Ethnic Cleansing: Part 1

Ethnic cleansing, religious cleansing and genocide are not random events. They do not happen because some dictator wakes up in the morning and decides to kill an ethnic minority that day. These things occasionally happened in tribal societies and aristocrat peasant societies. Democratic market societies try to integrate minority groups into the mainstream and encourage them to become productive and prosperous citizens.

That leaves oligarchic society, especially countries that are in the early stage of nation-state development. This is when most episodes of ethnic cleansing, religious cleansing and genocide occur. It is all very well for Western nations to oppose the horrors and brutality of ethnic and religious cleansing but the well documented evidence of history is very clear on this subject. Most Western nations also made use of horrific episodes of ethnic and religious cleansing in the development of their own nation-states. The historical data is there for anyone who cares to investigate. Ethnic and religious cleansing has been regularly used as a common occurrence in the process of nation-state development.

The United States was the third modern nation-state. It still holds the world record for the most acts of ethnic cleansing perpetrated over the longest period of time. For two and a half centuries, from 1630s to 1890s, European colonist to North America evicted the native Indian tribes from their homes and forced them westward. As the settlers pushed west themselves, the Indians were cleansed again and again. Some of the most worthless land in the west was set aside for their use as Indian Reservations. Most reservations were little more than death camps where Indians were sent to starve.

To be continue...... part 2

Cops to get PR makeover

IGP said the PDRM will hire a group of professional media consultants to improve their public image. Well that means, indirectly IGP agreed the image of PDRM has gone down to drainage. Hiring professionals not means, organisation can boost up their image overnight. PDRM is facing greatest crisis of confidence and credibility. In over-coming the crisis, PDRM must create the confidence in community, as a protector of individuals from any type of cruelty and will act professionally. Do not let the political opportunist to take advantage on the force. Make a sense decision based on your logical thinking not on the instruction of illogical political masters. PDRM was doing well once upon time but not now any more. The major reason is due to the failure to investigate and prosecute the criminals in high handed criminal activities but when comes to political matters they are so good in dismantling the crowd in unprofessional manner. On top of that, corruption is one of the contributor for the image failure of the force, which need to be classified as a major disease. So IGP, other than appointing the media consultants, you should think professionally and wisely on countering the civil society demands other wise just waste of tax payer’s money on appointment of media consultants.

Oopss, official version says no....

Pakistan dictactor lead government says, Benazir was not gun down and the bombing was not the reason for her dead. Al-Qaeda also issued a statement denying any involvement on her death. Then who is the person behind her death? Ooopsss please dont tell us that she died due to the failure to get the oxygen since the crowd was so huge. If Benazir is taken off the track to be a Prime Minister, then who will gain politically? It can be Nawaz Sharif or Pervez Musharraf? Although Musharraf allowed Benazir to return back form self imposed exile, it's a open secret that she criticised openly the decision to declare the emergency. Even she did mention, Musharraf should be blamed if anything goes wrong on her safety. In that sense, the full investigation on her brutal murder should be conducted by the neutral investigator rather than the government agencies. The best person to run the independent investigation is the UN Security Council. UN should take initiative to conduct the investigation and reveal to the world on the outcome of the investigation. This investigation is very important since Pakistan on the track to be a "failure state" after 60 years of independence from the British government.

Condolence............

December 27 2007, the shocking news hit the world that Pakistan's former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was gun down and then blasted by a suicide bomber. Benazir Bhutto has been barbarously and cowardly murdered, only two weeks away from national elections and now the world are looking at Pakistan’s with a simple question but hard to get the answer whether, “Pakistan is a failure state” or not? I do believe, Pakistan will not be a failure state if the leaders of the country do not want the world call them as a failure. Pakistan must take off the “military” from their so-called democratic system. Military regime in Pakistan creates more dictators and harms the country democratic system in longer term. A dictator like Musharraf will do any thing to remain in power forever. A terrorist should not be compromised in any situation but as I wrote previously, government in third world country is using terrorism as a reason for them to remain in power and suppressing people’s in the name of security. By taking off the military from the democratic system, the democratic process will move forward without any interruption. The military and Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) should concentrate on tracking Al-Qaeda and not any political opponents to President Pervez Musharaf.

Batu Kawan Hindu Temple

Supposed today (27 Dec 2007) the local authority, Majlis Perbandaran Seberang Perai demolish the temple. Any how the demolition has been called off after the inteference by DAP leaders, lawyer Rayer and few other good heart individual's. MPSP agreed to defer the demolition at the moment. Thank you to our Indian makkal who went to the scene to show their support to Batu Kawan Hindu's. The government must show their respect to Hinduism and dont simply thorn down the temples. [Thank you to the good heart friend who are willing to take the risk to snap the photo and mailed on time for uploading]

We should follow the advice

[updated 27 dec 2007 at 10.30am] I will accept if generally Malaysian’s said, after quit long, Pa Lah statement sound more reasonable. On his Christmas day wish, he called upon all the Malaysian’s to reject those who use race and religion to gain support and popularity. In that sense, all the Malaysian’s eligible voters must reject BN coz the party stand on religion and race platform. Its open secret, umno are standing for malay’s only and they are willing to be little Chinese and Indians in their annual general convention. In fact, umno are using the racist tactics to smear Anwar’s image by distributing the leaflet saying, “Anwar sokong Hindu jadi Melayu patut tolak Anwar”. Sound so disgusting. Even mca and mic too are racist; they are only bothered for their community not Malaysian’s as whole. So, if we took Pa Lah advice boldly, then we have to vote-out umno lead BN in next general election because they are No.1 racist in this country.

Anwar Ibrahim bersama pengundi India di Paya Besar, Kulim

[updated on 27 Dec 2007 at 3.15pm]

Majlis Sepetang Bersama Anwar Ibrahim

Tempat: Paya Besar, Kulim Kedah

Tarikh: 23 Dec 2007

Kehadiran sekitar 7000 orang

Mr.Samy misleading Pa Lah

"Dalam tempoh 29 tahun, kami telah memohon 20 perkara, kita mendapat 10. Jadi, kita sering mendapat faedah. Kita tidak boleh kata kita tidak mendapat apa-apa. Saya mempunyai rekod tentang apa yang kita peroleh. Saya tahu kerajaan telah menyalurkan bantuan," katanya

Mr.Samy said, out of 20 matters that he raised to umno lead BN government for last 29 years, government managed to fulfill 10 matters. Meaning that for past 29 years, Mr.Samy only asked for 20 matters and are very happy for achieving 10 out of 20. I don’t understand whether Mr.Samy are talking based on fact or figures or bull shitting the community. For me, what ever damage control and propaganda done by the government failed to convince the Indian community to back to BN fold. Pa Lah so far failed to look in to the root of the problem and keep on depending on Mr.Samy and I do believe Mr.Samy is misleading the Malaysia government on condition of Indian community. Pa Lah will realise about this only when Indians vote-out BN in next election.

Can Indians be a King Maker?

News sourced said the most recent electoral data shows that there are 50 parliamentary and 133 state assembly constituencies where Indian voters comprise more than 10 percent of the electorate and 21 parliamentary and 133 state assembly seats in Peninsular Malaysia where the Indian voters constitute more than 15 percent of the electorate. It’s an open secret that all this while umno lead BN government are good in giving a sweet sentence to Indian community but end of the day no proper planning or implementation was properly done. The Indian voters in these constituencies can make the difference in sending a strong message to the umno lead BN governement. But the question is do Indians have the capability to be a King Makers? The statistic shows, Indians can be a king maker but do we used the statistic to bargain our needs to the government? Do Indians dare to vote opposition as a sign of protest or only good in giving a fiery speech but end of the day will collect RM10 and vote for umno lead BN party? Today the ball in Indian community's hand and it's a good chance to prove that we also can be a King Maker.

Justice for S.Kaliammal

21 Dec 2005 – Everest Hero – Commando Moorthy passed away and the religious bigots from Kor Agama Angkatan Tentera (KAGAT) with the unethical decision from syariah court, endorsed moorthy's as a muslim and deserve the final ritual in muslim's way, allowing majlis agama islam wilayah persekutuan to carry the burial process and denial of justice for S.Kaliammal by civil court, shock the country civil society. Civil court was told that, non-muslims has no redeem in this type of cases. She cried, as a legally married wife, the umno lead BN government fails to give her justice. The authority didn't even bother to give her a last chance to see her husband's face. Even the army failed to honour the late Moorthy with army burial although he died in service.

As a sign of protest the non-muslim cabinet minister send a memorandum to prime minister and he promised to look into it, if the minister's agreed to withdraw the memo officially. PM promised he will ask the AG to go through the memo although it was withdraw officially. Two years has past but no news and nothing has moved. Once more again, all the non-muslims minister's was cheated and bullied by umno lead BN government. Then recently minister in-charge of parliament said, the law is ok and don't need any changes.

Time has come now to put a pull stop for all the mockery that was done by umno lead BN government. We born in this country and we are entitled for equal rights as equal as other citizens. We have to show our strong protest and stop all the non-sense which was done by umno leaders. The best platform is general election and definitely I do believe, Indians as a King Makers in 28 Parliamentary and 78 State Assembly constituencies in Peninsular Malaysia will exercise their rights to vote-out the BN candidates although the candidate might be from MIC or PPP. That not means those Indians who are residing as minority voters in other constituencies should support BN. Doesn't matter where ever you are, you should vote-out BN in 12th general election. This is part of our responsibility to teach a lesson for cruelty done to S.Kaliammal.

CINEMA 75: MEGA STAR NITE

Do Indians need to go for this so called Mega Star Nite celebrating 75 years of Tamil Cinema industry? Is it worth to purchase a ticket for minimum RM60 and maximum RM300 (not included the VIP and VVIP ticket)? Does the organizer have thought twice whether is right time to have the program in Malaysia when Indians in general are mourning on the detention of our 5 brothers and "bullying strategy" of our 31 youths under "attempted murder"? Where does this thousands of money will go, is it for the poor Malaysians, for the Tamil cinema building fund, the organizer or Veelpaari s/o Samy Vellu s/o Sangali Muthu?

The organizer might plan for this program for quit long but then they should postpone it for another date or at least for next year until the situation cool down. On top of that, the person behind this program is Mr.Samy Vellu and his son Velpaari. Source said Mr.Samy has instructed the entire MIC branch to send at least 7 members to the program just to show umno that he still has the people's support. But what he don't understand and umno will not understand is, it's totally different situation when we compare the then 25 nov 2007 with the mega star celebration. On 25 nov people from all over Malaysia went to KL on their own willingness and are willing to stand united although the authority has terrorized the peace gathering but tonite people are going as they are forced to go and that is not the way to show the support for the dying politician.

As a part of passive strategy, Indians should avoid going to this program not as a protest for the Tamil Nadu cinema star's but as a signal for Mr.Samy and umno lead government that, Indians are not happy and WE WANT JUSTICE.

Samy vellu is dying politically

“60 minit bersama Menteri” was the programmes title in RTM1 live tele-cast and the VIP for tonite (19 Nov 2007) was the most hated self pro-claimed Indians leader, Mr.Samy Vellu.

I thought the program was a damage control strategy and to overcome the angriness’ of Indians on umno lead BN government but end of the day I make a conclusion that the programme has failed the strategy and on top of that has created more damages rather than controlling it. None of the Indians was convinced that Mr.Samy or umno lead BN government are doing enough to overcome the Indian community grievances. Of course Mr.Samy said, he has done this and that by recalling the past history from the day he take over the presidential post of the party but he failed to proof on the success and output from the implementation. In fact, he didn’t answer the question but was reading the script and this is the first time, I saw he have to refer to script to answer the question. Meaning that, he knew umno lead BN govt failed to implement the policy for Indians. One matter he revealed in this programme indirectly was, even PM rejected his appeal to stop the temple demolition.

May be the malay community has been convinced because they don’t understand the root of problem but for Indians the more damages has been created rather then controlling it. I don’t think for the short time, Indians will cool down and we can see the impact of this angriness in next general election which expected will be earliest in Mac 2008.

Indians are looking at Mr.Samy as a dying politicians but still want to hold the post [power hunger] and in-fact his “Karumathi Card” is under distribution at the moment. Mr.Samy should talk something advanced and not about the history any more otherwise people will start to distribute even “MIC Karumathi Card”.

Change of Strategy

[updated 20 dec 2007 at 4.46am] While driving to office this morning, I was listening to THR Raaga 7am news. One of the news that attracted my focus was the tourism minister's statement, saying that the natural disaster that we are facing now, floods do not has any impact on our tourism industries. It's really sound a very stupid statement. Does he have done any studies to say, there won't be any impact?

At the same time I was wondering, just two weeks ago he was saying the Hindraf demonstrator has created fears among the tourist and many tourists has canceled Malaysia as their destination for the vacation. It was a peace demonstration which was turned ugly by the provocateur and the crowds disperse after 1pm on the same day. That means it was a half day program and the minister said, the demo has a very high impact on the tourism industry and economy without doing any impact studies. But then, when 5 state having a very high alarming water level and not much improvement, he is saying, there won't be any impact. Supposedly he should do an impact studies and show the proof on his statement. On top of that, I do believe he should advice his Cabinet collogues on allowing the peaceful demonstration as part of the civil society practices.

Actually, umno lead BN govt change strategy just to create fears and stigmatize that street demonstration although started in peaceful way, will affect the business and only BN can overcome the situations. In other words, umno want to create the fears among the Chinese community and in return expecting the Chinese will vote for BN to re-stabilize the country. But I don't think the strategy will work this time.

More United Than Before

When we move forward in line with time and technology, perception was our relationship with one another, which might be among the relatives or neighbours will be discarded. The researcher used to say, people are running after the material world and are ignoring the neighbours. Even Malaysian Indians used to refer as most disunited community in Malaysia, may be "yes" or may be "no".

Everything changes in a night after 25 November 2007. Indians stand united in the name of Hindu Rights Action Force (HINDRAF). Although they call it as a "Hindu" but then in reality Indians from any religion stand together for the sake of their future generations. People especially my Malay friends used to ask me, why and what was the reason for the Indians to go to the street? I have to explain to them because all this while either malay/chinese politicians or non-politician, they was ignorance about the plights of the Indian community. In other words "not bothered" to know about Indian community and as far as they concern, what ever happen, Indian will stand side by side with BN through MIC.

My answer is straight forward, it's a political failure for MIC under Samy Velu leadership, a fact that everyone has to accept. Unfortunately, Mr.Samy refuses to understand the straight forward signal from community. Indians want to see the changes politically, economically and socially. The biggest mistake a politician used to repeat in third world country is the thought, "the community will collapse" if they resign from the political arena as a leader for the community and they want to remain in the system forever if possible until the GOD call them back to His fold. The same goes to Mr.Samy.

Going back to unity, I do believe, Indians are now more united and networked through short messaging system (sms) and they are willing to spend to make sure they spread the message to another Indian. Basically I'm receiving minimum 6 sms on daily basis about the Indian community which I feel, more than half is true and government should look into it on how to overcome the problem and not on how to suppress the community and by doing so, they can gain the Indian votes in next general election. Indians today has decided to vote for opposition even to PAS as a kind of protest on ignorance of BN on overcoming the plights of Indians.

I do believe a minority community not means they can't be a powerful community. They can be more powerful than others if they know how to play chess. An intelligence community should be able to determine what government must do, to get their votes, otherwise don't knock my door during the election campaign. If we can do that, that means we are most powerful community because there is a lot of different when a Parliament member win with a slim or landslide majority. Definitely if a senior cabinet minister, like Mr.Samy win the Sungai Siput constituency with a majority of 1000 votes then that is a biggest shame in his political career.

Community must continue the struggle for betterment of present and future life with more intelligence way. Just to share the sms with you which I think is one of the strategic msg I received so far. Why not we try to follow this strategy. Msg as follows;

Indian makkal, the struggle must continue. We must show our makkal shakthi. We must 1. boikot thaipusam celebration in KL. Nadaraja is the cause for our 31 brothers attempted murder charge. 2. boikot minnal.fm and rtm, they say Indians as a terrorist and traitor of the country. 3. ignore mic, their leaders and their programme. 4. talk openly you are not happy with umno lead government. 5. have prayers all over Malaysia. 6. Be a registered voter. Remember NO ONE CAN STOP MAKKAL SHAKTHI.

Release All and Drop The Case

Urging the umno led BN government to stop tarnishing the image of Malaysia at international level by releasing all the 5 detainess from Internal Security Act (ISA) and at the same time drop all the charges against our young and brave Malaysian who has practice their rights to express the feelings in a peacefull way. BERSIH and HINDRAF was organise with the peace manners as a result of wrongdoing of umno led BN government. Unfortunately, the peace domonstration was provacated by the provacateurs and it turns ugly.

Batu Buruk incident on 8 September 2007, was another sorrow days for the Malaysian democratic system. The policeman shoot Suwandi Ab Ghani and Muhammad Azman Aziz with life bullet and suppose AG Gani Patail should ask the police to investigate the usage of life bullet against the public which was just practising their rights to have a peacefull demonstration but the whole story turn upside down. Other then receiving free bullet from policeman now they was slapped with the court charges. Charging them is not right at all. Pa Lah should ask Gani to re-consider(indirect instruction to withdraw the case) the charges.

On top of that, umno government should pay the compensation not only to both of them but also to all the 31 Indian detainess for putting them behind the bar for 15 days without the bail and end of the day telling them, there is no ground to charge for attempted murder. Umno must understand, they are loosing the support from ground by putting an inhuman actions against the innocent civilians.

Attempted Murder Charge Dropped for 31

I'm not shock with the release because from the day one, I'm very confident government's intention is more to teach a lesson to these Indian youths. In fact, if government decided to pro-long the case definitely they will loose because there is no ground on the case to say, this youth has intention to murder any one include the policeman's. Legally there is no proof on the case.

Yet why the authority did it? According to internal source, police has no intention to charge them or to put them in lock-up. Worst come they will detain for 24 hrs only and release them. But then due to the political pressure, police has no option when they receive the instruction from Attorney General office to charge them. Of course the political pressure and physiological impact to Indians not to go to street after this. I'm confident too, 5 ISA detainees will be released after the general election.

The morale of the story, the authority want to send the message to Indians, be a slave forever and don't go over the UMNO otherwise your life will be miserable.

A SHORT HISTORY OF THE

TAMIL EELAM LIBERATION STRUGGLE

INTRODUCTION

Sri Lanka formerly called Ceylon in English and known in Tamil as ILANKAI or EELAM is an island situated at the southern extremity of the Indian subcontinent, separated from it at its narrowest point by only 22 miles of sea called Palk Strait. It lies between six and ten degrees north of the Equator, and on the longitude of 79 to 81 degrees east. Its area is 25,332 square miles comprising Sri Lanka 18,042 and Tamil Eelam 7,290 sq miles. The total population is 17,103,000, according to latest population statistics (1991), consisting of 12,656,000 Sinhalese, 3,113,000 Tamils, Muslims (mostly Tamil speaking) 1,214,000 and others 120,000.

THE EARLY TAMILS

The Tamils are an ancient people with a history dating back to atleast 2,500 years. The Tamil language, the lingua franco of the Tamils, is one of the five oldest living languages of the world. The Tamil classical literature, popularly called the Sangam (Academy) literature (1st -4th Century AD) is a collection of poems of lasting quality and artistic merit. They reflect faithfully the high level of civilization and literary attainments of the ancient Tamils.

THE EARLY SINHALESE

The Sinhala people trace their origins in the island to the arrival of Prince Vijaya from Bengal in India, about 2500 years ago. The Mahavamsa, a Sinhala chronicle written by a Buddhist Bhikku by the name of Mahanama, (6th Century AD) records that Prince Vijaya arrived on the island on the same day that the Buddha attained enlightenment.

WHO CAME FIRST

Although attempts are made to trace the history of Ceylon before the arrival of Vijaya (about 500 BC), who is credited as the founder of the present Sinhalese race, there is sufficient historical and archaeological evidence to prove the existence of a high level of civilization before him. The proto history of Ceylon could be traced back to atleast 5000 years to the period of Raman of the epic Ramayanam. Raman (the same Raman about whose temple there is violent dispute between the Hindus and Muslims in Uttar Pradesh India at present) who was an Aryan king from north India fought against the Tamil Yaksha king of Ilankai (Ceylon) Ravanan who had abducted Rama's wife Seethai. Jawaharlal Nehru in his book Glimpses of World History describes the war between Raman and Ravanan as a war between the Aryans and Dravidians.

Therefore, the oft-repeated question as to who came first, the Tamils or the Sinhalese, is a controversial subject emotively debated by both the parties, but the following observation by the eminent Sinhala historian and Cambridge scholar, Paul Peiris represent an influential and common sese point of view:

" ... it stands to reason that a country which was only thirty miles from India and which would have been seen by Indian fisherman every morning as they sailed out to catch their fish, would have been occupied as soon as the continent was peopled by men who understood how to sail ..... Long before the arrival of Prince Vijaya, there were in Sri Lanka five recognised isvarams of Siva which claimed and received adoration of all India. These were Tiruketeeswaram near Mahatitha; Munneeswaram dominating Salawatta and the pearl fishery; Tondeswaram near Mantota; Tirkoneswaram near the great bay of Kottiyar and Nakuleswaram near Kankesanthurai. Their situation close to these ports cannot be the result of accident or caprice and was probably determined by the concourse of a wealthy mercantile population whose religious wants called for attention ...." (Paul E. Pieris: Nagadipa and Buddhist Remains in Jaffna: Journal of Royal Asiatic Society, Ceylon Branch Vol.28)

EARLY POLITICAL HISTORY

The early political history of the people of South India and Sri Lanka, before the advent of the European powers, is largely a chronicle of the rise and fall of individdual kingdoms. South India was ruled mostly by the three great Kings Cholas, Seras an Pandiyas. Sometimes they faught against the invaders and some times they warred against each other. In addition to these three great kings there were also petty kings who ruled over large tracts of land, nominally independant, but paying tribute to one or more of the three Kings. Among the three kings the Cholas were easily the most powereful and the only naval power in India. The army of Raja Raja the Great (984-1014) invaded Ceylon, made Rajarata a part of the Chola empire, and founded Polonnaruwa as the capital city.

Rarajah's sone Rajendra (1014 - 1044) further extended the Chola empire, so that in the 11th century the mighty Cholas ruledd over Ceylon, Kampuchea, Malaya and greater part of Indonesia.

The society was fuedal in structure and alnd was the most dominat means of production. The Sangam literature provides evidence of the lucrative two-way trade these kingdoms had with far away Roman and Greek empires.

INDEPENANCE IN 1948

Sri Lanka attained its independence from British colonial rule in February 04,1948. The first parliamentary elections were held in 1947 under the Soulbury constitution. The total members of parliament was 96 with an additional 6 appointed members representing minority communities. Mr.D.S.Senanayake, the leader of the United National Party (formerly Ceylon National Congress), formed the government. He became the first Prime Minister of an independent Ceylon.

THE KINGDOMS

Ceylon had been ruled by both Tamil and Sinhalese kings, the Tamil Kingdom comprising the north and eastern parts and the Sinhalese Kingdom(s) the western & southern parts of Ceylon. There were brief periods when the whole of Ceylon came under a single ruler. Otherwise, there existed two or more Kingdoms and the Tamil Kingdom always one of them. The Tamil Kingdom, later came to be called the Jaffna Kingdom existed as a separate polity for centuries. The first war between a Tamil King who ruled Anuradhapura and a Sinhalese king from the south was fought in the 2nd century BC.

In 1505 when the Portuguese landed in Ceylon there was not one but three Kingdoms, the Jaffna Kingdom in the north & east, the Kotte Kingdom in the west and Kandyan Kingdom in the centre. The Jaffna Kingdom was captured by the Portuguese when the king of Jaffna was defeated in June,1619. He was captured and taken by the Portuguese to Goa where he was hanged. The Portuguese ruled Jaffna Kingdom from 1619 to 1658. The Dutch who captured the Kingdom from the Portuguese ruled till 1795 and the British till February 03,1948.

The Jaffna Kingdom was ruled as a separate polity both by the Portuguesepresentation. This demand came to be known as 50-50 envisaged allocating 50% of the parliamentary seats to the Sinhalese and the balance 50% to the Tamils, Muslims, Burgers and other minority groups. This was rejected by the Soulbury Commission, but they did incorporate Section 29 (2) (b) and (c) which curtailed the legislative power of Parliament to "make laws for the peace, order and good government of the island". This Section provided that no such law shall impose any disabilities, or confer any advantages, on members of any one community only.

TAMILS LOSE CITIZENSHIP AND FRANCHISE

Before the ink could dry on the new constitution the Ceylon parliament passed the Ceylon Citizenship Act No.18 of 1948 which deprived a million Tamils of Indian origin their citizenship.

This was followed up with the Ceylon (Parliamentary Elections) Amendment Act No.48 of 1949 which deprived the Tamils of their franchise as well. This category of Tamils who had 7 seats in the Parliament and held balance of power in a further 20-30electorates failed to elect even a single member in the elections to the parliament held in 1953.

THE RISE OF SINHALA-BUDDHIST NATIONALISM

The deprivation of citizenship of a million Tamils was the result of actions of a Sinhala -Buddhist majority which regarded the island as the exclusive home of Sinhala Buddism and the Tamils as invaders from Tamil Nadu in South India.

"
The history of Sri Lanka is the history of the Sinhalese race ... The Sinhalese people were entrusted 2500 years ago, with a great and nobel charge, the preservation .... of Buddhism .. in 1956 will occur the unique three fold event - the completion of 2500 years of Ceylon's history, of the tie of the Sinhalese and Buddhism ... The birth of the Sinhalese race would thus seem to gave been not a mere chance, not an accidental occurrence, but a predetermined event of high import and purpose. The nation semed designed, as it were, from its rise, primarily to carry aloft for fifty centuries the torch that was lit by the grear World-Mentor (the Buddha) twenty five centuries ago.. " (The revolt in the Temple, by D.C VIjayawardena, 1953).

This is just one example of what has become the battle cry of the Sinhala-Buddhists sole and exclusive claim to the whole of Ceylon. Before him the great Buddhist revivalist Anagarika Dharmapala (1864-1931), whose earlier name was Don David Hewavitarne took the name of Anagarika (in Pali meaning "the homeless one") and Dharmapala ( meaning "the guardian of the doctrine") in his book History of an Ancient Civilization (1902) wrote:

Ethnologically, the Sinhalese are a unique race, inasmuch as they can boast that they have no slave blood in them, and were never conququered by either the paga Tamils or European vanadals who for three centuries devastated the land, destroyed ancient temples, burnt valuable libraries, and nearly annihilated the historic race .... This bright, bueautiful island was made into a paradise by the Aryan Sinhalese before its destruction was brought about by the barbaric vandals .... For the students of ethnology the Sinhalese stand as the representatives of Aryan civilization ...

This potent mixture of legend and superstition, passe off as historical fact, was nurtured, refined and exploited by successive Sinhalese political leaders who sought to perpetuate their rule over the Tamils.

THE SINHALA ONLY ACT OF 1956

As predicted with remarkable foresight by S.J.V.Celvanayagm in Parliament during the debate on Citizenship Bill ( 1948) the next blow was dealt to the Tamils when the Sri Lanka Freedom Party Government of Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranayake enacted Sinhala Only as the Official Language in June 1956. The enactment of this Act, quite contrary to the hitherto official policy of recognising both Sinhalese and Tamil as Official languages, made Tamils second class citizens in their country of birth overnight.

It was undoubtedly a betrayal of the two language policy of considering both Tamil and Sinhalese as official languages. Politically it was a master stroke by the majority Sinhalese to deprive jobs in the government and state corporations. The Tamils were humiliated to a degree that left generations of Tamils to feel socially as outcasts and politically second class citizens.

Phillip Gunawardene, a Minister in Bandareanayake's government and a vocivorous champion of Sinhal Only told Parliament:

"We are completeting by this (Sinhala Only) Bill an important phase in our national struggle. The restoration of the Sinhala language to the position it occupied before the occupation of this country by foreign powers, marks an important stage in the history of the development of this island" (Hansard, 14th June 1956)

The peaceful Satyragraha by the Tamils to protest against the Sinhala Only language policy at Galle Face Green overlooking the Parliament in Colombo was broken up by Sinhalese hoodlums. This was followed by Island wide riots in which hundreds of Tamils lost their lives and property worth millions destroyed. The 1956 riots was the beginning of a series of racially motivated Tamil pogroms by Sinhalese covertly encouraged by successive governments and overtly supported by the security forces. These pogroms with increased ferocity and venom were repeated in 1958, 1961, 1977, 1979, 1981 and 1983.

In July 1957 Mr.S.W.R.D.Bandaranayake signed a pact with Mr.S.J.V.Chelvanayagam, popularly called the Bandaranayake- Chelvanayagam pact, of the Tamil Federal Party giving a measure of regional autonomy in spheres of land, language, education, etc. But the pact was torn apart by Mr.Bandaranayake under pressure from Sinhalese-Buddhist chauvinists. Foremost among them was no other than Mr.J.R.Jayawardena of the United National Party who undertook a march to Kandy in protest. A similar Pact signed by Mr.Chelvanayagam with Mr.Dudley Senanayake in 1965 too met the same fate.

A non-violent Satyragraha campaign launched by the Tamil Federal party in the northern eastern provinces which paralysed civil administration was ruthlessly broken-up using the army. This army is dominated by the Sinhalese (99%) and continued to be used as an instrument of state terrorism to this very day. The entire security forces now number over 100,000 and heavily armed with modern military hardware, fighter bombers, helicopter gun- ships,tanks, armoured vehicles, naval patrol boats etc. The government of Sri Lanka is currently spending upto 20% of the state budget to maintain it.

In 1970 the government of Mrs.Srimawo Bandaranayake (widow of Mr.S.W.R.D.Bandaranayake) rubbed salt into wounds by introducing the notorious "Standardisation" of education. This discriminate policy required higher marks from Tamil students for University admissions visas adopted which removed even the meagre safeguards [(Section 29 (2) (b) & (c)] contained in the Soulbury constitution. This infamous constitution, ironically authored by a Troskite (4th International) Minister in Mrs.Bandaranyake cabinet created the conditions for the political alienation of the Tamils and a deep wedge between the two nations. The constitution incorporated the Sinhala Only Act as part of the constitution and enthroned Buddhism as the foremost religion to be fostered by the state. Amendments moved by the Tamil Federal Party to the draft constitution demanding a federal constitution and parity of status for Tamil along with Sinhalese were defeated by the government. In protest the Federal Party withdrew from further deliberations of the Constituent Assembly and boycotted same. As a mark of protest Mr.Chelvanayagam resigned his seat in Parliament and challenged the government to hold an election to test the acceptability of the new constitution. He simultaneously sought a mandate from the Tamil people mandate for the restoration of the defunct Tamil state. No elections were held till January, 1975 and Mr.Chelvanayagam won the by-election against a government supported candidate with a huge margin of 16,000 votes.

In 1975 confronted with the steadily mounting national oppression, frustrated with the failure of the democratic political struggles, the Tamil national parties converged into a single movement (The Tamging the constitution into operation either by peaceful means or by direct action or struggle"

In the elections that followed the TULF received an overwhelming mandate having won 18 seats out of 24 contested. By fortuitous circumstances the TULF also emerged as the official opposition in Parliament. Unfortunately this was also the undoing of the TULF since Mr.Amirthalingam, the leader of the TULF, came to be more delighted in his new role as the Leader of the Opposition than leader of a movement committed to win liberation through peaceful means, direct action or struggle. Mr.Amirthalingam started talking about an alterative to the Eelam demand and eventually settled down for District Development Councils. This experiment failed in the face of a chauvinistic and intransigent cabinet. In any case the Tamils felt that the DDC was a sop and the Tamil leadership have been taken yet again for a ride by crafty Sinhalese politicians, specially Mr.J.R.Jayawardena, Prime Minister and later President of Sri Lanka.

In 1978 yet another Constitution was enacted which tightened the enslavement of the Tamils further. The TULF like in 1972 walked out of the constitution assembly and took no part in its deliberations.

In 1979 the Sri Lankan government enacted the notorious Prevention of Terrorism Act to cope with the growing militancy, notably of the Liberation Tigers. This act and the subsequent crack down by the army of Tamil youths made the situation worse and confirmed the fears of the Tamils that the Sinhalese government was hell bent to exterminate them. The racial riots of 1977 and 1979 poured oil on already burning fire.

From 1979, because of the Sinhalese army occupation of Jaffna and the state terrorism let loose on the people, hostility began to grow and the emotional division between the Sinhalese and the Tamils became more acute. A group of highly organised young Tamil militants, first calling themselves the New Tamil Tigers and later The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in 1976 emerged to confront the government terrorism by bearing arms.

In July, 1983 the Tamil Tigers ambushed a convey of Sinhalese army in the north and killed 13 Sinhalese soldiers. This ignited another Tamil Pogrom surpassing all the previous ones in its intensity and destruction of life and property. A panicked government of Mr.Jayawardena at the growing militancy of the Tamils and the cry for separation sought to defuse the situation by the 6th amendment to the Constitution by compelling all office holders, including Members of Parliament, to take an oath of allegiance to the unitary constitution. Unable to comply with this forced allegiance the TULF boycotted the parliament and later lost their seats. With the forced political exile and eventual marginalization of the moderate leadership of the Tamils by the constitutional amendment, the Tamil militant groups, notably the Tigers gained ascendancy. Today LTTE is the undisputed and authentic leaders of the Tamil people in the vanguard of the national liberation war.

The many battles and the recent fighting at Elephant Pass which assumed all the hallmarks of a conventional war between the Tamil Tigers and Sinhalese army had established the fact that there are not only two separate nations but two separate armies as well.

source: http://www.eelamweb.com/

July 24, 1983 The Liberation Tigers mounted their first guerrilla style ambush using land mine against the Srilanka army. 13 soldiers died in this attack. This was followed by the worst genocidal attack by the Sinhalese on the Tamils. Thousands of lives and property worth many millions were lost. Tamils girls were subjected to sexual violence. In this riots, expected more than 2000 Tamils died. [It's better to read and understand why the Sri Lanka Tamils has to take the gun to defence their self rather then simply labelled them as a terrorist. Picture shows how the Tamilian was tortured during the riots]

Tamil Eelam History

Part 1:Important Milestones

1. Ceylon gained independence on February 04, 1948. However, it was not complete independence. In terms of the defense agreement entered into between Britain and Ceylon, Colombo, Trincomalee and Katunayake bases continued to remain under British control.

2. In 1948, the very year of independence, the Parliament dominated by the majority Sinhalese, enacted the Citizenship Act which reduced the political strength of the Tamils by one-half. Under this Act, one million Hill country Tamils, whom the British brought from South India 200 years before to work in the tea and rubber plantations, lost their citizenship rights.

3. In 1948 the parliament legislated that the sword wielding Lion shall be the national flag of Ceylon. To appease the Tamils and the Muslims yellow and green stripes were added to the flag.

4. In 1949 the Hill country Tamils' franchise rights were deprived by simple amendment to the order in council. The new law Ceylon Amendment Act defined that only citizens have the right to vote in elections.

5. The leader of the All Ceylon Tamil Congress Mr. G. G Ponnambalam voted in favor of the citizenship Act and Ceylon (Parliamentary Elections) Amendment Act. Mr. S.J.V. Chelvanayagam voted against. This caused the All Ceylon Tamil Congress which was formed in 1944 to split into two.

6. In 1949 Thanthai Chelvanayagam broke away from the Tamil Congress and formed a new party. It was named Ilankaith Tamil Arasuk Kadchi (Federal Party).

7. In 1948-50 the then Prime Minister of Ceylon D.S. Senanayake launched massive Sinhalese colonization schemes in the Eastern province, the traditional homeland of the Tamils. Gal Oya in the Batticalo District, Allai and Kanthalai in the Trincomalee District were the colonization schemes launched by him.

8. The Hill country Tamils who were able to elect 8 members to the Parliament in 1947 failed to elect even a single member at the elections held in 1952.

9. On June 14, 1956 Mr. S. W. R. D. Bandaranayake, leader of the Srilanka Freedom Party and Prime Minster, who won the Parliamentary Elections help in 1956 caused Parliament, dominated by the majority Sinhalese to enact "Sinhala Only" as the official language of Ceylon. This was a negation of the hitherto accepted language policy of treating both Sinhala and Tamils as the official languages in place of English. The imposition of Sinhala only represented the subjugation of Tamils by Sinhalese imperialism. In protest the Federal Party which opposed the Sinhala only act staged Satyagraha in Colombo.

10. On July 26, 1975 the Bandaranayake-Chelvanayagam pact was signed. The B-C pact envisaged decentralization of powers to the North and East through the establishment of Regional Councils. But Bandaranayake abrogated the pact under pressure from Sinhalese chauvinists.

11. In 1958 following the National convention of the Federal Party held in Vavuniya, violence was let lose against the Tamils. There were heavy losses of lives and property.

12. The government of Bandaranayake passively connived with the Sinhalese hoodlums responsible for the violence directed against the Tamils and imposed emergency rule only after 4 days of rioting.

13. In 1961 the Federal Party launched a civil disobedience campaign and Satyagraha in front of Kachcheries in the Northern and Eastern provinces of Ceylon which paralyzed civil administration. Mrs. Bandaranayake's government used the military to break the peaceful Satyragraha campaign.

14. The Senanayake-Chelvanayagam pact was signed on March 24, 1965. This pact envisaged certain degree of regional autonomy to the North and East through the establishment of District Councils. But this pact too was abandoned in the face of opposition from the Sinhalese.

15. In the elections held in May 1970 the United Front headed by the Srilanka Freedom Party, Lanka Sama Samaja Party and The Ceylon Communist Party came to power after capturing 116 out of 157 seats in Parliament. In the same year militant Tamil youths formed the Tamil Manavar Peravai to fight the impeding introduction of "Standardization" to university admissions.

16. In 1971 admission to the university based on merit was abandoned and "standardization" to university admissions through G.C.E A/L examination results was introduced. Lower qualifying marks were fixed for Sinhalese than for Tamil students, both regarding the language of instruction and the subjects themselves. The introduction of "standardization" adversely affected Tamil students' access to higher education.

17. On May 22, 1972 a new constitution was adopted. Ceylon was renamed Srilanka. All ties to Britain were severed and Srilanka was declared a Republic. Buddhism was afforded foremost recognition. Because of the New Republican Constitution the sovereignty of the Sinhalese and the sovereignty of the Tamils reverted back to the Sinhalese and Tamils. To safeguard the language and education rights of Tamils, to halt the encroachment of Tamils traditional homeland through Sinhalese colonization, to stay and hit back when attacked by the Sinhalese, Prabhakaran realized that taking up arms is the only way. He formed the New Tamil Tigers organization comprising brave, self-sacrificing and disciplined youths.

18. On January 10, 1974 nine people lost their lives when the Srilankan Sinhalese police at the instigation of Alfred Duraiappha, Mayor of Jaffna, arbitrarily broke-up the 4th Tamil Research conference held in Jaffna by baton-charging and firing.

19. In 1975 Thanthai Chelvanayagam won the by election held for the Kankesanthurai electorate by a margin of more than 16,000 votes. Chelvanayagam proclaimed that his victory was a mandate for the Tamils to establish the state of Tamil Eelam by exercising their right to self determination. In 1972 Thanthai Chelva had resigned his parliamentary seat in protest against the new constitution and challenged Mrs. Bandaranayake's government to hold a by-election to test the acceptability of the new constitution by the Tamil people.

20. On July 27, 1975 Tamil traitor Alfred Duraiappah was shot dead. This marked the first attack in the history of the armed liberation struggle. The attack was mounted by Tamil New Tigers under the leadership of V. Prabhakaran.

21. On May 5, 1975 with the object of rallying the entire Tamil nation, the "Tamil New Tigers" were re-named "Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam." V. Prabhakaran was named the Chairman and Military Commander of the LTTE.

22. On May 14, 1976 the Tamil United liberation Front (TULF) was formed. A resolution to establish an independent Tamil Eelam was adopted at the TULF convention held at Vaddukkodai. This is called the Vaddukkodai Resolution.

23. In the elections held in July, 1977 the United National Party headed by J.R.Jayawardena came to power. The Tamil United Liberation front won 18 seats on a mandate for the establishment of an Independent, Sovereign, Secular, Socialist state of Tamil Eelam, to become the official opposition party. Following the election yet another racial riot was engineered and executed against the Tamils.

24.In July 1978 Democratic Socialist Republic of Srilanka was established under a new constitution. Presidential system of government came into effect. J.R. Jayawardena became the first president.

25. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam was proscribed by the Srilankan government as an illegal organization.

26. In July 1979, Parliament enacted the Prevention of terrorism Act. On July 11th emergency was declared in Tamil areas. Innocent youth were shot dead by the security forces in Jaffna.

27. In June 1981 under directions of two Sinhalese Ministers the army and the police set fire to important buildings in Jaffna town, specially the Jaffna Public Library considered one of the best in South Asia was torched. This resulted in the destruction of 44,000 valuable books. In addition printing presses and shops were also burnt down. Civilians were killed by the army . Another racial riot broke out.

28. The first Tiger fighter Lieutenant Sathiyanathan (Sankar) attained martyrdom on November 27, 1982.

29. On July 24, 1983 The Liberation Tigers mounted their first guerrilla style ambush using land mine against the Srilanka army. 13 soldiers died in this attack.

This was followed by the worst genocidal attack by the Sinhalese on the Tamils. Thousands of lives and property worth many millions were lost. Tamils girls were subjected to sexual violence.

On July 27-28, 53 Political prisoners and detainees incarcerated at the Welikada prison were brutally murdered inside the prison by Sinhalese convicts with the connivance of the Sinhalese prison guards. This is popularly known as the " Welikada Murder".

30. In 1984 an all Party conference was convened by the Srilanka government. Indra Gandhi was assassinated by her own Sikh body guards.

31. In July-August 1985 talks between the Srilankan government and Tamil militants were held in Thimbu, the capital of Bhutan. The talks ended in failure.

32. In January, 1987 an economic blockade was imposed by the Srilankan government on the Jaffna Peninsula. Minister for National Security Lalith Athulathmudail announced the launching of "Operation Liberation". The Sinhalese army attacked the Vadamarachi regions of Jaffna district. Black Tiger captain Miller executed a suicide attack on the Sinhalese army camped in Nelliady Madhya Maha Vidyalayam. Hundreds of soldiers died in the attack.

33. In July 29, 1987 Rajiv Gandhi and J.R signed the Indo-Srilanka Peace Accord without the consent of the LTTE. The LTTE leader who was taken to Delhi on the eve of signing the accord was forcibly confined at Ashoka Hotel incommunicado. Later LTTE Leader V.Prabhakaran declared at the meeting held at Suthumalai that India had signed the agreement to safeguard her own geopolitical interests. This is popularly known as the Indo-Srilanka Peace Accord. But the Tamils even today believe the Accord was a betrayal of their trust by the Indian Government.

Part 2: Jaffna Kingdom

In the previous chapter we looked into important milestones in chronological order about the history of Ceylon. Let us look at them somewhat in detail from now onwards.

We learnt that Ceylon gained independence in 1948. Though Ceylon obtained independence from the British, long before that foreign colonial powers had conquered the Jaffna Kingdom comprising the North and East and the Kotte Kingdom in South West, and the Kandyan Kingdom in the Center.

Portuguese first set foot in Ceylon in 1505. At that time there were three kingdoms in Ceylon. They were the Jaffna, Kotte and the Kandyan Kingdoms.

First the Kotte Kingdom was captured by the Portuguese. Then in stages they brought the western territory of the Jaffna Kingdom under their control. Finally in 1519 they enslaved the Jaffna Kingdom by defeating the last king Sankili in the battle field. However, the defeat of Sankili didn't mean the end of resistance in Jaffna. Between June 1619 and February 1621 there were several uprisings against the Portuguese. Consequently the Portuguese lost many areas of the Jaffna Kingdom. However, the uprisings were put down due to Portuguese command of the sea which enabled them to bring in reinforcements from India and Colombo.

The Portuguese ruled Jaffna with a heavy hand. Christian missionary activity spread simultaneously with destruction of Hindu temples. In 1628 a small force from Kandy attacked Jaffna. The Tamil people who were waiting for an opportunity rose in revolt against the Portuguese. The Portuguese were forced to retreat inside the Jaffna Fort. However, the combined Tamil and Sinhalese forces were not equipped for a siege warfare. The Portuguese defeated the Tamil-Sinhalese forces by shelling them from the Fort. After that the Portuguese gradually regained control of the lost territory.

The Portuguese conquest of Jaffna was facilitated by several factors. Jaffna was easily accessible by sea. There were Portuguese outposts at Mannar and on Coromandel Coast. By the second half of the 16th century the Jaffna Kingdom had lost much of its power due to rivalry for the throne. Though the Jaffna King sought the help of Raguantha Nayakkan who ruled Madurai it did not materialize. Above all the Portuguese used Sinhalese mercenary troops to defend the Jaffna Kingdom.

It should be observed that although the Portuguese landed in Ceylon in 1505 it took them another 115 years to conquer the Jaffna Kingdom.

The Kotte Kingdom came under complete control of the Portuguese in 1597. The Kandyan Kingdom was ceded to the British in 1815.

Sankili was captured by the Portuguese and taken to Goa where he was hanged.

Though the Jaffna Kingdom fell, the areas to the south called Vanni did not accept the rule of the Portuguese. It did not pay tribute to the Kandyan Kingdom or to any other kingdom. It functioned as an autonomous entity. However, the three Vanniamai in the East (Then Tamil Eelam) viz Kodiyaram Vannimai, Palugamam Vannimai and Pannamai Vannimai sought the help of the Kandyan Kingdom for their defense. But they still functioned as autonomous regions.

Although at different times the territory of Eelam came under foreign rule, it never lost its Tamil Identity. even its borders remained intact till 1833.

The Jaffna Kingdom existed with Nallur as its capital from 1215 AD 1619 AD. The following are the names of the Kings and their period of rule of Tamil Eelam:-

1. Kalingaman alias Koolangai Singai Aryan alias Kalinga Vijeyabahu (1215 to 1240)
2. Kulasegara Pararajasegaram (1240 to 1256)
3. Kulothungan (1256 to 1279)
4. Vikramnan (1279 to 1302)
5. Varothayan (1371 to 1380)
6. Marthanda Perumalan (1325 to 1348)
7. Kunapooshanan (1348 to 1371)
8. Virothayan (1371 to 1380)
9. Jeyaveeran (1380 to 1410)
10. Kunaveeran (1410 to 1446)
11. Kanagasooriyan (1446 to 1450). From 1450 to 1467 Jaffna Kingdom came under the rule of Kotte kingdom. Troops which came under the command of Chenpagap Perumal captured Jaffna. Later he become King of Kotte under the name of King Bhuvanekabahu (VI). Kanagasooriyan fled to Tamilnadu and came back with an army and re-captured the Kingdom and again ruled from 1467 to 1478.
12. Pararajasegaran (1478 to 1519)
13. Sankili Segarajasegaran (1519 to 1561). He was born to the third wife of Pararajasegaran.
14. Pararasa Pandaram, Pararasasekaran (1561 to 1565). he is son of Sankili.
15. Kurunchi Nainar (1565 to 1570)
16. Periapillai Sekarasa Sekaran (1570 to 1582)
17. Puvirasa Pandaram II (1582 to 1591)
18. Ethirmanna Singa Pararasasekaran (1591 to 1615).
19. Sankili Kumaran (1615 to 1619).

In all Jaffna Kingdom existed for 403 years.

Part 3:Kalinga Magan

We learnt in the last chapter about the arrival of the Portuguese and the capture of the Jaffna Kingdom in 1619. Also we learnt that the Jaffna Kingdom existed for 403 years and the names of the 19 kings who ruled during the same period. For over 200 years the Jaffna Kingdom remained the single most powerful Kingdom in Ceylon. The Jaffna Kings maintained close relationship with South Indian Kingdoms and later with the Portuguese. This we can glean from Sinhala historical books, some Sinhala inscriptions and through Sinhala literary works like Kokila Sandesiya, Paravi Sandesiya, Parakum Paciritha.

From the beginning of the 16th Century we can learn the history of the rulers of Jaffna lucidly and someway in detail from Portuguese sources.

There are some Tamil books, if not in great detail, but at least to some extent, that gives the history of the origin, rise and growth of the Jaffna Kingdom and the history of its rulers. One such book is the Yalpana Vaipavamalai. Others are the Vaiyapadal, Kailayamalai, Rajamurai and Parajasegaran Ula.

The Yalpana Vaipavamalai was written by Mylvagana Pulavar from Mathagal in the eighteenth century. From the forward to the book it can be understood that this book was written at the request of the Dutch authorities and the author based his written on books like Vaiyapandal, Kailayamalai, Rajamurai and Parajasegaran Ula. Both Rajamurai and Parajasegaran Ula are now extinct.

Vaiyapandal was written by Vaiyapuri Aiyar during the reign of King Segarajeskeran. This book describes events commencing from the first ruler of Jaffna. It also describes the names of the chieftains and social groups and how they came from Tamil Nadu and settled in Jaffna and Vanni. Like other Tamil works Vaiyapandal also does not give the events in chronological order.
In the thirteenth century (1215 AD) following the invasion of Kalingamagan (1215-1255 AD) the Polonaruwa Kingdom which was already in a state of decay declined in power. Magan ruled with Polonaruwa as his capital. He was then the most powerful monarch in Ceylon. After the fall of Polonaruwa the Sinhalese Kings shifted their capitals to Dambedeniya and Yapahuwa. The Vanni King Vijayabahu III captured Mayarata and ruled with Dambedeniya as his capital.

His son Parakramabahu II (1236-1270 AD) captured the hill areas and the southwest and strengthened his rule. He, like his father, entertained the ambition to capture Rajarata again and bring it under his rule. A number of Vanni chieftains are said to have been persuaded to shift their allegiance from Magan to Parakramabahu.

Following the fall of Polonaruwa there arose several minor kingdoms called Vanniars. Those areas ruled by these minor kings under the name of Vanniars were called Vannipattu or Vanni. Since some of the warriors consisted of Vanniars, the appearance of Vanniyars must have occurred during the Polonaruwa period.

The ancient Batticalo chronicle states that Magan captured Polonaruwa and then gave military control to the Vanniars.

The Konesar inscription states that Kulakkoddan appointed Vanniars as rulers of Trincomalee, Nilaveli, Kaddukkulam areas. Kulakoddan's real name was Cholkathevan.

The Chulavamsa and other chronicles say that Magan stationed troops at places like Trincomalee, Koddiyara, Kantalai, Padavia, Kaddukkulam, Illuppaikadavai, Kytes, Pulachery and ruled Rajarata from his capital Polonaruwa. Polanaruwa captured and ruled by Magan was later over-run by the Javanese.

Part 4:Ariyachackravathis...

The King of Java by the name Chandrabanu twice invaded Ceylon from Malaya. On both occasions his invasion ended in failure. Later he raised an army from Chola Nadu and Pandiya Nadu and captured territory in North Ceylon ruled by Magan. After consolidating his position he again attacked the Dambedeniya kingdom ruled by Parakramabahu II. Chandrabanu demanded the surrender of Buddha's Tooth relic and the kingship to him failing which he informed Parakramabahu II to be ready for war. According to Chulavamsa Parakramabaku II refused to accede to the demands made by Chandrabanu and was successful in halting the invading Army which had penetrated upto Yapahuva and completely freeing him self from his (Chandrabanu) domination. Yet Chandrabanu's rule covered the Jaffna Peninsula, Vanni in the North and Trincomalee.

The place names such as Chavakachcheri, Chavankoddai and Chavakakoddai came into existence as a result of the rule of Chavakas in the 13th century.

Around this time the Pandian empire under the rule of Maravarman Sunderapandyan became very powerful. during his reign the domination of the Kingdom in North Ceylon by Pandias was further strengthened.

When Chandrabanu refused to pay tribute to the Indian empire, Maravarman Suderapandian defeated Chandrabanu and brought his Kingdom under his domain.

Among those chieftains who were left behind by the Pandias to rule over Jaffna one Pandimalavan emerged very powerful. After Chandrabanu, his son accepted the suzerainty of the Pandias and ruled for some time. After him, it is claimed that when there was no successor to throne Pandimalavan who hailed from the village of Ponpatti went to Madurai and brought Prince Singairiyan and crowned him king of Jaffna. The rule by Ariyachakravarthis were established in Jaffna as a sequel to invasion of Ceylon by Pandias under the leadership of army general Ariyachackravarthi about A.D 1284.

According to inscriptions, during the rule of Maravarman Kulasegaran (AD 1268-1310), Ariyachakravarthis served both as army generals and ministers under him.

According to the astrological book Segarajasekeramalai the ancestors of Jaffna Kings served as army generals and ministers under Pandias. They are said to be Brahmins who belonged to Kasiyappa ancestry and descendants of five-hundred and twelve "Panchagrama Vethiyar" of Ramesvaram temple.

The Aryachackravarthis are not in fact Aryans in the ethnic sense, but they referred to themselves as such because of matrimonial relationship established with brahmins in Rameshvarmam.

The Chulavamsam referring to the invasion of Pandias following the death of Bhuvanakabahu 1 (AD 1272- 1281) states that Pandian Kings despatched troops under the command of a Tamil army general. Although he was not an Aryan he was considered both popular and influential. Further it states that the invading force destroyed the fortified city of Yapahuva and carried away the Budha's Tooth relic and other priceless valuables.

Consequent to the invasion by Pandias under the command of Aryachckravarthi the Sinhalese kingdom got further weakened. Yapahuva lost its status as capital city. Also there was infighting for the throne between Bhuvanakabahu II (son of Bhuvanakabahu I), and Parakramabahu III (son of Vijayabahu IV, AD 1271-1272) As a result the Sinhalese Kingdom got divided. Bhuvanakabahu made Kurunagala his capital and ruled from there. Parakramabahu III went to Madurai and retrieved the Tooth Relic that was taken away by the Pandian king and installed same at Polonarwa where he established his rule.

The Ariyachakravarthi mentioned by Chulavamsam or some other descendant of him must have by passage of time crowned himself king of Jaffna. The name Ariyachakravarthi does not refer to real name but one denoting ancestry.

source: http://www.eelamweb.com/history/te/