Listen to the stories told by the paramilitary “uncles” ranting in their hatred of the Tigers, and you would think they had shaped the entire early history of the armed struggle themselves.

There is something special about their stories.

The uncles are always the heroes; Velupillai Prabhakaran is always the villain.

The events in the story may change, but this arrangement must never change!

Amid their tales of greatness come these allegations:

That, following the split in the movement in 1980, Tigers leader Velupillai Prabhakaran joined TELO;

And that, after the Neervely cash robbery on March 25, 1981, he himself betrayed Kuttimani and Thangathurai.

Paramilitary uncles!

Here is a question for you, based on your own version of the story.

If Prabhakaran joined TELO in 1980 and betrayed Thangathurai and Kuttimani in 1981, why did Sri Sabaratnam, known as “Nettai Sri,” who became leader after Thangathurai, bring a Tigers leaflet from India explaining the reasons for the death sentence carried out on January 2, 1982, against Sundaram, also known as Sathasivam Sivashanmugamoorthy?

What relationship existed between them that he would bring a leaflet for the movement of the very man you say betrayed their leaders?

Do explain that part as well!

On one side, you call Prabhakaran a betrayer. On the other, there is the account of Sri Sabaratnam bringing a leaflet for his movement.

When telling your stories, shouldn’t you check whether they add up, uncles?