By D. B. S. Jeyaraj

Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga deserves to be congratulated for initiating steps to revive the defunct peace process. Instead of being constrained by her earlier stance of displaying hostility towards the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) she has extended the olive branch to the Tigers.

Whatever her hidden agenda may be the act of trying to talk to the LTTE again is by itself commendable because of the harsh reality that lasting peace would not be possible without Tiger consent.

“Said one among them – Surely not in vain ‘My substance of the common earth was ta’en ‘And to this figure moulded, to be broke, ‘or trampled back to shapeless earth again.’ Then said a Second – Ne’er a peevish boy would break the bowl from which he drank in joy, ‘And he that with …

Continue reading ‘Karuna ends eastern revolt after deal with LTTE’ »

By D. B. S. Jeyaraj

Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) leader, Velupillai Pirapaharan may be guilty of many things but certainly not that of practicing regional sectarianism. Renegade eastern Tiger Leader, Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan alias Karuna is unfair in falsely accusing his former leader on that count.

This column has been critical of the LTTE chief on many issues but has never levelled charges against him as a sectarian leader. Pirapaharan, who was actually born in Batticaloa and not Velvettithurai has to the best of my knowledge never subscribed to a Jaffna supremacist mentality.

Pirapaharan’s political vision is a broadone encompassing the length and breadth of Tamil Eelam extending from Point Pedro in the north to Pottuvil in the east and is not compartmentalised. He is like former LTTE Jaffna commander, Sathasivampillai Krishnakumar alias Kittu in that respect.