Dear friends:
I am overcome by the following news from Sri Lanka that more than 100,000 of my people are sandwiched between the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil militants. http://tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=28378
It is a pity that we hear very little in our media about potential human tragedies of this magnitude.
Although not a poet, I have written this poem to express my feelings and to awaken the conscience of the international community.
Please pass this on to people who may be able to do something to save the lives of these innocent civilians.
Tamil people and a Silent World
When their rights were being taken away, the world was silent.
When their land was being colonized, the world was silent.
When their protests were being ignored, the world was silent.
When their politicians were being expelled, the world was silent.
When their press was being crushed, the world was silent.
When their ladies were being raped, the world was silent.
When their loved ones were being abused, the world was silent.
When their leaders were being bought, the world was silent.
The world was willing speak only after matters reached the two extremes:
The world expressed their sorrow after their people were massacred in 1983.
The world expressed their anger after their youth spoke back with violence.
Of world, do you have eyes to see only the violence of their youth?
Don’t you have eyes to see the prejudice of their government?
Oh world, do you have ears to hear only the lie of their government?
Don't you have ears to hear the cry of the Tamil people?
Oh world, won’t you speak while the Sri Lankan Tamil people are still alive as a people group?
Do you have to wait for another massacre to break your silence?
Alex Thevaranjan
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