Prabha prepares ground for Tamil Eelam

Several interpretations have been given to LTTE Leader Velupillai Pirapaharan’s Thursday Maveerar oration. They reflected the viewpoint of non-Tamils. It is my duty, as someone presenting the Tamil point of view, to keep my readers informed about the assessment and reactions of the Tamil people.

First, I will place the speech in its context. It was addressed to “My beloved people of Tamil Eelam.” Pirapaharan has been addressing “My beloved people” ever since he revived the age-old Tamil tradition of honouring war heroes in 1989. In his speeches he tells the Tamil people what his goal is, why he decided on it, why he chose the armed path and what progress or setbacks it had undergone.

On Thursday too he stuck to the same structure. He told them that his goal is an independent state where they (the Tamils) could live in freedom and with self-respect. He told them, the heroes they were remembering that day, had sacrificed their lives for, “The redemption of our land so that our people may live in freedom and with self-respect.”

He told the Tamil people that the land, for which the heroes died, belonged to them. “Our heroes died for this land and are at rest in its bosom. The land where they are embedded in belongs to us. It is our own land,” he said.

He told them, the land for which they are fighting, is the land where the ancient Tamil civilisation stood long and firm and where their ancestors lived. “Our ancient kings built kingdoms and dynasties and ruled from here. On this land, where the roots of our nation have sunk deep, we wish to live in peace and with dignity and make decisions about our lives without the intervention of foreign rulers.”

He told the Tamil people that they were fighting the war because, “…an arrogant Sinhala nation stands adamant and is determined to occupy and conquer this historic land.”

He reminded them of the peaceful political struggle they conducted for 60 years and how it was suppressed. He said, “It was when state oppression breached all norms and our people faced naked terrorism that our movement for freedom was born, as a natural outcome in history. We were compelled to take up arms in order to protect our people from the armed terrorism of the racist Sinhala state. The armed violent path was not our choice. It was forced upon us by history.”

Then Pirapaharan told the Tamil people of the current state of the armed struggle. He said, “The land of Tamil Eelam is confronted with an intense war as never before. Rearing its head in different parts of the Wanni, the war is gathering momentum. As the Sinhala state is committed to a military solution, the war is becoming intense and widespread.”

Then he told the Tamil people that the underlying intent of the Sinhala state is to wipe out the national life and resources of the Tamils and subjugate the Tamil nation under alien Sinhala military despotism. “With this in view, it is executing its war plan at full gallop,” he said.

He then told them that their freedom fighters have dedicated themselves to resist, “this war of aggression,” and added that the Sinhala state is living in a dreamland of military victory. “It is a dream from which it will awake. That is certain,” he said.

He concluded his speech thus: Let us all make a firm and determined resolution to follow fully the path of our heroes, who, in pursuit of our aspiration for justice and freedom, sacrificed themselves and have become a part of the history of our land and our people.

From this, it is clear that Pirapaharan is going to continue the war. For how long? Pirapaharan has answered that question too.

He declared: Whatever challenges confront us, whatever contingencies we encounter, whatever forces stand on our path, we will still continue with our struggle for the freedom of the Tamil people.

On the path shown by history, on the command of the circumstances of today, we will continue with our struggle till alien Sinhala occupation of our land is removed.

Four other points Pirapaharan made needs to be noted as they concern current developments.

 Message to the international community: The ban and associated actions have encouraged the Sinhala state and Sinhala chauvinism, which had intensified the war, and the aspirations of the Tamil people do not in any way hamper the national interests of any country or people. This should be viewed in the context of the possible policy shift in Washington.

 Message to India: The Tamil people always consider India as their friend and have great expectations that the Indian super power will take a positive stand on our national question. This message should be viewed in the context of the upcoming Indian election, which may bring about a different administration, not concerned about Rajiv Gandhi slaying.

 Message to the resurgent people of Tamil Nadu: He welcomed the re-emergence of the voices supporting his struggle and noted with satisfaction the indications that his struggle for a separate state was becoming accepted there. It should be noted that the younger generation mostly unconcerned with Rajiv Gandhi assassination had come to the forefront. Pirapaharan had told them that ceasefire won’t work though he is prepared for a negotiated settlement.

 To the Tamil Diaspora: He requested them to, “raise their voices, firmly and with determination, in support of the freedom struggle of their brothers and sisters in Tamil Eelam,” and asked them to strengthen the freedom movement and continue to extend their contributions and help. “I would also take this opportunity to express my affection and my praise to our Tamil youth living outside our homeland for the prominent and committed role they play in actively contributing towards the liberation of our nation,” Pirapaharan added.

The sum total is this: War will continue with added ferocity and Pirapaharan is seeking to build on the Tamil solidarity, in which youths have to play a determined role.