- Sunday Leader -
Sinna Bala was born on June 6th 1957. He belonged to the tiny brahmin community in Jaffna. Hailing originally from Pungudutheevu Bala's father Nadarajah was a school teacher in Oorelu in Jaffna. Bala's paternal uncles was the well known music composer, singer and poet "Inuvil" veeramani Iyer. It was veeramani aiyer who wrote and composed music for the popular devotional song rendered by TM soundararajan "Katpagavalli nin potpathangalai".
It was Bala who observed the last rites for Veeramany aiyer when he passed away last year in Jaffna. Though under life threat Bala braved all odds and went to Jaffna last year without any protection to do his filial duty. It was the same sense of duty and family obligation that led to his tragic demise this time.
With LTTE killer squads roaming the streets of Colombo in search of leading members of the Eelam Peoples Democratic Party most EPDP stalwarts have been extra safety precautions. Sinna Bala too had been staying with other EPDP members at the party office in 121 Park road, Havelock Town. He had however gone home to 171 /6 WA de Silva Mawatte on the 15th to discharge religious duties to his departed father and uncles on account of "AAdi Amavasai".
After sending off his daughters to school Bala was waiting outside his house for the EPDP vehicle when the assailants struck. Incidently Bala was sdcheduled to go to the Swiss embassy later that day for a visa. His latest book - a critique of the LTTE in relation to the Indo - Lanka accord - was to be released shortly there. Apart from his innumerable journalistic writings Bala has also penned three books. The most famous of these was "Kaani Uruthi" (Land deed) a book of short stories.
Sinna Bala was closely involved in Tamil national politics for more than three decades. Influenced initially by the pioneering Tamil militant from neighbouring Urumpirai Pon. Sivakumaran Bala began actively involving himself in Tamil student politics from the age of fifteeen. He became a member of the Tamil Maanavar Peravai in 1972. Many old timers of the Tamil militant struggle fondly recall the contribution of "iyer" Bala as he was called then. It is said that Bala helped provide refuge, protection, shelter and food to many a young Tamil militant fleeing the clutches of Policemen in Jaffna.
Later on Bala participated in the activities centered around the progressive Tamil Journal "Manitham" edited by Vimalathasan. Becoming increasinglt left - leaning after Sivakumaran's death Bala moved away from the pro - TULF student and youth organizations. His politics became progressively revolutionary and soon Bala became one of the founding members of the Eelam Revolutionary organization of Students. (EROS).
The Student EROS later metamorphosed into the Political front EROS (Eelam Revolutionary Organization). Once again Balanadarajah aiyer was a pioneering member. He was widely known then as "Eros" Bala. Later on when Velupillai Balakumar came into the EROS he became known as EROS Bala on account of his seniority. The junior Bala was now being called "Sinna Bala" and the name struck.
Sinna Bala was deeply involved with the publishing of "Tharkeegam" a tabloid articulating the ErOS Point of view in the early eighties. He used the pseudonym "Ilaiyavan". he was also a political activist mobilising public opinion and interacted closely with the public instead of confining himself to the editorial office alone.
Though a brahmin he moved closely with people from all walks of life and displayed no cate consciousness. He even rejected vegetarianism but reverted back after marriage. Sinna Bala has lived for long periods in the East, Mannar and India doing political work in addition to Jaffna and Colombo.
After July 1983 the EROS too obtained arnms training in India. Sinna Bala belonged to the original batch of trainees. Though trained in arms Sinna Bala abhorred the use of violence. He never carried a gun and close friends say that after his military training days Bala seldom touched a firearm. It was more a case of penmanship than gunmanship for him.
Though Sinna Bala was no professional journalist he was for [ractical purposes a full time writer. His journalism was only an extension of his politics. He was no cheap propagandist but a man with deep convictions and not afraid to articulate those. I would regard Sinna Bala as a genuine journalist in comparison with several other pseudo and self - styled journalists parading as free members of the fourth estate. I have the greatest respect for his writing from the days of "Tharkeegam".
The withdrawal of the Indian army and the ascendancy of the LTTE saw the EROS taking a momentous decision in 1990. The bulk of the EROS led by Balakumar and Para opted to throw in their lot with the LTTE. The EROS was dissolved and many members joined the LTTE. Sinna Bala too followed this course of action.
Remaining in Jaffna, Bala became assistant and later deputy editor of the tiger controlled "Eelanatham" newspaper. This provided him an avenue of employment. The paper however was under severe controls after the Mahattaya episode. Editorial freedom was severely curtailed. Moreover the LTTE "Rule" in Jaffna provided Sinna Bala with an insight of things to come. He realised that the tigers were only leading the Tamil people on the road to disaster and wanted no part of it. Escaping tiger hegemony however was no easy task.
Balas opportunity came in 1995 when the Sri Lankan army regained Jaffna through operation Riviresa. Bala sent most of his books and papers to the Wanni to allay suspicion and delayed his own departure. He then remained in Jaffna with his family rather than moving to the Wanni. He tried to set up a Tamil paper "Kaalai Kathir" in Jaffna during this time. The attempt ended in failure.
Always a political animal Bala then joined the EPRLF and later contested the Valigamam East Pradeshiya Council elections in 1998. He was elected on the EPRLF ticket. The party however split into the Suresh and Varathan factions later. A disillusioned Bala avoided both factions and virtually quit politics.
Realising Balas "worth" the EPDPs Douglas Devananda extended an invitation to Sinna Bala that he join his party. After some persuasion Bala accepted. He contested the Parliamentary elections of Oct 10th 2000, Dec 5th 2001 and April 2nd 2004 on the EPDP ticket in Jaffna district. Though he did not win Bala plunged into the polls campaign with zestful enthusiasm. He also courageously faced the violence, threats and intimidation of the LTTE.
Functioning as propaganda secretary of the EPDP Sinna Bala also found ample scope to exercise his journalistic skillss. After Ramesh Atputharajah's death Bala got involved with editorial affairs of the weekly "Thinamurasu". He used the pseudonmym Ambimahan. Bala also edited the EPDP organ"Makkal Kural". He was also responsible for the EPDP website in Tamil.
Some weeks before Sinnabalas death his erstwhile colleague Balakumar now a senior LTTE leader telephoned him in Colombo. Balakumar "advised" his old friend to drop out of EPDP politics and go abroad if possible. Otherwise Sinna Balas life too could be endangered he cautioned. Sinna Bala refused firmply and politely.
His fate was perhaps sealed then and there. It was only a matter of time before the "kingarar" minions of Deathgod "Yaman" ensnared Sinna Balas life with the "pasakkayiru" lasso. That fateful day came on Aug 16th 2004. Sinna Balas life was snuffed out brutally and cruelly. He leaves behind his wife Jegatheeswari and three daughters.
Sionna Bala has been interlinked with the evolution and growth of the Tamil militant nationalist movement from its pioneering days, He has a history that is equal if not more to that of LTTE leader Velupillai Prabakharan. Sinna Bala has to a very great extent personified the various stages and phases of the course of Tamil political struggle.
His murder isa horrible violation of his inherent right to free expression, political opinion and above all the right to life. It is the right to life that is the most important of all because all other rights are derived from that basic right. Without life there can be no other rights.
Sadly the Tamil community at large does not seem to realise the importance of the sanctity of life. An ecology of death prevails and is being glorified.Eminent and sincere people like Sinna Bala are being labelled "traitors" and exterminated with ease. The community is silent even as the macabre death dance goes on and on. Unless and until the right to life is upheld and honoured the future of the Tamil people is bleak indeed. (ENDS)
CONCLUDED.
DBS JEYARAJ ......... SEP 12th 2004
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