by T. Sabaratanam, May 1, 2003 Volume 1, Chapter 2 Original Index of Series Original Volume 1, Chapter 3 Karikalan Thangathurai, known as mama, uncle, was in charge of the secret group. There were about 25 youths, most of them from Valvettithurai and relatives. In early 1970, Thangathurai bought two revolvers, of .22 and .38 calibre…. Read more »
Posts Categorized: Sabaratnam
Pirapaharan: Vol.1, Chap. 2, Going in for a Revolver
by T. Sabaratnam, 2003 Volume 1, Chapter 1 Original index of series Original Chapter 2 Conviction Reinforced Venugobal master’s arguments that parliamentary democratic methods would yield no result reinforced Pirapaharan’s childhood conviction that hitting back is the only option available to the Tamils. The 14–year boy placed his trust on armed struggle and the separate state…. Read more »
Pirapaharan: Vol.1, Chap. 1, Why Did He Not Hit Back?
By T. Sabaratnam, 2003 Volume 1, Introduction, Part 2 Original Chapter 1 Why didn’t he hit back? “Why didn’t he hit back,” was Pirapaharan’s reaction when he heard from his father, Thiruvenkadam Velupillai, about the burning of the Panadura Pillayar Kovil priest. His father, an admirer of the Federal Party Leader Samuel James Velupillai Chelvanayakam, had… Read more »
Pirapaharan: Vol.1, Intro., Part 2
by T. Sabaratnam, 2003 Volume 1, Introduction, Part 1 Original Vol.1, Intro, Part 2 The Language Tamil youths had been radicalized by the late 1960s. Language is a matter that touches the heart of every Tamil. They are proud of the antiquity and richness of their language, and linguistic nationalism is part of the psyche of every… Read more »
T. Sabaratnam: Pirapaharan, Vol. 1, Introduction
From the Editor Mr. T. Sabaratnam wrote a history of V. Pirapaharan from 2003-2005 that was posted on the Sangam website. This history is of the period BEFORE the war began and its early stages. The history dwells on the root causes and the background of those involved. As most of this material is not… Read more »
Pirapaharan 2, Chapter 30: Jaffna Police Station Attack
by T. Sabaratnam, December 24, 2004 (Volume 2) The Kokkilai attack of 13 February 1985, which Jayewardene acknowledged had changed the character of the Tamil armed struggle and had been timed to coincide with the Rajiv – Gandhi – Athulathmudali meeting, was not a total success. It failed to achieve the target Pirapaharan had set:… Read more »
Pirapaharan 2, Chapter 29: JR’s Trap for Rajiv Backtracking
by T. Sabaratnam, December 17, 2004 (Volume 2) Indira Gandhi’s assassination on 31 October 1984 provided President Jayewardene an opportunity to wriggle out of the peace process and pursue the military option he had carefully mapped out. He abruptly discontinued the All Party Conference on 26 December 1984 and gave the go-ahead to the armed… Read more »
Pirapaharan 2, Chapter 28: The First Interview
By T. Sabaratnam, December 10, 2004 On the Cover Page Sunday, India’s leading news magazine in 1984, created a sensation in India and Sri Lanka by featuring Pirapaharan’s first media interview in its 11-17 March issue. The cover carried a colour photograph of a wide-eyed, chubby -cheeked Pirapaharan in combat fatigues, sitting behind a desk,… Read more »
Pirapaharan 2, Chapter 27: MGR’s Role in the Eelam Struggle
by T. Sabaratnam, December 2, 2004 (Volume 2) Massive Fund In April 1984 Pirapaharan met for the first-time Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. G. Ramachandran, idol of legions of Tamils. The meeting bonded them and brought about a historic change in the freedom struggle of the Sri Lankan Tamil people. MGR’s benevolence made it possible… Read more »
Pirapaharan 2, Chapter 26: Foundation for Tamil Eelam
by T. Sabaratnam, November 25, 2004 (Volume 2) sangam.org/articles/view2/658.html Three Factors 1984 is a milestone in the life of Pirapaharan and in the history of Tamil freedom struggle. In that year, as I indicated in Chapter 21, Pirapaharan switched over from hit-and-run guerrilla combat to sustained guerrilla warfare, and commenced the process of transforming the… Read more »
Pirapaharan 2, Chapter 25: Militants Acquire Territory
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 »
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 »
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 »
Pirapaharan 2, Chapter 22: JR’s Third Track
by T. Sabaratnam, October 29, 2004 (Volume 2) sangam.org/articles/view2/626.html Smashing the Basis Home Minister K. W. Devanayagam’s coordinating secretary K. G. John telephoned me in the morning of 8 September 1983 and said the minister wanted to meet me on an urgent matter. I met him in his ministry. Devanayagam told me that a Sinhala… Read more »
Pirapaharan 2, Chapter 21: Sustained Guerrilla Campaign
A reader sent the following information to add to this series on the life and times of Pirapaharan. We encourage all readers to send us their understanding of this history of us all. It is no exaggeration Pirabakaran’s life is also the history of the heroic Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. Pirabakaran joined the Tamil Students Forum… Read more »
Short Biography of Velupillai Pirapaharan
by T. Sabaratnam, October 19, 2004 ‘Pirapaharan,’ Volume 1 & 2 by T. Sabaratnam Reposted – Ilankai Tamil Sangam sangam.org/articles/view2/610.html On numerous occasions the detailed biography that Mr. Sabaratnam has been writing, and which is being posted on the Sangam website, is too much material, particularly when dealing with non-Tamils. We, therefore, requested Mr. Sabaratnam… Read more »
Pirapaharan 2, Chapter 20: Violence Brought to the Fore
by T. Sabaratnam, October 15, 2004 (Volume 2) sangam.org/articles/view2/601.html Shift in Allegiance 1984 is a milestone in the Tamil freedom struggle. In that year, Tamils finally abandoned their faith in non-violence and peace talks. In that year, they shifted their allegiance from the ‘non-violent leaders’ to the ‘violent boys.’ And as I noted in the last… Read more »
Pirapaharan 2, Chapter 19: Burying the TULF
by T. Sabaratnam, October 8, 2004 (Volume 2) Burying the TULF sangam.org/articles/view2/587.html In Lake House, there was jubilation when the story of the TULF satyagraha held in Jaffna on 25 July spread. The joy infected the Sinhala people as radio and television broadcast the news. I was at the weekly press briefing at the Information Department when… Read more »
Pirapaharan 2, Chapter 18: Tamils Lose Faith in Talks
by T. Sabaratnam, October 1, 2004 (Volume 2) sangam.org/articles/view2/575.html Three Lessons Tamil people drew three important lessons from the All Party Conference (APC) of 1984. They were: the Sinhala leadership and the Buddhist clergy are unwilling to accommodate Tamil aspirations; Sinhala leaders are not interested in a political settlement; the safety and security of the Tamil… Read more »
Pirapaharan 2, Chapter 17: All Party Conference
by T. Sabaratnam, September 24, 2004 (Volume 2) sangam.org/articles/view2/564.html JR’s Mischief Until the invitation for the All Party Conference (APC) reached the TULF, everything looked fair and fine. Jayewardene met the leaders of all recognized political parties, except the JVP and NSSP which were under proscription, and briefed them about the decision taken at Delhi… Read more »