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'Tamil unit' for Sri Lanka's army

by lalith | June 29, 2009 at 11:28 am

249 views | 10 Recommendations | 6 comments

Sri Lanka's army is to establish an ethnic Tamil regiment for the first time, the minister for national reconciliation has told the BBC.

Vinyagamoorthi Muralitharan, who defected from Tamil rebels to ally with the government, said the army chief told him of the plan a few days ago.

He said that hundreds of cadres from his militia had already joined up.

Sri Lanka is expanding its army although it recently declared victory in its civil war with Tamil rebels.

Mr Muralitharan - better known as Col Karuna - was a senior commander in the LTTE before defecting from them in 2004. He subsequently formed a paramilitary group Tamileela Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal party (TMVP), which primarily operated in the east of the country.

"Six hundred cadres out of 900 have already joined the army. [The] rest of my cadres are currently staying in military camps. I hope all of them will join the army once their paperwork is completed," he told the BBC's Sinhala service.

Paramilitary

He said that some of his former cadres might even be appointed as officers

"It seems they will only be stationed in the east at the moment. There is no need to send them to other areas as the war is now over. It is possible that youth from the east will serve in camps in the east," he said.

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Tamiya

at 19:46 on June 29th, 2009

Mr. KevinKulasekera (not verified):

Never mind bringing in the "Traversity of Justice - Amnesty International" Karuna group in to the Sri Lankan security forces to further oppress the Tamils, the first need is NOT to recruit Tamils for Army, but allow them to live in their own homes, Tamil children go to schools, and Tamil men/women to pursue livelihoods - definitely not the "Army" job from the paramilitary groups as the Tamils have no respect for these as the Tamils don't have any respect for the Sri Lankan Security forces either.

This is not about joining the "mainstream Sinhalese chuvanists", this is about acknowledging the Tamils' aspiration to live equally in Sri Lanka, and further oppressing them by bringing in the Karuna group and the Pillayan Group in to the military is not even close to the required steps to be taken.

Uncle Sam (not verified)

at 20:54 on June 29th, 2009

Next step.

Esatablish "Ttaammiill" as a seperate religion. Howz dat sound?

MPusshpam

at 22:20 on June 29th, 2009

How ignorant!!!!! Tamil is a race not a religion. LOL..................

Uncle Sam (not verified)

at 08:31 on June 30th, 2009

Rewind what the independent tamil country seekers typing around and decide for yourself. Add a bit history of religions to that and see where you reach.

If things went as smooth as the way the terroists imagined, in the very near future we would have watched the birth of Tamil religion.

Did anyone say that there are temples built to worship movie stars in Tamilnadu?

Nihal Muller (not verified)

at 01:25 on June 30th, 2009

This is outright discremination !

Just because they take a bottle or Babath instead of a T56, there is no plan to have a 'Bugher unit' or 'Malay unit' !!!

Pox on Gota !!!!

Thiru Alocious (not verified)

at 02:40 on June 30th, 2009

For culture, heritage and even law (in certain areas like marriage) the ethnic identity should be recognized and preserved.

But it should be a big NO! for 'ethnic armies'. Yet, room should be available to all communities alike in Govt. service, may it be the Army or any other.

If not, a battallion for each race as Nihal Muller suggests!