In his `Heroes Day' address on Monday, LTTE chief Velupillai Prabakaran left no one in doubt that the Norwegian brokered Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) of 2002 and negotiations were a thing of the past. "It is now crystal clear that the Sinhala leaders will never put forward a just resolution to the Tamil national question. Therefore, we are not prepared to place our trust in the impossible and walk along the same old futile path." The solution to the "Tamil national question" that Super Mario has in mind is digesting a portion of the Sinhala homeland.
Mr. Prabakaran spoke of what he characterised as "the unchanging attitude of successive Sinhala regimes towards resolving the burning Tamil national question and, in particular, the deceitful handling of the current peace efforts by three successive Sinhala regimes."
That unchanging attitude has been "why should we let a bunch of outsiders immigrate and then take over?" Having lived in both Texas and California, I can see their point.
"At this historic time when the Tamils are recommencing their journey on the path of freedom we seek the unwavering support and assistance of the world Tamil community. We express our gratitude to Tamil Nadu people and leaders for voicing their support and ask them to continue their efforts to help us in our freedom struggle. We express our gratitude to the Tamil diaspora, our displaced brethren living all around the world, for their contribution to our struggle and ask them to maintain their unwavering participation and support."
The Government of Sri Lanka appeared unperturbed at Mr. Prabakaran's speech. "Last year Mr. Prabakaran gave one-year time to the Rajapaksa Government, but on the ground the LTTE resumed military attacks within two weeks. We can't be bothered about speeches. The Government is committed to finding a political solution to the ethnic problem," Sri Lankan Minister and Defence spokesman Keheliya Rambukwellatold The Hindu .
Mr. Prabakaran said the endeavour of the All Parties Conference (APC) to find a solution to the ethnic problem was like "searching for a black cat in a dark room." The Rajapaksa regime hoped to decide the fate of the "Tamil nation using its military power." It hoped to occupy Tamil land, and then force an unacceptable solution on the Tamils.
Adopting Sinhalese customs and identity doesn't make it, does it?