‘DMK, where were you when 75,000 Muslims were driven away from Jaffna’

Parliamentarian A H M Azwar asked TNA MP Mavai Senethirajah where he was when 75,000 Muslims were driven away from Jaffna. Azwer was participating in an adjournment motion in Parliament moved by TNA MP Mavai Senathirajah. Azwer said, “I am happy to be able to participate in this Adjournment Motion on, ‘Rebuilding of lives of war-affected Tamils in North and East’ moved in the House by my good friend Mavai Senathirajah, a senior Member”.

‘When he mentions that ‘armed conflict raged’, he admits that they have taken up arms. Again in his Motion when he mentions ‘others driven away’ whom does he refer to? Are they people from Andrapradesh or Kannada states? Why are you shy to say ‘Muslims’?

“Twenty years ago 75,000 Muslims were driven away from Jaffna. On that occasion where was Karunanidhi of Tamil Nadu? Today he speaks about a Dambulla mosque which he has never sited.

“In Kattankudi Muslim brothers were massacred inside the Hussein Mosque. What were you doing in Tamil Nadu then? You did not have the time to see it?

“In Eravur, Alingpithana, Palliyagodalla (Pallithidal) Muslims were massacred. Who killed them? They were killed by the Tigers.

“Sir, do you know Cho Ramaswamy? He is an editor of the Tamil Weekly “Thuglak” and a former Rajya Sabha Member. He has given an interview to the media there. One question asked him was, “Tamil parties here and across the world are demanding that India supports the US Resolution against Sri Lanka in the UN Human Rights Council. What do you think?”

“Cho Ramaswamy said to the Deccan Times in an interview, “I doubt these people realize that the US Resolution does not condemn Sri Lanka as such. The Resolution says recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) appointed by Colombo, which was something like the South African Truth and Reconciliation Committee, should be implemented. The US Resolution also insists there must be a settlement of the Tamil problem.” We understand that.

“Another question was: “What do you think should be done to bring to book the perpetrators of war crimes?”

Ramaswamy replied: “There was no war in Sri Lanka. Is there a war between the Naxalites and the Indian government? Is there a war between the Islamic militants and the Indian state?”

Then, Sir, another question posed to him: “But, there were thousands of civilians killed this war, or whatever you call it, in Sri Lanka?”

His answer was: “Because the civilians were used by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) as shields. Nobody speaks of that now.”

Coh Ramaswamy says: “They can use civilians; they can use children as shields and as suicide bombers.”

“What happened in this country has been mirrored clearly by Cho S Ramaswamy. The last question was: “Do you think Tamil nationalism is going overboard?”

“I ask the same question from the TNA today in this House. The reply is:

“There is no doubt about that. It has been doing that for many years. The insurgents need not follow any rules but the state should be mindful of international law or rules of war etc. How is it possible? In that case, no state can put down terrorism.”

“Ramaswamy says no state can put down terrorism, and it is as if we ask the state not to act against terrorism. This is the position as far as the war is concerned.

“I attended the 35th death anniversary of the late S J V Chelvanayakam, a commemoration event held at the Kathiresan Hall, Bambalapitiya.

“Dr Sri Padmanadan the Dean and Professor of History at the Peradeniya University delivered the memorial speech. He said: ‘The Muslims’ rights are guaranteed.’ He mentioned the names of two people who built up the Federal Party. One is, ‘Sollin Selvar’ C Rajadurai, former Minister of Regional Development and Hindu Cultural Affairs and the other, ‘Sollin Selvar’ of Maruthamunai in the Eastern Province, Senator S Z M Mashoor Moulana.

“Dr Sri Padmanathan said: ‘A guarantee was extended to the Muslim community by Chelvanayakam.’

“Sampanthan, you must also guarantee those rights to the Muslims.

“Therefore, Sir, I condemn vehemently that Rajadurai, the man who built up the Federal Party in the North and the East, was insulted when he visited Jaffna for the Thanthai Chelvanayakam Commemoration meeting.

But there was not a word of protest by the TNA except some in the Eastern Province. You see the difference, this is what is happening.

The North and the East are divided. I say, build a united TNA first.