Lonely Pirabakaran?

(December, 02, London, Sri Lanka Guardian) The latest picture of Pirabakaran reflects the stress and unhealthy physical conditions in his appearance.
Gone are the days when smart looking Pirabakaran was affectionately called the ‘Thamby’ (younger brother). Compared to two years ago, his physical appearance has deteriorated and he has aged a lot. He shows signs of serious cholesterol problems. Some say he got diabetic and kidney conditions as well. A man of five foot two inches height is bloated disproportionately and his bulky fattened face makes to believe he is receiving hormonal medications i.e., steroids.

Black clot below his right eye could be scar of an injury from a physical brawl with someone within the past one year. Pirabakaran is prone to deaths. He has presided over thousands of deaths starting way back from 1975. His mind is conditioned to face many more thousands of deaths in the future. His audience with twenty one suicide cadres before they carried out the attack at the Anuradhapura Airforce base last month confirm his callous mindset to see the very same people seated with him die and their dead bodies being displayed in a rudimentary manner by the government forces.

Until 2005Pirabakaran’s Hero’s Day speech had been written by the LTTE’s theoretician Late Anton Balasingam. His 2006 speech was said to be prepared by Balakumar as Anton Balasingam remained indisposed at that time. Speculators say this year’s speech was prepared by the LTTE’s official poet Puythuvai Rathinathurai with the help of Thamilchelvan’s translator as Balakumar is currently kept under detention over some charges.

Anton Balasingam knew how to manipulate and write. He gave added weight to Pirabakaran’s speech by giving his own analysis subsequently which he was able to do until 2005.

Surrounded by handful of diehards from his Valvettithurai village, Pirabakaran is said to be seriously handicapped without Anton Balasingam. There are reliable stories that his relationship with Anton Balasingam dipped to the low before his death, though he honoured him with the title ‘Thesathin Kural’ (Voice of the nation) after his death. But for some reason he was voiceless about the ‘Voice of the Nation’ in his important Hero’s Day speech.

Progressively deteriorating situation could cause serious health harm to Pirabakaran. With pressures mounting from all directions, Pirabakaran must be by now feeling lonely and thinking about the difficult times ahead.