Before I begin my review of this publication (Primary Sources for History of the Sri Lankan Tamils), I think it is only appropriate that we reflect on the significance of the study of history. History as we know is something we all posses as individuals, as families and as a people. To a large extent, history defines who we are. It gives us that sense of identity.

Tamil Journalists Association issued a plea to the Sri Lankan government to conduct investigations into the increasing number of threats, by the Sri Lankan military, to Tamil journalists and Tamil newspaper offices. Sri Lankan government policy on press freedom is brought into the open by the attacks and threats on the Tamil journalists, and the sudden and invasive searches of Tamil newspaper offices, over the last few months. One must wonder what exactly they mean when they proclaim they are for press freedom.

• Disappeared
• Deaths
• Torture
• Disabled
• Arrested
• Mentally Affected

1. Background

Ever since the LTTE’s Batticaloa-Amparai commander, Karuna, decided to raise the flag of mutiny in March-April 2004, the east has witnessed an orgy of killing. A contest that began by intelligence agents of the two sides – the Sri Lanka military and the LTTE – targeting each other, escalated till any member of the rival’s forces was fair game for the others’ assassins. Today however, the exchanges have taken on a totally new dimension with the murder of Batticaloa District’s TNA parliamentarian, Joseph Pararajasingham.

Joseph Pararajasingham, MP for Batticaloa, a senior Tamil politician and a peace activist, was gunned down on Christmas morning 2005 in a Cathedral in the heart of Batticaloa where he was attending the midnight mass. What was terminated was not just a most valuable life, but probably also the Peace process.

The political situation in SL seems grim and stalemated. Can Mr Rajapakse last politically without J.V.P & J.H.U support? What are the J.V.P & J.H.U planning to do - cut his throat if he does not stick by his totally unacceptable election pledges? Does he, in the interest of survival, intend to stick by those pledges?

As the year draws to an end, no amount of peace rhetoric can disguise a powerful atmosphere of doom and gloom engulfing the Tamil Homeland. Not a single one of the nine districts have been spared of arbitrary killings, abductions and unfair imprisonment. Everywhere it seems, grenades are exploding, soldiers are opening indiscriminate fire and scores are being killed in what increasingly looks like a return to all out civil war.

Amid seething tensions between the Tamil population and Sri Lankan security forces, the ceasefire continues to fray in a storm of landmines, grenades and gunfire. There have been clashes at sea and more extra-judicial killings on land.

The rape and murder of Tharshini is an inhuman act. 19 year old Tharshini's mutilated and lifeless body was recovered from an abandoned well in Punguduthivu located close to the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) camp insidethe high security zone which is under the control of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces (SLAF).