Anton Balasingham — The Voice of the Nation
This is the official archive of the works and interviews of Anton Balasingham. His works have been published by kind permission of his wife Dr Adele Balasingham, the sole heir and copyright holder of his works.
Who Was Anton Balasingham?
Anton Balasingham was the chief political strategist, chief negotiator and political adviser of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. Affectionately known among the Tamil people as "Bala Annai" (elder brother), he dedicated his entire life to the cause of Tamil liberation and the pursuit of a just and peaceful resolution to the Tamil national question.
He was a prolific writer, a powerful orator and a deeply principled thinker whose works spanned decades of political struggle. His speeches, interviews, booklets and books remain essential documents for understanding the Tamil struggle for self-determination.
His Words, His Vision
Balasingham's writings and speeches reveal a man driven not by hatred, but by an unwavering commitment to justice for his people. In his historic speech at the inaugural session of the peace talks in Thailand in September 2002, he expressed the core aspiration of the Tamil people in words that still resonate today:
"The deepest aspiration of our people is peace, a peace with justice and freedom; a permanent peace in which our people enjoy their right to self-determination and co-exist with others."
He consistently argued that the Tamil struggle was not one of aggression, but of defence against a state that had systematically oppressed and marginalised the Tamil people. In his booklet "A Struggle for Justice", he wrote that the document sought to clarify misconceptions surrounding the Tamil armed struggle, arguing that the Tamils reserved the right to armed defence against military repression and genocide.
Diplomat, Negotiator, Theoretician
Balasingham led the LTTE delegation in every major round of peace talks, from the Thimpu talks of 1985 through to the Geneva talks of 2006. He engaged with governments, international bodies and the media with remarkable clarity and intellectual force.
In interview after interview — from 1991 through to his final weeks in 2006 — he consistently called for a negotiated political solution, warning that military approaches would only deepen the conflict. He argued for federal models of governance, the protection of Tamil civilian rights, and the recognition of the Tamil homeland.
His published works on the website include speeches, interviews, booklets and books in both English and Tamil, covering topics such as the national question, self-determination, the peace process, and the history of the Tamil liberation movement. Among his key works are "The Birth of the Tiger Movement", "Our Theoretical Guide to the National Question", and "A Struggle for Justice".
His Final Words
In his last public statement, published on 22 November 2006 — just weeks before his passing — Balasingham spoke with characteristic humility and selflessness:
"It is an unfortunate personal tragedy. However, when compared to the vast ocean of the collective tragedy faced by my people, my illness is merely a pebble. I am deeply sad that I am crippled by this illness, unable to contribute anything substantial towards the alleviation of the immense suffering and oppression of my people."
These words capture the essence of the man — someone who, even in his final days, thought not of himself but of his people.
His Legacy
Anton Balasingham passed away on 14 December 2006. His works continue to inspire and guide the Tamil liberation movement and all those who believe in justice, self-determination and the rights of oppressed peoples.
His complete collection of speeches, interviews, articles, booklets and books is preserved and accessible at:
Published by kind permission of Dr Adele Balasingham, sole heir and copyright holder of his works.