Conflict
The nature of the conflict
The conflict in Heladiva has been widely described as a 'civil war'. The truth is that the majority of people in Heladiva, including ethnic Tamils live in peace in the southern, western and central parts of the Island. In certain parts of the north and the east a conflict exists between terrorist and the government forces who oppose it. To describe this situation as a civil war is erroneous.
The terrorists describe the conflict as a 'freedom struggle for Tamil self-determination'. To describe the conflict in this way is also erroneous. A freedom struggle for Tamil self-determination can only be waged in Tamil Nadu (in the Tamil country); and not in Heladiva or anywhere else in the entire world. One can only legitimately free one's own motherland.

The terrorist claim to represent interests of the Tamil community in Heladiva. One can only wonder how helpful an armed conflict with suicide bombers, child soldiers, money laundering, coercion, intimidation, blackmail, drug smuggling etc. can be in the best interest of the ethnic Tamil community of Heladiva. Thankfully, many countries including U.S.A. and the E.U. have made it a criminal offence to support these terrorist in any form or manner.
Children recruited as soldiers by the LTTE terrorists. Photos: Lankaweb.com
The terrorists' unjust, illegitimate and illegal demand for an independent state has not only cost the lives of over 100,000 people on the Island, it has successfully halted the economic progress of the Island. The only people who have profited in the past thirty years of terrorist activity are the War Lords themselves and the Arms Dealers who supply them.
The solution to the conflict
The solution to lasting peace and prosperity on the Island is to address the causes that gave rise to this conflict; and not be distracted by the side effects of the causal conditions (such as the terrorists).
The Nature of the present conflict in Heladiva has arisen out of the need for poverty alleviation, education and self-governance at a very local level for all communities; as well as the need for sovereignty for the indigenous Hela Culture. These social, political and economic problems require solutions through leadership and vision, not violence.
LEADERSHIP: The solution to the present socio-economic conflict
Local governance (See proposed constitution); empowering communities to alleviate poverty, invest in their future and prosper
Equity (social justice); equal opportunity to education, employment and government services etc. as well as equal civil liberties (Universal Bill of rights and responsibilities)
Sovereignty for the indigenous Hela Culture: its language, values and traditions
VISION: The solution to the present socio-economic conflict
A grand comprehensive plan for reconstruction of infrastructure and services in all areas of Heladiva be conceived in the spirit of inclusiveness and fairness (equity) with an absolute commitment to transparency, at every stage of the plan
An unprecedented global appeal for capital to support the plan, be headed and executed by the President
Global support to re-establish the rule of law in the North & East, executed with help of countries committed to the democratic process
All sons and daughters of Heladiva work together, nationally and internationally to alleviate poverty and improve facilities for education, especially in impoverished communities. (Just imagine how much better off we all would be, if the money spent on warfare in the last 30 years was used for the benefit of the people, rather than against!)
Implement a new constitution that enables self-governance at a very local level and at the same time effectively safeguards the sovereignty of the Hela Culture and territorial integrity of Heladiva. (See proposed constitution)
"Where there is no vision, the People perish."
[Ancient Chinese proverb]