Dear Mr. President,
Torment of a Tamil American
You have shown humanism with fortitude in protecting minority and
underprivileged interests in the United States of America and in some selected parts of
the world. Yet, instead of helping to find a lasting solution for the ethnic conflict in
Sri Lanka, the United States of America is adding fuel to the
fire as the chief supporter of the
Sri Lanka Government
that is determined to annihilate the Tamils. This is not acceptable.
In a multi ethnic state,
always the majority, of the majority, for the majority, elects the government.
Hence in such a democratic setup the minority becomes totally oppressed
and suppressed, as their vote bank does not carry any weight. In Sri Lanka 70% or less are
Buddhists and only 30% belong to Christians, Muslims and Hindus.
Successive Sri Lanka governments have always reneged on
promises to Tamil voters and
President Kumaratunga is no
exception.
Furthermore, not all the violent movements in many parts of the world
originated because the persons who started such movements are
fond of killing people or playing with weapons
of destruction or because they believed they could get what they need and deserve easily.
Since,
better civilized means are ignored
and violence draws attention, oppressed people display their frustration and helplessness
through violence.
The same thing happened in Sri Lanka. The
large
numbers of democratic attempts by Tamils were thwarted with Sinhala Governments'
autocratic wrath.
S. J. V.Chelvanayagam, the
Eelam Gandhi failed with his non-violent strategy.
Young Thileepan sacrificed his life in Gandhian
non-violent protest with no compassion from the Buddhist government of Sri Lanka. I
strongly believe, that element of human compassion abounds among good Americans and
innocent lives are treated with respect.
The struggle for the restoration of Tamil dignity and honor in SriLanka by
the creation of the nation state of Tamil Eelam is the outcome of a
democratic process enunciated in the
Vaddukkoddai Resolution of 1976. Tamil Eelam is not an object to satisfy some stray
political ambition of a few but a fundamental imperative for all Tamils in Sri Lanka.
Survival of Tamils is at stake let alone, living with dignity and honor!
The potential for "domino effect" coined by the US Under
Secretary, is no reason for aiding and abetting materially and morally
the genocide of Tamils. There was no domino effect when
India was partitioned or when India carved out Bangladesh from Pakistan. Why should Tamil
Eelam be the exception?
Therefore Mr. President, the very chance to
regain Tamil existence with dignity and honor
will be missed now only because of 'high tech' military wherewithal and moral support made
available to the genocidal,
uncompromising, Sri Lankan
Government by the US bureaucracy and its allies.
As a Tamil American, I urge you to help the Tamils and the Sinhalas
find a 'homegrown' solution on their own
without any outside military involvement for the scourge of war thrust on the Tamils.
If by the involvement of outsiders, aided and abetted by the US,
the military advantage gained so far by the
Tamil Freedom forces is reversed, the sufferings of the Tamils and
loss of more lives are imminent. Therefore Mr.
President, use your good offices and act promptly to withdraw all foreign military
presence in Sri Lanka immediately.
If everything else fails, I, as a Tamil American has no other recourse,
but to fast for an indefinite period in front of the White House in Washington DC from
July 4, 2000 as my contribution for Tamils to live with dignity and honor.
Thank you
Ramalingam Shanmugalingam
11373 Ironwood Road San Diego CA 92131. USA Tel & Fax: (858) 547 0574
Electronic Copy (ec.): California US Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara
Boxer, Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham, California Dist. 51
Addendum
"Re-Torment of a Tamil American", I owe it to the
tamilnation.org browsing public to communicate my follow
up letter to US President Bill Clinton on 4 July 2000.
I still believe that external support is necessary once the Tamil Freedom
Fighters win the war, for recognition of the State of Tamil Eelam. There is no alternative
open to Tamils in Sri Lanka but to take what belongs to them forcibly... If reports are
correct, the Sri Lankan President is "more flexible" and Tamil Freedom Fighters
could join the discussions with their gun. It is high time the international community
also understood that Tamil Freedom Fighters, regardless of world opinion, will do what
they have to do to live free with dignity and honor in their native land. "Every man
is the architect of his own fortune." So are the Tamils, who have to fight it out
alone inside Sri Lanka. Hopefully, the world will not fault Tamils once they drive out
aliens from their homeland.
The President Of The United States of America
Washington DC
Dear Mr. President
Re-Torment of a Tamil American
I took the liberty and sent you copies of my appeal, "Torment of a Tamil
American" on June 1, 2000, a copy attached herewith, via E-mail, Fax and by USPS. I
realize the burden of your office and inability to pay attention to every correspondence
you receive.
Nevertheless, it is my duty to inform you that I have called off the FAST
scheduled to start today July 4, a well-fought and earned Independence Day Anniversary.
Happy Independence Day Mr. President.
I wish and hope that Tamils of Sri Lanka, though insignificant in number,
who also have the same human aspirations and yearn for the same values our forefathers
adopted in the "Declaration of Independence," realize their goal before this day
next year.
As indicated in my appeal, I vowed to go on the FAST if for Tamils'
"the very chance to regain Tamil existence with dignity and honor
will be missed now only because of 'high tech' military wherewithal and moral support made
available to the genocidal, uncompromising, Sri Lankan Government by the US bureaucracy
and its allies."
Whether by design or accident, Tamil Freedom Fighters are able to
withstand the heavy aerial bombardment of civilian enclaves within Tamil territory. ...
Tamil Freedom struggle war phase has changed for the better despite Sri Lankan Government
controlled Press reports to the contrary. I have suspended my FAST program for now and
will undertake such a sacrifice, if necessary, in the near future to ensure Tamil freedom.
