Disclosure of Tamil Homeland Myth

International pressure exerted on the Sri Lankan Government seems to be of no small measure when focusing on the issues regarding the alleged human rights violations leveled against the country. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has proposed that a special three-member committee should be appointed to investigate into the said violations of human rights and war crimes allegedly committed by the Sri Lanka Army. Subsequent to this, the US State Department also submitted report on human rights violations said to be committed by the Sri Lankan Government.
These two issues cannot be easily and lightly discarded. Although the Sri Lankan Government protested against these measures, it is has still not understood the next turn of affairs. When Sri Lanka was frequently accused of abusing human rights, the government raises another question instead of producing an answer. It is why the United Nations, which was never, concerned about the human rights violations of the United States Army in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Israel and also in some middle-eastern countries, is now overtly concerned about probing into 'supposed' human rights violations committed by the Sri Lanka Army. When the United States question about rights violations in Sri Lanka, the government in turn asks why the US State Department does not speaks about crimes committed against ordinary civilians when the US Army launch attacks on Afghanistan and Iraq.
Solutions to Challenges
After ending Prabhakaran's terrorism, the solutions to challenges faced by Sri Lanka lies within the counter charges of the government based on the same issue. To maintain cordial international relations, four vital points are identified in political science.
1. To reach conscientious through discussions.
2. Offering grants.
3. Imposing embargoes.
4. Stabilizing domination.
United States and other 'powerful' countries apply all four measures at different stages towards poor and less affluent countries. The way in which the United States intervened in Iraq could be quoted as a clear example. The US intervened initially in Iraq with an accusing finger. The UN intervened to investigate nuclear 'arms factory' in Iraq consequent to US allegations. However, Iraq permitted the UN monitors to carryout their inspections under a 'controlled' situation. Then the US and the UN claimed that Iraq abandoned on its own accord the opportunity of coming to an agreement through negotiations. Subsequently, economic embargoes were imposed on Iraq and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) forces invaded the country. Thereby Iraq was subjected to two international strategies, i.e., imposing embargoes and stabilizing domination.
The entire world today accepts the fact that there were no nuclear arms in Iraq. Had Iraq being able to convince initially by settling the issue through discussion then it would not have paved the way for the NATO forces to invade the country.
Eradicating Islam Fundamentalism
However, a question arises here if Iraq had convinced the international community that they did not possess nuclear arms, would the NATO forces have invaded Iraq? The world at large is aware that the motive of the western camp led by the United States in projecting Iraq's possession of nuclear arms, was only an excuse to invade the land and not for any other purpose. However, the US gave a clear persuading theory internationally to justify their move, namely the US opinion on Islam fundamentalism. The United States successfully convinced the global community that their stance is eradicating Islam fundamentalism from the face of the earth. If any questions are raised on US attacking Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, the response should be based on this standpoint. It was due to the US adopting such a policy on Islam terrorism that a leading Indian actor Shah Rukh Khan was questioned at the US airport on his entry to the country, because his name was Khan.
Sri Lanka too should resort to US course of action when facing the present challenging situation. It should essentially not follow the mistake committed by Iraq under similar circumstances. In the struggle by Tamil communalists projecting the image of a Tamil Eelam state, the defeated faction was the combat arm of the movement. Although Western pressure was exerted on the government during its fight against these combatants or in other words Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), the Mahinda Rajapakse government was prudent enough to use good judgment on the face of such pressure. A state policy was in place which gave the military, authority to intensify its war strategies, which ultimately defeated the LTTE. The plan was well formulated and western and global powers could not directly intervene in the operations. The stance of the government was, "A terrorist must be answered in his own language." Although the global powers nurtured the LTTE as their pet in the Indian Ocean region, conspired to salvage them, they could not find room to directly intervene in the government machinery. This was the Sri Lankan policy projected internationally, regarding eradication of the LTTE in the country. This is equal to US's policy projected globally, regarding Islam extremists.
Eradicating Terrorism
The same positive approach Sri Lanka pursued in eradicating terrorism should be shown in dealings with the accusations emitted by the West. At present, although the LTTE terrorism or the armed Tamil extremists are extinct, Tamil communalism is actively evident. Tamil communalists led by Rudrakumaran, domiciled in the US, are now attempting to establish an Eelam state in exile. The Global Tamil Forum which met in Britain hopes to establish Eelam (a separate state) in Sri Lanka by adopting various other measures other than terrorism. Sri Lanka is now facing this challenge. Here again the country should resort to its policy adopted when it defeated the LTTE. The country was able to crush the LTTE, by placing the eradication of terrorism as a government policy and bringing to world to its senses. It did not directly yield to any international pressure. If the Mahinda Rajapakse government did not adopt this steady and unwavering attitude towards the LTTE, it would never have been possible to defeat the outfit. A clear example is the tenure of Chandrika Kumaratunga's regime. During this period, the Sri Lankan Government's policy only showed the global community, the foolishness of its agenda by launching military operations and on the other hand talking of peace. Sri Lanka projected to the world that its policy is launching limited military offensives is a necessity prior to commencement of negotiations. Accordingly, the offensives were launched not to defeat terrorism but to hold discussions with the terrorists, in order to form a separate state or in other words a federal administration. If the same policy was adopted by the Rajapakse government, Prabhakaran would still be among the living.
In this instance, the government should take an example from its own strategy followed to annihilate the LTTE. The demand for an Eelam or separate state by Tamil communalists is based on the myth of Tamil homeland concept. Even Nelam Tiruchelvam identified the Tamil aspirations of Tamils from the platform of the so-called Tamil homeland. The government should respond to the pressures exerted by Eelamists and Western governments by disclosing to the world, by destroying the myth of the Tamil homeland. When this is accomplished, the global community or the West would be in the same situation which it faced at the time when the Rajapakse government forged ahead with the war to defeat terrorism. This is where Iraq failed. If Iraq too openly put forward to the international community a clear-cut policy regarding nuclear arms then the NATO Forces would not have been able to invade Iraq.
Homeland Concept
Sri Lanka should now forge ahead to defeat the present covert moves of the Tamil Eelamists, by taking this as an example. The Sri Lanka Government should adopt as a policy that a historical Tamil homeland concept is a mere myth. The fight against the Eelam concept should commence from this point to preserve the unitary and sovereign status of the country. This would definitely put a check on the wild outburst of Eelamists and other international forces who try to pressurize Sri Lanka.
If the international community is convinced that Tamil Homeland is nothing but a fiction then they would not have further dealings with these Eelamists. This has to be done to bring the Western colonialists to their senses.

Disclosure of Tamil Homeland Myth

International pressure exerted on the Sri Lankan Government seems to be of no small measure when focusing on the issues regarding the alleged human rights violations leveled against the country. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has proposed that a special three-member committee should be appointed to investigate into the said violations of human rights and war crimes allegedly committed by the Sri Lanka Army. Subsequent to this, the US Department of State also submitted report on human rights violations said to be committed by the Sri Lankan Government.

Issues and Measures
The issues cannot be easily and lightly discarded. Although the Sri Lankan Government protested against these measures, it is has still not understood the next turn of affairs. When Sri Lanka was frequently accused of abusing human rights, the government raises another question instead of producing an answer.

It is why the United Nations, which was never, concerned about the human rights violations of the United States Army in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Israel and also in some middle-eastern countries, is now overtly concerned about probing into 'supposed' human rights violations committed by the Sri Lanka Army. When the United States question about rights violations in Sri Lanka, the government in turn asks why the US State Department does not speaks about crimes committed against ordinary civilians when the US Army launch attacks on Afghanistan and Iraq.

After ending Prabhakaran's terrorism, the solutions to challenges faced by Sri Lanka lies within the counter charges of the government based on the same issue. To maintain cordial international relations, four vital points are identified in political science.

1. To reach conscientious through discussions.

2. Offering grants.

3. Imposing embargoes.

4. Stabilizing domination.

Economic Embargoes
United States and other 'powerful' countries apply all four measures at different stages toward poor and less affluent countries. The way in which the United States intervened in Iraq could be quoted as a clear example. The US intervened initially in Iraq with an accusing finger. The UN intervened to investigate nuclear 'arms factory' in Iraq consequent to US allegations.

However, Iraq permitted the UN monitors to carryout their inspections under a 'controlled' situation. Then the US and the UN claimed that Iraq abandoned on its own accord the opportunity of coming to an agreement through negotiations. Subsequently, economic embargoes were imposed on Iraq and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) forces invaded the country. Thereby Iraq was subjected to two international strategies, i.e., imposing embargoes and stabilizing domination.

any questions are raised on US attacking Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, the response should be based on this standpoint. It was due to the US adopting such a policy on Islam terrorism that a leading Indian actor Shah Rukh Khan was questioned at the US airport on his entry to the country, because his name was Khan.

Well-Formulated Plan
Sri Lanka should also resort to US course of action when facing the present challenging situation. It should essentially not follow the mistake committed by Iraq under similar circumstances. In the struggle by Tamil communalists projecting the image of a Tamil Eelam state, the defeated faction was the combat arm of the movement.

Although Western pressure was exerted on the government during its fight against these combatants or in other words Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), the Mahinda Rajapaksa government was prudent enough to use good judgment on the face of such pressure. A state policy was in place, which gave the military, authority to intensify its war strategies, which ultimately defeated the LTTE. The plan was well-formulated and the Western and global powers could not directly intervene in the operations.

The same positive approach Sri Lanka pursued in eradicating terrorism should be shown in dealings with the accusations emitted by the West. If the Rajapaksa government did not adopt this steady and unwavering attitude towards the LTTE, it would never have been possible to defeat the outfit. A clear example is the tenure of Chandrika Kumaratunga's regime. During this period, the Sri Lankan Government's policy only showed the global community, the foolishness of its agenda by launching military operations and on the other hand talking of peace.

Sri Lanka projected to the world that its policy is launching limited military offensives is a necessity prior to commencement of negotiations. Accordingly, the offensives were launched not to defeat terrorism but to hold discussions with the terrorists, in order to form a separate state or in other words a federal administration. If the same policy was adopted by the Rajapaksa government, Venupillai Prabhakaran would still be among the living.

Preserve Unitary and Sovereign Status
In this instance, the government should take an example from its own strategy followed to annihilate the LTTE. The demand for an Eelam or separate state by Tamil communalists is based on the myth of Tamil homeland concept. Even Nelam Tiruchelvam identified the Tamil aspirations of Tamils from the platform of the so-called Tamil homeland.

The government should respond to the pressures exerted by Eelamists and Western governments by disclosing to the world, by destroying the myth of the Tamil homeland. When this is accomplished, the global community or the West would be in the same situation which it faced at the time when the Rajapaksa government forged ahead with the war to defeat terrorism. This is where Iraq failed. If Iraq too openly put forward to the global community a clear-cut policy regarding nuclear arms then North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Forces would not have been able to invade Iraq.

Sri Lanka should now forge ahead to defeat the present covert moves of the Tamil Eelamists, by taking this as an example. The Sri Lanka Government should adopt as a policy that a historical Tamil homeland concept is a mere myth. The fight against the Eelam concept should commence from this point to preserve the unitary and sovereign status of the country.

Yet Another Defeat of Shiv Sena

The people of Maharashtra have frustrated the Shiv Sena's attempts yet again. The Shiv Sena had been striving to come to the limelight in politics. At all cinema halls where Shah Rukh Khan's movie My Name is Khan was released, huge crowds turned up to watch the movie. It is strong evidence that people of Mumbai have come to realize that both Bal Thackerey and Udhav Thackerey have lost their mental equilibrium because of continuous defeats. The best reply to their threat is what Sachin Tendulkar had given, followed by Rahul Gandhi and now people of Mumbai.

Bal Thackerey's Politics
The kind of politics indulged in by persons like Bal Thackerey, Udhav Thackeray, and Raj Thackerey has become well-known to people of Maharashtra. They are fed up with that kind of politics. That is why during the last parliamentary elections and later the state assembly elections, people had made them to bite the dust, and thereby gave a clear indication that Bal Thackerey's politics has become outdated as Bal Thackerey has also become old. The people had made them to realize that the masses would not let Maharashtra turn into a den of vagabonds and hoodlums, but Bal Thackerey failed to read the writing on the wall.
What the Shiv Sena did after Sachin Tendulkar and Mukesh Ambani said they are Indians and that Mumbai belongs to all Indians, is before people. People paid no heed to what the Shiv Sena said on the issue and gave it a most befitting reply. Thackerey has gone berserk with that reply because of which he made yet another political move by extending the threat to the Australian cricket team that they would not be allowed to play in Mumbai because of attacks on Indians in that country. The dispute was still on when Shah Rukh Khan made a statement on the non-inclusion of Pakistani cricketers in the IPL that he favors Pakistani cricketers to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
This plain talk by Shah Rukh Khan was not liked by Bal Thackerey and his followers who began to make derogatory statements against him. They also extended threats that they would not allow his movie My Name is Khan, to be released in Maharashtra. Yet, not only was the film released in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra, and elsewhere in country, but also huge crowds thronged the cinema halls to see the film without any fear. It, infact, is a befitting reply to the unconstitutional activities indulged in by the Shiv Sena and Bal Thackerey.

Sharad Pawar-Bal Thackerey Meeting
A couple of days ago, a large number of people had thronged Rahul Gandhi when he visited Mumbai. It had been made clear that people like Bal Thackerey and his followers have lost their voice in Maharashtra. As for the release of the film, Bal Thackerey had indicated a slight change on his stand, yet lest one calls it the impact of Sharad Pawar-Bal Thackerey meeting or something else, the Shiv Sena again began to extend threats to the film. Afraid of these threats, theatre owners had to stop advance booking and hinted not to screen the film in their halls.
Yet, the people of Mumbai and some organizations came out in support of Shah Rukh Khan and, consequently, the film was released. It is not important that the film was released but more important it is that people thronged cinema halls in large numbers to see the film. These crowds included people from all sections, elderly and children alike. All this makes it clear that the threats extended by the Shiv Sena have lost their sting and gone are the days of their policies of provocation.

Role of Government
It further makes it abundantly clear that should the government adopt a strong stand against mischief mongers and provocateurs, it is not a difficult task to rein them in. The fact is that had the Maharashtra Government adopted a strong stand against the Shiv Sena or Raj Thackereky's MNS, had it not given a long rope to a daily like "The Samna" to spread hatred in the name of journalism and had it conveyed a strong message to the goons and hoodlums that their activities would cost them heavily, things today would not have slipped out of hand.
The successful release of My Name is Khan in the world and in India goes to prove that if Mumbai and Maharashtra were to be saved of jungle raj, people there would have to play a more significant role than the government there. The defeat of the Shiv Sena signals the victory of the courage displayed by the people.

Fortification of Mumbai

The kind of fortification that has to be provided to cinema halls of Mumbai, which are prepared to screen Shah Rukh Khan's film, shows how the Shiv Sena wants to do politics on the basis of violence. The problem is not that the Shiv Sena has gone on rampage as part of its politics, but that the political leadership of the country is refusing to show the necessary political will to stop it from doing so.
It is true that the Maharashtra Government appears to have decided to facilitate screening of the film, but there does not appear the necessary determination behind its decision. After all, what is the reason that Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan has to expect an anarchical party like Shiv Sena to show understanding? Is it perhaps because the central government is refraining from stating anything publicly? Is it not strange that when the financial capital of the country is restless, the central authority is behaving as if nothing has happened?

Tug-of-War
It cannot be denied that the disturbed condition of Mumbai is the result of mutual tug-of-war between the Shiv Sena and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, but it is difficult to understand why the state government appears unable to stop the hooliganism that is being perpetrated openly? The manner in which Mumbai is being turned into a military base only underlines the defeat of the state government. It is disappointing that the state government has failed to give this message that the Shiv Sena is indulging in hooliganism in the name of politics and it cannot be tolerated.
Is it not the right time to give a stern message to Shiv Sena and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena from the national political leadership that they cannot be allowed to do politics of violence? Why are they not taking any initiative so that the recognition of organizations like the Shiv Sena and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena as political parties could be annulled? If we could not rein in Shiv Sena, it would not only stop the screening of just one film, but it would also hurt democratic values and beliefs.

IPL Issue
After all, Shah Rukh Khan has only said that he was desirous of including Pakistani players in the Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket tournament. Is it some kind of a crime? The Shiv Sena has the right to disagree with Shah Rukh, but every citizen of the country has that right. Disagreeing with someone's thoughts does not mean you could resort to violent means. The Shiv Sena is not only doing that but it is also justifying it. This is not only hooliganism, but also dictatorship.
It is not surprising to see film stars maintaining silence over the Shiv Sena's violence, because when the national leadership is silent, what could they do? The central government's silence over the incidents in Mumbai is surprising as well as causing concern. This silence increases the audacity of the Shiv Sena and other so-called political parties like it. Agreed that polluted ideology should be dealt with at the ideological level, but the central government is considering it better to do absolutely nothing about the same.

Gandhigiri Versus Vandalism

The pain of the slap that Rahul Gandhi, Congress youthful leader and general secretary, has given to the Shiv Sena by displaying Ghandhiism on Mumbai roads and traveling in local trains would continue to be felt by the Shiv Sena for a long time. In fact, the display of Gandhigiri by Rahul has taken Shiv Sainiks by utter surprise. Greatly annoyed by Rahul's statement on Mumbai, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray and his activists had threatened to hold a black-flag demonstration against Rahul Gandhi who was scheduled to visit Mumbai after his Bihar sojourn. The paper cub of paper tiger Bal Thackeray, Udhav Thackeray, had even gone so far as to advise Rahul to keep himself away from Mumbai.

Rahul's Mumbai Visit
Despite the threat, Rahul Gandhi not only visited Mumbai but also showed the proper place for the Shiv Sena by standing in queue to purchase ticket to travel by a local train. Rahul clearly gave the indication that let Bal Thackeray and his goons claim whatever they may, he cares little. He clearly gave the indication that Mumbai belongs to all Indians and those who carry on their politics in the name of the "Marathi Manoos" count for nothing. Taking abundant precaution, the Mumbai police had arrested several Shiv Sena activists a day prior to Rahul's visit.
The provocative statements made by Thackeray and company had thrown ample hints that every attempt would be made to vitiate the atmosphere. The coward Shiv Sainiks got solace only by using vituperative language and thus manifested their helplessness. The realization had already dawned on them that should they cross the "line of control", they would find themselves unsafe. The situation that has prevailed so far goes to prove that no stern action was ever taken against the Shiv Sena and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and they continued to spit venom. Had even a hint of an action against them was seen earlier, they could not have taken Mumbai hostage? Some of the Shiv Sena activists were taken into custody from the venue, which Rahul Gandhi visited, yet the limited number of these activists clearly indicated that they had lost the courage to come out in large numbers.

Ever-Mounting Hoodlumism of Shiv Sena
Film star Shah Rukh Khan has also given a befitting reply to the ever-mounting hoodlumism of Shiv Sena activists. Shah Rukh Khan who was visiting London in connection with the promotion of his film, not only reiterated his stand against not letting cricketers from Pakistan play in the Indian Premier League tournament but he also refused to apologize. He even counter attacked the Shiv Sena that since he was the son of a freedom fighter, and freedom of expression is a fundamental right in a democracy, he would not apologize to Shiv Sena. He has made it clear that he would not be cowed down by threats extended to him by the Shiv Sena, nor would he fall prostrate before them.
It may be recalled that a stooge of Bal Thackeray, Sanjay Raut had extended the threat to Shah Rukh that if he is so bold and courage one to refuse to apologize, he should make the same statement in Mumbai as he had made in New York. This stooge of the Shiv Sena chief, who also talks above his head and has the same kind of a loose tongue like his mentor, had further reminded Shah Rukh Khan that his house "Mannat" is in Mumbai.

Meaningless Activities
The befitting reply given by Shah Rukh to the Shiv Sena and the overwhelming support he received, and the visit by Rahul Gandhi, who fearlessly visited Mumbai in spite of threats extended to him by the Shiv Sena, go to prove that Gandhism can easily defeat goons. It further proves that the common Marathi finds no meaning of these activities and that he is neither bothered nor disturbed by the provocation in the name of Mumbai or "Marathi Manoos". The people in Mumbai fearlessly turned out to meet Rahul Gandhi which goes to prove that the common man in Mumbai are fed up with the fascist forces.
The fearless visit to Mumbai by Rahul Gandhi has placed a mirror before the Shiv Sena. It can further be assessed by the number of the Shiv Sainiks who were arrested while demonstrating against Rahul's visit how much sup port from the people they enjoy! Clearly, if they had any support from the people, there should have been thousands of people taking to the streets against Rahul's visit and the arrests would have been in hundreds and thousands and not a handful of them. In fact, the immediate visit by Rahul Gandhi after the befitting reply that the Shiv Sena got from Shah Rukh, have together, defeated the hoodlumism of the Shiv Sena.