Aussie Adele will not replace Balasingham as 'international voice of Tigers'

H. L. D. Mahindapala in Melbourne

Melbourne: Adele Balasingham, the Aussie "Tamil", has e-mailed The Australian saying that there is no truth in the story that she would replace her husband, Anton Balasingham, as "the international voice of the Tigers".

She wrote: "There's absolutely no truth in the story that I am to assume my husband's role in the LTTE (the Tamil Tigers)." The Australian went to town on January 23, 2007 saying: "Aussie Ex-Nurse to be new face of Tamil Tigers". 57-year-old Adele, a former nurse from Warrigul, in Victoria, has officially denied this story.

The Australian added that Sri Lankan diplomats have urged Britain to arrest the London-based former Victorian country nurse if she does replace husband Anton Balasingham as the Tigers' chief negotiator and spokesman, following his death from cancer in December.

However, she is tipped "to have a significant role as one of the few Tiger activists with long international experience and the confidence of the group's leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran," according to The Australian.

Though she moved in Prabhakaran's circle, being the wife of Balasingham, and though she was first taught to fire arms by Prabhakaran it is unlikely she will wield any influence or develop a close rapport with Prabhakaran.

She was dubbed "Aunty" by Prabhkaran who was embarrassed not knowing whether to call her "Thangathchi" (younger sister) or "Akka" (elder sister) - the customary terms of addressing Tamil girls in Tamil society. "Aunty" was a compromise between the two.

The Tamil people called her "White Aunty". She now lives in a large double-storey home in New Malden, a middle-class residential suburb in southwest London, fully paid by the Tamil Tigers.

Adele Balasingham was seen as a possible replacement to her husband because the Tamil Tigers have no Tamil talent left to replace the articulate Balasingham who was partly bluff, partly showman, and partly theoretical with a fair knowledge of political science and its current political jargon.

He shone because his master, Velupillai Prabhakaran, had liquidated the cream of Tamil intellectuals who were opposed to him. "In the pot hole without big fish Balasingham was the sprat who became the king", said one Tamil political commentator.

Balasingham's skill was in his grasp of international affairs, building close liaisons with foreigners and comunication skills. He was also seen by foreign governments as the closest link to communicate with Prabhakaran. Erik Solheim's biggest mistake was in relying on Balasingham as the intermediary who could deliver what he wanted; not knowing that though Balasingham talks it is Prabhkaran who makes the decisions.

The death of Balasingham, however, did create a vacuum for peace facilitators who need a direct line to communicate with Prabhakaran. The rumour of Adele replacing Balasingham gained currency because she was seen as a potential go-between to deal with Prabhakaran.

But Prabkaran who seldom trusts anybody is not likely to trust Adele to the extent he trusted her husband, Anton Balasingham. Besides, she is seen as an aggressive activist good at running military camps to train Tamil girls on how to kill than negotiating for peace. Those close to her claim that she lacks the diplomatic skills of her husband.

Her denial of replacing her husband as the "voice of the Tamils" will create a problem both for Prabhkaran and the Norwegian peace facilitators. Adele will continue to play a quiet role behind the scenes.

But the next question is: who will be the next public face of the Tamil Tigers after Prabhakaran had eliminated the Tamil intellectuals who could have stepped into Balasingham's shoes?