TN Muppet show

The jingoistic comedies staged recently in Tamil Nadu to express 'solidarity' with Sri Lanka's "Eezham Tamils facing genocide" throws light on a truth unpalatable to the island's self-styled peace-makers and anti-war crusaders. It is that as long as the likes of the LTTE proxy, so-called Tamil National Alliance, the loony Left and sections of the Tamil-owned media here do not want to sever their political 'umbilical cord' with the 60 million Tamils across the Palk Strait the large majority of Sinhalas will consider themselves – rightly or wrongly – a besieged community. And that will never be conducive to genuine goodwill among communities no matter what political solutions are imposed on the country.

The roots of this siege mentality may be traced back to the time when the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) won a majority of seats in Tamil Nadu - then the State of Madras – defeating the Congress Party in the Indian General Elections of February 1967. According to Sri Lankan Historian, the late Professor Tennekoon Wimalananda, Madras State's then Chief Minister K. Bhakthawaksalam – conceding defeat - said that the DMK victory would mark the beginning of a pestilence that would spread throughout the Madras State. As far Sri Lanka is concerned Bhakthawasalam was prophetic.

If we are to refresh our memory, DMK sprang up primarily as a movement against Brahmin supremacy and caste discrimination in South India. Then known as Dravidar Kazhagam or DK, its founder Periyar E.V. Ramaswamy – better known as E.V.R. – belonged to the launderers' caste. The movement led to the formation of DMK as a political party under C.N. (Conjeevaram Natarajan) Annadurai, popularly called Anna. He was Tamil Nadu's first non-Congress Chief Minister. In fact it was during his term (in 1969) that Madras State was renamed Tamil Nadu.

The Tamil nationalist theme in the writings and speeches of DK and DMK leaders attracted many scholars, teachers and students who became members or sympathizers of DK and DMK. After the 1967 election victory Anna invited Tamils from Fiji, Mauritius, Malay Peninsula, Mombassa, Tanganyika and Sri Lanka to a conference held to discuss the formation of a World Tamil Movement. The Sri Lankan delegation to this conference comprising 234 members was considered as the largest delegation. Federal Party stalwart M. Thiruchelvam QC was given a special place at this 'cultural' conference.

LTTE leader Prabhakaran's lament that 80 million Tamils the world over have no independent state of their own has roots in the ideas raised at this conference.

DMK wanted to strive for an independent Tamil Nadu (Tamil Homeland) with the eventual creation of a Dravidian Federation called "Dravida Nadu" (Dravidian State). But DMK was compelled to abandon its "independence for Tamil Nadu" demand in 1963 immediately after the Indian Parliament passed the 16th Amendment to the Indian Constitution that banned advocates of separatism from running for public offices. (Ironically in Sri Lanka, the TNA - which openly expresses support for the separatist LTTE terrorists - are still in Parliament despite having blatantly violated the pledge given to defend the unitary State when being sworn in as MPs)

The Dravida Nadu idea ended up as a day-dream since there was hardly any support for it from the other three South Indian States –Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala. And DMK failed to fulfill the promises it gave the people in the 1967 election campaign. The party was unable to bring down the price of varieties of grain or increase the water ration given per person in that parched land. So in order to save its crumbling image the DMK diverted public attention to Sri Lanka. The movement hoped to spread their tentacles to the island's Eastern, Central, Uva and Sabaragamuwa Provinces through plantation Tamils. It seemed as if the DMK considered Sri Lankan Tamils the way Hitler looked at Sudeten Germans – all part of one nation.

ir Force Fighter jets destroy two Sea Tiger bases

Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets launched precision air strikes targeting two key LTTE Sea Tiger bases located on the Vettalaikerni coast, Northeastern shores in the island this evening (Nov 3).

Air Force spokesperson Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara speaking to defence.lk said that the air strikes were launched around 6 PM.

He said, the first air strike was taken at a Sea Tiger base located in the Kadaikadu area , 3 Km west of Vettaliakerni at 6.05 PM. The targeted terrorist base has caught in flames , he added citing air intelligence reports.

Speaking further he said that the second raid was raid was taken at Sea Tiger base located 1.5 km west of Vettalaikerni.

Colombo Municipal Council suspended

Colombo Municipal Council which has another one and a half years left to complete it term, was suspended yesterday and a retired High Court judge has been appointed to go into the allegations of short comings and lapses against the Mayor and the Municipal Council.

Alavi Mowlana, Governor of the Western Province speaking to Asian Tribune said that Colombo Municipality was under the UNP for the past 25 years, and remained UNP oriented. The present lapses and short comings, it was said has been inherited from the past mayors and councilors.

But he said that the present Municipal Council has been suspended yesterday and a retired judge of the High Court Hector Yappa has been appointed to go into the lapses and shortcomings and report within a period of three months.

Western Province Governor said that it has been found that the CMC had lost Rs 4 billion in the form of uncollected assessment arrears, while the bank overdraft had been around Rs 600 million.

He said that there were allegations of waste and corruptions also and the Council will remain suspended until such time the report is presented after the investigation completed by the retired judge.

Substantial Victory for Obama

A substantial victory for Barack Obama is now predicted by most pollsters with less than a week to go in the US election campaign. Obama coat-tails would also ensure that the Democratic Party would increase its majorities in both Houses of Congress, possibly obtaining the 60-40 margin in the Senate required to end filibusters and force a floor vote on legislative proposals. A double digit lead is assured in the House of Representatives. John McCain is pinning his hopes trying to win Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio and New Hampshire. Such an upset is considered a remote possibility.

The McCain camp seemed a little disoriented judging by some of the contradictory statements made by campaign people. Meanwhile, Democratic leaders are already trying to down play any contingencies of a less than great victory, if that were to occur.

Analysts have pointed out that the implications of a sizeable Democratic victory meant that popular expectations of immediate action on health care, home foreclosures, jobs and other social issues “could be difficult to meet even with enhanced numbers in the Senate as well as the House.” That is a hint that Obama presidency would be saddled with a huge expectations bubble which entails delivering a host of goodies like Healthcare, economic prosperity and educational reform within a short time.

Some warned against overreaching and urged a cautious legislative agenda. According to one Democratic legislator, Steny Hoyer of Maryland, “We are going to get new members with a clear understanding that the reason they won is appealing to independents and disaffected Republicans, and they are going to want to continue to do that.” Because the entire the entire campaign had been overtaken by an economic crisis, the outcome may have dwarfed all other issues.

How could the multi-trillion-dollar bailout of the banks be carried out with unemployment at its highest in years, was one major concern. Could Obama’s message of “hope” and “change” and the “fierce urgency of now” be the guiding lights of the new administration? Americans confront an administration that promised relentlessly to pursue a course of revival unprecedented in American history. It will be crystal clear that what remains to be seen as the chief difference between Obama and Bush is not the character of their policies, but the skill with which these policies are carried out by the Obama administration

LTTE planes dropped bombs in Mannar and Kelaniya

LTTE terrorists have launched an air attack at the Kelani-Tissa power plant a short while ago (Oct 29).

According to available information, the blasts have caused minor damages to the premises.
The fire brigade said that a fire has broken out at the Kelanitissa power station. The fire is believed to have been caused by the LTTE air raid.

Earlier, at around 10.20p.m., on Tuesday (28) three bombs were reported dropped from LTTE air craft at the Thallady military camp in Mannar. No major damages were caused due to the explosions, security sources further said.

War to end terrorism must continue

Since Vinayagmoorthi Muralidaran (Karuna) and Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan had joined civil society as normal citizens through the UNP, there was no war situation in the Eastern Province, Galle District UNP member Vajira Abeywardena said yesterday (27).

Similarly, Prabhakaran too could be brought into normal civilian society. Neither of the two sides to the armed conflict in the North could win the war and it was necessary to start peace talks with Prabhakaran now, Abeywardena said.

Asked for his comment Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said it was necessary to continue the war against terrorism in the North. Even India wanted terrorism eradicated. There was no question of stopping the war against the LTTE.

India was only concerned about the welfare and problems of civilians of the North who were displaced or affected by the war especially with regard to food supplies. The government continued to send adequate food supplies to the north, he said.

The Defence Secretary also said that arrests of LTTE activists and supporters in Tamil Nadu were being conducted by the State government and surveillance in the seas between India and Sri Lanka government had been increased by the Indian authorities.