Sri Lanka's ethnic problem is a political issue which continue to plague the nation since 1921. Sri Lanka's Sinhalese political leaders have failed to find a suitable solution yet. So many round table conferences had been held and so many pacts had been signed with a view to solve this issue. But all talks had been intentionally disrupted and all agreements wilfully abrogated by the Sinhalese side. This has become the tragic history of Sri Lanka. Every Sinhala leader succeeding each other had but repeatedly deceived the Tamils.

In the past, those elected as Presidents with executive powers had failed to find a just solution to the problems of the Tamils. On the contrary, they robbed the Tamils of their legitimate rights. They fragmented Tamil traditional homeland with planned Sinhalese colonisation. To be precise, the Sinhala regimes were intent on erasing every aspect which entitled Tamils as a Nation. J. R. Jayawardne was the first President of Sri Lanka holding executive powers. He tried whatever means possible to completely subdue the Liberation Struggle of the Tamils. R. Premadasa who succeeded him in 1989, surpassed his predecessor in reaching extremes to quell the Liberation Struggle.

Premadasa became the target of a human suicide bomber in 1993. T. P. Wijeyatunge following in his footsteps emitted racism as much as he could. An year after, in the 1994 Presidential election, Gamini Dissanayake, the UNP presidential candidate and Sri Lanka's most notorious anti-Tamil racist, succumbed to a human suicide bomb. Madame Chandirika, the 'pretender pigeon of peace' was elected President of the island.

She continues up to date as the President. Elections are due for the 5th President of Sri Lanka. It must be remembered that none of the Sinhala presidents of the past had, even in a minute scale, granted the rights of the Tamils. Therefore the Tamils are not prepared to believe any of the Sinhala political leaders any more. Neither are they ready to have faith in any agreement proposed by the Sinhala political leaders. This is the result of the bitter experience of witnessing all such agreements made between the Sinhala political leaders and Tamil leaders since 1920 abrogated by the Sinhala leaders to suit their needs and wishes.

In early days, an agreement concerning the representation for the Western province was signed in 1920 by Sir. James Pieris, a Sinhala leader and Sir Pon. Arunachalam, one of the Tamil leaders, with a view to solve a problem encountered in the Legislative Council. But due to the vehement opposition of Sinhala chauvinists, this agreement was abandoned.

Then in 1924, another pact was entered into between Vaithiligam Thuraisamy, a member of the Legislative Council and Baron Jayathilaka, a Sinhala leader. This pact too ended in being cast away.

Later, S.W.R.D. Bandaranayake, the leader of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, passed the legislation of 'Sinhala Only' in the Sri Lankan Parliament on 5th June, 1956. When the Tamils, under the leadership of S. J. V. Chelvanayagam protested against this legislation by engaging in 'Sathyagraham' (non-violent resistance), Bandaranayake signed an agreement with SJV which was known as the 'Banda-Chelva' pact. SWRD, intimidated by the mass Sinhala opposition raised by Sinhala racists, tore away the agreement in the presence of Buddhist clergy who demanded the agreement to be torn to shreds.

The UNP won in the 1965 general election and its leader and Prime minister Dudley Sennanayake signed an agreement on the national issue with SJV, the father of Tamil Nation. This was known as the 'Dudley-Chelva' pact. This too was discarded within a short time.

The next attempt to solve the National ethnic issue was made with India as the facilitator and a conference was held in Thimbu, the capital of Bhutan in 1985.

The Tamil representatives submitted a four-point demand at this conference. The representatives of President J.R.Jayawardne rejected these demands accusing that they would pave the way for a separate state in Sri Lanka. Following this, due to pressure exerted by India, J.R.Jayawardne reluctantly signed an accord with Rajiv Gandhi, former Prime minister of India and this was known as the 'Indo-Sri Lanka Accord'.

In keeping with this Accord, District Councils were created. But these District Councils did not in any way fulfil the justified aspirations of the Tamils. Therefore the Tamils were driven to wage Eelam war - stage 2. The setting up of even urgent humanitarian organisations and other such structures needed for the immediate purpose of rehabilitation were vehemently obstructed by racist Buddhist elements and Sinhala terrorists. 'Siran' in those days and the 'Joint Administrative Body' of the present are two glaring examples.

If we should carefully consider the historical facts mentioned in the paragraphs above, the truth clearly emerges that Tamils cannot trust either the Sinhala leaders or their agreements, pacts and accords. In the same manner, the pact signed by the Tamil National Leader Pirabhakaran and Ranil Wickremasinghe would be cast away within a short period.

There is no doubt that the successful candidate in this Presidential election too would tow the same line as the former racist Sinhala leaders did, be it UNP's Ranil or PLA's Mahintha Rajapakse.

Therefore the Tamils are forced to continue their struggle to gain back their traditional homeland, their right to self-determination and the right to exist as a Nation. In other words, there is no other alternative left other than to wage Eelam War - stage 4.

But the time of commencing this war depends on the current presidential election and its outcome. In the event of Mahintha Rajapakse emerging as the successful candidate, Eelam War - stage 4 would be launched without delay. This is because of the active participation of the JVP and Hella Urumaya, two Sinhala racist political parties, which have utilised this election to give rent to their hatred towards the Tamils and incite the Sinhalese against the Tamils. As soon as they assume power they will hasten to execute their sinister schemes against the Tamils in an extensive manner.

The Tamils and the Tigers cannot tolerate this turn of events any more. The international community, considering the developments in Sri Lanka might lend its tacit consent to begin this war. Therefore the Tamils waging the Eelam War - stage 4, in this context, is almost a certainty. In the event of Ranil becoming the president, he would try to drag on with talks, discussions and conferences. The international community will not surely approve a war in this situation. And it is a fact that the war cannot be launched without the indirect consent of the international community.

Therefore it might take a long time for the Eelam War - stage 4 to commence. This would be the most crucial because this would certainly be the final war to win Tamil Eelam.

As far as the Liberation Tigers are concerned, they have formulated the necessary plans and schemes of attacks to amass extensive and valuable victories. Besides, all wings of the entire Tiger force have been strengthened to the maximum. As far as the Tamil people are concerned, there is an urgent need for them to fortify themselves to face the war. In other words, they have to train themselves in self-defence. Further more, they have to be extra vigilant in respect to intelligence surveillance.

Every Tamil should therefore strive to maintain the passionate love for Tamil Eelam without letting it slacken. The concerted efforts of all the Tamils would definitely add to the strength of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam who have taken up arms to win Tamil Eelam. We, the Tamils, by fighting Sinhala chauvinism along with the Liberation Tigers, can certainly win Tamil Eelam.

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