Tamils as Pawns..

I noticed recently, Tamils, particularly Tamils from North East Sri Lanka, are being treated as Pawns by various governments, media organizations and states.

To state some examples:

1) America's relationship with LTTE has more to do with trying to make America look like it's not just focusing on the Muslim world, but on others as well. LTTE is just an easy target.

2) Al-jazeera and other Muslim organizations are more intent on trying to portray to the world, that Muslims are not the only ones resorting to suicide attacks, and violence in general.

3)The extreme right in Canada, which includes such media outlets as the National Post, are so blindly trying to paint the Liberal party, and the left in Canada as evil, that they pick on Tamils and the LTTE constantly. Tamils in Canada don't hold power when it comes to elections, but the National Post, and the other right wing organizations will have you believe that Tamils run the Politics in Canada or something. This editorial from the National Post is just one example of this: The Post Editorial Board: The Liberals' LTTE disgrace.

4)Sri Lankan politicians have been using Tamils as pawns since Sri Lanka's independence from Britain. Both SLFP and UNP have supported devolution of power, and recognizing that Tamils have been denied their rights. Both have come close to granting equality to Tamils, and both have accused the other of granting too much to Tamils. The fact is, neither wants to give, just use the Tamils to gain power, abuse power, stay in power, and destroy Sri Lanka.

5)India used Tamils as pawns to get a foothold in Sri Lanka. In the early 1980's it trained, funded, and provided weapons to various Tamil Militant organizations, as it continues to do today to some organizations (NOT LTTE). If India intended to end the Tamils' suffering it would have united the Tamils, and given them expertise needed to form a nation. Instead, it separated and trained the various militant organizations to cause havoc in Sri Lanka. It
played a hand in the killings that occured in the 1980's. The world blames the LTTE for killing members of other Tamil militant organizations, but I believe it is more India's doing than the LTTE's doing.

The cold hard truth is that while many people, including from within the Sri Lankan Government, and the international community are calling for negotiated poltical settlement, all they are doing is just using Tamils, and their problems as pawns to further their agendas. While, I, as a Tamil don't have much to gain or lose from this, as I
live a sheltered life far away from the conflict, I feel for my blood and brethren, caught in the middle. Their pain, and their losses will sure to haunt those involved.