Tamilchelvan - Tamil Tiger political head killed in S.Lanka air raid

Dear All

Today is indeed a very sad day for us Tamils and for decency and decorum in politics and foreign relations. I know him personally as he invited me to come over and meet with him in Geneva some two years ago and we had a long meeting.

He struck me as a very deep thinker and a calm and self-effacing man, who had already proved his courage in battle but who was committed to seek a negotiated settlement for the emancipation of his fellow Tamils in so far as it was possible with the perfidious Sinhalese.

The cowardly and rabid Sinhala forces could only murder him from the air as they do not have the guts or the strength to face the Tamil defenders in close combat.

This is a colossal loss for us but the struggle for the rights of the Tamils will be further motivated and re-dedicated in the name of Tamilchelvan, this fallen Political head who was seen by foreign governments as a very impressive, clever and redoubtable foreign minister of the Eelam Tamils.

May his soul rest in peace and his memory live in our hearts forever.

Long live the cause of the Eelam Tamils!

Kind regards

Ivan Pedropillai BSc., MSc., FCCA, FCMA
Chairman

Source: Tamil Writers Guild
Date: 02 November 2007

(1) Thamilchelvan's killing a disaster to LTTE - and Sri Lanka

By IANS - Friday November 2, 06:30 PM

New Delhi, Nov 2 (IANS) Sri Lanka's dramatic killing of S.P. Thamilchelvan, who many diplomats saw as the 'friendly face' of the Tamil Tigers, is a huge blow to the rebels and is bound to cause more bloodshed in the island.

Although he joined the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) as a fighter while in his teens, it was his growing importance as a negotiator in peace talks that fetched Thamilchelvan a larger than life image.

Western diplomats and Indian officials who spoke to IANS warned that his death could complicate an already complex situation in Sri Lanka, stifling even the marginal hopes of restarting negotiations between the LTTE and Colombo.

The LTTE had been trying to groom Thamilchelvan to fill the shoes of Anton Balasingham, the long-time negotiator of the Tigers, when Sri Lanka's air force bombed a LTTE camp in the rebel-held Kilinochchi while he was closeted with his military colleagues. Five LTTE military leaders also died in the strike.

Both Balasingham, who died of cancer in December 2006, and Thamilchelvan were considered extremely close to Prabhakaran. And though Thamilchelvan did not have the kind of command over English Balasingham enjoyed, he more than made it up with his friendly attitude to diplomats and others who came calling on the LTTE.

'Thamilchelvan's killing wipes out the institutional memory of the peace talks (of recent years),' a diplomat in Sri Lanka said. 'Who are the Sri Lankans going to talk to now? This is the real problem.'

Added another diplomat: 'It is a huge blow to negotiations. With Balasingham dead, Thamilchelvan would have played a key role in any future negotiations.'

Some Indian officials warned that this could trigger a tit-for-tat response from the LTTE.

'This is going to spiral everything,' said one official. 'The LTTE will argue that while it is targeting the Sri Lankan military people, the Sri Lankans have killed a key political personality.'

The death is sure to hit the morale of the LTTE, which is still celebrating last week's crippling attack on the Sri Lankan Air Force base in Anuradhapura that wiped out military helicopters and planes worth millions of dollars.

A Tamil source said: 'The LTTE will miss him. He has been with Prabhakaran for 25 years. He has enjoyed his trust.'

Hailing from a poor family in Chavakachcheri in Jaffna, Thamilchelvan - like many young Tamil men of his era - drifted to militancy and later teamed up with LTTE founder leader Velupillai Prabhakaran.

As a guerrilla, he took part in many battles and graduated to become 'an excellent shot', said a Sri Lankan Tamil who has known Thamilchelvan intimately.'He could hit any target from a distance.'

But a battle wound brought about a change in his profile, and the man who could fight to kill was anointed the head of the LTTE's political wing.

That designation coupled with his intimacy with Prabhakaran earned him pride of place in the LTTE negotiation teams post the 2002 truce although he remained under the shadow of the elder Balasingham for a long time.

He was the senior most leader of the LTTE most visitors to the Tiger region met. Even those who got to meet Prabhakaran had to go past him.

Thamilchelvan considered himself devoted to Prabhakaran. He married within the LTTE. The couple had two daughters.

As the violence escalated in Sri Lanka from December 2005, Thamilchelvan had a tough time defending the LTTE even as more and more countries turned against the group.

Thamilchelvan was always confident of the success of the LTTE's cause. He said more than once to those close to him: 'I shall not die until I see the birth of Tamil Eelam.' That was not to be.

http://in.news.yahoo.com/071102/43/6mra8.html

(2) Karunanidhi laments the death of Thamilchelvan

[TamilNet, Saturday, 03 November 2007, 11:43 GMT]
Seen as a significant gesture, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and veteran leader of Tamils, M. Karunanidhi, condoled the demise of Thamilchelvan on Saturday. Kalaignar Karunanidhi, quite typical of his style, used the medium of poetry and pun to pass a subtle message that the Tamils of Sri Lanka haven't gone brotherless. The Chief Minister's emotion-filled condolence gains significance in the background of a prevailing impression that the government of India is fully backing the war efforts of the government of Sri Lanka aiming for a military solution to the ethnic crisis in the island.

According to media reports for quite some time, the government of Sri Lanka was pressing the Indian government with a long list of sophisticated weapons for air combat.

It is speculated that advanced technology was put in use in the pinpoint bombing of the residence of the members of the political division of the LTTE, which claimed the life of their Political Head Brigadier S.P. Thamilchelvan, on Friday.

Mr. Karunanidhi has been an opponent to military option to resolve the Tamil ethnic question in Sri Lanka.

In March 1990, when the IPKF was withdrawn from Sri Lanka, Mr. Karunanidhi, who was then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, refused to attend the reception of the returning troops in Madras.

Condolence poetry by Kalaignar Karunanidhi English translation: TamilNet

Always smiling face -
A mind that sets ablaze opposition!

Young, young, yet a heart of
Himalayan strength, strength!

A commander seasoned in the line
of the old lion Balasingam

The virtuous youth whom with determination
offered himself to the War for Rights -
his soul hasn't gone extinguished
he hasn't gone brotherless

A beloved son who wrote his fame
all over the earth, wherever Tamils live -
where have you gone?

TamilNet Transcription of the text:

Eppoathum chiriththidum mukam - Ethirppuka'lai eriththidum negncham!

I'lamai i'lamai ithayamoa Imayaththin valimai! valimai!

Kizhach chingkam paalasingkam vazhiyil Pazhamaay pakkuvampetta padaith tha'lapathi!

Uramaay thannaiyum urimaip poarukkena uthaviya Uththama vaalipan - uyir a'naiyaan Udan pi'rappa'naiyaan

Thamizhar vaazhum nilamelaam avartham manaiyelaam Thanpukazh chethukkiya chelvaa - engku chen'raay?

The original text of the condolence poem in Tamil:

The Tamil text has been released by the Tamil Nadu government Information and Public Relations Department.

(3) 'Sinhala nation has killed our dove of peace' - LTTE Leader Pirapaharan

Head Quarters
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
Tamil Eelam
3 November 2007

My beloved people

Despite the repeated and continuous calls from the international community to find a peaceful resolution to Tamil national question, we have not seen any goodwill from the Sinhala nation. We do not see the Buddhist universal love. Sinhala nation did not open its heart and send a peace message. On the contrary, it is sending war-vultures that are dropping giant bombs. It has cruelly killed our peace dove.

Sinhala nation has taken the life of a political leader deeply loved by the Tamil speaking world and greatly respected by the international community. It has taken away an unrivalled leader who has won the hearts of the people of Tamil Eelam. Tamil Eelam nation is confronting an unparalleled loss after losing the head of our political wing, Brig. S P Tamilselvan and five other LTTE members. Our people are in profound shock and sorrow.

Tamilselvan was close to me ever since he joined our freedom movement. I loved him deeply. I taught him as my own beloved younger brother. Buried within his beautiful smile, I recognized, right from the beginning, a thousand profound meanings, his abilities, and his leadership qualities. I raised him as a great commander, an unparalleled political head, a diplomat who communicated with the entire world, and a skilled negotiator.

His thoughts were always about the liberation of the land and the people he so dearly loved. He longed for a free, honourable and safe life for our people. He was a fire that laboured selflessly and with determination towards the goal.

In a new form, he joins our liberation struggle which is moving on like a lengthy river of blaze. In this new form, he has set alight in our heavy hearts a deep yearning for the goal. He has nourished that yearning. Strengthened by his nourishment we will continue to travel on our path towards the goal with renewed determination.

Signed:
V. Pirapaharan
Leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam

http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=23669

(4) Bauer pays tributes to Thamilchelvan

[TamilNet, Sunday, 04 November 2007, 15:45 GMT]

Jon Hanssen Bauer, the Norwegian special envoy for the peace process in Sri Lanka, on Saturday paid tributes to Liberation Tigers Political Head and Chief Negotiator S. P. Thamilchelvan.

Stating that Mr. Thamilchelvan's role was important not only for Norway, but also for other countries, Mr. Bauer said Thamilchelvan was a patient man in explaining the rightful demands of Tamils and he was a moderate person within the LTTE, one who sought political alternatives.

http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=23675