East: Stability on cliffhanger after election
May 20th, 2008
by Dr. A.R.M. Imtiyaz
The government conducted the first provincial elections in two decades on May 10 in the Eastern Province. The ruling colaition of the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) through an electoral alliance with the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) and an “understanding” with the dissidents of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) grabbed 20 of the 37 seats in the Eastern Provincial Council. The TMVP is a breakaway group of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a group that seeks a separate state for the country’s minority Tamils in the north and east.
Voting in a crucial election in a troubled province: It could do more harm than good
The United National Party (UNP), which contested the elections in alliance with the main Muslim political entity, the SLMC, won 15 seats. The UNP alliance accused the government of rigging the elections and committing gross malpractices, especially in the Ampara and Batticaloa districts. According to UNP spokesperson Lakshman Kirielle, “in Pottuvil, Akkaraipattu and Mutur, government goon squads invaded 40 polling booths and stuffed the ballot boxes to their hearts content while the presiding officers and police simply looked on.”
[A woman walks out of a polling station after casting her vote during provincial council elections in Kathankudy, suburb of Batticaloa, eastern Sri Lanka, May 10, 2008.
via Yahoo! News, REUTERS/Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi]
President Mahinda Rajapaksa who won the Presidential elections in 2005 on symbolic agendas of an anti-Tamil and anti-federal platform interpreted his party’s election win in the Eastern Province as a people’s “mandate” against what his government coined as war against the Tamil terrorism and to drive the Tamil Tigers from the Tamil-dominated north where the LTTE runs a de-facto ethnic state.
Some questions
Elections are important political events, and political elites conduct these elections for different reasons at different times. However, there is no guarantee whatsoever that elections would bring about peace and stability to the country, or for that matter to any particular ethnic group. Therefore, the key questions are, will the eastern elections help establish stability? Will it generate peace and harmony among the different ethnic groups in the region? Can it pave the way to build genuine power-sharing between different ethnic groups?
The on-going ethnic/civil war requires a political solution. Commitments to a political solution need imagination, willingness and ability as well as guts to challenge the past and seek a new future.
However, the key political actors in Sri Lanka are lacking in such progressive efforts. The ruling Sinhala elites show no genuine interest in searching a political solution in the form of genuine power-sharing arrangements with the minorities, particularly the Tamils who claim they were discriminated against by successive Sinhala-dominated governments in favour of the Sinhalese. Besides, the government, which accommodates Sinhala nationalist agendas and Sinhala extremists, who oppose all forms of extensive and irrevocable power-sharing, is actively engaged in identifying the LTTE as malicious terrorists, while conveniently covering up its own anti-democratic and anti-minority activities. Some of these activities are aggressive and cruel and according to Tamil nationalist opinions, they meet the definition of state terrorism.
Peace with enemies
Elections alone would not guarantee any stability to war-ravaged Sri Lanka. Stability is a reflection of political willingness to meet the needs and the reasonable demands of the masses. In a democracy, when political elites fail to appreciate the needs of the masses, serious instability is the likely outcome. Sri Lanka, which once aspired to be the Switzerland of Asia, can only gain real peace and progress, if there is sincere political will for a negotiated reconciliation and compromise. Such a political will should engage the Tamil Tigers. One may have deep reservations about engaging the LTTE. But peace between the opposing ethnic actors can be achieved only when today’s enemies prepare to engage one another seriously. In short, we need to engage enemies constructively if we are serious about peace.
The major problem in Sri Lanka is the absence of “willingness”. Both the Rajapaksa regime and the LTTE are inherently nationalist. They play the ethnic card for political and military gains. This is indeed an unfortunate political trend and could help deepen the conflict. All this would close the door for compromise and reconciliation. Theoretically speaking, this sort of political eventuality is inevitable when political actors systematically employ nationalist agendas in deeply divided societies.
The end of the world
We have some serious problems. But they still can be solved in a human way. This should involve some tremendous efforts by the global community. In other words, there must be more sticks than carrots from highly-interested global actors both on the Tamil Tigers and the Government when they do not comply with peace requests that seek meaningful power-sharing democracy.
The high efficacy of global leverage often works well between countries connected through international aid and trade. The Tamil Tigers, who have been banking on solid support from the Tamil Diaspora, must be warned of further political and military repercussions if they refuse to go along with a negotiated compromise. Equally, the Government needs to be directed to study the Kosovo-style political outcome, if it closes its ears to the call for genuine power-sharing.
It is true that elections are key for any functioning democracy. But they alone would not produce any miracle between the warring and mutually-suspecting ethnic groups. Also, elections often trigger further instability when they are ethnicised and politicised. The just concluded Eastern Province elections can do more harm than good if the Sinhala political elites poititicise the outcome for their benifit. It also can further increase ethnic disharmony between the Tamils and Muslims if there is any agendas for politicisation. Such dangerous political scheming could frustate the already alienated Muslim youths who increasingly respond to the call for a struggle in the name of their religion.
Beyond the bleeding
The political stakes are high. They can erode not only the stability of the country, but also its ethnic unity. Therefore, Sri Lanka’s ruling elites should seek some rational choices, rather than trying to manipulate the “victory” of the May 10 elections to consolidate their power and to win the next elections.
Any move in this direction could seriously weaken Sri Lanka’s commitment to democracy and social progress. Alternatively, the Tamil Tigers need to understand the new political climate of the island. Specially, they should understand the fact that their suicide attacks on innocent civilians further strengthen the hands of extremists and thus weaken the liberal voices for peace. Sri Lanka will continue to bleed if peace has no chance. [This article appeared earlier in the The Sunday Times, Colombo, Sri Lanka-May, 18, 2008]
(The writer, a political scientist from Sri Lanka, is currently, affiliated as a visiting scholar to the Department of Political Science, Temple University, USA.)
Entry Filed under: Federalidea
10 Comments Add your own
1. Sam | May 21st, 2008 at 2:10 am
Apparently according to Dr Imtiyaz there are only “Sinhala extremists”… there are no “Tamil extremists” or “Muslim extremists.”
How surprising.
2. nathan | May 21st, 2008 at 8:50 am
The success or failure of the Eastern Provincial Council depends of the devolution of powers eneumerated under the Thirteenth Amendment-as promised.
If ALL are devolved in addition to sufficient finds, the EPC will become an “eastern provincial government” and this will not be liked by other PCs-who are reported to be requesting same.
The Centre too will lose its “clout” and this will not be liked by the President or Cabinet.
Thus, the political mess is only beginning. Add to this the refusal of the President to appoint the Constitutional Council-and thus will be another “National Question” be thrust into the political process.
Wait for it.
This will overshadow the ‘war’.
The PCs are a white elephant which is bleeding the country-all know this-but noone knows what to do about them.
The ‘invention’ of the PCs by President JEJ and the vetoeing of the Mawella Coal Power
Project by by President Premadasa are the two major calamities which have bled the nation, and responsible for most of its ills.
3. Malayaga Thamilan... | May 21st, 2008 at 9:20 am
My dear Dr. Imtiyaz,
As long as the Jaffna Thamil diaspora continue to bankroll the L.T.T.E. the fighting will go on.L.T.T.E. will switch from the unconventional to conventional warfare as per the situation on ground.
For a lasting peace in the East I am of the strongest view the Eastern Thamils must be ‘EXTRICATED’ from the Northern Jaffna Thamils.
Members of parliament representing the Eastern Thamils should be from the independent political parties formed solely for the Eastern Thamils.I am mentioning of the Eastern Thamil intellectuals.
Then the Muslims of the East.It is grossly a divided house!Another stumbling block for the peace to emerge in the East.President Rajapalksa is making use of this to the maximum.Anti Muslim activities by the T.M.V.P. and the L.T.T.E.adding fuel to fire.
Also the anti Thamil activities of the Muslim armed groups.
Any ruling government is hell bent on creating a wedge between the Eastern Thamils and Muslims.
Muslims in Srilanka are culturally alligned with the Thamils but politically with the Sinhalese.
But from my personal experience there is still an emotional relationship between Eastern Thamils and Muslims,which is above politics.
Will there ever be any concenus among the Eastern Thamils and Muslims? Atleast between the Intellectuals from both communities?
Allegations about the Muslims eating meat and dealing in narotics,their unethical Trade practices,grabbing the Eastern Thamils Lands at ‘ADIMAATTU VILLAI’ etc etc and counter allegations against the Eastern Thamils by the Eastern Muslims will only benefit the L.T.T.E. and the Sinhala Chaunists.
Solutions cannot be found overnight.
So my suggestion is we have to start confidence building between the two communities.
The South-Eastern University should be ‘modified’ into a multi ethnic University.Where primararely Eastern Thamil and Muslim students learning by sitting side by side.
Both students should have the opportunities to learn about Hinduism and Islam.There will be a Hindu Temple as well to the Mosque.
What I am dreaming is a modern ‘Convertable’ Muslim and Eastern Thamil intellgencia.
The Muslim students passing out from this future University will come out from the Islamic Isolation,
wiil become an ‘Elite Muslim’ like in India and Pakistan.
That is appreciating the values of the Thamil Hindu community,and not over emphazising Islam as at present.
But the question is who is going to bell the cat?
Sinhala Chauvanists are hell bent on dividing the Eastern Thamils and Muslims. Considarable Muslim Politicians are aiding this.So …..
Over to you Muslim Intellectuals!
4. selva | May 21st, 2008 at 6:32 pm
Of cause Tigers are the people who strenthen the hand of the Sinhala extremists. Up to now their movement has done only that. Tigers cannot go for negotiation as equal partners as it was regognized when they signed the cease fire agreement because now they control only 1+0.85+0.10 districts. At the present situation TNA and Muslim congress has to sit dawn and prepare a program and go for negotiation with the backing of India. As every one need a house of his/her own every community need a home land of their own. We cannot live according to the Sinhaleses’ instructions. For the TNA to be prepaired for that the 1.95 districts too has to be freed from LTTE.
5. Reggie | May 21st, 2008 at 11:41 pm
“Any ruling government is hell bent on creating a wedge between the Eastern Thamils and Muslims.”
“Sinhala Chauvanists are hell bent on dividing the Eastern Thamils and Muslims.”
What a load of rot. I always find it highly amusing how each minority group tries to scapegoat the Sinhalese for all their ills without bothering to look within.
First have a good read at what the President said following the election:
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Infighting will undo the gains of successful elections: Rajapaksa
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/003200805180341.htm
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The Sinhalese did not make Tamil extremists ethnically cleanse the north of Muslims. The Sinhalese didn’t make the Tamils attack the Muslims in the East. The Sinhalese didn’t make the Tamils take over Muslim land in the east. The Sinhalese didn’t make the Muslims take over Tamil lands in the east. The Sinhalese did not make the Jaffna Tamils regard the Upcountry Tamils with scorn. That was done by members of the Tamil and Muslim communities respectively.
Why don’t you own up and fess up to *YOUR OWN EXTREMISM AND COMMUNALISM* instead of just blaming the Sinhalese for everything? There’s plenty of racism within your own community but its much more convenient to forget about that and scream about the Sinhalese.
The extremists from your own community (whether it be Tamil or Muslim) are the ones that are dividing the Tamils and Muslims. More specifically it is Tamil extremism and terorrism that is doing that. Did you forget the LTTE was running parts of the east till recently? Who was illegally taxing the Muslims? Taking their lands? Stopping their businesses?
Tamil racism is the main cause of the division among the “Tamil speaking people” - the Tamil desire to control and dominate everything in the East even though they are not in the majority.
It’s pretty clear the Muslims do not wish to be regarded as Tamils. For some reason, many Tamils think that is the fault of the Sinhalese. How the Sinhalese could control the minds of the Muslims is beyond me. Did the Sinhalese start the rhetoric of “Tamil speaking people”? No, the Tamils did. Did the Sinhalese start claiming that Muslims were “Tamil” and yell about it from the rooftops? Nope, the Tamils did. Have you ever stopped to think that , just maybe, that kind of gung ho attitude alienated the Muslims?
Why don’t you go and ask the Muslims whether they want to be regarded as Tamil? Don’t blame the Sinhalese if they don’t want to, but go and talk to them and ask them face to face. Ask their representatives. This whole issue came about since the Sri Lankan public dropped usage of the terms “Moor” and “Malay” and instead places both the groups under the label of “Muslim.”
Unlike Tamils, Muslims are not emotionally attached to the Tamil language. While the majority are Tamil speaking, there are plenty who speak only Sinhalese. And others, mainly in Colombo, have English as their mother tongue. What about them?
Just because someone speaks a language it doesn’t mean they belong to that ethnicity. I speak English, does that make me a white skinned Englishman?
Did you stop to think for a second that the Muslims may not be interested in the violence, terrorism and extremism of a certain section of Tamils? Or that they don’t want anything to do with separatism? Or that they genuinely believe that they are not Tamils? Apparently for the Tamil nationalists, that Muslims don’t want a ‘Tamil Eelam’ is the fault of the Sinhalese! Hilarious.
This Tamil conspiracy theory that Sinhalese are sneakily working away in the background to divide Tamils and Muslims is akin to those silly conspiracy theories some Muslims spread about the Jews.
Instead of pointing fingers at the Sinhalese, take the time to look within and see how your own leaders screwed up Tamil-Muslim relations. That there were Tamil-Muslim riots, often sponsored by the LTTE (ie representatives of Tamil nationalism) doesn’t help inter-ethnic harmony. It’s not the fault of the Sinhalese if Tamil traders wanted to block Muslim traders and started a hate campaign on that issue.
Remember the Tamil-Muslim riots in Batticaloa that happened a few years back? If the “evil Sinhalese government” didn’t step in and place a curfew Tamils and Muslims would have merrily continued along with their killing spree. If the “evil Sinhalese government” wanted to divided the Tamils and Muslims they could have easily let the Batticaloa riots continue until the whole Eastern province was engulfed in flames.
When Muttur was attacked by the “sole representatives” of the Tamils, Tamil restaurants and businesses were attacked in Colombo. Who put a stop to that? The “evil Sinhalese government” again. How easy it would have been to “divide” the Tamils and Muslims if it was allowed to continue, don’t you think?
Tamils and Muslims have issues to solve in the east because they are the two biggest ethnic groups. Don’t try and scapegoat the Sinhalese for the problems that you have created out of your own animosity and bigotry.
It’s strange that a “Malayaga Thamilan” is spreading these sad conspiracy theories.
6. Ratnam Ganesh | May 22nd, 2008 at 12:08 am
Dr. A.R.M. Imtiyaz’ Article is a very good one.The election in the east is not something we can be proud of.It is the beginning of dividing the Muslims and Tamils in the East and elseware.
The Day we- All Sri Lankans feel we are Sri Lankans is the day we can expect democracy,Peace and the rest of those good words.
Just MR going to Oxford and say we are all sri lankans and all communties are in my government doesnot mean we all feel we are with the government.Those Tamil parliamentarians with him are at his mercy.The very moment their security is pulled out,what happens to them?
Malayaga Thamilan once again want to think on ethnicity and devide Tamils and others.He is only trying make things worse.To you I will say do not think as Malayaga Thamilan and start divide again on ethnic basis.Think as Sri Lankan and all are humans and on the emancipation of our country-Sri Lanka.
The time will come when every one of relaise the reality.But by then our economy will be doomed.If poverty shall be the price we have to pay then so be it.
7. Devinda Fernando | May 22nd, 2008 at 9:16 am
*** TNA and Muslim congress has to sit dawn and prepare a program and go for negotiation with the backing of India. ***
Selva,
LOL! Every TOGETHER!…against the SINHALESE… SINHALESE ARE THE ‘ENEMY’
Who is living according to the Sinhalese Selva… are any of you people forced to do that? Last I check Muslims Live the way they want and Tamils too…
And Muslims are Not Tamils and they will never join ith Tamils because they are COMMUNALISTS just like the Tamils. Both Ethnic groups have been indoctrinated by their Communalist Leaders, and worst of all,…so have you!
8. Devinda Fernando | May 22nd, 2008 at 9:16 am
*** Apparently according to Dr Imtiyaz there are only “Sinhala extremists”… there are no “Tamil extremists” or “Muslim extremists.”***
So True Sam…. So True.
9. Murugan | May 22nd, 2008 at 7:23 pm
Dr. Imtiyaz reminds us that because the leaders of the Tamils and Sinhalese thrive on war and nationalism, the divide between both communities continues to deepen. Moreover, elections further the Muslim/ Sinhala/ Tamil divide because politicians manipulate ethnic and religious differences to mobilize voters. As Tamil/Sinhala/Muslim relations deteriorate, the dream of multi-ethnic Ceylonese nationalism dies. The end result will be two nations. But not necessarily two states. The result of Eelam War IV will provide clarity to whether the island will have two nation-states, or two nations within one state. This one unitary state will be a Sinhala Buddhist state, because as long as Sri Lanka remains a democracy, then the politicians will pander to the 70% Sinhala-Buddhist community.
This Eelam endgame or alternatively a Sinhala-Buddhist ‘Heladiva’ endgame can only be averted by immediately adopting a loose confederate system and the Sinhala nation only relying on the military option in the event that the Tigers proclaim a UDI a few years after reaching a confederate agreement. The Sinhala military option can be used as a credible threat to deter a UDI by the Tigers. And a loose confederate system would provide peace in the short-term, and possibly the long-term as well.
Now turning to Tamils and Muslims:
It is in the interest of Eelam Tamils to redefine Tamil Nationalism to include Muslims. In Tamil Nadu, Christians, Hindus, and Muslims, all consider themsleves Tamils. Jaffna Tamils and Jaffna Muslims have cordial relationships and ordinary Tamils do not approve the LTTE’s decision to evict Muslims from the North. I hope that the eviction was purely an impulsive military decision. The resettlement of Muslims, who live in IDP tents in Puttalam, to Jaffna must be among the first legislation passed in Tamil Eelam. Moreover, the Tamils must compensate all the evicted Muslims for their loss.
I think the LTTE understands that Muslims and SL Tamils must join together. For example, the LTTE recently appointed R.M. Imam as the first Muslim TNA MP.
But bridging the Muslim-Tamil divide in the East will be difficult. To bridge the divide in the East, we must realize that Muslims and Tamils need to work together to defeat the Sinhala agenda to dominate the Eastern province.
The war accelerates the decline of the population of SL Tamils living in Sri Lanka. Given that our population dwindles as the war continues and given that the war has no end in sight, it is in our interest to unite with the Muslims from a demographics perspective. If we had been united during the Eastern polls, then there is no way Basil Rajapaksa could have used Pillaiyan and Hizbullah to win control of the Eastern PC.
10. selva | May 22nd, 2008 at 8:43 pm
Hi Devinda,
You and Dingiri are my best friends in this site. Before the begining of the Eelam war one day in the night about 7pm two of my friends and me were walking twards a summary of our friends in a lane at Katubedde. A ten year old boy crossing us hold a friend of mine’s hand and said themaleng kathakaranna eppa kiyala. That is the very reason why we wanted a homeland. At least in that area we can live without fearing to the Sinhalese. Like the Kudappadu,Kochikada (Negombo)Tamils because of fear we don’t want to abstain from speaking Tamil and become Sinhalese speaking.
Actually in 2002 after cease fire LTTE should have negotiated with the Muslim congress and come to a common stand ( whether comletely separate Muslim province or within etc…) and then together would have gone to talk with the government. That is why I wrote the the TNA shouldn’t do the same mistake after LTTE stategically widthdraw from Wanni and gone abroad and dissappeared.
Even in 1956 the muslims of Northeast didn’t think that they are not Tamils. In 1956 Illankai Thamil Arasu Kaddchi( Federal Party) after newly formed that party contested asking the mandate for Federalism and won the majority of the seats in the North east. In that election Muslims too contested in the Federal party ticket and two of them won. AT Kalmunai Mudaliyar M.M.I. Kariyappar and at Potuvil M.M. Mustapha were elected. Mislims and Tamils together gave mandate for Federalism in the Northeast.
So after 1956 every Colombo government aided colony in the Northeast is Illegal. Like the Palastinians removed the Jewish colonies from the Gaza through negotiation the LTTE also could have negotiated. The Palastinians has said without removing the Colonies from West Bamk they cannot go to the next step. LTTE also could have broke away from negotiation saying somethin like that with out talking about A9 and Essential items.
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