by Rajkumar Sivapatham; published April 13, 2004
As the new year is born, the situation in the eastern Sri Lanka has changed upside down. The so-called Karuna crisis is effectively over now, as predicted by the people who know the inside out of the Tamil struggle in Sri Lanka. However, for the past 5 weeks or so, so many things have been said by so few (sounds like Churchill, but never mind) which have been proved wrong by the people of Batticoloa and Amparai. The patience of the LTTE and its decisive strike on Karuna will undoubtedly win the admiration of the Tamils, the people who really matter to the LTTE.
Having done this, the LTTE has also exposed the relationship between the SLA and Karuna. The head of the SLA, Lt. Gen. Balagalle, has promised safe haven to Karuna. He said that this offer to Karuna is “in line with the policy of humanitarian help by the SLA.” Oxford and Cambridge dictionary authors have to amend the meaning of humanitarian help now. They just have to see the other “humanitarian help” that the SLA has provided to other Tamil groups. Furthermore, in a conflicting meaning, the SLA has given other “humanitarian help” to refugees in Navaly church, refugees in Madu church and victims of the Chemmanni massacre. Therefore, by looking at the events, the new meaning of “humanitarian help” is the help which is given by the occupying force to greedy traitors of the opposite camp. This is revealing to all of us.
By the way, why did Gen. Balagalle offer refuge to Karuna in such a hurry? Isn’t he risking the blame of collaborating with Karuna? Well, we have to think a bit deeper (as my maths teacher at Udupiddy American Mission College always say “Moollaiyai viddu Yosiyungo”, meaning “think by using the brain very hard”. There must be something heavier than the Karuna crisis brewing or the SLA and other “interested” parties are very keen that Karuna should not be captured by LTTE and eventually spilling the beans.
Whatever it is, they will try again. The LTTE, with the help of the Tamil people, is sure to defeat them. It needs all our help.
Harrow
UK.