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Tamilselvan – beyond the media personality

Although the world knows the late S P Tamilselvan, the former Head of the LTTE Political Wing, as the leader of the LTTE negotiating team, his capabilities are multi faceted. We can come to understand his contribution to protecting and winning the rights and welfare of the Tamil people by studying other facets of his work in his role as the Head of the Political Wing.

Of course his skill as a negotiator is just one of them. The dedicated innovations in the civil administration of the areas under his purview as the Political Head took most of his time and energy. The appreciation he earned from the people for this was forcefully demonstrated by the heartrending final farewell given to him by the Tamil people.

As the negotiator/spokesperson for the Tamil rights

Tamilselvan lead the negotiating team in 1994-95 under the Kumaratunge Presidency. This was just within two years after he took the role as the Head of the Political Wing. The experience he gained then polished his skill that was openly recognized by many in the talks that were to follow later. He was, however, already demonstrating the strategists within, when used this debut talk to expose the blacked out humanitarian crisis that was already facing the Tamil people.

It was after the 2002 ceasefire agreement that he was truly thrown on the world stage. He not only participated in many negotiations with Sri Lankan Government delegations and led many of it, he also met scores of representatives of world governments in and outside the Tamil homeland.

During a month long tour of Europe in 2005, after the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, he met many European Government Ministers. He skillfully brought out the inhumane actions of the Government of Sri Lankan in denying even humanitarian aid to the tsunami affected people. During this tour he met the Foreign Ministers of Norway and Finland. He also met the Economic Development Ministers of Germany, Ireland, Sweden, and Italy. Finally he met the Deputy President of South Africa.

In these meetings, in addition to the immediate humanitarian crisis facing the Tamils, he also outlined the decades long trampling of the civil and political rights of the Tamil people by the Sinhala dominated Sri Lankan Government and enlightened them on the just struggle of the Tamils.

His last appearance as the leader of the negotiating team was in Geneva in October 2006. It is notable that the new Head of the Political Wing, B Nadeson, also was with him during this talk and made substantial contribution.

Following this last talks many observers at the talks and the media commented on the Tamilselvan’s sharp mind. One comment by a western diplomat, who said that the Sri Lankan Government delegation was running like a mouse that was being chased by a cat, reveals the scene and the skill of Tamilselvan. However, the Sri Lankan Government delegation refused to accept even the most basic request to open the A9 route to Jaffna to address the humanitarian needs of the Tamil people.

After this talks, the Norwegian facilitators put pressure on Tamilselvan to agree on a date for the next round of talks. The Norwegians even implied that they cannot guarantee the safety of Tamilselvan’s delegation to return to Kilinochchi, unless they agree on a date for the next round of talks. Tamilselvan, as well as the present Head of Political Wing, Nadeson, responded to this pressure as follows, “LTTE members never yield to threats and that is how our organization trains us. We do not put our lives ahead of the freedom of our people”

Erik Solheim, Minister a former Norwegian Special Envoy to the Sri Lankan Peace Process said after the death of Tamilselvan, “I have known Mr Tamilselvan for nearly a decade. Over the years he has become the main point of contact for the Norwegian facilitating team. His leadership as head of the political wing and his many important contributions have been crucial for the peace process, and his death is a great loss.”

As the head of the civil administration

Since he was appointed the Head of The Political Wing in 1993, Tamilselvan worked tirelessly to create a strong institutional infrastructure for civil administration.

He created several institutions to address the humanitarian needs of the people. He also gave new life to those that were in existence. His great skill in drawing everyone to work with him and resolve conflicts created a tremendous love and respect for him among LTTE leaders, members, and civilians.

The list of departments that functioned under him with its own heads include, Health department that gave primary health services to the remotest areas where other health services do not reach; Education department that catered for the most badly affected children - one of its services included organizing free after school classes for such children; Forestry department that spear headed forest protection and forest replanting on a massive scale; Cultural affairs department to promote arts; Sports department that runs sports training academies and nation wide sporting competitions in soccer, cricket, netball and karate; and Radio and Television broadcasting services. The most substantive work he organized for the people is through Social service department through which he setup village development programs and income generation schemes. Over and above these he also supervised the functioning of the LTTE Peace Secretariat and the Liaison Office for UN and other international agencies working in the Tamil homeland.

His skill in bringing people together shone through during the leadership he provided for the tsunami rehabilitation and reconstruction. It is well known that this effort was admired and praised by the international media and donors. He also played a role in the creation of the joint structure for tsunami reconstruction. Sadly this was abandoned due to the hurdles placed by the Sri Lankan Government.

In his death

The aerial bombing, which killed Tamilselvan and six others, was witnessed by many. They know that the location was a civilian area and not a military target. Many analysts continue to express varying views on the effects, internationally and in the island, of the assassination of Tamilselvan by an aerial bombardment.

The LTTE informed, the people in the Tamil homeland, the Tamils living all over the world and the international community, of the death of Tamilselvan and six other LTTE members, in a Sri Lankan aerial bombing, within a few hours of the bombing. It also announced the replacement for the Head of Political Wing on the same day. The LTTE clearly demonstrated, yet again, that it is running a defacto-government with a strong infrastructural base that can withstand any loss.

What is important to note hear is the manner in which Tamil people in the Tamil homeland and living all around the world reacted to his death. At his final rites thousands of people were present, unmoved by the deliberate threats of the Sri Lankan Government that flew again and again the same bombers that killed Tamilselvan. The noise of these bombers usually strikes fear among our people because they have seen and heard of so much deaths and maiming caused by this. Yet at the final rites on 5 November the people stood unmoved, as if to show the world how they felt. One can only hope that the world received that message.

There is no doubt that the assassination of Tamilselvan has only created an unstoppable wave of support for the struggle of the Tamil people. It is worthwhile concluding this article with the comment made by the Head of Intelligence Wing Mr. Pottu Amman,

“Many ask what our response is to the assassination of Tamilselvan. Our response must be to work even harder towards the goal for which he and many others sacrificed their lives.”

21 November 2007

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