LTTE crimes against Tamils and how pro-LTTE TNA and others simply watched
Posted on October 31st, 2012
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Shenali Waduge
The LTTE ground fighting force may be no more but there are plenty of LTTE supporters that exist both locally and internationally. We challenge them to deny whether LTTE did not commit the following crimes and abuses against their own people ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” the people who they said were the reason why they were fighting for a separate Tamil Eelaam Homeland falsely promoting Sinhala discrimination to gain international sympathy.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ LTTE crimes from mid 1980s to 2009 (30 years of horror the Tamils went through) lest Tamils may have forgotten the ordeals they went through.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Forcible Recruitment of Tamils
- Abducting Tamil children as young as 10 to turn into child combatants (policy of one per family recruitment drive ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” None of these forcibly recruited Tamil children were of high caste or high class.
- Forced recruitment of adults as ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-volunteersƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” again we ponder the family background of these ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-volunteersƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ as ground force.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Denying Tamil children their fundamental right to education
- LTTE indoctrinating children by going to schools and addressing students as young as 14. (Against fundamental rights of children)
- Teaching them to use guns and to kill instead of books ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” again we ask what family background these children came from.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Forcing Tamils to commit suicide
- Brainwashing Tamil men, women and children to commit suicide by taking cyanide ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” how many Tamils have committed suicide as a result, how many Tamils show suicidal tendencies because of LTTE training?
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Encouraging Religious Conversions
- Why has LTTE allowed conversions of Hindus to Christian and Catholic faiths to take place ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” why are the Hindus silent?
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Denying Tamils freedom of movement
- Issuing passes to the Tamil people to leave the Vanni ( passes were only for medical reasons and for the elderly ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” No Tamil could leave its main checkpoint without permission). LTTE forced Tamil people to stay in LTTE controlled areas to be used for its own advantage. Those who left Vanni had to leave a family member as ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-guarantorƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ that they would return ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” delays in returning would mean ugly consequences to the guarantor! Passes were issued by LTTEƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Transport Monitoring Division (TMD). during the ceasefire agreement (period from 2002 until 2006), TMD issued everyone over the age of 10 in LTTE-controlled areas a Transport Admission Card (TAC), Restriction of movement is against international laws.
- Anyone doing business had to make a payment to the LTTE for each shipment passing its checkpoints.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Forcible dangerous unpaid Tamil labor
- Dangerous unpaid forced Tamil labor referred to as ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-donate laborƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ – digging of trenches for its fighters and the construction of military bunkers on the frontlines. Even IDPs had to dig trenches or else pay Rs.5000 to be exempted. (Forced Labor is against Geneva Convention)
- Instilling FEAR ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” something that NO Tamil in Colombo or the West will ever know or understand.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Using Tamils as Human Shields
- Using Tamils as human shields ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” explains why Tamil civilians were trapped in the war zone because the LTTE refused to release them forbidding them from moving to safety. LTTE denied Tamil civilians their right to leave LTTE for safety.
- Using Tamils as human shields and using them to keep them and their weapons hidden and firing to the Sri Lanka army from these positions. It is against all laws to hide amongst civilians. Use of civilians as human shields is prohibited under international laws. (Against Geneva Convention)
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Confiscating Tamil assets and property / Forcing Tamils to ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-contributeƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ to LTTE
- Confiscating assets and properties of Tamil people if they wanted to leave North – unjustified restrictions on Tamil civil movement
- Forcing all Tamils to contribute to LTTE kitty ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” whether they lived in Sri Lanka or overseas ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” there were no room for refusals!
- Taking all essential commodities sent by the Government for the Tamil people and distributing amongst LTTE cadres and their families.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Assassinating Tamils and indiscriminate shooting at Tamils
- Assassinating Tamil parliamentarians and politicians, academics, intellectuals, public officials, religious heads, Tamil civil society members, journalists, media personalities, rival militant groups, Tamil civilians ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” men, women and children
- Shooting indiscriminately at their own people ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” when Tamils were fleeing LTTE during the final stages of the war
- Forcing people to attempt any dangers to their lives if it meant they could flee the LTTE
- UN Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon has accused the LTTE of forcibly cutting hair of girls trying to flee the conflict to mislead the military into thinking there were LTTE.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Those who have any doubts may like to read the report that confirms all the above – http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/ltte1208webwcover_1.pdf
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ This is the LTTE in Sri Lanka, how about the LTTE functioning overseas?
- LTTE-trained cadre foreign citizens engage in psychological terror on Tamil communities even threatening their lives.
- The Tamils living in foreign shores under law and order supposedly far superior to that in Sri Lanka are still afraid to inform these authorities of threats to their lives.
- LTTE front organizations have opened hundreds of ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Eelaam MadrasasƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ misusing foreign welfare systems and force TamilƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s to send their children and even charges fees from them
- Tamil civilians living abroad are coerced into telling lies over electronic media to substantiate the versions they sell to political establishments overseas.
- LTTE control most of the foreign kovils ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” many of these are under surveillance.
- LTTE front organizations use their kitty to buy over everyone or anyone whose avarice for money will not stop them from telling any lies using their office.
- Whenever an LTTE front organization organizes an anti-Sri Lanka event all Tamils have to attend or face consequences.
Through all these suffering that the Tamil people went through ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” where were the Tamil leaders? They did not put a foot in the North and remained in Colombo guarded and never so much as appealed to the LTTE to not target their own people. These very same leaders are accusing the Government of not doing enough, what DIGNITY AND RESPECT did the LTTE give the Tamil people ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” we like to ask what these Tamil politicos did at least to protect their own people from the LTTE through 30 years?
Repeatedly the Tamil pro-LTTE parliamentarians enjoy using isolated incidents numbering less than 5 to project the reason for the LTTE to rise into existence on behalf of the Tamil people when clearly from the above it is obviously clear that the LTTE spared no one especially the Tamil people ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” so why is the Tamils still afraid to speak the truth or is it that they did not and do not mind the suffering they went through? We are finding it very difficult to comprehend the silence post-LTTE defeat.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ What is stopping the Tamil people from saying that they suffered because of the LTTE?
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ What is stopping the Tamil people from accusing the Tamil leaders who were never there when the Tamil people needed them?
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Why would these Tamil people continue to want to rally behind the very Tamil leaders who looked the other way allowing the LTTE to commit the crimes mentioned above and these took place through 30 years ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” calculate that into the number of Tamil victims! Is there no alternate leaders amongst the Tamil people that they have to continue with these same sets of Tamil leaders who cared not a penny for the Tamils?
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Why has the world not opened their eyes to any of the LTTE crimes upon their own people? How many times has the LTTE ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” a terrorist organization broken Geneva Conventions and international laws. Why is there no accountability for the LTTE crimes against humanity?
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ To offer any olive branch there has to be sincerity and it must start with the Tamil people ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” it is now the turn of the Tamils.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
October 31st, 2012 at 2:01 pm
Shenali,
“Through all these suffering that the Tamil people went through – where were the Tamil leaders? ”
Forget about incapable, disable Tamil leaders. Where were the Sinhala leaders ? They had the power to destroy these pests buy did not do it. Instead they killed many innocent Sinhala people and signed a pact with the pests.
Maharaja is not doing anything either. Back to zero now. If not for Gota we are domed.
October 31st, 2012 at 5:01 pm
Despite all this BARBARIC dirt, why do Tamils still support LTTE/TNA?
1. MOST of these crimes were committed against LOW CASTE Tamils. And illegal Tamil migrants from Tamil Madu who were illegally living in Vanni and Jaffna.
So high caste Tamils were NOT really affected. Over 80% of SL Tamils claim Vellahla (high caste Tamils).
NOT A BRUISE!!
Also Jaffna Tamils were LEAST affected in war.
War times in Jaffna – July 1983 to July 1987 – 4 years
(Then too mostly low caste Tamils died.)
From July 1987 to July 1990 red cross was running Jaffna and no REAL war.
From July 1990 to July 1994 – Premadasa’s economic embargo – It affected all Tamils there but MOST of them left to Colombo and Canada. BUT NO WAR!!!
From July 1994 – October 1995 – no war.
War only from Octber 1995 to December 1995.
Then continuous lack of war till April 2000. ONLY a month’s war and then no war until the war ended.
Out of 26 years of war, there was no real war in Jaffna for 21 years!!
2. What happened to well to do Tamils?
War was a BLESSING for them!!! They migrated to RICH countries and became filthy rich. For this they are ETERNALLY GRATEFUL to the LTTE. Disgusting as it sounds but this is the truth.
Over 1,000,000 Tamils became filthy rich after going abroad as asylum seekers. Unlike now, when there was war, NO BOAT PERSON was returned.
3. USING LTTE terror, some Tamils got benefitted.
e.g. collecting money
e.g. 13 amendment – made Tamil an official langauge
e.g. demand various favours from govt.
e.g. this bacame a new business with POPULAR Tamil leaders OUTSIDE LTTE like Maheswaran, Thinda, Hack-him, Gonason earning BILLIONS for themselves and their supporters and voters.
4. Tamils used to say, “give us this and that, otherwise war will continue”. While low caste Tamils died, high caste Tamils MOSTLY benefitted from war.
Its a dog eat dog situation where Tamils eat Tamils!!!
BUT low caste Tamils are GLAD the war is over. They can go to school, live, etc. They rally around the govt.
BUT their numbers are small. They are poor. And they also slowly follow high caste Tamils because that is the trend.
Our war strategy was wrong as it played into the LTTE in making low caste Tamils suffer MOST. We should have planned it in such a way high caste Tamils would have suffered most.
If that was the case, MOST Tamils would be with the govt. today. One way or the other!!!
October 31st, 2012 at 5:11 pm
I think Lorenzo has a pretty good point – it was the poor, low caste Tamil who took the brunt of this war while the rich, high caste Tamils directly benefitted or migrated to first world countries using the conditions of the poor Tamils as a pretext. Empowering the poor, low caste Tamils is a long and tedious process and it is also a dangerous process as Shenali pointed out in one of her previous articles about what really happened in 1957.
October 31st, 2012 at 5:11 pm
Tamil Dias-pariahs and Tamils in SL.
They are different people BUT they are BLOOD RELATIVES.
ALL Vellahla SL Tamil families (80% of Tamils) have at least one relative in the Tamil Dias-pariah. Locals look up to them as ROLE MODELS for success, become rich, etc.!!!
MANY low caste Tamils also have at least one relative in the Tamil Dias-pariah.
Among Jaffna Tamils (LEAST AFFECTED in war), the war was a good “leveller” of high and low caste. It actually reduced caste differences in areas least affected by war.
MORE bombs went off in Colombo from 1983 to 2009 than in Jaffna!!!
October 31st, 2012 at 5:21 pm
“Empowering the poor, low caste Tamils is a long and tedious process and it is also a dangerous process as Shenali pointed out in one of her previous articles about what really happened in 1957.”
Absolutely!!
It is VERY dangerous as high caste Tamils will fight with all their might to stop that.
After SWRDB tried to uplift low caste Tamils, allow them to go to school/kovil/govt. offices, etc. high caste Tamils started the TAR BUCKET CAMPAIGN against Sinhalese and low caste Tamils and the 1958 riot. They started it and got hammered hard which silenced them for 25 years.
Even the Brits could not do what SWRDB did.
Then they started the war against the Sinhalese and low caste Tamils.
Look how clever they are (not patting my own back but this is the truth). War killed 30,000 Sinhalese and 100,000 low caste Tamils. Valla-alla-la Tamil deaths should be at most 10,000. (3,000 in 1983 riot and 7,000 in war).
Pit one enemy against another!!
This is the EXACT strategy SL must use. PIT SL’s enemies against each other (Elamists against Jihadists).
October 31st, 2012 at 5:26 pm
Now do you see why development actually makes the govt UNPOPULAR in Jaffna, Vanni and Batticaloa?
(In Colombo, development makes the govt. popular among Tamils too.)
High caste Tamils and low caste well to do Tamils (least affected in war) are 80%. They are ALREADY DEVELOPED!! They have one foot in Toronto and one in Jaffna/Colombo.
Further development benefits MOSTLY low caste Tamils. 80% of Tamils are damn against it. BUT development does NOT empower low caste Tamils OVER high caste Tamils. So it actually LOSES Tamil support in more than one way. Much like 1957.
Settle non-Tamils in Jaffna, Vanni and Batticaloa forcefully and EMPOWER THEM. Then they will join with powerless low caste Tamils and APPRECIATE development and all CIVILISED things.
October 31st, 2012 at 7:08 pm
SHENALI !!! Even in Colombo, when I was a School Boy, I remember my uncles talking about caste system. When a Fernando applied for a job, they referred to him as a Washington. As time went on, Sinhales were losing their grip on the caste system and the Sinhalese were happy that it was waning off slowly, but surely. When in College, this subject never came up amongst our friends, Young lovers did not know what caste was, and made live together.
Nevertheless, the tamils did not sit with some tamils for lunch, and we envisaged that the poor tamil did not want to show his meagre lunch to a high clas tamil. It certainly continued. In most houses of the high class in Vavuniya and Kiilinochchi, at the entrance is built, vertically two benches on either side. The lower caste visitors had. to sit on those benches about eight feet long, facing each other. The high caste household members chairs adorned the adjacent wall. The People sitting on the benches were not allowed to sit on the chairs, It was a understanding as a rule. I have been to many of these houses, and conspicuously noticed the different sets of people, in the house, MASTERS and SLAVES.
It is my point of view that this caste trend can be broken into smithereens. It has to be done. The Army has to give the initiative with the blessings of the government. Though of lower caste, these people show vibrancy to adapt to any top job. The Army must look out for the Low class guys and give them training for upliftment throughout, so that at some stage they beat the high class in competing.
Hope the Tri Forces work out this strategy in areas where caste system pride shows no bounds. Give equally designed Houses to the Higher Class and same thing to lowercaste, Ethnic intergration can be started off without a whistle, The momentum must gain speed in such a manner that resettlement has to be booming. This is a good start. Hope Patriotic Politicians will lend a hand.
This Tamil Caste system can be got rid of with a proper strategy. Get Low Caste and High Caste to work to gether.in Government Projects, and assess them for performance etc. Main thing is that they have to be able to live together. The Sinhalese and muslims have to be the nucleus in this re-intergration. Let us wait and see,who takes the initiative.
October 31st, 2012 at 7:47 pm
And every man, woman and child lives because of the blood given by Sri Lankan soldiers – Sinhalese soldiers…. because NOT a SINGLE TAMIL will give an ounce of their blood because they dont want to mix their high caste to low caste…!!! and they say we discriminate against the Tamils…. WHAT A SHAME…
October 31st, 2012 at 8:46 pm
The Tamils were taken for the proverbial ‘Tiger Ride’! The so-called Tamil leaders who encouraged and initiated this ride were also as much victims of this scenario as the Tamil civilians were. I have used the prefix ‘ so-called’, because these politicians did not possess the qualities that befit leaders. Most of the Tam9il politicians, with the exception of Mr.Anandasangary were cowerting in fear of the tigers and cared too hoots for the Tamils who were being sacrificed. Their are complicit by their silence and abdication of responsibility. They have no right to shed crocodile tears now. Of course there were many Tamils and Tamil politicians who fed the tiger, kept it in comfort, sharpened its claws and enjoyed the spectacle.
Shenali, however is continuously remiss in highlighting the post-independence developments that created the conditions for the tiger phenomenon. Any discussion on this issue will be incomplete without that aspect being not taken into account and highlighted. Hers is a very one sided narrative, despite the valid indictment of the Tamil politicians.
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
October 31st, 2012 at 8:52 pm
Shenali,
I acknowledge the blood donation and other acts of kindness by the Sri Lankan armed forces in the north and east in the post-war years. The Sinahal blood and Tamil blood are however more compatible than the blood typing would demand. We are very close relatives! Blood is thicker than water!
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
October 31st, 2012 at 8:55 pm
SW,
“The lower caste visitors had. to sit on those benches about eight feet long, facing each other. The high caste household members chairs adorned the adjacent wall. The People sitting on the benches were not allowed to sit on the chairs, It was a understanding as a rule.”
Explore this more.
What if a Muslim comes to the gathering?
He has to sit on the bench or on the floor. Or in most cases he has to get out.
What if a Sinhalese comes to the gathering?
Generally Sinhalese would sit in the chair whether the Tamils LIKE IT OR NOT (which is the right thing to do). This applies to low caste Sinhalese as well.
Even high caste Tamils are reluctant to tell the Sinhalese not to do so. They fear losing face in front of low caste Tamils. Both low caste and high caste Tamils would do disgusting things (spitting, etc.) to chase away the Sinhalese man. What a disgusting group these Nadu people are!!
As a Jaffna high caste Tamil I had my moments. One day when I was 5 or 6 years old, I crapped inside our old house in Jaffna and elders of our family whacked the heads of low caste servants (including kids) to clean it up. But there were rich low caste Tamils in the village. Aparently they were doing illegal things, so the others said. Some low caste men went to UK and Canada and sent money to their families. High caste Tamils said they clean toilets and discouraged from going abroad. But secretly asked how to go. At Tamil school 2 years later, I teamed up with other high caste boys and assaulted one low caste boy telling him NEVER come to this school again!! Shame on me!
Then Premadasa closed the border and life was difficult. We came to Colombo and I went to a Sinhala school. Kids called me “kalla” (thief in Tamil, black fella in Sinhala). I cried, realized and repented my sins!!!
October 31st, 2012 at 9:00 pm
The problem is NOT Tamil politicians but the Tamil GHETTO culture of racism.
This Tamil GHETTO culture must be STRUCTURALLY dismantled.
Also don’t forget Muslims treat women worse than how Tamils treat low caste Tamils!!!
October 31st, 2012 at 9:01 pm
Lorenzo,
The benefits of the infra-structure development have not percolated down to the people yet in a tangible manner. It will take several years for this to happen. Once the benefits hit their pockets the Tamil voting pattern will change. Be patient and keep to the high road. Further, industry has not taken root in the north yet because of problems with ready and steady availability of electricity. A reliable supply of electricity has becomeavailable in Jaffna only in the past month. This will make a big difference. All the agriculture has progressed tremendously, the faemours are unable to get adeqaute returns and there are effective marketting mechanisms. Secondary processing and value addition are largely non-existent on the scale required. The agricultural surplus goes to waste and is a big loss to the farmers.
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
October 31st, 2012 at 9:04 pm
I am very confused with all the comments . Be it the 13th amendment, human rights violations of the LTTE and their supporters the govt must have the balls take action. There is hesitancy, inaction and prolongation of the problem. The continuous never solvable problems is the creation of governments who do not have the courage to take decisions. I see some very genuine analysis and advise at this site. It has not made any difference to the never ending problems of indecision.none of the problems are solved. I think until the country appoints men of vision , stature and a genuine desire for the welfare of the country these problems will continue and the very genuine comments at this site unfortunately is a waste of time.
November 1st, 2012 at 1:20 am
Good lord! I never expected Caste is ingrain in Sri Lankan culture to this extent. I think Hinduism gives an impetus to this menace however Buddhism has no place for this cancer. Yet Sinha+hela people have inherited from Mahinda’s time, where trades people along with Kshatriyas were introduced to Lankadeepa. Of course our expat children wouldn’t have a clue of this and hopefully eventually this cancer will disappear in Sri Lanka too. I heard from a Minister even voting patterns are based on Caste, which was absolute shocking afterall Sri Lankans are educated and politically mature. Maybe this cancer should be eliminated by individuals and families and not talking about it so that the younger generation wouldn’t be aware of this and eventually it will die a natural death. This is definitely not a value in any culture and has no merit and should be discarded.
November 1st, 2012 at 1:21 am
Ape Muslim sahodarawaru meke gane kiyanne mokadda?
November 1st, 2012 at 2:57 am
Re~”We challenge them to deny whether LTTE did not commit the following crimes and abuses against their own people – the people who they said were the reason why they were fighting for a separate Tamil Eelaam Homeland falsely promoting Sinhala discrimination to gain international sympathy.” ~
It is now being revealed through Police investigations that there may have been links to KP (Pathmanathan) the notorious arms procurer for the LTTE and Karunanidhi the Tamil Nadu politician and eternal barker on Sri Lanka issues who needs a muzzle by the way! with the Rajive Gandhi assassination conspiracy. Food for thought as the former now given the freedom to walk the walk and talk the talk in Sri Lanka and the latter barking away in abandon about his determination to fight for Eelam in Sri Lanka also need to be roped into this challenge as two main culprits, forgetting about the caste angle.
Caste needs to be stamped on and outlawed as it is a mantle of criminality towards the suppression of human dignity from a different perspective to the LTTE sympathy issue but just for the record V Prabhakaran came from a low caste.
November 1st, 2012 at 3:34 am
Narendran,
“Once the benefits hit their pockets the Tamil voting pattern will change.”
I love to think that way. But it will not happen.
RICHEST Tamils are the worst Elamists. Poor Tamils are EPDP, CWC voters (moderates).
November 1st, 2012 at 12:18 pm
First, let me thank Shenali for her indefatigable efforts to prove certain points.
It would be interesting to know how most Jaffna Tamils became (80% or so) “high caste” Vellalas. Generally speaking, almost all Tamils who left Tamil Nadu did so to lose caste, so not so high caste folk came to Lanka, generally as some form of labor.
Also, how is anyone to know a ‘high caste’ Tamil from a ‘low caste’ Tamil in Jaffna ? Can Tamil folk shift from the lower to higher levels in Caste through education and earning money ?
Vellalas are supposed to be land owners (tobacco plantations mostly). How did 80% or so of Jaffna become land owners ?
Is Sri Lanka THE place to lose Caste for Tamil folk from Tamil Nadu ?
If the 13-A is given with all trimmings > Tamil Eelam > pouring into Lanka to lose Caste > become part of Tamil Nadu > re-instate Caste.
13-A is bad for Tamil folk too. Get rid of it.
November 1st, 2012 at 1:09 pm
Fran,
“Vellalas are supposed to be land owners (tobacco plantations mostly). How did 80% or so of Jaffna become land owners ?”
Valla-alla-las are DALITS brought by the Portuguese and the Dutch for tobacco plantation. They were NOT plantation owners but workers. But when the Dutch left, and the tobacco plantations gradually collapsed, they got to keep land. This prompted more and more LANDLESS Tamils from Tamil Madu to come to Jaffna.
“கள்ளர், மறவர் கந்தோர் அகமுடையார் மெல்ல மெல்ல வெள்ளாளர் ஆனர்கள்.”
This is a SL Tamil proverb. It says Valla-alla-las are people originally from other castes who do exceptional well economically and socially.
How did they become landowners? By robbing the land of Sinhalese (one example is 1983) – imagine lands of 25,000 Sinhalese SUDDENLY and FREELY falling into your hands and Muslims (1990) – imagine lands of 100,000 Muslims SUDDENLY and FREELY falling into your hands.
Mind you, they have no intention of returning these ROBBED land!!!
These landless low caste south Indians became landed high caste people in SL THANKS TO COLONIALS. That is why they still support COLONIALS.
November 1st, 2012 at 1:34 pm
Lorenzo,
Thanks for clarifying.
The land should to be returned to the rightful owners. Who will do it ? Where are the papers to prove rightful ownership ?
November 1st, 2012 at 1:57 pm
P.S.: Lorenzo, from what you say, any Tamil becomes a Vellala by owning some land – am I right ?
Does anyone know about the Squatters in 50,000 acres belonging to the Tea Res. Inst., Upcountry ? What does the pubic know about this land grab ? How can this be corrected ?
November 1st, 2012 at 2:01 pm
anyway, whey singhalese worry about tamil caste system? is Singhalese trying to make untied force against SL?
Tamil have no caste or caste, tamil will be tamil. Tamil never give their original idea toward sl and their more fascinated about their western base support plus Tamil nadu. No singhalese have any long term plan to counter tamil . Singhalese lack of knowledge about side world is the major barrier singhalese is facing.
November 1st, 2012 at 3:37 pm
Fran,
Land, money and social status (comes with money).
ALL Valla-alla-las were DALITS a few centuries ago. They made their money in SL and became Valla-alla-la.
e.g. VP was from a LOW caste but his grandfather built a kovil and employed Brahmins to WORK UNDER HIM and so became a high caste fella.
e.g. MGR’s mother was from the LOWEST caste but when he earned his money he became HIGHER than the highest caste. Tamils thought he was Rama’s avatar!
“What does the pubic know about this land grab ?”
Public is kept in the dark because of Thonda. SL has to get rid of these people, one way or the other. IF SLs are too compassionate to do so, govt. should hire international experts to do it.
November 1st, 2012 at 3:42 pm
jayt,
Stop showing off your JIHAD dirt.
SL knows how to handle you and Elamists. If not, SL will hire international experts to do it.
e.g. Premadasa pit you against LTTE and gave weapons to BOTH camps.
November 1st, 2012 at 5:11 pm
lorenzo what is the reason that offend you. i totally talk about something else. what i talk about is singhalese have more things to concern than tamil caste system. what i said is has nothing to do about you
November 1st, 2012 at 5:31 pm
Dear Sl community and lanka web members, please take serious note of what this Lorenzo said. I hand over this note
sl embassy in canada and i will meet sl community in canada and hope to visit sl soon.
lorenzo, do not create unwanted problem here.
I am not a jihadist or a tamil. I am a singhalese.
your threat just threat justify if did say anything against anybody but what said is simple opinion
November 1st, 2012 at 5:43 pm
jayt,
STOP ALWAYS condemning the Singhalese. You have NO RIGHT to do so.
KEEP OUT ethnicity in your discussions. It is not required. Jihad threat is REAL and the govt. KNOWS about it.
November 1st, 2012 at 6:06 pm
I would appreciate lankaweb editors like Sunil Vijaypala give detail infol about this man- lorenzo. it is not singhalese name.
In the past I was against Israel for various reason, also, it was political but I original was supporting them to be friend with sl. however, they lost my support because of continuous intervention of west in sl affairs but I said even in last week that I do not have any personal things against israel and go head to form original cordial friendship and I would love to see Israel become close friend and reopen original programs
Israel have friendship with many arab countries, so whey not with sl. in Recent years Israel have shown great interest helping singhalese with many interesting programs.
Lorenzo, if you misunderstood what i said no problem I forgive it. but be careful trying to judge people you haven’t met.
November 1st, 2012 at 6:13 pm
I did not condemn singhalese. I criticised singhalese for their weakness. I defended sinhalese, over the years
November 1st, 2012 at 6:17 pm
Lorenzo, who are you to impose law here
November 1st, 2012 at 6:25 pm
lorenzo, I do not believe you represent sl govt but anyway i am going to ask embassy about you to avoid misundestanding
November 1st, 2012 at 6:39 pm
lorenzo,
you tell me do not bring about ethnicity here. so what you discussing about. you are talking about tamil population increase in above article and threat come from tna afterwards. I was talking about same subject.
November 1st, 2012 at 6:59 pm
Sunil,
the west were supporting tamil who discrimination against other tamil but they gave refugee status and funding those who discriminate their own and were always going against singhalese telling discrimination. and india is hell of discrimination centre but no one single western country gave any money or support to any group in india. instead india is always being praised. the reason is politic
if Sl become ally of the west, all that anti lanka staff will be gone
To be on smart side, prez rajapkze has to be friend with western countries like unp, then they will support singhalese.
please Sunil make a comment
November 1st, 2012 at 9:34 pm
Lorenzo,
“கள்ளர், மறவர் கந்தோர் அகமுடையார் மெல்ல மெல்ல வெள்ளாளர் ஆனர்கள்.”
You are absolutely right. This proverb in essence means that the lower castes eventually become Vellalas.
There are many those of the lowe castes who claim to be Vellahlahs. It is also difficult to conform who is who, since the prolonged war has totally disturbed societal arrangements and many memories. It is likely the ‘New Vellalahas’are probably greater oppreseors than the ‘Vellahlas.
It is ultimately money and power that determine ones status in society. This same money and power are making many become Vellahlas in the north now. It is a welcome evlutionary process. I remember that in the 1970’s Vellahlas gave their daughters in marriage to men of the lower castes who has become medical doctors. This is a process by which Vellalahlah numbers will be higher than they should be. If the loer castes are empowered soon, they will all become Vellahlas!
Lorenzo, if you know this proverb or have made the effort to learn it, you are more Tamil than I hasd thought you were. My apologies once again.
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
November 2nd, 2012 at 4:23 am
Narendran,
There is no need to apologize. I don’t keep bank accounts of hate (or loyalty) towards anyone.
If I hurt you (which was never the intention), my apologies.
November 2nd, 2012 at 4:36 am
Kanakok suda penenne igilenavitalu.
November 2nd, 2012 at 6:03 am
Our thanks to Lorenzo & Dr RN for writing in the truth.
Right at the outset, I wish to state that I think Caste is man made idea which is very negative and must be removed as gently as possible through Education and Understanding, both from Sri Lanka Tamils as well in Tamil Nadu and all of India, however long it takes.
Without looking in depth at the real problem of CASTE, however unpleasant it is to do, we cannot arrive at any solutions. Here Sociologists must step in to help GoSL, any GOSL, without sweeping the problem under the carpets. The problem will not go away if we sweep it under the carpets. It is best we take a good hard look at it and establish laws and practices that will erase Caste matters at least out of Sri Lanka. It is the none acknowledgment of the Tamil Caste issues which has gone on for so long that has brought Sri Lanka so much trouble.
The way I see it, here is the Summary of what is causing problems for Sri Lanka :
(1) Tamil Nadu has a fairly intractable CASTE SYSTEM tied to the Hindu religion which has lasted over 3,000 yrs. There, at birth of a child, Caste is established for life. This BELIEF in the FALSE idea of CASTE has had a devastating effects on the Tamil psyche.
(2) Since Colonisation of Lanka by Portuguese, Dutch & British, and the importing of Tamil labor from TN to Lanka to work the Tea & Tobacco industries, Tamils of TN have seen Sri Lanka as the place to come to lose CASTE. Lanka North & East, and Upcountry, and cities have seen an influx of Tamil people.
(2A) Since the establishment of sea ports (from WWs I&II times) & air ports in Sri Lanka, and since we are in the ‘new Silk Route’, there is international interference in local matters. This is going to continue if we allow a build up of Tamil numbers in Sri Lanka.
(3) Moving to different religions away from Hinduism where Caste is born, making use of the Free Education & Health Care systems in Lanka, inter-marriage etc. have been used to move away from Caste issues. These are peaceful methods to lose Caste.
(4) The non-peaceful methods to deal with Caste, such as Segregation, Separate state for Tamils only, Tamil Political parties spearheading Separatist ideas, must be removed.
(5) News media should not, by Law, print the Caste of any person in Marriage columns ?
(6) All Illegal Migrants to Lanka (Tamils & others) should be deported.
(7) Guard all coastlines and any entry points for illegal migrants.
(8) Streamline and tighten Laws re acquiring Citizenship in Sri Lanka.
(9) All Government owned land & property must be properly guarded against encroachment and misuse by Law and other practical means. Forest Rangers must work in tandem with the armed forces to keep off Squatters.
(10) The 13-A with its mini-governments must be removed asp.
(11) An Oath of Allegiance to Lanka, a must.
Frankly, I do not see ‘weakness’ in Sinhala people in dealing with problems here. There is great tolerance, wisdom & courage in the way Sinhala people have dealt with the enormous social problems here, post-Independence, within Democratic norms. The only thing lacking was acknowledging the Caste bound problems of Tamils & Illegal Migration especially from Tamil Nadu, and that too was so not to hurt anyones feelings, least of all, Indian sentiments. Neither can all the problems be resolved at once – it has to be done with care and caution. Those who are impatient for results will have to practice some patience.
The mostly Buddhist Lanka goes on the norm of “Judging people by their Actions”, as that was what the Buddha advocated
– “a person is high born or low born by their Actions only”.
November 2nd, 2012 at 6:44 am
P.S.: Modern day Hindu people should lay emphasis on the Four Great Yogas where Caste has no place at all, especially Raj Yoga (which includes Meditation), akin to Buddhism.
November 2nd, 2012 at 8:43 am
Lorenzo
கள்ளர், மறவர் கந்தோர் அகமுடையார் மெல்ல மெல்ல வெள்ளாளர் ஆனர்கள்.”
Lorenzo, if you know this proverb or have made the effort to learn it, you are more Tamil than I hasd thought you were-Agrred
Lorenzo Also I did not belive when you say you are Tamil ! man you are a Tamil , are you old boys from Jaffna central college ??
what you made you this much of anger against Tamils ? were you LTTE’s POW???
November 2nd, 2012 at 9:42 am
The TNA was scared crap of the ltte. That’s why they just watched.
November 2nd, 2012 at 2:22 pm
“The TNA was scared crap of the ltte. That’s why they just watched.”
NO!
TNA = LTTE.
Now there is no LTTE but TNA is doing everything it can to destroy Tamils.
TNA is made up of ITAK, TELO, etc. ITAK is the father of LTTE.
LTTE killed MOSTLY low caste Tamils. They NEVER voted or will vote for TNA.
TNA APPROVED and APPLAUDED LTTE massacres.
November 2nd, 2012 at 3:33 pm
Fran,
In the end all the Kanakokas will land at the same place and catch the Sinhala fish.
All these are pretenders with the intention of destroying our island.
Killing, making one to fight with another, keeping silent when injustice occurred – if it is to one’s advantage are all Zionist and LTTE Dhamma – it is not Buddha Dhamma.