TAMIL EELAM - NInaivil Oru Neruppu-Tamil Eelam NINAI VIRUKIRATHA TAMIL MAKKALAE. THIS IS OUR LAND. THIS IS OUR SEA. THIS IS OUR VILLAGE. WHERE IS IT NOW.
What is Tamil Eelam?
Tamil Eelam is a de facto state in Indian Ocean. It is located below the Tamil Nadu state of India and in the North East of Sri Lanka. The state of Tamil Eelam has been established by the people living there under the right of self determination given by International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights , Article 1, to which Sri Lanka is a signatory.
The proposed size of the independent nation of Tamil Eelam is 19,509 km². This makes Tamil Eelam the 153 largest country/independent territory in the world. There are a total of 232 country/independent territories in the world.
Tamil Eelam would be larger than East Timor at 14,874 km², which is the newest formed country in the world. East Timor gained independence after 24 years of Indonesia occupation on May 20, 2002.
Why did Tamils in Sri Lanka want Tamil Eelam?
Sri Lanka, which was renamed in Sinhala in 1972, had been called as Ceylon by British during colonial times. Before 1833, the Tamil people were under different administration. They had their own kingdoms, culture and language which are very different from those of Sinhalese until 1505. The first colonial invasion took place in 1505. British brought Tamils and Sinhalese under one administration in 1833 and called this new colony as Ceylon.
When the British left in 1948, the 20% Tamils were left with 80% Sinhalese within a unitary country where the decisions were taken by democratic parliament system. Under this system, racially polarised Sinhalese and Tamils were ruled by the constant majority of Sinhalese against the democratic wishes of Tamils as Tamils were the constant minority.
Who is the leader of Tamil Eelam?
Vellupillai Pirabakaran, the leader of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) is the present National Leader of Tamil Eelam. His supported by a council of commanders who establish policy on everything from law and order to economic. The policy of the LTTE is that this is an interim solution until democratic elections can be held.
Is Tamil Eelam a communist idea?
No. Tamil Eelam is the home land of highly religious Hindu, Christian and Islamic Tamil speaking people. Tamils of Tamil Eelam are from the ancient times, known for their trade and commerce. Tamil Eelam will be a democratic country once it become independent. Tamil Eelam is expected to be a socialist state. Just like the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.
What is the present state of Tamil Eelam?
Presently, some Northern and Eastern parts of Tamil Eelam are under the Tamil Eelam administration. Although a war is going on, Tamil Eelam administration functions very effectively to achieve self reliance and self sufficiency. There are forty eight essential items were banned by Sri Lankan authorities to the de facto state of Tamil Eelam. Some of them are now allowed by the new government with the expectation that the people of Tamil Eelam would give up their right to chose their political status freely.
Is there religious freedom in Tamil Eelam?
Not only religious freedom, but the people are encouraged to follow their own religion by Tamil Eelam administration even under the severe war conditions and economic ban. The Christian, mainly Catholic and Hindu religious leaders are always provided all the support needed for their religious freedom. Islam, however, is not being practiced presently, as the Muslims have been asked to leave the Tamil Eelam territory until the independence of Tamil Eelam. The Muslims supported the aggressive Sri Lankan Sinhala and Muslim Military against the freedom of Tamil Eelam.
Can any one travel to Tamil Eelam?
Yes. Like in any other countries, for Tamil Eelam also the immigration and emigration laws are applicable at the borders. Since a war is going on for the independence, several additional restrictions are imposed on travellers for national security reasons and for the security of the life of travellers.
What are the Islands of Sri Lanka?
Included in the traditional homeland of the Tamil in Sri Lanka are a series of seven islands off the northern coast. These islands are:
• Kayts
• Mandaitivu
• Eluvaitivu
• Paraittivu
• Analaitivu
• Nainativu
• Punkudutivu
• Delft
• Mannar
What are some of the natural resources in Tamil Eelam?
Ilmenite, Rutile, and Zircon
Sri Lanka's north-east Pulmoddai coastline consists of mineral-rich sand. The 60 to 70 percent heavy minerals concentration of ilmenite, rutile and zircon are considered on of the best in the world. The main deposit consists of around 60 percent ilmenite, eight percent rutile and 8-10 percent zircon.
Ilmenite, a black, heavy, metallic oxide mineral, is the major source of titanium, a metal valued for its high strength and light weight. Titanium's strength is such that it can withstand very high temperatures and is non-corrosive. Titanium is used in the construction high-performance military aircraft and rockets, space capsule skins, armour plate, aircraft firewalls, jet engine components, landing gears, submarines, and engine parts (as an alloy).
Rutile, on the other hand, is mainly used in the titanium metal industry and in welding rods. Zircon is in demand in the ceramic industry for high quality glazing, foundries, and electrical items.
Since September 1997, there has been little attempt to mine this mineral wealth. Production stopped after the Tiger attack sank a Lanka Mineral Sands cargo ship loaded with ilmenite anchored one kilometre off the beach.
Pulmoddai is considered one of the best mineral sites in the world, with a heavy mineral content of 60 to 70 percent compared to beach deposits in Australia, a big producer, where the concentration is only five percent.
Surveys commissioned by Lanka Mineral Sands indicate that the heavy minerals actually come from the island's interior, after being washed down by rivers such as the Mahaweli, Sri Lanka's longest river.
New surveys, both onshore and offshore, estimate there are more than 12 million tonnes of heavy minerals in Pulmoddai and other nearby untapped areas, all on the east coast. They estimate that the reserves could last 25 to 30 years at the rate it was mined in the past.
The state-run company's earning capacity reflects the wealth of this area: it was earning around 300 million rupees (about 3.3 million U.S. dollars) annually during its peak.
So much so that until the Tigers struck in 1997, Lanka Mineral Sands, which pays royalty to the government for the mining rights, was the most profitable venture among state companies.
Salt
Prior to 1990 Elephant Pass and Kurunchativu located 10km apart had the largest salterns in the northeast with a combined area of 100 acres, and produced more than 85,000 metric tons of salt a year. The salt production in this area was sufficient in 1990 to meet all of Sri Lanka's needs and for export to other countries such as Singapore from Kurikattuvan harbor.
The British monopolized all salt production in Sri Lanka under their control in 1938 with the establishment of the Salt Department in the wake of the 'Salt Satyagraha' by Mahatma Gandhi in India. The Salt Department was made the National Salt Corporation in 1966. All salterns in Sri Lanka were under the corporation before 1990.
The salt production stopped in 1990 to 2000 when the Sri Lankan Army Elephant Pass garrison removed timber lining the edges of salt pans were removed by the SLA for military purposes.
What are some Quotes on Eelam?
'I was once asked by an Englishman connected with the British Refugee Council: 'You say Tamil Eelam, but where are the boundaries of this Tamil Eelam that you talk about? Show me.'
I was taken aback by the directness of the question. I thought for a while, searching for an appropriate response. Then I replied: 'Take a map of the island. Take a paint brush and paint all the areas where Sri Lanka has bombed and launched artillery attacks during these past several years. When you have finished, the painted area that you see - that is Tamil Eelam.'''
- Sathasivam Krishnakumar (Col Kittu) Zurich, on Maha Veerar Naal, in November 1990
Tags: LTTE Tigers Tamil Eelam TamilTigers SriLanka Sinhalese SL ARMY SEX SLMM UN ICRC Jaffna Errorism India News Ceylon Navy
