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Media Statement
by M. Kula Segaran
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(Ipoh, Sunday) : We are greatly saddened by the passing on of Anton Balasingham, the ideologue and chief negotiator of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eeelam (LTTE), of cancer in London. Although we had known for some time of his serious illness, his death is all the same a shock that such a grievous loss to Tamil Eeelam has taken place.

Anton Balasingham devoted the greater part of his life to the cause of freedom and dignity for the people of Tamil Eeelam. He was a tireless and skilled negotiator vis-à-vis the Sri Lanka government. Even as a very sick man physically, he was determined to lead ceasefire and peace talks on behalf of the LTTE, having little regard to his own health.

LTTE Leader V. Prabhakaran has most appropriately conferred the title of "Voice of the Nation" on the late Anton Balasingham. Anton had epitomized bravely selflessly the great struggle of the Tamils for freedom and human rights.

He hits the nail on its head when he say in his book The Politics Of Duplicity the following:" It is not the socalled 'Tamil terrorism' that stands in the way of a negotiated political settlement but Sinhala-Buddhist racism that remains the stumbling block for peace. What is characterized as ' Tamil terrorism' is a bogey created by Sinhala-Buddhist racist forces to demean and his credit the armed struggle of the Tamil people and to justify war against the Tamil nation. Those who have taken up arms as the last resort to defend their people against racist oppression and tyranny are not terrorists. The real terrorists are those who preach the satanic doctrine of pure race and pristine religion and call for war, violence and bloodbath against the Tamil people".

I never had the gifted opportunity to meet Anton but his writings on Tamil Eeelam are immensely precious and valuable.

The passing on of Anton Balasingham has robbed Tamil Eeelam of a great and courageous son. He will be hard to replace.

We extend our deepest heartfelt condolences to the people of Tamil Eeelam and to his widow Adele, who is also, in her own right, a principle and brave fighter for freedom and dignity for the Tamil people.

Sad though we are, we're confident that Tamil Eeelam will produce more Anton Balasingham's who are prepared to serve and sacrifice for the noble cause.

(17/12/2006)