Approaching Ethnic Problem as Terrorist is like Catching Cobra by its tail
by Savimon Urugodawatte
Some of our political leaders are, as it is said, trying to catch the cobra by the tail, based on the presumption that there is no ethnic problem but only a terrorist problem. What they do not realise is that it is suicidal to catch the cobra that way.
Reminiscing of the pre-Independence days, there seems to have been no ethnic issue but only a host of national issues, such as winning full Independence, language problem where the mother tongue is neglected, problem of shedding colonial and imperial vestiges and issues related to development of the motherland. All ethnic entities were represented in the Ceylon National Congress and it was good leadership that was aimed at and not parochial or communal leadership. We all know that all communities – Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims and Burghers – and all religious groups – Buddhists, Hindus, Islamists Christians and others – fought for Independence under one umbrella , i. e.., Ceylon National Congress, although there were few other independent political groups like the L S S P and Labour Party, campaigning for full Independence.
When the 1947 election was fought, all citizens born in this country, irrespective of their origin, were called “British Subjects.” However, due to power politics coming into play the D S Senanayake Government disenfranchised all Indian Tamils who were enjoying their birth right of adult suffrage, by one stroke of the pen, without instituting any just and reasonable alternative system, merely because, they did not exercise their voting rights in favour of the then hurriedly formed U N P.
Then came the Sinhala Only Act in 1956, without the Reasonable Use of Tamil clause, which was annulled by S W R D, bowing down to the pressure of the extremist groups led by F R Jayasuriya and K M P Rajaratne, who commenced a fast unto death at the Parliamentary premises.
Next phase was the annulment of the B – C Pact, agreed to by and between the leaders of the 2 main communities, also due to political gimmicks carried out by J R Jayewardene (infamous Pada Yathra to Kandy) and the extremist elements of the Buddhist clergy. Likewise, Dudley – Chelvanayakam Pact was also abrogated due to vehement opposition of the then opposition, S L F P.
Coming to the period under the Premiership of Madam Sirimavo Bandaranaike, who was one of the far – thinking leaders that we had in our recent history, the problem of Indian Tamils who were brought here by the Colonial Government to work in their plantations, was settled once and for all through the Sirima – Shastri Agreement, of course with the tacit concurrence of the then Leader of the Opposition, Dudley Senanayke. Under this Agreement, India undertook to accept 2/3 of the Indian Tamil population and made arrangements to settle them in South India, from where they originally came. Sri Lanka agreed to absorb the balance 1/3 . If this Agreement was fully implemented, our centuries – old problem would have been settled, leading to the economic development of the country.
Then comes the 1977 era under J R Jayewardene, who came to power, having promised the Tamil Community to solve all their problems through a Round Table Conference. However, when he received a 5/6 majority, he just pooh poohed the tacit undertaking he had given the leaders of the Tamil Community, who ultimately lost their confidence in the majority community and began to launch their real struggle, aiming not at not equal opportunities but a separate administrative unit of their own (Ealam). This was aggravated by the passing of the 6th Amendment to the Constitution, which threw out the few Tamil Representatives from Parliament, thereby leading the way to a liberation struggle. Mushroom revolutionary groups who disregarded their traditional leaders, began to organise themselves, and it came to a zenith in 1983 with the blowing up of a military camp in jaffna, killing 13 soldiers. What happened thereafter is recent history, well known to all. The way the anti – Tamil uprising was handled by the J R Government made matters worse, leading to a blood bath affecting innocent Tamils, resulting in the dispatch of ships by India to take the Tamil refugees to India for safety. Terrorism was actually born and bred in the Refugee camps aided by and abetted by India, mainly because the J R Government turned our Non – aligned Foreign Policy upside down and launched a pro – U S and anti – India Foreign Policy.
Ultimately, the all powerful J R Government had to eat humble pie, especially after India dropped dhal parcels into Jaffna to beat J R’s food embargo on Jaffna. Its logical outcome was the pressure brought by India due to which the Government had to agree to Timpu talks and J R – Rajiv Agreement to get the Indian army to crush the rebels. The culmination of this process was the passing of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution devolving power to Provinces. However, this devolution of power was not to be. The Central Government under J R and R P and also under C B K never moved an inch from their stand to devolve power to the peripheral units as envisaged by the 13th Amendment
However, when J R J went for a Presidential Election in October, 1982, Hector Kobbekaduwa who was the respected leader of the S L F P came forward to oppose J R J since Sirimavo’s civic rights had earlier been withdrawn, in preparation to launch a one horse race. This was the only rare occasion when all anti – U N P forces could have allied in full force to defeat a despotic leader. But that was not to be! Although in a country like China, even Mao Zedong came to terms with the arch enemy Chiang Kai-shek to defeat Japanese invaders, here in our country, leftist leaders, Rohana Wijeweera, Colvin R. de Silva and Vasudeva Nanayakkara and Tamil leader, Kumar Ponnamabalam, came forward to contest the Presidency, knowing very well that there was no chance whatsoever. However, the people of Jaffna voted to give 2nd place to Kobbekaduwa while giving first place to their candidate, Kumar Ponnambalam as shown by the results of this election in the Jaffna District ,
Next episode of our blunders makes its appearance in December, 1982, when the term Parliament was extended for a further period of 6 years by a manipulated Referendum, if not for which the electors of the country would have elected a different Government or the same Government with a lesser majority. This was done by J R J on his misconceived perception that the so – called Naxalites are trying to take over the Government through a blood bath. He got all those who opposed the Referendum, led by the Pevidi Handa Sanvidhanaya, consisting of religious leaders belonging to all faiths, arrested and crushed the movement. He used Police lackeys like Premadasa Udugampola to ruthlessly crush these movements and rewarded them with promotions !
Even the Police officer who mercilessly manhandled Vivien Gunawwardene was also promoted. By the way it was Premadasa Udugampola’s brother Kulasiri Udugampola, who was used by Ranil Wickremasinghe to raid the Millenium City and expose the army intelligence contingent and exterminated all of them by exposing them to Prabhakaran. ( We are yet unaware of the findings of the Commission that was appointed by President Mahinda Rajapakse to probe the Millenium City debacle !). However, it should be noted in this instance that although J R J probed the so-called Naxalite movement, he was not able to prove anything or prosecute anyone. It became a hoax initiated by him to achieve his goal. In this so-called Referendum too, Jaffna voters came out in full force to defeat the Referendum by casting 265,534 votes against, ( for Pot ) with only 25,315 for the Lamp. Wanni and Batticaloa also gave their overwhelming support for the Pot.
Now we come to the 1994 era when C B K contested the Presidential Election. With an amenable background of history of trying to settle the Ethnic problem by meeting the Rebel leaders, both in Jaffna and India, together with her Charismatic husband Vijaya Kumaratunga, the Rebel leader and his group had placed a certain amount of confidence in her leadership as seen from the support she received from the Tamil voters as seen from the following figures indicating the pattern of voting in the Jaffna, Wanni, Trincomalee and Batticaloa Districts for the 2 main candidates, namely, Chandrika Kumaratunga and Srima Dissanayake :
At this Election, C B K received a 62.5 % majority, quite a good mandate for her to solve the main national problem, if she actually had the correct vision and good and wise counsel.
But what happened ? As usual, she was bereft of good counsel, even ignoring her own mother who had steered the country during difficult times, showing her acumen and statesmanship. This fact is well illustrated when you look at the team she had selected to negotiate PEACE with the leaders of the LTTE. The mediators who were sent had no knowledge or experience for such an important undertaking, except perhaps for the former Civil Servant, Lionel Fernando, who was a well respected and accepted administrator in Jaffna and who had commandeered the respect and confidence of the Tamil community, while he was G A, Jaffna. S L F P leaders like Maithripala Senanayke and K. B. Ratnayake who knew their language and felt the pulse of the people and even a person like Lakshman Jayakody who had a balanced mind in dealing with such problems were ignored. Subsequently, even Lionel Fernando withdrew from the Team since he felt that nothing tangible will come out of the talks.
This was the last chance we missed in settling the ethnic problem, which has now spread its tentacles not only all over our country but through the world. Power struggle, politics and poor statesmanship have contributed to the sad state we are compelled to put up with today.
We earnestly hope that at least President Mahinda Rajapakse, who is well aware of the ups and downs we underwent and the political intrigues staged by our past leaders to please the voters, would consider our past failures and learn lessons therefrom and steer this country out of the present mess, taking an apolitical stand on this main national issue.
Nandasena said,
August 1, 2007 @ 12:21 am
At last there is a balanced, honest article by a person from the majority community!!
Dominic said,
August 1, 2007 @ 3:01 am
REALITY REMAINS , THE TERRORIST PROBLEM IS THE CAUSE OF NOT SOLVING THE ETHNIC ISSUE BY REASONING OUT THE NEEDS AND ACCEPTING THE MINORITY ASPIRATIONS WITHOUT LOSING THE MAJORIIES PRIVILLEDGES . NOT DONE SO SRI LANKA FACES THE REPERCATIONS OF IT FOR THE PAST 3 DECADES.
wassa said,
August 1, 2007 @ 4:00 am
This is one of the best articles so far I have read on ethnic war written by a person who has a very good knowledge of the past.J R Jayawardena was the one who let the birth of LTTE by ignoring India and also by not handling 1983 incidents.One of the most barbaric things in Sri Lankan history happend under(UNP) their rule.The burning down of Jaffna library which can be compared to the invasion of Khalinga Magha of Anuradhapura followed by many invasions form South Indians and also by Portughese and Dutch followed by English.All these nations killed monks,looted temples and burned down historical places in Sri Lanka to destroy Singahalese culture and Buddhism.
Thanks for the article.
Ranjan said,
August 1, 2007 @ 5:11 am
It is an stupid argument to say that there is an Ethnic problem in Sri Lanka where all ethnic groups are living side by side as brothers and sisters very peacefully. Except in North and East where Terrorism is ruling people, entire Sri Lankan people have shown they can live peacefully in any part of the country for the past three decade despite numerous terrorist provocations. Some who have vested interest are trying to make unfortunate 1983 riot as an Ethnic problem. The 1983 riot which was politically motivated by then UNP government where present opposition leader Mr. Ranil Wickramasinghe was a powerful minister is no way connected to the Ethnic or any other community conflict. It was in fact Sinhalese who protected Fellow Tamils by hiding them in days inside their houses even by risking their own lives from UNP political thugs.
Problem in Sri Lanka is not ethnic. The entire problem can be divided in to two. Main one is the Power hungry politicians who never wanted to solve problems of the people who elected them. They only tried to empower themselves and all promises made before coming in to power are forgotten once get elected. That is the only reason why even Sinhalese just like Tamils had to take arms against the governments in 1971 and 1988.
However Sinhalese uprising in the south was stopped by bloody crackdown by the government with all blessings of the International Community. But Tamil uprising was in fact sponsored and labeled as an Ethnic problem. It should be noted that Tamil uprising has now matured into an Terrorist problem as they has no clear demand of empowering people. Instead now every demand they made are clearly intend to make a separate state while suppressing all norms of Democracy, Justice and Pluralism.
If Sri Lanka has to progress as a country it has no option but to first destroy terrorism and restore democracy in entire country then provide a viable solution acceptable to all ethnic groups based on Equality. In other wards, Sri Lankan should be made a country that treats every one as equal irrespective of Social, Economic, Political or Religious status.
R. Wickramasinghe said,
August 1, 2007 @ 7:34 am
Savimon Urugodawtta does not know how much the poor tamils in North and East suffer.
R.G said,
August 1, 2007 @ 7:44 am
The article is perfect in describing the ethnic conflict and failures of Southern Leaders in addressing it.
The Tamils would feel CBK is the worst one of them as Pirapaharan must have placed a lot of confidence in her as Vijaya and CBK personally met him and understood the Tamil greivances.
As for M.R, the all too visible 700 Million Ruppee Deal to LTTE and the U-Turn he made to evict LTTE from East is moreof a De-JaVu post 1994 Presidential Elections.
LTTE is called upon to do the repeat of Eviction from Jaffna all over again. I am sure LTTE will respond in kind to M.R sooner or later.
Things are a lot in favour of LTTE now compared to 1995. Then, LTTE weren’t prepared and was caught off-guard. East with Karuna split LTT was weak in some respects and SLA victory is not so magnanimous.
LTTE had 4 good years to re-group, re-arm and of course re vitalise. Also, having land mass under their jurisdiction makes planning for the next phase of war even more easier. All the overseas ban and troubles would have least impact on the ground as LTTE known to wriggle out of twisted knots with ease.
Karuna will get the wrong end of the stick sooner than later as Gothabaya wants no one other armed forces to carry weapons. TMVP is not a registered party. Hello…?? Karuna gonna be a sore loser soon as his use-by-date nearing an end. V.P would have the last laugh…????
D.S.Senanayake to Mahinda, no one displayed leadership qualities for a multi-ethnic secular nation which Ceylon is destined to be. With every leadership term, the country is worse off economically, politically, socially and not to mention the blood-letting that carries on unabated.
It’s that simple. sinhalese cannot run a country or provide leadership. If you want to ruin a good thing, give it to Sinhalese. No wonder Tamils want to manage their own destiny instead of letting Sinhalese (mis)manage their destiny.
Ajith Sam said,
August 1, 2007 @ 8:53 am
Mr. Savimon, do not dwell in the past. Wake up…
Look at the settlements in Sri Lanka and the enthnicity of these settlements.
What is happening is an outright arrogance, outside intereference with a hidden agenda.
Savimon, don`t talk of denial rights to Indian Tamils. It was the responsibility of the British to recognise them as British Nationals Overseas.
Forget all the pacts upto now, tamils are living among the majority community after the 1983 communal violence in the south. They do not care for these pacts and all they need is to live, work, study and own property. They are not denied.
You come with some eloquent english but totally missing the present climate. It is the tigers who do not want peace or to live in peace and those overseas diaspora who are funding them in order for them get recognition and make a living.
A Catholic
Siva said,
August 1, 2007 @ 9:23 am
Nice One and well put. I am thinking why we have to live in this curse. Why while other countries are developing Sri Lanka becoming a failed nation. Ireland went from Poorest country in europe to 2nd Wealthies country in the world. India is fully utilising the software boom. We are fighting to bring the country to ashes. Why the real aspirations of people not recognised. I have studied in Sri Jayawardenepura University and I have really come up in Life and I also always looking for a bright future to Sri Lanka and Good and peaceful life to Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims and Burgers as well. Human atrocity and fear should stop for people to feel the real freedom of our country “Mother Sri Lanka”
P.Nathan said,
August 1, 2007 @ 9:40 am
Sirimavo’s regime also erected “hal pollas” – barriers across access roads from the north and east – to prevent rice and red onions being transported from these regions which had had a bumper harvest, to the southwestern regions, to prevent the farmers in those regions making a profit which they had rightfully earned.
During those days, the railways allowed only ten measures of rice and/or two pounds of red onions per traveller from jaffna, trinco & batticaloa.
I myself transported these precious items to relatives and friends in colombo during visits.
Even air travellers from jaffna and batticaloa – those days first class railway warrants issued to top state officials were accepted in lieu of airfare – transported onions & rice flour as part of their luggage.
Felix Dias was said to be the brains behind this embargo.
Sirimavo won the election due to her promise of two measures of free rice to all. An english daily’s banner headline was “Election in the Cooking Pot”. Almost all housewives thus voted for her – and all of us,including the affluent, got two free measures of rice, each and every week !
CBK won the election mostly due to tamil voters who implicitly beleived her promise to settle the language/ethnic problem with justice to all. They also had admired her husband who visited jaffna and emphathized with tamils and their problems.
During the October 1982 presidential election, the vote of the contender Hector Kobbekaduwa was impersonated – a “first” in any presidential election anywhere !
JRJ who ruled for twelve years with a five sixth majority
never wanted to give equality to tamils. He quoted the Dhammapada “Hatred ceases not by hatred but only through love” at the post WWII San Fancisco conference of Allied Powers, but did not have the same sentiments towards the tamils. He waited and watched his own party supporters – as he admitted later at the meeting in the RKM Hall, Wellawatte – carry out the planned pogrom, for six days during July 1973, before declaring an emergency. His minister Lalith Athulathmudali came on television and told the tamils “not to lose heart” ! – not a word of sympathy/apology.
The Millenium City “debacle” was carried out by Udugampola all by himself – and the Commission findings were ‘buried’ – so, why blame Ranil.
Again CBK abolished Ranil’s regime by takeover of vital ministries but lost to Mahinda – now Ranil says this was due to a secret pact between MR & Prabakaran !
It is too much to hope that Mahinda Rajapakse will take an “apolitical” stand on the national conflict.
Meanwhile, State Terrorism goes on the the northeast – yesterday a former jaffna university student leader was called out of his home in jaffna and shot dead, during curfew hours, by motorbike riders in civvies who could be none other than military/paramilitary personnel.
Richmansterror said,
August 2, 2007 @ 2:14 pm
Thanks for good people like you…Tamils have a voice.
Nishanthi Dharmapala said,
August 3, 2007 @ 8:43 am
Savimon Urugodawatte , You have done a good job in writing this piece. It is a good brief account showing where our Sinhala leaders took the wrong turns while there was a better choice that would have taken our beloved Island into peace and prosperity.
Those Sinhala hardliners and Tamil apologist, should understand this.
” This was the last chance we missed in settling the ethnic problem”
this statement reminds Tarzi Vitharchi’s statement
” The terror and the hate that the people of Ceylon experienced in May and June 1958 were the outcome of that fundamental error. What are we left with? A nation in ruins, some grim lessons which we cannot afford to forget and a momentous question: Have the Sinhalese and the Tamils reached the parting of the ways?”
I am sure since those days , we have seen some of the worst state sponsored terror further reinforcing Vithachi’s statement. Have we seen a change in the Sinhala thinking …a big NO, except a few of us, who have seen and lived through all the sad history…what can I say ?. The world is changing fast around us ..but Appe Lanka is frozen in MahaVamsha time.
I think it is like pouring the water on the outside of the bottle to keep going on about Federalism…that time has gone…Tamils need their own country to show the world what they are capable..maybe then Sinhalas will open their eyes and change their politics from corruption and plundering while the vast mass of the Sinhalese are living in abject poverty.
Eric Nirmalan said,
August 3, 2007 @ 11:49 pm
Savimon perhaps made an error in saying the ‘catching a cobra by its tail’. In fact snake experts either catch it at the back of the neck, or by the tail and take control of the the serpent.
In the responses there is misundertandings and error. The disenfranchisement of the migrant Indian labour in the estates was done as they were a migrant population, many returning to India after a period of 5 years stay. It was done with the support of the Tamil MPs and Ministers in parliamant.
There was no ethnic angle in it, rather it was done for the national interest of Ceylon. However, the any staged repatriation was not attempted during the early years when such opportunity existed, as the UNPs dominion government was still holding onto the tailcoats and wanted to look after the remaining British real estate interests. However, India itself became a republic as early as Jan 1950, whilst Ceylon took another 22 years to do so. Transient Indian labour in Ceylon was a fact of life and the British Raj’s railways were geared for it, and tickets could be purchased at any railway station in Ceylon right upto Madras.
It appears Sirimavo and Felix’s ‘haal polla’ had actually been more favourable to the the north and the east, as Nathan was allowed to transport 10 measures of rice. My Sinhalese friends in the south have been hounded off CTB buses and trains and locked up for merely carrying over two measures of rice. But, for this blatant discrimination, there was no ‘ethnic discrimination’ they could yell around the world for.
Siva also has graduated from a Sri Jayawardenapura University and come up in life away from the north and the east claimed Tamil homeland, and says that Ireland is prospering.
The Ireland he has referred to as prospering is the Irish Republic, and not the Northern Ireland that was in conflict.
The case in Ireland is one of unification not a separatist struggle in any case. This is still apart of the UK. The Irish paramilitairies (mostly Roman Catholics) were fighting to unify their island whose north -east was grabbed by the pro – British when the Irish Free State was created in 1922.
Irish Republic has been a peaceful but a relatively poor sovereign country, independent of Britain like any other European nation.