5th Column

Grandson, learn your politics from grandfather
My Dear Thonda (Junior),
I thought I must write to you when I heard that you had visited Kilinochchi last week and had an 'audience' with that chap Thamilselvan after which you proposed a grand alliance of Tamil political parties.

This would appear to be a very laudable move superficially, but it begs the question why you have to get 'permission' from the very men who prevented the people in the North and East from exercising their democratic rights, to form a democratic organization.

Some say that you did this because you were so annoyed with Mahinda maama for rejecting your pleas to join the government and were even more angry when your security was reduced and I agree that perhaps Mahinda maama did a miscalculation of sorts.

But to react to that by running off to the Wanni and then pose for the cameras with Thamilselvan is like cutting the nose to spite the face and only goes to show that you have learnt nothing from your grandfather, the late Saumyamoorthy.

Thonda (Senior), my dear Arumugam, was not the most popular leader we have known because he was as tough as nails, but even his harshest critics respected him for his political skill and the manner in which he fought from within the government and bettered the lot of 'his' people.

You will remember, Arumugam, that your grandfather and his party were originally part and parcel of the Tamil United Front (TUF) but when that party changed course to become the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) in 1975, virtually demanding a separate state, he was farsighted enough to distance himself from that movement because he saw the potential for disaster in such a change of direction.

You will also remember, Arumugam, that JR was shrewd enough to realize how much of an ally your grandfather could be and ensured that he never left the fold. It is not that they never had their differences. Thonda (Senior) organized many strikes in the estate sector while still being in JR's government in his battle to gain citizenship for your brethren, but they were able to retain their friendship and working relationship until the very end.

It was no different with RP either and now it is well known that Thonda (Senior) played a very crucial role in saving RP when some of his own party members tried to impeach him.

But the real test came much later when your grandfather contested the elections in 1994 under an agreement with the greens but later joined Satellite and the blues after they won the elections. Knowing his importance, neither the greens nor the blues complained and he made life easy for Satellite too.
Of course, during all this time your grandfather was criticised and accused of trying to create his own 'Malai Nadu' in the hill country but he never went running to Velu in the North saying he was being treated badly in the South. He fought his battles on his own and won most of them.

We do understand, Arumugam, that it is not easy to fill your grandfather's shoes and we also appreciate that Mahinda Maama has also acted rather recklessly maybe because he wants to please the red and saffron brigades that are aligned with him. But two wrongs do not make a right and what you have done only makes matters worse.

Think about it, Arumugam. I don't think it is still too late because you will be in India when Mahinda maama is also there. Maybe there will be time for the two of you to mend fences.

So, it is time you take stock of your plans for the future, especially in the light of the killings that have taken place in the past few day unless of course, you want to become another Sampanthan who, whenever he has to take a decision, has to run to Kilinochchi and ask Thamilselvan what he should do. That's not quite your style, is it?

Yours truly,
Punchi Putha
PS: By the way, while you play your political games, try and also do something to better the lot of your community, instead of always demanding portfolios, security and other privileges for a selected few. At least then, your grandfather, wherever he is, might be proud of you!

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