Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

A frustrated lot

LTTE ideologue Anton Balasingham's expression of regret over Rajiv Gandhi's assassination and his request to the Government and people of India to put the past behind are far from genuine. They are born out of the LTTE's frustration over its isolation in the international community in the wake of the European Union's ban. Time and again, the Tigers have proved they are extremely unreliable and believe in eliminating anyone who does not agree with them. It is certainly not time for India to involve itself in the Sri Lankan peace process.

K.V. Ravindran,
Payyanur, Kerala

* * *

Mr. Balasingham's statement should be treated as a cruel joke. His plea that India should be magnanimous adds insult to injury. How can the country forget the tragedy in which a young, promising leader was brutally eliminated when he was just beginning to take the first steps towards fulfilling his dream of taking the country to a glorious future? Coming a day after an LTTE suicide bomber assassinated the Deputy Chief of the Sri Lankan Army, the statement shows that the Tigers take everything for granted and will never change their stripes.

G. Radhakrishnan,
Thiruvananthapuram

* * *

The LTTE, labelled terrorist by the U.S. and banned by the European Union, after undermining the role of Norway as facilitator, has sought India's magnanimity.

The LTTE has assassinated scores of political leaders who did not fall in line with its ideology. Worse, it did not own responsibility for the killings. It has ushered in an unprecedented culture of violence complete with child-soldiers and suicide bombers.

Chelladurai Williams,
Chennai

* * *

Mr. Balasingham, in a brash display of insolent arrogance, asks India to put Rajiv Gandhi's assassination behind and get involved in the Sri Lankan peace process. No word of atonement! No talk of surrendering!

K.S. Ramakrishnan,
Chennai

* * *

Mr. Balasingham's statement that the LTTE regrets the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi comes after all countries have forsaken the outfit.

India has rightly kept aloof from the peace negotiations in Sri Lanka. The LTTE has proved time and again that it cannot be trusted. Showing any sympathy to the Tigers will amount to betraying our national interests.

Col. Ram Gulrajani (retd.),
Chennai

* * *

LTTE leader V. Prabakaran is the first accused in the murder of Rajiv Gandhi.

If Mr. Balasingham wants India to be magnanimous, let him arrange for Mr. Prabakaran's surrender to the Indian authorities.

D.J. Moni,
Chennai

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