ram is one of the best journalists of this country. But at the same time every one has their own bias and Mr.Ram is biased towards the Sri Lankan side in this issue. You can cross check various records and note the fact that he is the Only Indian journalist who was given the Sri Lanka Ratna award for his extensive service to that country. That itself shows how biased he is in this issue

So, next time get some different perspectives on TamilNadu affairs instead of Sticking to Cho and N.Ram who does not even represent the view points of Tamils

Sasikumar
Houston, USA

CNN IBN Live has a pathetic Story about Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka’s comment about Tamil Nadu Political leaders (Link to the IBN Live Story).

IBN Live did not comment anything about the General’s statement that the Tamil Nadu Politican’s are jokers. But it is worried about handing over the pink slip to the editor of state run Sunday Observer. Handing the Pink Slip to an Newspaper editor itself is a pathetic act by Sri Lanka. If it has to give pink slip for this incident, it has to give it to the Army General. Army General’s don’t make political statements in a Democratic Government. But Sri Lanka has made a poor state-run “yes man” editor as a Scapegoat.

IBN Live did not have any comments about Fonseka’s inappropriate comment, but it is worried about a friendly country called “Sri Lanka”

CNN IBN is coming up with this story line after its Southern Pro-Sri Lankan Friends such as “Hindu” N.Ram and Thuglak Cho.Ramaswamy  failed miserably in Tamil Nadu in their efforts to link Eelam Tamil problem with Mumbai Terrorist attacks

CNN IBN has to understand that “Sri Lanka” may be a friendly country to India, but not to the People of Tamil Nadu. The majority section of the people in Tamil Nadu as evident in the recent survey by Anandha Vikatan, Indian Express and Kumudam have accepted LTTE as Freedom Fighters. Sri Lanka is widely held responsible for the Genocide of Tamil people in Tamil Eelam and Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka is already in “Genocide Red Alert” watch list. New York-based Genocide Prevention Project in a report has included Sri Lanka as one of the eight “red alert” countries where genocide and other mass atrocities are underway or risk breaking out. And the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) is the perperator of this heinous crime againt innocent Tamil people.

So, calling LTTE as terrorists and asking India to Support a “so called friendly” country Sri Lanka is in  itself a double standard by CNN IBN. If we have to oppose Terrorism, we need to Oppose the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and its state terrorism.

There is a difference between Terrorists and Freedom Fighters. The Islamic Fundamentalists who attacked Mumbai are terrorists. But LTTE is fighting for creating a Separate state for the Tamil People of Tamil Eelam. Tamil people are brutalised by the Sri Lankan Government Armed Forces. No other country bombs their own people using Fighter Planes, Multi Barrel Rocket Launchers and artilleries. Only Sri Lanka does that. LTTE is up against the Sri Lankan State Terrorism.

Even USA’s next Secretary of State Hillary has said in an interview about the difference between Islamic Terrorism and Freedom Movement

Well, I believe that terrorism is a tool that has been utilized throughout history to achieve certain objectives. Some have been ideological, others territorial. There are personality- driven terroristic objectives. The bottom line is, you can’t lump all terrorists together. And I think we’ve got to do a much better job of clarifying what are the motivations, the raisons d’être of terrorists. I mean, what the Tamil Tigers are fighting for in Sri Lanka, or the Basque separatists in Spain, or the insurgents in al-Anbar province may only be connected by tactics. They may not share all that much in terms of what is the philosophical or ideological underpinning. And I think one of our mistakes has been painting with such a broad brush, which has not been particularly helpful in understanding what it is we were up against when it comes to those who pursue terrorism for whichever ends they’re seeking

So, there is a clear distinction when it comes to terrorism in India by Islamic Fundamentalists and Freedom Movements like LTTE in Sri Lanka.

One of the major problem with the states like India and Sri Lanka is to classify all the Armed Non-state actors as Terrorists to malign their movement. But history has showed that Armed movement is a genuine form of Freedom struggle. Even in Indian Freedom Struggle Nethaji Subash Chandra Bose, Bhaghat Singh and many others chose an Armed way for Freedom Struggle while Gandhi took a Non-Violent Approach

That being said, i am not saying that LTTE did not carry out cany terrorist activities. What i am saying is, we have to look at the motive of the organization. LTTE’s motive is to create a separate Tamil Eelam for the Tamil people. Whereas the Islamic Fundamentalists don’t have such motives. Their main interest is to destabilise the western powers, which is being characterized as the war between civilizations (Jihad).

So, there is a fundamental difference between groups such as LTTE and Islamic Fundamentalist groups

After the Mumbai Attack, Media is crying with slogans like “Enough is Enough”, “India Wants Action” etc., Mean while people who voted in the Assembly elections did not even care about Mumbai attacks. All they need is their everyday bread and butter. When prices of food items are at peak, no one has time to worry about the causes and action for Mumbai attack except the Media elites and Urban people who don’t have much to worry about except watching TV and debate about it…

As much as the carnage, it is nonsense to talk about “action” which always means an Armed Action similar to what USA did in Afghanistan after the 9/11. Whatever USA did, we have to understand that India is not USA and Pakistan is not Taliban. Pakistan is a Nuclear state with equal Military power like India. India is not USA. India’s Military myth got exposed by its poor home land security and Intelligence.

Pakistan itself is being targeted by the Terrorists. Pakistan is paying the price for developing the Islamic extremism by  its own politicians, ISI, Army and others. Even today the Moderate Pakistan is trying to get away from the Islamic extremism. Same situation in India also, where Moderate India is trying to get away from the Saffron Terrorists and Islamic Fundamentalists

So, it makes no sense to keep raising the slogan “Enough is Enough”. People who raise this slogan will be happy if India targets positions in Pakistan. But what they don’t understand is this will raise Anti-India sentiments in Pakistan and will help the Islamic Fundamentalists Agenda to destabilise Pakistan. A Moderate and Democratic Pakistan is the need of the  hour. Targeting Pakistan is not going to help anyone including India. Any action by India will have negative consequences for peace in the region.

Indian Media is always trying to create an illusion about Public Opinion.  The 24×7 channels are watched by a minority section of the Indian Population. So, even if the entire 100% of the TV Audience accepts the channels position, it hardly represents a handful percentage of the Indian Population.

In spite of this fact, Indian Media using its TV Audience as a Base creating the hype that entire India Needs Action. More than Action against Pakistan, entire India need affordable food, primary education and health care.

If Media really cares for the country, they should talk about the poor who are suffering in the small towns and villages. They even overlooked the Flood Situation in the rest of the country when they were covering the 5 star hotels such as Taj and Oberoi. That is the pathetic state of Indian Media.

Congress and BJP have shared the 2008 Assembly Elections. Media is projecting this as a congress victory since the victory was achieved after the Mumbai Blasts. The media expected congress to get trounced comprehensively. However congress somehow managed to get Delhi and got Rajasthan and Mizoram through anti-incumbency factor. So, it is being hailed as a congress victory. 

But what the media never understands is the fact that Mumbai blasts has no place in people’s election decision. It might influence decision of the Middle class people in the cities and major towns. But for rural people it’s their bread and butter that matters most.

Usually the state governments take the hit in any major anti-incumbency wave and that is what has happened in Rajasthan and Mizoram where congress has won. In Delhi it is a surprise, probably because of the Charisma of Sheila Dikshit which helped congress. Given that Delhi and Mizoram are small states, this victory is not going to help Congress in the next year General Elections

BJP will have an advantage in next year’s General Election. But they have to sit back and think about their Strategy. Mayawathi’s BSP has raised as a force in Delhi and Rajasthan. In fact BSP got a huge share of the BJP’s vote in Delhi and Rajasthan which has affected BJP’s prospects.

Given that there is a strong mood both against Congress and BJP in various states, it won’t be a surprise, if BSP-Left combine with a coalition of Regional parties emerge as a major alternative to congress and BJP. The funny and important factor here is, the third front has to just deny a comprehensive victory for Congress and BJP. If they do that, they can easily form the next government with the help of Congress. Congress will have no other alternative than to support the third front from the outside to keep BJP out of Power.

I would really like to see Maywathi taking over the Prime Ministership of India. We should end the Congress and BJP era and bring in the Dalit-Left-Regional Parties into Main Stream Indian Politics.

I read an interview by CPI leader D.Pandian on the Eelam Tamil’s issue and India’s neglect of the genuine grievances of the Tamil Nadu People.

Some of the Lines from this interview (Courtesy : Sundayleader.lk)

Q. But, there has been at least some positive response to the claims made by Mr. Karunanidhi.

 A. The mindset of Delhi is against the Tamil people. Not only Rajapakse, but Manmohan Singh also has a closed mindset.

 Q. Is that because of the murder of Former Prime Minister Mr. Rajiv Gandhi?

 A. What did they do in Tamil Nadu or in India after that murder? For your information, just to refresh your memory, I was the most seriously injured man in that blast. Because I was next to him. I should not respond to any issue subjectively simply because I was wounded or hurt. That is not the way. Innocent people are being slaughtered. Is it not a fact? Why don’t you allow the media to go there?

 When we want to send relief materials, we clearly stated that we do not want to send any politician or our volunteers to accompany the goods. We said that religious leaders will be sent to watch, supervise and console those affected people. Why is it that both, the Indian government and the Sri Lankan government, which prays to Lord Buddha had not responded to that request?

 Q. Mr. Pandian you made a very important and significant statement when you said that the people of Tamil Nadu are beginning to realise their status in the union of India is in question, because of the lack of response to the resolution by the Tamil Nadu state Assembly. Where would this situation lead to in Tamil Nadu?

 A. That is what we are really afraid of. As a disciplined political party due to our ideology and commitments, I may not speak for separation or division of India. But, not my son. I can’t prevent my son from speaking about it or taking up the flag. Wherever I go and meet the college students, high school students, industrialists, workers, despite all these differences, they are unanimous in one voice that our government should speak on our behalf.

 Are we requesting the Indian government to send the army to subjugate Sri Lanka? No. Did we ever request the Indian government to throw bombs on Sri Lanka? Never. We are only requesting them to stop the war. What elementary demand can be there other than this?