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Change in Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu is physically, linguistically and culturally close to the North of Sri Lanka. It is therefore only natural for those in Tamil Nadu to be concerned over the situation in the North, where the Security Forces are very close to eliminating Tiger terrorists. The latter are now confined to a very small area, which is likely to be overrun by troops any moment.

Nevertheless, it was clear from the beginning that the general masses, most political parties and even well known intellectuals in Tamil Nadu were ill-informed and misled regarding the situation in the North. Several Tamil Nadu political parties said the Sri Lankan Government was engaged in a genocidal war against the Tamil people in the Vanni.

All these charges have now been proved baseless. If the Lankan Army and State are engaged in genocide, would thousands of Tamils from Vanni come to the cleared areas seeking their protection?

It has now been confirmed beyond any doubt that the LTTE is holding civilians against their will in the very limited area left to it. Several countries and international organisations have urged the LTTE to give up this practice and let the civilians go to cleared areas. The LTTE has once again been exposed for what it really is - a terrorist organisation ill treating the very community it claims to liberate.

This stark reality has now permeated the corridors of power and streets of Tamil Nadu. Many Tamil Nadu politicians have openly criticised the Tigers in recent weeks and urged them to accept their fate.

Parties which were supportive of the so-called liberation struggle launched by the LTTE have changed their stance. The calls in Tamil Nadu for a ceasefire in the North have faded, with many in Tamil Nadu realising that the Centre was with Sri Lanka on the issue of eliminating terrorism.

As TULF leader V. Anandasangaree has pointed out, any moves in Tamil Nadu against Sri Lanka and its fight against terrorism at this stage would be counter-productive.

It would only help the LTTE, gasping for breath in a remote corner of the North. What all right thinking Tamil Nadu political parties and organisations must do is appeal to the LTTE to free the civilians forcibly held by them and surrender to the Forces at this stage.

That is the only option left for the LTTE.

In the meantime, Tamil Nadu authorities must enhance vigilance to prevent the infiltration of Tiger cadres fleeing the battles in the North. The authorities should ensure that such Tigers do not receive medical aid or shelter in the State. Strict action should be taken against those supporting the Tigers morally or physically.

The change in the attitude towards the LTTE in Tamil Nadu will be the final nail in the Tiger’s coffin. With Tamil Nadu politicians abandoning support for the LTTE’s cause of separatism, it will no longer be able to garner any sympathy there. No one naturally wants to support a losing cause, and a fundamentally wrong one at that.


A bumper harvest

The LTTE’s infamous closure of the Mavil Aru anicut deprived agri water to thousands of farmers in the East. The prospects for agriculture in the province looked grim at that time due to the conflict. Yet, barely two years after the Mavil Aru episode, the East is poised to reap a bumper paddy harvest, defying all odds and expectations.

There are several factors that contributed to this revival. The prime reason is the liberation of the entire East by Security Forces and the inception of democracy which once again enabled Eastern farmers to freely engage in their vocation.

Another is the successful implementation in the East of the Government’s fertiliser subsidy, in addition to the provision of seed paddy and modern equipment. The Government’s Eastern Resurgence programme also integrated agriculture. The fourth and perhaps the most important factor is the perseverance of Eastern farmers.

Their efforts would be in vain if they cannot obtain a good price for the paddy. Fortunately, private traders are already queuing up to buy the paddy at rates as high as Rs.33, over and above the prices stipulated by the Government (Rs.28 and Rs.30 for the two main varieties).

The Government has also issued a staggering Rs.500 million to Eastern cooperatives to purchase paddy so the farmers are assured of a good income. According to reports, harvesting has already begun in the three districts.

The East is likely to contribute 30 per cent of the country’s total paddy harvest this year, an incredible feat considering the hardships faced by the farmers, not only in terms of the conflict, but also in terms of remoteness, lack of water and other facilities, poor transport infrastructure and the migration of younger farmers for white collar jobs in the cities.

They will definitely achieve a bigger harvest during the next season if some of these issues are addressed.

There is no doubt that Northern farmers will equal or better this record, given a chance. The Government is liberating the North now and agriculture will be given priority as it rebuilds the war-torn province. The agricultural potential of both these provinces will make a very significant contribution the economy in the years to come.
 

A new pattern of development

The single instance of the two major political parties reaching an agreement on a national issue was the Sirima-Shastri agreement on stateless persons in the 1960s. If the repatriation of stateless persons was not done under that agreement even the upcountry would have become a victim of LTTE terrorism.

Full Story

‘Catholic Church - A most welcome change’ - Revisited

P.J. Perera in the Daily News of 5th February says, “The comments of the anonymous writer who had written in Tuesdays Daily News (February 3) could give a wrong impression of Catholics having supported terrorism. This certainly is not so”.

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English as a Life Skill

A substantial amount of resources has been spent by the State over the last several decades for enhancing the teaching of English in our schools.

Full Story

 

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