Most in the Tamil diaspora are hurting as if they have lost a member of their own close-knit immediate family. The Tamils are struggling to come to terms with the impact of the death on their nation’s political aspirations.

The killing has raised questions that only time can answer. It has brought to light challenges that the Tamils need to overcome in achieving their legitimate goals. It has stirred anger and hatred. Some quarters have even called for an immediate retaliation. These are only few of the many aspects of the vortex of emotions that the Tamils find themselves in.

Mr. Gajendarkumar Ponnambalam, Member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka, has said “The targeted killing of the LTTE’s Chief Negotiator, in our view, means there can no longer be any illusion as to the State’s interest in negotiating a lasting solution. In this context, the Tamil community will be closely watching the actions of the international community vis-à-vis its repeatedly stated commitment to a negotiated peace”.

In the international arena, Mr. Erik Solheim, the Norwegian International Development Minister and facilitator for the peace process in Sri Lanka, according to reports filed by local and international media has said that “he was deeply concerned about the consequences of the present escalation of war in Sri Lanka” . Closer to the island of Sri Lanka, in India, various leaders, including the Chief Minister of the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Mr. Muttuvel Karunanidhi, have paid tribute to the fallen leader.

On the other side, in Sinhala south, there are jubilation and victory parties. Kandyan dancers took to the streets in their traditional costumes and drums in Colombo and various parts of the south. Defence Secretary Lt. Col. Gotabaya Rajapakse, brother of Sri Lanka’s president Mahinda Rajapakse, has gloated to International media about the successful assassination. In an interview to the reuters on Nov. 2, 07, he has warned the the killing of Mr. Thamilchelvan was, "a message that we know where their leaders are ... if we want we can take them one by one."

The MoD’s official website has carried an article justifying the killing of Mr. Thamilchelvan. It includes several pictures of Mr. Thamilchelvan in the LTTE’s stripped military uniform and points to the fact that he was awarded the highest military rank of a brigadier, posthumously by the LTTE command – an apparent effort to legitimize the assassination. It will be interesting to know if this action is MoD’s redefining of the lines as to whom and what are legitimate military targets. If it is, several military leaders, including Lt. Col. Gotabaya Rajapakse could become legitimate military targets. Such a move will only heave the island in the direction of no-return.

The intransigence of the Rajapakse junta in the GOSL has created the scenario of the virtual impossibility of a resolution to the ethnic strife within the unitary state of Sri Lanka. In one single stroke, Mahinda Rajapakse has unified the Tamil community’s opinions on how the conflict could be resolved. He has clearly highlighted that the GOSL will never negotiate for peace. This, in the difficult days ahead, will rally the Tamils to solidly get behind the LTTE and its leadership as they take forward the struggle to carve out a separate state of Tamil Eelam.

According to a report filed by the AFP on Nov. 3, 07, Mr. Rasiah Ilanthirayan was quoted as saying "Our national leader paid his respects to Mr. Thamilchelvan, and he will be making a statement very soon on this incident".

One can rest assured that “the statement” will not be in words but will be in deeds of the highest order.

Therefore, November 02, 07 will be remembered in history for two things. Firstly, for the death of the peace negotiator and political wing leader Mr. Thamilchelvan and secondly as the day in which Sri Lanka permanently closed the doors on the possibility of a resolution to the conflict within the unitary state of Sri Lanka.

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