Vulgarising heroism:

Praba, Karuna killed their own 'heroes'
 

by Deshaputra

LTTE leader Velupillai Prabakaran delivered his so-called "Heroes Day" speech last week. Unlike before, the enthusiasm of the Tamil people was lukewarm to his annual address. The Tamils have realised that like many politicians, this man wearing a military fatigue uses the platform annually to issue ultimatums and threats which never materialise. The people are aware that they become the sufferers of this game plan of Prabakaran. The self proclaimed liberator of the Tamils, this time played a different game. He called for political independence. The question is how this man in a military fatigue who eroded all norms of democracy could call for political independence.

His speech

Unlike in the past, this self proclaimed saviour of the Tamils-began his speech saying the freedom struggle launched by him was at cross roads. All these years he was a man who boasted of his so-called freedom struggle claiming it for the creation of Eelam. This man who sought political independence a few days ago reverted to his terror tactics as usual in a treacherous manner in Colombo on Friday. He used a suicide bomber to target Defence Secretary, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa at a location close to a private school that houses nearly two-thousand students. The crime is clear evidence of his ulterior motives though he pretends to seek independence through a political path. Those who believe in political independence do not exercise terrorism to achieve that goal. They follow the democratic path of 'ahimsa' like Mahatma Gandhi.

Prabakaran, a wolf in sheep's clothing, now knows that not only his organisation but also his leadership is at crossroads. The LTTE is certainly weak at present in fighting power. In the face of retaliation by troops, the LTTE has retreated on several occasions claiming they did so in the interest of civilians. This is another tactic of Prabakaran who looks on the run. In the meantime, his cadres use the civilians as a human shield. Prabakaran, hiding in the thick jungles of Wanni continues to provoke troops using innocent civilians as the cover to hide his cowardice.

This man uses civilians to protect himself called for political independence of the Tamil people.

His arch rival Vinayagamoorthy Karuna too made a speech to mark the so-called "Heroes Day". He used the occasion to attack Prabakaran and charged that the LTTE was vulgarising heroism. Be that as it may, both these so-called leaders of armed groups paid tribute to their fallen men and called them heroes. When together, they used cadres to attack troops, Tamil and other political leaders and civilians.

Those cadres who were then killed in combat are being remembered as heroes. But, Prabakaran and Karuna split four years ago. Their cadres divided into two camps. Those loyal to Karuna followed him.

Both Prabakaran and Karuna have been fighting over the past four years. Cadres from both sides have been killed. While Prabakaran labelled Karuna cadres as 'traitors' of Tamils, Karuna too followed the same stand. The question before both Prabakaran and Karuna is whether the cadres killed by them were recognised as heroes or traitors.

Or whether they were ever remembered on that day when they both delivered their speeches. While Prabakaran accuses Karuna of unleashing terrorism on him and his cadres, Prabakaran does the same on civilians and troops. Karuna says terrorism trivialises heroism and sacrifices. What was the modus operandi used to killed their own cadres when these two terrorist leaders fought? Wasn't that method terrorism and nothing else?

Have not both of them vulgarised those sacrifices? Certainly, those cadres made sacrifices for both of them and not for the Tamil cause.

Path to nowhere

Prabakaran has even gone to the extent of vulgarising the path to peace for nearly three decades. He had stifled many a peace process from Thimpu to Geneva. If he believes in gaining political independence, the struggle should be brought into the path of democracy and non-violence. Political independence of Tamils cannot be achieved through separatism. Prabakaran wants separatism under the cover of political independence to rule the Tamils at the point of the gun forever. Tamil historians will one day write that if there was a Tamil who destroyed the Tamils, it is Velupillai Prabakaran and no one else. Prabakaran will be remembered as the 'destroyer' of Tamils and not as their 'Saviour', as the LTTE claims.