Sympethising with LTTE

In history books, it was mentioned that great Maratha Leader Shivaji was a terrorist. Our own man Alluri Sitarama raju was considered a terrorist. Both were terrorists to then British Government but, for all Indians - till today they are heroes. And they will remain so for ever.

Where does Vellupillai Prabhakaran stand in the context of history? Hero to many Tamils (may not be to all Tamils) but a branded terrorist for Srilankan Government and world community at large. Or would he remain a controversial figure for ever in the Srilankan and Tamil history?

When I lived in Madras few decades back, LTTE then was seen as an integral part of the Tamil society. Prabhakaran used to live in Madras (now called Chennai) as national guest. He used to deal with the Centre and state governments as respected leader. In the PTC buses, I used to wonder - how the bus conductors used to keep LTTE stickers (called Tamil Eelam) on their cash bags. Well, I never believed at that time, Prabhakaran was a terrorist, as I see (may be) other terrorist groups. That probably because, I am from this side of the story. Though I am neither a Sri lankan nor Tamilian, I used to feel more closer to Tamils than Srilankans as Tamils had some genuine grievances. Also, Indian Government with the pressure from the MG Ramachandran Government was working for the cause of Tamils. This point of view changed following a series of high profile assassinations by LTTE.

Later, I left Madras - and over the years I realised that things have changed considerably specially during the recent events. There was no political outbursts. No sympathisers for LTTE in Tamil Nadu. The man who fought all his life in the name of Tamil cause left an orphan and probably died an orphan. They was something seriously gone wrong - and it was a adamant attitude of LTTE and their boss.

I do not know the triggers for Prabhakaran to take this violent path. When I look at the history, one thing that amused me always was - Prabhakaran and LTTE killed as many Tamils as Srilankans. The Hindu, daily paper used to have a special coverage each time there was an assassination in SriLanka. Why kill their "own" people? - because they were moderates or not in favour of LTTE path.

LTTE and Prabhakaran had number of opportunities during the past decade or so, when they could have had a political deal and ensured the peace in Sri Lanka. More the opportunities that have come, Prabhakaran remained more and more disconnected and chose the violent path as the only option for solution. Today, I was listening to BBC world service - and Srilankan High Commissioner to UK was mentioning devolution and the autonomy that was granted to Tamils over the years. On listening to the points, I wondered what deterred LTTE from a political solution. Well, some of what HC said might be contestable but there was willingness from the SriLankan side to negotiate.

I think over the past couple of years, it became apparent that Prabhakaran had no choice other than the political settlement and he for his own reasons never let that happen. Unfortunately, he did not allow a political wing to establish to drive the peace. Today, looking at the pictures released by the Srilankan Government, I feel sad for the Prabhakaran family and also for all those innocents who died in the 30 year civil war.

Prabhakaran now brought all Srilankan Tamils to the mercy of Srilankan Government. This is a pathetic situation and a faulty vision of a person who many Tamils have trusted initially.

Annihilation of LTTE is probably a lesson for other similar groups working across the globe. Even, their own sympathisers would not hold long and before it is too late, it is always good to take the middle path and look for peaceful settlement.