Velupillai Prabhakaran: Difference between revisions

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	* "Tamil Eelam will be a socialist state. By socialism I mean an egalitarian society where human freedom and individual liberties will be guaranteed, where all forms of oppression and exploitation will be abolished. It will be a free society where our people will have maximum opportunity to develop their economy and promote their culture. Tamil Eelam will be a neutral state, committed to non-alignment and friendly to India."		* "Tamil Eelam will be a socialist state. By socialism I mean an egalitarian society where human freedom and individual liberties will be guaranteed, where all forms of oppression and exploitation will be abolished. It will be a free society where our people will have maximum opportunity to develop their economy and promote their culture. Tamil Eelam will be a neutral state, committed to non-alignment and friendly to India."

	== References ==		==References==
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			==Further reading==
	:* M.R.Narayan Swamy. (2003). ''Inside an Elusive Mind - Prabhakaran''. USA: Literate World, Inc.		:* M.R.Narayan Swamy. (2003). ''Inside an Elusive Mind - Prabhakaran''. USA: Literate World, Inc.
	:* ''Prabhakaran - A Leader for All Seasons - Glimpses of the Man behind the Leader''		:* ''Prabhakaran - A Leader for All Seasons - Glimpses of the Man behind the Leader''

Revision as of 22:44, 27 August 2006

Velupillai Prabhakaran(Tamil வேலுப்பிள்ளை பிரபாகரன்) (surname sometimes spelled "Pirapaharan") (born November 26, 1954; Valvettithurai, Sri Lanka) is the leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a politico-military organisation (banned as a terrorist group in the US, UK, Canada, India, and in the 25 European Union countries) fighting for Tamil self-rule in North-East Sri Lanka. In 1972, at the age of 18, he founded an organization named Tamil New Tigers (TNT). In 1975, after becoming heavily involved in the Tamil protest movement, he was accused of assassinating the mayor of Jaffna, Alfred Duraiappah. On May 5, 1976, the TNT was renamed the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), commonly known as the Tamil Tigers. Prabhakaran is married to Mathivathani Erambu. They have a daughter named Duwaraka, and one son Charles Anthony.

Cult of personality

Known by many Tamils as "Thambi" (English: "Younger Brother"), Prabhakaran has allowed and promoted himself as the object of a cult of personality. The cult is built around several factors. First, he is considered as a historical emergence along the “Great Chola Emperors”. He is often described as a marvel to be born after one thousand years. Thus, he was inserted into a powerful grand narrative for the Sri Lankan Tamils.

Second, he is described as a strong and action oriented personality among the weak and “babbling” moderates. By his violent and rash actions Prabhakaran produced the impression that others were “just talk” and only he is capable of action. Also, he promoted himself as an exceptionally disciplined individual, and LTTE cadres were expected to follow strict disciplinary and moral codes. However, as he has not always followed the codes, changes and exceptions have been made to the codes after such incidents. For instance, the LTTE cadres were expected not to have sexual relations or marry during their service as cadres. But Prabhakaran had an affair and married Mathivathani Erambu. Overall, he is an action oriented and disciplined personality and that contributed to his mystique. He used these otherwise positive attributes of personal character to justify any violence, murder, and war.

A third factor contributing to his cult of personality is the attribution of all success and most important initiatives by the LTTE to him. All the major victories at the war scene are announced as strategized and executed by him. Thus, he created an image that Tamils were depended on him. He became to be perceived as irreplaceable for the Sri Lanka Tamil community.

Fourth, countless songs, stories, pictures, and other propaganda items are produce to support his image as the one and only leader. No other leader is promoted as second in command. Most artistic or media creations are expected to pay homage to him.

Although, cult of personality can be attributed to leaders such as Gandhi and John F. Kennedy, the term is usually used in reference to a leader who willfully pursues a totalitarian control, and that is the case with Prabhakaran. By allowing himself to be worshiped as a semi-God (“Sun God” or Suriya Thevan), and by allowing a perception among Tamils that if he is to perish there will be a total collapse or annihilation of the Tamil people, he has furthered his image as the only worthy leader. Moreover, any serious contenders to leadership within LTTE such as Uma Makeswaran, Mathiah or Karuna have been systematically eliminated without open deliberations, whatever their crimes may be. Perhaps, the most important element pointing to a totalitarian character is how the law system in the defacto Tamil Eelam is set up. According to the “Tamileelam Justice” department website “laws are submitted to the National leader and when accepted and proclaimed by him, become laws binding in all persons in Tamileelam.” Clearly, the statement indicates that while LTTE members and civilians have laws produced by LTTE to follow, the final and supreme authority of Tamil Eelam laws is Prabhakaran, thus he presents himself as an absolute ruler.

Philosophy and Ideology of Prabhakaran

Prabhakaran has not expressed an all encompassing systematic philosophy or ideology. He joined the Tamil nationalist movement in his youth and quickly established himself as a strong willed militant leader by founding LTTE. His rare interviews, his annual Tamil Eelam Heroes Day speeches, and the policies and actions of the LTTE can be taken as indicators of Prabhakaran’s philosophy and ideology. The following are important areas when considering philosophy and ideology of Prabhakaran.

Caste

Tamil society is structured along caste lines, and the upper Vellalar caste strives to maintain its leadership and privilege position by intra marrying, and by discriminating against low cast members. As a member of relatively lower Karaiyar caste, Prabhakaran rise to leadership has meant that LTTE was able to break or transcend the caste structure. But it should be noted in the Karaiyar dominated coastal belt upper Velallar caste hegemony was limited or even non existent. Hence the off repeated dogma that he belongs to a lower caste really has no meaning because at no point in his life would he have felt caste discrimination. His grandfather was the builder/owner of a local Hindu Siva temple, hence the ritual position of his family was very high within his native town.. Nevertheless LTTE strongly opposes caste, and its leadership consistently has members from all castes, with a strong presence of lower castes. Moreover, LTTE aligns itself with lower or middle caste political forces of Tamil Nadu, such as Dalit Panthers (DP), Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), and Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK). However, LTTE does not antagonize the upper castes, and does not use caste as its orientation framework, rather it uses Tamil nationalism to delegitimize caste. Prabhakaran’s contribution to deligitimization of caste within Sri Lankan Tamil society is instrumental.

Women Rights

Women in traditional Sri Lankan Tamil society were treated as subservient to men, and were not given equal opportunities to pursue non traditional careers. Prabhakaran allowed women to join the movement and to fight in the battlefield. Also, LTTE outlawed dowry. He has consistently stated that equal rights and opportunities should be given to women. In his International Women's Day address, on 8 March 1996, he stated the following about Tamil women: "For the awakening of a nation and the salvation of womanhood, the Thamileelam revolutionary woman has transformed herself into a tigress! Fierce and fiery, she has taken up arms to fight injustice.".

Religion

Prabhakaran is a born Hindu, and an admirer of Tamil Hindu war god Murugan. However, religion is not a factor in his philosophy or ideology. All LTTE ceremonies are secular, rooted in ancient Tamil customs, or seek to incorporate multi-religious elements. For instance, Hindus traditionally cremate their dead, but LTTE fighters are buried, according to the old Tamil custom of burying the warriors. Also, LTTE has an overwhelming support of the minority Sri Lankan Tamil Christians and the Church, and a number of leading LTTE officers are Christians. Prabhakaran named his son Charles Anthony, a Christian name, after one of his most trusted associates, Charles Lucas Anthony, alias Seelan, who was killed in 1983.

Tamil Nationalism

Prabhakaran’s source of inspiration and direction is Tamil nationalism. His stated and ultimate ideal is to get Tamil Eelam recognized as a nation. All his activities are directed towards that single minded goal.

Militarism, Violence, and Terrorism

Prabhakaran is the instrumental force behind the militarization of the Tamil community. He argues that he chose military means only after observing that non–violent means have been ineffectual and obsolete. However, he was the catalyst in forcing the Tamil community to abandon non-violence. His violent break up of the students' sit-ins, assumed terrorist acts such as murder of Jaffna mayor Alfred Duraiappah, and violent campaigns that generated harsh Sinhalese reactions are examples of him catalyzing the Tamil militant movement. He does not consider using violence or terrorism in self-defense or to promote his end goals as unjustified if political means are not available. Innocent Tamils have been killed by Sinhal military forces and Indian peace keeping forces. According to the LTTE, Sinhala colonization has been carried out by the Sri Lankan government in the Tamil's homeland.

Economic System

In the interview to Anita Prathap in 1984, Prabhakaran stated that his ideological commitment is to “revolutionary socialism”. However, in his media conference in 2002, his ideologue Anton Balasingham forcefully stated that their current economic policy is “market economy” or capitalism. All the logos, symbols, and media products of the LTTE are copyrighted. LTTE or its insiders have setup companies such as hotels, export firms, and media outlets that cater to Sri Lanka Tamil Diaspora in an explicitly commercial way.

Environment

Prabhakaran has famously stated that “Nature is my friend, life my philosopher, and history my guide”. LTTE has important camps in jungles, and Prabhakaran himself is said to reside in safe houses in jungles. Also, the Tamil population is largely farmers and fishermen who depend on their environment for sustenance. Thus, the natural environment is of military, economic, and psyche value to LTTE and Prabhakaran.

LTTE claims to have a sustainable attitude towards the environment. LTTE has set up mechanisms to monitor the environment and vigorously implements environmental regulations. One such policy is banning the use of plastic bags for packaging because plastic is a non-degradable material.

Innovation, Improvisation, Technology, Education

Prabhakaran has consistently shown his inclination to innovate and improvise militarily, politically, as well as economically. He considers technology as the equalizing factor in the war against a numerically and financially superior Sri Lankan army, thus always strives to stay ahead of the technological curve. He is the major architect of the defacto Tamil Eelam state administrative structures. Although, he disdains “theorists”, he supports the popular Tamils desire for education.

Globalization

Prabhakaran has operated in India, primarily in Tamil Nadu prior to 1990s. Since his return to Sri Lanka, he has not traveled abroad. However, LTTE operates internationally, and Tamil Diaspora is spread globally. Prabhakaran has not expressed any particular views about globalization, except to note that he weighs the international dynamics heavily in his decision making. LTTE as an organization seeks legitimization from the international community and yet finds itself hampered by the restrictions that substantial engagements seem to bring.

Prabhakaran has carefully avoided antagonizing the Tamil diaspora. On the contrary, he has used them systematically to raise funds, supplies and moral support. He communicates and controls the diaspora through LTTE’s international offices or front organizations.

Prabhakaran Today

Prabhakaran is believed to be in the dense jungles of northern Sri Lanka where he receives considerable aid and support from the local population which is mostly Tamil. It is rumored that Prabhakaran wears a cyanide capsule arounds his neck at all times, although this may be part of a personality cult he has created. He has narrowly escaped capture more than once.

Quotes by Prabhakaran

"Nature is my friend, Life my philosopher and History my guide."
"seythu mudi, illai seththu madi" - Do or die
"I always give less importance to speech, Only after growing up in action that we should begin speaking."
"Tamil Eelam will be a socialist state. By socialism I mean an egalitarian society where human freedom and individual liberties will be guaranteed, where all forms of oppression and exploitation will be abolished. It will be a free society where our people will have maximum opportunity to develop their economy and promote their culture. Tamil Eelam will be a neutral state, committed to non-alignment and friendly to India."

References

"Wanted Notice for Velupillai Prabhakaran". Interpol.

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