In the tit-for-tat violence and killings of the last several months in the northeast Sri Lanka, the only blameless parties are the government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and the Sri Lankan armed forces (SLA). It is a clash between the LTTE and the ‘other’ Tamil groups, and the GOSL and the SLA have nothing to do with it.

Government sources say that President Rajapakse has appointed a two member commission of inquiry to investigate into the recent events in Jaffna that were aimed at disturbing the peace efforts. This latest commission of inquiry in a long series of commissions of inquiry only goes to show that governments may change in the south but their approach remains the same.

Mahintha Rajapakse, the newly elected president of Sri Lanka, keeps telling that he is going to adopt a new approach in solving the ethnic issue of the Tamils of Tamil Eelam. He also has indicated his wish to talk to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and to maintain peace by adhering to the ceasefire agreement. But it is essential to first learn how he is going to handle the peace process and what justice he would offer the Tamils. Therefore, the National Leader, His Excellency Pirabhakaran has decided to allow a short period of time to observe President Mahintha Rajapakse's next moves and activities.

I wonder how many have noticed the rebukes and exposure faced by Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan, aka Karuna, in the past few weeks. By whom? First, by the prima donna of Colombo politics, the former President Chandrika Kumaratunga. Secondly, by the Kalkudah constituency, in which his native town Kiran is located, on November 17th. And Karuna is quivering from such exposures. The wisdom of the Tamil proverb, Oorudan pahaithaal Verudan Kedum [You antagonize your village; You die with your roots.] seems applicable to his plight. Thirdly, by the newly elected President Mahinda Rajapakse.

If the only explanation the Sinhala society can come up with for the Tamil non-participation in the presidential election is that the LTTE forced them to, then we have a problem. I am not referring to the loose gossips and conjectures being bandied about in such abundance in the Sinhala south. It is that even the more moderate Sinhalese seem to believe this.

We, the internally displaced people of Jaffna district, have reached the limit of our patience.

The dust is settling in Sri Lanka after the presidential elections victory of Mahinda Rajapakse and the Heroes; Day speech by the LTTE leader Velupillai Prabaharan. The leaders of the Singhalese and Tamils respectively, have stated their future policies. It is apparent that the country is facing a grim future.

It is believed power is never won by the opposition. Invariably, power is lost by governments. For the past 50 some years the Sri Lankan government has concentrated its power to undermine the Tamils. In recent years, the international community seem to have shown some interests in solving the national conflict; though sadly with a lop-sided approach.

I read with interest the rejoinder by A.R.M. Imtiyaz, to my three part commentary on the expulsion of Jaffna Muslims in 1990 by the LTTE. I am strongly skeptical about the claim advanced by Imtiyaz that this expulsion was a ‘cultural genocide.’ The phrase ‘cultural genocide’ is a very loaded weapon which should not be used carelessly or selectively.

The unitary constitution and a united nation

Realizing the total unacceptability of Mr Rajapakse’s unrealistic insistence on retaining the Unitary Constitution, the press recommend a duplicitous course of action for him to follow. They suggest that Rajapakse publicly renounce his election platform by abandoning his policy about the importance and sanctity of maintaining the Unitary Constitution.

The violence which exploded across the NorthEast –particularly in Jaffna – in the past week has understandably sent shockwaves throughout Sri Lanka and alarmed international actors with a stake in securing peace in the island. The frustration of the international ceasefire monitors is palpable, particularly given that just a week ago it appeared the smouldering yet relentless violence of the shadow war seemed to have eased, if not ceased.