October 19, 2016, 8:39 pm
The late Thamilini Jeyakumaran, born in Paranthan, was the leader of the LTTE’s political wing. She joined the LTTE on 29th July 1991 and surrendered to the Sri Lanka Army on 16th May 2009 when the LTTE was defeated. She wrote her memoirs (now published in Sinhala as Thiunu Aspitha Yata) while she was undergoing treatment for cancer. Her last wish was to donate part of the proceedings of her book to the children’s ward of the Cancer Hospital.
Thamilini says she wanted her people to know the truth and hence decided to write this book. She laments that though she was a part of the struggle as a member of the LTTE for nearly 20 years, the LTTE failed to keep the promises made to her people. She makes the plea: “There should never be bloodshed again in this country. No mother in Sri Lanka should weep in front of the coffin of her child ever again. We should use our brains and knowledge instead, to conquer the world.” She adds that by bearing arms or by taking revenge, nothing good will come to her society, to Sri Lanka, or to the world and that experience as a fighter had taught her that and she embraces peace.
These words of wisdom from a former LTTE member should be heeded by all; especially the so-called democratic politicians who try to gain political mileage by fanning the flames of communal hatred in our small island.
I empathized with Thamilini while reading her book. It was a sad story and what stood out was that she too was a human being; a being with feelings, aspirations and hope.
There is so much Thamilini reveals in her book and let me try and share some with you. According to her, Colombo was playing politics after the assassination of the great Lakshman Kadirgamar while the LTTE celebrated his killing. She recalls how terrorist leader Prabakaran boasted the day after the assassination: “See what we did. We finished him off for continuing to pinch us.” The LTTE had also assassinated Mr. Kadirgamar to show how they could operate inside the high security zone in Colombo.
Thamilini also reveals how the ‘smiling assassin,’ Thamil Chelvam known as Dinesh, led battles and how he was in the good books of Prabhakaran. It is him the international community at the time considered as a Peace Dove and a darling. Even the so called political wing members of the LTTE fought the Sri Lanka Army and carried weapons.
In her book, Thamilini reveals ordinary Sri Lankan Tamils living in the Wanni hated the LTTE for taxing them and other cruelties. She also tells the readers of the arrogance of Prabakaran’s son, Charles Anthony, and how senior LTTE cadres became helpless and disheartened because of his modus operandi. She says on several occasions he insulted them. She also commends the role played by Sri Lanka Army’s Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol or the deep penetration team, which instilled fear in Prabakaran and the LTTE. She says the LTTE failed to counter them or curtail their actions.
Thamilini writes of an issue politicians of Sri Lanka should take serious note of. According to Prabahakran, words she says: “Women should come out with problems related to them. It’s regrettable that more men talk of women’s rights rather than women. However, men aren’t capable of understanding the problems of women.” Despite these remarks, however, Thamilini suggests he failed to protect his female fighters: “The state of the female LTTE cadres was tragic during the last few days in Mullavaikkal. They had no alternative but to commit suicide there. Some female sea tiger cadres wore armour filled with bullets, were asked to stay inside vehicles full of gunpowder and other explosive items, until they received orders from Soosai. Several injured female cadres swallowed cyanide and committed suicide inside their bunkers. Other female fighters were confused not knowing what would happen next. They never received any information. I didn’t know if female cadres were included our leader’s and other rebel leader’s exit plan.”
She is saddened by the futility of war and at one point writes that children of poor parents of Sri Lanka sacrificed their lives for an unwanted war. She questions as to how a liberation struggle to liberate the people could bring so much misery to the people. Thamilini says: “I detested the armed struggle. There was a time that the whole nation could have become non-existent because of the foolish decisions made by the LTTE leadership. During these thirty years of struggle we have lost lakhs of lives, destroyed property worth over millions of rupees. Over lakhs of people’s future have been destroyed. Who is this struggle for when our people are destroyed? I can see in front of my eyes that this struggle is hopeless.”
Thamilini describes how ordinary Sri Lankan Tamil citizens openly insulted the LTTE on several occasions and took away their children; she talks often of her dearest mother and how she slept like a little girl next to her after they met at a camp at the end of the conflict.
Thamilini lived in the jungles for nearly twenty years as an LTTE fighter. She was rehabilitated and released after the war ended.
There is much sadness in her book and it’s not only soul searching for her but thought provoking for us. In a way it ridicules the naive peace makers at times. I wished she lived and entered politics in Sri Lanka to make a real difference; unlike ex-LTTE members Karuna and others who got lost in the colours and lights in Colombo, having entered politics.
However, she has left this world with a strong message to all Sri Lankans. Her book must be read by all peace loving citizens of the world.
Rest in Peace Thamilini!
The book is available in Tamil and has been translated into Sinhala by Saminathan Wimal; Published by Dharmasiri Bandaranayake (Dharmasiri, you have done nothing wrong by publishing this book. Thank you.)
