Eye of the Tiger

For the longest time, people have been confused by the Norwegian presence in the country. WHY are they doing it? Well, one of the first 'theories' to come up was that Eric Solheim was making a bid for the Nobel Peace Prize. Another was that it was the out of the goodness of their heart... (gag). Fine. The other one that did come up was not pushed around as much or as loudly. Before I explain the 'theory' (call it a conspiracy theory if you want to) lets build up to the moment shall we?

Way back in the day, Europeans were convinced that Sri Lanka had deposits of Oil. Black Gold. So convinced were they that drilling began in earnest along the north western coast. I believe it was primarily concentrated around Mannar. They dug and dug but found nothing. To alleviate the embarrasment, someone really dipped a few barrels of oil down the well in order to make a fast buck. I don't know how THAT turned out but Oil in Sri Lanka was abandoned.

Recently a Norwegian Oil Exploration company was awarded a contract to conducta study off the NorthEASTERN seaboard of Sri Lanka. Their findings indicate significant deposits of Oil and Natural Gas. The GOSL I believe is still trying to figure out how to tap that effectively.
Now, the Norwegians think like all European Colonists used to think. We gave them So much, they are indebted to us. They think that if they intervened in the conflict and managed to broker a deal where the Tigers get Eelam, they will be the first in line to start drilling. The other interesting indicator that supports this theory is the composition of the SLMM. All the members are citizens of countries that will benefit immensely from their neighbor having easy access to something that will be worth more than its weight in Gold in a few years.

The eye of the Whtie Tiger seems to be focused on Oil.

Now, all other foreign nations have told Norway to get lost, for them to keep their hands clean because this is simply a bid by a nation not known for much to be a 'world player'. They are trying to do to South Asia what the US, Britain is trying to do to the Middle East, leave an imprint that follows their own principles.

Now, the white tigers are unhappy that the GOSL is using its brains when it comes to Propaganda, Military Action, Diplomacy. What irks them the most is the fact that these actions are taken without consulting them so that now they canot warn the tigers of new policies before the public is even aware.

Sittingnut was absolutely correct in stating that Ulf Henricsson had no right to be at Maavilaru. His actions indicate that the LTTE has been recognized as a legitimate Governor of people and that the GOSL is simply an adminstrative formality. He broke protocol set forth in the CFA by going to a conflict area without the knowledge of one party and HE is in violation of the CFA.
Everybody thinks that the Govt is to blame for everything and the rebels should be given a little leeway since they are not a govt. These same idiots cannot see that simply becausethe LTTE are NOT a govt, they cannot be treated as a recognized representative. LTTE is not the result of a popular uprising - it is the result of a cult of personality. Where no opposition is brooked nor any compassion tolerated. These are the very people that citizens of a country need to be protected from - not consigned to at any cost.

Right now, the only 'international player' that is paying any attention to the LTTE is Norway. I guess they both make each other feel important. The discrimination that most members of the tamil diaspora is screaming about is correct - because it happened a long time ago. They don't know what is happening on the ground there and they believe what TamilNet says. They swallow propaganda and think that nothing has changed. The poor folk in the North/NorthEast who don't have access to news etc believe what they are told. GOSL Bad. Tigers Good. Most doubt it, but cannot speak their minds for fear of being found in a gunny sack. Inanimate and dismembered.

Not a single Tamil person I know in Colombo complains about discrimination. They collectively refer to the Tigers as 'motherf*ckers' that CAUSE problems for them. They are quite happy, thank you very much Mr.P, they and nobody else in the world would like someone like you telling them what to do. There are only a few people who know both sides of the story.

Anyway, in closing I would like to point out another couple that enjoyed playing with White Tigers. Siegfried and Roy (LOL). Right now I think their nursing injuries sustained in 'horseplay' with the animals. A warning, a threat to whoever considers them to be the master of the other when it comes to dealing with 'Tiger' animals.