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==Controversy==
==Controversy==
Recently a Tamil writer, writing under the pen name Nadchathran Chevinthian(A.K.A Arun Ambalavanar),raised doubts about the authenticity of the memoir.<ref name=AA>Arun Ambalavanar, The Farce of a Fake Tigress in, [http://www.srilankaguardian.org/2011/08/farce-of-fake-tigress.html''Sri Lanka Guardian''], [http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2011/08/21/book-review-20/ The Sunday Leader Book Review], August 2011</ref>
Recently a Tamil writer, writing under the pen name Nadchathran Chevinthian(A.K.A Arun Ambalavanar),raised doubts about the authenticity of the memoir.<ref name=AA>Arun Ambalavanar, The Farce of a Fake Tigress in, [http://www.srilankaguardian.org/2011/08/farce-of-fake-tigress.html''Sri Lanka Guardian''], [http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2011/08/21/book-review-20/ The Sunday Leader Book Review], August 2011</ref> Then another Sri lankan born Australian academic.<ref name=GV>Michael Roberts, [http://groundviews.org/2011/08/31/forbidden-fruits-niromi-de-soyzas-tamil-tigress-noumi-kouri-and-helen-demidenko/ ''Forbidden Fruits: Niromi de Soyza’s “Tamil Tigress”, Noumi Kouri and Helen Demidenko?''], 31 Aug 2011</ref><ref name=MR>Michael Roberts, [http://thuppahi.wordpress.com/2011/08/21/another-demidenko-niromi-de-soyza-as-a-tiger-fighter/ ''Another Demidenko? Niromi de Soyza as a Tiger Fighter''], 21 Aug 2011</ref> further questioned the appropriateness of classifying Tamil Tigress as [[Autobiography]]

The book's classification as [[Memoir]] is challenged on ethnographic grounds<ref name=AA /><ref name=GV /> as well as on the grounds of a foundational error.<ref name=GV /> The foundational error consists of the author's apparent ignorance, persisting to date,<ref name=blurb>Title at Allen and Unwin, [http://www.allenandunwin.com/default.aspx?page=94&book=9781742375182]</ref><ref name=MT>Margaret Throsby,[http://www.abc.net.au/classic/throsby/2011_07.htm ''With Niromi de Soyza''],Thursday 21 July2011</ref>of the identity of her adversaries in Combat during the fighting tenure(late 1987 to 1988) attributed to herself in '''''Tamil Tigress'''''. From late July 1987 to early 1990, the signing of the [[Indo-Sri Lanka Accord]] and the consequent arrival of the [[IPKF]] ensured the withdrawal of the Sri Lankan troops from the Battlefield.

Under the terms of the agreement,<ref name=iclq>[http://journals.cambridge.org/abstract_S0020589300047734 M. L. Marasinghe (1988). Ethnic Politics and Constitutional Reform: The Indo-Sri Lankan Accord. International and Comparative Law Quarterly, 37, pp 551-587 doi:10.1093/iclqaj/37.3.551]</ref><ref name=atimes>[http://www.atimes.com/ind-pak/DD13Df02.html Sri Lanka: The Untold Story Chapter 35: Accord turns to discord]</ref>[[Colombo]] agreed to a devolution of power to the provinces, the Sri Lankan troops were to be withdrawn to their barracks in the north and the Tamil rebels were to surrender their arms.<ref name= TamilNation>[http://www.tamilnation.org/intframe/india/88saty.htm New Delhi & the Tamil Struggle. The Indo Sri Lanka Agreement. Satyendra N. Tamil Nation]</ref><ref name=TN>Text of the Peace accord.[http://www.tamilnation.org/conflictresolution/tamileelam/87peaceaccord.htm#a1 Tamil Nation]</ref>

When the [[LTTE]] was at war with the [[IPKF]] from early October, 1987 to end of 1989, not one of the three arms of the Sri Lankan forces participated in joint action with the IPKF or had any integrated command structure.<ref name=RG>[http://www.worldcat.org/title/indian-intervention-in-sri-lanka-the-role-of-indias-intelligence-agencies/oclc/29429424&referer=brief_results Indian intervention in Sri Lanka: The role of India's intelligence agencies. Gunaratna Rohan, 1993]</ref>That the Sri Lankan forces stayed clear of direct combat with the [[LTTE]] during this period, apart from the limited operations undertaken at sea by the Sri Lankan Navy, <ref name=RG />is a basic fact, that would have been known to contemporary Tiger fighters of all ranks.

In contrast the blurb<ref name=blurb /> of '''''Tamil Tigress''''' announces,
''“Two days before Christmas in 1987, at the age of 17, Niromi de Soyza found herself in an ambush as part of a small platoon of militant Tamil Tigers fighting government forces in the bloody civil war that was to engulf Sri Lanka for decades…”''

In her [[Margaret Throsby]] Interview(between 18.45 and 19.02)<ref name=MT /> Niromi says;
''“…when I joined, the Indian forces had arrived and the tigers had chosen to fight the Indian forces as well as the Sri Lankan forces”''

In the same interview(between 35.56 and 36.23),<ref name=MT /> she responds to a question regarding a film, which claims to be a documentary covering the atrocities committed by the Sri Lankan Government Forces during the final stages of the Elam War ;

''“Were you able to watch the four corners documentary? “''

''“I watched it. I forced myself to watch it… It distressed the whole time….I couldn’t sleep that night… but at the same time it wasn’t new. This was something that I knew had happened. I mean I had witnessed much of it and I knew when… the Tamil tigers were caught by the soldiers those things would happen …they would be shot in the head, raped, tortured all of those things. It was nothing new.”''

There is thus an attempted projection of Sri Lankan Forces into her fighting experiences, from which they should in reality have been absent. A possible motive for creating this imagined context is given by by Niromi in her Throsby interview(between 35.21 and 35.54);<ref name=MT />

''“…in 2009 when the war …had ended in Sri Lanka and Tamil refugees were still arriving in Australian Shores by the boat and there was a complete misunderstanding , everyone labeling them as economic refugees because, the war had ended. But I knew different… So I thought somebody has to say something… At that time… the UN panel report wasn’t there…, the four corners documentary hadn’t been shown so I thought I needed to put this story out …despite the fact I didn’t want to...I’d felt there was a need….”''


The book's classification as [[Memoir]] is challenged on ethnographic grounds.<ref name=AA />


The true identity of Niromi de Soyza is not available anywhere in the public domain to date.
The true identity of Niromi de Soyza is not available anywhere in the public domain to date.
Line 38: Line 59:
== External links ==
== External links ==
* [http://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/sunshine-coast/niromi-de-soyza-shares-her-time-as-a-tamil-tigress-ahead-of-the-reality-writes-festival/story-fn8zc5yo-1226098376570/ 'Niromi de Soyza shares her time as a Tamil Tigress ahead of the Reality Writes festival' , ''Courier Mail'', 21 July 2011]
* [http://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/sunshine-coast/niromi-de-soyza-shares-her-time-as-a-tamil-tigress-ahead-of-the-reality-writes-festival/story-fn8zc5yo-1226098376570/ 'Niromi de Soyza shares her time as a Tamil Tigress ahead of the Reality Writes festival' , ''Courier Mail'', 21 July 2011]

* [http://www.abc.net.au/classic/throsby/2011_07.htm Author's interview with Margaret Throsby],Thursday 21 July 2011
* [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/srilanka/5283438/Life-as-a-female-Tamil-Tiger-guerilla-relived-by-one-of-first-female-soldiers.html/ ‘Life as a female Tamil Tiger guerilla relived by one of first female soldiers’ ''The Telegraph'' 27 July 2011]
* [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/srilanka/5283438/Life-as-a-female-Tamil-Tiger-guerilla-relived-by-one-of-first-female-soldiers.html/ ‘Life as a female Tamil Tiger guerilla relived by one of first female soldiers’ ''The Telegraph'' 27 July 2011]
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Revision as of 01:19, 11 September 2011

Tamil Tigress
Author"Niromi de Soyza"
CountryAustralia
LanguageEnglish
PublisherAllen & Unwin
Publication date
July 2011
Pages320
ISBN9781742375182

''Tamil Tigress'' is a memoir written by "Niromi de Soyza" (possibly a nom de plume), who claims to be a former child soldier of the Sri Lankan guerrilla army Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and one of its first female fighters.[1] This is the first narration of a Sri Lankan female guerrilla soldier to be published as a memoir in English. The book contains shocking revelations about the brutalities that surrounded the civil war in Sri Lanka, including the brutal practices of the LTTE.

The book was first published by Allen & Unwin in May 2011.

Controversy

Recently a Tamil writer, writing under the pen name Nadchathran Chevinthian(A.K.A Arun Ambalavanar),raised doubts about the authenticity of the memoir.[2] Then another Sri lankan born Australian academic.[3][4] further questioned the appropriateness of classifying Tamil Tigress as Autobiography

The book's classification as Memoir is challenged on ethnographic grounds[2][3] as well as on the grounds of a foundational error.[3] The foundational error consists of the author's apparent ignorance, persisting to date,[5][6]of the identity of her adversaries in Combat during the fighting tenure(late 1987 to 1988) attributed to herself in Tamil Tigress. From late July 1987 to early 1990, the signing of the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord and the consequent arrival of the IPKF ensured the withdrawal of the Sri Lankan troops from the Battlefield.

Under the terms of the agreement,[7][8]Colombo agreed to a devolution of power to the provinces, the Sri Lankan troops were to be withdrawn to their barracks in the north and the Tamil rebels were to surrender their arms.[9][10]

When the LTTE was at war with the IPKF from early October, 1987 to end of 1989, not one of the three arms of the Sri Lankan forces participated in joint action with the IPKF or had any integrated command structure.[11]That the Sri Lankan forces stayed clear of direct combat with the LTTE during this period, apart from the limited operations undertaken at sea by the Sri Lankan Navy, [11]is a basic fact, that would have been known to contemporary Tiger fighters of all ranks.

In contrast the blurb[5] of Tamil Tigress announces, “Two days before Christmas in 1987, at the age of 17, Niromi de Soyza found herself in an ambush as part of a small platoon of militant Tamil Tigers fighting government forces in the bloody civil war that was to engulf Sri Lanka for decades…”

In her Margaret Throsby Interview(between 18.45 and 19.02)[6] Niromi says; “…when I joined, the Indian forces had arrived and the tigers had chosen to fight the Indian forces as well as the Sri Lankan forces”

In the same interview(between 35.56 and 36.23),[6] she responds to a question regarding a film, which claims to be a documentary covering the atrocities committed by the Sri Lankan Government Forces during the final stages of the Elam War ;

“Were you able to watch the four corners documentary? “

“I watched it. I forced myself to watch it… It distressed the whole time….I couldn’t sleep that night… but at the same time it wasn’t new. This was something that I knew had happened. I mean I had witnessed much of it and I knew when… the Tamil tigers were caught by the soldiers those things would happen …they would be shot in the head, raped, tortured all of those things. It was nothing new.”

There is thus an attempted projection of Sri Lankan Forces into her fighting experiences, from which they should in reality have been absent. A possible motive for creating this imagined context is given by by Niromi in her Throsby interview(between 35.21 and 35.54);[6]

“…in 2009 when the war …had ended in Sri Lanka and Tamil refugees were still arriving in Australian Shores by the boat and there was a complete misunderstanding , everyone labeling them as economic refugees because, the war had ended. But I knew different… So I thought somebody has to say something… At that time… the UN panel report wasn’t there…, the four corners documentary hadn’t been shown so I thought I needed to put this story out …despite the fact I didn’t want to...I’d felt there was a need….”


The true identity of Niromi de Soyza is not available anywhere in the public domain to date.


References

  1. ^ Warne-Smith, Drew (May 23, 2009). "Cause remains for Tamil Tiger in our midst". The Australian. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  2. ^ a b Arun Ambalavanar, The Farce of a Fake Tigress in, Sri Lanka Guardian, The Sunday Leader Book Review, August 2011
  3. ^ a b c Michael Roberts, Forbidden Fruits: Niromi de Soyza’s “Tamil Tigress”, Noumi Kouri and Helen Demidenko?, 31 Aug 2011
  4. ^ Michael Roberts, Another Demidenko? Niromi de Soyza as a Tiger Fighter, 21 Aug 2011
  5. ^ a b Title at Allen and Unwin, [1]
  6. ^ a b c d Margaret Throsby,With Niromi de Soyza,Thursday 21 July2011
  7. ^ M. L. Marasinghe (1988). Ethnic Politics and Constitutional Reform: The Indo-Sri Lankan Accord. International and Comparative Law Quarterly, 37, pp 551-587 doi:10.1093/iclqaj/37.3.551
  8. ^ Sri Lanka: The Untold Story Chapter 35: Accord turns to discord
  9. ^ New Delhi & the Tamil Struggle. The Indo Sri Lanka Agreement. Satyendra N. Tamil Nation
  10. ^ Text of the Peace accord.Tamil Nation
  11. ^ a b Indian intervention in Sri Lanka: The role of India's intelligence agencies. Gunaratna Rohan, 1993

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tamil_Tigress&oldid=449650368"