Sinhalese hate us, we won't return to Lanka

by senthil5000 | June 3, 2009 at 05:26 pm

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Tamils who came out from Sri Lanka to India as refugees are afraid to return back. Though Sri Lankan president Rajapakse announced they won the war by destroying LTTE, there is no political solution put forward to address the tamil's issues. Tamils are still hopeful to get the freedom of their homeland, Tamil Eelam. The military victory of sinhalese sri lanka army didnt create the peace what Tamils are looking for.

Chennai: Sri Lanka may have succeeded in destroying the LTTE, but the Tamil Eelam dream remains. Sri Lankan Tamil refugees living in 115 camps across 25 districts of Tamil Nadu believe that they can return to their country if only a separate Eelam is created for them. Nearly 99% also believe that LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran is alive and will resurface on November 26, Maaveerar Naal (Heroes Day).

"The Sinhalese hate Tamils. We lived as refugees in our own country for 35 years and were denied all rights, including educational opportunities. How do you expect us to return to Sri Lanka? We would rather die as refugees here," Sundari, 46, who fled Kandy and Mullaittivu subsequently, told DNA at the Gummidipoondi camp ( 45 km from Chennai).

Similar sentiments were expressed by other refugees, including the youth. Some of them were infants when they had left their homeland.

"We may be refugees without any rights here, but at least we are leading a peaceful life. A fortnight ago, we got a call from a relative at the Vavuniya camp and the news from Sri Lanka was not very encouraging. In the government camps, Tamils are kept behind barbed wires and suffer for want of food and medicines. We are willing to be repatriated if only our people are rehabilitated with equal rights and lead a prosperous life," J Rasilda Mary, 25, whose family fled Kokkilai in Mullaittivu when she was 10 months old, said.