DRAVIDA PERAVAI CITES HISTORICAL & ENVIRO REASONS TO OPPOSE : POOMPUKAR POWER PROJECT 2009

FIGHT AGAINST 

POOMPUHAR POWER PROJECT :2009

The Collector of Nagapattinam District                                        23.09.2009

Tamilnadu

Respected Collector

Subject: Historical and Environmental reasons cited to oppose the proposed Thermal Power plant regarding

We appreciate the District Collector of Nagapattinam for calling for this public enquiry. Our views will be in Tamil’s historical interest and the traditional rights of indigenous communities like fishermen and farmers of Tamilnadu.

Pichavaram to Kodikarai is highly important area for unearthing our civilization since ancient harbours existed in this belt with hidden heritage at sea. It needs to be subjected to researches   highly important for marine archaeology and coastal archaeology.

Already 250 km out of 1076 km of Tamilnadu coast is without fishermen. The need for preserving the catamaran people and their traditional knowledge is important. Hence all development projects must aim at protecting indigenous communities like fishermen and farmers and should not uproot them from where for centuries they made a livelihood. In fact more assistance to these communities with new scientific equipments would enable them to earn more foreign exchange to our country’s coffers than offering soaps at the cost of public exchequer to projects of plunder. Generating alternative renewable energy like ocean thermal energy, ocean tidal energy will be more helpful. Developed countries have bid adieu to thermal power. Coal bearing ships and conveyer arrangement will be hazard for the coastal area and will stimulate global warming through carbon discharge. The waste generated from plant will create pollution at sea .Thoothukudi lost its pearl culture of the past cultural heritage by the non ocean oriented people. Bearing these in mind we urge the Government of Tamilnadu to stall all thermal power projects coming up in Nagapattinam District, more particularly the one near Poompuhar.

▼ We all are aware that apart from the Indus Valley excavations, equally important cities of our ancient civilization could not so far be unearthed in South India due to our own lethargy. We have stone inscriptions, copper plates and burial pots and this is not sufficient to establish the greatness of our past. Our literary evidences on submergence of ancient Tamil land illuminate us about our past but western scholars look for more scientific proof. Hence there is a need for undersea-archaeological search to find out our roots. No other ethnic group of Earth possesses so much literary evidences but remains lazy to go to the submerged cities of their ancient land. Though we have a place named as Poompuhar where Dr.Kalaignar M.Karunanithi during his rule erected monuments to recapture the past, it could only serve as tourist spot and could not satiate a researcher’s quest to unravel a hidden city of our ancient civilization beneath the bowels of our sea in Bay of Bengal. We all know about the changes that continuously occur and the ancient Port City of Chozha Empire is not the Poompuhar of our times, but it is within the sea nearer or far to current Poompuhar’s coast.

▼ Graham Hancock wrote many books out of which Underworld: The Mysterious Origins of Civilization by Crown Publishers, New York 2002 containing 760 pages ISBN 1400046122 hardback priced $ 27.50 is of relevance to our Poompuhar. He undertook marine archaeology in 2002 and brought out as reported in Dinamani that a city with 9500 year old civilization remains hidden off coast of Poompuhar. [Dinamani news clipping enclosed] His earlier books Fingerprints of the Gods and Heaven’s Mirror had mentioned about his findings. But in this latest book, he lays out evidence “based on modern scientific research, comparative mythology, religious and spiritual observances, first hand diving exploration of underwater megalithic structures and ancient maps to demonstrate the likelihood that a technically advanced civilization unrecognized by modern science capable of navigating the globe and with a profound understanding of architecture and building existed and was washed out by global flooding”.

▼Inundation maps created by Dr.Glen Milne of Durham University shows vast tracts of mostly coastal land which were submerged by three waves of cataclysmic flooding between 17,000 and 8000 years ago. Nearly 5 percent of Earth’s surface or 25 million square kilometers of land stands submerged. These maps and other sources made Graham Hancock to set his foot in Tamilnadu. Graham Hancock used scuba diving and found many artifacts and evidences roughly 2000 pieces which he displayed in Bangalore exhibition, as per media reports of the day. Graham Hancock had updated Tamil history to 9500 years old.

▼We like parrots were repeating 2000 years as time limit of our ancient civilization, and when Graham Hancock updated Tamil history with fresh facts, the Government of Tamilnadu which is going to celebrate World Tamil Conference, must take pains to employ more scuba divers and marine archaeologists to find out about our Kaveripoompattinam. We should honour Graham Hancock in that Conference.

▼The coast or sea near Poompuhar should not be plundered and kept free from industrialization if our ancient glory brought out powerfully by Dr.Kalaignar had to be proven scientifically. Mr. Graham Hancock investigated about our “Kumari Kandam, an anti-diluvia civilization said to have existed thousands of years ago around South India. It is believed to have been a greater center of learning with magnificent academies which may have left a legacy of cartographic and astronomical knowledge which exists today in the ancient Indian texts. Interestingly the author spoke to local fishermen who described often diving to free their nets caught on underwater temples and columns, pyramidal pagodas and buildings with doorways”.

▼Coinciding to our Poompuhar, in Gulf of Cambay to city which is 7500 years old was found but media highlighted that and did not do justice to Poompuhar’s findings. If a scientist within few weeks with the help of National Institute of Oceanography could bring out so many artifacts, is it not the duty of Tamilnadu Chief Minister Dr.Kalaignar M.Karunanithi who instilled in our hearts the greatness of Poompuhar by his powerful pen to employ all scientists, marine archaeologists, scuba divers, and constitute a multi disciplinary State-Sponsored Task Force under Anna University and Tamil University of Thanjavur to explore our exclusive economic zone and our territorial waters in Bay of Bengal at least to begin with to pick up the thread from where Mr. Graham Hancock left in 2002.

▼▼ Dravida Peravai hence appeals to the District Collector of Nagapattinam in the public hearing on Public Hearing on the proposed 2x500 MW Coal Based Power Plant by M/s. PEL Power Ltd to stop this power project.  Allowing such plants to be set up here with whatever technology will disrupt the scientific and historical research that is needed to unearth our past beneath Bay of Bengal off Poompuhar. We are enclosing a map which shows how much land near our coast had been submerged.

This is an indication of how much more land would have been submerged for centuries running into thousands of years back. My article Save the Coast in New Indian Express is enclosed. Letting out effluents or dumping waste into rivers and seas had been going on unabated though technically they will promise to use clean technology and blinded by that promise our environmental agencies will give them clearance. First of all we should bear in mind what all technology we get is outmoded and unwanted in developed countries, hence such technologies are dumped on developing countries like India. If we are really a super power we should follow the Swedish precedent to completely abandon thermal power projects to save its environment. Here it is not only to save our environment but also to prove to the world we are an ancient civilization, we need to keep Poompuhar coast and seas close to Poompuhar free from industrial garbage and litter.

▼Coal based power projects are being set up in Tamilnadu coast. There seems to be a policy which permits setting up of power plants near coal mines, so that through National Power grid equivalent quantum of power can reach the power seeking State. Under this policy a current Union Minister of State before he came to power got a Coal Block allotted in Orissa.In this project of a Tamilnadu politician Puducherry Government’s PIPDIC is a partner. This joint venture plans to set up power project in Orissa to generate power and pass on to the grid so that Puducherry Government will get power without polluting the Union Territory of Puducherry. If a tiny state like Puducherry could follow this route, what compulsion prevails for Tamilnadu to bring coal all the way by ships to set up a power plant in the Nagapattinam coast that too near ancient Port city of Poompuhar?

▼ There seems to be a race to set up more and more ports without planning what products could be brought in or exported from these ports. The Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee when he visited Kanyakumari announced a scheme called Sagar Mala, which means Garland of the Seas. In fact I mooted the suggestion to create a National Seaway on the lines of National Highways to introduce ship connectivity to all the 138 minor or intermediary ports to bring inland cargo that was coming by Lorries and to ferry passengers. This suggestion through Planning Commission reached then Prime Minister who wanted to make use of existing infrastructure to connect all ports in Indian coast. At that time only Gujarat particularly Gujarat Maritime Board was making good use of its minor ports.

Tamilnadu which launched a Poompuhar Shipping Corporation under DMK rule lost the race by making its vessels ferry coal and did not think of diverting cargo and passengers from road use to sea lanes. Roads could be re-laid year by year but traffic congestion, loss of lives, making more and more lanes, land acquisition etc could be avoided if our existing ports could be connected under the Sagar mala scheme of Vajpayee. Instead opening new ports with no cargo to handle breeds even sand smuggling to Maldives which was caught red handed by you, the Hon’ble Collector. Hence we Dravida Peravai, a splinter of DMK but with great regard for Dr.Kalaignar in view of personal friendship undiminished by parting of ways, urge Nagapattinam to accord to priority to unearth our ancient city of Kaveripoompattinam and keep this coast free from polluting industrialization.

▼Interestingly the National Institute of Oceanography , Chennai had announced that its scientists in collaboration with Experimental Design Bureau of Oceanological Engineering of the Russian Academy of Sciences  had developed a vehicle named ROSUB 6000 capable of exploring the ocean up to a depth of 6 kilometers and can be remotely operated. Though we have to go further deep not only off the coast of Poompuhar but also even beyond our exclusive economic zone, this vehicle could be used to gather further evidences on our submerged Port City of Poompuhar.

▼International Seabed Authority has allocated 150,000 square kilometers of seabed in the Indian Ocean to India for exploration of cobalt, manganese, nickel and copper which are in the form of polymetalic nodules. Well Government of India will be happily exploring Indian Ocean for minerals and metals but let Government of Tamilnadu explore Indian Ocean to discover the lost continent of Kumari and the Port Cities of Chera, Chozha and Pandyas, including the ancient capitals of Thonmadurai and Kavadapuram which our literature speaks.

With Regards

Yours sincerely

N.Nandhivarman

General Secretary Dravida Peravai

PLUNDERING EAST COAST ROAD ENVIRONMENT : 2007

PLUNDERING EAST COAST ROAD ENVIRONMENT : 2007

 The need for power should not be met at the cost of plundering our environment in East Coast Road. During the visit of Union Power Minister Shusil Kumar Shinde it was announced that 2 power plants would be set up closer to East Coast Road. Immediately Dravida Peravai sent a detailed memorandum to the Union Minister for Power. Later Dr.S.Ramdass, founder of PMK protested. Thereafter the Tamil Nadu Power Minister Arcot N.Veerasamy had gone on record that Cheyyur Thermal power plant will be dropped but Marakanam project will take off. In this background to awaken the Union Government to evolve a Power Policy keeping in mind of global initiatives in renewable energy quest, Dravida Peravai memorandum dated 10 th September 2007 is given below in verbatim.

Our objections to the 2 proposed Mega Thermal Power Projects off East Coast Road

During your recent visit you had announced that the Union Government will be sending an official team to Tamilnadu to study the possibility of setting up one more ultra mega power project, as reported in the media. Though we agree on the need to enhance our power capacity it should not be at the cost of great human sufferings uprooting people practicing traditional professions practiced beyond 2000 years. In your interview you had mentioned that Tamilnadu Power Minister Thiru.Arcot N.Veerasamy had suggested Marakanam for setting up of 4000 MW capacity ultra mega power project. The Tamilnadu Power Minister had stated that Center had already finalized Cheyyur as the site of one mega power project. We are here opposing the 2-mega power projects and our views are submitted for your perusal.

An attempt was made by National Thermal Power Corporation in 1999 to set up a power plant in Cheyyur when Thiru.Rangarajan Kumaramangalam was Union Minister of Power. The Hindu, a national daily with concern for people alerted people and rulers on Sunday March 21, 1999 issue in a front page story by Thiru.Mukund Padmanabhan under the heading: Proposed Power Plant will be in a Lagoon. “The 3000 acres to be made available to NPTC in five villages in the Cheyyur area lie in low lying area into which there is copious flow of rainwater from the surrounding uplands and a little seawater ingress. The picturesque water body which attracts a large number of birds and is used for fishing acts as storm water run off for an estimated 42 villages in Cheyyur area” wrote Thiru Mukund Padmanabhan a senior journalist in The Hindu.

Dravida Peravai heeded to the warning signals unleashed by Thiru.Mukund Padmanabhan and wrote to the Indian Prime Minister Thiru.Atal Bihari Vajpayee on April 2 of 1999.Dravida Peravai having been admitted as associate party of Samata party and which remained a special invitee to its National Executive ever since 1997 December, had the moral support of Comrade George Fernandes. Hence our memorandum did in fact act as an eye opener. In our memorandum dated April 2 of 1999, we had urged upon the Union Government to adopt the internationally practiced precautionary principle in preventing pollution.” The term precautionary principle was raised by the German delegation at first North Sea Conference in 1984 when faced with the problem of dealing with one of the world’s most contaminated seas. Since then the approach had been adopted by a number of regulatory regimes including Oslo and Paris Commissions (1989), The UNEP Governing Council (1989), Nordic Council (1989), The Bergen Declaration (1990), The London Convention (1991), The Bamako Convention (1991) The Barcelona Convention (1991) and The UNEP Rio UNCED Declaration (1992).

On September 8, 2007-Asia-Pacific leaders agreed and adopted a "long-term aspiration goal" to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the region in support of the U.N global efforts, announced Australian Prime Minister John Howard. Under the Sydney Declaration on Climate Change, Energy Security and Clean Development, the goals are to reduce energy intensity by at least 25 percent by 2030 from the 2005 level, and to increase forest cover in the region by at least 20 million hectares of all types of forests by 2020. The non-binding numerical targets indicate that APEC leaders wish to throw their political muscle behind an international push to avert the worst consequences of a warming planet. This is the first year that leaders from the 21 APEC member economies have included climate change discussions in their annual summit.

While other countries follow precautionary principle in India we neither have the intention nor the political will to arrest pollution of our seas, rivers and water bodies. While Salman Khan’s are arrested for single killings, in Cheyyur and Marakanam all the migratory birds to these water bodies have to loose their natural habitat and the offenders will go scot-free.

LET US HAVE A LOOK AT THE PROBLEMS FACED BY OTHER COUNTRIES THAT HAVE OPTED FOR THERMAL POWER PLANTS:

Quoting China Daily news [Sept 9-2007] “ China’s environmental watchdog warned in Beijing that booming thermal power plants may worsen China's acid rain pollution if their sulfur dioxide emission is not well controlled. Pan Yue, vice-director of the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA), made the remark when reporting to the press the crackdown against the Guiyang thermal power plant in the southwestern province of Guizhou, which had put the newly built power set into use without the desulphurization equipment. "Thermal power plants discharge a large proportion of the country's total sulfur dioxide emission. If their emissions are not well controlled, the acid rain pollution will probably worsen, “Pan said. Although China's power production and generation capacity reached the second place of the world by the end of 2003, they still cannot satisfy the soaring economy's appetite for energy. Reportedly China will suffer from severe power shortage this summer. There are already 24 provinces and municipalities, which set limits on industrial and civil use of electricity. Thermal power plants, accounting for 74 percent of total power supply, spring up to fill the gap.

Exhaust gas discharged by thermal power plants, which are based on coal burning, contains abundant sulfur dioxide a chemical causing acid rain. Statistics show that China's annual sulfur dioxide emission, of which thermal power emission makes up 34.6 percent, exceeds the maximum of environmental capacity by 80 percent. The resulting acid rain costs annual loss of 110 billion Yuan (US$13.3 billion), two or three percent of the annual Gross Domestic Production. China's laws and regulations state that the desulphurization equipment must be designed, built, and put into operation simultaneously with the power sets. Unfortunately, most investors are too eager for instant profits to stick to the rule, according to Pan. SEPA updated the environmental standards for thermal power plants in March, which tightens their sulfur dioxide emission. SEPA also demands all plants install an exhaust gas monitoring system, which could be connected to SEPA's central server. To reduce the thermal power sulfur dioxide emission to 7.84 billion tons in 2020, 80 percent of thermal power plants have to set up the desulphurization equipment before 2005. Besides, SEPA will enforce economic policies including implementing an emission licensing system, add desulphurization cost to the power price and raise the sulfur dioxide emission fee.

CHINA FACES A PROBLEM AND IT HAS ACTED TO CONTAIN POLLUTION DO WE IN INDIA, OR DO OUR COMMUNIST COMRADES DO NECESSARY HOMEWORK TO OPPOSE THERMAL POWER PLANTS? After all China shows the way and it is not America, hence they need not feel embarrassed to oppose thermal power plants and the pollution unleashed by such plants. In 1997 the E.U.-15 member states set themselves the task of doubling Europe’s renewable energy sources from 6 percent to 12 percent by 2010. A decade later, even though the contribution from renewable sources had increased in absolute terms by 55 percent, the E.U.’s new Renewable Energy Roadmap admitted that not only was 12 percent unfeasible, but a figure well below 10 percent was more realistic. By January 2007, the original E.U.-15 member states (the E.U. had expanded to 27 states by then) had actually achieved a figure of only 6.4 percent from renewable sources. So when the E.U. summit in March 2007 upped the renewable energy sources target to 20 percent by 2020, its acknowledgment that the target would prove “challenging” was viewed by most energy insiders as something of a gross understatement. The Roadmap stated that Europe’s renewable share was growing too slowly. To speed things up, a plan was devised for the main sectors: electricity bio-fuels for transport, and heating and cooling. The Roadmap sees electricity as the key sector for producing genuine progress. It argues that if all of the 27 E.U. member states made their national quotas on renewable for 2010 in this sector, the proportion of electricity consumption from renewable would be 21 percent. But only nine E.U. member states – Denmark, Germany, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Luxembourg, Spain, Sweden, and the Netherlands – are in fact on track. The reality is that unless the present trends change, the E.U. will achieve a target approaching at best 19 percent. IN INDIA: “In Jharkhand about 9,000 tones of fly ash is being generated everyday from the coal based thermal power plants with present generation of about 1500 MW. Fortunately, the state is utilizing over fifty present of the fly ash through environmentally sound techniques such as abandoned mine reclamation, Cement Manufacturing, Brick manufacturing etc. Damodar valley Corporation is reclaiming Central Coalfield Limited (CCL) abandoned mine using its pond ash, Tata Power at Jhamshedpur is feeding all its fly ash to Lafarge Cement, ACC and other cement plants. Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board has taken a lead in the utilization of fly ash in the Sate with the co-operation of Thermal Power Plants, Mining Industries, Cement Industries, Brick manufacture etc” If in 1500 MW Thermal power plant 9000 tones of fly ash is generated in Jharkand as per Jharkand Pollution Control Board’s statistics, In Cheyyur 4000 MW mega power plant will generate 36,000 tones of fly ash polluting the entire ECR road, about which Deepa H.Ramakrishnan of The Hindu wrote as The Road Beckons [Metro plus Sept 8 of 2007]. The Road Stinks may be her article if she travels next year in same ECR Road. The Swedish Energy System: Role Model for India Electricity production in Sweden is basically fossil-free. Approximately half of the electricity production comes from hydropower and the remainder is provided by nuclear power. Swedish scientists were among the first to discover the effects of acid rain; this was a focal point in the first UN Environmental Conference in Stockholm in 1972, twenty years before the following conference in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. Swedish industry was also among early world pioneers in demonstrating the first technological solutions for flue gas desulphurization. We live in a world which is known now as global village. If we fail to follow the footsteps of pioneers and opt for outdated un-clean technologies, it is a national shame to the genius of India. Our Planning Commission will have hundreds of committee reports arguing all good things on earth but all remain in paper and only lip service is rendered. Sweden shows the way and our planners will have all blueprints for future ready in their shelves but our Ministers opt for unclean technologies, may be because of other considerations

DROP CHEYYUR/MARAKANAM THERMAL POWER PROJECTS

Dravida Peravai urges the Government of India to have a rethink on starting many more thermal power plants, and we oppose the proposed Cheyyur and Marakanam power projects on the following grounds.· The formal classification in the land registry-adangal records declare that the 2888.06 acres meant for the project is an area comprising salt puramboke and grazing land. In reality it is a waterbody.Survey number 352 at Mudaliarkuppam [274.12 acres] and Survey number 359[ 103.32 acres] under Panaiyur villages where National Thermal Power Corporation plans to have the fly ash disposal plant and main site are in fact are water bodies. We are aware of how fly ash is disposed in Ennore Thermal Power Plant and how Pulicut Lake has become dead lake with pollution and waste dumping. Similar fate will befall Kaluveli Tank.· National Thermal Power Corporation in 1999 short listed 4 sites Kovalam near Chennai, Mahabalipuram, Cheyyur and a site beyond Cuddalore. Two days ago a private company which was planning to set up a Power Project near Cuddalore had to face the people’s anger when the District Collector of Cuddalore convened a consultative meeting. Police lathi charged and arrested many villagers of Thiagavalli near Cuddalore in September 2007.TamilNadu electricity Minister Arcot Veerasamy is uprooting people when their traditional dwellings in order to fill his personal overflowing coffers, people have started to gossip about the fortunes made.Kovalam is a Beach, Mahabalipuram a tourist spot of historical antiquity.Cheyyur where NPTC took the first step, they were halted by our agitations. Now Cheyyur has become once again the target of evil eyes which want to spoil the natural beauty of our coast. Marakanam, an ancient Port known then as Eyilpattinam is the centre of salt pans providing livelihood for thousands for centuries.

Dravida Peravai does not see any valid argument for shifting the focus from tourism promotion exploiting the nature’s bounty of our beaches to thermal power generation and converting water bodies as dumping grounds of waste and polluting the air apart from driving salt pan workers out of jobs. · The argument advanced by Tamilnadu Electricity Minister to bring coal from Orissa by ships, Marakanam harbour will be of use, is just wishful thinking. Apart from 12 major ports which are governed by Major Port Trusts Act, none of the 138 minor or intermediary ports under the control of various governments are functioning ports. Neither they are economical, viable, profitable for public utility. All minor ports with the exception of minor ports under Gujarat Maritime Board remain monuments of wasteful expenditure. On the way to Chennai in ECR Road we can see Cyclone Shelters in depilated conditions, which are another monument of wasteful expenditure. There had been no plan on how to use these shelters apart from cyclone times; hence they remain without maintenance and use. To develop Marakanam as Port just to bring coal will also meet the same fate. All moneys pumped into development of minor ports by various state governments have led to criminal and wasteful expenditure. This is because the Union Government has no national policy to reduce the traffic congestion in our surface transport.

 We have the longest coast in east and west of our peninsula. If only the Union Government had heeded to various memorandums/press statements/port trust minutes, wherein Dravida Peravai had mentioned and argued the need to create a National Seaway Authority and frame policies for cargo/passenger ferries interconnecting these minor ports, travel in roads would be eased in congestion. Only on the event of shifting focus from lorry and rail cargo carrying to carrying cargo by ships and only when inducing people to travel by ships with well connected chain between all minor ports of the country, then ventures like developing Marakanam Port will become profitable. Focus on utilizing our ports for people’s usage is missing but focus is on wasting money on port development. Can Government of India order a study on the investments made by various State Governments in the name of developing minor ports and the yields from such investments? If such a probe is made you can find all moneys have created assets which yield nothing draining the public exchequer.· We understand that there prevails a policy wherein the power generating project need not be situated in states where power is consumed but states can set up power projects near coal mines and the power can be routed through the national grid to reach the beneficiary state.Puducherry Government on August 15 th media release had announced about a coal block allotted in Orissa.We presume Puducherry Government will put up the project in Orissa as per this new policy of the Center. Our question is while Puducherry can set precedent why should not Tamilnadu follow that instead of ferrying coal from Orissa to Marakanam and setting up power projects off ECR road which was meant to promote tourism and not pollution?

Dravida Peravai has reservations about Puducherry Government not selecting big industrial houses in India or going for cleaner technologies in alliance with multinationals but opting for Dr.Jagathratchagan’s enterprise which has no expertise in power sector as its partner in the Rs7500 crore mega power projects, and we will come out in detail soon on this. Throwing dalits and fishermen out of their traditional homes and professions in Marakanam_Cheyyur belt by mega projects which have become outmoded in western countries, is a crime against fellow human beings, the citizens of India, who are the real masters as per the lexicon of democracy.

N.Nandhivarman General Secretary Dravida Peravai

MANMOHANOMICS Versus MODIECONOMICS : BOTH SIDES OF SAME COIN

MANMOHANOMICS EXPOSED BY DINAMANI DAILY :2011

The great economist who opened the floodgates for corporate socialism is putting up an innocent face while behind the curtains favoring corporate and acting before public domain as if he is paragon of virtue to be kept beyond the purview of Lokpal. The petroleum price hike and the arguments advanced under Manmohanomics are punctured by Dinamani Tamil daily of 23.06.2011 in its center-page article by P.S.M.Rao.

Argument: Internationally crude oil prices have shot up and hence it is inevitable to raise petroleum product prices in India… so says Manmohanomics.

Expose : Current prices of crude per barrel is around 94 dollars. If we take up the prices from last month average price would be 100 dollars per barrel. Exchange rate of dollar is Rs 44.9. On average a barrel costs Rs 4,490. One barrel contains 159.99 liters. So the price of crude oil per liter will be Rs 28.

In petrol production crude oil is used 90 percent and remaining 10 percent of substances available in India. So per liter production cost of Petrol wont exceed Rs 30.

In 2006-2007 the cost of refining and producing petrol was Rs 19.47. In 2007-2008 it was Rs.24.71 and for 2008-2009 it was Rs26.11 only. In 2009-2010 it was Rs 21.75 only. If the Government of India had kept people as priority or cared for consumers more than corporate sector it could have sold petrol within Rs 30 or around Rs 30 with reasonable tax. So the argument that companies had to hike petrol prices due to international prices of crude rising is a myth.

Argument : The necessity to hike price is due to mounting losses of petroleum companies. In last year the losses for petroleum companies was Rs.78,000 crore and in current year it stood at Rs 1,80,208 crore.

Expose : Petroleum companies are not incurring losses at all. If you look at their yearly financial statements it will reveal all were earning profits. Rangarajan Committee too had pointed out this true state of affairs.  The difference between government rates and import price is shown as loss.  If these companies had incurred loss how come between 2006-2010 in four years petroleum companies could have shown Rs 1,26,888 crore of profit. By statistical jugglery a false picture is created to show as if petroleum companies are incurring losses and hence price rice is inevitable.

If only so-called Left parties which frequently resort to road-roko or bandh over petrol/diesel/gas price hike have explained like Dinamani, Indian people would have understood the dirty tricks of Manomohanomics, but they too failed the people.

Argument : Mounting subsidies led to inevitable price hike.

Expose : In between 2006-2007 to 2009-2010 the subsidy given by Government of India for petroleum products stands at Rs.23,325 crore. But in same period by way of taxes on petroleum products GOI had earned Rs 4,10,842 crore. If we calculate this the subsidy would be only 5.67 percent in profits made by GOI. If we include State taxes of Rs 2,63,766 crore then the subsidy will be only meager 3.45 percent of the profits made by governments.

By hiding the truth the Government of India will be telling the country that it incurs Rs 18.19 loss in diesel per liter given through public distribution system and Rs 29.69 in per liter of kerosene, and Rs 329.73 per cylinder of gas. By repeatedly drum beating these statistics, Government wants to hike the prices of these products and crush the consumer. Tax the corporate and not common man, which economist will teach basic democratic principle to Dr.Manmohan Singh.

Dinamani Tamil daily writes as eye-opener, turban covered ears of Prime Minister may not hear people’s woes at least Tamil knowing Home Minister P.Chidambaram or Finance Minister’s Minister of State Palani Manniccam must translate Dinamani and advice the Government that Manmohanomics must stop helping corporate to loot the National Exchequer.

N.Nandhivarman

General Secretary Dravida Peravai

22.06.2011

TIME FOR INDIAN SOCIALIST REVIVAL

TAMIL EELAM WITHIN INDIAN UNION AS A STATE

APPEAL TO TAMILNADU POLITICAL PARTIES ON WHAT SHOULD INDIA DO IN TAMIL EELAM CONFLICT:

Every word of this letter springs from my heart. Tamils are emotional but their political responses should be rational. Yes on the question of Tamilnadu raising voice in Indian Parliament or presenting charter of demands for resolving the Tamil Eelam people’s plight, we should rise above just one- liners, though one liners will suit for television bytes, we have to present better argument to activate the Union cabinet, unfortunately misguided by bureaucracy . No use in repeating like parrots about political solution without spelling what it is. As long as article 2 of Srilankan Constitution says “the Republic of Srilanka is a unitary state” there is no room for federalism and all talk about political solution leads only to dead end. This article blocks political devolution. It is needless to teach the enlightened bureaucracy at Indian government that political devolution means creation of states with sovereign legislative power on subjects allocated or earmarked for that provincial administration. Then the other dangerous provision from the Tamils stand point is article 76 which states “Parliament shall not abdicate or in any manner alienate its legislative power and shall not set up any authority with legislative power”. Tamilnadu must understand that this article blocks political decentralization by all ways and means. If there is no political devolution or political decentralization, what the Government of Srilanka plans to offer on platter to Tamils is nothing but slavery. No Indian model state, not even Union Territory status is what Government of Srilanka is having in its shelves as political solution. India that has article 370 in its constitution cannot even get that equivalent for Eelam Tamils. This is the ground reality. Then all  crocodile tears for Tamils is nothing but to conceal their inability to restrain or stop the Government of India from its course to clandestinely support the racist Srilankan Government under the Chinese phobia or Pakistan phobia. Ultimately by playing with these phobias, Srilanka gets the support of India too in its genocidal war. Whoever headed or heads the Srilankan Government, they were never for resolving the conflict satisfying the legitimate demands of the Eelam Tamils. This has to be borne in mind. The past must be evaluated before accepting at face value the verbal gymnastics of Srilankan President Mr.Mahinda Rajapakshe.

Minimum Demands that were never met:

The following would have satisfied legitimate demands of Eelam Tamils, if Srilankan Government had offered before launching the current genocidal war against Eelam Tamils.

A] Repeal of the Article 2 of Srilankan Constitution to pave way for the introduction of federal form of governance, or for a con-federal system of government

B] Repeal of Article 76 to allow political devolution

C] Amending the Article 18 to declare that “the official languages of Srilanka shall be Sinhala and Tamil, enforceable throughout the country without any restrictions.

D] Amending Article 9 to delete “the foremost place” granted to Buddhism and to declare Srilanka a secular state.

These could be termed as minimum demands that could satiate the Tamils of Eelam. These were the demands voiced from much before British left Ceylon, and were the theme of many broken pacts and failed promises, in which Srilankan Governments are aiming for a place in Guinness Record to be the unique country that adopted ethnic cleansing through genocide successfully, while the conscience keepers of this world remained mute spectators.

The reasons for Indo Srilanka Accord’s failure in 1987:

Before looking back at the broken pacts, let us examine what went wrong with the initiatives of Mr.Rajiv Gandhi. Congressmen are bound to answer why his initiative failed, who misguided him. It is a miserable failure to his foreign policy, which any historian of future will record. The bureaucracy under Mr.Rajiv Gandhi’s government negotiated from 30^th August 1985 to 19^th December 1986 with the Government of Srilanka. India failed to pressurize Srilanka to create a congenial and peaceful atmosphere in Tamil areas, while both countries negotiated a solution to the Tamil’s problem. As of now the Government of Srilanka pursued parallel military campaign against the Tamils of Northern and Eastern provinces, while negotiating with India. The question that haunts us even today is how a tiny island can defy India, refuse to comply with India’s demand to stop the war machine and negotiate peaceful settlement. Having allowed Srilanka during the time of Mr.Rajiv Gandhi’s governance to opt for sweet dialogues here and aerial bombings to annihilate there at same time, it appears the bureaucrat under the guise of politician, Mr.Manmohan Singh, could only repeat that historical blunder. But it is not so. We should take into account what Mr.Rajiv Gandhi did, when Srilanka was continuing with military solution.

The stance of Rajiv Gandhi outwardly appeared as above and invited criticism among Tamils. But he launched a diplomatic campaign among the international community to expose the human rights violations bordering on genocide of the Srilankan government. This yielded fruits in past. The need now is to adopt the same approach, for which Mr.Rajiv Gandhi’s government had set the precedent. The demands of Tamilnadu should be to urge the Government of India to launch a diplomatic offensive against the Srilankan Government, as was initiated by Mr.Rajiv Gandhi himself during his rule. In middle of 1987, as of now the Government of India intervened to provide humanitarian assistance to Tamils and airlifted food supplies to Jaffna peninsula. This forced Srilanka to suspend war and agree for Indo-Srilanka accord. Now while history is repeating, Mr.Manmohan Singh just sends humanitarian assistance in ships but neither pursues the diplomatic pressure built by Mr.Rajiv Gandhi nor made even an inch forward to clinch another accord during recent visit of Mr.Mahinda Rajapakshe, taking into account the past mistakes.

The Indo-Srilankan Agreement of July 1987 paved way for the temporary merger of Northern and Eastern provinces into a unified North-Eastern Province. This merger was to be endorsed by a referendum before the end of 1988. One Provincial Council was set up in North-Eastern Province as well as 7 other provinces. In order to implement this accord Mr.Rajiv Gandhi sent the Indian Peace Keeping Force in the first week of August 1987. The pressure brought by Mr.Rajiv Gandhi also made LTTE agree to cessation of hostilities. LTTE also started handing over weapons to IPKF. So far everything went well. Then how this accord was sabotaged and who torpedoed it?  A general amnesty was granted under the accord to “political and other prisoners now held in custody under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and other Emergency laws, and to combatants, as well as those persons accused, charged and or convicted under these laws.” Government of Srilanka, known for treachery which current breed of politicians may have erased from memory withheld amnesty to 1250 Tamil political prisoners. This was done by twisting the amnesty clause to say that it applied only to NEP and not offences committed outside North Eastern Province. LTTE retaliated by suspending surrender of arms. Everyone now in Indian Government, especially the so called National Security Advisers, must refresh their memory. All those who swear allegiance to Mr.Rajiv Gandhi must understand that Mr.Rajiv Gandhi almost was heading to resolve the Tamil Eelam issue, but the betrayal of Srilankan Government aborted his peace initiatives. Now, to trust Mr.Rajapakshe that after eliminating terrorism, he has a peace formula under his red towel, which he will wave along with olive branch, would amount to total ignorance of the history of betrayals, for which many Sinhalese rulers till now are held accountable before the conscience of the world.

For further proof that all Sinhala politicians are known for double speak and double act, let me refresh your memory about the 1994 Parliamentary elections in Srilanka on the popular platform of peace at all costs. SLFP leader Mrs.Chandrika Kumaratunge won that election and became Prime Minister. As Prime Minister, she once again reaffirmed her commitment to negotiated settlement. Subsequently in Presidential election in November, Mrs. Chandrika Kumaratunga won the executive presidency, and instantly she changed her tunes from peace at all costs to seeking peace but not at all cost.

Racial Riots in 1883 hit Christians in 1902 Dalits, in 1915 Muslims, in 1930 Malayalees, then Plantation Tamils and from 1983 Eelam Tamils:

India must tell the diplomatic world that Nazism is not dead, and just because it thrives in a tiny island, it need not be condoned or ignored. The problem with Sinhalese is not Tamil-phobia. They are against everybody. The seeds of hatred are ingrained in their brains. A scholar Kumari Jayewardene, a Sinhalese herself, had chronicled the history of clashes and communal unrest in Srilanka. The starting point of Tamil Sinhala ethnic clashes are considered to be 1983. But hundred years before that, in 1883 the Sinhalese turned their ire against Catholics. The Buddhist religious firebrand Anagarika Dharmapala criticizes the British for their religion. “When the ancestors of the present holders of our beloved land were running naked in the forests of Britain with their bodies painted and later on when their ancestors had gone under the imperial rule of Rome and some of them were being sold as slaves in the market place of Rome, our ancestors were already enjoying the fruits of glorious and peaceful civilization. Buddhism was the religion of the state in Ceylon like the church in England in the British isles” proclaims Anagarika Dharmapala, forgetting what the sacred book of the Sinhalese, known as Mahavamsam says about the first originator of the Sinhalese race. Born to parents who are cross breed between a Lion and a Princess that too born to a brother and sister incest couple, the unruly Vijayan driven by his father with such credentials, landed in Srilanka and married local women, i.e. Tamil, even a Pandyan princess. Then how come Sinhalse can claim racial superiority or purity. Like Anglo Indians, they are half Tamil, half foreign. So assuming they are racially superior, the Sinhalese called Christians barbarians and launched attacks in 1883. Then in 1915, Sinhalese want to drive away the North Indian and South Indian Muslims.

“The Mohammedans, an alien people, who in the early part of the nineteenth century were common traders, by Shylockian methods became prosperous like the Jews. The alien South Indian Mohammedan comes to Ceylon, sees the neglected illiterate villagers without any experience in trade, without any knowledge of any kind of technical industry and isolated from whole of Asia on account of his language, religion and race, and the result the Mohammedan thrives and the son of the soil goes to the wall……..What the German is to the British that the Mohammedan is to the Sinhalese by religion, race and language. He traces his origin to Arabia” incited the same Anagarika Dharmapala. Violent attacks, arson, looting were unleashed against the Muslim traders in 1915.

Readers of both the quotes from a Sinhala firebrand who planted seeds of hatred between communities and who is one among those who ignited communal clashes must take note of a contradiction in his statement. While speaking about British in 1883 he claims Sinhalese were enjoying the fruits of glorious and peaceful civilization. But in 1915, he admits that Sinhalese have no experience in trade and are without any kind of knowledge. Then how could they be the architects of the glorious and peaceful civilization. And that civilization must be of the Tamils, who can establish right up to Indus valley. In between 1883 and 1915, other unfortunate riots hit the dalits from India, who had gone to Ceylon as plantation labour. The arrogant Sinhalese refused to drink tea plucked by untouchables. Later in 1930 the Sinhalese turned their ire against the 30,000 Malayalees, who had gone to Ceylon from Travancore-Cochin state. A trade union leader A.E.Kunasesinghe launched the racial fire against them by his fiery speeches.

Between 1871-1881 when coffee, tea plantations came up in large numbers in Ceylon, lots of Tamils from India went there seeking work. They constituted nearly 10 % of the then population of Ceylon. Donoughmore Commission constituted before independence said out of these roughly 50 percent labour were permanently residing in Ceylon. Jackson Report of 1928 said they were around 60 percent. The Soulbury Commission of 1946 stated 80 percent of these labour were permanent residents of Ceylon.

Donoughmore Commission had recommended that for all those who had lived for 5 years and above citizenship rights must be conferred. Ceylonese Government did not accept that recommendation, thus the crisis started. In 1940 both India and Ceylon discussed this issue. Again in 1941 September there was a bi party conference between India and Ceylon. They agreed joint declaration which emanated in this meeting was not implemented. The irony is in 1942 Ceylonese Government itself written to Indian Government requesting India to permit labour to come and work in its rubber plantations. In the first General Elections of 1947 plantation labour had voting rights. They backed the Ceylon Indian Congress and elected 7 members to Parliament. They were the deciding factor in another 20 parliamentary constituencies. D.S.Senanayaka, first Prime Minister of Ceylon amended the 8 th article of the Citizenship Act and disenfranchised plantation Tamils called as Malayaga Tamils. He passed in Parliament the amendment by 1949 and removed people of Indian origin from the voters list. That is how the voting rights of plantation Tamils who chose 7 Members to Parliament were deprived from them. Then Indian origin people were asked to apply for citizenship. 8, 25,000 people applied for citizenship. Only to 1, 00,000 people Ceylonese citizenship was granted. To resolve this deadlock at London both Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Ceylon Prime Minister Dudley Senanaiyaka talked but could not resolve. In 1954 a pact was signed between Jawaharlal Nehru and Sir John Kotewala, Ceylon Premier. It was never implemented. By 1964, Srilankan Prime Minster Srimavo Bandaranaike and Indian Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri signed a pact, wherein Srilanka agreed to give citizenship to 3, 00,000 persons. India admitted to take back 5, 25,000 persons.

"All American people were once migrants from Europe. Yet no European country foolishly signed a pact with America to take back its citizens. Even after signing such a pact India had left more than 2, 00.000 people of Indian origin in Srilanka. India considers the whole Srilankan problem as one between its original inhabitant Tamils of Ealam and Sinhalese. Dravidian parties have totally forgotten about our people i.e. stateless Tamils of Indian origin. To resolve the hardships caused to these stateless Tamils it is imperative exert due diplomatic pressure. India cannot keep away from any issue of South East Asia. India has left 2, 00,000 of its citizens in Srilanka, when such being the cases how can it keep away? Is it not the duty of India to take responsibility for every Indian citizen on alien soil?" Columnist Rajiv Dhavan wrote an article in The Hindu. “With its open borders South Asia like Africa is a refugee prone region. India discovered this when absorbing the Tibetan refugees in 1959, the Bangladesh refugees in 1971, the Chakma influx in 1963, the Tamil influx from Srilanka in 1983, 1989 and again in 1995, the Afghan refugees from 1980s, the Myanmar’s refugees for a similar period and migration and refugee movements from Bangladesh over the years........ In 1995 India following the Pakistan's example joined the Executive of the UNHCR. Though welcome, this half way attempt seems odd since India refuses to sign 1951 convention. Meanwhile a series of judgments by The Supreme Court and the Gujarat, Punjab, Gauhati and Tamil Nadu High Courts has reinforced the need for humane due process for the Chakmas, Srilankan and other refugees. Some of the judgments expressly recognize the value and worth of UNHCR and invite it to involve more in the refugee questions in India” wrote Supreme Court lawyer Rajiv Dhavan.

Sinhalese against Brahminism:

The Buddhist religious head that had spit venom on Christians, Muslims and Tamils had not spared even the Brahmins. These facts are not taken into account by those bureaucrats in India who support Sinhala rulers. Let me quote the same Anagariga Dharmapala, whose quotes appear in last paragraph too. ‘Brahmanism is only for the three twice born castes. The Brahmins were proud of their mantras. The Brahmin rishis were great in their selfishness. They had spiritual power even to frighten the gods; they cursed the latter when they were angry. It is said that the rishis Durbhasha and Brighu cursed both Vishnu and Shiva. The rishi Gautama cursed Indira. The Brahmin rishis organized the caste system vesting all power in the Brahmins. They organized animal sacrifices. They drank wine, ate beef and took women from the other three castes. It was their privilege. They made laws prohibiting the three castes from taking Brahmin women. They laid down the rule that the issue of Brahmin women by a non-Brahmin husband is to be recognized as Sandala….

The Bhikku sanga became epitome of universal brotherhood and refuge of the high and low. All Asia heard the law of compassion, the religion of wisdom was preached to all, and the dharma of karuna and pragna was accepted by men and gods, Allah, Jehovah Vishnu, Shiva, Kali, Durga, Jesus were names not yet heard in the civilized world. The European races with the exception of Romans and Greeks were then in a state of barbaric paganism. The ancestors of the British were then living naked in the forest. The Nordic races were still savages…………..

The destructive hordes of Islam had then not been born. Buddhism was flourishing in Ghandadhar, Afghanistan, Kabul valley and Turkistan. Two centuries later a new factor came into existence in India which helped to destroy the individuality of Buddha Dharma. Kumarila began to preach his new doctrine which weakened the power of the bhikkus. His successor was the Malabar Brahmin Sankara. Driven out from his native land, young Sankara came to Jabalpore and was admitted to a monastery where he learnt Buddhism. Having studied the Upanishads, he gave a new interpretation to the latter. He poured new wine into old bottles…….

Islam, Brahmanical ritualism and Christianity are the three forces that are at work in India. Brahmins through sheer selfishness rejected the noble Aryan Dharma from its native soil and India fell. Brahmanism is only for high castes. Islam and Christianity are both destructive……

Dravida Peravai wishes to remind the Brahmins who are against Tamil eelam just because of the Aryan tag attached to the Sinhalese must realize that Sinhalese are not accepting Brahmins as Aryans. The above quoted passages must be an eye opener. In orissa certain hill tribes even today call themselves aaranya Brahmins, like that the Sinhalese take pride in calling themselves Aryans, while ridiculing Hindu gods, Brahmins and even their spiritual head Adi Sankara. So the love between Indian Brahmin bureaucrats and Sinhalese is not based on strong foundations, but on a mirage.

Sinhala Racism in Parliament:

With due respect to the Indian Parliament, we wish to draw the attention of the Hon’ble Members of Indian Parliament about some of the highly civilized speeches of the Aryan Sinhalese Parliamentarians.

Mr.D.M.Chandrapala, Sinhalese Buddhist Member of Parliament from Kundasale spoke the following words in Srilankan Parliament on July 1981. “Now Sir… what should we do to this so called leader of the Tamils? If I were given the power, I would tie him to the nearest concrete post in this building and horse whip him till I raise to his wits. Thereafter let anybody do anything he likes, throw him into the Beire [lake] or into the sea, because he will be so mutilated that I do not think there will be life in him. That is war.”

Can anyone in civilized world in any of the democracies of the world, could have heard such a speech. That speech too is against democratically elected Tamil leaders demanding federalism and not independent state at that juncture. There was no terrorist in Parliament yet if Sinhala Parliamentarian spits such venom, how could Tamils live within unitary Srilanka, the National Security Adviser Mr.M.K.Narayanan, who creates an impression that he misguides Indian Government must introspect and correct his wrong steps, if any.

The Indian bureaucracy, unfortunately inherited from a colonial legacy underestimates the elected representatives and their cabinet. They dream that India could be ruled by bureaucrats who are not accountable to public opinion. For their conscience to awaken, Dravida Peravai wishes to reproduce more speeches of Srilankan Parliamentarians.

Mr.G.V.Punchinilame M.P from Ratnapura spoke in Srilankan Parliament in July 1981. “Since yesterday morning, we have heard in this Honorable House about the various types of punishment that should be meted out to them {Tamil Parliamentary Members}. The M.P from Panadura Dr.Neville Fernando said there was a punishment during the time of Sinhalese kings, namely, two areca nut posts are erected, these two posts are then drawn toward each other with a rope, then tie each of the feet of the offender to each post and then cut the rope which will result in tearing apart the body. These people should also be punished in the same way.

…………..some Members suggested that they should be put to death on the stake, some other Members said that their passports should be confiscated, still other Members said they should be made to stand at the Galle Face Green and shot at. The people of this country want and this government is prepared to inflict these punishments on these people.”

If in Srilankan Parliament such barbarian punishments are sought against duly elected Tamil Members of Parliament even in 1981 much before the birth of militant movements, Indian bureaucrats and media who want to uphold the territorial integrity of Srilankan Fascist State, must admit they are fooling themselves and also fooling the world as if they are dealing with a civilized neighboring country.

Having read the barbarian speeches of cannibals, it is time to read the speech of the cunning fox Mr.J.R.Jayawardane, President of Srilanka, which appeared in Daily Telegraph of 11^th July 1983. “I am not worried about the opinion of the Tamil people…… now we cannot think of them, not about their lives or their opinion….. the more you put pressure on the North, the happier the Sinhala people will be here… Really if I starve the Tamils out, the Sinhala people will be happy.”

That is what is happening now under the blood thirsty Mr.Mahinda Rajapakshe’s government. That is why Tamilnadu Chief Minister Dr.Kalaignar M.Karunanithi collects funds and pressurizes the Indian Government to send food and medicines to Eelam Tamils. No Tamil in Tamilnadu will tolerate his kinsmen starving in Tamil Eelam. A land where Poet Bharathi proclaimed that if there is no food for an individual we will destroy the world, will rise like one man to destroy the fascist regime of Srilanka that starves Tamils, kills Tamils, uproots Tamils by aerial bombings, but Tamils and Tamilnadu still hopes that Government of India will save Eelam Tamils from genocide and claws of death, through internationalizing Tamils issue and bringing economic blockade on Sinhala country.

Naked Facts about broken Pacts:

Having traced the thorny issues which India failed to handle in the best interests of Indian citizens or people of Indian origin, now let us look at the various peace proposals which Srilanka aborted in the past.

1. The Bhandaranaike-Chelvanayagam Pact of 1957 signed between Srilankan Prime Minister SWRD Bhandaranaike and Federal Party leader SVJ Chelvanayagam reached in July 1957 was abrogated in May 1958.

2. The Senanaike-Chelvanayagam Pact of 1965 was not implemented even though the pact led to a coalition between Federal Party.

3. Federal Party’s model constitution of 1972, submitted to the Constituent Assembly to create a Federal Republic of Ceylon was rejected by the steering committee of the Constituent Assembly.

4. Dr.Neelam Tiruchelvam’s report to the Presidential Commission on Development Councils in 1979 also was sent to cold storage.

5. Indira Gandhi Initiative of 1983 resulted in bilateral talks between India and Srilanka, as well as between India and TULF, yielded Annexure C proposals due to the efforts of India’s emissary G.Parthsarathy, which was also thrown into dustbin by Srilankan President Mr.J.R.Jayawardane.

6. Draft Bill for Provincial Councils which was endorsed by the All Party Conference in 1984 met the same fate under President J.R.Jayawardane’s governance.

7. Thimpu Talks in 1985: TULF and LTTE, TELO, PLOTE, EROS and EPRLF participated in Thimpu talks initiated by Government of India. In that conference all the Tamil parties submitted four cardinal principles as conditions for accepting conflict resolution. A] Recognition of the Tamils of Srilanka as a distinct nationality. B] Recognition of an identified Tamil homeland and guarantee for its territorial integrity. C] Recognition of the inalienable right of self determination of the Tamil nation. D] Recognition of the right to full citizenship and other fundamental rights to all Tamils of Srilanka. All Party Conference proposals formed the basis of Srilankan side. Though talks were aborted a Draft Framework evolved which should have been placed before Cabinet for approval before it could be adopted. But President J.R.Jayawardane did not do that, and it met its end.

8. TULF presented new proposals to Indian Prime Minister Mr.Rajiv Gandhi in December 1985.The Government of Srilanka submitted its views on that proposals in January 1986. In nutshell the Srilankan Government rejected TULF proposals.

9. Chidambaram Proposals: Srilankan Government discussed with the delegation headed by Mr.P.Chidambaram and in May 1986 sent its own proposals to Government of India. Then the Government of Srilanka formulated the Draft Amendment to the constitution of Srilanka to provide legal frame work to Chidambaram proposals.

10. Government of India prepared a working paper on the discussions held at Bangalore on 18^th November 1986 between Indian Prime Minister Mr.Rajiv Gandhi and Srilankan President Mr.J.R.Jayawardane. The Government of Srilanka submitted its observations on the working paper on 20^th November 1986. Then on December 19^th of 1986 talks took place between two Indian Ministers and Srilankan President. All such exercises led to the India-Srilanka Accord of July 1987 known as Rajiv Gandhi-Jayewardene accord.

11. The fate of that Indo-Srilankan accord is dealt in a separate paragraph above which puts Srilankan Government in dock for breaking this accord.

12. Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution of Srilanka was effected in November 1987, and first time provincial councils were set up.

13. The Democratic People’s Alliance led by SLFP in its election manifesto for 1988 Presidential and Parliamentary elections offered promises to resolve the ethnic problem, but that alliance failed to capture power, so promises remained promises.

14. Tamil political parties ACTC, DPLF, ENDLF, EPRLF and TELO submitted proposals to the drafting committee for the All Party Conference of 1990.

15. Thondaman Proposals: This attracted the LTTE which invited Mr.Thondaman to visit Jaffna to further discuss the proposals but Sinhalese opposition especially by a newly floated Sinhalese Defence Organization paralyzed the proposals.

16. Liberal Party proposals to the Committee on Constitutional Reform in 1992 to resolve the ethnic conflict.

17. UNP Presidential candidate for the November 1994 elections Mr.Gamini Dissanayake presented his Vision for the 21^st century, but since Mr.Gamini Dissanayake was assassinated in October 1994; his own political party UNP buried the proposals along with him.

18. The up-country Tamils, people of Indian origin, about whom India never applies its thought after branding them as stateless people, submitted their proposals to the Parliamentary Select Committee on Constitutional Reforms in December 1994. The Up country People’s Front sought separate autonomous territory for up-country Tamils. This has nothing to do with the North Eastern Province sought as traditional homeland of Eelam Tamils, the original indigenous people of Srilanka. Indian political parties even now are silent on stateless people. The ghost of Mr.Rajiv Gandhi will not haunt over the Autonomous State of Up Country Tamils, hence there is no reason why Indian Government is not taking care of Indian Tamils settled in Srilanka. Up country Tamils are not in anyway branded as terrorists, in fact their parties had been part of ruling coalitions till date. That does not mean India should not open its mouth about the unfortunate people India also made as stateless overnight thoughtlessly by signing a pact.

19. Basic Ideas of Chandrika Kumaratunga made in 1995 when she promised peace at all costs before winning parliamentary elections but changed her tune to peace but not at  all cost, after she won Presidential election.

Dravida Peravai urges the Tamil Nadu political parties and its representatives in Indian Parliament to raise the following questions to the Indian Prime Minister Mr.Manmohan Singh, Indian Minister for External Affairs Mr.Pranab Mukherjee and to the man above the cabinet, The National Security Adviser, who is not elected and hence not accountable to people, so could afford to spit at the face of Tamil’s concerns for fellow Tamils across the Palk Straits.

1. Srilankan Governments headed by any President belonging to any political party have never complied with their promises or pacts made with Tamil parties or Indian Government. So many proposals as listed above have been made wasting years and years without yielding any result. India had offered many formulas ever since Indira Gandhi’s time to Rajiv Gandhi’s time, but none of that was acceptable to Sinhala rulers. Now whole of Tamilnadu echoes its unity by a unanimous resolution in Tamilnadu Assembly in November 2008, urging Indian Government to intervene in Srilanka to end the genocidal war. The weak kneed responses of Indian Prime Minister, and his soft requests made as only lip-service to Srilankan Neo-Hitler Mr.Mahinda Rajapakshe has left a deep scar in the Tamil psyche .Tamils are hearing vague promises with oft repeated phrases like within “unitary Srilanka” devolution of powers will be offered to Tamils. The list of pacts broken and promises un-kept must awaken Indian Government to look for ONCE FOR ALL RESOLVING this CONFLICT. What is the magical Manmohan formula to resolve the issue to the best satisfaction of Tamilnadu? Let the Government of India spell out?

Eelam as Independent Nation:

To our humble view there is no alternative solution to Tamil Eelam. This is based on simple logic. If a husband and wife cannot live together, divorce is permissible in civilized world. And that logic applies to Eelam Tamils. There is nothing illegal in Tamil Eelam remaining an independent nation. In the developed world particularly Europe has twelve small states, five of which are islands or island groups. Monaco, a small urban enclave on the northern Mediterranean coast, is one of the most prosperous and best known of all small states. With just 32,000 permanent residents (8,000 of whom are citizens) and 500 acres of territory, Monaco is a sovereign state; its independence is somewhat limited, since its big neighbor, France, manages its foreign relations, postal services and defense, while the French franc has served as its official currency. When Monoco can be independent nation with restrictions, why not that option be given to Tamil Eelam, for argument sake, we are asking the world community. Though we won’t support independence with restrictions as is the case of Monaco, why not even for debate sake no one proposes Monaca model to resolve Tamil Eelam struggle.

In addition to Monaco, the smaller European territories of this type are: the Principality of Liechtenstein (pop. 31,000), the semi-independent state lets of Andorra (pop. 64,000) and San Marino (pop. 24,000) and four British territories -- the Isle of Man (pop. 70,000), the Channel Islands (pop. 150,000), the Faeroe Islands (pop. 45,000), and Gibraltar (pop. 29,000) – as well as Vatican City State. With just 700 residents and 109 acres, the Vatican may be the only state in the world with a diplomatic corps larger than its resident population. When Vatican with such miniscule population is independent nation what is wrong in Tamil Eelam being independent nation?

The Caribbean area has a number of small states, the majority islands. According to our adjusted World Bank figures there are 14 states and 15 territories in this class in the Caribbean region, ranging in size from Montserrat (pop. 6,400) to Trinidad and Tobago (pop. 1,300,000). Belize (pop. 236,000), Suriname (pop. 431,000), French Guiana (pop. 168,000) and Guyana (pop. 705,000) are all located on the mainland. Some of the better-known islands include Aruba (pop. 80,000), Barbados (pop. 257,000), the Bahamas (pop. 284,000), Martinique (pop. 412, 00), and Grenada (pop. 94,500).  If these tiny countries can be independent nations, what prevents all these countries from endorsing the right to independence to Tamil Eelam.The Netherlands Antilles (pop. 208,000) is home of George Soros' famous Quantum hedge fund, while Bermuda (pop. 63,000) has recently become an important center for the global insurance industry. The tiny British self-governing territory of Cayman Islands (pop. 23,000) has risen to special prominence in recent decades. The Pacific Ocean region has two dozen island states, ranging in size from Fiji (pop. 773,000) to tiny Tokelau, an atoll with just 1,700 residents. If with 1700 people an atoll be independent, why not Tamils of Eelam have their independent nation? Some of the territories embrace hundreds of islands scattered over more than a thousand miles of ocean. The Indian Ocean is site of four large island groups, including the Maldives (pop. 245,000) and the Seychelles (pop. 79,000), as well as a number of other territories including the French island of Reunion (pop. 718,000). Among the smallest Pacific SSTs, Nauru (pop. 10,000) and Niue (2,100) have specialized in offshore finance, a field where newcomers can have an advantage.

Africa, too, has a number of SSTs – 12 states according to the World Bank count, including the islands of Cape Verde (pop. 416,000) and Sao Tome and Principe (pop.142, 000), coastal Djibouti (pop. 636,000) and continental Swaziland (pop. 969,000), as well as a number of territorial remnants of colonialism, like Ceuta (pop. 69,000) and Melilla (pop. 60,000), Spanish territories on Morocco's Mediterranean coast.Asia, by contrast, has relatively few SSTs, many of which are quite prosperous. The island of Bahrain (pop. 629,000), peninsular Qatar (pop. 724,000), and coastal Brunei (pop. 323,000) are all petroleum-rich monarchies Thirty-two of the Commonwealth's 53 member countries are small states - mostly with populations of less than 1.5 million They range in size from micro-states such as St Kitts and Nevis, Nauru, Niue, and Tuvalu with less than 50,000 people each, to countries like Botswana, The Gambia and Mauritius

The world's political map, dominated by large states, includes many lesser-known small states and territories. Using the World Bank benchmark of 1.5 million populations, there are 56 small states, as well as more than a hundred small territories under the sovereign control of others. A substantial majority of these small political units are islands or island federations, like Fiji in the Pacific or Barbados in the Caribbean. But others are located on the continental main lands, sometimes as coastal enclaves, like Monaco or Brunei, and sometimes as landlocked (often mountainous) territories, like Swaziland or Liechtenstein. A large number of the SSTs have emerged only recently from colonialism.

“If this is the world scenario, Eelam can be independent, can sustain as independent nation, and its demand for independence does not lack logic. Hence Dravida Peravai appeals to all the member states of the United Nations to arrive at a consensus to extend support to the independent nation of Tamil Eelam. If it is true that the Secretary General is the spokesperson of the suppressed people we urge him to muster support for the cause of Independent Tamil Eelam among the member states of the United Nations” says a letter written by me to the United Nation’s Secretary General in 2006.

Tamil Eelam within Indian Union

Before current foreign secretary Mr.Shivshankar Menon was relieved from Pakisthan, on reading about his new posting as Indian Foreign Secretary, Dravida Peravai wrote to him, which will be in our voluminous reports in net world, urging him to consider as last option, to have Tamil Eelam as a state within Indian Union. Eelam Tamils will never accept nor can live in peace under unitary Srilanka. India is concerned that Tamils like Jews should not have a country of their own. If that be so why not absorb Tamil Eelam as another state within Indian Union, I had argued in that letter.Mr.T.S.Gopi Rethinaraj, faculty member of Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, in National University of Singapore, wrote in Deccan Chronicle on 12^th November 2008, which needs to be reproduced here.

“Suggestions that the emergence of an independent Tamil Eelam will hurt Indian security interests are disputable because its ethnic and political ties with India through Tamilnadu will be much stronger than a Sinhalese dominated state. However given a chance most of Srilankan Tamils will be happy to live under greater Tamilnadu comprising traditional Tamil areas of North and East of the island as Indian citizens. But India failed to explore the option to integrate the north and east with Tamilnadu when several opportunities were presented that outcome before 1987.”

The thrust here is for all parties to apply their brains to find ways to resolve the Tamil question. India did not fear that West Bengal and East Pakistan will become one Bengali nation, when Indira Gandhi supported beloved Mujibur Rahman’s call for Independent Bangladesh. Then why in Tamils issue unnecessary phobias crop up in the minds of Indian policy framers? To dispel their fears the above said option may be of use.