by T. Sabaratnam, November 19, 2004 (Volume 2) sangam.org/articles/view2/645.html Dear Editor, This is my personal experience with Lalith Athulathmudali regarding the Jaffna violence in reference to the ongoing articles by Mr. Sabaratnam. It was 1986 and I was the vice-president of the Government Medical Officer’s Association (GMOA). Dr. Stanmore de Alwis was the President and… Read more »
General Pirabhakaran’s Critics
An Alphabetical Assembly by Sachi Sri Kantha, November 19, 2004 sangam.org/articles/view2/646.html I was tempted to compile this list after I read an essay penned by R. K. Narayan entitled, ‘The Enemies.’ First I quote an excerpt from this humorous essay in which Narayan introduced his motivation for a list of the ‘enemies of society’: “…I… Read more »
A Victory, But Little Is Gained
by DARYL G. PRESS and BENJAMIN VALENTINO, The New York Times op-ed, November 17, 2004 Does any of this sound familiar to Sangam readers? sangam.org/articles/view2/644.html Hanover, N.H. — The textbook urban assault on Falluja reflected well on the dedication, training and equipment of the American military. Unfortunately, it has not brought the United States appreciably… Read more »
All Lankan Eggs in Indian Basket?
The Island, Colombo, November 10, 2004 sangam.org/articles/view2/643.html The joint Indo- Sri Lanka statement issued after the visit of President Chandrika Kumaratunga to New Delhi and the proposed Defence Co-operation Agreement together with complementary agreements such as on Pallaly Airport are being hailed in all quarters here, except by the LTTE. There is much satisfaction because… Read more »
The Kalveddu
by Revd. BJ Alexander, November 17, 2004 sangam.org/articles/view2/642.html A pre-production research panel met some months ago to brainstorm ideas about a TV/Radio Documentary for Holy Week 2005 on Suffering – particularly focusing on the theme of traumatic memories among exile communities in London, England. During the process of invigorating discussions: exchanging and comparing of notes springing from… Read more »
Tigers to Part Ways for Want of Southern Consensus?
by Taraki (aka D.Sivaram), Daily Mirror, Colombo, November 17, 2004 sangam.org/articles/view2/641.html A military solution to Sri Lanka’s ethnic conflict remains a very real option today although we are almost into three years of a fairly stable no-war atmosphere. In large measure this is due to persistent beliefs and perceptions in the Sinhala polity about the… Read more »
Peace Puzzle
by V. Gunaratnam, November 17, 2004 sangam.org/articles/view2/640.html The Sri Lanka government’s peace motives remain a puzzle to this day, because of the endless roadblocks and delays the peace process has been subjected to. Twenty long and bloody years have gone by since hostilities began, but the Sinhala leaders still can’t find it in their hearts… Read more »
The Sri Lankan Peace Talks and the ISGA Proposals
by M. Nadarajan, November 17, 2004 sangam.org/articles/view2/639.html Newspapermen and many governments continue to give their views on the peace process, spouting out nonsense without, in most instances, any knowledge of what they are speaking about or the background to the problem. In order to make any meaningful comments, one should look at the past, the… Read more »
Pirapaharan 2, Chapter 24: The Country Turns into a Killing Field
by T. Sabaratnam, November 15, 2004 (Volume 2) sangam.org/articles/view2/638.html Bus Massacre I traced in Chapter 21 the events that led Pirapaharan to switch the mode of struggle from hit and run guerrilla warfare to sustained guerrilla combat and the manner in which the country slipped into the First Eelam War. The slide began with the… Read more »
Conflict Resolution in Sri Lanka
The Mirage of Power Sharing by Sachithanandam Sathananthan,* November 10, 2004 sangam.org/articles/view2/637.html Conflict resolution and human rights “peaceniks” in Colombo are busy mouthing vacuous slogans about national “co-existence” and ethnic “harmony.” These Sinhala peaceniks are promoting the belief that Sinhala nationalism is capable of, and willing to, strike a compromise with Tamil nationalism. SPC and… Read more »
General Pirabhakaran in the Foot-steps of General Washington
by Sachi Sri Kantha, November 15, 2004 sangam.org/articles/view2/636.html Fourteen years ago, in the pages of now-defunct Asiaweek (Hong Kong) magazine, I engaged in a ‘duel’ with a spineless, anonymous correspondent on the purported ‘anti-social’ activities of the LTTE. In my letters to the magazine editor, I compared the LTTE’s performance as a peoples’ militia as nothing different… Read more »
Think Madam President, Think
And Be Aware by Wakeley Paul, Esq., November 14, 2004 sangam.org/articles/view2/635.html The war in Iraq will be Bush’s undoing. The present relentless attack on Fallujah is no different to what the Americans did in Vietnam time and time again, or what the SL army faced in the NorthEast. In fighting insurgents, armies have no front… Read more »
Diwali Greetings to All
This is a festival celebrated throughout India and surrounding countries. It is colloquially known as the “festival of lights,” for the common practice is to light small oil lamps and place them around the home, in courtyards, verandahs, and gardens, as well as on roof-tops and outer walls. In urban areas, especially, candles are substituted… Read more »
Pirapaharan 2, Chapter 23: Manal Aru becomes Weli Oya
by T. Sabaratnam, November 5, 2004 (Volume 2) sangam.org/articles/view2/633.html On the Sly The Yan Oya settlement that would break the territorial contiguity of Tamil Eelam between Trincomalee and Mullaitivu districts was started on the sly. The planners of the project wanted to settle Sinhalese along the Yan Oya (river) which flows into the sea north… Read more »
Twenty Books on Eelam Tamils
For reference and research by Sachi Sri Kantha, November 4, 2004 sangam.org/articles/view2/632.html This list was originally prepared by me to aid one young reader of my writings in the Sangam site. Early this year, he solicited my choices for study on the history and politics of Eelam Tamils. For convenience, I have arranged my selections… Read more »
No Peace Without Justice
by Arundhati Roy, November 4, 2004 Speech on accepting the 2004 Sydney Peace Prize sangam.org/articles/view2/648.html Sometimes there’s truth in old cliches. There can be no real peace without justice. And without resistance there will be no justice. Today, it is not merely justice itself, but the idea of justice that is under attack. The assault… Read more »
Sangam’s Nov 6 Annual General Meeting Program
sangam.org/articles/view2/630.html The Sangam’s AGM is coming up in one week, on Saturday, November 6 in Edison, New Jersey. There will be interesting programs, lots of socializing with old and new friends, dinner, a business meeting, dancing and more! All are welcome. There will be an all-day and evening program, with a separate youth event in… Read more »
The Discipline of Honor
by P.J., October 31, 2004 sangam.org/articles/view2/629.html I became interested in the armed struggle of our people in the eighth grade. It all started with my friend telling me about a band called “Rage Against The Machine.” Rage Against The Machine fascinated me with the idea of revolution. I tried to learn about the issues they… Read more »
Reclaiming the Rights of Cyclists
Press Briefing – Cyclone October 25, 2004 sangam.org/articles/view2/628.html In Sri Lanka there are approximately two million bicycles. However, the provision of infrastructure to cater the requirement of the cyclists is minimal. Apart from the lack of proper infrastructure facilities, the increase of motor vehicles is another factor that hinders the bicycle use. This sudden influx… Read more »
Power to the Minority
by Mafoot Simon, Straits Times, Singapore, October 29, 2004 sangam.org/articles/view2/627.html Dear Ehsan, It’s been many years since you migrated to the United States. Quite a long way from Jalan Ismail to Los Angeles, isn’t it? Your accountancy business doing OK? I’ve been following the presidential contest, and it strikes me that it truly is the… Read more »