The death of Anton Balasingham, the theoretical advisor to the LTTE, the Tamil National Liberation Movement, comes at the time when Tamils in general and the Tamil national leadership need his services the most.

While the Tamils will need time to overcome this shattering news, the national liberation movement will have to pursue its strategy in the absence of Bala. Bala was instrumental in providing the vision for the progress of the Tamil national liberation movement, he was not inflexible as to the final achievement of the Tamil nation. During the peace talks following the 2002 ceasefire, he outlined that the Tamil question could be resolved by adopting the option of the internal self-determination and not necessarily through the formula of a separate state. He had a vision that the dream of a separate state of Tamils will be always there, but the methodology of its pursuance will be dictated by the ground reality. This excellent opportunity to resolve the Tamil national question within the territorial framework of Sri Lanka was not seized by the Sinhala establishment. Even if the LTTE had come out with a rather minimalist framework, the Sinhala established simply lacked the vision and goodwill to resolve the Tamil national question.

It is rather unfortunate that the Sinhala establishment and the international community could not understand and use the good office of Bala to reach a final settlement to the Tamil question in Sri Lanka. Bala might have had arguments and even quarrels with Prabakharan, but the fact that he was committed and worked tirelessly for emancipation of Tamils was something that endeared him to the Prabahkaran. Throughout their long association through the turbulent and violent history of Tamil-Sinhala relations and conflicts, Prabahkaran counted upon the services of Bala. Bala was no ordinary advisor; he embraced the collective consciousness of Tamils and the need to free themselves from the tyranny imposed by the Sinhala state.

Bala’s theoretical contributions to the Tamil cause were immense. Although he as left-wing philosopher and guide, like Lenin, felt that socialism cannot be introduced from abstraction. In the case of Sri Lanka, he felt that unless and until the Tamil national question was addressed and resolved, it would be difficult to talk about socialism or Marxism. Thus, by addressing the Tamil national question from a progressive socialist and Marxist angle, he was able to provide the movement an internationalist perspective, very often missing in the discourses of other national liberation movements. Although the left-wing both in Sri Lanka and outside have criticized the LTTE as “fascist” “racist” and others, the fact remains that it was the inability of the Sinhala majoritarian state to resolve the Tamil national question that led to the formation of the LTTE and its subsequent confrontation with the state in Sri Lanka.

In multi-ethnic societies, resolution of the national question remains a paramount issue. One of the main reason as to why the left organizations have failed to sustain their struggle in these societies is the fact that they have sought to mechanically introduce Marxism without understanding the warnings given by Lenin. In this respect, Bala was an exception, although a Marxist and left-wing theoretician, he grasped the importance of addressing the national question far better than other mechanical Marxists. For him, the Tamil question in Sri Lanka was not a minority issue, but a national problem. It was the failure on the part of the Sinhala state and left-wing organizations to perceive the Tamil question as national question that actually sowed the seeds of the present separatist politics.

Bala never gave the impression that he was tough and difficult to deal with. Prof Peiris, the former head of the Sri Lankan peace delegation struck a warm and cordial relationship with him during the talks after the ceasefire. In fact, the members of the government’s peace delegation found to be warm and easy to get along with. The Norwegians, the mediator in the peace process, actually counted upon Bala more than anybody else to move the peace process. They knew that given Bala’s stature and his close relationship with Prabahkaran, Bala was the only person who could take decisions even without consulting Prabahkaran first.

I met Bala once in Europe. He was with his wife Adele, who has written extensively on the movement in general and the LTTE’s women cadres. Although I did not spend much time with him, he encouraged me to write about the movement. When I asked him whether I need to obtain clearance from the leadership, he told me: “Don’t worry, go ahead and write”.

Earlier to this meeting, once I wrote to him about getting someone to represent the LTTE in a peace conference in a particular country. Bala rather than suggesting someone, replied that I should represent the LTTE. I was surprised that Bala had so much confidence in me and felt very much honoured.

The greatest tragedy in the ongoing ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka is the failure on the part of the Sri Lankan state and the international community to establish and cultivate relations with individuals who are close to the LTTE. Rather than going around banning the LTTE, the international community should have engaged with individuals like Bala. The Norwegians realized this, but they could not convince countries like the United States, European Union and others.

I think having being associated with the movement for many years, the LTTE is not an inflexible “ruthless” organization, within it there are many shades and differences of opinion, without negating the larger Tamil cause. However, demonizing the LTTE has not done anything positive for the peace process. This is the cardinal mistake made by the international community. I am not sure whether it is in a position to avoid past mistakes, given the war on “terror” is subsiding day by day.

We Tamils and supporters of the Tamil national liberation movement under the leadership of Prabahkaran will miss the passing away of Bala. But Bala is no ordinary mortal, his ideas and vision will continue to inspire the movement. In other words, Bala will be always alive our minds. We appreciate Adele for having stood by Bala for these years and for having contributed in so many ways for the movement. Her understanding of young Tamil women in the LTTE provides a rare glimpse into the role of women and their contribution to the national liberation movement.

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