CLASSIFIED | POLITICS | TERRORISM | OPINION | VIEWS

Ponku Thamiz Events Fund Cross-Border Terrorism

Dilrook Kannangara

The Italian leg of the Ponku Thamiz ended with the arrests of many LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam) which is a banned terrorist organisation in the EU. However, cash-strapped terrorists fighting in the island of Sri Lanka are desperate to stuff its war chest and have called upon its financiers to amass as much cash as possibly can. Therefore LTTE supporters in France spun into action to collect money through a particular cultural performance named ‘Ponku Thamiz’. This is a crafty deception marvelled by this terrorist group which is operating globally. It is important that French authorities are aware of the ground situation.

FACT 1: SRI LANKA NEVER HAD A THAMIZ CULTURE

Sri Lanka has a rich history spanning over 2,500 years to boast about. Its historical events are well documented in written historical records. Its majority community is Sinhala and Tamils and Muslims form its largest minorities. Continued Tamil history of Sri Lanka dates back to the fourteenth century although intermittent attacks from Tamil Nadu (the Tamil homeland), India have been an integral part of history. Sri Lanka’s Tamil culture is part of the large Tamil Nadu culture which is mainly based on Hinduism and essentially non-violent. Christianity influenced cultural elements are also present in the Tamil culture. One striking feature of the Tamil culture is that it is intricately intertwined in religion and non-violence. Tamil Nadu is home to over 65 million Tamils which is more than 3 times the total population of Sri Lanka!

However, the LTTE has derived its own culture which they call “Thamiz” culture even though it is pronounced similar to “Tamil”. The two cultures are widely different. While the original Tamil culture is essentially non-violent, the Thamiz culture is all about suicide bombers, explosions, bloodshed, violence, armed struggles and hatred. LTTE has the world’s largest arsenal of suicide bombers which is at least ten times bigger than that of all Islamic terror groups combined. These suicide brigades are manned mostly by women and children. LTTE gain a lot of pride from its child soldiers and is recorded as the largest organised child brigade in the world.

These children are forcibly taken away from schools and trained to become fighters, suicide bombers or multi-functional cadres. Their successes are aplenty against the legitimate forces of Sri Lanka. While on training they are bombarded with “Thamiz nationalist” songs around the clock. They are also shown video clips of successful suicide bombings where Thamiz nationalist songs and music are played in the background. It is these songs and dances that are bundled into “Ponku Thamiz”. Suicide bombers claimed the lives of one Sri Lankan President, one Opposition Leader, almost killed another President and killed one Indian Prime Minister. This clearly indicates LTTE’s capabilities to export terrorism beyond the shores of Sri Lanka.

FACT 2: LTTE’S THAMIZ CULTURE ENGULFED AND DESTROYED THE TAMIL CULTURE IN SRI LANKA

LTTE started its killing spree in 1976 by killing a senior Tamil politician at a Hindu temple. Since then it has killed more Tamils whom it proclaims to liberate than the Sri Lankan and Indian armies combined. Almost all Tamil democratic politicians were killed including those who had a soft corner for the LTTE. They were replaced with a set of politicians handpicked by the LTTE terrorists who are just pawns of the LTTE. Thanks to a rigged election they found their way to the parliament and started singing LTTE slogans. Simply the LTTE swallowed Tamil democratic politics of Sri Lanka.

Its evil cast fell on cultural, sport and recreational activities as well. LTTE identified these activities as distracters to its ‘liberation struggle’. A massive campaign to destroy these activities was carried out in the 1980s and 1990s. Not only a total ban on these activities was imposed by the LTTE, it destroyed all physical infrastructures. The Alfred Durraiappa Stadium of Jaffna which hosted dozens of sporting events was vandalised and when it was under the control of the LTTE it was used for terrorist drills. Cricket matches that were an essential part of annual sport activities of Tamil majority North were stopped by the LTTE. Although under the government control things have improved, sporting activities never reached the days of pristine glory of past. What LTTE termed as ‘sport’ was war drills. These war drills are a major part of LTTE’s annual cultural and sporting events held in conjunction with the birthday of the LTTE terrorist leader. Those who protested against this barbaric act were killed including hundred of clergymen.

The biggest destruction was done to cultural activities. Tamil cultural performers were killed, ridiculed, chased away and the supporting infrastructure was destroyed. Some were forced to sing the praises of LTTE leaders and its movement. Today there are no significant Tamil cultural productions made in Sri Lanka. All Tamil cultural productions are made elsewhere to cater to the 80 million strong Tamil population in the world. This vacuum was filled by pro-terror artwork under the name “Thamiz”. The Thamiz cultural calendar has a number of important dates marking suicide bombings, hunger strikes leading to death, mass murders committed by the LTTE and other terrorist/sadist events.

The more the encouragement “Ponku Thamiz” and other LTTE-centred cultural activities thrive, the further the Tamil culture collapses.

However, most Tamils disperse this terrorism-centred culture. Only a handful out of the 80 million global Tamil population is into this. Most Tamils follow millennia old non-violent Tamil cultural events. Instead of cultivating hatred, original Tamil culture which is patronised by most Tamils envisages harmony. Foreign nationals must guard against this. LTTE skilfully exploits Westerners’ lack of knowledge of Eastern cultures.

In Sri Lanka these terror cultures have no regard from the public. These are confined to LTTE controlled areas. Thankfully security forces are in the process of eliminating this vultured culture of terrorists in their remaining hideouts.

FACT 3: SUFFERINGS OF THE PEOPLE OF SRI LANKA DUE TO THE TAMIL LIBERATION STRUGGLE IS NOT HIGHLIGHTED

People of all races living in Sri Lanka have been suffering immensely for the past two and a half decades from LTTE atrocities. Sections of the Tamil Diaspora wilfully neglect the sufferings of their fellow Sri Lankans and donate close to US$300 million a year for terrorism. This has kept the LTTE going for such a long time. It is also the world’s most technologically advanced terror group with a pirate like sea wing and an air wing. Not a cent is spent by the LTTE on the welfare of the people living under its control. The burden of providing them free education, healthcare and public administration has been shouldered by the government. Allowing these terror elements to raise funds in foreign nations is the biggest cause of misery for Sri Lankans.

The so called ‘liberation struggle’ has destroyed a large extent of the island’s economic infrastructure in the North-East. This has cause economic stagnation, frustration and unemployment. LTTE is drawing support from these nasty by-products of their terror campaign. More than a third of the North-East Tamil population has migrated to other countries to avoid the LTTE. This in turn has escalated violence in those countries. Unless the lucrative fund raising business is busted, street violence, illegal immigration, credit card fraud, human trafficking, etc. will haunt these otherwise peaceful countries. The Tamil culture that was destroyed by the LTTE must also be resurrected. This can be done when terrorists are kept away from cultural activities.

Sri Lankan patriots living in Italy has done a commendable job in helping authorities bust this massive terror project; they need to be congratulated for their pioneering effort. Probably the Italian police had not seen such an organised terror campaign in their country run by other South Asians who are generally considered peaceful and law-abiding..

Disclaimer: The comments contained within this website are personal reflection only and do not necessarily reflect the views of the LankaWeb. LankaWeb.com offers the contents of this website without charge, but does not necessarily endorse the views and opinions expressed within. Neither the LankaWeb nor the individual authors of any material on this Web site accept responsibility for any loss or damage, however caused (including through negligence), which you may directly or indirectly suffer arising out of your use of or reliance on information contained on or accessed through this Web site.
All views and opinions presented in this article are solely those of the surfer and do not necessarily represent those of LankaWeb.com. .

BACK TO LATEST NEWS

DISCLAIMER