Comments on: This Land Belongs To All Of Us To Live In Harmony

By: Nava Rajkumar

Nava Rajkumar — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 18:46:20 +0000

The reverend father’s statement surely comes from the heart. Well expressed. However, the situation in Sri Lanka today not only requires outpourings from the heart but also proper assessments using one’s head. The article is clearly very myopic in its viewpoints- suggesting that terrorism is the problem that has to be eradicated.
The problem in Sri Lanka is not the Ltte or Terrorism or even State Terrorism(as P.Nathan quite rightly points out) . The problem is the NON-RECOGNITION OF TAMIL ETHNIC CULTURE and the RIGHTS AND ASPIRATIONS OF THE TAMIL PEOPLE since independance in 1948. Successive sinhala-dominated governments(UNP and SLFP) made sure that this neglect was perpetuated, while ensuring that at elections, their ethnic bargaining guaranteed them huge block votes from Tamils resident in the greater Colombo and Kandy regions. It is important that we look at the big picture- the origins of this conflict and the extent of it today.

By: thamilachi21

thamilachi21 — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 08:46:51 +0000

Dear KK Nathan

thank you for the respond, here is my two cents worth reply.,,

LTTE is not a recognized govt still fighting to liberate the Tamils from Sinhalese. the sole rep concept is only to make one voice against the oppressors.

before any concrete solution receive the recognition by the international community , the ltte will surly be asked to uphold the values of secularism, pluralism and democracy.

ltte will not move into such unless it sees the clear solution.
if you look at the Palestine closely, there a quite a few armed groups fighting for the Palestine people. Israel buys those groups times to time when things suit them.

quite similarly , we too have karuna, douglas, sangary and others based in govt controlled areas only to represent themselves without any clear cut policies.

imagine the plights of the Tamils if those groups are allowed to roam around the ltte controlled areas while there isn’t any concrete solution,,,,

divide and conquer is a short term solution to kill any freedom struggle famously practiced (in our case) by IPKF. ever since it has become a decease , it is a simple rule ,,,,defection pushes the freedom struggle in the opposite direction .( karuna episode is a recent example)

so it is important that just one party guides the people through it’s liberation. it is a history that freedom do not come free instead comes with lots of cruelty and pain.

By: KK Nathan

KK Nathan — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 09:25:24 +0000

thamilachi 21 No 4

Do pluralism and democracy exist for the LTTE? wil we have if ever we get Thamil Eelam?

By: Tanuja West

Tanuja West — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 01:27:44 +0000

I really liked this article. But I’m afraid many people in Sri Lanka are too insecure to accept these views

By: thamilachi21

thamilachi21 — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 15:54:38 +0000

the words pluralism, secularism and democracy do not exist in lanka.

By: Saman Jayawardene

Saman Jayawardene — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 14:38:55 +0000

The Truth

By: P.Nathan

P.Nathan — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 14:18:01 +0000

As long as Fr Elmo Dias thinks that “terrorism” is only being practised by only those fighting from jungle hideouts, he will not see reality.

Dear father, now there is an entity called State Terrorism.

This is practised not only by the lankan state,but also by other powerful nations, many of them predominantly christian.

By: Christopher De Silva

Christopher De Silva — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 11:46:43 +0000

Well written.
I am going to copy this to all my friends, both Singhalese & Tamil.

Thanks