The man I saw in Amirthalingam

by Prasad Gunewardene

"Mr. Speaker, if this present trend of violence continues in this unprecedented manner, I doubt whether I would be here to address this House at the next emergency debate", Appapillai Amirthalingam, TULF Leader on the Motion to extend the State of Emergency in Parliament, June 1989.

LTTE violence was at its peak during that period with a number of moderate Tamil politicians being gunned down. Amirthalingam may have seen dark clouds hanging over him to make that emotion packed observation in the House. Hardly three weeks later, this moderate, democratic leader of the Tamils was gunned down in Colombo. Another promising Tamil leader, Vettiveli Yogeswaran, who was with Amirthalingam, too fell a victim to a LTTE bullet while Mr. Sivasithamparam escaped with injuries.

July 13, marked the seventeenth death anniversary of Amirthalingam, the respected politician who stood for justice at all times. As a young reporter at that time, I had the privilege of listening and reporting valuable contributions of Amirthalingam from the Parliament gallery. We often met during lunch time when he was the opposition leader in the 1977 parliament. I used to visit him at his official residence in Colombo. On some occasions I was in the company of my colleague working for 'The Island', D. B. S. Jeyaraj, now domiciled in Canada. When the name Amirthalingam stems to my mind, Jeyaraj's name too surfaces simultaneously. They were very close friends. Jeyaraj was at that time writing his regular column "Behind the Cadjan Curtain" to the Sunday Island. Amirthalingam was a gentleman politician who was blessed with unlimited patience. I would state so, as Jeyaraj was a close friend of mine. Friday was the day that Amirthalingam would search for Jeyaraj or Jeyaraj would call him. There were occasions where Jeyaraj would argue with Amirthalingam and turn abusive over the phone. But, the next morning Amirthalingam would call Jeyaraj to ask, "Thambi, how are you now?".

Amirthalingam was a Tamil leader who held moderate views on national issues. He was never adamant to seek one goal or tread a single path. I remember, when the late Cyril Mathew annoyed him many a time in the House, Amirthalingam would smile and quip, "Sir, after all the Hon. Mathew must be given the freedom to satisfy his electorate". Though he was pushed towards the call for 'separation', he always fought for the right to be a Sri Lankan with equal rights. While, the entire 143 UNP MPs in the 1977 parliament of President J. R. Jayewardene stood dumbfounded when the late Prime Minister, Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike was deprived of her civic rights, this Tamil leader stood up in the House to voice his protest over that move. If I may recall, Amir called it an act of political vengeance and nothing more. He then bravely walked the isle to extend his hand to her in a gesture of solidarity while the UNPers hid their faces in shame.

The late TULF leader was a brilliant speaker with an elegant flow of the English language. The sequence of the vocabulary was excellent. Listening to Amthalingam was a privilege. He was a superb debater who brought pride and glory to the Tamil community. He could articulate an argument succinctly and lucidly. He could be one of the last Tamil leaders who possessed the brilliance to espouse the Tamil cause in a democratic and moderate manner. In the latter part, separation was thrust upon him when successive governments failed to address the Tamil problem of the country. But, Amir always believed in a solution before the negotiating table. He also held the view that India had a vibrant role to play in the final solution. He assumed the leadership of the moderate TULF at the most critical juncture when Tamil militancy was raising its ugly head.

As the Tamil militancy or terrorism by the LTTE and other groups gradually dominated the Tamil polity, Amirthalingam was a leader who continued to believe in democracy. Despite threats, he took the TULF to the polls to seek a solution through the District Development Councils. He was a man who had a long march in politics. His youth was radical and fiery. He attracted crowds. His experience gradually made him a moderate politician who believed in democracy. He was able to control his temper and emotion. All this made him a leader of his people who could mix with all communities. Amir was never an active promoter of political violence. Nor was he a racist. Though he objectively perceived the social fabric of the Tamil society, he was a good friend of the Sinhalese who really knew and understood him.

In the latter part of his political career, Amirthalingam looked a political prisoner as the LTTE of Velupillai Prabhakaran began to eliminate moderate Tamil leaders. He looked a very worried man. He looked dejected during many a debate in parliament. During every speech, he stressed the need to find a solution to the problem. With his experience, he knew that the end was near for moderate Tamil politics in the country. He would have seen dark clouds hanging over his long journey in politics.

That would have compelled him to make that emotional speech during the emergency debate in June 1989. While I condemn the brutal assassination of Amirthalingam, I bravely state that Appapillai Amirthalingam was a great leader of the Tamils in Sri Lanka.

The following quote from President Mahinda Rajapaksa's tribute to mark the 17th death anniversary of Mr. Amirthalingam is ample testimony of the character and life of Mr. Amirthalingam. The President said, "On July 13, 1989, he was assassinated in his own home, with his colleague, Mr. V. Yogeswaran, by LTTE cadres who came under the guise of discussing politics with an ever trusting man. It is part of the tragedy of our politics, poisoned by terror and violence that the LTTE claims to seek liberation for the Tamils saw in Mr. Amirthalingam, one of their biggest enemies. Irrespective of language or ethnicity, one will always lament the loss of persons of moderation such as Appapillai Amirthalingam, and more so their forcible and violent removal from amongst us". Mr. Amirthalingam was a noble gentleman and a high profile politician of Sri Lanka. He wound up his final speech in June 1989 saying, "Mr. Speaker, Sri Lanka is our motherland and let us live like one people". He proved he was truly a Sri Lankan.