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The
fallout of Tiger Vavuniya attack
In
the concluding paragraph of my September 3 column, I stated
that support for the LTTE would rise among the Tamils if (a)
the plight of the displaced in Wanni worsen and (b) if it
stages “a heroic feat.” The situation of the civilians
in Wanni has worsened and the September 9 attack on Vavuniya
had thrilled Tamils.
Analysts have identified the following trends as the fall
out: (a) concern about the war affected civilians has risen,
(b) India is being increasingly accused of duplicity, and
(c) the demand for a separate state had become more vocal.
A strong wave of sympathy for Tamil civilians in Wanni is
mounting among the Tamils worldwide. Among the Sri Lankan
Tamils, dissatisfaction over the order for the withdrawal
of the non-governmental organisations from Wanni is growing.
The feeling among the Tamil public had been effectively voiced
by TNA leader R. Sampanthan who asked: “Are not the Tamils
in Wanni Sri Lankans?”
The Tamil media, though extremely cautious about their
comments, have reflected this trend. For instance Virakesari
highlighted editorially on Monday the pitiful plight of the
refugees in Wanni. It said, “Due to the escalating war,
about three lakhs of refugees have taken refuge in schools
and public buildings. They are suffering without basic amenities.”
Naturally, Sri Lankan Tamil media has to observe restraint.
In Tamil Nadu where such restraint is not needed, political
leaders, especially the pro- LTTE propagandists, are whipping
up Tamil sympathy. Vaiko, leader of the Marumalarchchi Dravida
Munnetra Kazhalagam (MDMK), who is heading the agitators,
has raised the question of providing food and other essential
materials for the refugees in Wanni. An effort is being made
to force India to intervene to protect the civilians in Wanni.
They have created a situation where Delhi has to react and
it had done so by getting its Defence Minister A.K. Antony
to tell journalists that India has expressed concern to the
Sri Lankan authorities. Tamil Nadu politicians are not in
a mood to listen to such assurances.
A feeling of anger against the Manmohan Singh government’s
handling of the Sri Lankan situation is sweeping through Tamil
Nadu since media reported injury to two Indian engineers,
A.K. Tagoor and Chinthamani Raut of Bharath Techonology, during
the September 9th, Tiger raid on Vavuniya airport. The two
Indian technicians were maintaining the Indra-II Radar system
installed by India.
Vaiko, in a hard hitting letter written to Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh went close to charging Delhi of duplicity.
He avoided blaming Prime Minister Manmohan Singh directly,
by blaming the bureaucrats, particularly the national security
advisor, whom he charged has “clandestinely conspired
with the Sri Lankan Government to supply air force radar and
military hardware to Sri Lanka.” He charged that about
265 Indian technicians are serving in Sri Lanka.
The Indian Communist Party which is engaged in a running battle
with the Indian Prime Minister over his nuclear agreement
with United States went further. Its senior leader D.S.S.
Mani has accused the Indian government of duplicity. He accused
India of telling the world that it was for a political solution
through talks and assisting Sri Lanka’s war effort.
Ela Ganesan, leader of the Tamil Nadu branch of the Bharatiya
Janata Party, the main opposition party in Parliament, has
also thrown his lot with the rising opposition to the Indian
government. In a statement issued on Saturday, he accused
Manmohan Singh’s government of not honouring its duty
to find a just solution to Sri Lanka’s ethnic problem
but encouraging a military solution.
Dr. S. Ramadoss, leader of the Pattali Makkal Kadchi, which,
like Vaikoo’s MDMK, is a constituent of the central Cabinet,
has come out strongly against India’s supply of military
hardware and technicians to Sri Lanka’s action.
Tamil Nadu political parties were due to commence a protest
campaign yesterday and they plan to continue till the central
government withdraws the Indian technicians from Sri Lanka.
All pro-LTTE activists - Vaiko, Ramadoss, Nedumaran and Thirumavalavan
- were expected to lead yesterday’s protest march.
The pro-LTTE campaigners are accusing Tamil Nadu Chief Minister
M. Karunanidhi of playing a double game. Nedumaran in a statement
asked him: “You proclaimed in 1984 that Tamil Eelam is
the only solution to the Sri Lankan Tamil problem. Now, why
are you silent?” Ramadoss told journalists that Karunanidhi
should break his silence on the Sri Lankan Tamil issue.
Karunanidhi, conscious of the difficult situation he faces,
was trying to detract public attention through his welfare
schemes - one kilo of rice for a rupee for ration book holders
and the new scheme of subsidy for essential food items which
he hopes to announce on October 2nd, Mahatma Gandhi’s
birthday. The vast majority of the middle class and upper
class Tamils who would not benefit from these schemes will
turn away from him.
Making use of C.N. Annadurai’s 100th birth anniversary,
the founder of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhalagam who agitated
in his youth for a separate state for the Dravidian people,
Vaiko had hinted guardedly at the possibility of the demand
for a separate Tamil state in Tamil Nadu. He accused the Manmohan
Singh government of “sowing the seeds of resentment in
the minds of the Tamils which will result in reaping disastrous
consequences for the unity and integrity of India.”
The cry, “Tamil Eelam, which is the only solution to
the Sri Lankan problem,” is now heard more often in Tamil
Nadu. The Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora too has shifted its stand
from political solution to separation.
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