SAARC and the Tamil National Question
by P Shantikumar
Sri Lanka is obviously drifting towards a two state solution. The easiest way to tell that is by looking at the manner in which successive governments had unleashed brutal military terror against hapless Tamil civilians to what is essentially a political problem. If war is said to be the extension of politics then it follows, at least in the Sri Lankan context, eventual solution is inevitable secession. To try and impose any other solution would only result in continuation of the war – which means a very resourceful island continuing to burn itself – because of the Sinhala Political Establishment’s ineptitude and selfishness. Only the Sinhalese can settle this conflict amicably. The Tamils do not posses the political clout to do so – especially when the Tamil community itself is deliberately divided by the Sinhalese by the use of Tamil political mercenaries and military- adjuncts. Tamils can only rebel against State terrorism, oppression and persecution unleashed against them. The Sinhalese are the ones who should demilitarise occupied Tamil homeland, decolonise land grabbed by stealth from the Tamils only to be colonised with criminals, ex-convicts, rapists and murderers. Now they are even represented in Parliament – talk about no taxation without representation!
Although, Tamils do not have the political clout to settle this conflict on their own, they can offer a unilateral ceasefire as a gesture of goodwill to welcome our neighbours to Sri Lanka; wish them a very happy stay; and a very successful summit too. Tamils hope that their neighbouring nations would at some point in the not too distant future prevail upon the Sinhala government of Sri Lanka to put an end to what had come to be commonly known as an unending war. It was wise of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE) to declare a unilateral ceasefire and extend a warm welcome to the leaders of the SAARC nations to Sri Lanka.
[Sri Lankan motorists drive under a billboard depicting eight heads of South Asian nations in Colombo-pic: via Yahoo! News-Ishara S. Kodikara]
Historically, Tamils and Sinhalese have made the island their home for millennia. To quarrel about who occupied the land first and to whom does the island belong is a ridiculous argument to pursue. Both communities have to endeavour to live as harmoniously as possible with other communities, such as the Muslims. Broadly, what probably had caused the present conflict could have been the fact that the colonial yoke was lifted suddenly when the island was not adequately prepared to govern itself. There are many who believe that had Sri Lanka emulated Mahatma Gandhi’s civil disobedience campaign against the British colonialists, Sri Lanka too would have forged a common identity, which would have led to a more equitable society, devoid of such brutal civil wars. Singapore may still have been clamouring, as it did once upon a time, despite its advances in politics and economics, to emulate Sri Lanka, had Sri Lanka got its post-independence politics right. But, as it happened, Sri Lankan politics declined inexorably, not to put too fine a point on it. Alas, the fact that the British colonialists united Sri Lanka for administrative convenience did not help! One hundred and fifty years after such an unwise unification, it had set off a brutal civil war as a direct consequence, in a bid to separate to be the component entities they always were.
The British colonialists left the Tamils heavily dependent on the Sinhalese in political and economic terms. What did Sinhala Political Establishment do since independence? They even robbed the Tamils politically and economically of what little they had acquired through pure hard work and ingenuity, Tamils have lived under State terrorism, oppression, and persecution for the first thirty five years and since 1983 a civil war between Tamils and Sinhalese broke out, following worst ever race riot in which thousands of Tamils were murdered, their properties looted and destroyed. Even before 1983 there have been race riots which murdered, plundered and raped Tamil women. Racial tension had always existed and it still does exist.
It is twenty-five years since the July 83 pogrom claimed the lives of thousands of ordinary Tamil men, women and children. The sad thing about that pogrom was that it was violence unleashed by Sinhala mobs instigated by Sinhala politicians that claimed the lives of thousands of Tamils. There is the claim that the Tamils live peacefully with the Sinhalese in the south. But, the fact remains the Tamils are made economically dependent on the south. And, they live in constant fear in the south. These facts are not openly acknowledged by the Sinhala Political Establishment. There is discrimination against Tamils at all levels in society.
A recent survey commissioned by Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) shows how the gullible Sinhala public are being easily swayed by anti-Tamil propaganda. The two communities are as far apart as they were twenty-five years ago. What this really shows is the need for political education; instead what public are exposed to is constant propaganda barrage of war rhetoric, which causes the Sinhala public’s attitude to harden towards Tamils – clearly highlighting the fact that successive governments have been misleading the Sinhala public with anti-Tamil rhetoric. Nevertheless, a word of appreciation is in order to those who abhor racism, and those who have risked their lives to save the Tamils from the mobs, during anti-Tamil riots.
Whichever way one looks at it, Tamils and Sinhalese have come to a point to part company, in the interest of both communities as well as others in the island. Neighbouring SAARC nations should recognise these facts and help bring about a permanent solution based on two states in the island. It is also important to remember that the little island of Sri Lanka does have a long history of civilisation and culture, as such Sri Lankan are very much naturally resourceful people. It would be a great pity to let their resourcefulness to continue burn for over quarter of a century, without an end in sight.
6 Comments
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Generally the writer has stated the plight of the Tamils after the independence of Sri Lanka. The problem was that the Sri Lankans in general failed to realize the value of independence as they have never fought a bloody battle like the USA or India. Had they fought the battle like the USA or India today’s position would have been different. Mention should be made that because of the liberal attitude of the Labour Government under Lord Atlee Sri Lanka was able to obtain its independence.
Further Since India got its independence the British felt that it was meaningless to rule a small island from a distance of 6,000 miles and gave independence. So virtually Sri Lanka obtained its independence without any effort but the Sinhalese leaders were cunning in colonizing the Tamil areas such as Kantalai-Minneriya from the Trincomalee District. The Tamil leaders at that time were also to be blamed for it.
However, in spite of the racial riots Tamils missed a number of opportunities when Dr.N.M.Perera fought for parity status. Thereafter racial riots broke, but again the Tamils missed two golden opportunities namely when the Indo-Sri Lanka Peace Accord (signaling a stepping stone for power-sharing with the merger of North East Province) was signed. The LTTE foiled both these attempts by waging a meaningless war on the IPKF.
Thereafter the Draft constitution was placed by Dr.G.L.Peiris in consultation with the late Dr.Neelan Thiruchelvam on the Canadian model. But Dr.Neelan Thiruchelvam who was very popular among the Sinhalese, Tamils and the Muslims was assassinated by a stupid LTTE suicide bomber. Can the LTTE or its sympathizers explain why he was assassinated. They only know how to remain silent. Here the writer was correct in mentioning that the present Tamil politicians do not possess the political clout. The LTTE lacked far-sighted thinking. My view is that though we were at the receiving end due to a mob of unruly elements of the majority race, majority of the Sinhalese were against and not condoning these criminal acts. It is up to the leaders of all political parties, intellectuals and the professionals to get together and grasp this opportunity and sustain and develop this current brotherhood feeling for generations to come. So the LTTE and the extremists of both sides must be made to realise, understand and accept the value and reality of living together as human beings without any discriminations whatsoever pertaining to one’s religion, language, colour and any other man-made divisions.
It is true that the Sinhalese have colonized with notorious criminals and even represented in Parliament. But what about Tamils now. A section of them also talk non-sense and have engaged in various nefarious activities (one such instance was the hunting for Prof.R.Hoole’s head whose VC post was certain at that time. Today are there any Tamil or Sinhalese politicians who can command the confidence, respect and trust of the entire Sri Lanka people. Further parliament is used as a theatre to stage their drama by irresponsible politicians with half baked education. People failed to elect learned people who can display decisive roles for the betterment of the country. If they are elected they are assassinated. This is the curse of the country.
When educated people are elected somehow or other people will be educated on the merits of federalism. It is true that some educated politicians raised a false cry that federalism leads to separation which would not last forever. What the people of Sri Lanka is going through is a transitional period - may be a dark period - something similar to the one during the Stuart period in England. This could have been avoided if the LTTE could have co-operated with India when the Indian diplomat G.Parthasarathy took utmost pains to solve this ethnic problem. When the ethnic problem was on the verge of being solved by a mere stroke of the pen, the LTTE frustrated it by way of waging war on the IPKF for which the former President R.Premadasa assisted it.
The offer a unilateral ceasefire as a gesture of goodwill to welcome our neighbours to Sri Lanka is a timely action by the LTTE. Gesture of goodwill should come from the bottom of the heart and not when they are weakened. This is to bargain for time in order to regroup themselves. Similarly the Government also does that. Can any one believe the LTTE offering a gesture of goodwill when it has sent its assassins to India to assassinate Indian prominent figures. At present, since the cruel tentacles of LTTE terrorism grasp not only in Sri Lanka but also in foreign countries giving a bad image of the Tamils - should be clipped out. Surely SAARC countries would have known what is going on in Sri Lanka
- A.Rajasingam
Federalidea has little to do with the natural evolution of political phenomena. They can only provide space for healthy plural discourse and I am one of the thousands who are grateful for this. The recklessness of the Sinhala Only Act and the Language of the Courts Acts in the early 60s; the calculated and inhuman ejection of Tamils who had lived for generations in the Gal Oya/Inginiyagala area in 1956; the murder, killing, arson and thievery
of the thugs on innocent Tamil civilians encouraged by elements in the State in 1958 and the State moving thousands of Tamils by ship, rail and road to "Tamil areas" in the North East" The hammering of Tamils in 1977 all over the country both by UNP and SLFP thugs and the destruction of their homes and livelihood; and the JRJ-Premadasa approved Cyril Mathew's FINAL SOLUTION of July 1983 were all meant to sharpen the "you" and "we" syndrome - now at this zenith. The world recognises LTTE and other militants were born as a result.
The Bandaranaike's, JRJ's, Premadasas, Ranil W's and Rajapakes have all individually and collectively made their own immense contribution to the inevitable bifurcation of this once united and lovely land. It was amusing to read Sirisena Cooray (Maru Sira) - Premadasa's trusted lieutenant - the other day. Cooray, as everyone knows, ushered in the culture of criminalisation of politics by introducing the underworld - that has now reached adulthood with men like Dr Mervyn very much in the President's fold. Cooray now dispenses wisdom and claims the 3D's (Devolution, Development and Democracy) can bring unity to the fractured land. What in earth was this guy doing when he had all the political power to accomplish this? Do you remember CBK's hounds in the run-up to the 1993/94 general elections singing "Ko sira, sira"? referring to the violence he unleashed on the opposition with thugs like Sothi Upali, Gonawila Sunil and Co.
Academics like Dr Sumanasiri Liyanage of the Dept of Political Sciences/Cbo U and several other Sinhala intellectuals wrote at length on a post-Eelam Sri Lanka years ago. This is almost there - thanks to Sinhala obstinacy. Of course, those leaders who bled the country to death will live on their loot now
invested in Real Estate in Australia, USA, England,
Singapore Banks and elsewhere. It is the ordinary Sinhalese - our brothers and sisters - who will face immense suffering in the next few decades. Take my word, the Sinhala diaspora also will have a numerial presence in India as well.
Pity that contested history of Mahanama Thero whom the JHU/PNM make pious Buddhists in the country believe and want "to keep the holy land cleanesed of all defilement (that is of Tamils) for the bodhisatva's next arrival (No...???) should seek refuge in "enemy" land. Somawansa Amerasinghe - that uncharismatic, bogus-marxist and confused man - brings further trouble to us by crazily naming India "Sri Lanka's enemy No.1" while the Indian PM and his delegation are in our soil. 20 million Lankans will have to sing that old refrain "with friends like this who needs enemies?" - ilaya seran senguttuvan
It was drifting towards a two states in the 50s and it reached its peak in the 70s. Unfortunately a person called Pirapakarn joined one of the movement and turned everything and everybody against the Tamils and made everything a dream. The most possible chance we had was the present of Indian army. There is no more chance in the horizon. When the writer writes about two state he has forgotten the Muslims who too want a separate province.
By-Selva
yeah, right, "obviously drifting to a two state solution" indeed, with one "state", minus jaffna, the east and now mannar, limited to two disticts and shrinking!
Dayan Jayatilleka
Shock, horror! Aren't the Tamils going to get he Jaffna the esat and mannar?
Hopefully, things will change for the better for Tamils, Dayan. Let's hope so eh, what are friends for?