– Kumar Moses

It was Friday 17^th September 1999. Laughter of villagers faded into the tranquillity of the night in remote Gongala village in Ampara District in Eastern Sri Lanka. HM Premasiri (29) went to bed late that night after a long pleasurable conversation with a large number of relatives and friends who had come to his place for a religious ceremony. Around two hours after midnight the serenity of the night was shattered by screams of men, women and children. About 75 Tamil Tigers and their accomplices, mostly women, brutally massacred 27 men, 17 women and 10 children to death. Tamil Tigers had plenty of guns but opted to make it as cannibalistic as they possibly could. Just one victim was shot with a revolver while the rest were killed with knives, axes and machetes. Most victims were hacked to death. Premasiri survived hiding under his bed. He could hear the hysteric laughter of Tamil Tiger female murderers and their civilian accomplices resembling what might be SatanƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s laughter. For a moment he thought devils from hell have invaded the earth. When the morning came, the true horror of the attack became obvious. People found it difficult to attribute to humans. If anything came close,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ it was the horror female SS helpers including Irma Grese – known as the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Angel of DeathƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ – at Belsen and Auschwitz unleashed on unarmed civilians during WW2.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Despicable Tamil Elamists didnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t stop there. The political mouthpiece of the LTTE which is both the father and son of the LTTE, grabbed the opportunity to advance its ethnic-cleansing-for-Tamil-homeland agenda. Joseph Pararajasingham, an MP of the communalist TAMIL United Liberation Front (TULF), later the MP of communalist TAMIL National Alliance (TNA) justified the killing based on LTTE claims that an SLAF attack 2 days prior in Puthukudiyiruppu had killed 22 Tamil civilians. He was the only source that officially linked the Gongala civilian massacre to the SLAF attack, trying to whitewash the crime. In doing so Tamil Elamists (which includes both peaceful Tamil Elam supporters and the LTTE) sent out a powerful message – they want to ethnically cleanse the North East of every non-Tamil.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Those who heard, saw or read about subhuman acts of Tamil Tigers resolved to annihilate these uncivilised hordes from the face of the earth. While this was not the first barbaric attack of Tamil Tigers, it was certainly not the last.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ V DAY 2009

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ After a period of illusion, Sri Lanka took on Tamil Tiger Terrorists in a well planned military manoeuvre in mid 2006 following another similar adventure by Tamil Tigers. After 33 months of intense fighting, Tamil Tigers were annihilated by gallant security forces. May 18^th, 2009 became a memorable day not only for Sri Lankans but for all humans. It assumed universal significance because terrorism is the biggest threat to humans today and Sri Lankan security forces pioneered the method of wiping out terrorism.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ LTTE terrorists were the most ruthless terror outfit ever to terrorise the world. The human bomb or the suicide bomb was effectively invented and reinvented by the LTTE. LTTE had more suicide bombers at its disposal than all the other terrorist groups combined. It became worldƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s only terror outfit to have an air force. LTTE had the largest arsenal of artillery among all terror groups in the world. If there is any terror outfit that killed national leaders of two countries, that is the LTTE. This is an achievement in terrorist terms, unmatched for over 17 years. To the horror of humanity, Sri Lankan security forces found submarines in the possession of Tamil Tigers which makes them the only terrorists to have them. Financially, LTTE was the second richest terror outfit annually collecting US$ 200 – 300 million. WhatƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s more significant is all their funds came from developed countries.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Defeating such a colossal terror outfit is no mean task but Sri Lankan security forces achieved it with minimum civilian casualties. War on Terror that is raging around the world killed millions of people but still failed to rid terrorism. WhatƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s more, War on Terror is fought by the richest and technologically most advanced nations. However, their lack of humanity is the main reason for continuing blunders. Sri Lankan security forces on the other hand put humanity first in all their military actions.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ V DAY PLUS 1 YEAR

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Although the war on terror was won, a bigger war looms ugly on the horizon. It must be fought with insight, clever propaganda, very long range reconnaissance/demolition operations, networking with friendly nations and economic development. Establishing the rule of law, reducing corruption and safeguarding national and fundamental rights form the basis of itƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s national aspect. Those who sacrificed life and limb must be looked after better than those who merely suffered from the war. However, these alone cannot save Sri Lanka as there is a more sinister campaign at work. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

Blaming the LTTE alone for ethnic cleansing of Sinhalas and Muslims in the North and from some parts of the East is childish. Ethnic cleansing of non-Tamils first conceived in the minds of communalist Ilankai TAMIL Arasu Kachchi leaders in 1949-1952. ITAK leader openly declared it on stages. Both LTTE and ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-moderateƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ communalist politicians, all of whom are supporters of Tamil Elam, call the ITAK leader ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-ThanthaiƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ Chelva. His real name was Velupillai Chelvanayakam. The word ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-ThanthaiƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ has the exact same meaning as ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-FuhrerƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ in German. Only difference between the campaign to create a racially pure Tamil Elam and the campaign to create a racial pure Nazi Germany is that the former had a separation of the ideological leader and the actual executioner.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It is this racist separatism ideology that drove Tamil Tigers to commit extreme acts. Unfortunately they still continue their campaign. Have a look at TAMIL grievances, TAMIL aspirations, TAMIL homelands, TAMIL Congress, TAMIL United Liberation Front, TAMIL Arasu Kachchi, TAMIL Tigers, TAMILnet, etc. Honestly, arenƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t these by definition racist? If in doubt, one should tap his/her conscience and ask this question. It doesnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t matter what supposedly created these, the fact is these are ultra racist demands and manifestations that must be avoided in all civilized societies.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Even after the end of the war, most Tamil voters in the North and the East voted for a racist political party that talks nothing but of racist demands. Is this not the plain truth?

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ We must show our racially deceived brothers and sisters, love, human dignity, compassion and guidance. We must help them not to go deeper into the dungeons of racism as demanded by communalist parties, but to overcome this vicious 63 year old racist bondage and 35 years of ethnic isolation.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Over 100,000 humans died in the war in all four quarters (security forces, LTTE, civilians and IPKF). Their lives must be celebrated in victory no matter what quarter they were in. ArenƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t they all together, at last?

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ A solution is required to bring people of all races together. Communalist war wounds in war ravaged North and East can only be cured by multiculturalism, not by furthering mono-ethnic enclaves that created the war in the first place. Creating multiethnic settlements in the North and East should not be seen as something that will happen automatically. It must be deliberately initiated. This is the new battle. In order to have lasting peace, Sri Lanka must win this battle too. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  – Kumar MosesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚