Murugar Gunasingam - The Tamil Eelam Liberation Struggle: State Terrorism and Ethnic Cleansing (1948 - 2009)

The prime objective of my involvement in this research is to present a clean picture of the immediate and fundamental causes for the launch of the Tamil Eelam freedom struggle by a chronological record of the events. Further, it is a historical necessity to make the world realise that the struggle for Tamil Eelam is not a demand for separation but an attempt to retrieve the independent Tamil Eelam which was lost. It is the compulsion of circumstances that it must be shown to the world with irrefutable evidence that the LTTE, which has been incessantly carrying on the struggle, is not a terrorist organisation but a freedom movement. Again, the world must be made to understand beyond any doubt that the ruling class of Sri Lanka follows the policy of ultra-Buddhist Sinhalese superiority and all their activities against the Tamils are the product of terrorism. This must be shouted from rooftops so that the world realises this.

It is also necessary to make it crystal clear that the two major parties of Sri Lanka which alternately rule the country always secure power by focussing on the ethnic problems of the Tamils, and are intent upon unleashing all those acts which will oppress and even destroy the Tamils. The only strength of the ultra-Buddhist Sinhalese governments of Sri Lanka is their numerical majority. They also have armed forces which are one hundred percent Sinhalese. Having both of these as their strengths, and receiving military assistance from the countries of the world through mischievous propaganda, they are engaged in all the acts which will totally remove the (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) LTTE and the Tamil people from Sri Lanka. This work is triggered by the dire necessity of undertaking the enormous responsibility of proclaiming these facts to the world.

Hundreds of thousands of Tamils have been massacred by the ruthless terrorist activities of the Sri Lankan government. There is no limit to the suffering, pain and tribulations undergone by the entire Tamil community caught in the grip of the state terrorism of Sri Lanka. The Tamils are subjected to miseries which the human race has never seen. There is a need for the humanitarian people of the world and the countries housing just and fair governments to realise this, and act accordingly. It is the expectation and the desire of this author that this work must portray the combined agony of all the Tamils and must open the eyes of the world.

The LTTE is an organisation fighting for the liberation of Tamils. They have made extensive studies as to what kind of country that Tamil Eelam must be and have made plans for realising it. The Sinhalese government and the countries that branded the LTTE as a terrorist organisation used it as an excuse for destroying them. These countries must be put account for this. There is yet another historical necessity of clarifying to the Tamils that there have been many conspiracies behind the persecution to the Tamil people and the LTTE. The Tamils must be made aware of the restlessness of the conspirators in realising their political objectives. All this will goad the Tamils to march courageously towards the liberation of Tamil Eelam. This publication carries all facts with the belief that justice, fair play and integrity still exist in the world and to remind the world of their responsibility to return Tamil Eelam to the Tamils whose land it has always been.

This study will certainly shake the conscience of the Sri Lankan government and those countries which supported it. This research finding proposes to bring to the bar of public opinion of the entire world, all the officialdom and the centres of authority that were determined to annihilate the Tamils and their struggle, as well as the traitors who attempted a total sell-out of Tamil Eelam. This research will not swerve from proclaiming to the entire world that the Tamil Eelam freedom struggle is based on the principles of justice, fair play and righteousness and will open their eyes. It will not fail in the purpose of giving a detailed account of the Tamil Eelam struggle to the Tamil people, Sinhalese people and the people of the world. This work will also pave the way for the Tamils, of the younger generation, to take all the steps and make all the endeavours and march forward with courage and faith.

Many publications have appeared on the Tamil Eelam freedom struggle. They have concentrated on wars and peace initiatives and traced the history of the Eelam struggle. This study does not give any predominance to those matters. Out of need and for the sake of continuity a few matters which have appeared in other works also have been discussed. Most of the matters revealed in this study have never been revealed or have been studied before. This book is a continuation of this author's Tamils in Sri Lanka: A Comprehensive History (C. 300 BC - C. 2000 AD). This work opens up many fields of study for the research students of the future.

Many countries, institutions and individuals have been connected with this work, since it discusses current political history, and this author has no animosity towards any of them. Everyone concerned is informed beforehand that all these facts have been brought to light after intense study of reliable evidence and scholarly discussions.

M. Gunasingam. 18 June 2012

My research work Tamils in Sri Lanka: A Comprehensive History (C. 300 B.C. C. 2000 A.D) was published in the latter part of 2008. In the same year I had the opportunity of meeting Prabhakaran, Castro, Thamilenthi and Natesan in Vanni. We discussed my research and at this juncture Prabhakaran suggested that it will be good to conclude my analysis with the events of 1983. Further, he advised that the happenings that occurred after 1983 could be analysed and discussed at a later date. I was very surprised by his advice at that time.

But after the holocaust in Vanni that happened in May 2009 my mind kept repeatedly thinking back to that advice. My publication gained exposure in the meantime. The late S. Sivanayagam, reputed media person and the author of many research works, contacted me over the phone and said 'the history of the Eelam Tamils from 1983 onwards, covering the last 30 years, is very important and it is your responsibility to complete it'. All that I could say in response to his friendly request was iet me think about it'. He died soon after. At this stage, the holocaust of 2009 continued to adversely affect me in many ways. There were many days when my beloved daughter Vasuki consoled my condition, reiterating that I should continue my research. All these people have been a great inspiration throughout the whole process of conducting and completing this research. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to them for motivating and encouraging me in this endeavour.