Tamil Tigers threaten Sri Lanka<\/p>\n
The wanton killing, renewed anarchy in the north of Sri Lanka
\nand fear and restlessness in Colombo have brought the republic's
\nefforts to create peace and end the protracted ethnic crisis,
\nwhich has killed over 30,000, maimed several hundred others and
\nunsettled thousands of families, to a heart-breaking halt.<\/p>\n
The unilateral and senseless decision by the Liberation Tigers
\nof Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to abandon the peace process and return to
\narmed conflict has not only shocked the peace-loving world, it
\nhas also earned the antipathy of those who once sympathized with
\nthe actions of the rebels.<\/p>\n
Their supporters believed the Tigers to be fighting for a just
\ncause by trying to eliminate inequalities, bias and disparities,
\nthat the minority Tamils face in their day to day lives.<\/p>\n
The Tigers cited difficulties such as obtaining jobs,
\nqualifying for higher positions and constant harassment, suffered
\nby the minority Tamils in area outside their Jaffna Peninsula, as
\namong the many reasons for launching their rebellion 12 years
\nago.<\/p>\n
These ideals, although not necessarily the methods used to try
\nto achieve them, earned them the respect of their elders and they
\nwere often fondly hailed as "the boys".<\/p>\n
That's why when Sri Lankan president, Chandrika Kumaratunga
\nmagnanimously lifted the embargo on essentials, including infant
\nmilk formula, immediately after election, the world hailed her
\nhumanitarian efforts to bring happiness to a long suffering
\npeople.<\/p>\n
The fact that she did it spontaneously, before initiating
\ntalks with the LTTE, and with no strings attached, won her still
\ngreater admiration, even among those who had supported the
\nrebels.<\/p>\n
When she opened the door a little and launched the process to
\ncreate permanent peace, the world praised her for her
\nstatesmanship and sincerity.<\/p>\n
And when rebel leader Velupillai Prabhakaran reciprocated, his
\nimage and standing soured.<\/p>\n
People respected his apparently genuine sincerity in trying to
\nbring about salvation and peace to the suffering people of the
\nstrife-torn peninsula.<\/p>\n
The attacks and withdrawal from the peace process are totally
\nunwarranted. If the Tigers fail to resume the move towards
\nreconciliation, they will be wholly responsible for the
\ncontinuing suffering of the people of Jaffna peninsula.<\/p>\n
Achievement of the goals the Tigers so nobly espoused will
\nhave been set back by years, if not decades. There can be no
\npossible arguments about where the blame for this will lie.<\/p>\n
-- The Bangkok Post<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tamil-tigers-threaten-sri-lanka-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }