http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20120311_04


Don't take to violence, choose a free life...
By Shanika
Sriyananda
www.defence.lk">He suffers... he recalls... he regrets knowing that
it's too late for him to overcome the agony but he is confident that he is not
too late to change those blindly embraced and clogged unrealizable dreams, being
a mere illusion and to walk in the correct path.
In the prime of his youth, in a jail in New York, Sathajhan
Sarachandran is cursing the 'agents' of Tamil Tiger Terrorists for misleading
and motivating thousands of youth to fight for Vellupillai Prabakaran's elusive
dream - a separate State in Sri Lanka.
Being once a vibrant 'resource' of the now defunct outfit -
LTTE- Sathajhan, who was accused of brokering a $1-million arms deal for the
LTTE five years ago, requests the Tamils not to be caught in extremist
ideologies.
"The LTTE is no more. We must accept the fact and move on with
reality. I urge all you brothers and sisters to refrain from LTTE ideology and I
beg you not to get trapped in their extremist ideologies. As Tamils we must
reject violence and embrace peace", Sathajhan, the ex- President of the Toronto
branch of the Tamil Youth Organization (TYO) from 2003 to 2005, wrote in an open
letter.
He, visited Sri Lanka twice and was photographed at an LTTE camp
wielding a machine gun, in his open letter to Tamil youth around the world urged
not to repeat the mistakes stated : "I only ask that you be vigilant of these
people. I ask that none of you choose a path where violence is encouraged.
Please don't be a catalyst for promoting any form of violence or hate,"
Writing a two-page letter he accused the leaders of the Tamil
community for misleading him, fuelling anger and hatred, promoting violence and
silencing advocates of non-violence. " I ask that you take part in helping the
affected people. I ask that you be a true guide to them, and not to isolate
them. Please don't let the so-called well-wishers guide you to further
destruction, instead let your own vision guide you towards your next
achievement. Our people need you, use your vision as your guide and help our
people. I must admit to the hate that injected into me during my time as a
president of TYO. As Tamils we must reject violence and embrace peace", he
stated.
The 31-year-old software engineer was arrested in Long Island,
New York in 2006 while he and two other Canadians were trying to buy
shoulder-launch missiles and AK-47 assault rifles for the Tigers.
Pleading guilty to terrorism and conspiracy, Sathajhan is now
languishing in prison serving a 26-year-jail term. " I am writing this letter to
all my fellow youth brothers and sisters whom are following the same path as I
had that had eventually landed me in a prison in New York. I am suffering today.
My family is suffering. My friends are suffering. I am suffering, which has
resulted in everyone around me suffering. I am suffering physically, mentally,
financially, medically and morally.; I can write pages and pages outlining the
hardship I am going through. I don't want to put too much burden on my readers.
But I must outline the suffering I am facing as a result of my actions in the
past. Beyond all this, I feel obliged to share some words with you fellow
brothers and sisters. I must share my experience with you all so that you can
make wise decisions in your activities", he wrote.
Bloodstained past
Can the TYO sweep their bloodstained past under the carpet,
while youth like Sathajhan are openly unearthing the links of the TYO with the
LTTE, which inflicted separatism ideologies in the minds of youth abroad and
used them as channels to raise funds." I was a highly motivated and emotionally
active youth during my term as President of the TYO, Canada which operated as
part of the LTTE. During these times, I was misled by many so-called community
'well-wishers'.
There was never a common understanding between these so-called
local leaders, to find a real solution to our cause. I had been to many meetings
with these well-wishers where our true vision and our feelings as youth, were
never given any consideration when executing our action.
I had attended many meetings with many members of our community,
where a durable solution was never accepted by these well-wishers. I look back,
there were so many controversial meetings that were aimed at triggering our
anger and hate towards fellow citizens of Sri Lanka. I am sure and fully aware
that all of you would be going through the same procedures and attending similar
meetings and seminars hosted by these so-called 'well-wishers'. 1 am only
sharing my personal experiences with you. Yes,there were few individuals who did
try to preach a non-violent approach to the national question. But those voices
would be silenced some how by 'well-wishers' under the pretext that liberation
was round the corner:
Sathajhan requests Tamils living abroad and here to be vigilant
of pro-LTTE voices like the TYO or Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC) not to choose
paths where violence is encouraged." Please don't be a catalyst for promoting
any form of violence or hate. The LTTE is no more. We must accept the fact and
move on with reality. I urge all you brothers and sisters to refrain from LITE
ideology.
If each of you just sit down and think about how much hate you
have within you and try to admit to the amount of hate you have with you, you
will be liberated, you will feel the power within you to help people who need
you at this moment. Make yourself free".
Not seen parents
He wrote in his letter that his family had been banned from
visiting him under certain sections of the Law and had not seen his parents for
the past three-years or any members of his family."I write to you to explain my
suffering for the path I had chosen. I regret many of my past activities.
Meetings after meetings, campaign after campaign, all injecting hate into me and
other fellow students. With my whole heart, I ask one and only one thing from
you all. Just for you to think freely and help our people come out of the
suffering. Our people have gone through enough suffering. This type of suffering
and loss should not be experienced by anyone in this world. Suffering after
suffering, our people has had enough. Let our people live with dignity and
freedom.
I ask you to think freely and take part in rebuilding the lives
of the people whom had gone through tremendous suffering". He stated that he was
confident youth around the world would come forward to contribute towards peace
and reconciliation in Sri Lanka.
This is the story of Sahilal Sabaratnam who is also detained in
the New York federal detention center, serving his fifth year of a 25-year
sentence imposed on terrorism related charges for participating in a pro-LTTE
campaign.
Making an open apology through a letter he (accused) himself for
letting down his people and requested them to stop propagating hate through
diaspora Tamil organisations.
" If you don't like the situation in Sri Lanka or if you solely
believe that the Tamils in Sri Lanka are being mistreated by the Government,
then my gutsy challenge to you is for you to visit the island and make such
statements on your fact finding missions. Don't believe in propaganda being
carried out by middle-persons. Don't carry forward such campaigns for them and
make our people suffer further", Sahilal pleaded.
He earlier actively took part in pro-LTTE campaigns had written
that he contributed vast amounts for their community-based organisations such as
the Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC).
Regretting his past, he said he now has enough time to flash
back on his past and the actions which has made him to do certain things which
imprisoned him. " I had the backing of the World Tamil Movement (WTM) Leaders
for many of my contributions towards our people.I must accept the fact that the
organisation was under the guidance of WTM leaders in Canada , the so-called
'well-wishers' of our community".
No violence
"Let me explain to you why I chose to write such a letter to my
beloved Tamil people. The armed conflict is over in Sri Lanka. The LTTE is no
more. There were times, where many of the Diaspora had wanted an armed solution
for the national question.Let me share something with you that I have learned in
my past years. Please I beg you, to open up your heart and sense my feelings.
Violence doesn't bring a solution to anything.
The bullet does not make a judgmental call of who the victim is.
Blood is not the answer to anything. We must all come to a common understanding
that violence is not an answer to anything. We must learn to use alternative
methods to violence if you choose to pursue any political agenda.
I solely believe and know for a fact that the so-called
'well-wishers' who had always stood behind the CTC are believers of a violent
solution.
This is very wrong", Sahilal who served as the Communication
Director of the Toronto Branch of the CTC and was responsible for press releases
of the CTC, said.
While the CTC was denying that Sahilal was its former
Communication Chief, Sahilal said he was an active member and a valuable
contributor to the CTC and many past members would recognise his involvement and
the present board was appointed after his arrest in the US. Confident that the
so-called pro-LTTE groups have the same stance to solve the national issue, he
requested such organisations to allow Tamils to think freely, and respect the
law and let them live freely in Sri Lanka.
"We are living in western countries. Our day-to-day suffering is
only if we try to make our living luxurious. We struggle to get a better
education, better car, better house, better TV, better shoes, and the best of
everything. That is our struggle in a western country. But our people in Sri
Lanka still struggle to live and I ask all organisations to seek alternative
paths to help our beloved families and friends in our homeland Sri Lanka. Give
them a fishing rod they will fish and find their own food. First bring them on
their feet. Give them the basic things they need. You and I know how much we
value education. Don't take that away from them. Step-in. Take action. Give them
what they want. Don't hold them hostage for your campaign. Hereinafter, if they
choose to participate in a solution seeking mission, let them choose.
Let them choose how they want to live", he requested. Sashilal
urged Tamils to break through the barriers and think freely and question such
indirect or hidden agendas being carried out by LTTE-related organisations such
as the WTM and the CTC. "We are all experienced and highly motivated people, we
can work in any environment to bring upon happiness for our people. I ask you
not to be a catalyst for someone to propagate hate crimes using organisations
like WTM and CTC. Our mandate is to help our people in our homeland not to hold
them hostage for someone's political survival. Let our people decide what they
want to do with their lives. Give them a chance, give them hope, and give them
whatever they need to live as human beings", he wrote in his letter.
Courtesy : Sunday Observer