Two Cups, Two Plates

Former LTTE members, now getting married in rehabilitation camp


Couples are seated at tables with Ministers, Generals and movie stars. They are hemmed in a solid square by soldiers, lackeys and cameramen. Family and friends watch the scrum from a distance, fifty feet away. These are token couples, swarmed by media, tokenizing the event and obstructing the view for everyone actually there. If you wander back, however, some couples are sitting almost entirely alone.

Tamil business people sponsored almost all of this event, from the gold thalis to the saris to the ritual gifts. They are there, taking things out of cardboard boxes and handing them out. Each couple gets two cups, two plates. Two pairs to eat and drink out of, to start a new life together. They’re simple metal dishes, wrapped in recycled paper. It’s the most beautiful part of the wedding.

53 former LTTE cadres were married in a mass ceremony attended by MP Namal Rajapaksa and Bollywood star Vivek Oberoi. The couples remain detained by the government in rehabilitation camps but will be given legal documentation and family-style housing. When asked whether they could raise families in this environment, the couple said “release is the best happiness you can give us.” (read more in The Sunday Leader)

View more photos on Flickr

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8 Comments »

2010-06-13 20:36:53

Hope they get released so they can go forth and have kids. Hopefully they will be happy once they have children. But since you are talking about cups, were they full?

 
say it ain't so
2010-06-13 21:24:43

53?

 
Dilan
2010-06-13 21:36:10

Myl Selvam? Where are you? Is this a massive conspiracy by GOSL to bring down glorious state of thamil eezham as well?

myil selvan
2010-06-14 11:22:49

Dear Dilan,
I didn’t know there was a glorious state of Thamil Eelam to bring down??? Where is it? Or should I say, was it?
It’s good to see former cadres marrying, but is it genuine? a genuine question from me?
How did they meet? Was it consensual? Or is this a grand show to show the farcical benevolence of GoSL?
GoSL has nothing to lose by having this grand ceremony. The jewelery was given by Tamil businesspeople what actually did the GoSL do, other than put on the show for the cameras???
Will GoSL release them with dignity?
Will GoSL give them a relatively acceptable and livable house and other necessities?
Just because you see the nice photo in the papers that doesn’t mean much, we need to know the rest of the iceberg

2010-06-14 12:15:27

Ha ha

(Comments wont nest below this level)
 
 
 
2010-06-14 07:40:06

it’s certainly cute but if i put on my Myl Selvam hat i would say that it reminds of me of mahouts driving pitiful elephants to have tea in a horrid show for the benefit of tittering douchebag visitors so wealthy that they could buy the new couple’s firstborn, just for the organs…

 
Poobaln
2010-06-14 20:06:50

Well done GoSL. Lets keep painting theses feel-good pictures to the world ;)

 
Giri IS da 1
2010-06-15 08:42:02

What a load of crap – besides I thought all the “Tigers” were dead? What now you want to breed them? What to fight the Karuna group when he finally shows his colours?

Hmmm … these guys know they are less vulnerable if they get married (so that your soldiers can stop raping them) and if they tow the line.

That doesn ‘t mean they think Namoo Namoo Namal is a cool dude. And they do still want Eelam because it’s their right and it will be the right of their children.

 
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